Will you get Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
They apparently messed up Baldurs Gate by adding their own characters and story elements to it. Don't really trust any company that would do something like that to a classic.
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Can't agree they messed up Baldurs Gate. I've over 150 hours on the enhanced version and think it's an improvement on the original (which I have on CD & GOG) but each to their own ..
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So, four skippable, optional NPCs and the addition of a skippable, optional, stand-alone challenge mode are enough to ruin a game for you? :S
Putting aside their optional nature, everyone I know (who played the EE and discussed it with me) liked the new additions. Even the new expansion, Siege of Dragonspear, only got criticism due to including non-heteronormative characters (ergo, the overwhelming trend for criticisms of the game is in them being applied for the absolute most tasteless and unconscionable of reasons).
In a more frank consideration of the matter, there've been resolution mods for all the classic games available for a long time now, so presumably anyone wanting the Enhanced Edition was wanting something a bit different with the EE anyway (even if their main focus was on the update to the Baldur's Gate 2 engine and classes).
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For me, I would never buy another thing they worked on. Because their, "improvements," are, "garbage."
SJWism is a cancer, some people cannot eat a cancer cake without tasting the cancer. If there was a simple toggle to turn off everything Beamdog did, and just get the game as it was, then it would be fine. Picking out the cancer is annoying, but you can still eat.
I wanted the classic game with the ability to easily play it on a modern system. Perhaps some clean up to the graphics. That's all. I got non-RPG social justice walking simulator added into the middle of my classic RPG.
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For me, I would never buy another thing they worked on. Because their, "improvements," are, "garbage."
that is so completely exaggerated. never buy anything from them ever again, because... they put some optional stuff in it and tried to improve the game a little? seriously? ^^
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In a world where there is literally the magic to change genders, they added some assclown who chose to, "live as another gender." Instead of just being the other gender. There are literally mages that could make them switch genders. Hell, I have gotten the cursed ring that does it.
That kind of shit writing is an insult.
They did not try to improve it, they tried to preach their politics. Their politics have no place here. They don't respect the lore and the setting of the games they meddle with.
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I do realize it.
The part you had difficulty with was a kinda shit analogy of their crazy political preaching being a nugget of cancer that they have thrown into a cake that someone else made. I like cake. But I don't like a chunk of cancer in it. I don't like cancer at all.
Some people are okey with cancer, they can swallow it. I can't.
If Beamdog had a toggle to turn off literally everything they changed about the game it would be less unappealing.
I could eat the cake if I could pick out the cancer.
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The same. I really enjoyed Neverwinter Nights 2, but the first, not so much.
I'm sure it's a very good game with a solide story, but in NWN1 you play with one or two characters only (perhaps there are mods to play with 4-6 characters, but hey, mods). I like to play a team with a diversity of skills (tank, rogue with lockpicking, hunter, healer, mage, etc).
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The original campaign in NWN1 was bad. Essentially all chapters were the same: get a hub area with the inifinite heal and shops, and 3-4 areas opening from it, where you have to fight through 1-2 screens of common mobs, before entering one large-ass dungeon to retrieve the fragment of the current McGuffin. The worst part is probably when you realise that the 5000-year-old relic that was supposed to be spread around the four corners of a vast ancient empire that covered half the continent, has now all of its parts in four corners of the woods right next to Neverwinter. We had to cover a larger area even in Icewind Dale, and that thing took place in a secluded valley.
But the two expansions are awesome. Whenever I reinstall NWN1, I only play those two, and maybe some better short modules.
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Ah, that's good to know that the expansions are good. I remember trying NWN1 a century ago, that was after playing NWN2, but I quit fast from boredom (and the 1-2 characters gameplay).
A few months ago, the full game (NWN Diamond) was given for free on GOG, so I tried again, and quit for the same reason. I might give it a last try when my backlog allows me to do so, and play the expansions first.
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This.
The base game was such a disappointment after Baldur's Gate I & II. The expansions were way more fun, too bad the engine was still clunky and annoying.
