23 réponses à ce sujet

[Cat Lance]

I've seen a lot of folk lately upset by the negativity around the forums. So, I wanted to create this thread for people to simply state (and gush) about the things they love!

One simple rule! No negativity! Don't post about what you hated or try to pick a fight because you just can't believe someone else loves feature x or character y. There are plenty of threads to debate those very things, let's use this thread to remind the devs and each otherother why we are all fans of bioware!

[Cat Lance]

I'll start us off.

I absolutely loved the way the characters were very much portrayed as their own people in DA2! The way you had the option to fall for Aveline, but she didn't return your feelings, the way if some weren't involved with you, they found a relationship of their own. The way they had experiences and lives that did not involve Hawke's, during the game! (Fenris and Aveline's husband's card games, for instance.)

[themageguy]

I loved the whole Legacy DLC.
And the part with sandal having frozen an ogre - not enchantment!

[themikefest]

killing Anders

The music when talking to Stroud during the Qunari invasion

Mark of the Assassin dlc and legacy dlc

Meeting Meredith. Too bad there wasn't more interaction with her

Flemeth's armor. It would look good on my femhawke mage

[Cat Lance]

And the part with sandal having frozen an ogre - not enchantment!

Oooh! I almost forgot about that!! How could I!? I was all, you go Sandal!!

[Bann Duncan]

I'll start us off.

I absolutely loved the way the characters were very much portrayed as their own people in DA2! The way you had the option to fall for Aveline, but she didn't return your feelings, the way if some weren't involved with you, they found a relationship of their own. The way they had experiences and lives that did not involve Hawke's, during the game! (Fenris and Aveline's husband's card games, for instance.)

Same here, coffee Cat!

 

On the same note, I'm really glad that the ME2 style companion outfit system was brought on board because it makes the companions really seem like companions, not just tools with no agency.

 

I just started playing the game again and I'm loving it just as much as the first time!

[geth47]

EDITED:

 

I´ve moved it to this topic, since it also contained some criticism of the game http://forum.bioware...t-dragon-age-2/

Modifié par geth47, 02 avril 2014 - 11:18 .

[Cat Lance]

My favorite part/aspect of Dragon Age 2 is that it tried to be an unusual and accessible rpg. Instead of re-using the same formula they used in 1, they actually took risks.It backfired in many points, but I still believe it to be a valid effort and with a good result.

Geth, could you repost these as a new thread for discussion? I really enjoyed reading them and would love to respond! But for the sake of keeping this thread on track could you simply state what you enjoyed most about DA2, as opposed to the review posts above?

As stated, I really enjoyed reading them and think you have a lot of important points, those posts deserve to be their own topic! Thank you!

[Deviija]

I think you outlined some of the major items that I loved about DA2.  How companions seemed very much like their own person, how they have their own lives and agency, and how much more they interacted with each other (in cutscenes that the PC stumbles onto, for example, outside of the party and major events) that emphasized they had lives and relationships with each other beyond your PC and Dire Quest of the Day.  It was a great step forward.  

 

Another interactivity dynamic added in was allowing your companion to solve an obstacle, speak up for you, give advice, or save your PC when you could not or would not solve something yourself.  Strictly optional choices, but it allowed for a sense that our companions are capable and very willing to be immersed within what is happening.  Ah, and compaions also had a lot more interjections to the dialogues you were having with NPCs.  

 

Lastly, I enjoyed that all the romance options were available to the PC regardless of gender.  This opens up more replayability and player-given choice in helping to create the story they want.  It is a definite positive and one of the best decisions the franchise made, imo.  

[geth47]

Ok, so let me repost it here while trying to focus only on the positive aspects.

 

 

My favorite part/aspect of Dragon Age 2 is that it tried to be an unusual and accessible rpg. Instead of re-using the same formula they used in 1, they actually took risks. It may have backfired in many points, but I still believe it to be a valid effort and with a good result. All in all, I had fun with it. While I can understand and sympathize with a lot of people´s complains, the vast majority of them are not regarding factual defects, but merely creative decisions. It´s a matter of difference of opinions, and not facts.

 

It´s somewhat similar to the people angry at the starchild from ME3 because they think his/its reason was flawed. Well, the villain´s motives don´t need to make sense to the player, to the audience. They only need to make sense to the villain. I could point out several people and groups whose logic is faulty and whose tactics seems ineffective and even detrimental to their cause. And yet they are real people. So why could not a literal machine act like the star child? 

 

Many people complain not about what Dragon Age 2 is, but what if failed to do/decided not to do. Very protective fans usually have this behavior. Unless the creators take the game in the exact direction the fan wants, he will take issue. Not surprisingly they wanted to take back ME3 and re-write the ending. I´m actually glad that Dragon Age´s elves are somewhat different, and that they placed a young shaved dwarf in DA2 who quickly became one of my favorite NPCs. When you deal with Tolkien-inspired mythology there´s always the risk of becoming stale, and DA2 avoided it.

