Neverwinter Nights 2: Hooked Gamers NWN 2 Review: 9/10

Hooked Gamers has the latest review of Neverwinter Nights 2. They have awarded it a score of 9/10 citing its replayability and overall gameplay as major high points:

It is incredibly difficult to explain why this game is so great without spoiling it. Sweeping, dramatic encounters later in the game are burned into my memory; Chapters 2 and 3 contain some of the best game material I have ever had the privilege to play. The actions of party members, guided by how you treat them, are even sweeter when they stand beside you - or bitter when they betray you. Only two things keep Neverwinter Nights 2 from being a 'perfect' RPG in my mind - pacing issues with the first Chapter, and some technical bugs and difficulties (many of which have already been addressed in patches). There is also a minor issue with a few artistic images being displayed instead of cut-scenes, but that is perhaps personal preference. To further illustrate how much I enjoyed this game, let me share with you this one little tidbit: Xfire has recorded me playing the game for 83 hours, and I have only played the campaign portion. From what I have experienced of the toolset, it is even more powerful than the one included with the original Neverwinter Nights - I fully expect to see at least as much player-made content for Neverwinter Nights 2.

Beyond its triumph as a game, Neverwinter Nights 2 also represents a triumph to two companies - Atari and Obsidian. Atari and Obsidian have a somewhat checkered past from past games they have published and developed. The Temple of Elemental Evil, a turn-based Dungeons & Dragons RPG, was released in an unfinished format - with many quests broken due to the removal of certain elements from the game. As the publisher, Atari was somewhat to blame (as was the now-defunct Troika). Obsidian suffered from a similar problem with Knights of the Old Republic 2. While overall it was a very strong offering, the entire game broke down into an ending that felt rushed and incomplete. Together, there was some speculation as to whether Atari and Obsidian could pull off a complete game. As you have read, I believe Neverwinter Nights 2 to be a masterpiece - in my mind, both companies have proved themselves to me. I fervently hope to see an expansion in the near future.