Il make it short on the deal i like the game so far, it doesnt mean i dont think theres anything wrong with it either.
So heres my pros and cons
Cons
- You cant give your party members (boots, gloves, helmet, chest) pieces and thus their appearance never changes.
Alright i understand the fact that in origins some party members just looked stupid because the gear didnt fit them i for example never changed morrigans main gear until i got the next armour that was styled in the same way. so im not really sure if this is a pro or a con. but what it sure does do is take away from the gear possibilities and thus theres less things you can affect stats wise in your comppanions giving you alot less control.
- rommance love scenes are done clothes on.. im an adult this game is rated 18.. what the hell is the problem? at least in the DA:O they had most of their clothes off and the scene looked sensual, now its just dry humping?
Pros
+ The gameplay is fastly paced and requires alot of tactical wits on the higher difficulty levels. sure its not as slow as DA:O was but hey i didnt want to play the same game again.
+ Import the history from old save data, even though the changes arent huge i love the small details
+ graphics and moves have been revamped to look absolutely amazing
+ interface is awesome and journal flags where definetly awesome extra now i dont miss any text entries
then the opinions that get neutral from me
+/- Voiced main character: i hate it and i love it. what can you say...
+/- Parts where you cant controll your characters behaviour, this takes away from the game but then again im getting a feeling this is a good thing, you are trying to tell a story and some things just have to happen for it to go further, there was the part of becoming a greywarden in DA:O and you couldnt affect it either so i really dont mind that much.
+/- Only 3 playable classes and 1 race. this sure takes some element away from the game but what can you do ive accepted that the game isnt about you making a 100% custom hero but a story of a certaint hero from certaint linneage there are still alot of things i can choose which is enough for me.
Your Dragon Age II Review *NO SPOILERS PLEASE*
Débuté par
javierabegazo
, mars 08 2011 04:02
Retour en haut
#1727
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 11:32
lord sohrab
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I like the game but I gotta say this is the worst game bioware ever made...even a game as moderate as Jade Empire was far better than DA II and DA O was 10 times better....
#1728
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 11:36
Calis17
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General impression:
After the second play through I must say I am disappointed. The game simply lacks depth. Missing equipment options for companions, strong restrictions for potions, runes and poisons. This game has the visual appeal of an action shooter with lots of blood and grime. On the other hand the game was programmed for 12 year olds.
Speaking for myself I want a mental challenge when playing a game. This is simply not the case with DA2. I have found not one (!) riddle in DA2.
With all the changes that have been introduced I cannot shake the feeling that PC players got totally screwed. This game was programmed for Xbox and PS, but does not utelize the wider possibilities of the PC. Dumbed down and streamlined wherever possible.
Player Characters:
No elfes or dwarves to choose from. So sad...
Quests:
All quests are as straight forward as they can get. Area maps are highly repetitive which takes away a lot of playing experience and fun.
Combat:
Combat is totally unbalanced in my opinion. 99% of the time I
slashed my way through any opponent there was and only one or two combat
situations in the game posed a serious challenge where I had to retry.
That's sad.
Conversations and Characters:
I really liked the character comments when walking around and the conversations. Although the choices for conversations were again totally dumbed down by offering symbols as to the effect of the reply. I dont see where that is challenging any more.
Attributes, Skills & Spells:
A feature I really liked and obviously a lot of thought went into it. Active, sustained and passive skills can be combined over the whole party.
Equipment:
BORING! I want to change and manage the equipment of my whole party, not just one character.
Storyline
I really liked the story line. Lots of fun, drama and tragedy. Probably the best part of the game.
Conclusion:
If it werent for the story line, characters and conversations this game would totally suck. Still not enough to recommend it to other people if they expect something similar as Dragon Age Origins.
After the second play through I must say I am disappointed. The game simply lacks depth. Missing equipment options for companions, strong restrictions for potions, runes and poisons. This game has the visual appeal of an action shooter with lots of blood and grime. On the other hand the game was programmed for 12 year olds.
Speaking for myself I want a mental challenge when playing a game. This is simply not the case with DA2. I have found not one (!) riddle in DA2.
With all the changes that have been introduced I cannot shake the feeling that PC players got totally screwed. This game was programmed for Xbox and PS, but does not utelize the wider possibilities of the PC. Dumbed down and streamlined wherever possible.
Player Characters:
No elfes or dwarves to choose from. So sad...
Quests:
All quests are as straight forward as they can get. Area maps are highly repetitive which takes away a lot of playing experience and fun.
Combat:
Combat is totally unbalanced in my opinion. 99% of the time I
slashed my way through any opponent there was and only one or two combat
situations in the game posed a serious challenge where I had to retry.
That's sad.
Conversations and Characters:
I really liked the character comments when walking around and the conversations. Although the choices for conversations were again totally dumbed down by offering symbols as to the effect of the reply. I dont see where that is challenging any more.
Attributes, Skills & Spells:
A feature I really liked and obviously a lot of thought went into it. Active, sustained and passive skills can be combined over the whole party.
Equipment:
BORING! I want to change and manage the equipment of my whole party, not just one character.
Storyline
I really liked the story line. Lots of fun, drama and tragedy. Probably the best part of the game.
Conclusion:
If it werent for the story line, characters and conversations this game would totally suck. Still not enough to recommend it to other people if they expect something similar as Dragon Age Origins.
#1729
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 11:36
lord sohrab
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I mean why do they have to simplify every fun aspect of gameplay...why do they even bother making games for some people who are so stupid that can't understand a simple charachter upgrading system like in the Origins...
and love scenes look absolutly stupid...ofcourse the same goes for Origins and Mass Effect games...
if ur rating a game +18 then what is the deal with these stupid scenes...I'd rather if they didnt put any romance rather than this stupid scences
and love scenes look absolutly stupid...ofcourse the same goes for Origins and Mass Effect games...
if ur rating a game +18 then what is the deal with these stupid scenes...I'd rather if they didnt put any romance rather than this stupid scences
#1730
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 11:47
byzantine horse
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Mid-Act 3 or thereabouts, might be as good as any time to put my review in now.
Story
I like the story, it seems well-written thus far and there are parts of it that are especially good. Overall the story is more than fine, but as has been said already there are elements that don't blend too well.
A few examples:
A. The Acts are, while good in and of themselves, not super great when combined. I get that we follow a character through 10 years of his or her life, and every little thing done through that decade is hardly connected to the big happenings during those years.
B. Halfway throughout Act 2 problems with the Qunari seemed obvious, but I wish that they had returned later. The Qunari are very interesting, they offer something not found elsewhere in Dragon Age and I really wanted to see more of them.
On a positive note: Not having to save the world for the 100th time is a good thing. I also really enjoyed that the story spans 10 years and that choices I as a player make throughout the game have an impact.
Environments
I don't buy that you recycle the dungeons, I really don't. However, you made sure that they were big enough so that you could wall part of it off at times (Sundermount cave for example) to make sure it wasn't exactly the same each time. I would have enjoyed more different dungeons though, especially as we enter them so often.On the whole I like the style and Kirkwall is a nice city. The only bad thing as said above are the recycled dungeons, but they are bearable. Still not good though.
Characters
The companions we have this time around are for the most part interesting, but just like I felt that I can be without Zevran I don't feel too attached to Aveline. Probably because I don't find either character very interesting, but not because they are badly written. Merrill, Anders, Sebastian and Varric are my favourites this time around, their personalities are the most interesting. I do however miss most characters from DA:O, that's true. Doesn't mean that I'd want something of the same again in this game though, the current roster is quite neat truth be told. Good job in the department.
On a more technical side, I think that two more characters would be necesary to balance class availability. A warrior and a mage specifically. This is for two reasons: If you want a healer and you aren't a mage who intends to go Spirit Healer yourself, you are pretty screwed without Anders. The same goes if you like me don't like Aveline that much and aren't a warrior tank. Having more choices especially on the tank and healer side would be nice, in Origins there was more variety.
On the plus-side, unique talent trees for different characters is a nice addition to be sure.
Combat
I like Origins combat. I also like DA2 combat. They have their pros and cons both of them, DA2's is probably a bit too much hack and slash and imo Origins was a bit too slow. It shouldn't be hard to find a middle ground between the two when you get around to create DA3 (I sincerely hope you do) as in my opinion you have tried both and they were enjoyable both of them, but there are in both cases things to improve upon.
Other Stuff
Graphics are very good in my eyes, performance is flawless as well (except for the problem with fps taking a dive when the cursor is out on the screen).
Itemization: I understand why you wanted distinct armor for the companions and I support it, but a few more different sets to choose from wouldn't have hurt. There are two-three for every character right now, make that three-four and we'd have a deal I'd be very pleased with.
Bag management is much better, it really is.
The Fade, I've only been there once and I'm really happy about that. After a run through the Tower in Origins I vowed that I'd never do that hideous thing again and got the mod that allows me to bypass it. Really a plus to not have as much of it this time around.
Overall
The game is good, no doubt. I'd give it 9/10 without any trouble what so ever. There are positives and there are negatives as with all games, but I'm having a great time playing it and that's what matters. Picking the best parts from DA:O and DA2 and mixing them well has huge potential for a DA3, don't pass up on that opportunity.
Story
I like the story, it seems well-written thus far and there are parts of it that are especially good. Overall the story is more than fine, but as has been said already there are elements that don't blend too well.
A few examples:
A. The Acts are, while good in and of themselves, not super great when combined. I get that we follow a character through 10 years of his or her life, and every little thing done through that decade is hardly connected to the big happenings during those years.
B. Halfway throughout Act 2 problems with the Qunari seemed obvious, but I wish that they had returned later. The Qunari are very interesting, they offer something not found elsewhere in Dragon Age and I really wanted to see more of them.
On a positive note: Not having to save the world for the 100th time is a good thing. I also really enjoyed that the story spans 10 years and that choices I as a player make throughout the game have an impact.
Environments
I don't buy that you recycle the dungeons, I really don't. However, you made sure that they were big enough so that you could wall part of it off at times (Sundermount cave for example) to make sure it wasn't exactly the same each time. I would have enjoyed more different dungeons though, especially as we enter them so often.On the whole I like the style and Kirkwall is a nice city. The only bad thing as said above are the recycled dungeons, but they are bearable. Still not good though.
Characters
The companions we have this time around are for the most part interesting, but just like I felt that I can be without Zevran I don't feel too attached to Aveline. Probably because I don't find either character very interesting, but not because they are badly written. Merrill, Anders, Sebastian and Varric are my favourites this time around, their personalities are the most interesting. I do however miss most characters from DA:O, that's true. Doesn't mean that I'd want something of the same again in this game though, the current roster is quite neat truth be told. Good job in the department.