Neverwinter Nights 2 and the expansions were so great by comparison; I sank so many hours into it, both the campaigns and on some online servers.
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We had to cover a larger area even in Icewind Dale, and that thing took place in a secluded valley.
In fairness, the close-knit nature of the region really helped mesh Icewind Dale's lore together and build a distinct setting atmosphere. Then again, a large secluded valley is still a bit broader in reach than a single city and its immediate surrounding region.
..of course, Planescape: Torment managed to do just fine with similar restraints, so clearly, the scope of region wasn't to blame for NWN's campaign shortcomings. :P
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The OC for NWN 1 was barebones and boring compared to the expansions (which were both quite good). The real meat of the game, however, was in the countless mods which the Community created for it. The EE is supposed to be backward compatible, so that aspect is addressed.
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+1 retro wuhu :D
It's great, i hope the second part comes back. ^^
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The developers mentioned in the Twitch stream last night that there would be bug fixing and some development of the game moving forwards but were a bit hazy about detail ;)
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As a rule, the EEs focus on adding only improved resolution features (unlike unofficial resolution patches, these tend to have much better UI scaling) and updates to graphical features (ie, by adding more modern post-processing elements). Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale also updated to the Baldur's Gate 2 engine and character classes, but you could manage that modification unofficially even before the EE released for those games.
Generally, the primary reasons to get the EE of an infinity engine/aurora engine game would be 1: You didn't get a chance to get an earlier version of the game in question or 2: You're wanting access to any new expansion content the EEs may release.
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Initially it will not be on steam but apparently it will be released on Steam at a later date and when it does owners will get a Steam key if they want one
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No, it is an isometric level-based cRPG, and it mostly implements the D&D 3.5 rules faithfully. Skyrim is a first-person open-world dungeon-crawler ARPG with a unique ruleset. The only common thing in them is that both love to use randomised loot tables as a reward system and that the original campaign in NWN was also an endless dungeon crawler (the two expansion packs tell a different story and use different plot and world building).
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I'll get it once it's on decent sale, but I already own the Diamond Edition through GOG and that'll fulfill my plague-eradicating needs until then.
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Have NVN Diamond on disc and on GOG. Never enjoyed the game that much to be honest (quit playing somewhere in act 2), but my wife loves it, so will probably get it at one point.
Pretty short list of improvements for an "Enhanced edition" though - nothing that a few fan patches don't already do. No point in preordering either, since there is no incentive.
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One incentive for pre-ordering is that you get a chance to take part in the Beta. Depends on whether you are interested in that or not ..
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FYI: The original campaign is a glorified tutorial up through the middle of Act 2. You stopped playing just before the game gets interesting. The expansions are loads better, and the Community-made mods are even better than those. (There are literally thousands of them.) You can safely skip the OC and just start with Undrentide.
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I may buy it, once it gets on GOG. Have all their other EE versions there as well, along with the original versions.
By the way, isn't one of those premium modules the one where you pretty much need to level to like level 50 to even hope to finish, because later dungeons have base enemies with 1k HP or worse?
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The second expansion, Hordes of the Underdark, is based at level 20+ if I remember correctly. There are Community-made mods that require high-level toons, but I can't think of one off the top of my head that is geared toward level 50's. I know that the persistent-world mods (i.e. NWN MMO's) often require full parties of max-level toons for completion, but those are in a class by themselves. You could check out Higher Ground - Path of Ascension for an example.
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That like to dislike ratio on the game trailer: https://youtu.be/_exxVIpfA3s
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You're not alone. I don't know anyone who liked the core campaigns. I mean, I wouldn't say we disliked them, but most of us found them too boring to play outside of co-op, and even then, it was mostly just for the sake of having something to play together.
Rather, it was the player-made campaigns that people played NWN for- as the game developed, some pretty engaging scenarios got developed. In fact, if you were willing to move past single-player or playing with friends, some of the static servers ended up featuring pretty impressive homebrew gameplay mods, and some even hosted player-influenced living-world content updates.
