A cursed mask and a town that seems to harbor every kind of opportunistic creature the Forgotten Realms can spawn – these are the beginnings of the new Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion, Mysteries of Westgate.

Developer Ossian Studios and publisher Atari released this expansion at the end of April, and while the game seems to be a step backwards from the expansion Storm of Zehir, MoW still offers a solid fix for NWN fans.

Okay, in all fairness, there is a reason that MoW seems a bit of a backwards step from Storm – the expansion was actually ready for release in 2007 but digital rights management put the game in a sort of limbo and Storm was actually released first. While it seems that the dev team could have revisited the game, pulled more of the fragmented story lines together and generally add another layer of polish, the game was released without any of that – just like the state it would have been in back in 2007. In that regard, Mysteries of Westgate suffers a little bit.

This solo adventure begins rather abruptly, not with the smooth transition into the Forgotten Realms that Storm of Zehir gave NWN 2 fans. A cut scene explains that the mask you have found once belonged to the guild of thieves and assassins known as the Night Masks, and that not only is it cursed, but you are getting nightmares from possessing it. Your task is to get rid of the mask – it seems to be that simple, but the game is not merely a question of inquiring about the guild, then finding an existing member and handing it over.

While the mask is apparently causing some discomfort, there is no bonus to possessing it, nor even anything that hampers you when it comes to the adventure. It is merely a plot device that does nothing more that fire off the starting gun to begin the adventure. Westgate itself is an intriguing place, worthy of more in-depth exploration with the potential to provide the fodder for numerous adventures. Unfortunately, though there are some side quests, the depth of the city and scum that inhabit it do not seem to get their due attention.

At this point, one might think that MoW fails on almost every level – but that is simply not the case. The game may have a disjointed storyline, but there are moments where humor shines through, and the game does take a few interesting plot twists. And the exploration of the city zones, the underground areas where the trolls abound, hold that sense of joyful discovery that make an RPG worth playing.

However, if you have cut teeth on Storm of Zehir, you will feel totally spoiled because the party system improvements in Storm are missing. Yes, as you adventure, you will pick up three companions, but these all come developed. But the expansion does capture the undercurrent of the Neverwinter Nights 2 franchise, bringing solid role-play into focus at times. While there is a nice array of side quests, you may find that you have to do them, just as you have to compete in the arena battles. Why? Because one area of the main quest arc requires a small fortune in coin to move beyond so you are left with little choice but to undertake these other missions and arena battles.

When it comes to the dialogue, some of it (text-driven) is just plain silly. And the graphic models look a bit dated, but that comes from sitting on a shelf for two years.

At the end of the 15 or so hours of gameplay offered here, though, there was an odd feeling that everything combined to create an enjoyable Forgotten Realms adventure. The journal helped through some of the puzzles, but mood of Westgate and the adventure, when taken as a whole, was fun. If you have not played Storm of Zehir, then Westgate should entertain, intrigue and challenge. If you have played Storm, and don’t mind the slightly dated stylings of this game, you should still find yourself entertained.

Gameplay: 7.0
The core elements that we’ve come to enjoy about NWN 2 are in place, and the game does add nicely to the toolset for creating one’s own modules.

Graphics: 6.8
A bit dated but not entirely the dev team’s fault. The game sat waiting for release for two years.

Sound: 6.8
Nothing truly unique here, and it actually feels like there could have been more. Still, what is presented is fine.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 6.8
The main storyline stumbles at the wrong places and while there are plenty of side missions, they just don’t seem optional because of the need to create deep cash reserves.

Overall: 6.9
This is a dated expansion that still manages to challenge and entertain. As a fan of NWN and NWN 2, getting to romp in the Forgotten Realms, to explore and solve puzzles, and to think through combat is always a good thing. While Mysteries of Westgate does not glitter as brightly as other recent NWN 2 releases, it still is fun.