La célèbre série Neverwinter Nights verra sa deuxième extension débarquer en fin d’ année. Titrée Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, cet épisode marque le retour aux sources du jeu de rôle en s’ inspirant de ses aînés Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale et du jeu de rôle papier qu’ est Dungeons & Dragons.

Ainsi, cette extension proposera une personnalisation poussée des groupes, de l’ exploration de donjons et des survols du monde du jeu, non linéaire, en totale liberté via la carte du monde.

Quant à l’ histoire, nous savons qu’ elle prendra place avant les événements dépeints dans The Forgotten Realms ou Royaumes oubliés (voir le jeu de rôle Donjons & Dragons).
Au vu du scénario, faisant de vous et votre groupe des marchands dans un monde déchiré par la guerre, le commerce sera essentiel à votre survie, tant au niveau des alliances avec certaines factions que de vendre vos marchandises au marché noir. Mais si étendre vos alliances dans le monde de Faerûn est louable, très vite, une faction un peu plus mystérieuse, les Yuan-Ti, entrera en action.

Annonçant une quinzaine (15) d’ heures de jeu pour cette extension, on nous promet aussi de nouveaux sorts, classes, créatures et races jouables.
Les fans du multi de Neverwinter Nights seront heureux d’ apprendre que celui-ci a été amélioré. De même les moddeurs seront en mesure de tirer parti du nouveau système de cartes (Overland Map) et du système de commerce lors de l’ utilisation de l’ éditeur de monde. D’ autres features sont bien sûr prévus.

Voilà qui devrait en ravir plus d’ un et pourquoi pas, convertir les autres.

Développé par Obsidian Entertainment et distribué par Atari, l’ extension Storm of Zehir sera disponible au 3ème quart de cette année (2008).

Des images de Neverwinter Nights 2
Le communiqué de presse en anglais

LYON, FRANCE – 11 June 2008 – Atari, Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), announced today that Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is currently in production. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, one of the premier independent development studios in the world, the second expansion to Neverwinter Nights 2 will deliver an engrossing D&D® experience in the tradition of the Neverwinter Nights franchise and is scheduled for worldwide launch Q4 2008.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir hearkens back to the days of the Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale franchises by including full party customization, dungeon crawling, and free exploration of a non-linear game world via an Overland Map. The gripping storyline foreshadows the events that will take place in the Forgotten Realms with the coming of release this June of the Fourth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game.

In the aftermath of the defeat of the King of Shadows, the Sword Coast is in the midst of an uneasy economic recovery. Trade syndicates have sprung up to exploit the post-war confusion for their own ends. The player’s party will wade into this uncertain environment; in order to increase their own fortunes, they can either ally with a syndicate to create a trade empire, or cut their own path through Faerûn by preying upon caravans and selling the goods on the black market. As they attempt to extend their influence, players will become aware of a new faction working behind the scenes: the evil, shapeshifting, serpentine Yuan-Ti.

In addition to trading and economic manipulation, the Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Overland Map allows players to explore the Chultan Peninsula and Sword Coast in a non-linear manner never before seen in any of the Neverwinter Nights games. Exploration will take players from well-known locations, like Neverwinter and Crossroad Keep, to more exotic areas, such as the xenophobic jungle nation of Samarach. Groups of highwaymen and monsters populate the Overland Map and the farther from civilization the player roams, the more difficult the encounters become. The 15-hour campaign in Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is also packed with new classes, spells, creatures, and playable races.

Fans of the compelling multiplayer features of Neverwinter Nights 2 will also be able to take advantage of new improvements to the multiplayer experience, while modders will be able to take advantage of the power and flexibility of the Overland Map and Trading System features along with other world-building enhancements.

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Game Features:

· Travel the Sword Coast and Samarach using the open ended exploration of the new Overland Map.  Use skills like Spot and Survival while on the Overland Map to avoid ambushes and even find hidden locales and lost artifacts.

· Create your own full party of adventurers. Devastate your foes with a squad of fireball-flinging Sorcerers, form a solid wall of steel with a party of Fighters, or strike the perfect balance in your party by spreading out the classes you choose for your characters.

· Improved party gameplay including streamlined party conversations, a new Teamwork Benefit System, and powerful party feats.

· The world’s economy reacts to your adventures and choices. And, through trading and quests, you can expand your merchant company into a massive trading empire.

More information about Neverwinter Nights 2 can be found at www.nwn2.com.