Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The “Totally Role Playing Games” compilation brings two venerable RPG experiences under one roof, each offering a distinct flavor of Dungeons & Dragons adventure. In Neverwinter Nights, players dive into a highly customizable campaign editor, allowing both solo adventurers and Dungeon Masters to craft their own stories. The real-time with pause combat system strikes a balance between tactical depth and fluid action, letting you command your party’s every move or queue actions on the fly.

By contrast, The Temple of Elemental Evil adheres more strictly to classic pen-and-paper rules. Turn-based combat offers methodical engagements, where positioning, spell selection, and resource management are paramount. This slower, more deliberate pace rewards strategic thinkers who enjoy planning every step and maximizing their party’s potential through careful character builds.

Both titles boast extensive quest lines and side adventures that cater to veterans and newcomers alike. Neverwinter Nights excels at providing a thriving modding community—hundreds of user-created modules extend the campaign well beyond the original story. Meanwhile, The Temple of Elemental Evil’s faithful adaptation of the Greyhawk setting delivers a nostalgic trip for longtime D&D fans, though it leans more on co-op play and less on solo tweaking.

Graphics

Visually, the two games reflect their late ’90s heritage. Neverwinter Nights employs a 3D engine that was cutting-edge at launch, featuring dynamic lighting, detailed character models, and a zoomable camera. While textures may appear dated by today’s standards, the game still retains charm through its atmospheric spell effects and environmental variety—from dank dungeons to sunlit courtyards.

The Temple of Elemental Evil, on the other hand, uses an isometric perspective with hand-painted backgrounds. Its art style leans into classic fantasy illustration, emphasizing rich color palettes and intricate tile sets. Character portraits and spell animations, though limited in frame count, capture the spirit of the original tabletop supplement and evoke a sense of nostalgia that many fans will cherish.

Overall, both titles benefit from modern compatibility options included in the compilation, such as widescreen resolutions and improved frame pacing. While serious graphics enthusiasts might find these engines antiquated, the games’ strong art direction and well-crafted environments continue to convey the mood and immersion expected from a high-quality RPG.

Story

Neverwinter Nights kicks off with a classic hook: the sprawling city of Neverwinter is besieged by a deadly plague, and you are thrust into a web of intrigue involving thieves’ guilds, dark cults, and ancient gods. The main campaign unfolds across multiple acts, each raising the narrative stakes and introducing unforgettable NPCs. From the scheming bargains you make in the seedy Yawning Portal tavern to the epic confrontations with godlike adversaries, the storyline remains engaging throughout.

The Temple of Elemental Evil stays truer to its tabletop roots, centering on an old Greyhawk module that pits players against the rising tide of elemental cultists. The script is less cinematic but offers a sprawling dungeon crawl that rewards exploration, riddles, and careful dialogue choices. Though the narrative occasionally stalls between dungeon levels, the sense of discovery and lore-rich encounters with living elements—earth, air, fire, and water—provide a unique twist on standard fantasy fare.

Both games shine brightest when weaving player agency into the plot. In Neverwinter Nights, your decisions shape alliances and endings, while in The Temple of Elemental Evil, dialogue trees and moral quandaries test your party’s integrity. Whether you prefer moral ambiguity and branching epilogues or a more straightforward heroic quest against primordial evil, this compilation delivers two complementary story experiences.

Overall Experience

For modern audiences, “Totally Role Playing Games” acts as both a historical time capsule and a springboard to limitless tabletop creativity. The compilation’s user-friendly installers and launcher menus unify the two games under one roof, making it easy to switch between them or dive into community mods without hunting down patches. Both titles are playable on current hardware and operating systems, ensuring that technical frustration won’t spoil your journey.

Accessibility is another strong suit: Neverwinter Nights’ Aurora Toolset invites newcomers to experiment with level design and storytelling, while The Temple of Elemental Evil’s faithful ruleset provides a taste of old-school D&D for those eager to learn the classics. Co-op options further expand replay value, allowing you to recruit friends to tackle dungeon delves or share the Dungeon Master’s screen.

Ultimately, this compilation offers tremendous value, combining two deep RPGs that have stood the test of time. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia, exploring foundational CRPG mechanics, or seeking a creative platform to build your own adventures, “Totally Role Playing Games” delivers an engaging, content-rich experience that will occupy you for dozens—if not hundreds—of hours. It’s a must-own for any serious role-playing enthusiast.