 

So, what I liked most about DA2 is that it tried to cover new ground, invest in new formulas (for better or worse), reach towards new audiences (it´s a good gift for a friend who´s curious about rpgs but afraid to try them given their complexity) with no shame about being different. DA2 dared to challenge the formula. To deviate from the stereotype and be something truly unique. And given the limited time and budget that the creators had (specially when contrasted to the looong time it took to develop DA1) they made very smart decisions like exploring the same space, but over a long length of time. Dragon Age 1 is a superb example of a good and typical Bioware game. Dragon Age 2 works with a different premise, and therefore, should be judged according to its proposal. DA2, in its own way, is a quite enjoyable experience, and a welcoming start to newcomers. A good rpg, in an atypical way.

 

DA2 is to me the halloween 3 equivalent. It´s the different one from the rest of the series of Bioware rpgs. Halloween 3 is actually a very enjoyable film, a fine example of classic horror. However, people complain that it´s not a michael myers movie. Guess what? It´s still a very good film. 

 

I don´t see people angry at Spielberg when he is not making very serious films and decides to do something lighter, softer, for kids. The same kids could be the ones that quite soon will check and be in love with his more serious works. Same thing goes with attempts like DA2. It can be the threshold for people who will backtrack Dragon Age 1, Neverwinter, Baldur´s Gate, Icewind, Planescape, Fallout... Not being Dragon Age 1 is not, in itself, a fault. It´s a decision that I respect and that actually rendered some good fruits, making Dragon Age 2 a unique game. In all honesty, a good game. A very atypical game, but nevertheless, a good game, and easily much much better than 99% of what´s on the market. 

[Cat Lance]

Ok, so let me repost it here while trying to focus only on the positive aspects.
 
 
My favorite part/aspect of Dragon Age 2 is that it tried to be an unusual and accessible rpg. Instead of re-using the same formula they used in 1, they actually took risks. It may have backfired in many points, but I still believe it to be a valid effort and with a good result. All in all, I had fun with it. While I can understand and sympathize with a lot of people´s complains, the vast majority of them are not regarding factual defects, but merely creative decisions. It´s a matter of difference of opinions, and not facts.
 
It´s somewhat similar to the people angry at the starchild from ME3 because they think his/its reason was flawed. Well, the villain´s motives don´t need to make sense to the player, to the audience. They only need to make sense to the villain. I could point out several people and groups whose logic is faulty and whose tactics seems ineffective and even detrimental to their cause. And yet they are real people. So why could not a literal machine act like the star child? 
 
Many people complain not about what Dragon Age 2 is, but what if failed to do/decided not to do. Very protective fans usually have this behavior. Unless the creators take the game in the exact direction the fan wants, he will take issue. Not surprisingly they wanted to take back ME3 and re-write the ending. I´m actually glad that Dragon Age´s elves are somewhat different, and that they placed a young shaved dwarf in DA2 who quickly became one of my favorite NPCs. When you deal with Tolkien-inspired mythology there´s always the risk of becoming stale, and DA2 avoided it.
 
So, what I liked most about DA2 is that it tried to cover new ground, invest in new formulas (for better or worse), reach towards new audiences (it´s a good gift for a friend who´s curious about rpgs but afraid to try them given their complexity) with no shame about being different. DA2 dared to challenge the formula. To deviate from the stereotype and be something truly unique. And given the limited time and budget that the creators had (specially when contrasted to the looong time it took to develop DA1) they made very smart decisions like exploring the same space, but over a long length of time. Dragon Age 1 is a superb example of a good and typical Bioware game. Dragon Age 2 works with a different premise, and therefore, should be judged according to its proposal. DA2, in its own way, is a quite enjoyable experience, and a welcoming start to newcomers. A good rpg, in an atypical way.
 
DA2 is to me the halloween 3 equivalent. It´s the different one from the rest of the series of Bioware rpgs. Halloween 3 is actually a very enjoyable film, a fine example of classic horror. However, people complain that it´s not a michael myers movie. Guess what? It´s still a very good film. 
 
I don´t see people angry at Spielberg when he is not making very serious films and decides to do something lighter, softer, for kids. The same kids could be the ones that quite soon will check and be in love with his more serious works. Same thing goes with attempts like DA2. It can be the threshold for people who will backtrack Dragon Age 1, Neverwinter, Baldur´s Gate, Icewind, Planescape, Fallout... Not being Dragon Age 1 is not, in itself, a fault. It´s a decision that I respect and that actually rendered some good fruits, making Dragon Age 2 a unique game. In all honesty, a good game. A very atypical game, but nevertheless, a good game, and easily much much better than 99% of what´s on the market.

Thank you! What a beautiful post!

