Company Obsidian Entertainment, releasing two additions to the Neverwinter Nights 2, it seems, finally played enough with the "Forgotten Realms" and threw all their energies to new projects - Alpha Protocol, and Fallout: New Vegas. However, to disregard one of the best role-playing games of recent years is not time yet.
Neverwinter Nights 2 as the first of the series, not just a game, but also a designer, through which virtually anyone can create their own adventure. Of course, doing it mostly artisans, enthusiasts, and in most cases, their creation of stars from the sky is not enough, but there are exceptions.
 | |  | In the underworld run by Westgate nonhumans of every stripe | | Big monsters in Mysteries of Westgate could be counted on the fingers |
Company Ossian Studios, founded by producer Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal Alan Miranda, loudly declared himself a smart module for the original Neverwinter Nights. This project has attracted the attention of a young studio Atari, and soon after the release of Neverwinter Nights 2 Canadians began work on the addition to it, dubbed Mysteries of Westgate. The development did not take long - as early as 2007 a module, designed for 15-20 hours of passage, was fully prepared, but due to problems with distribution publisher has decided to postpone the project indefinitely, and the hour brainchild Ossian Studios had to wait more than two years .
However, even Mysteries of Westgate will be on store shelves the day after the release of Neverwinter Nights 2, it would hardly have managed to hit our imagination. Forget about the mighty dragon, vast dungeons full of monsters and cunning traps, and even long pretentious conversation about the fate of "Forgotten Realms". Here everything is cheap and cheerful: the city in just one game, and the size of it is noticeably inferior Neverwinter from the original game, fights rarely exceed the scale of petty gangster showdowns, but from the conversations sounded at best a third. At first just wanted to ask the developers: how can they not ashamed to take money for this?
 | The party is selected as a motley company that cater simultaneously to all the comrades will not work. Winning the words and deeds the location of one partner, you will inevitably lose confidence in other |
But the first impression is deceptive.Still, in the role-playing games, we appreciate not only and not so much the technical bells and whistles - even after the beauties of Mass Effect is not easy to observe the conversations devoid of even a hint of mimicry of voiceless Churbanov - how much plot, atmosphere and colorful characters. And in this respect, Mysteries of Westgate will not concede, and most eminent competitors. Let the town itself does not strike Westgate sizes, but the concentration of notable places and events in the unit of space is impressive.
Story begins quite banal. Protagonist as a child did not explain that you should not take without asking is bad lie in foreign treasuries, unidentified artifacts, because of what he suffered. Having taken on the occasion of the magical mask, poor man suddenly discovered that he could not get rid of it. And the right would be just that - my goodness does not pull his pocket - but that's coming bundled with finding a fleeting vision worry in earnest. In general, like it or not, and should remove the curse, but it will have a lot of sweat.
After consulting with knowledgeable people, our hero is sent to the crime capital "Forgotten Realms" - gloomy Westgate. Getting off the ship's gangway at the city marina, the protagonist finds himself in the heart of criminal intrigue, seasoned with a good portion of the mystics. Particularly outspoken on the plot Mysteries of Westgate is not worth waiting, but he keeps in suspense, and every now and then surprises.
 | *** |
Since the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons is considered that the classic adventuring party should consist of a warrior, rogue, priest and mage. The first bell cuffs enemies and takes on strikes, the second reveals the locks, traps and removes zabaltyvaet companions, a cleric is a walking first aid kit, and the magician takes the function of artillery. In Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate accompany the protagonist's wish to only three characters - a thief, a warrior and a priestess. Thus, developers are gently pushing players to the choice for the role of the protagonist Maga or other expert arcane arts.
On the streets of Westgate unwritten rule gangs, the most dangerous of which are considered "Night Masks" - it is easy to guess, it is with them and the related secret clingy artifact. To find out the secrets of the gang, we need allies - you can enlist the support of competitors Night Masks or local clergy. This will be the first but not the last big decision that affects all future developments. Surprisingly, even the side quests, of which the game a lot, constantly forced to choose between what is right and self-interest. And indeed criminal clashes - it quite dirty, so get Mysteries of Westgate, maintaining clean hands and conscience, is virtually impossible.Will have to beat out the necessary information from informants, to track down and eliminate the traitors, to investigate the murder and to raid enemy safe houses ...
The game constantly presents us with ethical dilemmas. Sometimes unpretentious - a steal zolotishko corrupt nobleman or killed him, quietly endure from his home all valuables. And sometimes a very serious choice in the spirit of grim alternatives, rose before the hero of Planescape: Torment, which is at stake is the life of satellites hero. Latest failed developers to fame, although their images and are restricted by the classic fantasy archetypes. But everyone on a large skeleton in the closet and their own opinions on all matters that will be an occasion for a lot of funny dialogue and heated debate. In general, all grown-up.
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate argues convincingly that even with a modest budget, but rich in imagination, you can create a completely old school RPG in the best tradition of the series Baldur's Gate - with non-linear quests, vivid characters and intriguing detective story.
| *** |
Starting work on Mysteries of Westgate, the authors were going to move the game events in the country Rusholme, where the bears roam the streets, and witches prefer to live in huts on chicken legs. However, the "fantasy Rus became the site of the first official addition to the Neverwinter Nights 2 - Mask of the Betrayer, and the Canadians had to change plans on the fly.
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