On a more technical side, I think that two more characters would be necesary to balance class availability. A warrior and a mage specifically. This is for two reasons: If you want a healer and you aren't a mage who intends to go Spirit Healer yourself, you are pretty screwed without Anders. The same goes if you like me don't like Aveline that much and aren't a warrior tank. Having more choices especially on the tank and healer side would be nice, in Origins there was more variety.
On the plus-side, unique talent trees for different characters is a nice addition to be sure.
Combat
I like Origins combat. I also like DA2 combat. They have their pros and cons both of them, DA2's is probably a bit too much hack and slash and imo Origins was a bit too slow. It shouldn't be hard to find a middle ground between the two when you get around to create DA3 (I sincerely hope you do) as in my opinion you have tried both and they were enjoyable both of them, but there are in both cases things to improve upon.
Other Stuff
Graphics are very good in my eyes, performance is flawless as well (except for the problem with fps taking a dive when the cursor is out on the screen).
Itemization: I understand why you wanted distinct armor for the companions and I support it, but a few more different sets to choose from wouldn't have hurt. There are two-three for every character right now, make that three-four and we'd have a deal I'd be very pleased with.
Bag management is much better, it really is.
The Fade, I've only been there once and I'm really happy about that. After a run through the Tower in Origins I vowed that I'd never do that hideous thing again and got the mod that allows me to bypass it. Really a plus to not have as much of it this time around.
Overall
The game is good, no doubt. I'd give it 9/10 without any trouble what so ever. There are positives and there are negatives as with all games, but I'm having a great time playing it and that's what matters. Picking the best parts from DA:O and DA2 and mixing them well has huge potential for a DA3, don't pass up on that opportunity.
Modifié par byzantine horse, 14 mars 2011 - 11:51 .
#1731
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 12:46
GunClubGirl
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I have completed the game, and will go over the pros and cons. Overall, one of the best games I've ever played, along with Origins. I missed some things from Origins, but there were also improvements to balance it out. A highly enjoyable experience.
Cons:
1. Limited and repeated settings. I was disappointed to keep going back to the same places over and over. Another smaller city and a small town or two, maybe another rural area, would have gone a long way towards making the game better. And the Deep Roads is really getting stale.
2. Not enough love interest interaction. It was harder to "connect" with my love interest in this game due to not being able to have many conversations with them and their intimacy only being shown to occur twice. Don't underestimate how much some of us look forward to these exchanges. It also would have been nice to have more conversation with the other companions.
3. I don't like the new art style, in particular the icons for the spells and talents. I preferred the way they looked in Origins.
4. Some of the waves turned into too much button mashing, and some of the actions by the characters seemed too over-the-top in the way they looked when initiated. These two factors made the game less unique than other games on the market which also have more of this.
5. The cooldowns on heal and potion are too long. It didn't turn out to be as much of a problem as I anticipated. Thought I would have to have two mages who could heal all the time but I didn't. However, that was on normal difficulty. I would seriously hesitate to play on a higher difficulty unless I made a point of being a second mage who could heal and took Anders at all times.
6. I couldn't get enough. I wish the game was longer. I hope there is a long Awakening-length DLC and other DLC! And I want to see more of these companions rather than just all new ones.
Pros: (NOTE: The pros outweight the cons, and overall I love the game)
1. The companions are outstanding. I really enjoyed their personalities, conversations, and banter with each other when we were out and about. I like this group, as a whole, much better than the Origins group. At times it was difficult to choose party members.
2. At first I really didn't like the new skill trees but once I got used to them they were fine, and I LOVE the new specializations and abilities especially for the rogue.
3. Very well written story and party dialogue.
4. Improvement in graphics and the fact that it seemed like I had more options when building the appearance of my character. Those who wanted to make an elf or dwarf wouldn't have had that but I always make a human character anyway so that wasn't a problem for me. Was weird that the character looks different (the default) in the opener though and then you change it...
5. There were a number of surprises at the end that I didn't see coming a mile away, and I love story twists like that!
6. Best of all, I love all the user customization in these games. The more interactive, the more personal, my gaming experience the better. Otherwise I could just watch a movie. I love the fact that I have so many choices - what my Champion looks like, what class, what skills they develop, who they take with them, who they fall in love with, what quest they want to do in what order.... and the fact that there are so many choices gives this game significant replay value, because there are so many combinations I want to try, and the game feels tailored personally to me!
I can't wait to get started on another session of this game! (And this is coming from someone who rarely re-plays games!)
Cons:
1. Limited and repeated settings. I was disappointed to keep going back to the same places over and over. Another smaller city and a small town or two, maybe another rural area, would have gone a long way towards making the game better. And the Deep Roads is really getting stale.
2. Not enough love interest interaction. It was harder to "connect" with my love interest in this game due to not being able to have many conversations with them and their intimacy only being shown to occur twice. Don't underestimate how much some of us look forward to these exchanges. It also would have been nice to have more conversation with the other companions.
3. I don't like the new art style, in particular the icons for the spells and talents. I preferred the way they looked in Origins.
4. Some of the waves turned into too much button mashing, and some of the actions by the characters seemed too over-the-top in the way they looked when initiated. These two factors made the game less unique than other games on the market which also have more of this.
5. The cooldowns on heal and potion are too long. It didn't turn out to be as much of a problem as I anticipated. Thought I would have to have two mages who could heal all the time but I didn't. However, that was on normal difficulty. I would seriously hesitate to play on a higher difficulty unless I made a point of being a second mage who could heal and took Anders at all times.
6. I couldn't get enough. I wish the game was longer. I hope there is a long Awakening-length DLC and other DLC! And I want to see more of these companions rather than just all new ones.
Pros: (NOTE: The pros outweight the cons, and overall I love the game)
1. The companions are outstanding. I really enjoyed their personalities, conversations, and banter with each other when we were out and about. I like this group, as a whole, much better than the Origins group. At times it was difficult to choose party members.
2. At first I really didn't like the new skill trees but once I got used to them they were fine, and I LOVE the new specializations and abilities especially for the rogue.
3. Very well written story and party dialogue.
4. Improvement in graphics and the fact that it seemed like I had more options when building the appearance of my character. Those who wanted to make an elf or dwarf wouldn't have had that but I always make a human character anyway so that wasn't a problem for me. Was weird that the character looks different (the default) in the opener though and then you change it...
5. There were a number of surprises at the end that I didn't see coming a mile away, and I love story twists like that!
6. Best of all, I love all the user customization in these games. The more interactive, the more personal, my gaming experience the better. Otherwise I could just watch a movie. I love the fact that I have so many choices - what my Champion looks like, what class, what skills they develop, who they take with them, who they fall in love with, what quest they want to do in what order.... and the fact that there are so many choices gives this game significant replay value, because there are so many combinations I want to try, and the game feels tailored personally to me!
I can't wait to get started on another session of this game! (And this is coming from someone who rarely re-plays games!)
#1732
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 12:58
Mlaar
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As much as I like the game thier are so many negative aspects to be found its almost hard to know where to begin.
Character select with a basic choice and I do stress basic choice you are human you are rogue warrior mage now thats extremely limited but then we already knew that, what was worse was when you decided to customize your look to be The Hawke you always wanted to be, It is extremley limited function ohh well not off to a good start.
Storyline has been good through out but it pales in comparison with previous bioware titles.
Companions: In all honesty this seems a lack lustre bunch at best I was lucky I got Sebastion who seems the only really good companion aside from Varric and since i was playing as a rogue my choices became very difficult, Anders was a let down but since he has been relegated to primary healer he was in the group but had I had the ability to spec my companions as I saw fit he would had been left behind and forgotten his constant whining and moaning seriously grated on my nerves.
Companions really needed to be specced as the gamer saw fit at least then you could have a party that follows your ideals rather than a group who probally would never cross paths after thier 1st meeting
equipment: the inability to customise your companions was annoying to say the least all this loot dropping and its vendor trash, should i keep it umm no I cant give it to anyone lets junk it. bring back the ability to determine what a whole party wears looks like. I know by having thier own costume it was meant to make the companion look unique but it failed, please dont continue with this trend! give the power back to the player to choose which companions he takes and what equipment they can wear.
Enviroments: on the whole they were very well designed, but part of roleplay games is exploration seeing new vista passing new areas and to an extent we got this but where it failed miserably was the many dungeons caves city tunnels you went to all identical to the particular type been to one cave seen them all, all they did was block a door or such but the minimap still shows identical layout to the last 14 you went to!! How lazy was that!! why does a cave near bone pit look identical to one under the city!!! cheap cheap lazy designed.
Lock picking: what is the point do citizens really value a pack of playing cards and 7 silver to the point they have brought a master locked chest to put them in!! seriously lockpick skill seems pointless no alternative routes to be opened in areas and junk to be gained from chests.
Voiced hero: was a nice touch but for those thinking it would add to imersion well you were wrong!! male hawkes voice is mono toned, sarcasm sounding like your being a tad camp, some close to you passes away but you sound indifferent.
I could go on and on about various disapointments but not got the time, But for all the flaws of the game thier is something, I cant place what, that makes me like it.
to mark it out of ten i would give it a 6 by no means is it terrible but it falls short of being epic by a large margin it is a game thats worth picking up if you have the money to spend and a spare week end to play through.
Character select with a basic choice and I do stress basic choice you are human you are rogue warrior mage now thats extremely limited but then we already knew that, what was worse was when you decided to customize your look to be The Hawke you always wanted to be, It is extremley limited function ohh well not off to a good start.
Storyline has been good through out but it pales in comparison with previous bioware titles.
Companions: In all honesty this seems a lack lustre bunch at best I was lucky I got Sebastion who seems the only really good companion aside from Varric and since i was playing as a rogue my choices became very difficult, Anders was a let down but since he has been relegated to primary healer he was in the group but had I had the ability to spec my companions as I saw fit he would had been left behind and forgotten his constant whining and moaning seriously grated on my nerves.
Companions really needed to be specced as the gamer saw fit at least then you could have a party that follows your ideals rather than a group who probally would never cross paths after thier 1st meeting
equipment: the inability to customise your companions was annoying to say the least all this loot dropping and its vendor trash, should i keep it umm no I cant give it to anyone lets junk it. bring back the ability to determine what a whole party wears looks like. I know by having thier own costume it was meant to make the companion look unique but it failed, please dont continue with this trend! give the power back to the player to choose which companions he takes and what equipment they can wear.
