34 réponses à ce sujet

[ILikeCommas]

The story is short, shallow, cliched and amounts to sequelbait. 

 

The action combat is uninspired and the weakest to date. 

 

The tactical combat is a mess and the weakest to date. 

 

The companions are interesting but not deep enough unless you romance them, and you can only romance one at a time. 

 

The quest structure is mostly horrendous filler.

 

The level design is beautiful, but comes at too heavy a cost.

 

The game has no idea what it wants to be, but it sure isn't a Dragon Age game.

(This isn't for the faint of heart.)
 

http://ilikecommas.d...First-530483275

[b10d1v]

You are so fickle friend, shame on you!   Joking aside, Program management is the major cause and the result is incomplete foundations and missing items with a host of unacceptable fall back plans.

 

Lets consider the two game changers, computational rendering (frostbite) and advanced character controller (Bioware), the first is ill behaved and the second incomplete.  Here we have two critical items that fall far short of the program goals, and don't get me started on behaviors  .  Moreover, combine the control interface and communication between these modules and you have the instability propagation that crashes the game.  With the first two, I understand the risk with new technology, the second two are mundane processes, how could they be such a mess.

[b10d1v]

That's good work by the way, and much of the friction with writers was started in mass effect, if you care to add it to your collage.  Many felt evolving the story with complex behaviors and motivations was more important to immersion and I agree.  Seemingly, insurmountable odds, but a slim path to get there with many choices and political consequences along the path, what's not to love. ****, some of us have lived parts of a similar story pushing science, dodging politics and for some bullets.  Speaking of love, how can I forget that blue companion!  and the jealousy and frustration, pure art!  They had started a suspense novel and had hope for many volumes, there was harsh disagreement.  The dark elements in ME3 reflect the mood at Bioware to a large degree.  Killing Shepard was not the point as much as destroying so much plot as to make continuity nearly unrecoverable.  Bioware had a disconnect between a Vision evolving immersion gameplay and management, don't think EA was even a factor until DAI started slipping schedules and milestones and you can' blame them for stepping in at that point!  

[Handsome Jack]

I agree with everything you said apart from "interesting companions". Exact opposite in my mind. Otherwise, I fully agree with you.

[M_Helder]

Good read, actually!
Mirrors my thoughts exactly.

Apparently, everyone who knew what they were doing left the franchise ages ago.

[Dubya75]

 

The story is short, shallow, cliched and amounts to sequelbait. 

 

The action combat is uninspired and the weakest to date. 

 

The tactical combat is a mess and the weakest to date. 

 

The companions are interesting but not deep enough unless you romance them, and you can only romance one at a time. 

 

The quest structure is mostly horrendous filler.

 

The level design is beautiful, but comes at too heavy a cost.

 

The game has no idea what it wants to be, but it sure isn't a Dragon Age game.

(This isn't for the faint of heart.)
 

http://ilikecommas.d...First-530483275

 

 

Yep, this is a very good summary.

[Das Tentakel]

The level of frustration is clear, and I share your pain. Well, just a bit, it's more like a mild dull ache these days. Shadow of Mordor and Pillars do help .


But seriously, did I understand it correctly and did you play DA:I on a laptop with integrated Intel graphics?
Edit: Oh wait, there was / is a problem with powerful nvidia-equipped laptops, Optimus and DA:I. Now that sucks .

[JaneLunaC]

I like the action combat (especially the 2-h cc warrior with knockdown and stuns),

but it's kinda annoying partying with the bad companion ai

If the ai wasn't so terrible it would be more fun

As it is, I just rely on myself instead of relying on my companions, and just kinda expect my companions to die because of their ai

 

If the rogues would backstab instead of facetanking and archers/mages would kite instead of facetanking,

the combat would be vastly improved

Or have tactics that you could set up to tell them to do so

Course that's not the only issue with the combat, but yeah it's a major one

 

Oh and what's with the game unpausing when switching between two characters that are far away from each other?

Granted I don't use the pause feature too often, but it's really annoying when I do

I couldn't imagine trying to play constantly in the tactical combat like some people want to, because of this (and commands not sticking when you switch characters)

[Erstus]

Dragon Age is in the middle of an identity crisis. It wants to be so many things it's not and shouldn't be. As a result we get a diluted and generic fantasy setting with Inquisition. The story uninspired and the rest is just filler.

