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Excellent game, excellent value.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 25 / 26
Date: October 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Neverwinter Nights Gold is the original NWN game and the Shadows of Undrentide Expansion pack. If you already own NWN, then just purchase Shadows of Undrentide. If you already own both, then there's nothing new here at all. The 'extra modules' included are the free ones from Bioware which, if you've patched the game, you already have anyway. If you don't have either of those already, this is the version to get.

Out of the box, this is arguably one of the best RPG's ever made for the PC. Both the original module, and the expansion module are excellent RPG's in their own right. But the real reason to get the game is the huge quantity of excellent fan-made content available. Many, many, many excellent fan-made modules are already available. Specifically, the Dreamcatcher series, the Shadowlords series, the Lone Wolf series, and 'Midwinter Festival' are far more interesting than the included modules and completely free. Two very noteworthy projects are nearing completion as well. One is a conversion of the classic Dragonlance book series into NWN modules, and the other is a huge Planescape project called CODI (City of Doors Inititative.) Many modules modules include original graphics, sounds, and 3d models that add awesome variety to the game, and look nothing short of professional.

This game is also almost entirely free of bugs. Earlier reviews correctly reported that the game was barely playable. The code is now very mature, and runs near perfectly on almost any hardware that meets the minimum requirements.

NWN was made primarily as an engine for fan-made content, and has spawned one of the most interesting RPG communities to be found. If you like RPG's at all, you must buy this game!

Avoid the European version.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: November 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User

While this is a great package of a great game and its expansion one should be aware of the European version of the "Gold Edition" which does not include neither manual nor map.

Shadows of Undrentide not meant to be a continuation

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: December 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Just wanted to make a note on some of the comments of the posters below. Shadows of Undrentide, the expansion that comes with NWN Gold, is not meant to be a continuation of the original campaign. In other words, it's designed for you to start out at 1st level again. Much like real D&D, if you take a 17th level character and put him/her through an adventure designed for a 1st level character, it will be a cakewalk.

It's a Niche Game, Not Everyone Will Enjoy It Like I Did

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 17 / 22
Date: December 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If I could think of a way to best describe Neverwinter Nights, it would be Diablo meets Baldur's Gate. The game is made by the same people that designed Baldur's Gate but it's more of a mainstream "hack and slash" adventure than an epic RPG. Don't get me wrong, the in-game story is great but it just doesn't feel like a classic RPG. One reason for this might be because of the easy Aurora Toolset. If you've ever messed around with PC gaming toolsets, this one will probably be the easiest custom content editor you'll ever see in a game. It was designed that way so that D&D fans everywhere could quickly create their own adventures. (The game even allows you to act as a Dungeon Master.) Unfortunately, the official adventure included with Neverwinter Nights also uses the same toolset that was designed for "Joe Schmoe" and something probably gets lost in the process because each map is designed by a toolset that allows you to simply click and drag houses and farms to build your own D&D adventure. Frankly, most maps just feel the same. Keep in mind too that while it's very easy to place items and creatures with the toolset, you'll need a basic knowledge of programming to script actions in your module. Luckily, NWN Gold is included with the expansion Shadows of Undrentide which adds more custom content to the toolset and another official and lengthy campaign. Make sure you check the official Bioware website so that you can download one of the many custom adventures designed by gamers. There is also a fairly large online community and many gamers have set up their own servers that are up and running 24/7 for online D&D fun. I had a good time with Neverwinter Nights, but not everyone may find the game as enjoyable, especially if they don't like online play or the easy-to-use toolset.

Too Linear, Too Slow, Not Immersive

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 21 / 38
Date: December 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The game is well-done, and the ability for anyone to set up a game server for online play, with custom content, is what really makes this game interesting. The single-player game, however, has some qualities that didn't appeal to me:

(a) The game is pretty linear. At certain points, you will find that you have a single line of advancement open to you. This happened to me at the end of Chapter One, for example, where I was having a hard time defeating a key enemy, but literally had nothing else I could do other than keep trying until I succeeded. I much prefer the free-form type of gaming (such as you would get from Morrowind), where you can wander off and level up once more before retackling a hard opponent.

(b) I found the game to be tedious at times. Part of this was the UI, which is actually "ok" or even "pretty good." But there are still minor annoyances, like having to buy one healing potion at a time when you really want to get, say, 10. Also, the need to click on "End Dialog" after every conversation is a pain.