Put another way, it ended up following the Bethesda game formula, but with more emphasis on RPG mechanics and less on exploration elements. :P (Of course, while it launched even more buggy than a Bethesda game, it saw official patching and mechanic improvements- so in that sense, entirely unlike a Bethesda game.)
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I was quite happy to see the news release, and then quite disappointed when I got around to watching the trailer.
Graphics have literally not shifted an inch, unlike other remakes from that era (MDK2, Halo, for example). Looks like a few minor enhancements, and that doesn't really justify the price tag for the regular version, never mind that Beamdog have a Digital Deluxe one for 39.99, including 3 Premier modules and some portraits.
Poor graphics enhancement, minor enhancements, charging 20 for a game that costs 6-7 right now (Diamond Edition), having a 40 Deluxe version - all are not good signs, I am sorry. Don't get me wrong, I like what they did with the Infinity engine games, but this seems like a rushed job, and a potential cash grab. I would have loved an Enhanced version of something a bit more different, license issues notwithstanding - Temple of Elemental Evil, Lionheart, Arcanum.
I do understand why they went with NWN, since it will likely sell well either way just on the strength of the modding community and the fond memories people have from various servers back in the days. Here is a look at Beamdog's estimated chronological Steam sales, just to confirm that they do need another serious seller:
plus the Siege of Dragonspear expansion for BG1, which even at 10% would have outsold Planescape as it stands.
Steam page is up, confirming DLCs and even a portrait pack (!) will be a thing.
Press release and FAQ are also up, with more information and screenshot comparisons.
Finally, Lilura has a write-up on the game, including a summary of the Twitch stream last night.
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license issues notwithstanding - Temple of Elemental Evil, Lionheart, Arcanum.
Mm, well, let's consider those.
Temple of Elemental Evil
The IP is currently controlled by Hasbro, who also controls NWN, NWN2, Demon Stone, Dragonshard, and Icewind Dale 2. (I'm unclear if they transferred publishing rights to Baldur's Gate, BG2, and Icewind Dale 1, but they also originally used to control those properties before allowing Beamdog to work with them.) This one seems a very plausible candidate, now that the more recognizable games have been processed. Certainly a far less recognizable game than NWN, so it's understandable why it was skipped over for that game.
Lionheart
After Interplay's IPs were scattered through various sale, Lionheart appears to have been retained by the company- which may mean Interplay may expect a full purchase of the IP before handing it over. Unlikely to see EE soon, especially given the IP's lack of popular recognition.
Arcanum
One of Troika's properties that fell into Activision's grubby hands after Activision helped sink Troika. Given Activision's careless IP management habits, this one has very low odds of being licensed out or sold off.
While, at the least, ToEE and Icewind Dale 2 still seem reasonable possibilities, there's no promise we'll even get those (and, considering how we're moving further and further from games that benefit from rereleases, that may be a good thing). After all, as early as 2013- before the first Overhaul remaster even released- Beamdog discussed wanting to work on Baldur's Gate 3. Since then, they've repeatedly discussed wanting to shift focus over to first-party IP development. If they ever make progress on those plans, we may finally see a company other than Obsidian releasing new classic-minded isometric RPGs.
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Icewind Dale 2
I understand the issue with this is that the source code has been "lost"? I know Beamdog have been appealing to anyone with access to it to contact them. Obviously there are (c) issues etc. they would still need to navigate but without the source code I gather it's a non-starter for Beamdog.
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True. I was focusing on just the licensing considerations, and that'd completely slipped my mind.
It's a pity- I had a lot of fun modding ID2, despite what a slapped-together mess the engine for it was.
Despite that, I never managed to get anyone to play it co-op with me [by comparison, I think I've beaten the original game 8 or 9 times, and about two-thirds of those runs were co-op'd], so a polishing of it could have finally been the thing to get my friends to set aside the time for it.