We had somthing unique with Origins that should habe been expa ded upon. Instead Bio just trashes it for radical changes.

Let Elder Scrolls be Elder Scrolls. DA is not Elder Scrolls.

[Torgette]

It reminds me of ME1, ambitious but structurally unpolished.

[Erstus]

Though it has already been beaten to death and then some I still feel the need to bring it back up -

The soundtrack. Its not bad by any stretch but it just doesn't deliver. It is very typical and generic of a high-fantasy setting. It does not give the DA universe it's appropriate atmosphere. Inon established that theme in DAO and DA2. His works were unique and atmospheric.

I feel the soundtrack truly hurts Inquisition. Especially when most of the pieces are the main theme with slight changes....

[jedidotflow]

I liked it a lot, much more than Origins. I played Origins when I was still in College and had more free time than I do now, so I prefer the current more action-focused gameplay.

[Lilithor]

 

The story is short, shallow, cliched and amounts to sequelbait. 

 

The action combat is uninspired and the weakest to date. 

 

The tactical combat is a mess and the weakest to date. 

 

The companions are interesting but not deep enough unless you romance them, and you can only romance one at a time. 

 

The quest structure is mostly horrendous filler.

 

The level design is beautiful, but comes at too heavy a cost.

 

The game has no idea what it wants to be, but it sure isn't a Dragon Age game.

(This isn't for the faint of heart.)
 

http://ilikecommas.d...First-530483275

 

Yes.

[ILikeCommas]

You are so fickle friend, shame on you!   Joking aside, Program management is the major cause and the result is incomplete foundations and missing items with a host of unacceptable fall back plans.

 

Lets consider the two game changers, computational rendering (frostbite) and advanced character controller (Bioware), the first is ill behaved and the second incomplete.  Here we have two critical items that fall far short of the program goals, and don't get me started on behaviors  .  Moreover, combine the control interface and communication between these modules and you have the instability propagation that crashes the game.  With the first two, I understand the risk with new technology, the second two are mundane processes, how could they be such a mess.

Because they weren't thoroughly tested, tweaked and refined. I'm hard on the BioWare devs, but the problem more probably lies with their management pushing them to do too much too many different ways in too little time.

 

That's good work by the way, and much of the friction with writers was started in mass effect, if you care to add it to your collage.  Many felt evolving the story with complex behaviors and motivations was more important to immersion and I agree.  Seemingly, insurmountable odds, but a slim path to get there with many choices and political consequences along the path, what's not to love. ****, some of us have lived parts of a similar story pushing science, dodging politics and for some bullets.  Speaking of love, how can I forget that blue companion!  and the jealousy and frustration, pure art!  They had started a suspense novel and had hope for many volumes, there was harsh disagreement.  The dark elements in ME3 reflect the mood at Bioware to a large degree.  Killing Shepard was not the point as much as destroying so much plot as to make continuity nearly unrecoverable.  Bioware had a disconnect between a Vision evolving immersion gameplay and management, don't think EA was even a factor until DAI started slipping schedules and milestones and you can' blame them for stepping in at that point!  

Exactly. You have thousands of people on your side against a cartoonishly incompetent villain. Where's the tension? I haven't played much Mass Effect (haven't had the chance to get to it yet), but I know the first two games had very strong companions and an engaging story.

 

I agree with everything you said apart from "interesting companions". Exact opposite in my mind. Otherwise, I fully agree with you.

I played with Sera and Cassandra and changed out the third whenever I got bored. So... yeah, you've got a fair point.

 

Good read, actually!
Mirrors my thoughts exactly.

Apparently, everyone who knew what they were doing left the franchise ages ago.

Coming up on six years now, actually!

 

Yep, this is a very good summary.

Thank you!

 

The level of frustration is clear, and I share your pain. Well, just a bit, it's more like a mild dull ache these days. Shadow of Mordor and Pillars do help .


But seriously, did I understand it correctly and did you play DA:I on a laptop with integrated Intel graphics?
Edit: Oh wait, there was / is a problem with powerful nvidia-equipped laptops, Optimus and DA:I. Now that sucks .