Enviroments: on the whole they were very well designed, but part of roleplay games is exploration seeing new vista passing new areas and to an extent we got this but where it failed miserably was the many dungeons caves city tunnels you went to all identical to the particular type been to one cave seen them all, all they did was block a door or such but the minimap still shows identical layout to the last 14 you went to!! How lazy was that!! why does a cave near bone pit look identical to one under the city!!! cheap cheap lazy designed.
Lock picking: what is the point do citizens really value a pack of playing cards and 7 silver to the point they have brought a master locked chest to put them in!! seriously lockpick skill seems pointless no alternative routes to be opened in areas and junk to be gained from chests.
Voiced hero: was a nice touch but for those thinking it would add to imersion well you were wrong!! male hawkes voice is mono toned, sarcasm sounding like your being a tad camp, some close to you passes away but you sound indifferent.
I could go on and on about various disapointments but not got the time, But for all the flaws of the game thier is something, I cant place what, that makes me like it.
to mark it out of ten i would give it a 6 by no means is it terrible but it falls short of being epic by a large margin it is a game thats worth picking up if you have the money to spend and a spare week end to play through.
#1733
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:01
Cutoutpanda
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General Impression:
Well I have now beaten Dragon Age 2 so I can give it a fair review.
I really liked the graphics, a lot better than Dragon Age Origins, really nice textures and models and very nice backdrops. The lip synching isn't great but I forgot all about it after a few hours into the game.
I prefer that the character has a voice, we're in 2011 and although the silent voiceless protagonist was perfect for Neverwinter Nights times have moved on and it feels like a barrier these days.
Quests:
I really enjoyed all of the quests and I had done pretty much all of them, one or two were bugged so were unable to complete them but I'm sure they'll be fixed in a soon to be patch.
There are a few almost secret quests that you can find by interacting with objects and those do tend to lead to some of the more difficult enemies.
Some of the quests force you to have a party member in your group, meaning you get the amazing choice of one person as you will have to include a healer.
That I did not like.
Combat:
I liked the combat system, it wasn't as slow and dull as Dragon Age Origins but you could still mix things up by performing combos with your party members. The healing spell had a bit of a nasty cooldown and in some of the more chaotic fights meant that party members would die due to health potions and the healing spell being on cooldown.
I would also like to point out that you are very limited on healers and that you are only going to have only two optional slots, I tried to mix things up and thought perhaps I'd be able to rely on healing potions to get through a section of content and then could not get past a boss so had to replay 30 minutes of content.
I don't particularly like being forced to use characters, I perfer choice.
Playing it on the pc and having to click every mob did mean my character would run off past them sometimes, I would have liked the ability to tab target.
Characters:
I did enjoy the majority of the characters, some characters however did get to the point that I'd have happily killed them myself.
I did enjoy the banter between the characters, I also loved the sexy welsh accent from a particular actress from Torchwood
After good portion of the game I really did end up feeling for the characters and would occasionally shout at the screen in disbelief with what was occuring.
Equipment:
At first I really didn't like the fact that I couldn't micro manage the equipment that my team were using but after a while I got used to it and found that it really isn't that bad and I quite enjoyed finding the little upgrades for my party members.
Towards the end of the game I was picking up some pretty brutal equipment and to be honest I am perfectly happy with how it is right now and I really like the fact that the characters look unique.
In Dragon Age Origins at times all of my party members looked pratically identical, I also like the option that you can hide your helm. I really hate helmets but I like the stats.
conclusion:
As a whole I loved the game, I've played many BioWare games and this game lives up to the BioWare brand. It got rid of a lot of problems I had with Dragon Age Origins, the bland colours, the very slow paced combat, the mute protagonist, the terrible fade. The fade was so terrible in the original game that it put me off replaying the game.
I'm not entirely sure why everyone seems so against the game but all I can think is that they just don't like change.
I liked the improvements BioWare made from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2 and I like the changes they have made to Dragon Age 2, if you are of an open mind then you will most likely enjoy Dragon Age 2.
I completed the game in 47 hours and after I post this I'm going to start my second playthrough.
Well I have now beaten Dragon Age 2 so I can give it a fair review.
I really liked the graphics, a lot better than Dragon Age Origins, really nice textures and models and very nice backdrops. The lip synching isn't great but I forgot all about it after a few hours into the game.
I prefer that the character has a voice, we're in 2011 and although the silent voiceless protagonist was perfect for Neverwinter Nights times have moved on and it feels like a barrier these days.
Quests:
I really enjoyed all of the quests and I had done pretty much all of them, one or two were bugged so were unable to complete them but I'm sure they'll be fixed in a soon to be patch.
There are a few almost secret quests that you can find by interacting with objects and those do tend to lead to some of the more difficult enemies.
Some of the quests force you to have a party member in your group, meaning you get the amazing choice of one person as you will have to include a healer.
That I did not like.
Combat:
I liked the combat system, it wasn't as slow and dull as Dragon Age Origins but you could still mix things up by performing combos with your party members. The healing spell had a bit of a nasty cooldown and in some of the more chaotic fights meant that party members would die due to health potions and the healing spell being on cooldown.
I would also like to point out that you are very limited on healers and that you are only going to have only two optional slots, I tried to mix things up and thought perhaps I'd be able to rely on healing potions to get through a section of content and then could not get past a boss so had to replay 30 minutes of content.
I don't particularly like being forced to use characters, I perfer choice.
Playing it on the pc and having to click every mob did mean my character would run off past them sometimes, I would have liked the ability to tab target.
Characters:
I did enjoy the majority of the characters, some characters however did get to the point that I'd have happily killed them myself.
I did enjoy the banter between the characters, I also loved the sexy welsh accent from a particular actress from Torchwood
After good portion of the game I really did end up feeling for the characters and would occasionally shout at the screen in disbelief with what was occuring.
Equipment:
At first I really didn't like the fact that I couldn't micro manage the equipment that my team were using but after a while I got used to it and found that it really isn't that bad and I quite enjoyed finding the little upgrades for my party members.
Towards the end of the game I was picking up some pretty brutal equipment and to be honest I am perfectly happy with how it is right now and I really like the fact that the characters look unique.
In Dragon Age Origins at times all of my party members looked pratically identical, I also like the option that you can hide your helm. I really hate helmets but I like the stats.
conclusion:
As a whole I loved the game, I've played many BioWare games and this game lives up to the BioWare brand. It got rid of a lot of problems I had with Dragon Age Origins, the bland colours, the very slow paced combat, the mute protagonist, the terrible fade. The fade was so terrible in the original game that it put me off replaying the game.
I'm not entirely sure why everyone seems so against the game but all I can think is that they just don't like change.
I liked the improvements BioWare made from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2 and I like the changes they have made to Dragon Age 2, if you are of an open mind then you will most likely enjoy Dragon Age 2.
I completed the game in 47 hours and after I post this I'm going to start my second playthrough.
#1734
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:11
Malakar1
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- Members
- 227 messages
First of all, I really hope that Bioware people are still reading, not everyone here is a crazy zealot bashing the game in every occasion possible.
PROS.
- Story was awesome, really liked the fact it was on ten years. It felt more "real" than the one in origins (never been a bif fan of human superheros going against a demon god to save the world from evil ^^) So a big thumbs hope for the story management.
- Many side quests and companion quests. Like this format, feels more personal, gives more character development time.
- Characters were interesting and cool, all of them.
- Really liked the back conversations between characters in your party. Especially those involving Isabella. I didn't feel like they were repeating themselves in the course of my 55 hours of play. They also were related to the current mission, or location. Really great job on that.
-Final boss fight was AWESOME. The ending was too, can't wait to see what happens next. Kept me on my toes until the very end.
- Combat felt good and dynamic. Love the changes.
- Skill threes were awesome. Really was better than DA: O. Was nice to have a unique skill three for each character. That way I didn't end up having like three templars 7 reapers. Good way to keep diversity in you characters. Making each of them fun to play.
SO-SO
- Graphics. Better than Origins, great character models, beautiful Isabela
. Sadly a lot of places, and characters felt low res Alistair, Liliana really felt like they were only pasted in the game. A shame considering what the ME2 engine is capable of. Maybe borrow it next time!
- Technical specs. While better than Origins, there were still lags, screen tearing (PS3), slowdowns and other annoying glitches.
- Conversations, the principle was cool, but I really hated the fact that you couldn't talk your companions whenever you felt like it. Only talking to them 3 times or so per act really hurts the character relationships. Because of that I never got to "consume" my love with Isabela even though I got her every gifts, missions, help maxed friendship. Also not a lot of people you can't talk to, Kinda sad.
- Companion inventory. I don't know, it didn't bother me that much, but it still felt strange. I mean this is an RPG you need to be able to customize your characters. Adding more stuff to buy for them, or a few different costumes would be a plus.
CONS
- The freaking repetitive maps!!! That was awful, using the same map for every time you get in a cave, staying in the same place for 55 hours. Really doesn't feel like a big budget game. Would be nice to get more diversity, more maps, more different places to explore. Having more than like 4-5 places to explore outside of Kirkwall is a huge blunder. Also affects the replayability of the game.
- Having some news on your DA:O characters would be nice. At least knowing what they became after the game, what they're doing know. Especially Morrigan, since this was my favorite character ever. I know it's not sequel, but it's the same world, and while imported saves give some nice features, seeing a bit more of them would be nice.
- More time to polish the game would be needed, a lot of glitches and bugs out there. Kinda things you don't see with games like God of war or Final fantasy. Not a big thing this time around but still appreciated by the gamers.
Conclusion, I had a blast playing that game, it wasn't Origins, but it was a great game, really LOVED the story and characters. Few things to changes, but in the end, really good potential for the next DA. Can't wait
8.5/10
PROS.
- Story was awesome, really liked the fact it was on ten years. It felt more "real" than the one in origins (never been a bif fan of human superheros going against a demon god to save the world from evil ^^) So a big thumbs hope for the story management.
- Many side quests and companion quests. Like this format, feels more personal, gives more character development time.
- Characters were interesting and cool, all of them.
- Really liked the back conversations between characters in your party. Especially those involving Isabella. I didn't feel like they were repeating themselves in the course of my 55 hours of play. They also were related to the current mission, or location. Really great job on that.
-Final boss fight was AWESOME. The ending was too, can't wait to see what happens next. Kept me on my toes until the very end.
- Combat felt good and dynamic. Love the changes.
