If you can run it, you will most certainly like it! (long review)
AMD 64x Dual Core 4200
ASUS Nvidia 7900 GTX
2 GB DDR2
ASUS Crosshair Main Board
NOTE: this review is based on the 1.04 BETA version and only Single Player has been played
I am an RPGer. I'll play any rpg I can get my hands on, hoping somwhere I'll find my next Fallout or Baldur's Gate. It usually doesn't turn out that well, and I find myself trying to like some of the games out there just because I can't seem to find anything better.
With that said, after the original Neverwinter Nights (NWN from here on after) there were very few D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) based games that really managed to translate the intricate world of Faerun (this particular games' setting) into a PC. Temple of Elemental Evil was released in a rushed and unfinished state, and if it weren't for an extremely loyal and dedicated community, the game would have been forgotten and collecting shelf dust just a couple of weeks after release (there are now several fan made patches that have fixed many of the broken features included in the original version). So, after a very long wait comes the newest effort by BioWare/Obsidian. These guys have been making D&D RPG's for a while now, and certainly know what they're doing.
I should state that while I have read horrible reviews for NWN2, I believe they are mostly based on performance issues, so I wholeheartedly recommend that if you do not have a system that well surpasses the recommended setup, you should hold off trying this game out until you can experience it the way the developers envisioned it. I personally have not run into any such issues, and run the game at the highest settings with full anti-aliaising and anisotropic filtering, and it looks superb. My expectations were high though, as I admire the work the companies behind the franchise produce, and for the first time in recent memory, my expectations were not only met, but in many ways surpassed. As it is common fare for RPG's of this nature, you begin the game by selecting a race, a class (read= profession) , a name, and several other details that when added up, will produce the alter ego that will represent you in the world. The Character creation system is very well implemented in NWN2, making use of the D&D 3.5 ruleset, and while I would have liked a couple of more superficial options such as more varied looks and voice sets, what is there is more than acceptable and offers just enough variety for you to create the character you want. Ten minutes after creating a lawful good fighter, I experienced my first of many great moments with NWN2. After a brief conversation with your foster father you are tasked with competing in the town fair. As soon as I was outside my home, I completely lost myself to the beautiful visuals, that combined with some great medieval tunes and some excellent ambient audio, created a mood and atmosphere I haven't experienced since the sorely missed days of Infinity Engine games (Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment to name a few). I found that this competition actually works as a tutorial that expertly sets the mood and groundwork for a truly epic stroy that unfolds through roughly 50 to 70 hours of joyful gaming, depending on your playing style. Without spoiling the fun, I'll go on the record and state that while far from being the best ever, the storyline in NWN2 is among the elite of the genre. Even while the game's structure is very linear, the pacing is spot on, and the countless events you'll experience will at times fill you with that sort of addictive bliss that only RPG's deliver. In short, the tale will take you through a very long quest rife with adventure, combat , interaction, and just plain roleplaying fun. As stated, the game is structerd in a very linear way. In an almost formulaic equation, your character will talk to non playable characters (NPC's), recieve a quest, get a new area on your world map, and begin your journey to that destination while fighting enemies along the way. Later you will return with an item or piece of information that will allow you to continue the main quest and so on and so forth. While it may sound a tad boring, the true genius behind NWN2 comes in the form of character interaction between you, NPC's, and a host of other adventurers that will join you in your quest at your discretion. There are so many conversational options (that are usually relevant to your social skills, race, alignmenmt and other variables) to engage in with the characters that populate the world, that you'll soon come to appreciate the fact that you can spend more time learning about your companion's motivations and the world itself, rather than pointlessly walking from one dungeon to the next. This I believe is what roleplaying should be about, allowing you to react to the situations that unfold in the way that is most relevant to your character's traits. You can of course ignore a lot of the dialogue and skip right into the fight, adding even more options for how to deal with the events the game provides for you. In short, the game can truly be approached in a way that makes sense for your character and you will feel that your responses not only shape your character's personality, but also affect the way in which the game's inhabitants interact with you. It's worth mentioning that the voice acting is excellent, and more often than not, the actors' deliveries accurately convey the feelings NPC's are expressing. So, the story is fantastic, the visuals (on my system) superb, the audio and voice acting well superior to most other games on the market. So is there anything wrong with this game? I hear you ask. The answer is...it depends on what you're looking for. Levels are small. Beautiful, but small. Loading times are long and frequent, and combat while at times visually dazzling, could use more animations to break up the monotony. The user interface while versatile in that you can move windows around as much as you wish, still clogs the view and at times becomes intrusive. Another major gripe is the camera, but I have configured it in a way that's right for me and actually works great now that I've become used to it. All these things added up did not detract from my experience with the game. I managed to direct my attention towards the game's strengths and to an extent, forgot about the mentioned imperfections. Furthermore, Obsidian has done a commendable job in listening to their community and are diligently patching aspects of the game as I write this review. Is Neverwinter Nights 2 the right game for you? If you have a powerful computer, and can deal with a few rough spots here and there, and enjoy interacting with characters in a virtual world through an intricate and well told narrative, then by all means grab a copy right now. If on the other hand, your taste gears more toward open ended RPG's or action RPG's for that matter, there are many other games out there that will quench your thirst for adventure and provide you with a hassle free experience more attuned to your taste. In this reviewer's opinion, Neverwinter Nights 2 is a breath of fresh air that carries a slight taste of nostalgia. It is a game that brings back memories of past classics and retains the elements that made me fall in love with the genre in the first place.