" This game finally delivers what we've been waiting for since the 3rd edition rules came out, a fun and easy computer RPG. "

      Title: Neverwinter Nights by Infogrames

      Format: Role Playing Game for the PC

      Reviewing Monkey: Chimpan-A

      The Hype: Promising us innovative D&D action, Neverwinter Nights promised to bring us what we've never had before: "The power to create universes". Touted mostly as a tool for making campaigns by players, the game came with its own 60+ hour campaign. Make your saving throw and read the review.

      What This Monkey Thought...

      Graphics: The graphics for this game are great. The characters are 3D polygonal and move very nicely. The animation is done well and there are few clipping errors to be found. The environments look awesome, generally very fitting for the scene. The levels are well made, with a proper twists and turns to the dungeons. It would have been nice if the characters had reflective clothing. When I put on a jacket I want to see myself wearing that jacket, not a generic jacket. The equipment is semi-reflective, but only for certain items. 4 out of 5

      Sound: The music is great; it catches the mood quite well. The voice work is sketchy though; there is the occasional iffy performance from some of the cast. On the whole, it's not awful to listen to though, so I wouldn't worry overmuch about the need for earplugs. The sound effects are decent, if not overly impressive. Everything sounds like it should (assuming you know what a 12 foot demon lord should sound like when he's bringing his sword of fire crashing down on your head). 3 out of 5

      Playability: The official campaign is actually a very well written bit of gaming. After the vast disappointment that was Pools of Radiance, it's very nice to see a 3rd edition D&D game done right. The rules have been converted slightly to better fit the medium, but for the most part they're all in there. Even better, it all works well. All of the converted feats and abilities work well in the game. The instruction manual covers what all of them do, for those unfamiliar with Dungeons and Dragons rules. It shouldn't take too long to get used to and those of us who've been playing D&D games since the gold box days should have no problems. The control scheme is quite easy to use. It basically consists of a radial menu, used to navigate through the various character options. It can be a little frustrating when you miss the option you were looking for, but it doesn't happen that often. The game flags a little under system duress and the requirements are a little bit high. 4 out of 5

      Multiplayer and Replayability: Here's where the thick of it lies, the multiplayer ability. The game comes with its own matching service in the program and finding a game to play is quick and easy. The toolset is relatively easy to use, although it's not idiot-proof, so you may need some practice to get good with it. To really get good with it, you may need some knowledge of scripting. Still, once you've got other people playing in one of your games, the DM controls are excellent. Allowing for a lot of modifications, on the fly. It's quite a powerful toolset and the replay value soars through the roof with its presence. 4.5 out of 5

      Story/Dramatics: The official campaign follows a story about Neverwinter being beset by a mysterious cult. The cult starts off by causing a plague in the town. Once you've finally dealt with that, you go on the hunt. The story is well done, with a surprising amount of drama involved. Of course, future stories all depend on what you want to put in it. 4 out of 5

      The Verdict:

This game finally delivers what we've been waiting for since the 3rd edition rules came out, a fun and easy computer RPG. Not only that, but with the ability to have a DM on hand, this game really starts getting us back to the old Pen and Paper days. There are a few niggling problems here and there that keep it from attaining perfection, but overall the game is highly recommended.

      The Good: An awesome D&D rules conversion for a computer game. Amazingly flexible toolset for world creation.

      The Bad: You don't see what you're wearing, some lagginess under slow systems.

      The Overall Ugly: Well worth the money, especially if you're a member of the mod community.

      What it's Worth: Market.