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Remus
Overgrown Cat
Joined: 03 Jul 2002
Posts: 1657
Location: Fish bowl |
| Post your NWN:SoU impression/review here |
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Man, it have been more than what, 6-7 months?, we haven't got any decent CRPGs comming our way, except G2. Well, now i'm reduced to reading game reviews for fun.... So, post your comments on the new NWN add-on here. |
Wed Jul 09, 2003 5:29 pm |
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kevster77
Village Dweller
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 4
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I haven't posted at RPGDot since January, I'm surprised my account still works. Unemployment woes have me surfing old haunts now... bleh.
Posters at the official forum have pretty high praise for SOU. Personally, I didn't like it much. The new feats and skills are good, though some might be construed as unbalanced. Monks with high Tumble have AC's around 60 now. Patch 1.30 seems to cause more bugs than it fixes. Then there's the campaign: on the upside, Floodgate has some neat new combat scripts and puzzles that break the monotony of hack 'n slash. On the downside, I was totally disinterested in the story. Characters were bland, villains weren't particularly villainous... the whole campaign lacked any emotional significance. I was doing quests because people told me to, not because I wanted to. None of the characters were around long enough to get to know their motivations, their backgrounds, etc. Obviously, I like deep characters in my RPGs.
For the record, I enjoyed the original NWN campaign. The whole "save the world" thing was lame, killing ancient red dragons was lame, but I enjoyed the subplots. I felt for Aribeth. The new campaign is more focused (fewer subplot diversions), but it didn't engage me at all. And it is also "save the world". I don't find "save the world" plots epic, and when there are no subplots to distract from it, the game ends up being empty. I felt nothing when I finished it (three days, it's very short), no satisfaction, nothing at all.
All reviews are totally subjective, of course, so take what you will from mine. I left music last, because it's the most subjective of all. I thought the composer was tone-deaf (I don't know if it's Jeremy Soule, I didn't bother looking at the credits). The new music is horrible, just noisy, like a group of 8 year olds banging on electric instruments.
No reviews for the Toolset, as it's too time consuming for me to use. Too much binge drinking to drown my unemployment woes 
So basically, I like the new content (monsters, spells, feats, etc.) added to the game, don't like the bugs that patch 1.30 has seemingly introduced, and really didn't like the campaign. |
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Fri Jul 11, 2003 3:15 am |
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EverythingXen
Arch-villain
Joined: 01 Feb 2002
Posts: 4342
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I've finally got our review copy so I'm walking through the game now. Only had a chance to play for an hour or so last night. I'm enjoying the new scripts.... people are walking around a lot more, and saying more scripted random things, which really helps the game feel a little more alive.
I'll see if it holds by the time I write our review. 
_________________
Estuans interius, Ira vehementi
"The old world dies and with it the old ways. We will rebuild it as it should be, MUST be... Immortal!"
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Worshipper of the Written Word= |
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Wed Jul 16, 2003 2:15 pm |
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dteowner
Shoegazer
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 7570
Location: Third Hero of Erathia |
I bailed on the expansion campaign about half way thru (or so I think). It just didn't hold my interest. I think there's two reasons for this, one of which has little bearing on the game itself.
First, I'm kinda listless in RL right now, so I'm having a hard time staying focused on a game. I figure a game would need to be exceptional to hold my interest right now, and SoU didn't make the cut. Not certain you can really blame the game for that.
The second reason is kind of weird as well- I play RPGs as a "complete-ist". That is, I like to do every single quest and explore every inch of the gameworld and suck out every single XP. It's not powergaming- it's just being, well, thorough. Anyway, the design of SoU is agony for a complete-ist. Most gamers will probably like the design because it's far more realistic and allows better replayability, but it's rough for me. For example, (*minor spoiler follows*) you'll come across an elf that's hunting a magic stag for a noble reason (the stag's horn will cure his dying wife). You can offer to help, refuse, or remain non-committal. Later, you find the stag. You can warn it that someone's hunting it and it will run to safety. That gives you some XP and a small bump toward good alignment. The problem is that now you can't get anything from the elf. Yes, it's real consequences for real decisions just like in the real world. I thought we were playing games here- nuts to "real". Anyway, most people will probably consider that a strength of the expansion, but it didn't work for me.
Several of the new feats seem a little overpowered to me (my level 8 fighter with a +1 scythe and the new Great Cleave feat killed as many as 6 zombies in a single attack and plowed thru a mob of about 30 skeletons in 4 or 5 rounds). Bioware still hasn't gotten all the bugs out of multiplayer when some players own SoU and some don't, regardless of what they claim.
