Ok, it's the long weekend here in Canada and I've been reading generally positive feedback for this DLC, so finally said, the heck with it and spent the 800 points I had laying around. Did my first playthrough last night and here are my first impressions. *** PLS NOTE that while I try to avoid spoilers, some may slip through so read at your own risk... and please excuse any typos, tried to get them all but it's a bit of a long winded post ***
I used a save from Act 3 before starting on the main quest path with a lvl 21 male Mage Hawke, who tumbled Isabella once long ago but is in a relationship with Anders. For the first part, I brough Varric, Warden Carver and Anders with me and when I came back through the statue the second time, I switched Anders with Fenris (somehow I am finding that the Anders relationship is nowhere near as good as Fenris... but heck, am sticking it out with that guy).
- I really liked that the companion voice actors were all brought back. Of course I haven't tested out ALL of the companions yet but, from what I've experienced and heard so far, I was pleasantly surprised. Having the original VO actors there only reinforced the fact that this adventure is part of the game and not some stand alone campaign, and aided in the immersion. You could very well have had only Varric and your sibling back to record additional dialogue (as we have seen in the past) but I am SO very glad that you guys went that extra mile and put in the effort because that has made this product so much better. So great job guys!
- this DLC is very well incorporated into the main game, being able to access it at any time (well, once you get your mansion, I am guessing) and thus, the replayability value is there and rather high. Load up different saves from different points in the game (like Act 2 before or after your Mother... and at any other points of Acts 2 and 3... hmmm, I wonder how much variation would there be depending upon what point in your LI relationship you go on this adventure? must experiment
), bring different companions with you and different mixes of companions for added hilarity of the dialogue. So yes, very happy that the replayability value is there and there are just so many possibilities. Again, awesome job guys!
- The Story! I really liked the story, it was very well written, we got to delve into the Hawke history (which I really didn't think I would care that much about but because it was a really good story, I found myself enjoying it very much) and of course the wonderful additions to the Lore... I especially loved hearing Malcolm's voice at those prison puzzles, it was rich and even by his voice alone I could go, yeah that's definitely Hawke's father. It was rich and warm and because I had both siblings there, it was a very nice touch for them to be able to hear their father's voice once again. I really would have loved to be able to actually see Malcolm as a ghost, perhaps even have a bit of interaction with the siblings and the ghots, that would have just sealed the deal on the whole experience and be a bit of a wonderful family reunion... but anyways, I thought it was a very good story, both on that personal level and on the grand epic adventure level as well. Ah, and the last bit back at the mansion (keep in mind what save I used, after the Mother)... ah, I found it very touching, both the dialogue with my sibling (I really enjoyed having Carver and Hawke band together in this DLC and starting to see eye to eye, their relationship was very well handled, I loved seeing them come together, that family connection was simply awesome) as well as the bit after... ah... *sniffle*
. You see that Bioware, you made me cry, are you happy now?
- Environments. Thank you so much for creating these unique enironments! I really felt like I was exploring this amazing and mysterious area that time forgot... and got the feeling that with each level was descending down into the belly of the beast. Really the environments I found to be beautiful and only added to the atmosphere of the adventure, especially once we got deeper into the structure. Of course all this was limited by the boundaries defined by DA2 and, while perhaps not quite as good as my Deep Roads experiences of DA:O, I think you guys did a great job having to work within the confines of DA2 (I'm sorry, I'm just coming from enjoying the amazing graphics and art style of Witcher 2 which aided in having me sooo immersed and which really brings home the cartoonish feeling of DA2, so that's where this is coming from). But I really do think that you guys did an incredible job working with that you had.
- Puzzles. I enjoyed them very much. That was a great idea having them there, each one getting more difficult than the last. But I also felt that they weren't there merely for puzzles' sake, they actually served a purpose, there was logic behind having those puzzles there and that's what made this work. Both enjoyable and it made sense for them to be there, so really good job on that one. Honestly, I have NO idea how I managed to solve that last puzzle (with the red, blue and green) but am hoping I can duplicate it in the future.
- the boss fight was challenging but also not insane challenging (nope, was not playing on nightmare, nor do I wish to) and once you got the strategy down, it was actually enjoyable. And thank you so much for not including an achievement for beating the boss on nightmare, I find those to be total PITA. Once the boss was down, it was a rewarding experience, I felt like I actually achieved something, which was very good. Very well implemented fight I thought.
And now on to the bad.
