RVallant wrote...
Now see, this is the argument when combined with others defending DA2's action-goes-super-fast gameplay that doesn't make sense. If these changes are being done to bring in new fans who haven't played DA:O then they need to be introduced to the world, cultures and history anyway.
Hopefully the combat will be slowed down a bit, it's way too fast and arcady at the moment. A solid enemy is one that has to be fought not spawn of cannon fodder. One blog review makes the point; the darkspawn aren't nearly intimidating enough to care about because they just spawn constantly at the start all the way through. By the time Hawke points out they're never ending most logical reactions would be "and so? We've taken out an army of the things already I'm sure we can take out three more armies before we get tired."
The two camps, one criticising the game and the other adamantly defending it both display flaws of fanboyism to whichever game being thrown in the discussion. DA2's demo is flawed, there's a lot to be improved upon. The hilarious power-rangers and skeletor's army of darkspawn for example. The exceptionally drastic art changes (read: Flemeth) and the pace of the damn game. Those aren't my complaints, those are cropping up on DA2 game forums across the net, it's not just being said here but all over the place. That warrants attention.
However, it doesn't mean the positives should be ignored. The travel/combat areas should in theory go smoother and quicker allowing for the dialogue lovers to move to the next dialogue points quicker. We should have a new interest in Flemeth's little plot as well as the Hawke family (and yes, Carver/Bethany dieing is emotionless because well, I don't know them and nor do I care. Maybe I'll be more emotionally attached to them if there's plot building prior to the lothering escape but who knows).
But yeah, neither side should dismiss everything or defend everything. We'll just have to wait and see, if it bothers a player that much then don't pre-order, don't buy on release and wait until a clearer picture emerges. That's what the sensible people do
I wasn't speaking in any way about the speed of combat. I was simply talking about diving directly into action at the start of the game. Basically everything you would need to know about what's going on was established in the first game. You already know where you are, you already know what's happening, you already know who you're fighting (although, oddly, they look a bit...different
). You don't need an extended setup in a relatively benign location to introduce you to the Dragon Age world, because this is a sequel....And even if it wasn't, or even if they're targetting a new audience, the fact remains that it's just a different way of starting a story, closer to the action, rather than with a narrative setup.
Although, technically, it does start with narrative. Hariy Varric does do quite a bit of talking.
And, really, with regards to the thread starter, DAO itself doesn't start with ten minutes of conversation before combat, at least not for a mage (my most recent origin play....). You're hitting a wisp wraith with spells about a minute after you create your character.
And then Awakening begins, literally, in combat.
Action does not preclude story.
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