Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer

PAX 2007 Preview

Mask of the Betrayer picks up the story where Neverwinter Nights 2 left off ... sort of. Obsidian paid a lot of attention what fans of NWN2 wanted and incorporated those wishes into the next iteration in the franchise. The result is a PC title from Atari and Obsidian that will certainly please fans of the series while giving newcomers to the license plenty to get excited about.

Atari showed off the title at the Penny Arcade Expo in the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

The game follows a new major event, but players can bring over their characters from NWN2, or create new ones, level them up and then take off on the new adventure. There are two new base classes and six new races. There are new characteristics (such as hair) to allow for deeper customization. There are five prestige classes, which will be available to all character classes. Examples of the new classes are the favored soul and spirit shaman. Other new classes are the Invisible Blade, Red Wizard (must be human and non-good), Sacred Fist (think spellcasting monk) and Stormlord (deals thunder and lightning damage and can imbue weapons with electricity).

With 20-30 hours of gameplay and more than 120 minutes of new music and ambient effects, the should sparkle, both on the graphic front as well as appealing to the aural senses.

There are also different planes of existence. Not only will players be able to adventure on the prime material plane, but they will be able to enter the shadow plane to fight monsters that are not visible on the prime plane.

Other new features include new outdoor and indoor tilesets, new spell chants, more than two dozen new monsters, six epic spells, and a more advanced AI . There are a couple of different camera modes, allowing for strategic viewing of the battle scenario or an individual character mode that brings in the action up close.

Influence will play a larger part in this game as well. The demonstration of the game showed a party system reminiscent of Baldur’s Gate. Players can be very involved with party members, building influence and even convincing them to think along your lines.

Mask of the Betrayer is a lot more story driven and there is a lot more dialogue in the game. The spell effects showed not only solid graphical elements, but also a bit of a wry sense of humor.

NWN2: Mask of the Betrayer is targeting a late September or early October release.