- Skill threes were awesome. Really was better than DA: O. Was nice to have a unique skill three for each character. That way I didn't end up having like three templars 7 reapers. Good way to keep diversity in you characters. Making each of them fun to play.
SO-SO
- Graphics. Better than Origins, great character models, beautiful Isabela
. Sadly a lot of places, and characters felt low res Alistair, Liliana really felt like they were only pasted in the game. A shame considering what the ME2 engine is capable of. Maybe borrow it next time!- Technical specs. While better than Origins, there were still lags, screen tearing (PS3), slowdowns and other annoying glitches.
- Conversations, the principle was cool, but I really hated the fact that you couldn't talk your companions whenever you felt like it. Only talking to them 3 times or so per act really hurts the character relationships. Because of that I never got to "consume" my love with Isabela even though I got her every gifts, missions, help maxed friendship. Also not a lot of people you can't talk to, Kinda sad.
- Companion inventory. I don't know, it didn't bother me that much, but it still felt strange. I mean this is an RPG you need to be able to customize your characters. Adding more stuff to buy for them, or a few different costumes would be a plus.
CONS
- The freaking repetitive maps!!! That was awful, using the same map for every time you get in a cave, staying in the same place for 55 hours. Really doesn't feel like a big budget game. Would be nice to get more diversity, more maps, more different places to explore. Having more than like 4-5 places to explore outside of Kirkwall is a huge blunder. Also affects the replayability of the game.
- Having some news on your DA:O characters would be nice. At least knowing what they became after the game, what they're doing know. Especially Morrigan, since this was my favorite character ever. I know it's not sequel, but it's the same world, and while imported saves give some nice features, seeing a bit more of them would be nice.
- More time to polish the game would be needed, a lot of glitches and bugs out there. Kinda things you don't see with games like God of war or Final fantasy. Not a big thing this time around but still appreciated by the gamers.
Conclusion, I had a blast playing that game, it wasn't Origins, but it was a great game, really LOVED the story and characters. Few things to changes, but in the end, really good potential for the next DA. Can't wait
8.5/10
#1735
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:25
Greyleroux
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- Members
- 4 messages
10/10 so far the Dialogs and graphics are amazing indeed ,the main quest is captivating i couldnt stop playing for over 5hours ! and that's a verry good signe
The change is refreshing i don't know why peaple where so negative ,I just love the game i recommand it
The change is refreshing i don't know why peaple where so negative ,I just love the game i recommand it
#1736
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:30
Biefstukfriet
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- Members
- 115 messages
I tried posting this DA: II PC review on metacritic, but I either get an error when posting, or I downright can not access the user review page. So I am posting it here because I need the release. 
As a stand alone game, Dragon Age 2 is a passable and entertaining game. Nothing groundbreaking, but entertaining non the less with the trademark Bioware brilliance sprinkled here and there. It's when compared to Dragon Age: Origins that things start to go south.
First, the stand alone review:
The scenery looks great the first two to three hours. But it's after this time that the caves, houses and locations in the City of Kirkwall - the location of the majority of the game - are constantly recycled. Does that location look familiar? It probably is, because even though the missions change, the locations quite often don't. You'll find yourself slogging through a location you visited half an hour ago. Sometimes, the game spices things up and you start of where you left the location during your previous visit.
The combat is pretty smooth and visualy appealing but also rather simple. Positioning your party to best use the lay of the land is not needed and also not usefull because enemies spawn pretty much out of nowhere and from all sides of the map in a neverending tide. Your well placed mage, screened by your warrior and rogue just got jumped on by a group of enemies that just were not there before.
As for the storyline, following Hawke's rise from refugee to champion is a novel idea and has merrit, but the story's lack of a clear goal and sense of urgency makes it lack a soul. As a result side-quests feel like filler and of no import.
DA 2 is ntertaining, but with flaws and would've scored a 7. DA 2 only becomes a '4' (see my user score) when you compare it to Dragon Age: Origins. Origins had a compelling storyline, fleshed out locations, entertaining characters you could bond to, a clear goal to work towards and tactical combat. Now there is one thing that truly vexes me, the impact of my Warder from Origins in DAII. There is none, merely comments on his past actions which is a far cry from Mass Effect 2, where the choices made in ME 1 had strong consequences. (to clarify, the '7' and '4' scores wouldn've been my scores, had I been able to post this on metacritic)
Why Bioware took such a radical approach to a very much acclaimed game as Dragon Age Origin is beyond me.
As a stand alone game, Dragon Age 2 is a passable and entertaining game. Nothing groundbreaking, but entertaining non the less with the trademark Bioware brilliance sprinkled here and there. It's when compared to Dragon Age: Origins that things start to go south.
First, the stand alone review:
The scenery looks great the first two to three hours. But it's after this time that the caves, houses and locations in the City of Kirkwall - the location of the majority of the game - are constantly recycled. Does that location look familiar? It probably is, because even though the missions change, the locations quite often don't. You'll find yourself slogging through a location you visited half an hour ago. Sometimes, the game spices things up and you start of where you left the location during your previous visit.
The combat is pretty smooth and visualy appealing but also rather simple. Positioning your party to best use the lay of the land is not needed and also not usefull because enemies spawn pretty much out of nowhere and from all sides of the map in a neverending tide. Your well placed mage, screened by your warrior and rogue just got jumped on by a group of enemies that just were not there before.
As for the storyline, following Hawke's rise from refugee to champion is a novel idea and has merrit, but the story's lack of a clear goal and sense of urgency makes it lack a soul. As a result side-quests feel like filler and of no import.
DA 2 is ntertaining, but with flaws and would've scored a 7. DA 2 only becomes a '4' (see my user score) when you compare it to Dragon Age: Origins. Origins had a compelling storyline, fleshed out locations, entertaining characters you could bond to, a clear goal to work towards and tactical combat. Now there is one thing that truly vexes me, the impact of my Warder from Origins in DAII. There is none, merely comments on his past actions which is a far cry from Mass Effect 2, where the choices made in ME 1 had strong consequences. (to clarify, the '7' and '4' scores wouldn've been my scores, had I been able to post this on metacritic)
Why Bioware took such a radical approach to a very much acclaimed game as Dragon Age Origin is beyond me.
#1737
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:32
Imen
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- Members
- 1 messages
I have just completed my second play through.
pros
I like the aspects of the faster combat though can be a bit hack and slash and repetitive
like the graphics
new mages combat is the highlight
Like the new look Darkspawn
cons
Didn’t mind not being able to go other races although story
line could have easily be adapted so it would work. Eg adopted elf, dwarf ect
not being able to customise other characters looks. so much armour in the game
that you just have to sell.
Could have had more maps especially the caves (people do
notice it is the same cave)
Would like to see more of the special kills like origins dismemberments
But to me the story line is where DA2 falls short, because
in the end the quality story line is main reason I play RPG’s, not for flashy
fast combat. DA2 story line is alright however it is not a patch on origins.
For me an 6 to 7 out of 10
It is a decent game nothing special, a complete fail when compared
to origins.
pros
I like the aspects of the faster combat though can be a bit hack and slash and repetitive
like the graphics
new mages combat is the highlight
Like the new look Darkspawn
cons
Didn’t mind not being able to go other races although story
line could have easily be adapted so it would work. Eg adopted elf, dwarf ect
not being able to customise other characters looks. so much armour in the game
that you just have to sell.
Could have had more maps especially the caves (people do
notice it is the same cave)
Would like to see more of the special kills like origins dismemberments
But to me the story line is where DA2 falls short, because
in the end the quality story line is main reason I play RPG’s, not for flashy
fast combat. DA2 story line is alright however it is not a patch on origins.
For me an 6 to 7 out of 10
It is a decent game nothing special, a complete fail when compared
to origins.
Modifié par Imen, 14 mars 2011 - 01:33 .
#1738
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:35
JeeWeeJ
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- Members
- 275 messages
Well, i'm not much of a forum poster, but this time i cant resist.
Let me begin to say that i find this game decent. Not good like Mass Effect 1 and 2, not great like DA:O, just decent. I'll break the explanation down in a few parts.
First the graphics:
I've bought the PC version of DA2 and i must say that the graphics are pretty nice with the HD-texture pack installed and everything on very high quality, so no complaints there. What i do not like however is the new art style. In Origins i liked that all raced looked a bit like eachother, call it realistic if you will. Qunari were big badass humans...and now they are like humans mixed with goats??? Whats up with that?? And why does Flemeth have this ridiculous hair?? Because she changes into dragon form?? No, i liked the "i might look like an old woman, but do not mess with me" look better. And elves...just look like they'll break in two if you just look at them.
The enviroments look pretty good. First time i entered a cave i was like "wow! this looks great!" but after a few times i realised i was running through the same cave/mansion/alley over and over again... If this was a game on the PSP or the NDS i'd understand, but on a PC or console??? No, that just wont do!
Gameplay:
Well, to begin with the story. I just finished the second act and i must say: the story so far is pretty good. What i dont like however is that i'm feeling forced to go down a certain path in the story. For example in DA:O you're "taught" that apostates are BAD! (yes, in capitals) And now everywhere you go the game keeps asking you if you want to save apostates?!?! It's like when you say no, the game reacts with "hmm, i didnt get that.. here, save some more apostates!...or i'll ruin your relationship with that handy healing companion of yours! This IS a RPG...right??? Speaking of companions, in DA:O you had some really memorable companions you really got to like, even if you didnt bring them along. Just think about Zevran or Ohgren! Here..i just dont care about them! Yes, Varric is funny from time to time, but the rest... No.. (i mean, Anders without Ser Pouncealot??? Thats like Minsc without Boo!!) Another thing i missed was the ability to speak to my companions while "on the field". Did someone put a piece of duckttape over their mouths? Its like the game is saying "STFU and go questing!" Another one of those things in which i get the feeling that the game is playing me instead of the other way around. Whats up with that? I wont go into the romance options...as they are just not worth it in my honest opinion and completely out of touch with the mature rating of this game. Even though i did like the conversation wheel in Mass Effect 2, i think its misplaced in DA2. Where did all my conversation options go?
The inventory system is also a joke, once i collected 10 rings, belts and amulets called "ring", "belt" and "amulet" i gave up. Do you really call this a rpg??? And why do i get rogue and mage loot when i'm playing a warrior? Since the game wont let me customize my companions, why get this loot at all? If you have to "thumb things down" or "streamline it" as others would call it, go the whole way! Now i have to keep selling stuff i cant use anyway! The "junk" option is a nice addition though, even though i'm not a big fan of useless loot.
