614 réponses à ce sujet

[Hellion Rex]

Never blue, dude. Always pick red!!!

[JeffZero]

I'd pay to see a version where this is their actual dialogue toward Shepard.

But I should probably stop lest someone be spoiled ME stuff~

















green btw come at me

[Rainbow Wyvern]

Green is obviously the best choice.

Synthesis ftw

it makes everyone shiny

[The Elder King]

I guess I should be 'green', since I can talk to you how DA2 neither sucks or it's awesome .

[JeffZero]

Infallible logic, both of you.

[LPPrince]

You know, go green if you have to.

[Hellion Rex]

I'm still trying to figure out how in the hell you haven't been spoiled on DA2 yet, considering how many people moan and groan, and complain about it every day.

[LPPrince]

You mean how

Spoiler

the one person does the thing and then the thing happens and people were like O NO Y U DO DA THIGN

 

Cause yeah

[JeffZero]

I'm still trying to figure out how in the hell you haven't been spoiled on DA2 yet, considering how many people moan and groan, and complain about it every day.

Strategic Subconscious Avoidance Policy, commonly referred to as SSAP.

[LPPrince]

I can't wait for Jeff to click on the spoiler tag above his last post

[JeffZero]

Poor caradoc and Jaison (Gimli and Legolas, if you will... what? They've been my right hand men since I set out in Origins) are going to see the jump in post count, assume I beat the game and be disappointed.

[caradoc2000]

I see people are either talking about Mass Effect or the RGB color model, not really sure which. Either way, I didn't realize DA2 was that bad...

[LPPrince]

I see people are either talking about Mass Effect or the RGB color model, not really sure which. Either way, I didn't realize DA2 was that bad...

 

Mass Effect 3 ending had you choose between three colors, Red, Green, and Blue. RGB=ME3 Ending, so yeah. DA2 ending also had a negative response, just not to the level that ME3 did.

[caradoc2000]

Mass Effect 3 ending had you choose between three colors, Red, Green, and Blue.

I am aware of that.

[LPPrince]

I am aware of that.

 

Just checkin.

[Lulupab]

Well ME3 was perfection of it genre. Minus the endings of course, they were a disaster. Its the best place action-RPG ever reached gameplay wise. Some argue ME2 was better but yeah...

[CuriousArtemis]

Mass Effect 3 ending had you choose between three colors, Red, Green, and Blue. RGB=ME3 Ending, so yeah. DA2 ending also had a negative response, just not to the level that ME3 did.

 

I'm a chump, cause I liked the endings of both games

 

Red by the way!  FOR THE BREATH! 

 

[CuriousArtemis]

Poor caradoc and Jaison (Gimli and Legolas, if you will... what? They've been my right hand men since I set out in Origins) are going to see the jump in post count, assume I beat the game and be disappointed.

 

This is what I thought, or at least was hoping for a new update!

[LPPrince]

Red by the way! 

 

Note that I went red in ME3 as well. But as far as responses to DA2 go, I was full on blue.

[JeffZero]

Home now. Game booted up... probably for the last time. Orsino needs to speak with me.

Update tonight most likely.

[TheLittleBird]

I'm actually really excited and (maybe) a little nervous to read your thoughts on the ending Jeff! 

This has been a great thrill to read. I'm getting up early for this 

[CuriousArtemis]

Note that I went red in ME3 as well. But as far as responses to DA2 go, I was full on blue.

 

Oh, is this the personality choice? I have Hawke's of all types

[JeffZero]

Orsino needed to speak, alright, and speak he did. It was no surprise Anders backed him up on everything he said. Of course, if I'd known back then what Anders had planned, things might have gone differently indeed. But I didn't. And neither did Garrett. And soon enough, fragile peace would shatter. But for now, there was the illusion of hope that Kirkwall might not blaze once more. And that hope kept Hawke sustained. A traipse through Hightown and a curtain call on the Wounded Coast. An ill-fittingly named Grace and her thought to mimic Khan. The kidnapping of Isabela brought Hawke to the edge. An end to the misfortunes of the templar Trask -- though not a good one. Blood was on the scales. Cullen arrived not a moment too soon but Garrett had long since chosen his side, should there be need for them. And it had grown increasingly apparent there was. He asked for leniency, specifically for the young mage survivor who had spoken outwardly against Grace's delusions. A stick in his throat told him mercy was gone where Meredith was concerned, but it had to be asked.

