153 réponses à ce sujet

[Leomerya12]

I honestly think that the reviewers do not have a strong background in the lore, which is why they probably don't understand many of the references. My main problem with DA2 was that I didn't understand what the hell was going on half the time.

 

Years pass, I play through it again a couple of months ago, and loved it. Why? Because I had a stronger understanding of the whats and whos. 

 

They say you don't have to play the previous installments, but if you're a story-driven player, I think it's a must.

[JeffZero]

I didn't insult her. She called all gamers misogynists. That is insulting. All I did was remarked on the idiocy of GameInformer to give press to a person who insulted their audience. Now, if you have more to say on the topic, I invite a cordial PM, but this isn't the place for this particular discussion.

Nah, I think we're done here. I don't have any interest in discussing the subject with you further. I do genuinely appreciate your level approach to the brief bout of negativity between us, though, at least. This isn't the place for the debate and you pointed that out without becoming hostile.

[Kohaku]

It's all subjective. I played KOTOR for the first time this past May and I liked it but even being a major space geek I still preferred DAO.

 

I agree. I played KOTOR because it was a Bioware game but I loathe Star Wars. I can see why so many people love the Star Wars lore but because I'm not a fan that caused me to struggle through the games. To this day I can never give it a fair shake. 

[JeffZero]

I agree. I played KOTOR because it was a Bioware game but I loathe Star Wars. I can see why so many people love the Star Wars lore but because I'm not a fan that caused me to struggle through the games. To this day I can never give it a fair shake.

I actually rather enjoy Star Wars, even! And I enjoyed the game, too. But it didn't feel half as morally complex to me, nor did its characters resonate with me as much as those found in more recent BioWare games.

[RussianSpy27]

Why aren't you posting individual threads about all the sites that thought the writing was great, OP?

Because Bioware is a Master company of western story-driven RPGs - I daresay a King of RPGs and one can only expect the best from them. If say RTS like Starcraft has a weak story, it sucks, but Blizzard can always reply that it's primarily a multiplayer RTS (debatable but ok).

But when the King of RPGs, who everyone expects to deliver, has a dent in its armor (story), it's important to note. It's sort of like mentioning a review that didn't like an (older) Steven Speilberg movie.

[Diabolus_Musica]

It is still a 9.5 out of 10, and was Game Informer's game of the month. I don't think it is going to be that bad. As others have stated, many other Bioware games have main stories that aren't that great on their own, and are rather formulaic. Bioware's strength is characters and settings, which this game seems to have in abundance.

LOL yep, 9.5 out of 10 but you guys continue to zero in on the negatives and ignore the excellent rating they gave the overall game.

[The Elder King]

Because Bioware is a Master company of western story-driven RPGs - I daresay a King of RPGs and one can only expect the best from them. If say RTS like Starcraft has a weak story, it sucks, but Blizzard can always reply that it's primarily a multiplayer RTS (debatable but ok).
But when the King of RPGs, who everyone expects to deliver, has a dent in its armor (story), it's important to note. It's sort of like mentioning a review that didn't like an (older) Steven Speilberg movie.

Sorry, but Which recent Bioware game had a main plot considered a masterpiece?

[Jaison1986]

Sorry, but Which recent Bioware game had a main plot considered a masterpiece?

 

This. I don't think they have an title to uphold, but more of an reputation to redeem.

[JeffZero]

I had far more excellent moments with ME3, warts and all, than I did with any non-BioWare game I've played for the first time since, The Last of Us notwithstanding. The dev has its stack of recent issues, but it's managed to keep me loving it.

(And then, ultra dark horse opinion here, but TLoU's ending went and made me that much less excited about it in retrospect than ME3's ending post-EC has, so, dammit.)

[The Elder King]

I had far more excellent moments with ME3, warts and all, than I did with any non-BioWare game I've played for the first time since, The Last of Us notwithstanding. The dev has its stack of recent issues, but it's managed to keep me loving it.
(And then, ultra dark horse opinion here, but TLoU's ending went and made me that much less excited about it in retrospect than ME3's ending post-EC has, so, dammit.)

Is This about my post?

[JeffZero]

Is This about my post?

More in response to Jaison's, really. Was just voicing that I don't really feel they have as much to redeem as some.

[dewayne31]

i dont pay attention to reviews i judge for myself most of the time. i slipped and read a postive review of bound by flame before it was released bought it on sale got chapter 2 and quit. only time i let a review influence me wont do it again.

[dewayne31]

double post again...

[azarhal]

Sorry, but Which recent Bioware game had a main plot considered a masterpiece?

 

I think you can remove the "recent". They always had better characters then plots.

BG1: Investigate an iron shortage

BG2: Revenge of the Lab Rats

KoTOR: Archaeology can save the Galaxy

ME1: See KoTOR

Jade Empire: Everyone wants to use meeeeeeee

ME2: Recruit a bunch of misfits to save the Galaxy

ME3: Recruit a bunch of war assets to save the Galaxy

NWN: Lets ignore the plot

DAO: Help everyone and their mother to save Ferelden

DA2: Bad things happens when Hawke is around

[The Elder King]

More in response to Jaison's, really. Was just voicing that I don't really feel they have as much to redeem as some.

