Mysteris of Westgate technically is a step backward from SoZ but its storytelling comes colse to MoB.

User Rating: 8.5 | Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate PC
By Warpld | Review Date:
It very well depends on what you are expecting from Mysteries of Westgate to either like the game or not. It is outdated, that's for sure and since it was developed before the other expansions of Neverwinter Nights 2, many of their improvements are lacking. Particularly missed is the party conversation system from Storm of Zehir. Your party members can no longer participate in a conversation, save for the leader. That is really bad, because throughout the game, you will make listen checks, spot checks, heal checks, lore, intelligence, bluff, intimidate, diplomacy, etc. and only your main character will be allowed to do them regardless of your rogue companion with +15 on Spot. That will force you to take some levels in every skill, loosing strength at what your character is really good at.

Travelling and resting are also reverted to as they were before Mask of the Betrayer, allowing you to heal and restore spells effortlessly, voiding of purpose spells like Restoration.

Strangely enough, this means that the camera is a bit less troublesome this time and your party AI is one notch less dreadful than before as it was only getting worse with every next installment, the apotheosis being the battle against Zehir's Herald where, as hard as the fight is, your worst enemy is your companions' AI which will frustrate you at every turn.

Apart from the technical aspect, Mysteries of Westgate is an engrossing adventure. The main story is intriguing and the side quests are numerous and fun. It seems a bit rushed, however. The game got plenty of time for development which is visible by lack of bugs (first time in Neverwinter :)), but it seems like the developers got bored with their creation at the end. What I mean is that the story starts galloping towards the end and finishes with a fight that is totally unexpected and the only explanation for it is something like "mere mortals cannot understand my motives". Then the end sequence is so lame and you don't even get the usual aftermath for your companions.

Speaking of companions, they seem to be underdeveloped, too. There is the influence system with them again which seems to serve no purpose save from some trivial dialog options and minor effects on side quests. They all have a story but it is told with a few lines when you first meet the characters and hardly anything new unfolds by the end. There is no mage in the game, either and since a mage is hardly anyone's preference for a party leader, I played the game without divine spells.

Now that I mentioned character creation, you start the game at level 8, but it ends at level 15. There is hardly time to create a fully developed prestige class character.

Wow! This turned up to be quite a negative review for a rather good game. It is just that the amending qualities of his adventure pack lie in its story and quests and I cannot tell much about those without spoiling your fun. You have to discover that for yourself. The game has a very thick atmosphere which was lost in Storm of Zehir. Besides, unlike the miserable dens in the previous expansion pack, Westgate feels alive.

I strongly recommend this game to all fans of D&D and this series in particular as well as hardcore RPG players.

Other Helpful Reviews for Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate

Load Comments (0)