Once more it was lookout time for letters. Before he checked his estate, however, Garrett bade visit to Aveline and Fenris. He had a final chat with the former and a rejected gift for the latter. All the same, that sword gave Garrett one thing and me another, both of which invaluable: information on Tevinter for an inquisitive Hawke and the last few points required to secure Fenris' Rivalry was at its peak. I still don't know if that altered anything, but I have a thought it did: given that Aveline and Fenris in particular were rather actively outspoken against the idea of siding with the mages a short while later, I get the feeling I stopped myself from having to lay the smackdown on the elf at the last possible second.

Do correct me if I'm wrong of course. Merrill never betrayed me despite not being maxed, but it's fairly obvious from a narrative perspective as to why.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Can you blame me? Apocalypse lay on the horizon. And for one more brief moment of innocence, I let myself think otherwise. eluvian, I see now why you had to fight tooth and nail against blurting it out. I really... really do.

Meredith Stannard. First Enchanter Orsino. (Poor bloke just didn't have a last name, did he?) They dueled with words, although the Knight-Commander was inches from drawing her sword. But maybe, just maybe, Garrett's endless supply of charm and wit would do the trick. "The way you two carry on," he spoke -- and let it be known it was likely the last time I gave him such carefree snark -- "people will talk." A small smirk. A glance between the two. Maybe. Just maybe. Maybe I'll think of a follow-up. And a compromise can be made.

But what, pray tell, is the golden rule of total revolution? No compromises.

At last Anders showed his hand. There was no intention to rid himself of Justice, was there? I... I gave him a bomb, didn't i? Oh Maker. Oh cruel, cruel Maker. Anders... what have you done?

An explosion. A rift. A pierce through the heavens. Elthina and all those around her... dead. Just like that all hope was lost. How did that old standby go again? Things fall apart. The Circle cannot hold.

It was no surprise to see Sebastian the first to collapse. The weight of his world torn asunder. As Meredith scowled and roared and declared Annulment and Orsino stumbled and denied his involvement through and through the exiled prince quickly went from despair to righteous wrath. And so in him was now the spirit of Justice, not literally but damn close enough. Anders would pay, or so help him, all Starkhaven would see Kirkwall itself vanquished.

A threat for the ages, to be sure. Anders had taken every ounce of Garrett's hand and ripped its goodwill to shreds, replacing it with purpose-driven ambition. Like any good total revolutionary he had seized the fire in whichever form he could. And that's the real catch, isn't it? Garrett Hawke would have stood beside him to the ends of the earth to see mages freed. Garrett Hawke could have been the icon he needed in his war on templar tyranny. Garrett Hawke could have been all of that and more... but this was too far.

The blade wasn't out, but it might as well have been. In a flash it could have been. Sebastian's striking eyes flew into Garrett like a smite. It was time to end this monster.

Garrett... would not kill him. He would not kill Anders. It was like being forced into a corner of one's own making, a destiny driven by the ironies of free will. Was Hawke chained to this fate? To stand beside a terrorist and fight for that man's purpose? Anders really was doomed from the start. Doomed to be a monster, doomed to be a murderer. Doomed, perhaps, to be a martyr. But doomed forsooth to be a catalyst. Perhaps he was right. There would be no compromise here. Perhaps he was wrong, all the same, and for that Garrett would never forgive him. To look upon the faces of the innocents and condemn them to die is never right. And for that he should die. But at that moment Garrett Hawke knew one very basic thing about the world around him -- it had just been blown away, and what he needed more than anything was a man of conviction, whatever the mind, to help him finish what had been started. The space between them would never close, not in a thousand, thousand years, but Anders would be sentenced to fight for those that still remained.

