inconsequential ruminations

A minimalist blog, with a pretentious title, about strategy games.

Neverwinter Nights

with 4 comments

I installed my first full video game for ages yesterday. A few years ago I was rabidly into video games, about as much as I am now into board games, but they got very samey and I hate how solitary they are. However, I decided I needed a release when I am bored of reading the web and there is nothing on television, so I installed Neverwinter Nights.

So far it has just what I hoped for:

  • Beautiful graphics.
  • Better interface than Icewind Dale.
  • I feel refreshed and healthy afterwards, unlike after a long session with a first person shooter.
  • It is easy to pick up and put down, unlike online shooters or hectic RTS battles.
  • A rich storyline.
  • Reasonable commitment requirements (40 hours) – unlike Everquest.

Written by Iain

July 14th, 2004 at 2:10 pm

Posted in boardgames

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4 Responses to 'Neverwinter Nights'

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  1. Well this is going to sound very ignorant but what is a “video” game? I assume it is some sort of computer game but what differentiates it from the rest? Does it need a dedicated machine? In any event, I think you only need one PC game in any collection – Civilisation – which I could play for hours if I had the time (and judging by some of the websites devoted to it there is a large crowd of people who do just that, 24×7). As it is, I haven’t touched it for over a year. Maybe when I retire…..

    Michael Longdin

    14 Jul 04 at 17:13

  2. I tried Neverwinter Nights, too, but found it lacking. It offered surprisingly little that those good old computer RPGs I played on Amiga didn’t. Sure, it looks better and is larger, but it still has the same flaws. I can’t immerse myself into a world so clearly artificial.

    Knights of the Old Republic is somewhat similar (also by Bioware), but based on Star Wars world. That’s more interesting, but even that didn’t hold my attention, much for the same reasons.

    NetHack is still the king of the computer RPG scene.

    Best game recently is Patrician III - micromanagement in Hansa period – but it too takes too much time like Civilization (brilliant game, though, especially the first game which is a true classic amongst computer games) so I don’t play it these days. Most of my video game time (oh, I use word video game to cover PC, console and arcade games) is nowadays spent beating the living hell out of various Nintendo characters (that is, playing Super Smash Bros Melee on GameCube).

    Mikko

    15 Jul 04 at 08:10

  3. I too use the term video games to cover PC, console and arcade games.

    I was playing Neverwinter Nights again last night. It really is a pleasant way to spend the time. It got quite tense when a Giant Spider poisoned my fighter and I realised I had not saved my game in ages. The music is soothing and I find the graphics atmospheric and not too artificial.

    Mikko: It’s interesting you like NetHack. I might have enjoyed it ten years ago, but it looks pale compared to modern stuff. It sounds like you have played a lot of computer RPGs, whereas Icewind Dale was the first I really enjoyed. I am not yet jaded. :o )

    Iain

    16 Jul 04 at 12:35

  4. NetHack tingles my sense of humour. It’s also very deep game. I’ve never been one to dismiss a game because it looks bad, too – I actually find NetHack rather functional and will refuse to play it with graphics. It’s the ASCII or nothing.

    Neverwinter Nights does look good but world just doesn’t seem real and that bothers me. My computer RPG experience is older – stuff like Eye of the Beholders, old AD&D games like Pools of Radiance, Dungeon Master… I’ve missed all the Baldur’s Gates and stuff like that, I didn’t play much computer games at that point.

    Mikko

    17 Jul 04 at 09:51

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