Atari has just announced the production of Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, aiming to bring yet another Dungeons & Dragons experience to the world of computing gaming by engaging gamers in the Neverwinter Nights world. This latest addition to the franchise is on track for a worldwide launch this Q4 2008. For gamers who are relatively knew to the scene, Neverwinter Nights did break new ground in the CRPG genre, long after the seminal Baldur’s Gate (and its sequel) and Planescape: Torment hit the scene.

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 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 and the players’ 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 Faerun 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, shape-shifting, serpentine Yuan-Ti.

Hopefully that short excerpt would have whet your appetite. Make sure your PC specifications are up to par as CRPGs these days tend to be pretty graphics intensive despite being a story-driven title.

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