Sebastian was unmoved. He stormed away with a sound and fury his introductory scene six years ago could never have matched. Here was another man dead from the crime. And he would one day return like so many fallen to wreak hell's havoc on those who dared to live.

So be it.

Meredith was far beyond disgusted. The Champion would oppose her? Then the Champion would die. A bitter fight erupted, leaving the chosen team to traverse a city on fire to the flashbacks of a certain insurrection. I think I would have begun complaining that this time it was a little much to deal with the exact same environment to end an act, but the constant barrage of spectacular encounters between templars and cornered mages alike made up for it. And of course, as I'd suspected since the start of Act 3, the fight soon took us to the Templar Compound itself.

It felt weird battling alongside Anders after what he'd done. It hurt. But Garrett pressed on. If he stopped now, if he let himself breathe from that sick revelation, he might rip the man's skull clean off. He might even begin to sympathize with Meredith. But that was the last thing Kirkwall needed. No, the last thing the mages of the world needed. Let them have their courage, even if a demon gave it to them. Thoughts of Bethany flung through him. And through me.

They made it to Orsino. Meredith may as well have gone red with primal lyrium already, for she was surely aflame with indignation. Another brawl; another retreat. It was the one hall now. Here we would make our stand. Orsino delivered a modest speech as Garrett spoke what few words he had for his brave companions. I teared up a bit here. I always do with these games. Isabela's dialogue especially was rather poignant. She'd stand beside him for good and all, now. That meant something.

Unfortunately, everyone has their limits. All that death was too much for Orsino. One more Pyrrhic defense success was all it took. One more pile of magic corpses pushed him to the brink. It was as if everyone in Kirkwall had been smashed against a wall repeatedly and told not to care. If Meredith wanted blood magic, she could have it, he said, and with that he did the deed and transformed into...

...heeeey, wait a minute, that's a harvester! What in tarnation? Boy, what a spell! Seven hells, kill it with fire.

So they did. Poor-sino. We had this, dammit, whether you knew it or not. But in death he gave us something precious, even if it wasn't something the party themselves could very well comment on -- one last level up. That's right, First Enchanter Orsino's fold boosted all by 1, to 26, whereupon they would go all carpe diem for good and all against the templars with newfound vigor.

And then Garrett would slap Anders upside the head with a dozen mackerels and kick him in the posterior for good measure. But I digress.

They pushed. And they pushed. And they pushed. And the templars pushed back, but Garrett had embraced destiny. And what was that on Flemeth's lips so long ago? Heh, well in any case, sympathies indeed, old woman. No doubt a fitting remark she made back on Sundermount. But what was done was done and it was time to end this Rite before it claimed any more lives. At least he could do that.

There would be no more mage blood. Not today.

It continued. And at last Meredith Stannard showed her face once more. And beside her was Cullen. I was really pulling for him to stand against her here and it sprouted a rare smile on my lips to see him do so. I begin at last to recognize the allure with this character. Here is a man whose convictions are so opposite Hawke's but whose beliefs I can't help but respect. He sees the world's repression of mages as absolutely necessary and he's got the experience to back those claims (as we all know too well) but he's no wanton murderer. Indeed, in these final moments he became a better man than at least one of Hawke's companions.

And naturally Meredith exploded. Not... literally, unfortunately, as that would have made things rather simple. No, she had already drawn her sword of red lyrium, and curses-look-at-that-Varric-and-you-actually-WANTED-to-keep-a-piece-of-it-crikey-no and the fight was on.

At first I was like, "hey, nifty, Cullen's got our back." And then I was like, "oh my gobrino, those statues have sprung to life." Seriously, very cool mechanic. I don't know how many times I gazed upon them and thought about how lovely the art design was there. But to suddenly have to "kill" them? Whoa. And then I noticed Zevran had leapt into the fray, and eventually Nathanial as well. I guess they were... in the neighborhood? Well either way I'm not complaining. It would have been dank as hell to have gotten a cutscene with their arrival but I can gladly picture it in my head. Like... Zevran's got his eyes closed and then the explosion from earlier and then Meredith's fury and he simply gazes off, brandishes his daggers, and he's all, "more killing, I see. Well I am rather uniquely qualified to handle such nonsense, aren't I?" And Nathanial is like, "I'm not my father, I'm not my father, I'm not my father, I'm not my father!" And squeals and leaps out of bed and starts flinging arrows at every crazed templar in sight, because he's not his father, and that's what makes him beautiful.