Enough about that, lets go to combat! As said before, i prefer a realistic approach over stylized. If i'm a warrior wearing full plate armour i expect him to run (perhaps "jog" is a better word) towards a enemy and then continue to bash his head in.. Whats up with this "fly towards enemy like they do in dragon ball z"????? I'm not playing a vanguard class from mass effect 2 am i? No, i really dislike the fast paced combat. Sure, fancy moves are nice, like those finishing moves from DA:O, but this is just overdoing it. Also, why all the spawning enemies? Whats wrong with just a limited amount of stronger ones?
The new skilltrees are nice though, even though i find them extremely limiting. I always play a dual wielding warrior...why cant i dual wield in DA2?? No, i do not want to be a rogue! And if i want to do damage, why am i limited to HUGE weapons not misplaced in JRPG's? This IS Dragon Age right?? And if i want a healer in my party, why am i stuck with Anders?? Am i missing someone here? As the old MMO wisdom goes "do not go into battle without a tank and a healer" i'm stuck with him...and i dont even like Anders!
Last but not least, i was really hopeful when i got the "import data from Dragon Age: Origins" option at the beginning of the game...just to find out that -for me at least- it had barely any impact! DA:O had so many things you could hook into! So sad..
Sound:
One thing that IS great is the sound. I loved most of the voiceovers (I still dont like to hear my Hawke speak.. It kills the immersion for me) and the ambient sound is pretty good. I havent noticed that the music was "rushed", so i guess thats a good thing!
Concluding...
As you might have noticed, i've written this from the perspective of a RPG fan who loved his Baldurs Gate (1/2), Neverwinter Nights (1/2) and Dragon Age: Origins. To me this game is a total letdown. Yes, i've read all the previews and interviews with quotes like "press a button and stuff happens", but still i was hoping for a proper sequel to DA:O. But this is just Mass Effect with swords! An action game with rpg elements in it! Somebody on these forums compared it with going back to a restaurant where you had a delicious stake, only to find out they only sell hamburgers now. (sorry, cant remember who said that) And thats how i feel. I just don't understand why Bioware didn't create a sub-brand for this kind of game, just like Icewind Dale was a action packed spinoff (kinda) from Baldurs Gate??
Anyway, if you are looking for a action game, i'd give this game a 8/10
But if you are like me and was hoping for a proper sequel.. i cant give it any more that a 5/10
Please Bioware, give us Origins 2!!
Let me begin to say that i find this game decent. Not good like Mass Effect 1 and 2, not great like DA:O, just decent. I'll break the explanation down in a few parts.
First the graphics:
I've bought the PC version of DA2 and i must say that the graphics are pretty nice with the HD-texture pack installed and everything on very high quality, so no complaints there. What i do not like however is the new art style. In Origins i liked that all raced looked a bit like eachother, call it realistic if you will. Qunari were big badass humans...and now they are like humans mixed with goats??? Whats up with that?? And why does Flemeth have this ridiculous hair?? Because she changes into dragon form?? No, i liked the "i might look like an old woman, but do not mess with me" look better. And elves...just look like they'll break in two if you just look at them.
The enviroments look pretty good. First time i entered a cave i was like "wow! this looks great!" but after a few times i realised i was running through the same cave/mansion/alley over and over again... If this was a game on the PSP or the NDS i'd understand, but on a PC or console??? No, that just wont do!
Gameplay:
Well, to begin with the story. I just finished the second act and i must say: the story so far is pretty good. What i dont like however is that i'm feeling forced to go down a certain path in the story. For example in DA:O you're "taught" that apostates are BAD! (yes, in capitals) And now everywhere you go the game keeps asking you if you want to save apostates?!?! It's like when you say no, the game reacts with "hmm, i didnt get that.. here, save some more apostates!...or i'll ruin your relationship with that handy healing companion of yours! This IS a RPG...right??? Speaking of companions, in DA:O you had some really memorable companions you really got to like, even if you didnt bring them along. Just think about Zevran or Ohgren! Here..i just dont care about them! Yes, Varric is funny from time to time, but the rest... No.. (i mean, Anders without Ser Pouncealot??? Thats like Minsc without Boo!!) Another thing i missed was the ability to speak to my companions while "on the field". Did someone put a piece of duckttape over their mouths? Its like the game is saying "STFU and go questing!" Another one of those things in which i get the feeling that the game is playing me instead of the other way around. Whats up with that? I wont go into the romance options...as they are just not worth it in my honest opinion and completely out of touch with the mature rating of this game. Even though i did like the conversation wheel in Mass Effect 2, i think its misplaced in DA2. Where did all my conversation options go?
The inventory system is also a joke, once i collected 10 rings, belts and amulets called "ring", "belt" and "amulet" i gave up. Do you really call this a rpg??? And why do i get rogue and mage loot when i'm playing a warrior? Since the game wont let me customize my companions, why get this loot at all? If you have to "thumb things down" or "streamline it" as others would call it, go the whole way! Now i have to keep selling stuff i cant use anyway! The "junk" option is a nice addition though, even though i'm not a big fan of useless loot.
Enough about that, lets go to combat! As said before, i prefer a realistic approach over stylized. If i'm a warrior wearing full plate armour i expect him to run (perhaps "jog" is a better word) towards a enemy and then continue to bash his head in.. Whats up with this "fly towards enemy like they do in dragon ball z"????? I'm not playing a vanguard class from mass effect 2 am i? No, i really dislike the fast paced combat. Sure, fancy moves are nice, like those finishing moves from DA:O, but this is just overdoing it. Also, why all the spawning enemies? Whats wrong with just a limited amount of stronger ones?
The new skilltrees are nice though, even though i find them extremely limiting. I always play a dual wielding warrior...why cant i dual wield in DA2?? No, i do not want to be a rogue! And if i want to do damage, why am i limited to HUGE weapons not misplaced in JRPG's? This IS Dragon Age right?? And if i want a healer in my party, why am i stuck with Anders?? Am i missing someone here? As the old MMO wisdom goes "do not go into battle without a tank and a healer" i'm stuck with him...and i dont even like Anders!
Last but not least, i was really hopeful when i got the "import data from Dragon Age: Origins" option at the beginning of the game...just to find out that -for me at least- it had barely any impact! DA:O had so many things you could hook into! So sad..
Sound:
One thing that IS great is the sound. I loved most of the voiceovers (I still dont like to hear my Hawke speak.. It kills the immersion for me) and the ambient sound is pretty good. I havent noticed that the music was "rushed", so i guess thats a good thing!
Concluding...
As you might have noticed, i've written this from the perspective of a RPG fan who loved his Baldurs Gate (1/2), Neverwinter Nights (1/2) and Dragon Age: Origins. To me this game is a total letdown. Yes, i've read all the previews and interviews with quotes like "press a button and stuff happens", but still i was hoping for a proper sequel to DA:O. But this is just Mass Effect with swords! An action game with rpg elements in it! Somebody on these forums compared it with going back to a restaurant where you had a delicious stake, only to find out they only sell hamburgers now. (sorry, cant remember who said that) And thats how i feel. I just don't understand why Bioware didn't create a sub-brand for this kind of game, just like Icewind Dale was a action packed spinoff (kinda) from Baldurs Gate??
Anyway, if you are looking for a action game, i'd give this game a 8/10
But if you are like me and was hoping for a proper sequel.. i cant give it any more that a 5/10
Please Bioware, give us Origins 2!!
Modifié par JeeWeeJ, 14 mars 2011 - 01:44 .
#1739
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:36
Pork_chops
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- Members
- 3 messages
My opinions of this game are... Well... Poor.
The storyline seems empty, the characters are shallow, the dialogue is so dumbed down I spam the ESC key all the way through, no matter what I say, I feel like nothing I do will really matter in the long run, and I'm an Apostate Mage. An Apostate Mage. But Templars look at me and say "DERP LOOK AT THAT, THAT THERE BE A MAGE, IMMA GO OVER HERE NOW."
It lacks the depth and the playability of the first, I'm probably not even going to bother finishing it to be honest, which is a real bummer.
The storyline seems empty, the characters are shallow, the dialogue is so dumbed down I spam the ESC key all the way through, no matter what I say, I feel like nothing I do will really matter in the long run, and I'm an Apostate Mage. An Apostate Mage. But Templars look at me and say "DERP LOOK AT THAT, THAT THERE BE A MAGE, IMMA GO OVER HERE NOW."
It lacks the depth and the playability of the first, I'm probably not even going to bother finishing it to be honest, which is a real bummer.
#1740
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 01:45
SilentK
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- Members
- 2 620 messages
I'm only perhaps half way though the game and I love it so far. There has already been a couple of twists that left me completely heartbroken or really really happy. So far I have managed to stay spoilerfree so I don't know where the story will go next. And that makes me so happy. So far I must say that I love this game even more than DA:O and I thought that it wouldn't be possible. A lot of that is probably to do with the voice actor, F!Hawke is wonderful. I'll be back with a full review later when I've played the entire game. Just wanted to share how happy I am =)
happy gaming all
happy gaming all
#1741
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:00
Rane24
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- Members
- 2 messages
I'm about 15 hours into it and am very disappointed. It is impossible not to compare this to DAO in a poor light. DAO was pure class compared to this dumbed down garbage. Special affects suck in comparison. The fighting ... yes, the fighting. My rogue jumps around like a manic flea, and attacks in way too jerky too fast moves. There is no finesse and no joy in this combat. Half the time the enemies drop like flies and I have no idea why.
I also must ask, how old are the developers? 12? I won't even attempt a female lead because the exaggerated runway strumpet walk is too much to bear, and the jog is absolutely painful to watch. Where the hell is the beautifully senuos gait we had in DAO? Why the hell would you mess with that? It boggles my mind. Again, I am very disappointed in this release. You won't fool me again.
I also must ask, how old are the developers? 12? I won't even attempt a female lead because the exaggerated runway strumpet walk is too much to bear, and the jog is absolutely painful to watch. Where the hell is the beautifully senuos gait we had in DAO? Why the hell would you mess with that? It boggles my mind. Again, I am very disappointed in this release. You won't fool me again.
#1742
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:05
jack253
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- Members
- 166 messages
Just finished the game with my female warrior hawk and here are my impressions.
Combat
Overall the combat has a much better feel to it and doesn't have the same
turn-by-turn impression as the previous game. Since I'm a PC-gamer at the start
of combat and from time to time I make great use of the pause system to issue
orders but the camera does make it difficult to aim area spells and abilities
effectively.