But the D&D rules are the main source of tedium. As a spell-caster, you have to "memorize" spells in order to cast them. This means that even though you know a spell, you can't cast it unless it's memorized. So you constantly find yourself needing to rearrange your memorized spells for a specific situation, rest, cast the spells, rearrange the spells back to "normal combat" configuration, rest again, then proceed. This would be less painful if there was a way to save spell configurations and swap them out as a group, rather than having to swap out spells one at a time. But a much better approach is the "if you know the spell and you have the mana you can cast it" approach that most other RPGs use.

This is one reason why I wish Bioware would create a non-D&D game. The D&D rules are just too rooted in the paper-and-dice world, and simply don't support a free-flowing, fast-paced game.

(c) The camera controls can be annoying. I constantly find myself having to twist the camera around so I can pick up something, open a chest or door, or try to talk to someone. Too often I wind up clicking on a hireling, summoned creature, or my familiar. Playing with the camera keeps me from playing with the game, and adds to the feeling that the pace of the game is slow and tedious. Really, why should it take 15 seconds to pick up some treasure that's on the floor?

It Will not work on AGP Cards

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 50
Date: January 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

the VisiontTek Xtasy 9800 PRO 256 MB DDR AGP will not work for it.

Very in-dept game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 50
Date: January 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I haven't actually gotten to play this game because my computer is very old and slow so it doesn't work well, but I have created a characrer, and even by that I caould tell it would be a good game. This isnt like other games like Baldur's Gate, or Diablo where you just pick a character, and go. Here you pick class, race, look's, skill's, stat's, attitude (like good, neutral, or evil), and even voice. I have also read a lot about it and it seem's like a lot of fun. I especially want to try the toolset and make my own level to play in. The online play also sounds great. All in all this sound's like a very fun game and I can't wait to try it.

Overwhelming

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 15 / 25
Date: January 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

All right, I've tried to get into this one about as much as a fan of the Forgotten Realms can, but, I just don't like it. Here's why: the game is overwhelmingly cluttered with... stuff! Normally, I'd never knock that in such a title. Morrowind, Warcraft, and some other older turned based titles had as much, if not more "stuff" to contend with while playing. Yet, Neverwinter lacks something in its delivery. There were too many times where I got disoriented by some column or building crossing between my character and my eyes that resulted in some minor attack catching me entirely off guard. The ability to modify/personalize your character and his equipment is too limited. Interactions between you and NPCs are frequently tedious and unrewarding. And for those who claim that the expansion packs or tool sets make-up for these frustrations; please note that I didn't give the game 1-star. Oh yeah, the music wasn't that bad either.

NWN-The REAL DEAL

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 21
Date: February 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you have a 10 year old computer then DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! But if you have a fairly new computer with a decent video card-(in other words, your system is set up to PLAY video games) and you loved playing the old Pen and paer Dungeons and Dragons-THEN BUY THIS GAME NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!!!!! BUY A FEW COPIES FOR YOUR FRIENDS TOO!!! This game is the ULTIMATE in D&D roleplaying adventure, and here's why: The Original Campaign is incredibly detailed and long to play--even if you "hack-N-slash your way through it. The second campaign is truly awesome as a stand alone adventure in its own right. I found the first Campaign somewhat slow to start out and skipped ahead to the second "Shadows of Undrentide" and it totally blew me away! A masterpiece in story-writing-plot. Now lets just suppose that you buy the game but neither plot appeals to you--there is an EDITOR that comes with it so you can make your own adventures for you and your friends to play! You can even move your Pen-N-Paper game into NWN and just play online! What's that? You don't know anything about computers--just how to play computer games?--Well you are still in luck!-There is a massive online gaming community with dare I say "Thousands" of talented people releasing quality modules all the time. I believe there are about 2300 modules available for download currently--but that number changes daily give or take a few--the point is, there are so many adventures to partake in that you will be playing this game for YEARS!!! There does not seem to be any slowing down this gaming community! It is comprable to say (please no one take this the wrong way) a medievil-fantasy "Sims" game! We ALL know how big the "Sims" has got over the years and how it has stayed big for so long--the gaming community that has created mods/haks/items/models etc. etc. This new edition of NWN GOLD is well worth the price! The original OC PLUS the first Expansion for the price of 1 and a half cd's!!! that is an offer you cant refuse! Take the chance, if you have problems with the game at first search the "Forums" and the community will have no doubt already have listed the solution to the problem--I've never really had many problems with the game--but then again I dont have a computer from "Bob's Basement Bargain Blowout"

Good Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: February 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is really a good game. but you have to have areally fast computer to play it but otherwise it is a good game. I have found the pregenerated characters to be useful, and i have found time and time again i hit the recommended button.

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