Though, what I truly want to see revamps or, even better, sequels to are the console-exclusive Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance/Champions of Norrath games. Along with Icewind Dale, the Dark Sun games, some classic console RPGs (eg, Link to the Past, Chrono Trigger), and VtMB, those are some of the [non-MMO] games I've put the most time into over the years. Of course, Snowblind faltered in quality with Justice League Heroes and War in the North, and now they got merged into Monolith (who does Shadow of Mordor), so even putting aside licensing and porting considerations, it seems a lost cause. Still, those games were a beautiful hybridization of Diablo-style gameplay and D&D atmosphere in the style of the Infinity Engine games.
Hence, my hopes are pinned on the Gold Box games (which include the Dark Sun games) getting revamps or remakes- and perhaps finally coming out with a version of the Dark Sun games that are bug-free enough to actually allow you to be able to complete them (without getting one of the game's many, many critical progression bugs). :P
Seeing as GOG owns those licenses, there might be a bit more openness to the idea than if a major publisher had them tucked away forgotten in a corner.
Still, as I noted above, the idea of Beamdog introducing some new games in that style (and the hope that they'll pull them off as well as Obsidian's games or the current Shadowrun series of games) isn't an unappealing outcome, either.
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Had a retail box back in the day, never finished it. Never really got into it at all, tried several times and left it after chapter 1.
AFAIK, NWN was sought after by party-rpg-players because it had Aurora Toolset which enabled you to create your own adventure and host it for friends... not for the campaign itself.
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That and the amazing roleplaying servers that existed and still exist. I played NWN off and (mostly) on for 10 years because of the deeply involving stories created by players and DMs. I am hoping this gives it a much-needed shot in the arm:)
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Never, ever pre order. Games don't sell out anymore...
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"Enhanced Edition" that doesn't upgrade the butt-ugly graphics but scales the UI and the character portrait you got off Deviantart up to 4k. Classic CRPG "upgrading". The only thing in there that might interest me is that they could release new campaigns for it.
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I didn't, because I prefer screens with smaller resolutions. The problem here is not that they upgrade the UI for higher resolutions (it's a good thing they do it), it's that they upgrade only the UI and that the rest of the graphics still look terrible.
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I am hoping this gives a much-needed shot in the arm to the online roleplaying community. The original NWN was the best (and (today only) place that exists for serious player-developed stories and changing, evolving worlds.Since these were persistent worlds you could play characters whose stories lasted for literal years.Nothing else quite like it, really.There's a few diehards on the remnants of the once proud serverlist and every once in awhile friends invite me back but I haven't really played in about 3 years.
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I fully expect to buy this, but not as a pre-order. I'm tired of being ripped off.
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It's rare I do pre-order but the exceptions are for these type of games. The last pre-order I did was Legends Of The Sword Coast & I wasn't disappointed. It is as you indicate a gamble :)
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People say it was the best multiplayer experienece ever made. I never had the chance to play this one. The 2nd one was okay, quite interesting, but full of bugs. The expansions (not DLCs, expansions) of the 2nd neverwinter were high quality too.
I'll follow this with interest
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I have a mixed feelings. On one side I really REALLY loved this game. On the other side, after baldurs gate ee etc, I'm little mad at all " Enhanced Edition" bullshit. I have those games on cd/dvd (sometimes in 2 or 3 copies), but if I want to have it on Steam I have to pay full price for what modders did long ago - for free and often better.
Add to this fact that I live in rather poor country (and for me 20$ seems to be 3-4 times more)
From what I saw on ss this game still looks like sad early 3D, so is there anything that is worth paying those 20$?
So I guess I will wait for decent sale or some Humble Bundle miracle. :/
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Beamdog have just announced they are releasing Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Version:
https://www.beamdog.com/products/neverwinter-nights-enhanced-edition
I remember purchasing the original when it first came out and my wife loved it so guess I'll be persuaded into buying this version too :)
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