[geth47]

Ok, so I made a new topic with some of my (constructive) criticism as well, so this topic can remain with only the positive things . http://forum.bioware...t-dragon-age-2/

[Cat Lance]

Ok, so I made a new topic with some of my (constructive) criticism as well, so this topic can remain with only the positive things . http://forum.bioware...t-dragon-age-2/

Thank you so much again, for the respect and for the new thread to discuss your full concrit!

[geth47]

You´re very welcome. 

[Darth Krytie]

I loved a lot of sarcastic Hawke's dialogue. (Not all, but a lot)

 

I loved Anders. Loved his whole arc. Loved his romance. Loved his struggles.

 

I loved all the romances.

 

I loved Isabela.

 

I loved Aveline.

 

I loved Aveline and Isabela's friendship.  Hawke and Aveline's friendship. Hawke and Varric's friendship. All those little moments of your party interacting with each other.

 

I loved that I've played over twenty times and still saw new things every once in a while.

 

I loved that I could kill the Arishok in under two minutes with my awesome rogue.

 

I loved the dlcs.

 

I loved Meredith.

 

I loved Tallis.

 

I loved Aveline's companion quests.

 

I enjoyed the differences in the Rivalry/Friendship system in how I could relate to companions. (Though, I think it needs tweaking)

 

I loved Carver and Bethany.

 

I love how invested I got in the game.

[Ribosome]

Bethany.

[Bugsie]

The characters, they really sucked me in.

[KaiserShep]

I loved the companions, but the Arishok made a big part of the game for me. I thought the DLC's were immensely fun. I love the humorous personality of Hawke.

[Aimi]

The Arishok was probably my favorite non-companion character in the game. Pretty much everything about the qunari crisis was fantastic. For my money, that was the best story arc of the game. Fundamentally, it resembled the outbreak of the mage-templar conflict a great deal: an uncomfortable situation that was intrinsically difficult to solve, being derailed by contingency and by extremists until eventually people who appeared to be rational, relatively moderate actors felt themselves constrained to resorting to fighting. It's a very familiar way to structure a crisis, and a good one; there is some small historical precedent for it. ( )

The companions were all wonderful and I enjoyed bringing them everywhere. Even Carver. I especially liked that they were all well-defined characters with agency who did their own thing when you weren't there and who had relationships with other companions and with other people in Kirkwall.

Playersexuality was great and I appreciated it being in the game.

I loved the idea of rivalmancing, although in practice I felt like it worked best with Isabela. (If I ever wrote DA2 fanfic, it would probably be about diplomatic mage f!Hawke rivalmancing Izzy amid everything that went on in Act 2.)

I thought that the way in which the game addressed player agency and the interaction between the player and the history of the world was excellent. It's difficult, in my opinion, to strike a proper balance between how important the actions of a single individual are in shaping history, and the limits to how much any individual can do. I felt that DA2 did the best job out of any BioWare game I've seen of striking that balance (although SWTOR comes reasonably close).
 

The music when talking to Stroud during the Qunari invasion

Oh man. This. It's the background music from when you first get to Ostagar in DA:O as well, and I can't find that track anyfreakingwhere.

[Lucy Glitter]

Fenris' entrance, obv. 

 

 

 

 

Here are some moments I love. I'm not picking just one... okay, Fenris moment is one. The others will be honorable mentions:

 

• The reactions of NPCs to sarcastic Hawke.
• Drunken Alistair.
• The serial killer who is, "possessed." One of the first times mental illness has really been addressed in the DA universe. The cover up by the father is a fab intrigue.
• Every single companion intro cutscene is brilliant.
• Fenris.

The Arishok and the entire main plot of Act 2 is my favourite main quest. 

[Elhanan]

While the duel with the Arishock  may not be the best part of the game, the battle including all of his men is enjoyable; worthy of replay value. But my fave part of the game is helping Aveline to court her future husband, which sadly was not me. Almost worth the heartache....

 

[StarDustShadow]

I thought the party members were fantastic. I felt a pretty deep connection to all of them (whether it was love or hatred). The friendship/rivalry mechanic was a really nice touch, as it allowed me to see various aspects of their personalities over the course of multiple playthroughs. 

 

I think the entire mage/templar struggle is really fascinating, eventually having to choose who to side with was really difficult in my first playthrough after attempting to stay as neutral as possible. I find it really funny too that Orsino and Meredith had their offices right across the hall from each other. I just would laugh to myself at the thought of them glaring at each other and slamming their office doors shut like the babies they are. 

 

I certainly had a "I cannot believe that just happened" moment in Act III with Anders, it was one of those really special "this is going to change EVERYTHING" moments in a game series. 

 

It was also great getting to interact more with Qunari and getting to dig deeper into their complicated culture. 

 

Plus Fenris. F E N R I S. 

[Althix]

endspiel with Arishok and Arishok in general.

 

in my opinion this character is the only reason to play DA2.

[Texhnolyze101]

The only thing i like about DA2 is how your able to level up abilites that you have compared to how DAO did it.