Game, Book or Movie?

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In another thread, Catbert made explicit a feeling I have been having about NWN2:

The game has many movies, and many long dialogs that proceed in essentially the same direction no matter which options you select. Now, don't get me wrong, I like a good book, or a good movie, and the story is pretty good in NWN2 (except I'm pissed off that a certain someone has to bite the dust). But I was expecting more of a "game" feel to this thing. To be specific, I was expecting a "role-playing" game. I'm feeling a bit let down in that department.

As a caveat to that judgment, I have to admit that it took me a while to warm up to PST the first time, including getting used to awkward mechanics. And PST certainly had its share of long dialogs -- very "bookish." But for years now I have considered PST to be my favorite CRPG ever. I wonder how I'll feel about NWN2 once I finish it. Will it grow on me like PST? Or will it fail to deliver and start collecting dust like IWD/IWD2?

 

You nailed it. That's my complaint about KOTOR2 as well. I feel like so much of the criticism of that game fell on the horrible ending and no one spent enough time criticizing the movie-style plot. Obsidian has taken the exact same approach to NWN2.

It's downright silly at times, especially if you play super evil. The way you get saddled with every NPC, for example. They give you evil dialog options with them to the point where you're basically threatening their lives and yet they still gladly join your party and follow right along dutifully.

Unfortunately most of the criticism so far has been about the poor graphics performance and various bugs. What's that expression about trees and a forest. No one's seeing the forest here and I fear this is the future of CRPGs. If I wanted that I'd go out and buy an X-Box and just play Final Fantasy.

 

"X-Box and just play Final Fantasy."
You mean a Playstation and play FF . I agree about the plot. Don't get me wrong, I like it. A lot. Its been a while since I was interested enough to actually try and finish a game. But, on the other hand, once I finish it, I don't know how much replaying i'll be doing. Same as KOTOR I guess.

As for speculating if this style of storytelling is the future of CRPG's, I'd have to agree. Have you ever played M&M Dark Messiah? This style of action\rpg's have been steadily becoming the general norm. I guess I'm just happy that NWN2 has an interesting\amusing enough story\gameplay to make me feel as though I got my money's worth. Heck, I even recommend the game once it has some issues sorted out. Now, if the game had a campaign like NWN then I'd be right pissed off with Obsidian having made things so complicated for multiplayer and all.

That said, if a game came out in true 'book' fashion, I'd be happy so long as it is a good book and was long enough to make me feel like I was entertained and got my money's worth...

[ November 15, 2006, 07:21: Message edited by: Celesialraven ]

 

Hence the book mentality. Resist your homicidal urges and try playing it as good. Sure it keeps you on a rail, but at least then you might find yourself enjoying it somewhat.

The multiplayer that will get off the ground once people become proficient with the toolset and start pumping out modules. Sure, persistent worlds may not happen, but as with NWN, there WILL be plenty of single player modules. As a predominantly single player kind of guy, this particular fact doesn't irritate me as much as it may others.

 

Well, for the character who opted to play the blackguard or assassin prestige classes, this would seem like a let down. I think they should have put a disclaimer that evil characters are not recommended for the OC.

 

@Marceror
True that. It IS a pity that the game offers only a good 'good' path. Although, thinking back, the original goofed up in the same way. Now, although I'm enjoying the game, I too wonder what the hell Obsidian has been doing the few years. Perhaps another Eidos Austin situation where employees work in the equivalent of a fantasy land hotel and code whenever they feel 'up to it'?


This thread kind of reminds me of an old rivalry regarding a normal novel with a linear plot line and one of those 'chose your path' books that involved constant page flipping. While the latter offered more options, the former was much more engaging.