Yeeeep. Would've been nice to know in the specs. But "the game doesn't work on this large, popular subset of laptops" isn't very good marketing. I want to get Pillars. Does Shadow have much replayability?

 

I like the action combat (especially the 2-h cc warrior with knockdown and stuns),

but it's kinda annoying partying with the bad companion ai

If the ai wasn't so terrible it would be more fun

As it is, I just rely on myself instead of relying on my companions, and just kinda expect my companions to die because of their ai

 

If the rogues would backstab instead of facetanking and archers/mages would kite instead of facetanking,

the combat would be vastly improved

Or have tactics that you could set up to tell them to do so

Course that's not the only issue with the combat, but yeah it's a major one

 

Oh and what's with the game unpausing when switching between two characters that are far away from each other?

Granted I don't use the pause feature too often, but it's really annoying when I do

I couldn't imagine trying to play constantly in the tactical combat like some people want to, because of this (and commands not sticking when you switch characters)

I liked doing the same thing in Origins. And then also not having all the problems that make up the rest of your post. There was potential there for a strong action hybrid that got squandered for SWTOR's sake, then again when its failure made Blackfoot's concept an obvious liability.

[ILikeCommas]

 

Dragon Age is in the middle of an identity crisis. It wants to be so many things it's not and shouldn't be. As a result we get a diluted and generic fantasy setting with Inquisition. The story uninspired and the rest is just filler.

We had somthing unique with Origins that should habe been expa ded upon. Instead Bio just trashes it for radical changes.

Let Elder Scrolls be Elder Scrolls. DA is not Elder Scrolls.

Aye.

 

It reminds me of ME1, ambitious but structurally unpolished.

At least ME1 had great story, the fresh feeling of a new, exciting setting and very memorable companions.

 

Though it has already been beaten to death and then some I still feel the need to bring it back up -

The soundtrack. Its not bad by any stretch but it just doesn't deliver. It is very typical and generic of a high-fantasy setting. It does not give the DA universe it's appropriate atmosphere. Inon established that theme in DAO and DA2. His works were unique and atmospheric.

I feel the soundtrack truly hurts Inquisition. Especially when most of the pieces are the main theme with slight changes....

Agreed. My favorite music was on the roof with Sera or during the Wicked Grace game. Sound familiar?

 

I liked it a lot, much more than Origins. I played Origins when I was still in College and had more free time than I do now, so I prefer the current more action-focused gameplay.

To each his own.

 

Yes.

Thanks!

[AWTEW]

Thanks for sharing OP.

[Epzaos]

Yeah, I'm sure we've heard it about a thousand times.

[Das Tentakel]

Yeeeep. Would've been nice to know in the specs. But "the game doesn't work on this large, popular subset of laptops" isn't very good marketing. I want to get Pillars. Does Shadow have much replayability?

Hmmm...there are recommended specs, but it appears those only refer to desktop machines - nothing on laptop hardware.
Though if I had to hazard a guess I would say you'd need an nvidia 850m at least to get decent performance - DA:I tends to struggle a bit even on relatively high-end desktops like mine (my i7 / GTX 660Ti clearly had difficulty with the game on full HD on high settings).

I am currently playing Shadow of Mordor; I do think the game has some issues so I would advise buying it during a sale. I like it so far.

[Inex]

Only disagree with the companions part (i thought they were all deep even without romance), otherwise it is a good summary.

 

DA:I also has tons of terrible design decisions i disagree with (8 skill limit, good soundtrack that barely plays outside of main story, skyhold pj's and others). It is still a good game though.

[turuzzusapatuttu]

 

The story is short, shallow, cliched and amounts to sequelbait. 

 

The action combat is uninspired and the weakest to date. 

 

The tactical combat is a mess and the weakest to date. 

 

The companions are interesting but not deep enough unless you romance them, and you can only romance one at a time. 

 

The quest structure is mostly horrendous filler.

 

The level design is beautiful, but comes at too heavy a cost.

 

The game has no idea what it wants to be, but it sure isn't a Dragon Age game.

(This isn't for the faint of heart.)
 

http://ilikecommas.d...First-530483275

 

 

It's whining Wednesday, I see.

[Vylix]

It's whining Wednesday, I see.