Overall, I think, effectively, I spent $30 to get new ways to develop my characters. Others will probably see things differently, though.
_________________
=Proud Member of the Non-Flamers Guild=
=Benevolent Dictator, X2/X3 and Morrowind/Oblivion Forums=
Sorry. No pearls of wisdom in this oyster.
RIP Red Wings How 'Bout Dem Cowboys! |
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Wed Jul 16, 2003 3:42 pm |
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EverythingXen
Arch-villain
Joined: 01 Feb 2002
Posts: 4342
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I like how much your decisions affect things around you in SoU. CRPGs in a bubble are getting very old and very tired to me...
Great cleave is meant to decimate 30 skeletons in 20 seconds... it's meant for wading through hoardes of things so pathetic you actually do NOT get experience for them in tabletop. Level 8 fighter vs zombe (cr 1) = 0 experience... you've learned nothing new. You've been hacking zombies apart since day one.
It's a fodder killer, and I'm wishing I built a hard core fighter for my test characters... urgh... my archer is dying too often, as is my rogue. My evil fighter is the only one wading through the corpses (he killed the entire first town, actually. Greater expertise + heavy armor = 27 AC = nyah, nyah swing at me futilely while my stupid half-orc shoots you dead with a crossbow.
SO far my biggest gripe in chapter 1 (and it's a biggie) is the stupid henchmen. Alright, they're good characters... very well written. Inventory control and control of their leveling schemes is excellent... however, it can't compensate for the fact that THEY BOTH SUCK! Their stats are higher than your can be, sure... but a sorcerer/barbarian and a rogue/ranger do NOT cut it. It practically regulates your character to being a melee specialist. I wanted that paladin in the party instead, dammit.
_________________
Estuans interius, Ira vehementi
"The old world dies and with it the old ways. We will rebuild it as it should be, MUST be... Immortal!"
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Worshipper of the Written Word= |
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Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:54 pm |
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Iron Man
Dazed and Confused
Joined: 07 Dec 2002
Posts: 773
Location: Location Location |
I agree with your first point dte, the game just didn't pull me in. They didn't have the same appealas the oc. And the missions just seem like a chore to me. I don't "want" to do this for you, but I'm going to have to to get further in the game. I can't make a comment on your second as I played as a sorcerer, which moves me onto what EverythingXen said. It did suck thae way that you couldn't take the whimpy paladin with you, I took the lockpick eating dwarf with me instead  . also, I haven't see any mage specific shops as of yet. I got some red wizard permission to build one on hilltop but I didn't see him after that. Lets hope Hordes of the underdark yields better results. Also, no map?! Ya bo and sucks to you!!
On a positive note, the Elf crypt in chapter 1 looks very nice, even for a crypt! That fight scene at the start was superbly scripted and I'm glad to see that they took the digital hacksaw to some of the prefabs on the toolset and made them placeables.
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This box secretly turns into a picture and laughs at YOU personally when you're not looking. |
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Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:23 pm |
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EverythingXen
Arch-villain
Joined: 01 Feb 2002
Posts: 4342
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I'm slowly getting used to the fact that occassionally, when you need him the most, Xanos will cast a spell while surrounded by five gnolls in a barbarian rage and dissappear in a shower of gore. I still don't like it. A command 'save your spells until I tell you' in their tactical dialogue would go a long way towards making me happy. It's why the cleric was worthless in the original campaign... she'd happily run up and cast a healing spell on you, thus subjecting herself to a god awful amount of attacks of opportunity, thus dissappearing with a scream and a flash of light.
Stupid spellcaster NPCs.
Oh well.... almost a shadowdancer. Maybe once I have the ability to summon a shadow familiar the game will be more forgiving towards Mr 'I think I'll cast ray of frost for 1d3 damage while surrounded!' Orc.
I'll certainly be able to rely on it more to engage enemies for me so I can sneak attack them...
_________________
Estuans interius, Ira vehementi
"The old world dies and with it the old ways. We will rebuild it as it should be, MUST be... Immortal!"
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Worshipper of the Written Word= |
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Sat Jul 19, 2003 3:33 pm |
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EverythingXen
Arch-villain
Joined: 01 Feb 2002
Posts: 4342
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Quick update, for anyone paying attention... I've completed the expansion and am writing the review. It's looking ad hoc at the moment like it's going to clock in at a 75 to 80... not enough content was added to justify its cost being one of the biggest determining factors.