Story
I liked the DA2 story because of the fact you don't start out as the hero who
will save everything. You start out as a refugee who has to work in order to
move up in the world and while it doesn't have the same epic feel as DA:O.
There certainly where plenty of times where I had a WTF feeling that were very
satisfying. However I feel that the time-skips between acts were too large in
comparison to the relative short amount of time that we actually do things.
Characters
I played Hawke as a sarcastic individual who cared deeply for friends and
family. And It was nice to see the way your personality develops over the years
depending on your responses, I especially liked the voice actor because there
was a lot emotion in there (a good example of this is near the end of the
second act). The companions themselves are pretty interesting and while they don't
feel as static as other games where you can ask the same question over and over
again I would have liked to see more dialogue between them and Hawke. Also the
romance in the game while good, is less fulfilling then in DA:O
Customization
This is a big point for me in any game and DA2 did things right and wrong.
First the right, leveling has seen a huge improvement over DA:O as it is much
easier to get the Hawk you want instead of the mage with two nice spells and
several necessary filler. Also the fact that tactics are no longer tied to a
specific attribute means you can better optimize your character and companions.
Speaking of which the fact that each has its own unique specialization means
that they not feel like generic warriors, mages and rogues. The bad however is
the companions armor. While it serves to make them more unique, the fact that
there is only one set of armor with set upgrades takes away any customization
besides trinkets. An example of what they could have is that let's say Fenris,
has 3 sets of armor: one lightly armored that allows him to attack faster and
move around more freely, a heavy armor that makes him slower but allows him to
take more damage, one infused with lyrium that improves his specialization.
Besides that he has 10 upgrade components so that the player can choose what he
wants. This would still let them have a unique appearance but would greatly
have improved this aspect of the game.
Overall, despite the game having some flaws in it, I certainly can appreciate the effort the developers took in trying to take the series into a new direction. Some of it worked, some didn't which is fine because that is the road to perfection.
Dragon Age 2 8.5/10
Combat
Overall the combat has a much better feel to it and doesn't have the same
turn-by-turn impression as the previous game. Since I'm a PC-gamer at the start
of combat and from time to time I make great use of the pause system to issue
orders but the camera does make it difficult to aim area spells and abilities
effectively.
Story
I liked the DA2 story because of the fact you don't start out as the hero who
will save everything. You start out as a refugee who has to work in order to
move up in the world and while it doesn't have the same epic feel as DA:O.
There certainly where plenty of times where I had a WTF feeling that were very
satisfying. However I feel that the time-skips between acts were too large in
comparison to the relative short amount of time that we actually do things.
Characters
I played Hawke as a sarcastic individual who cared deeply for friends and
family. And It was nice to see the way your personality develops over the years
depending on your responses, I especially liked the voice actor because there
was a lot emotion in there (a good example of this is near the end of the
second act). The companions themselves are pretty interesting and while they don't
feel as static as other games where you can ask the same question over and over
again I would have liked to see more dialogue between them and Hawke. Also the
romance in the game while good, is less fulfilling then in DA:O
Customization
This is a big point for me in any game and DA2 did things right and wrong.
First the right, leveling has seen a huge improvement over DA:O as it is much
easier to get the Hawk you want instead of the mage with two nice spells and
several necessary filler. Also the fact that tactics are no longer tied to a
specific attribute means you can better optimize your character and companions.
Speaking of which the fact that each has its own unique specialization means
that they not feel like generic warriors, mages and rogues. The bad however is
the companions armor. While it serves to make them more unique, the fact that
there is only one set of armor with set upgrades takes away any customization
besides trinkets. An example of what they could have is that let's say Fenris,
has 3 sets of armor: one lightly armored that allows him to attack faster and
move around more freely, a heavy armor that makes him slower but allows him to
take more damage, one infused with lyrium that improves his specialization.
Besides that he has 10 upgrade components so that the player can choose what he
wants. This would still let them have a unique appearance but would greatly
have improved this aspect of the game.
Overall, despite the game having some flaws in it, I certainly can appreciate the effort the developers took in trying to take the series into a new direction. Some of it worked, some didn't which is fine because that is the road to perfection.
Dragon Age 2 8.5/10
Modifié par jack253, 14 mars 2011 - 02:06 .
#1743
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:09
Sussurus
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- Members
- 520 messages
Cons:
Healing was a huge issue for me, even on easy.
Healing was atrocious I can't say much more than it is bad.
Bosses unbalanced..
On easy bosses deal frequent one or two hit kills.
The also have far more health than is reasonable, especially considering player health and party health.
Having both cooldowns and mana / stamina is annoying.
Bad placements on combat start, especially on cutscenes.
Clipping, very bad clipping in quite a few places.
Beards, look bad compared the rest of the face.
Pros:
I like the story, the choices and interactions with the companions.
Round up:
Make easy easy, a lot consider it cheating so you lose nothing making it easy but a lot of people will be happier.
Make healing as easy as possible.
Tone down the bosses.
Healing was a huge issue for me, even on easy.
Healing was atrocious I can't say much more than it is bad.
Bosses unbalanced..
On easy bosses deal frequent one or two hit kills.
The also have far more health than is reasonable, especially considering player health and party health.
Having both cooldowns and mana / stamina is annoying.
Bad placements on combat start, especially on cutscenes.
Clipping, very bad clipping in quite a few places.
Beards, look bad compared the rest of the face.
Pros:
I like the story, the choices and interactions with the companions.
Round up:
Make easy easy, a lot consider it cheating so you lose nothing making it easy but a lot of people will be happier.
Make healing as easy as possible.
Tone down the bosses.
Modifié par Sussurus, 14 mars 2011 - 02:14 .
#1744
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:11
karldwagner
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- Members
- 1 messages
I just wish the Autosave feature was moved so that you respawn OUTSIDE the room, rather than inside.
Obviously, if you walk into a room and find an opponent that destroys you, a respawn inside the room won't help.
Do I really want to replay that last 2 hours of game time? No.
Do I really want to save every 5 minutes? No.
It takes away from the enjoyment of the game.
Please ! Fix it.
Obviously, if you walk into a room and find an opponent that destroys you, a respawn inside the room won't help.
Do I really want to replay that last 2 hours of game time? No.
Do I really want to save every 5 minutes? No.
It takes away from the enjoyment of the game.
Please ! Fix it.
#1745
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:12
Stensig
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- Members
- 157 messages
I like the game. The thing that i find most annoying, not a major floor though, is the 'copy-paste' thing -.-'
I also find Hard to be a weird difficulty lvl. Regular fights are WAY to easy, but boss fights are almost impossible. It might just be bc im still on first play-through and need to learn how to use tactics effective. I AM planing to try nightmare on 2nd though.
I'm impressed and IMHO it's up there with DA:O =D especially bc I find that combat in DA2 is so much cooler then in DA:O
I also find Hard to be a weird difficulty lvl. Regular fights are WAY to easy, but boss fights are almost impossible. It might just be bc im still on first play-through and need to learn how to use tactics effective. I AM planing to try nightmare on 2nd though.
I'm impressed and IMHO it's up there with DA:O =D especially bc I find that combat in DA2 is so much cooler then in DA:O
#1746
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:24
CaribWarrior J
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- Members
- 132 messages
Been playing Bioware role playing games since BG I.
Overall I like the game. The only thing that is a real negative in my opinion is the recycling of caves and dungeons. At some point it happened often enough that I noticed. Also, having to go so may times back and forth to the same places is not that appealing. I am up to Act 2 and hope that the story gets more coherent and starts to feel more epic. Act one felt very simple and limited to running around Kirkwall to make money. I would like to spend less time in Kirkwall and explore some other surrounding areas other than Sundermount and the Coast.
On the positive side I feel that the combat is very similar if not equal to Origins. Playing on hard, I have both mindlesly attacked (something that could also be done on Origins) and strategized in a "per turn" manner in different fights. Not all encounters should be extremely difficult, it is sometimes good to feel that your Hawke and party are good enough to destroy the lower eschelon of enemies with little effort. I agree with other posters that some animations a somewhat over the top.
The graphics are a much needed improvement. Sound also feels improved. Voiced character is a must.
In the end both Origins and DA2 have some strengths and some weaknesses. So far I like Origins exploration, larger areas, different locations and story telling. I like DA2's graphics, voiced character and sound. I will have to finish DA2 to say which game is better. Right now I'd have to say Origins is the better game. Both should be combined to make DA3.
Overall I like the game. The only thing that is a real negative in my opinion is the recycling of caves and dungeons. At some point it happened often enough that I noticed. Also, having to go so may times back and forth to the same places is not that appealing. I am up to Act 2 and hope that the story gets more coherent and starts to feel more epic. Act one felt very simple and limited to running around Kirkwall to make money. I would like to spend less time in Kirkwall and explore some other surrounding areas other than Sundermount and the Coast.
On the positive side I feel that the combat is very similar if not equal to Origins. Playing on hard, I have both mindlesly attacked (something that could also be done on Origins) and strategized in a "per turn" manner in different fights. Not all encounters should be extremely difficult, it is sometimes good to feel that your Hawke and party are good enough to destroy the lower eschelon of enemies with little effort. I agree with other posters that some animations a somewhat over the top.
The graphics are a much needed improvement. Sound also feels improved. Voiced character is a must.
In the end both Origins and DA2 have some strengths and some weaknesses. So far I like Origins exploration, larger areas, different locations and story telling. I like DA2's graphics, voiced character and sound. I will have to finish DA2 to say which game is better. Right now I'd have to say Origins is the better game. Both should be combined to make DA3.
Modifié par CaribWarrior J, 14 mars 2011 - 02:27 .
#1747
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:29
Rockpopple
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- Members
- 3 100 messages
Since nothing but extreme negativity can survive being buried on this board, here's my posted opinion about what not to change from this game going forward:
LIST OF WHAT NOT TO CHANGE (BUT MAKE EVEN BETTER).
1) The Conversation Wheel.
People like to call this a "Mass Effect wheel", but it's actually a little more advanced than that. In the ME games, Shep can choose a Renegade or Paragon option at any time, but it was those options that you chose that made him, at that moment, a Renegade or Paragon. In between actions, he was the same, generic Shepard. Dragon Age 2 took that to a new level.
In DA2, the game recognizes which options you lean towards - Paragon, Smart-ass, Renegade, and Hawke acts that way WITHOUT PLAYER INPUT. This makes Hawke a much more living character than Shepard. If you've been playing Hawke as a smart-ass, and say you meet a new character or undertake a new quest, his simple answer options will sound smart-ass, but if you've played him Renegade he'll sound Renegade.