But they made the post on Tuesday.

[ILikeCommas]

Hmmm...there are recommended specs, but it appears those only refer to desktop machines - nothing on laptop hardware.
Though if I had to hazard a guess I would say you'd need an nvidia 850m at least to get decent performance - DA:I tends to struggle a bit even on relatively high-end desktops like mine (my i7 / GTX 660Ti clearly had difficulty with the game on full HD on high settings).

I am currently playing Shadow of Mordor; I do think the game has some issues so I would advise buying it during a sale. I like it so far.

 

I checked around quite a bit in the process of solving my problem, and laptops have (sometimes) a (lot of) problem(s) running Inquisition well despite running equally or more demanding games just fine.
 

Only disagree with the companions part (i thought they were all deep even without romance), otherwise it is a good summary.

 

DA:I also has tons of terrible design decisions i disagree with (8 skill limit, good soundtrack that barely plays outside of main story, skyhold pj's and others). It is still a good game though.

Felt to me like most of their stories were cut short, besides Iron Bull and Sera. Vivienne's sidequest (fetching tomes aside) took me all of ten minutes.

And not being able to pick your Skyhold clothes (or even change their color) based on at least your race and class, especially in the face of the game's touted customizability, is pretty disappointing.

[Seraphim24]

 

The story is short, shallow, cliched and amounts to sequelbait. 

 

The action combat is uninspired and the weakest to date. 

 

The tactical combat is a mess and the weakest to date. 

 

The companions are interesting but not deep enough unless you romance them, and you can only romance one at a time. 

 

The quest structure is mostly horrendous filler.

 

The level design is beautiful, but comes at too heavy a cost.

 

The game has no idea what it wants to be, but it sure isn't a Dragon Age game.

(This isn't for the faint of heart.)
 

http://ilikecommas.d...First-530483275

 

 

Oh thanks for reminding me of Velanna! Man she was really cool... although in many ways I did find Awakening disappointing relative to Origins.

 

That wasn't crazy uncommon though generally I kind of thought Shadows of Undrentide and Tales of the Sword Coast suffered from similar kinds of expansion related issues.

[ILikeCommas]

Oh thanks for reminding me of Velanna! Man she was really cool... although in many ways I did find Awakening disappointing relative to Origins.

 

That wasn't crazy uncommon though generally I kind of thought Shadows of Undrentide and Tales of the Sword Coast suffered from similar kinds of expansion related issues.

Looking back, Origins' DLC really was all a huge cash grab. Awakening was the only one with any length to it, and it was full of bugs. I'll maintain that Witch Hunt was worth every penny until the day I die, though.

[Das Tentakel]

I checked around quite a bit in the process of solving my problem, and laptops have (sometimes) a (lot of) problem(s) running Inquisition well despite running equally or more demanding games just fine.

Yep, I've noticed that too. As I mentioned before, even very powerful gaming laptops with nvidia GPU's have / had trouble running DA:I. On some of those machine the game uses the integrated graphics (instead of the GPU) which, while reasonably capable these days, aren't that great for running the more demanding new games. And by Jove, is DA:I demanding.
 

Felt to me like most of their stories were cut short, besides Iron Bull and Sera. Vivienne's sidequest (fetching tomes aside) took me all of ten minutes.

That one seemed pretty short to me too. The one thing that really bugged me was that the companion quests felt very…isolated from the rest of the game somehow. I will admit that was more of a feeling than something I analysed with any depth.
 

And not being able to pick your Skyhold clothes (or even change their color) based on at least your race and class, especially in the face of the game's touted customizability, is pretty disappointing.

I find it hard to believe they ever intended this, I find it more likely this was simply cut at some point. I do wonder when, exactly, BioWare stopped developing the different parts of the game and began knitting them together, testing, polishing etc. At first sight, the game seemed fairly polished to me (fairly stable, not too buggy) but the more I played it, the more I got the same feeling I have when I enter a fancy-looking building that seems to have all kinds of odd design decisions on the inside, which indicate that it was finished in a hurry because time and money ran out. If so, I have to give BioWare at least some brownie points for camouflaging this with some skill. There are a lot of games out there where this is far more noticeable (then again, maybe the lack of time and money was far worse in those cases).