Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer Review
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Meter issues aside, you'll find Mask of the Betrayer's narrative to be well done overall. You don't spend loads of time dungeon crawling mostly because there aren't that many huge dungeons to crawl around in. Most combat areas are smaller and feature fewer enemies than you might expect with a game like this, keeping the focus on plot and character development. A notable exception is the Academy, which requires a surprising amount of problem solving skills to complete. It can be an enjoyable diversion, featuring a number of side-quests to absorb your time like a golem boxing match. It really jumps out of nowhere, however, and slows down the game's otherwise high-tempo progression. It isn't really a problem, just unexpected. When you do head out into the field to fight, expect some challenging resistance, as many foes in the game will easily shred an improperly buffed party.
Like in the original campaign, if you feel like taking a break from casting Meteor Swarm and swinging your + 5 mace, you can talk to party members, ask what their life was like before meeting you, earn loyalty bonuses for being sympathetic, and ultimately gain a better sense of the game world and why you're doing what you're doing. It turns out those you eventually meet up with have quite different, elaborate, and interesting takes on how events eventually need to be resolved, which adds depth to the narrative and colors your decision-making with twinges of emotional attachment.
