After reading reviews I'm kind of delighted this didn't come out on PS3 at the same time it did on XBox. I would've bought it sight-unseen like a good fanboy. It sounds exactly like the Omega DLC: overpriced and underwhelming. It's also apparently full of yet more lame Ubisofty fetch quests. Yuck.
Thank you for saving me money, Microsoft and EA. I'll save it for Shovel Knight next month.
The problem with Mike's explanation is that the dialogue count of an exploration area and crit path area together still isn't all that much. Or rather, that's a lot of ambient/throwaway NPC dialogue that would normally be cinematic story-focused dialogue in previous BW DLCs. Story missions in Inquisition were condensed awesome but they were still condensed. For $15 I'd expect at least 5 hours of pure story content with a few hours of sidequests on top of that.
This makes me optimistic about the future of the series because one of my main complaints about Inquisition was that I felt the story was not tied into the exploration areas enough. Both were at least good, but the exploration dwarfed the story content and I'd like the main path to be more interwoven with the side quests (like...that crazy dwarf ghoul in the Deep Roads in Origins...you don't HAVE to do anything with Ruck and he is a sidequest, but he's also connected with the overall story).
To be fair, gathering agents for the Inquisition is also connected to the main plot, which has you consolidate power so you can continue a massive scale war against Corypheus.
I know this is non-spoiler, but I remember a scout in the hinterlands whose life I saved, and recruited as an agent because of her skills. It was in the middle of nowhere and she had a decent little story behind that mission.
That stuff is all there, noticing it is maybe the issue in the end because of the lack of cutscenes or the open spaces. I don't know. But honestly, the more I play Inquisition, the more it reminds me of the quest design of stuff like Baldurs Gate or Icewind Dale in terms of its simplicity and emphasis on exploring and stumbling. Hell, looking at all the pre-release stuff on Pillars of Eternity seems like one big sidequest in the end as well, lots of filler bits with just with less graphics and an isometric view.
$15 does not equal £11.99 at today's exchange rate. £10.10 would be closer. Can I pay in dollars please?
i have a question: i just bought it, it's best to play it in post game or before climax battle around level 20?
hmm, the description of the dlc doesn't really tickle my di-.. curiosity.. almost seems like it'll be a whole lot of gameplay with little/condensed story so, I think i'll wait for reviews.
Well, since it is exclusive I will wait until it is on sale (or possibly until they finish the DLC/patch cycle), but I am somewhat looking forward to it.
I played it last night as soon as I got home and really enjoyed the DLC. I don't know if it was worth $15, but coming from EA I'm not sure why the price tag would be a surprise. The area is absolutely gorgeous and I found the Avaar really interesting, plus the new loot/crafting materials are pretty wicked. I also enjoyed that PARTY BANTER ACTUALLY WORKS in the DLC area, so I finally got hear a ton of banter from my normally mute party.
I will be honest though and say that if you don't enjoy the aspect of Inquisition that involves exploring new areas and doing quests "just because", then this DLC is probably not for you
I usually keep my nose out of these things, as I have adopted the Shire lifestyle. "What happens outside of these borders is none of my concern", mother always taught me. *cough* Erm-uh anyways, I see some saying what's the point of buying the DLC at a later date because it will spoiled? It will only be spoiled if you allow it... I was able to start playing DA:I a whole month after release and avoided the Spoiler Threads, YouTube comments, Kotaku articles, etc, and was still taken by surprise by what DA:I had to offer.
I did the ol' "information blackout" leading up to about 3-4 months before release, because I didn't have to know everything Bioware fed the fanbase about the game. It made it all the more rewarding once I played it and it is completely within your control to do the same if you so desire it. Then again, I suppose you could simply boycott it like some have proposed they are going to do, and that might have an effect on time exclusivity (not bloody likely)
Time exclusives are no fun, but you've waited patiently up until now for it, because we've had no inkling as when or what would be release to us in the fashion of DLC. This release is out of the blue, so for those of us who don't have access to it immediately, continue about your business like you have been. Play one of the other great titles out there being release by other companies, start another playthrough of DA:O and play it entirely different. I think the anger being thrown at Bioware is unnecessary, because "Timmy Xbox" and "Bobby PC" over there has a toy that I don't, and I want it now.
I predict a June/July release date for the other consoles. I have no concrete proof to back it, but I think 3-4 months feels right.
I'm more concerned about the trend of $15 DLC being released. I think Leviathan was the last $10 DLC and every subsequent DLC after starting with Omega was $15. (DLC that I purchased, not sure what other Bioware games are charging these days... are there other Bioware games on the market charging DLC?) DLC pricing we CAN combat if we, you know, just don't purchase it. Timed exclusivity is harder to combat because as we speak, Xboners and PC users are buying this up as we speak. So Bioware is getting paid now as well as with that lucrative deal they signed with MS.