This isn't a ME Wheel, it's a DA2 wheel, or at the very least an Evolved ME Wheel. Please don't change that. Go forward, add more conversation options, and bring that to ME3.
2) Battle Animations.
Well most of them. Some of them are a little over-the-top, but still, changing the battle animations was a great idea. This works especially for the Mage class.
The Mages always fascinated me in DA:O. Here were people born with an extraordinary ability that made them above normal men, who made them feared, hated and persecuted by society (This feels familiar somehow. *hums X-Men 90s theme). But they acted like schoolteachers. Even the badass ones acted like 1000 year old wizards. That fight in Lord of the Rings between Gandalf and Saruman? Yeah, they were OLD, so they fought like old men, and even THEY had more swagger than the mages in DA:O.
In DA 2, these beings were given a bit of extra swagger in everything they did. Yes, the staff-twirling did get excessive, but don't remove all of it! I'll get to that in a second, but their spell animations, the animation they did when they summoned or cast a buff on the party, all of this helped show how badass ALL mages are. They were born with this ability and a lot of them have attitude because of it.
So don't remove it - evolve it. Maybe have battle animations be different depending on the level of the character. At level 1 they're n00bs, so their battle animations would be awkward, but the higher level they become the more slick their animations become, because they're learning and gaining confidence with every battle. Maybe have different animation depending on the style of mage they are, or on how many abilities from certain trees they have. The possibilities are endless.
Just don't go back to the "poking" animation for mages, PLEASE.
And maybe Rogues are a bit too bombastic. Again, modify, don't remove.
Of course, don't go back on the Battle Speed either. Yes things can be improved, but don't go back to the same plodding pace of Dragon Age: Origins.
3) The Storytelling.
I don't mean to use a Framed Narrative all the time. I'm saying to continue to experiment. Yes, the old-school RPG storytelling is fun and all, and it's classic... but things are classic because they're tried, true and accepted. They're EASY. But the story that can blow us all away, that becomes the NEXT classic.
I really don't have much else to say except that I enjoyed the story in DA2, and I wouldn't want DA3 to regress back to the old-style of doing things.
4) The Inventory System
One of the changes to DA 2 that actually really grated on me was the Inventory system. It felt clunky and a chore to use. But the more I used it, the more I noticed its charms, then its usefulness.
I think it's important to get more people into playing the games we like. That doesn't mean dumbing anything down, but it does mean making things more intuitive. This happens with software all the time. Just because something is overly-complicated means its good. I get that some people who are used to a clunky old system might like it because they feel like they're in on something others aren't, but I think that when you spread the joy of RPGaming, which is different from other kinds of gaming, to others, that can only be a good thing.
That said, the Inventory system in DA 2 is quite intuitive. All loot goes directly to the Junk pile and can be sold easily without moving through every object to wonder if it's useful or not. A star rating next to an item corresponds directly to the character, their level and strengths, and gives a cursory glance as to whether the item is right for them or not. It's not necessary to go by the star rating. I don't, I make my own choices, but for someone new at the genre, It gives them a leg up on LEARNING what it takes to equip your hero. This doesn't take anything away from the game, it only adds to it.
This system can be improved, so improve it! But don't go back to the old inventory checklist, I beg you.
While I'm at it, add the Ability Tree to this. Don't regress, improve. It's already a great improvement on DA:O. Again, it's more intuitive. Being able to see at a glance what is a Passive, Sustained or Activated ability? It sounds like a small change, but it's huge to people who are first time RPG players. Again, it doesn't take anything away. Just keep improving things.
5) The art style.
I nearly didn't get into Dragon Age: Origins, and it was because the art-style didn't sell me. It was just too bland. I laughed at the Darkspawn in DA:O. I thought they were an obvious rip off from the LOTR *drawing a blank on the name* monsters. I laugh at the Darkspawn in DA:2 now because they look a bit clownish....
But the redesign of everything else? Humans, elves dwarves, demons? Qunari? Excellent. They give things more character. It's not the same generic "Whatever, it's medieval and swords and magic and this is a monster" artstyle from DA:O. The Character Creator especially was a great improvement on things. Please continue to improve, but don't go back to the bland art of before.
LIST OF WHAT NOT TO CHANGE (BUT MAKE EVEN BETTER).
1) The Conversation Wheel.
People like to call this a "Mass Effect wheel", but it's actually a little more advanced than that. In the ME games, Shep can choose a Renegade or Paragon option at any time, but it was those options that you chose that made him, at that moment, a Renegade or Paragon. In between actions, he was the same, generic Shepard. Dragon Age 2 took that to a new level.
In DA2, the game recognizes which options you lean towards - Paragon, Smart-ass, Renegade, and Hawke acts that way WITHOUT PLAYER INPUT. This makes Hawke a much more living character than Shepard. If you've been playing Hawke as a smart-ass, and say you meet a new character or undertake a new quest, his simple answer options will sound smart-ass, but if you've played him Renegade he'll sound Renegade.
This isn't a ME Wheel, it's a DA2 wheel, or at the very least an Evolved ME Wheel. Please don't change that. Go forward, add more conversation options, and bring that to ME3.
2) Battle Animations.
Well most of them. Some of them are a little over-the-top, but still, changing the battle animations was a great idea. This works especially for the Mage class.
The Mages always fascinated me in DA:O. Here were people born with an extraordinary ability that made them above normal men, who made them feared, hated and persecuted by society (This feels familiar somehow. *hums X-Men 90s theme). But they acted like schoolteachers. Even the badass ones acted like 1000 year old wizards. That fight in Lord of the Rings between Gandalf and Saruman? Yeah, they were OLD, so they fought like old men, and even THEY had more swagger than the mages in DA:O.
In DA 2, these beings were given a bit of extra swagger in everything they did. Yes, the staff-twirling did get excessive, but don't remove all of it! I'll get to that in a second, but their spell animations, the animation they did when they summoned or cast a buff on the party, all of this helped show how badass ALL mages are. They were born with this ability and a lot of them have attitude because of it.
So don't remove it - evolve it. Maybe have battle animations be different depending on the level of the character. At level 1 they're n00bs, so their battle animations would be awkward, but the higher level they become the more slick their animations become, because they're learning and gaining confidence with every battle. Maybe have different animation depending on the style of mage they are, or on how many abilities from certain trees they have. The possibilities are endless.
Just don't go back to the "poking" animation for mages, PLEASE.
And maybe Rogues are a bit too bombastic. Again, modify, don't remove.
Of course, don't go back on the Battle Speed either. Yes things can be improved, but don't go back to the same plodding pace of Dragon Age: Origins.
3) The Storytelling.
I don't mean to use a Framed Narrative all the time. I'm saying to continue to experiment. Yes, the old-school RPG storytelling is fun and all, and it's classic... but things are classic because they're tried, true and accepted. They're EASY. But the story that can blow us all away, that becomes the NEXT classic.
I really don't have much else to say except that I enjoyed the story in DA2, and I wouldn't want DA3 to regress back to the old-style of doing things.
4) The Inventory System
One of the changes to DA 2 that actually really grated on me was the Inventory system. It felt clunky and a chore to use. But the more I used it, the more I noticed its charms, then its usefulness.
I think it's important to get more people into playing the games we like. That doesn't mean dumbing anything down, but it does mean making things more intuitive. This happens with software all the time. Just because something is overly-complicated means its good. I get that some people who are used to a clunky old system might like it because they feel like they're in on something others aren't, but I think that when you spread the joy of RPGaming, which is different from other kinds of gaming, to others, that can only be a good thing.
That said, the Inventory system in DA 2 is quite intuitive. All loot goes directly to the Junk pile and can be sold easily without moving through every object to wonder if it's useful or not. A star rating next to an item corresponds directly to the character, their level and strengths, and gives a cursory glance as to whether the item is right for them or not. It's not necessary to go by the star rating. I don't, I make my own choices, but for someone new at the genre, It gives them a leg up on LEARNING what it takes to equip your hero. This doesn't take anything away from the game, it only adds to it.
This system can be improved, so improve it! But don't go back to the old inventory checklist, I beg you.
While I'm at it, add the Ability Tree to this. Don't regress, improve. It's already a great improvement on DA:O. Again, it's more intuitive. Being able to see at a glance what is a Passive, Sustained or Activated ability? It sounds like a small change, but it's huge to people who are first time RPG players. Again, it doesn't take anything away. Just keep improving things.
5) The art style.
I nearly didn't get into Dragon Age: Origins, and it was because the art-style didn't sell me. It was just too bland. I laughed at the Darkspawn in DA:O. I thought they were an obvious rip off from the LOTR *drawing a blank on the name* monsters. I laugh at the Darkspawn in DA:2 now because they look a bit clownish....
But the redesign of everything else? Humans, elves dwarves, demons? Qunari? Excellent. They give things more character. It's not the same generic "Whatever, it's medieval and swords and magic and this is a monster" artstyle from DA:O. The Character Creator especially was a great improvement on things. Please continue to improve, but don't go back to the bland art of before.
Modifié par Rockpopple, 14 mars 2011 - 02:33 .
#1748
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:44
Shallie
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- Members
- 1 messages
I'm extremely disappointed. I've played every Bioware game so far and this is the first one I'd want my money back if that was possible.
Just to clarify, I've played DA2 on PC.
Combat
The combat was so boring that halfway through the game I changed the difficulty to casual just so that I could experience the rest of the story. Sending wave after wave of trash mobs that you simply AOE kill is not epic but plain boring.
Where went the isometric view? Targeting with a mage or Varric was sometimes a real pain because of the range between them and the target.
Story
The story was ok but I never really felt engaged. I just did quest after quest without having the feeling of working towards a greater goal. The connection between the three acts was way too lose and it was more like playing through three small stories instead of an epic one.
Companions
I found a group I liked and there were some funny interactions between them. I thought the companion quests were the most interesting in the whole game. Even better than the main storyline.
Misc
By far the best improvements from DA:O to DA2 were that shields and buffs were turned off out of combat and that you can choose not to show your character's helm.
Recycling the same areas over and over again is one of the biggest turn offs in this game. After the first act I had enough of it and stopped exploring.
And what happened to all the items? No more unique icons. Tons of trash items that had no use whatsoever, items for the other classes that you can't use and therefore were trash as well...
Overall the game isn't terrible but a big disappointment nonetheless.
Just to clarify, I've played DA2 on PC.
Combat
The combat was so boring that halfway through the game I changed the difficulty to casual just so that I could experience the rest of the story. Sending wave after wave of trash mobs that you simply AOE kill is not epic but plain boring.
