Dragon Age II

[Skywalker]

That's why they added the 'mood' indicators to DA2's dialogue wheel. I hope they include that in ME3, but I doubt they will at this point.

 

[Reverend]

The only thing I don't like about DA2's new art style is the darkspawn. I think they look terrible now. But everything else, I like. DAO pretty much screamed 'generic fantasy' and while DA2 is still obviously a fantasy world, its visual identity is much more distinct.

I don't mind a new story with a new character because, as far as I'm concerned, the story of the Warden is done. He/she has already defeated a Blight and restored order to Ferelden, there really isn't much else you can do that could top that. Besides, I always got the sense that DA was more about the world and people of Thedas and how they evolved throughout the century-long Dragon Age, whereas ME was a more personal story about one specific character.

^Indeed. I think this may be exactly why the first game was titled "Origins." From the get-go it looks as if they were just setting the stage for a long running (they hope) franchise. Actually, if you have a look on the official site you can download a full map of the world and see that Ferelden is just a small corner. From that alone we can presume that right from the start they intended this new world to be more than just the Hero of Fereldan's play pen.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if further games skip ahead (or, indeed, back) decades and centuries. I would be equally unsurprised if Hawke won't be the PC in any further instalments.

Not sure I totally agree with the charge that DAO had a totally generic fantasy look though. if anything it was a little too caught up in the medieval Europe analogies; Fereldans as Saxons, Orleasians as Normans, Tevinter as the Byzantium Empire etc. Of course at times it's hard to separate the two since many fantasy IPs draw heavily from that period and place.

When I think "generic fantasy" look, I tend to think more of what I saw in Oblivion. That game was so bland and generic (not to mentioned bugged to all hell) that I didn't have the heart to even get as far as closing a second gate.

 

[ATimson]

Indeed. I think this may be exactly why the first game was titled "Origins." From the get-go it looks as if they were just setting the stage for a long running (they hope) franchise.

I'm sure that was the theory, but with their dropping the subtitle in favor of straight numbering, it seems like they're just taking it a game at a time rather than trying to build a world.

 

[clint g]

The only thing I don't like about DA2's new art style is the darkspawn. I think they look terrible now. But everything else, I like. DAO pretty much screamed 'generic fantasy' and while DA2 is still obviously a fantasy world, its visual identity is much more distinct.

I don't mind a new story with a new character because, as far as I'm concerned, the story of the Warden is done. He/she has already defeated a Blight and restored order to Ferelden, there really isn't much else you can do that could top that. Besides, I always got the sense that DA was more about the world and people of Thedas and how they evolved throughout the century-long Dragon Age, whereas ME was a more personal story about one specific character.

^Indeed. I think this may be exactly why the first game was titled "Origins." From the get-go it looks as if they were just setting the stage for a long running (they hope) franchise. Actually, if you have a look on the official site you can download a full map of the world and see that Ferelden is just a small corner. From that alone we can presume that right from the start they intended this new world to be more than just the Hero of Fereldan's play pen.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if further games skip ahead (or, indeed, back) decades and centuries. I would be equally unsurprised if Hawke won't be the PC in any further installments.

This is how I take it as well. I get the impression that "Dragon Age" is BioWare's answer to "The Elder Scrolls". A franchise where the world is the main character.

As for the art design, as much as a liked Dragon Age, the art design was very meh. As a matter of fact, everything in the visuals department was meh in that game. It didn't look like it came from the same company behind Mass Effect and Jade Empire. I'm glad they're taking a more stylized approach.

Indeed. I think this may be exactly why the first game was titled "Origins." From the get-go it looks as if they were just setting the stage for a long running (they hope) franchise.

I'm sure that was the theory, but with their dropping the subtitle in favor of straight numbering, it seems like they're just taking it a game at a time rather than trying to build a world.

This doesn't seem to be the case. There are multiple Dragon Age projects going on, from Facebook games to live action shows, to an anime, to comics, etc etc etc.

 

[Gatekeeper]

I preordered the Bioware Signature Edition of DA2 from Amazon so, yes, I'm most definitely looking forward to this game. Heck, it's the first time I've ever preordered a game!

Gatekeeper

 

[Skywalker]

I never used to preorder games, but now it seems like every game includes some kind of nifty goodies with it if you do, so most of the time if I'd already planned on getting the game anyway, I figure I might as well preorder it.

 

[clint g]

Well the reviews are coming in and the game is out. My copy hasn't come in yet but the consensus seems to be "good, but not as good as the first one"

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/dragon-age-ii

 

[Bishop76]

So far (which isn't all that far actually), I'm liking it more than the first. But then, I'm in the minority of people who didn't think the first was very good...

 

[clint g]

From the demo, I get the feeling that I will like it more as well. I loved the first one, but I felt as if the leveling up/skill system was more complex then it needed to be. Many of the reviewers don't agree but I preferred the new streamlined skill progression. The combat also felt like it was much improved.

Apparently, the game feels less epic in scale but I can live with that as well.