- The thing... ok, I really have two things that really stand out for me... that stood out like a sore thumb for me was the gorrila darkspawn. Major facepalm moment whenever I saw them. I found them to be totally silly... especially considering that they are supposed to be representing Genlocks. I mean come on! I would have burst out laughing if it weren't so sad. What's next? Zebra darkspawn? Girraffe darkspawn? Seriously guys... by all means, have hilarity in the game where and when hilarity is due (Isabella, Varric, companions banter, etc. I mean those LOL moments absolutely have a place in the game), but darkspawn are no laughing matter. Can we PLEASE get back to treating the darkspawn seriously? They are supposed to instill paralyzing fear in the common folk, just the sight of them ought to be enough to mess yer pants but that is most certainly NOT what these gorrila darkspawn evoke. I direct you to the darkspawn of DA:O for reference. *sigh* And I thought skeletor darkspawn were bad... *shakes head*
- Which brings me to my second sore thumb point... the bulldozer gorrilas. Another facepalm worthy idea. I found the fights with them to be annoying to the extreme... yes, annoying, there is a difference between frustrating, which speaks of the challenge of battling, and annoying, as in simply getting on my nerves. Especially considering the fact that there were at least two fights when I faced both the bulldozer gorrilas and an ogre or two. Imagine my great surprise when the ogren went down like a house of cards with only Fenris poking away at it, while the rest of the group was still trying to make the bulldozer bleed a bit. Aren't ogres supposed to be the more challenging of the darkspawn? Even in DA2 we can appreciate the difficulty of taking down one ogre vs a whole bunch of hurlocks... whereas here the ogre is an annoying mosquito compared to the bulldozer. After the first such drastic contrasts in difficulty I sat there blinking for a bit trying to get my head wrapped around that.
- While I really appreciate the removal of the parachuting enemies and I did notice some scaling back of the wave mechanics, the combat was not a high point for me. I am trying to decide whether the combat of DA2 in general was the same for me... of course taking away the waves mechanics. I did find the enemies were a bit more challenging and simply not dropping like flies in half a second, which was good. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to get rid of the flashiness of the combat, lose the dancing, twirling aspect of it and simply make it more realistic. But again, that may be due to the confines defined by DA2.
- While this DLC offered us a choice and we did get to see the result of that choice (not talking about the boss fight, because I would imagine no matter which path you choose, you still have to fight the boss, but rather afterwards as I sided with the addle minded guy, so we did get to see how our choice of siding with one faction plays out), it would only help if we could experience more pronounced consequences of our choices, as they make for more meaningful choices. Perhaps you can only go so far in a DLC, but I do believe you are on the right path here, you simply need to drive home the reprocussions of our choices more fully.
- I really enjoyed the companions banter and dialogue, though was hoping for more of it, especially of the type that would highlight that personal connection with your LI. Perhaps even having a scene with your LI after the adventure, discussing the family revelations and how they have affected Hawke. Pronouncing that personal connection with your LI, this adventure being a chance to strengthen your relationship... just adding that personal touch would have been truly amazing. Again, you guys are on the right path, you simply need to go further down said path.
- I found that, aside from the armour set, I don't recall seeing anything terribly exciting or meaningful loot wise. But perhaps that was due to the fact of me using a save a bit later in the game. Perhaps it's better to do this adventure when Mother is around and that would make more impact, loot wise. But very happy about having a new outfit that I can use which is on par with the Champion armour.
- What I am sad about is somehow totally missing the boots and gloves of the armour set. Don't even know WHERE I missed them, as I thought I explored every nook and cranny in the DLC, but obviously that's not the case and will have to be more vigilant in the future. Also, not happy about missing Varric's line about pulling dragons out of (someone's) ass... either it simply didn't trigger for me or I totally missed it. Which is a shame, as that would have had me laughing for a good while. Ah, nother go at the DLC.
- And just WHAT, pray tell, is this super-secret surprise, for I do not believe I have come across it but since I do not know what I'm looking for, it's difficult to tell.
In conclusion, I find that you guys are most definitely on the right path with this DLC, so great job on that and thank you for that as well. I do feel you need to head further down the path in some aspects to make the experience more meaningful and personal and of course there are always ways to improve, but overall a very good job indeed.
I would actually rate this DLC in the same category with The Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep and Return to Ostagar, all of which I enjoyed, and in some ways it's even better, as you had the whole crew back to voice their characters and make this a solid and seemless addition to the main game.
Thank you guys!
Retour en haut