_________________
Estuans interius, Ira vehementi
"The old world dies and with it the old ways. We will rebuild it as it should be, MUST be... Immortal!"
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Worshipper of the Written Word= |
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Wed Jul 23, 2003 1:46 pm |
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Lintra
Elf Friend
Joined: 23 Apr 2002
Posts: 9448
Location: Bermuda, the triangle place with SANDY BEACHES |
@Xen- I am eagerly awaiting your review. I will most likely buy or not buy the expansion based on it ... hows that for putting pressure on you? 
Actually, I doubt I'll rush out and get it, just because I still have Gothic 2 waiting in the wings ... but after that ...
In any case, thanks for the update.
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=Member of The Nonflamers' Guild=
=Just plain clueless= |
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Wed Jul 23, 2003 1:52 pm |
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Myrthos
Spoiler of All Fun
Joined: 07 Jul 2001
Posts: 1926
Location: Holland |
Well Lintra, the time to make a choice has come, Click me.
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Kewl quotes:
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Reports Myrthos for making me scared and humbled at the mere sight of his name - kayla |
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Thu Jul 24, 2003 3:03 pm |
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Lintra
Elf Friend
Joined: 23 Apr 2002
Posts: 9448
Location: Bermuda, the triangle place with SANDY BEACHES |
@Mythos - The decision is made!
@Xen - Thanks for a great review. This game will go on my "Keep my eyes open for it, and get it in the next few months, but don't go out of my way for it" list.
It takes a definate back seat to Gothic 2 ... now available in Sunny* Bermuda ... I will grab a copy the day my son heads home.
*And man, oh man, do I mean sunny.
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=Member of The Nonflamers' Guild=
=Just plain clueless= |
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Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:28 pm |
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dteowner
Shoegazer
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 7570
Location: Third Hero of Erathia |
quote:
Originally posted by Lintra
@Xen - Thanks for a great review. This game will go on my "Keep my eyes open for it, and get it in the next few months, but don't go out of my way for it" list.
I would have to say that's a good decision, Lintra.
_________________
=Proud Member of the Non-Flamers Guild=
=Benevolent Dictator, X2/X3 and Morrowind/Oblivion Forums=
Sorry. No pearls of wisdom in this oyster.
RIP Red Wings How 'Bout Dem Cowboys! |
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Fri Jul 25, 2003 8:06 pm |
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Iron Man
Dazed and Confused
Joined: 07 Dec 2002
Posts: 773
Location: Location Location |
Good reading Xen! I agree with you totally about the obscene amount of traps in chapter 2, and "Arthur" is still a statue  . Also I agree with you about the fact that you have to be a tank to get through the game. When I first started it I played as a sorcerer (I like them ). After about 5 minutes I started it again as a Ranger (I like those as well). After about 2 minutes I started again as a Sorcerer and have just about squeezed through.
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This box secretly turns into a picture and laughs at YOU personally when you're not looking. |
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Fri Jul 25, 2003 8:14 pm |
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EverythingXen
Arch-villain
Joined: 01 Feb 2002
Posts: 4342
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My recommendation for playing a sorcerer or wizard is to come into the module at about level 6. The downside to that is that the two NPCs will be 50/50 splits on their classes at that point, which makes them useless at both (Xanos moreso than Dorna).
Lintra: It definitely is worth purchasing when the price drops a little. But not if you don't like frustration.
_________________
Estuans interius, Ira vehementi
"The old world dies and with it the old ways. We will rebuild it as it should be, MUST be... Immortal!"
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Worshipper of the Written Word= |
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Sat Jul 26, 2003 2:12 am |
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ffbj
High Emperor
Joined: 05 Feb 2002
Posts: 489
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I read through the review and thought it pretty fair. I don't remember the traps you are talking about. Where were they? There was the elemental temple in chapter one. I though the story books at the end of the game were quite nice. I really did not understand your take on Deekin. It's true that he just sits back and sings bard songs, but you are buffed almost all the time. Also I thought the characterization was quite good. I was not a tank, though I could fight fairly well. I think the module was defineltly balance towards fighter characters. There were a few silly things though. Like all the statues. Ok, I get it. You can make statues now, but is it really neccessay to litter the landscape with them.
I guess I am also coming at this from a different angle. The module was ok, but for me it is not the meat of the exspansion. The really great thing is the new capabilites that mod makers have. I think you will eventually see some really fine mods coming out of this. |
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Mon Jul 28, 2003 3:59 am |
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