Just from watching a twitch stream last night I'd say it was good thing this was the first DLC and therefore, the one that has to be a timed exclusive. There's nothing really earth shattering that can be spoiled for players who can't play it right away and it leaves future, possibly more character focused DLC available to everyone at the same time.
i have a question: i just bought it, it's best to play it in post game or before climax battle around level 20?
In terms of levelling (having just been playing)
So far in terms of difficulty I'd put it alongside the current zone:
But I might revise that once I'm done.
To be fair, gathering agents for the Inquisition is also connected to the main plot, which has you consolidate power so you can continue a massive scale war against Corypheus.
I know this is non-spoiler, but I remember a scout in the hinterlands whose life I saved, and recruited as an agent because of her skills. It was in the middle of nowhere and she had a decent little story behind that mission.
That stuff is all there, noticing it is maybe the issue in the end because of the lack of cutscenes or the open spaces. I don't know. But honestly, the more I play Inquisition, the more it reminds me of the quest design of stuff like Baldurs Gate or Icewind Dale in terms of its simplicity and emphasis on exploring and stumbling. Hell, looking at all the pre-release stuff on Pillars of Eternity seems like one big sidequest in the end as well, lots of filler bits with just with less graphics and an isometric view.
That was Rits (the scout), and I enjoyed her recruitment as well. I just feel that gaining power for the Inquisition could have been
I think it's a ratio issue for me. It's not so much as I minded the fluff as it is that I hated there was so LITTLE meaty stuff in the story, and I include cutscenes in that. It was like...a heaping plateful of french fries and one tiny tiny slider. I would have loved if EVERY single exploration area had an overall goal to it (aka Hinterlands could have been recruit either mages or templars to help with the Breach).
Instead, there are areas that, to my knowledge, are purely for exploration and fluff (Storm Coast, Fallow Mire...). And the other areas have plot points in them, but they literally are about 10%, if that, of the content in that area. I could be wrong, but my feeling (emphasis on feeling, I haven't checked) is that Origins had more actual story content than this game, which is so much bigger in size. And I'm not one to claim that Origins is perfect - I'm glad they've progressed to new things and not just rested on their laurels. BUT, I have much more of an appreciation that every single main path in Origins had a purpose connected to the overall plot (directly, not just a vague build-your-power), even aside from just using the treaties.
1.) The Circle Tower was about getting the help of the templars or mages as well as neutralizing the threat to the Circle.
2.) Redcliffe was about getting Eamon's support (and healing him, and stopping the undead).
3.) Brecilian Forest was about dealing with an ancient feud and righting a wrong.
4.) Orzammar/Deep Roads was about interacting with dwarven political structures as well as discovering stuff about Golems and Branka.
Basically, there was one basic plot (get help-kill archdemon), but every plot had interwoven plots that all flowed together and, at least to me, made perfect sense. Inquisition is so much fun, don't get me wrong, but the pacing drives me mad. It's like play for 4 hours wandering around and do these little quests...and then have some story for an hour...then go back to wandering for another 10 hours or so. AAAAGH!
So I'm hoping that in the future, assuming they keep the huge areas, those areas have a tighter, more focused link to the story rather than just existing to hold side quests that are only tangentially connected to the main story.
Pillars of Eternity will come out in two days. That's the reason for the early PC release of the DLC.
ok yeah this makes sense
Guest_Puddi III_*
I wonder how many cutscenes and cinematic conversations we'll have. If it's just another region to explore with tons of codexes to read, then I'll pass.
I'm quite amused people aren't so sure about spending 15 bucks. That will all be spent on some things anyway.
It's been stated that there are at least 3 scenes. The question is, is the banter new, or just stuff from the core game.
I was merely stating what's been reported. Personally, I think this is $10 DLC, tops, marked up to $15. I'm also frustrated at the fact that aspects of the game that I was hoping would be addressed, weren't.
I can confirm the forest canopy is gorgeous.
I can't confirm anything else as my party has been repeatedly brutally killed by just about anything outside of base camp with a slightly bad attitude...
I have a question:
I live in Germany, so Origins mostly only offers games to me in German. However I prefer to play almost all of my games in English. Lucky enough I was on time to lock to my account and download the English language pack for DA:I when it was available, so I can enjoy the game in English. 
Is the "Jaws of Hakkon" only available in German or is there a way to switch the language from German to English for the DLC content as well? 
Or will the DLC content be in English when the main game is in English?
I'm quite amused people aren't so sure about spending 15 bucks. That will all be spent on some things anyway.
Money will be spent anyway? Seriously?
That was so deep, I drowned.
I was merely stating what's been reported. Personally, I think this is $10 DLC, tops, marked up to $15. I'm also frustrated at the fact that aspects of the game that I was hoping would be addressed, weren't.
Hahaha. I've never been the "BioWare did something not exactly to my specifications, boycotting them 5ever!!!" type, but 3-4 months is the point where I'd probably refuse to buy it no matter how much I want it, except in the unlikely event that it goes on a very big sale.I predict a June/July release date for the other consoles. I have no concrete proof to back it, but I think 3-4 months feels right.
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