NeverWinter Nights Rewind Review

A D&D RPG Classic

Originally released for PC in 2002, Neverwinter Nights is a classic Dungeons & Dragons RPG. NeverWinter Nights Enhanced Edition first graced Android devices back in 2018, thanks to developer, Beamdog. Known for its in-depth storyline and engaging combat, the title continues to entice fans. We didn’t get a chance to review this popular title upon its release. Luckily for me, I get to review it now. So, let’s see how Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Edition holds up today.

You’ll quickly be drawn in by the compelling plot. A plague known as The Wailing Death sweeps through Neverwinter. Four creatures are collected and brought to the academy where you are training—each contains an ingredient for the plague cure. Unfortunately, the academy is attacked, and the creatures are scattered throughout the city. You are tasked with finding said creatures and retrieving the components for the cure. Of course, this isn’t as simple a task as it may seem. A mysterious cult is working against you. Unravel the mystery, stop the cult and cure the plague as you battle your way through Neverwinter.

The game also comes with tons of DLC, adding over 40 hours of gameplay with new, enticing quests to complete. Travel to the Silver Marches and uncover the secrets of an ancient civilization in Shadows of Undrentide. Additionally, in Hordes of Underdark you’ll defeat the evil menacing Undermountain. Neverwinter Nights’ many DLC packs keep you engaged long after you complete the main story.

Craft Your Character

Let’s talk for a minute about the many character options.  Neverwinter Nights uses a D&D system so it’s not surprising that there are a plethora of classes for players to choose from. Barbarian, Bard, Sorcerer and Druid are just a few of the choices available. While the character customization isn’t as detailed as current console titles, players can customize their avatars hair style, body type, tattoos, skin tone and clothing. There are quite a few combinations to choose from, so you’ll feel like you are creating a unique character. You’ll also choose a portrait to represent your character. The title truly allows players to create a character that suits them both in ability and ascetics.

Combat controls are easy to master, though the combat itself presents a decent challenge.  Tap a target to select it, then choose an attack. Blast ghouls away with spells like Acid Splash or hack and slash a skeleton to bits. As you progress, you’ll unlock more special attacks and spells. Assign abilities to hotkeys to quickly access them in the heat of battle. Neverwinter Nights is a big game and thus offers a deluge of enemies. The variety of enemies keeps gameplay fresh and exciting.

Those Freezing Neverwinter Nights

One issue I came across while playing NeverWinter Nights on my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 was that the game froze often. However, judging by the plethora of four and five star reviews, this isn’t an issue on most phone models. Still, it detracted from an otherwise excellent gaming experience. Another issue I came across involves the hotkeys. These are buttons which run along the bottom of the screen and allow players to quickly access special attacks and spells. The problem is these buttons are extremely small, so you’ll often end up tapping the wrong one. Although,  Neverwinter Nights is optimized for tablets so it’s not surprising that the buttons were a bit too small on my phone.

Overall, Neverwinter Nights continues to impress players with its complexity and in-depth world. A dangerous cult and a mysterious plague make for one seriously engaging plot. While it’s annoying dealing with the tiny hotkeys, for the most part this does not adversely affect gameplay much. Despite its age, Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Edition continues to be one of the most compelling mobile RPGs.