Next up on my list of Hall of Fame NWN2 modules I really should have played by now is Stormchaser by FalloutBoy. I was pleasantly surprised by this one--I wasn't expecting any great shakes judging solely by the module's age and current average score, but it turned out to be better than expected. Here are my comments from the Vault:
I'm surprised this module isn't rated a little higher than it is. While the plot certainly won't win any prizes for originality, the writing is solid, the storytelling engrossing, and the design as a whole rather impressive. Areas are nicely put together, the difficulty balance (with one notable exception) is spot on, and in contrast to some other voters I actually found the companions a real pleasure; they might be somewhat classical (okay, clichéd) but they're also extremely well-realised. The pacing of the story is great throughout; few modules have drawn me in with the strength of their narrative quite so well. In addition to great writing, this module is a technical treat, especially for such an early module. While the ships and fishing don't really add much, they're still fun and different.
The module's weaknesses are its slightly unpolished feeling in spots, and more importantly, its lengthiest action section, which is plagued by enemies that respawn on top of the party. I didn't enjoy the fire cave at all; at the very least, the player should be able to take a shortcut back to the exit rather than wading through enemies they've killed once already. It's just a chore, and nobody enjoys having their time wasted.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this module – I think it's better than its current score suggests, my reserved scoring practices aside – and I would love to see a sequel if the author ever decides to create one.
I awarded it an impressive score of 8.25.
5 comments:
Hi Alazander,
Nice review ... one thought though .. won't your own score reduce what you thought should have been a higher score? ;)
After all, it says 8.27 and you score was 8.25 ... or has there been some change since you scored it?
Lance.
Hey Lance,
Yes, it won't help. But I really meant it's underrated relative to other modules which I've played. I've never agreed with giving an artifically high or low vote to "restore the balance," since that just messes up the system and destroys the voting credibility of those who practice it. All I can do is be true to myself, even when it leaves me open to looking like a moron. Hey, at least I acknowledged it in my review. ;)
Yeah I liked that mod too.
Hi Alazander,
I thought that is what you might say after I posted here. :)
I find that a problem with the vote system as well. I have found myself tempted to redress the balance on the rare occassion.
We can only stay true to ourselves - and I do understand your logic. :)
This is FalloutBoy. Thank you for the nice review. I'm glad you enjoyed my module. I'm especially glad that people still play it considering how old it is. I'm sorry it ends so abruptly, but I had to cut it short or it never would have gotten done. Since I did all the testing myself, it was already becoming unmanageable at the length that it is.
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