9 réponses à ce sujet

[aebriol]

So, I figured ... I might as well give some feedback.

Overall, I enjoy the game for the first two acts. Then I don't, for the third. But let me get back to that later on.

I've played through the game twice: male warrior with 2h'er on normal, female rogue with dual daggers on hard. Of the two, I enjoyed the rogue playthrough more. I also made some choices in the second playthrough that made me see how things changes. 

First: On the first playthrough, it was not apparent to me that my choices mattered much at all. I played a good guy, and ended up not really making any full friendships or rivalries, because I treated each situation uniquely, and didn't really support either side anywhere much. Because of that, Isabela disappeared at the end of act 2 - and never came back. And so I killed the Arishok, and all was well. It seemed to me that I was sort of stuck running around with Anders, since he is the only healer you get. I didn't realize untill the end of the game why you are supposed to keep Anders in your party a lot, but it did make sense in the end. 

Second playthrough, I ran through mostly with the core party (Anders, Varric, Aveline, me - sometimes changing varric for merril, who I romanced, after a quick one night stand with Isabela). On this playthrough I noted some things I really didn't like, when it came to companions. 

I know it's been said before, but on the first playthrough when I played a warrior, I somehow got the impression that Fenris was gay, and Anders was bi. On the second playthrough, I realized that none of the characters care - at all - about how you treat them, whether or not you help them (I turned Anders down when he asked for help, was an **** to me, and still he came on to me and wanted some romance ... how, I have no idea). It cheapens the characters in my opinion. I enjoyed the fact that Zhevran, Leliana was "available", but Alistair Morrigan was, for obvious reasons it became apparent later on, just into straight sex. It felt like the characters in Dragon Age 2 lacked depth, in comparison. Now, I really enjoyed the mass effect games too ... but one of the areas where origins was a lot stronger than Mass Effect, was the companions, their banter, storylines, quests, character depth, etc. This felt more like a mass effect game, than a continuation of origins, when it came to companions. So overall, I had expected and hoped for more, and it was a letdown. 

That said, I felt Varric and Aveline was well done. Even though I didn't like the character Aveline much, she was created with some depth I felt. And her quests, and Varric's, made perfectly good sense and carried on well throughout the story.

Act 3 felt rushed to me. 

I mean, in act 2, I run through the burning city to save it ... at the end of act 3, I run through the burning city to save it ... ok. I brought my dear sister Bethany to the deep roads, and she died tragically on the way back. In act 3, Merril, who is my live in lover, is kidnapped. After she is kidnapped ... I added her to my party and did her personal quest, before I ran over to rescue her. At the end of act 2, I was pissed off at Isabela who ran away with the relic, so I turned her over to the Arishok so the Qunari would leave in peace. The epilogue have "all of the champions companions leave her ... except Isabela". What the ¤#¤# for? She was my companion after I turned her over to get killed because she created the whole situation in act 2 in the first place when she stole the relic? The knight commander Meredith claims to have bought the relic for lots of coins from Varric's brother ... when I killed him, and gave Varric the relic to keep? 

Seriously, the first time I played through act 3, I was a good guy. I did what felt right. The second time, I played as a vengeful, sarcastic, funny, get it done kind of girl. Apparently, that broke the storyline. Because in act 1 and 2, the characters responses (except in companion quests), seemed to take my responses into consideration. That just didn't seem to happen in act 3. 

Dungeon reuse, I am sure have been mentioned. I'll just say that it made me really bored to do the same stuff over and over again. What changed was the monsters. Not the locations they spawn at, nor the dungeon layout. Combine that with fighting in the same areas in the city through 3 acts, and it feels quite repetetive after a while. This should have been taken into consideration by the design team ... that when you stay in the same city for three acts, you really need to add some unique character to other areas of the game. 

I also felt a lot of areas was smallish. Maybe because I got used to the huge areas in origins, but it really felt like pretty much everything was mini dungeons with 5-6 battles, and then it was done. I didn't really mind that part... except that, I feel a mix would be better. 

Now combat, I started out disliking, and ended up enjoying. It felt well done. Not too crazy about the constant waves of enemies, but after I got used to it, it felt better, more intuitive, more heroic, more fun, than combat in origins. Well done on that. 

Voice acting, was pretty much amazing. I loved it completely. 

Act 1 and act 2 ... the storylines was very well done. Everything fit together well. Playing through them twice and chosing very different responses, gave a lot of subtle changes, and fun things I learned about how it could have gone. 

I played on the PC, after downloading the graphics pack, and I must say ... it looks great. Really great. Loading times are also shorter, which was awesome. 

