While the first official expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights was good in that it added new and more powerful character classes, the story seemed tired and was over way too quickly. This is not the case with Hordes of the Underdark.

HotU has quite a dark story, full of mysterious places and characters and enemies that are far more disturbing then any previously seen in Neverwinter Nights or Shadows of Undrentide. The plot is engaging, and draws you in from the start. Plot has been the weakest element in previous NWN games, and it is pleasing that finally the writers have come up with a gem. It features new enemies alongside the traditional skeletons and dragons, and has several new ways of disposing of them (I particularly loved the 'traditional methods' used for slaying vampires). The story is an epic adventure, featuring intriguing characters and large scale battles, and will keep you entertained for far longer than the disappointing SoU.

HotU adds new epic character classes to the base and champion classes that already existed, meaning that you can create some truly powerful characters. Of course these also add more possibilities for character creation, further allowing you to create your own truly unique characters.

Another major plus point is the addition of multiple henchmen whos inventories you now have access to. Finally you don't have to stick with your henchmans poor starting weapon or armour, instead giving them new powerful items and allowing them to become powerful allies. You can also instruct them on what elements of their character you wish for them to specialise in, so that you are able to create a more rounded fighting unit, and utilise different party members skills best.

HotU also introduces the concept of crafting weapons and armour from base items, which is a cool addition though to be honest you will never be able to craft anything better than some of the items you find during the game, so this is only really useful as a money spinner when playing in the single player campaign.

The sound is excellent throughout the campaign, using subtle background music to add tension as well as dramatic pieces to heighten the excitement during grand battles. The voice acting is also a step forward, as none of the characters ever become irritating to listen too. Most NPCs have a lot more to say in this game, and some are at times genuinely funny. The script and sound departments really have excelled themselves with this project.

HotU is a must for any NWN fan, as it has all of the original games positves, and eliminates many of its negatives. The single player story is exciting and worth playing through many times. Plus for the fans of the toolset and DM facilities there are many new environments available with this expansion pack that can be used when crafting your own adventure. If you own Neverwinter Nights then this expansion pack is a must buy, as it adds so much and finally delivers the fantastic story that the previous two games just failed to.