whats the game like?

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

ok so this game is in the classics, so it must be pretty good right? But whats it like? Does it compare to the bg series? Iv got all of it and enjoy it very much. Im assuming it wont be anything like nwn as it is quite old. But how does it compare to these sorta games? Is it worthwhile gettin it and what is the gameplay like? How long is it? And anyother info u guys think might be useful.

Thanks in advance Ross

[Wyvern]

Welcome to the W&W board, RoSs_bg2_rox!!!

I can not make comparisomes between NWN and W&W as I have not played it. I have played some BG so I may be able to make use of that. W&W is very different from the BG series. While we have had a number of players on this board that have played and enjoyed both my general impression is that if you are a huge fan of BG you may not like W&W. There are many threads discussing the pros and cons of the game. Doing a search might result in some additional information which you may find useful.

W&W has a first person view point. You cannot look at your characters from overhead. You can direct each character you play individually but the means to do so is within the group. When in a battle you have the opportunity to direct what each character will be doing on their turn. You can set this up ahead of time and you can change it while within a battle when needed.
When not fighting, the group pretty much acts as one being. Individual members may make a comment (if they have scouting skills) that a particular type of monster is nearby but there is no conversational dialog between the members of your own party as you have in BG.
The storyline is pretty standard - defeat evil but it is done nicely.
The game is divided into three major areas. Each of these areas contains a town, Valeia, Ishad N'ha and Brimloch Roon. There is more or less a rite of passage to go from one of these areas into the next. In that respect, this game might be considered very linear but it is not exclusively linear meaning that there isn't only one right way or order in which to do thing.
W&W strong point is it's character development. It is extremely flexible! There are so many options to developing your characters which gives you great freedom to gain the skills you want them to have. Since I started moderating this board in January of 2000 I have read about so many different variations that people have used to mold their characters I can't even begin to recall them all. And players are still coming up with variations I have not seen before.

This game does have bugs. It was rushed to market because they were running out of development funds. Many things that were meant to be included in the game were cut out completely. Some were only cut out part way leaving behind some rather interesting questions of what might have been had they been able to complete the game as they had original planned. We have an excellent Techie thread which helps to resolve the bugs which cause the game to not run correctly. We have yet to encounter a bug that could not be resolved in one manner or another or was a "game stopper" such as the bugs I encountered when playing M&M6. Some of us are rather fond of the bugs within this game. Some can be exploited to the benefit of the characters, others are just interesting quirks of the game. There is a patch for the game. It does not solve all of the bugs. Our techie thread does a better job of that. Many of us have chosen to play the game without the use of the patch. I have never used it.

No NPC will join your party in this game as happens in BG. To me that is a good thing. I really prefer to only work on the development of my own characters. All the various NPCs that can join your group in BG was one of the reasons I am not fond of that series.
BG seemed to hand out quests just by walking down the street. I found it all too easy in that series to have too many quests at one time with little idea on which should be followed first. Most quests in W&W are handed out in the towns, but not all. Sometimes you will encounter an NPC while out exploring and you'll be given a quest. I found these quests to fit in much better with what I knew and wanted to do next than I ever did in BG.

There are probably a thousand other things to say about W&W. I consider it to be one of the best CRPGs I have ever played even with it's bugs and quirks. I do not often replay a game, especially not a large CRPG. I have replayed W&W many times. We always have had a lot of posters on this board who have likewise replayed W&W. We have had whole threads devoted to what sort of variation can be tried next.

These days the game is cheap. It's worth a try. I don't know if it will be your cup of tea or not.

Wyv

[LiOnHe@rT]

there are many things in W&W that make it enjoyable. first of all, you can control exactly all your movements:run, jump, walk, swim, almost all of the available movements!
next comes the various classes. there is the basic classes:warrior, priest, wizard and rogue. THEN there is the 2nd lvl classes such as the paladin and warlock, and FINALLY you have the elite classes:Zenmaster, Valkyrie and Assasin. NOTE: do not change classes until you haf maximized all the available spells and traits that the class specializes in!
Lastly, there is night time and day time, making it look more realistic! so i recommend (actually, ALL OF US here would recommend...) that you get this game A.S.A.P, as it would really keep you occupied! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Edited: hey wyvern, u posted faster than i did! no fair........

[ 10-04-2003, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: LiOnHe@rT ]

[Bungleau]

What's to like... and what to add that Wyv hasn't covered [img]smile.gif[/img]

The game is a classic-style CRPG, meaning that there's a story running through it, and the primary element is the story, not the graphics or movies. Many folks seem to prefer eye-candy to a good game; W&W probably won't satisfy them.

There are a lot of variations, and a lot of alternatives. As I'm fond of saying, there are no right or wrong ways to play the game, only choices.

Probably the best thing about the game, which Wyvern alluded to, is this forum. I have seen few problems that we, as a Borg-like collective, cannot solve. Actually, I can't think of anything, other than a certain shield quest that may have been aborted accidentally recently...

I enjoy playing the game, even as I'm on my sixth or seventh game, or thereabouts. It can be different every time, with different challenges and opportunities. The only limits are your imagination...

And it is cheap to pick up these days, as Wyv also said. What have you got to lose? Not a whole lot, and you may find that you gain a whole lot more.

I invite you to buy it, and to let us know how your adventures progress.

[bsftcs]

Welcome to the W&W forum. [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

I believe the most important issues concerning this great game have already been mentioned. I would, however, like to add that this is the only game I have encountered where the bugs are a help and not a nuisance.

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

thanks guys!! I think i will give the game a try. Although i do like the bg series i also like many other games and i think this game sounds good. Il let u guys know once iv bought it and if i need any tips il post here. If anyone else has any other useful informtaion i will still be checking this post so just post it. Thanks again

Ross

[moiraine sedai]

I would assume by you name, Ross, that you like BG2

W&W is fun, but playing it is a far better way of finding out what it's like.

Check out the Best Tips thread first if you have a question. My guess is that your first question could well be 'How do I get into the crypt?'

We'll be waiting...

Moiraine Sedai

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

I thought of something else id like to ask. What about a screen shot?

I think i will get the game, il either try and find it in a few gaming shops or if i have no luck then il order it off of somewhere online.

[Wyvern]

You can find some very interesting screen shots on this board by searching on the keyword Examiner (Saz used to write up a parody Enquirer type magazine around W&W). You can also check out
http://www.heuristicpark.com/
for screen shots as well!

I found the game very enjoyable. Almost as enjoyable as this forum which is a very big compliment to the wonderful posters who frequent this board! They are a terrific bunch! Helpful, friendly and witty!

I hope you will enjoy the game!

Wyv

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

thanks, those screenshots look really good actually, better than what i expected!