When I personally step back and compare, both Origins and DA2 have essentially the same type of linear story telling. The biggest difference for me was the resulting perception of how my choices affected each game world.
With DA2, the results of my choices seemed very subtle - almost too subtle for me. Given how reactive DA2's framed narrative was supposed to be, I was really surprised at how underwhelming the results felt. Again, I'd like to emphasize the word "felt" - as in it was the perception the game was giving me.
With regards to Origins however, the perception was that my choices had far more tangible results. Do I allow Redcliffe Village to be wiped out? Does the Circle Tower get cleansed with the Right of Anulment? Do I consign a Dalish Clan to death for the limitless vengence of its Keeper? Am I a pragmatist and fight to save the Anvil of the Void, knowing the terrible cost involved in creating golems? I made choices and I knew almost immediately the consequences of those choices.
And there were a lot of choices that seemed to affect what you did or did not have available in your quest to end the Blight. The ones I found to have the most impact were the ones that directly affected which of your companions stayed with you until the end. Depending on circumstance, choices, and your relationship with all but save for one companion, they could end up never joining you, dying by your hand, or leaving you.
Ultimately, yes - whatever the choices in Origins, they still inevitably lead to fighting the Archdemon and ending the Blight. But I perceived an adventure in Origins that had my choices shape the world around me far more than in DA2. I also think that the way the ending in DA2 was relatively abrupt contributed to this. The epilogue slides in Origins and Awakenings, while not the most reactive method, at least gave the player a sense of closure - a way for the player to go: "Oh, so Kaitlyn did manage to get to Denerim...good, she and Teagan should be happy together".
Now, my first playthrough in DA2 was long - I took my time and I definitely noticed the little things here and there that changed from my previous choices and from previous Acts. I am not claiming that choices in DA2 did not have any effect. However, I felt that the
Illusion of Choice was better executed in Origins where they seemed all the more tangible. This was especially so in how they contributed to the finale in Origins as opposed to DA2.
The framed narrative had a lot of potential for a reactive world. I think DA2 could have done a better job at utilizing that aspect of this particular story telling method.
Modifié par RifuloftheWest, 23 mars 2011 - 08:36 .
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