One of the most complete RPGs available
Even to someone who is experienced with RPGs, Neverwinter Nights may seem a little intimidating at first. The instruction book is huge, and there seems to be so many character options that at first you may not know what to do. Any feelings of bewilderment will soon pass though as the game guides you step by step through character creation and also takes you through the basics of gameplay during the prologue. Having completed this you should have no problem going into the main adventure. There are many different character classes and many options within those character classes enabling you to hypothetically create hundreds of different characters, each one unique. The game is incredibly long so you won't end up doing this, but still it is good to have this ability as you can create a character perfectly suited to your gameplay style.
As said, the game is incredibly long, almost to the point where it becomes a little bit of a slog. The story is good, though in the second and third chapters takes a bit too long to progress. Perseverance is rewarded though, as the final chapter is a short and exciting experience that is full of tension. Also the potential abilities and spells that characters can gain as they become more powerful make all the tedious slogs through level after level of troll caves worth it in the end.
In terms of sound, Neverwinter Nights is good without ever being spectacular. It has a variety of different voice sets that you can choose from for your character though these are only really used in occasional phrases during combat. The voice acting for the NPCs is good, though at times seems a bit over-the-top and can become mildly annoying.
The graphics are what truly sets this game apart from its rivals. Each environment is different and looks really good, and all of the characters are detailed and attractive. This is what the Diablo games should have looked like. In terms of plot, Neverwinter Nights is inferior to Diablo 2, but in terms of appearance there is no comparison. This game is graphically stunning.
The included toolset and DM facility allow you to create unique adventures, though as someone with no programming ability I found this facility a bit intimidating. The game doesn't teach you how to use the toolset, and even after downloading several guides I still was unable to use it effectively. For someone skilled with this sort of program then it will be a major plus point though for the average gamer it is not really accessable. It is still cool to play through other peoples creations though.
This is a great game, and one that I have played through with different characters many times. While the plot is not spectacular, the variety of different ways that you can achieve what is needed to complete the quests is endless. There are also countless adventures that others have made using the toolset to play through and official expansion packs. This game will keep you occupied for months.
Plus it looks so damn good that you can't help but love it.