I almost wonder if anyone else was down there with me, like if King Alistair himself were on the other side of the map. Well, I didn't see him. But Garrett was rather busy protecting the flanks alongside dutiful Aveline and striking Meredith whenever possible.

And then Meredith begged the Maker, but he did not answer. And she was so dead. And Cullen and the remaining templars surrounded them and then... stepped away. And the heroes of Kirkwall were gone.

Varric's 65-hour explanation was over. Here was a lot of foreshadowing. Damn, am I glad I've only got half a year or so to see it through. Three years on that little glimpse... sheesh. No wonder people were angry. The templars have officially split from the Chantry? Did I hear that right? And Cassandra desperately wants Hawke found because she believes only he can put an end to all this. Was Anders right? Where is Anders? I'm honestly more curious about that little nugget. But I'm sure his involvement in Inquisition will be relatively minimal, given that I suspect a great many players were not so... utilitarian as I was. As for Hawke... seems the group was in the hills for a while, but then everyone went their separate ways. Which is pretty organic I suppose, considering there would have been no shortage of people seeking Hawke's head. Not that that ever stopped everyone, but... the situation was changed. The game was over. Thedas now stands on the brink, doesn't it?

All except Isabela. I may not have locked a romance with her, but from the sounds of it they may have gotten themselves on that ship together after all. She wouldn't leave him, Varric said. They're out there... somewhere. And all across southern Thedas, Garrett Hawke's name is becoming a rallying cry, probably right there alongside Anders.

There's my love, Leliana. Ah... how... the Warden is missing too? Aedan is missing? Oh Jesus Mercy. That... can't be good. The two of them are missing? Well seven hells, maybe the two of them are missing for a related reason. My first thought? Flemeth, I mean, that's the tie that binds, isn't it? What is she doing? Is she assembling her pieces? But then... what about Wardens who stepped through the Veil with Morrigan? Would they...? Well I guess that's where they'd be. Oh goddammit, how did you people wait two-and-a-half years already for an answer?

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Which is funny. Because the story is over. But this should be about the ending. About Dragon Age II. Not about what lies ahead. I can only repeat ad nauseum how glad I am I don't have so long a wait. And wonder dearly, no doubt right alongside all others who have heeded the call of destiny, how these threads can possibly come together in a game starring someone new altogether. Can they intertwine meaningfully at all? Or will their resolution feel hollow or worse yet, utterly ignored? I know not what the Inquisition will bring, but I'm beginning to understand why it's been formed. And I am hoping Leliana factors heavily. I can begin to look at any lingering answers to these questions now, and like the rather easy-pleasing man I am, accept it if Aedan's and Garrett's stories don't receive a bit more closure so long as the third game delivers elsewhere.

But goodness gracious, I have grown fond of Hawke. I love that snarky bastard. I sure hope he's alright. He and Isabela. I sure hope they're alright. And what of Merrill, the pariah? And Aveline, she can't just go back, can she? Fenris, I could see him whistling elsewhere. But Sebastian's threat... what does that hold? And is Cassandra about to march on Kirkwall perchance? Doubtless it can't be said the city is doing well now. Sister Nightingale's report surely wouldn't claim as such. And Anders... is he living out that dream? Does he get to be the savior? Is that right? Hawke allowed it when he let him live. More likely, he's spending his days on the run, all but dead at every turn.

Well let the mages fight. Let them rise up, no matter who calls upon them, and then let them win, and if the Maker is merciful, those who survive the coming darkness will be just. But not... too just.

