Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide

BioWare may have muffed the critical, but DM Logan Booker is satisfied with a hit.

Developers can't take a half-arsed approach to CRPGs when so many elements need to be combined to create a beautifully-woven masterpiece. While running around as a guy named Ryu with a magic sword his father gave him can be 'entertaining', it's hardly engaging, and his quest to slay the dragon (or become it) isn't one that'll stand out in your list of greatest achievements.

For this reason, it's good to know there are developers, like BioWare, that are more interested in crafting great games with deep plots and charismatic NPCs than banging out 'different', yet disturbingly similar titles. To date, BioWare has yet to release a flop -- even though the original Baldur's Gate wasn't everything people had expected -- and this is the same with its expansions. However, while these expansions have been solid, they've never been fantastic, and this trend continues with Shadows of Undrentide.

Those after a CRPG that closely follows the 3rd Edition ruleset for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons will get the most from this expansion. SoU adds a lot of content that should have been in the original game -- basic spells, a bunch of feats, skills and prestige classes; but more on these later.

For the hardcore hack-n-slash CRPG player who's never touched a character sheet or held a d20, there's less incentive to pick this sucker up. And here's why.

SoU contains a standalone campaign. You start out as a senior apprentice to a wizened dwarf named Drogan in a town called Hilltop. After a short introduction to a couple of new features (such as a ring that teleports you back to Drogan's home if you die, much like the portal stone), you're thrown straight into the story, as the old dwarf is poisoned in his own home by kobolds. The tale emulsifies.

After this, things quickly spread out and you'll have plenty of people to chat to and dungeons to crawl. Dialogue choices are much like those in the first game, and you can be as good or evil as you want. Unfortunately, being completely evil will fudge the game as it doesn't cater extensively for this -- as is always the case with CRPGs. More than a few times you'll be forced to play nice to keep the story moving.

The expansion is also designed for 1st-level characters. The level limit of 20 hasn't been removed or even increased, so forget about importing your stupendous NWN character.

You'll need to start a new avatar to get the most from SoU, and this might be enough to turn some players away who were looking to continue the adventure with their decked-out superheroes.

If you do persevere with a new character (or low-level one from the original game), there's much to enjoy. The range of new spells is a godsend and includes Bigby's selection of damaging fists, the awesome clerical Inflict wounds spells and True Strike, a staple 1st-level spells for magic user/fighters. There's also a great choice of new feats and skills, mostly made-up ones by BioWare, but there are a few, such as the skill Tumble and the feat Divine Might, which make the transition from paper to 'puter. There are even a few infamous prestige classes, such as the Arcane Archer, poorly balanced for pen-and-paper but reworked well for SoU. As mentioned before though, it's all things that should have been in the original.

Graphically, SoU changes little; however, the new creatures look more natural and 'rounded', and their animations are very fluid. With all the detail up, NWN is still nice, if a little spartan. This has more to do with the new tilesets (snow, desert and ruins) though than the engine. Complementing the prettiness is some good voice-acting, a variety of new, crisp sound effects, and a fresh heart-trembling music score, the quality of which is on par with Morrowind and Arcanum.

In the feature department there are no huge changes. The henchman system has seen tweaking; you can now equip your party as you see fit, as well as determine how and what classes they will take when they level, but other than this SoU plays identically to NWN. This goes for multiplayer as well.

Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide is a solid 'addition', rather than an expansion. It has everything you'd expect -- added abilities and things to kill/do -- but it's not likely to please those after more from their old characters or a continuation of the original story. Players who hunger for the new stuff for online dungeon-mastering, or a good story, it's a must.