Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Disappointing"

I was thrilled by the fact that SoZ gave the ability to create your own party. Up to 4 characters from the beginning is a great aspect, as long as you can make the right decisions and combinations (4 bards is not a good idea!).

The story is rather boring. I feel like a merchant and I can find no real action… Surely, the dialogues are realistic and to the point. Maybe the dialogue options need some work, but the next characteristic makes up for it. When a person of your party has a different response, due to certain skills, an icon at the bottom of his portrait shows you can switch speaker. By the way, unlike many, I think the voices are pretty good.

As for the overland map, I should write that it gives you the chance to explore and pick up side-quests. Lots of hidden areas you can discover, give a little excitement to this dull main storyline. Last, but not least is the issue of death. In the original campaign and in MotB, after a fight, every dead character would resurrect if one of the party was still alive. Then, you just had to rest. On the contrary, in SoZ every dead remains dead! That means the player has to troop to the town or use a special coin. Either way is really annoying and expensive!

Generally speaking, SoZ doesn't seem to be the great expansion I expected. It seems to only bear the great name of NWN, but not the glamour. Now, quite disappointed, I should reconsider before buying this game and this is my advice to everyone.