Dubya75 wrote...
With all the negativity surrounding DA2 still pouring in, I felt compelled to post my impressions of what I perceive to be an excellent (albeit not perfect) game. Naturally, I will make some comparisons to Origins:
Overall user interface:
Menus all look clean and easy to navigate.
Loading screens are an absolute delight compared to the one loading screen in Origins repeated over and over again.
The art style of these are also very unique as far as fantasy games go. It has it's own identity which is a good thing.
Once in the game, the UI is much less obtrusive than it was in Origins with a more transparent look, especially the mini map.
Full maps are also a lot easier to navigate (except for the fact that blocked areas still show as accessible which got me a bit lost at times)
Attributes, Abilities and Tactics menus are also layed out in a way to make it feel less cumbersome than Origins.
World map however does not really help with getting an overall geographic feel for the layout of Kirkwall and the surrounding areas. This was done better in Origins, although the addition of day/night toggle is a welcome addition.
OVERALL - BETTER THAN ORIGINS
More than cleaner, menus look nonexistent. A lot of words and icons on black background. w00t, so uncool.
Loading screen, I give you that.
Art stile isn't changed much. Only elves and qunari. Oh yeah the insanely oversized swords.
Again with the menus, and I still don't understand how a book like menu can be difficult to read. Have you ever read a book in your life?
City map and world map are lame. Locations are placed randomly and don't give you the feeling of understanding how the place is shaped.
Day/night toggle is just stupid, a normal day/night progression would have been more welcome and would have felt less 'we-give-a-button-to-turn-on-and-off-the-sun-because-we-know-you-are-an-impatient-little-kid"
Dubya75 wrote...
Environments:
Although there are a lot of recycling done (which I am not happy with), the environments do look amazing. I often find myself looking around and very few times did I see unfinished textures (not speaking of NPCs).
The detail of some textures are so much better than it was in Origins, giving it much more atmosphere also thanks to the great music and ambient sounds.
Lighting in all areas also vastly improved.
OVERALL - MUCH BETTER THAN ORIGINS
I see no real emprovement. Sure, some higher resolution texture, but boats are still immovable unfloating objects. Trees are more akin to states. Weather is non existent ecc.
They just recycled 10 times more than in origin.
Dubya75 wrote...
Animations & object textures:
This is one area where I think Origins did better - strangely enough. Especially with facial and head movement, animations in DA2 seems more wooden.
Although interaction with objects have been added, it has also highlighted the absolutely appalling hand animation and design.
Some textures look really good, especially on unique weapons and armor. Sadly however, this is let down by some really bad textures on some generic pieces (cameo character armor for example). I've not seen such bad textures in Origins.
Moving sky, fire and smoke animations and textures on the other hand are vastly improved from Origins, especially when enabling DX11.
Areas like The Hanged Man that should be packed with people only have a handful of NPCs standing around, some of which look pretty bad. However not much different to the way it was done in Origins.
OVERALL - SOME BETTER, SOME WORSE
Origin was no better at all I'd say. All characters are woodenlike, they all seems mannequin in dialogues. Many times they don't even turn to look at eachother, they just turn their head a bit.
As you say NPC are too few everywhere. I just can't see Kirkwall or denerim with amazement after having played a random assassin's creed. even the first was better city wise.
Dubya75 wrote...
Gameplay:
Still feels distinctly like playing Dragon Age.
The one thing I miss most is not being able to have a conversation with a companion when I choose to, instead having to wait for a prompt.
Combat feels fresh and remains fun throughout the entire game, as opposed to the incredibly tedious combat in Origins.
Waves of enemies also makes it feel a lot more organic and realistic and keeps you on your toes throughout.
All classes are fun to play now, much better balance than Origins.
Travelling also seems better especially having multiple exit points in all (or most) areas.
There are a good number of choices which does have effects later on, however would have liked to see more branching out based on these choices more.
OVERALL - MUCH BETTER THAN ORIGINS
DA2 feels more like playing a bizarre mix of dragonball/power ranger/naruto fight simulator. It's even more restricted than origins, with less build and less ability to specialize your companion. What if I wanted to give a bow to Isabela? or two weapon to my warrior? what if i wanted to play again an arcane warrior?
combat mechaincs are dull, waves of enemies spawning constantly behind your from nowhere exactly where your ranged would be. attack animation a la final fantasy where you swing a sword that weight like you at the same speed of a small tree branch
your classes could be now fun to play, but my most favourite got removed for no apparent reason
Dubya75 wrote...
Sound & Music:
So much better in so many ways! Too many things to list.
In order to avoid the danger of this post becoming a grocery list, I'll end with saying that in my opinion Dragon Age 2 is overall on par with Origins. Many things are done better, but sadly for many people this is overshadowed by the things that are done worse or perhaps only different than Origins.
I still love Dragon Age and hope the franchise never dies! 
not much to say here
Dubya75 wrote...
[Edit]
For those who have a problem with me using the word "fantastic":
fan·tas·tic [fan-tas-tik]–adjective1.conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; odd and remarkable; bizarre; grotesque: fantastic rock formations; fantastic designs.2.fanciful or capricious, as persons or their ideas or actions: We never know what that fantastic creature will say next.3.imaginary or groundless in not being based on reality; foolish or irrational: fantastic fears.4.extravagantly fanciful; marvelous.5.incredibly great or extreme; exorbitant: to spend fantastic sums of money.6.highly unrealistic or impractical; outlandish: a fantastic scheme to make a million dollars betting on horse races.7.Informal . extraordinarily good: a fantastic musical.
thankyou, a link would have done too
Modifié par DocDoomII, 03 avril 2011 - 03:43 .
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