Great game. I can definitely see why people would be irritated with the ending though. There's no real statement on where Hawke ends up. The cliffhanger is Kind of A Big Deal. But such a wait and the 0% chance we're Hawke again... yeah, that probably stings. Frankly, I prefer ME3's ending, with Extended Cut installed of course. But don't take that the wrong way. I've never actually thought BioWare endings are all that great, Origins notwithstanding. I said it in my previous topic, but that game's finale really blew me away. ME1's and ME2's were just too short to leave much of an impression on me. And as I've always been told, they're not endings, so I shouldn't expect otherwise. And I'll admit they're still serviceable. But that's about it. It really wasn't until last month when Aedan Cousland slew the Archdemon that I discovered that BioWare can make epic endings with just the right ingredients.

The odd thing about Dragon Age II is that like ME1 and ME2 there's a very real sense that the lack of denouement is intentional considering it's just a lead-in. But ME2 and ME3 still starred Shepard. It's the knowledge that Hawke may never see the light of day again that kind of blows, doesn't it? I hope there's resolution there, but I won't hold it against Kirkwall much. This was still a blast to play and a really rich experience. BioWare is five-for-five for me. And damn if the characterization in DA2 wasn't outstanding.

Damn fine game.















But damn you Anders.

[Jaison1986]

Eh, you gave the ship to Isabela?

[CuriousArtemis]

I feel the need to comment as I go along...

 

(BSN is telling me I have too many quote boxes in this reply, so have to erase this one:) 

 

"Garrett... would not kill him. He would not kill Anders. It was like being forced into a corner of one's own making, a destiny driven by the ironies of free will. Was Hawke chained to this fate? To stand beside a terrorist and fight for that man's purpose? Anders really was doomed from the start. Doomed to be a monster, doomed to be a murderer. Doomed, perhaps, to be a martyr. But doomed forsooth to be a catalyst. Perhaps he was right. There would be no compromise here. Perhaps he was wrong, all the same, and for that Garrett would never forgive him. To look upon the faces of the innocents and condemn them to die is never right. And for that he should die. But at that moment Garrett Hawke knew one very basic thing about the world around him -- it had just been blown away, and what he needed more than anything was a man of conviction, whatever the mind, to help him finish what had been started. The space between them would never close, not in a thousand, thousand years, but Anders would be sentenced to fight for those that still remained."

 

Right, well, this teared me up a bit! Really passionate speech here... I'm kind of disappointed I was spoiled about Anders, so his blowing up the Chantry wasn't a shock at all; I was prepared for it. I had one playthrough where I wanted to have Hawke kill him, just because this Hawke was a hardliner... but even then I couldn't do it. I can't kill him. I think I sympathize with him more than you do. It's not Anders but "Janders" who did that. But it's Anders who still remains and suffers for it...

 

"Poor-sino"

 

BWAHAHA Nice one

 

And beside her was Cullen. I was really pulling for him to stand against her here and it sprouted a rare smile on my lips to see him do so. I begin at last to recognize the allure with this character. Here is a man whose convictions are so opposite Hawke's but whose beliefs I can't help but respect. He sees the world's repression of mages as absolutely necessary and he's got the experience to back those claims (as we all know too well) but he's no wanton murderer. Indeed, in these final moments he became a better man than at least one of Hawke's companions. 

 

 

This Cullen fan appreciates your write-up of Cullen muchly

 

And Nathanial is like, "I'm not my father, I'm not my father, I'm not my father, I'm not my father!" And squeals and leaps out of bed and starts flinging arrows at every crazed templar in sight, because he's not his father, and that's what makes him beautiful.

 

 

 

 

This made me literally LOL

 

All except Isabela. I may not have locked a romance with her, but from the sounds of it they may have gotten themselves on that ship together after all. She wouldn't leave him, Varric said. They're out there... somewhere. And all across southern Thedas, Garrett Hawke's name is becoming a rallying cry, probably right there alongside Anders.

 

 

 

 

      YES!!!! 

 

Damn fine game.

 

 

 

 

Agreed

 

 

But damn you Anders.

 

 

 

 

D'aww, poor Anders