Understood.

[bEVEsthda]

The central story can only be disappointing if you ever thought that was the idea with an cRPG, to consume passively, like a movie.

I've always argued it's not a ready story, or rather - that it should not be a ready story to consume passively. So obviously, I only see a confused reviewer here, not a flaw in a game.

[JeffZero]

I think you can remove the "recent". They always had better characters then plots.
BG1: Investigate an iron shortage
BG2: Revenge of the Lab Rats
KoTOR: Archaeology can save the Galaxy
ME1: See KoTOR
Jade Empire: Everyone wants to use meeeeeeee
ME2: Recruit a bunch of misfits to save the Galaxy
ME3: Recruit a bunch of war assets to save the Galaxy
NWN: Lets ignore the plot
DAO: Help everyone and their mother to save Ferelden
DA2: Bad things happens when Hawke is around

Hey now, as an anthropologist I fully endorse the message that archaeology can save galaxies.

[cjones91]

Meh....I'll play the game when I get it on Tuesday.Never rely on reviews since they're subjective.

[Kohaku]

I think you can remove the "recent". They always had better characters then plots.

BG1: Investigate an iron shortage

BG2: Revenge of the Lab Rats

KoTOR: Archaeology can save the Galaxy

ME1: See KoTOR

Jade Empire: Everyone wants to use meeeeeeee

ME2: Recruit a bunch of misfits to save the Galaxy

ME3: Recruit a bunch of war assets to save the Galaxy

NWN: Lets ignore the plot

DAO: Help everyone and their mother to save Ferelden

DA2: Bad things happens when Hawke is around

 

"I think I love you so what am I so afraid of!"

 

You pretty much summed up the plots of all their games. I never in my wildest dreams thought Bioware were the paragons of good story telling/writing. Their characters have always been what drew me to their games. However, I don't like that it seems "OK" for us to say that an RPG doesn't have a good story. Isn't that the crux of an RPG in the first place?

[old_dawn]

I saw the first hour livestream of the game on youtube.com/chandlerusmc and the flow was a bit weird.... but hopefully it feels less jumpy as the story progresses.

 

Here's what I thought about the story in the 1st hour:

Spoiler

1. Suddenly the game starts after the breach explosion (you don't get to see all the delegates from all factions die (but maybe they'll show it in flashbacks later on?). They wanted to instill a feeling of confusion in you, the player, as if you have no idea what's going on or what happened before. I don't really have a problem with that but it's not the beginning I was expecting. I thought we would be slowly eased into our character like in Origins where you have the introduction sequences (you meet your village/community, family and friends, and so on). But you just get thrown into the chaos on this one like the beginning of Skyrim and Oblivion.

 

2. Cassandra at first doesn't seem to trust you, but when you select the option "Because I'm also putting myself at risk." She is suddenly trusting. To me that isn't really a good enough reason to sheath her sword (she does explain that you were cooperative earlier but that isn't really good enough of a reason when you're suspected by almost everyone of being the saboteur). Hopefully the other dialogue options have more satisfying outcomes.

 

3. *heroic music starts* suddenly the Inquisition is formed in just a few minutes and it almost seems like people are already worshipping you for halting the breach's growth. The people of Thedas seem so precarious when it comes to their disposition towards others. It just feels a bit too abrupt that you're automatically part of the Inquisition and it looks like they're about to crown you as their leader. This does make me wonder what things would've been like if your character chose the rebellious/rude comments...

 

I probably misinterpreted a few things but that's what it felt like on the first watch.

[azarhal]

However, I don't like that it seems "OK" for us to say that an RPG doesn't have a good story. Isn't that the crux of an RPG in the first place?

 

 

Despite my funny list of plot descriptions, I personally liked all of BioWare game stories except for NWN (still scratching my head over that one). What remains of those plots are memorable encounters and characters though, not necessarily the threads that hold them together.

But that's valid for almost any story: people connect to the characters, not so much what is happening.

[Minimooo]

I don't know about the chronology of when each company's review was released, but if I was being cynical, I would say that in a whole swathe of positive reviews, creating a slightly negative one will potentially allow you to reach a greater audience. They stand out by saying something different to the others, which draws attention to them - people looking for reviews don't want to read over and over how great it is, but they will want to see an opposing argument. Thus, more hits.

 

But yes, that is a somewhat cynical take. But possibly a valid one.

[ResistanceKnight]

If the story can't get you to care about the characters, the most interesting thing in the galaxy could be happening but you wouldn't even give it the time of day.

 

But if the characters are interesting and genuinely enticing, an observer would watch them eat breakfast and think it amazing. 

 

I like Bioware's take on storytelling.  The main story is simply the thing that draws the characters together, it actually interesting part is watching them bounce off one another.

[Taleroth]

I personally liked all of BioWare game stories except for NWN (still scratching my head over that one).

Neverwinter Nights killed my inner child.

Characters really make the story, at least that's the zeitgeist.