BioWare, for once, lost itself in the pursuit of freedom.
1. A few more classes and races - typical selling point for expansion packs. if there's any company out there that's sensible enough, they should've include all those classes in the original game. as both a RPG and DnD fan, I would prefer to see a "class editor" included instead, even though I know it's never going to happen.
2. A new official campaign - and a massively disappointing one. The story doesn't live up to expectations. Its unimpressive, perhaps the least successful one in BioWare's entire history. Mostly because of the new "open world" exploring experience, you lose a great deal of familiarity when you play this game. As you travel through locations and switch between views, the most important element of any narrative form of art - continuity - is totally lost. No more memoriable cut-scenes. The main story line is easily forgettable, because it's not well crafted in the first place. Also, as you spent vast amount of time (not to mention loading times) hopelessly looking at the world map dominated by aimlessly wandering enemies, the endless levelling and pointless encounter battles enhances your boredom and reduces the already limited fun this campaign offers. Since I'm writing this review in 2010, one can look at Dragon Age Origins (also from BioWare) and maybe learn a lesson or two about how to make side quests and levelling an appalling fun rather than suicidal pain. Once the Storm of Zehir campaign is done, you would never want to play it again.(perhaps also want your money back) Zero replay value here.
The overlook map introduces a sense of old-school RPG with elements of exploration and strategy that is usually associated with games like Civilization and Sid Meier's Pirates, which feels extremely odd to the traditional NWN gameplay. The totally edible team doesn't work as well as it did in Ice Wind Dale series. The interface looks and feels awkward. 80% of the playing time would be meaningless for us story-lovers because of the dull quests. No character in this expansion will be remembered and the dialog has no highlight. Combat will provide little challenge and excitement, especially for those who played the epic campaign of Mask of Betrayer. The new elements does not fit into the overall environment. But worst of all, is the plain and boring story that disappoints, or annoys, loyal RPG lovers. Now at early 2010, only 1 year after its release, I can remember absolutely nothing about the overall storyline of this game. As someone who spent probably 30-40 hours in the game, this is quite pitiful.
One must admit, BioWare did a poor job with Storm of Zehir which could potentially ruin the entire great Neverwinter Nights franchise. A nice try for adding new elements into the series perhaps, as some of the lovers would state, but a big step backwards as an overall role play experience.