Isometric RPGs were a staple of PC gaming throughout the '90s and early 2000s. Classics like Baldur's Gate, Fallout and Icewind Dale still reign as memorable entries in the genre. The original Neverwinter Nights also saw success and is regarded by many as a greatly beloved classic. Its sequel, however, was not as well received.

At launch, Neverwinter Nights 2 was plagued with bugs and glitches that turned gamers away at the time. Along with the hilariously exploitable rules of the 3.5 edition of Dungeons & Dragons, there was a lot that the gaming community had to complain about. However, Neverwinter Nights 2 also had a lot going for it, and future expansions and patches would turn it into a truly grand experience.

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Neverwinter Nights 2 Was Ahead of Its Time in Several Ways

The Knight-Captain and his allies become trapped in the Fortress in Neverwinter Nights 2 Ending

Neverwinter Nights 2 featured a truly immersive and excellent story. The narrative was one of the few things that collected accolades almost universally, hooking gamers with its lush storytelling and deep characters. The game's plot is split into three distinct acts that build upon each other to tell the story. The protagonist, like so many RPG protagonists, starts from humble origins and is thrust into the heart of an adventure. As cliché as the beginning is, the story picks up steam quickly, embroiling the colorful cast in the story of the King of Shadows and his pursuit of destruction. The game itself ends on a cliffhanger that continues in the Mask of the Betrayer expansion, which also received recognition for its complex tale.

One of the most interesting pieces of the game is actually the inclusion of the Electron Toolkit, the level editing and modding toolset that came with the game. This was less common at the time as a feature and was widely lauded for exactly how in-depth it was. Granted, it was much more difficult to use than the Aurora toolkit that came with its predecessor, but it was far more powerful. The small but active modding community created tons of amazing content, including one of the earliest attempts to recreate Baldur's Gate in a new engine. An amazingly versatile tool for the time, it was incredibly influential.

The expansions for the game were also of note. Mask of the Betrayer, Storm of Zehir and Mysteries of Westgate were all incredibly unique in their stories and immersive. Each expansion brought improvements to the game itself and its own unique mechanics. Mask of the Betrayer is particularly noteworthy for its soul-devouring mechanic and the fact that it's set in areas of the Forgotten Realms that are seldom explored in the games of the time. It's also the conclusion to the base game, almost foreshadowing what would become something far more standard in video games in the future. The game boasted story and gameplay qualities that would only improve with time and new additions, fostering a sense of community in those who could push through and see the absolute gem that lay before them.

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Neverwinter Nights 2 Is Well Worth a Second Look

Sunblight fortress from Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden DnD campaign.

Ultimately, Neverwinter Nights 2 is a game that was built on an incredibly strong core. The story, characters and unique mechanics that came with each addition were gripping and incredibly interesting for players looking for something that truly felt like a D&D campaign to be played. The games replicate the feeling of an evolving D&D narrative, giving the player the experience of taking a character through multiple storylines within a group.

The worst that anyone can say about the game is that it's unpolished at its base. However, those rough edges have diminished over time as the expansions and patches made it far more stable. It also came into being at a time when isometric RPGs were becoming less and less prominent, and even this game was moving into more of a truly 3D space. Neverwinter Nights 2 is a fun, well-written experience that any lover of the genre could find enjoyment in.