Overall I would say I'd give the game a 7.5 / 10. It would have been 9/10 without repetetive dungeons, and a better act 3, and without changing anything else. In comparison, I'd give origins 10/10, mass effect 1 and 2 a 9 / 10 (because of poorer companions, and poorer combat), Jade Empire 8.5 / 10. KOTOR 10/10. 

I do love Bioware games, and while there's a lot in this review that's negative, that's basically me saying I felt it fell short of the quality I've come to expect from Bioware in some areas - while still being a really good RPG. 

[Volourn]

I don't agree with everything you wrote, but at least it's reasonable review. Thumbs up.

[Anariel Theirin]

I agree with mostly everything you said (I would only say that I didn't learn to enjoy the combat as you did). Good job on a fair review.

[Sazzle]

I'm a big fan of this game, but I totally appreciate that some don't love it as much as I do. It's so nice to read a constructive review that doesn't criticise individuals (be it forum members or developers) and simply voices personal pros and cons of DA2. You make your points so much more poignant by being eloquent and fair in your writing. Nice work. :-)

[FrozenDawn]

Nice review.
I agree with many things. I've had only one playthrough but I actually like the third act, because of the more interesting quests (Sister/lover gets kidnapped - Mages to bring back, merril and the demon, the awiergan scrolls).
Sadly I also had the feeling that most choices in the game don't make a difference.

Strongest points are imo the combat (if u play on nightmare at least) and the writing and presentation of dialogues and cutscenes.

[Foolsfolly]

Can also say that we only fight the same types of enemies.

It was nice in Origins how you fought darkspawn in Orzammar, werewolves and trees in the Forest, Undead in Redcliffe, abominations in the Circle, and Loghain's men and gangs in Denerium. Each area had its own kind of stock fodder to fight. In DA2 we just really fight gangs, Blood Mages, and Abominations the whole game.

Also the Rock Wraith and Profane were the only truly new enemies we fought in an entirely new game. That has to be some sort of oversight. We should have at least had a new model for the Abominations, maybe multiple Abominations models.

[aebriol]

Me personally, I did not mind fighting the same type of enemies.

It was in line with the storyline they chose to tell (centered on a city, with the surrounding areas, and the conflict between templars and mages, with a revisit to the deep roads and elfland with spiders.

[Eudaemonium]

I agree with pretty much everything you said, but just wanted to clarify a couple of things.

aebriol wrote...
At the end of act 2, I was pissed off at Isabela who ran away with the relic, so I turned her over to the Arishok so the Qunari would leave in peace. The epilogue have "all of the champions companions leave her ... except Isabela". What the ¤#¤# for? She was my companion after I turned her over to get killed because she created the whole situation in act 2 in the first place when she stole the relic?

This is a known bug that will hopefully get fixed (its because you slept with Isabela - if you do that she 'overrides' later romances for ending purposes). Sucks, but will hopefulyl be fixed. The whole thing with teh companion abduction feels like a bug too, but I can't say.

The knight commander Meredith claims to have bought the relic for lots of coins from Varric's brother ... when I killed him, and gave Varric the relic to keep?

Varric's brother sells the artifact before you kill him in Act 2 (its why he goes a bit cuckoo, he also states he sold it to a woman for a lot of coin). What you (can) give Varric in Act 3 is a small piece of the idol that Bartrand kept, not the idol itself.

[b0ksah]

...I'd give origins 10/10..

I feel for you ... but come on .. Origins was a good game ...but it wasn't perfect

But all in all you not too crazy ... but ye we are all fanboys here (fuk the haters) but 10/10 to Origins that's just fail .. sorry

Good review btw

Modifié par b0ksah, 29 mars 2011 - 12:35 .

[aebriol]

b0ksah wrote...

...I'd give origins 10/10..

I feel for you ... but come on .. Origins was a good game ...but it wasn't perfect

But all in all you not too crazy ... but ye we are all fanboys here (fuk the haters) but 10/10 to Origins that's just fail .. sorry

To me, it was the best RPG I had played in years, together with The Witcher. I guess, those two games are in my view, the best two rpg's I've played in many years. So while it's certainly subjective, to me it was that good  

I like the tighter story, less open world, and as such, I am not too fond of Fallout, Oblivion, etc. I often lose interest in those games. 

Perfect is hard to say, but ... I would give it that high a rating simply because I played it for insane amount of hours on my PC, much more than any other single player game this millenium (only games I remember playing more would be EverQuest, and Starcraft 1 and 2 - all for multiplayer).