I was a “Warcrafter” once, nearly took over my life. All I could think of was how my guild and I were going to conquer the next dungeon and how we would split the loot. I soon stopped playing before I became obsessed. Why, though? Why was it so addictive? Well, it had never been done before. A game where millions of players worldwide operate in the same game world. Mind was blown. Of course, with every successful game, there are clones. I used that term loosely. World of Warcraft created the massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) genre. Many have taken the base formula and created unique experiences like The Elder Scrolls Online, but what if a developer didn’t? What if they created a straight up clone? What would we get?
Well, we get Neverwinter. Developers Cryptic Studios have taken everything that made World of Warcraft a booming success and made it into a console game, beginning with its Dungeons and Dragons fantasy world and plot line. The last lord of Neverwinter has disappeared, plunging the world into chaos and you (or your avatar, I should say) must help to sort it out and bring back peace. It’s a lengthy story that justifies the size of the game. You as your created character, made using the simple yet surprisingly complex customization system, is taken from pillar to post across many locations within Neverwinter, meeting some unique and diverse cast of NPCs, all of whom are nicely voiced. You won’t just be sticking to the story on your journey in Neverwinter though. Quests are readily available from people with exclamation marks above their heads. Triggering them can send you on all kinds of pathways, uncovering conspiracies and other minor yet intriguing mysteries. Not to mention it all starts with an action-packed intro video that competes even with the mighty Blizzard.
Gameplay is purebred MMORPG. Viewed from the third-person perspective, you control your character with the left thumbstick and control the camera with the right thumbstick. Macros that are usually set on a keyboard if you were playing on a PC are all assigned to a button on the controller by holding L1 to switch between the two available sets which changes the button functions. The map, inventory, mount summon, and potion hotkeys are all activated by the direction pad with the X, circle, triangle, square, and triggers all used for combat abilities. It’s a simple control scheme that is extremely easy to get used too. It also makes for an enjoyable experience.
Combat is fantastic in Neverwinter. It holds meat to it with every sword swing carrying weight. Abilities that are unlocked are class specific, yet every one of them does an assortment of things. Some are direct attacks aimed at a single enemy, some are area-of-effect attacks which are useful for groups, and some are buffs that give you an advantage whether it’s increased armour, invulnerability, or increased damage output. Each makes combat a thought-provoking and strategic experience. I favoured the Great Weapon Fighter class which favoured broadswords and greatswords. In Neverwinter, this didn’t make me walk slow, and my attacks were devastating to your average minion. I had a spinning swipe attack, a leaping smash attack, and a special ability called “unstoppable” which made me attack faster, increased my damage, and made me immune to status effects for a short amount of time. This playstyle fit my usual playstyle nicely, and I must admit, I enjoyed every minute.
You’re eased into Neverwinter at a nice pace with little pop-up text boxes explaining the fundamentals. Pressing the options button is your gateway to everything Neverwinter has to offer within its menus. Marketplaces for real world currency and Zen which is earned through PvP, your quest journal, map, inventory, upgrade skill trees, and companion management are but a few of the elements you can access here. It may be overwhelming at first, but it soon becomes familiar.
Loot works the same way as World of Warcraft. Found in chests, from fallen enemies, or bought from the hundreds of vendors, each piece of armour or weapon is level specific and colour coded to display its rarity, with your inventory system working similar to World of Warcraft too. Crafting and enchanting is as easy as selecting a piece of equipment, slotting in the relevant materials or gemstones, and selecting craft or upgrade. Even if you’re not a past World of Warcraft player like me, it is easy to do and is key to getting the best gear.
Dungeons also work the same as WoW too. Using the aforementioned menu system, you can select a dungeon (or instance) and queue for a place within a group of either three or five. Once your time is up, you and your newfound teammates must navigate the corridor structured levels separated by numerous boss rooms. Enemies and bosses, of course, are tougher which caters for the need for multiple dungeoneers. I never had to wait long for a place at any dungeon, and every player I was lumbered with played their parts brilliantly. A great multiplayer experience.
On the PS4, Neverwinter looks great. Characters are brimming with detail, and the world was always brimming with activity. Towns and cities are brilliantly designed with the hub level, Protector’s Enclave, being a highlight. Other locations which are enemy riddled such as the Blacklake District hold that ominous feeling of knowing your next fight isn’t going to be far away, and the same can be said for the rat-infested sewers, only these rats are six feet tall and carry sharp implements.
PvP works two ways. Instanced is where players compete within a dungeon to gain the highest score, and open world PvP means players must be located within a specifically marked area within Neverwinter and players are free to attack one another. PvP play for course offers unique rewards such as special weapons or Grym coins which act as PvP currency.
My only gripes with Neverwinter were the noticeable framerate dips within populated areas. Although not unplayable, it was an annoyance. I noticed it mostly during my visits to the Protector’s Enclave.
Developer: Cryptic Studios
Publisher: Perfect World
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4
Release Date: 31st March 2015, 19th July 2016 (PS4)