Where went the isometric view? Targeting with a mage or Varric was sometimes a real pain because of the range between them and the target.
Story
The story was ok but I never really felt engaged. I just did quest after quest without having the feeling of working towards a greater goal. The connection between the three acts was way too lose and it was more like playing through three small stories instead of an epic one.
Companions
I found a group I liked and there were some funny interactions between them. I thought the companion quests were the most interesting in the whole game. Even better than the main storyline.
Misc
By far the best improvements from DA:O to DA2 were that shields and buffs were turned off out of combat and that you can choose not to show your character's helm.
Recycling the same areas over and over again is one of the biggest turn offs in this game. After the first act I had enough of it and stopped exploring.
And what happened to all the items? No more unique icons. Tons of trash items that had no use whatsoever, items for the other classes that you can't use and therefore were trash as well...
Overall the game isn't terrible but a big disappointment nonetheless.
Modifié par Shallie, 14 mars 2011 - 02:46 .
#1749
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:45
TMZuk
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- Members
- 1 066 messages
Dragon Age II - A review.
This review is based on my playing the demo on PC, and the roughly fifteen hours I spend playing it at a friends, also on PC. I don't own the game myself, and there's no telling when I will, if ever. If you don't like to read a lot, skip this review.
I liked Dragon Age: Origins a lot. I had not followed the development of the game and was told of it by a friend. He recommended it highly, I tried a few hours at his place,and went and bought it immediately. That was about two weeks after it was released. I was hooked immediately and to a degree I haven't experienced in many years. The last games I played that caught my imagination like DA:O did, was Fallout 2 and Baldur's Gate 2.
After playing DA:O several times it flaws became obvious, but they were still over-shadowed by it's virtues. In short, the flaws were:
-Inane, pointless side quests.
-Lack of exploration, due to restricted maps.
-To few areas.
-Overly restricted classes.
-Slow two-handers.
-Linear plot.
The virtues:
-Superior writing.
-Outstanding voice-acting.
-Involving, detailed NPC's, especially the companions.
-Wicked dark humour.
-The origins.
Having loved the original game, I eagerly purchased DLC and the expansion. With the notable exception of The Stone Prisoner, that came with the original game, they were all more or less disappointing. Especially the overpriced, underwhelming Awakenings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, when I heard that Dragon Age II was to be released early 2011, I was worried. How could they possibly manage to create a sequel, picking up on all the loose threads dangling, and create a believable and satisfying end to the warden's adventures in such a short time? The answer to that came quickly: They could not.
Bioware/EA, for reasons I suspect being time and greed, simply abandoned the first game and started over. I was less than impressed. Then came all the titbits of new information and it seemed to me as if Bioware had gotten utterly and completely wrong. They took all just about all the weak points of the first game, and enhanced them as if they were virtues:
-Fewer areas.
-Even less exploration, given even more restricted maps.
-Even more restrictive classes.
-Even more linear plot.
Then they made some changes I was even more confused about:
-The combat was changed into something from an arcade game, with exploding enemies, utterly absurd abilities, and even more absurd visual presentation.
-They forced you to play one race.
-They made the elves look like something from an amine comic.
-They put a voice to the protagonist.
-They implemented the awful wheel from Mass Effect.
Some people embraced these changes; I was, however, aghast.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I came to the conclusion after playing the demo, that this game I'd not purchase before I had had a chance to play it. Having done so, these are my conclusions:
The good:
-The voice acting is good. However, it isn't nearly as good as in DA:O, often sounding flat an uninspired.
-The plot is interesting. There's less linearity and more freedom to do things in the order I wish than I thought there would be.
-Femhawke's voice is good, Malehawke's less so.
-The sidequests are better thought out and implemented.
The bad:
-AWFUL, ridiculous, over the top, absurd combat.
-Terrible UI. No soul, no style, no fantasy-feel what so ever.
-No ability to talk to your companions,unless you are at the right time at the right place. I hated this in Awakenings, and I hate it even more here.
-The wheel, which is even worse that in ME, depriving me of any connection with my character, as I never know
what he/she is going to say.
-Recycled areas.
-Breasts, even on Hawkes mother, that are bigger than her head, for crying out loud!
-Uninspiring companions. I didn't like Anders in awakenings, I like him less here. Varric makes me laugh, I like Aveline, the rest does nothing for me.
-Running around in full armour all the bloody time. No clothes, no ability to dress for Hightown, Lowtown, where ever you wish to go.
-Each and every single quest is about combat, combat, combat and more combat.
-Not a single skill tree not combat related. No coercion, no pick-lock, no sneaking, nothing!
-Ridiculous restrictions in weapons. No bows for warriors, no swords for rogues.
However, the main question lingering in my mind is: Why is this game called Dragon Age II?
It is as if Bethesda would have called a game like Redguard TES III. It's a small adventure set aside from a far grander and more epic story. It should have been called: A Dragon Age Adventure: Hawke.
Conclusion: 4/10 - Below Average.
This review is based on my playing the demo on PC, and the roughly fifteen hours I spend playing it at a friends, also on PC. I don't own the game myself, and there's no telling when I will, if ever. If you don't like to read a lot, skip this review.
I liked Dragon Age: Origins a lot. I had not followed the development of the game and was told of it by a friend. He recommended it highly, I tried a few hours at his place,and went and bought it immediately. That was about two weeks after it was released. I was hooked immediately and to a degree I haven't experienced in many years. The last games I played that caught my imagination like DA:O did, was Fallout 2 and Baldur's Gate 2.
After playing DA:O several times it flaws became obvious, but they were still over-shadowed by it's virtues. In short, the flaws were:
-Inane, pointless side quests.
-Lack of exploration, due to restricted maps.
-To few areas.
-Overly restricted classes.
-Slow two-handers.
-Linear plot.
The virtues:
-Superior writing.
-Outstanding voice-acting.
-Involving, detailed NPC's, especially the companions.
-Wicked dark humour.
-The origins.
Having loved the original game, I eagerly purchased DLC and the expansion. With the notable exception of The Stone Prisoner, that came with the original game, they were all more or less disappointing. Especially the overpriced, underwhelming Awakenings.
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So, when I heard that Dragon Age II was to be released early 2011, I was worried. How could they possibly manage to create a sequel, picking up on all the loose threads dangling, and create a believable and satisfying end to the warden's adventures in such a short time? The answer to that came quickly: They could not.
Bioware/EA, for reasons I suspect being time and greed, simply abandoned the first game and started over. I was less than impressed. Then came all the titbits of new information and it seemed to me as if Bioware had gotten utterly and completely wrong. They took all just about all the weak points of the first game, and enhanced them as if they were virtues:
-Fewer areas.
-Even less exploration, given even more restricted maps.
-Even more restrictive classes.
-Even more linear plot.
Then they made some changes I was even more confused about:
-The combat was changed into something from an arcade game, with exploding enemies, utterly absurd abilities, and even more absurd visual presentation.
-They forced you to play one race.
-They made the elves look like something from an amine comic.
-They put a voice to the protagonist.
-They implemented the awful wheel from Mass Effect.
Some people embraced these changes; I was, however, aghast.
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I came to the conclusion after playing the demo, that this game I'd not purchase before I had had a chance to play it. Having done so, these are my conclusions:
The good:
-The voice acting is good. However, it isn't nearly as good as in DA:O, often sounding flat an uninspired.
-The plot is interesting. There's less linearity and more freedom to do things in the order I wish than I thought there would be.
-Femhawke's voice is good, Malehawke's less so.
-The sidequests are better thought out and implemented.
The bad:
-AWFUL, ridiculous, over the top, absurd combat.
-Terrible UI. No soul, no style, no fantasy-feel what so ever.
-No ability to talk to your companions,unless you are at the right time at the right place. I hated this in Awakenings, and I hate it even more here.
-The wheel, which is even worse that in ME, depriving me of any connection with my character, as I never know
what he/she is going to say.
-Recycled areas.
-Breasts, even on Hawkes mother, that are bigger than her head, for crying out loud!
-Uninspiring companions. I didn't like Anders in awakenings, I like him less here. Varric makes me laugh, I like Aveline, the rest does nothing for me.
-Running around in full armour all the bloody time. No clothes, no ability to dress for Hightown, Lowtown, where ever you wish to go.
-Each and every single quest is about combat, combat, combat and more combat.
-Not a single skill tree not combat related. No coercion, no pick-lock, no sneaking, nothing!
-Ridiculous restrictions in weapons. No bows for warriors, no swords for rogues.
However, the main question lingering in my mind is: Why is this game called Dragon Age II?
It is as if Bethesda would have called a game like Redguard TES III. It's a small adventure set aside from a far grander and more epic story. It should have been called: A Dragon Age Adventure: Hawke.
Conclusion: 4/10 - Below Average.
Modifié par TMZuk, 14 mars 2011 - 03:00 .
#1750
Posté 14 mars 2011 - 02:46
himegoto
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- Members
- 2 490 messages
I'll keep it simple.
I played and beated the PC version.
Pros
- good main plot
- good voice acting
- decent graphics
Cons
- characters SUCK. I dont even know where to begin but Im sure a lota you understand. Fenris? Whiny, sissy emo short boy with a big sword?? Please bioware, Never Again.
- repeated maps.
- little locations to explore. not even comparing it to DAO, just compare with any other B graded RPGs
- weak sidequests. They contributes nothing to the main plot. I know its similar to DAO but you have that feeling it's much less compelled to do them.
- too linear, lacks depth.
As a whole it just feels empty and lacking. Sad thing is I think a lota guys who played the first can resonate with me. Bioware, please make a better one next time.
And I couldnt post in the builds and class forum. This is my first post yes so what hoops do I need to jump thru first?
I played and beated the PC version.
Pros
- good main plot
- good voice acting
- decent graphics
Cons
- characters SUCK. I dont even know where to begin but Im sure a lota you understand. Fenris? Whiny, sissy emo short boy with a big sword?? Please bioware, Never Again.
- repeated maps.
- little locations to explore. not even comparing it to DAO, just compare with any other B graded RPGs
- weak sidequests. They contributes nothing to the main plot. I know its similar to DAO but you have that feeling it's much less compelled to do them.
- too linear, lacks depth.
As a whole it just feels empty and lacking. Sad thing is I think a lota guys who played the first can resonate with me. Bioware, please make a better one next time.
And I couldnt post in the builds and class forum. This is my first post yes so what hoops do I need to jump thru first?