 

[Skywalker]

I'm actually liking it more than the first, too. I really like Hawke's voice and the combat is just super-fun. I'm playing a two-handed warrior and I feel like a total badass.

I don't mind if the game isn't as epic in scale as DAO (I haven't gotten very far into the actual plot yet, so I don't know if that's true or not). It's kind of hard to top an actual Blight.

 

[-Brett-]

Well the reviews are coming in and the game is out. My copy hasn't come in yet but the consensus seems to be "good, but not as good as the first one"

http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/dragon-age-ii

Since the first was one of the buggiest games I've ever played, I guess that means this one is a pass.

 

[Bishop76]

Played quite a bit more tonight - for some reason this one is really resonating with me moreso than the first did. I think I like the storytelling style better.

 

[ATimson]

Played quite a bit more tonight - for some reason this one is really resonating with me moreso than the first did. I think I like the storytelling style better.

I think that so far I liked the story of the first one better - DA2 is certainly nowhere near as epic.

But I like Hawke. She's much more sarcastic than my Warden.

 

[Skywalker]

Um...holy crap, Act II. I'm impressed BioWare went...there.

Anyone who's playing it either knows to what I'm referring, or will soon enough. Wow.

 

[Reverend]

^Perhaps we should put a no spoilers warning in the thread title. Others might not be able to contain themselves.

Only played a few hours (set difficulty to hard to keep thins interesting) and so far I really like it. The narrative is certainly more interesting than DA:O, which, let's face it, was pretty generic fantasy stuff. I'm enjoying having it be a more personal, intimate story. Though I haven't gotten very far (only just got done visiting the Dalish) I think the more Mass Effect approach of having a relatable character who gets swept up into larger events will be much more engaging than DA:O, in which my characters always felt more like spectators than participants. The voice makes all the difference.

Oh and in honour of the Mass Effect-isums DA2 seems to be employing, I decided to name my dog 'Shepard' (though in hindsight 'Wrex' might have been a better choice! )

 

[ATimson]

Though I haven't gotten very far (only just got done visiting the Dalish) I think the more Mass Effect approach of having a relatable character who gets swept up into larger events will be much more engaging than DA:O, in which my characters always felt more like spectators than participants.

Funny, I would have said the opposite - DA:O, you're the one who has to bring everybody together and unite them to defeat the Blight. ME and ME2, you're always reacting to Saren/Harbinger, following their lead rather than guiding the plot along yourself.

Oh and in honour of the Mass Effect-isums DA2 seems to be employing, I decided to name my dog 'Shepard' (though in hindsight 'Wrex' might have been a better choice! )

Heh. I did name mine Wrex.

 

[Reverend]

Funny, I would have said the opposite - DA:O, you're the one who has to bring everybody together and unite them to defeat the Blight. ME and ME2, you're always reacting to Saren/Harbinger, following their lead rather than guiding the plot along yourself.

It's more a feeling than a factual observation. To me, giving Hawke a voice makes them feel like a character in their own right in a way the mute Grey Warden never did.

Been reading a few reviews, blog posts and the like since release and I noticed a lot of complaints about it being "dumbed down." I think I said this when ME2 came out but it's still true; a role playing game should be about playing a role, not collecting loots, fiddling with complicated stats or performing dice roll attacks. Those things are relics of pen and paper D&D games and were designed with that medium in mind. A video game is as different from that as a novel is from a movie and in my opinion has the potential to be a much more gratifying interactive experience.

I mean really, who played DAO and actually bothered to use crafting for anything other than health & mana potions? Who remembered to coat their rogue's swords with poison and bothered to set traps, throw acid flasks or use glamour charms? Most of the stuff that's meant to immerse you into the world in a traditional D&D game by stimulating you imagination falls completely flat in computer games because the vital element (imagination) is removed. In short, I much perfer the ME2 style streamlined approach.

Oh and am I the only one that would REALLY like to see the new "mood wheel" in ME3?

 

[SPCTRE]

Damn. After watching the Quick Look over at GiantBomb, I've done a complete 180 turn on DAII. It looks and feels decidedly like Dragon Age - also, I like the female Hawke voicework.

Going to have to order it once again

 

[FPAlpha]

So i've played a couple of hours in Kirkwall and so far i'm mixed about the game.

From the technical standpoint not much to complain about.. it runs stable and fast (starts up and saves quicker than any game i know).

The changes are nice.. the battles are more action oriented, the skill system is well improved (no more having to spend points on abilities you don't want to get to the ones you want.. you just bypass now) and the crafting system looks promising though i've yet to craft something because there's no need right now.

Storywise i can't really tell but so far i'm not that esxcited.. you just run around Kirkwall and surroundings doing quests. However to be honest i didn't really take on the main quest seriously (doing the smaller secondary quests to improve stats and gear) so maybe it will pick up once i start up on the main plot (whatever that may be).

 

[Skywalker]

The main story is pretty interesting, I think. It doesn't have the epic scale that DAO's had, but it's much more personal and character-oriented. I'm enjoying it a lot.