Everything else aside, I will never understand this opinion. I remember literally no music from DAO or DA2, but the song that plays when Corypheus walks out of the fire at Haven gives me chills to this day. I suppose taste truly is subjective.
Yep. I think my view is somewhat unpopular opinion as well, but I simply cannot remember any piece from DAI when in DAO and DA2 I have some that are my favorites.
Above all else, DAI feels like it wasn't properly finished, and had to be rushed to completion, because there are so many places where it feels like corners were cut and the various finished bits were just sort of bolted together and rolled out the door. It's obvious in the main plot, which falls over part way through and just dumps you at Corypheus once you tick the requisite boxes, in the amount of stuff we saw from demos that got cut, the lack of animations on NPCs, the lack of coherent plots in some of the zones, the lack of variety in NPCS character models, lack of variety in equipment models, side quests just presented as notes, the lack of full cutscenes for many dialogues, ropey animations and frame rate issues, etc. I almost get the feeling that they put so much effort into building the open world zones, that they didn't leave themselves enough time to populate it all with interesting quests and stories, to finish the main story, and to technically polish the game. It's still a decent game, but it feels like unrealised potential to me.
Given that the game was extended for a year, and the official statement is that the extra time was used to pad out some things (romances, races) rather than a need to complete the game, I get the impression that the game wasn't rushed for development time as much as it suffered from poor project management. Given all of the development time DAI had, I would think the main quests would be the first areas fleshed out and completed, and then the optional areas (Hissing Wastes and Forbidden Oasis and Storm Coast especially) would be created. There aren't even that many main quests to begin with! Instead, the final battle was lame and had no buildup to it, and the pacing of the main quests is lacking. I think there should be another main quest either after HLTA and WEWH or after Arbor Wilds to build up to the final battle (and have that be more than two short fights).
Given that the game was extended for a year, and the official statement is that the extra time was used to pad out some things (romances, races) rather than a need to complete the game, I get the impression that the game wasn't rushed for development time as much as it suffered from poor project management. Given all of the development time DAI had, I would think the main quests would be the first areas fleshed out and completed, and then the optional areas (Hissing Wastes and Forbidden Oasis and Storm Coast especially) would be created. There aren't even that many main quests to begin with! Instead, the final battle was lame and had no buildup to it, and the pacing of the main quests is lacking. I think there should be another main quest either after HLTA and WEWH or after Arbor Wilds to build up to the final battle (and have that be more than two short fights).
I have the same love/hate relationship but for different reasons. I disagree with most of what you said (agreed on some points won't specify). However my "hate" part in the love/hate relationship is that the main character is forced to be good. There are zero to none options to roleplay a evil or villanous character. It is extremely hard to even be immoral. As a game I love DA:I. As a roleplaying game I hate DA:I.
I have the same love/hate relationship but for different reasons. I disagree with most of what you said (agreed on some points won't specify). However my "hate" part in the love/hate relationship is that the main character is forced to be good. There are zero to none options to roleplay a evil or villanous character. It is extremely hard to even be immoral. As a game I love DA:I. As a roleplaying game I hate DA:I.
I'd settle just for being able to play a ruthless good guy. The real problem is that you are pretty much stuck playing a boy scout. Where are the renegade options?
You can chop of heads of some people.. but I agree that compared to DA2 and DAO you couldn't be as evil. RIP murder knife.
You can chop of heads of some people.. but I agree that compared to DA2 and DAO you couldn't be as evil. RIP murder knife.
Blessed are the Suomi people...
# case suffix English prep. sample word form translation of the sample 1 nominatiivi – : t – talo : talot house 2 genetiivi -n : -jen … of talon : talojen of (a) house 3 essiivi -na : -ina as talona : taloina as a house 4 partitiivi -(t)a : -ja … - taloa : taloja house (as an object) 5 translatiivi -ksi : -iksi to (role of) taloksi : taloiksi to a house 6 inessiivi -ssa : -ssa in talossa : taloissa in (a) house 7 elatiivi -sta : -ista from (inside) talosta : taloista from (a) house 8 illatiivi -an, -en … :
Blessed are the Suomi people...
# case suffix English prep. sample word form translation of the sample 1 nominatiivi – : t – talo : talot house 2 genetiivi -n : -jen … of talon : talojen of (a) house 3 essiivi -na : -ina as talona : taloina as a house 4 partitiivi -(t)a : -ja … - taloa : taloja house (as an object) 5 translatiivi -ksi : -iksi to (role of) taloksi : taloiksi to a house 6 inessiivi -ssa : -ssa in talossa : taloissa in (a) house 7 elatiivi -sta : -ista from (inside) talosta : taloista from (a) house 8 illatiivi -an, -en … :
-ihin, -isiin into taloon : taloihin into (a) house 9 adessiivi -lla : -illa at, on talolla : taloilla at (a) house 10 ablatiivi -lta : -ilta from talolta : taloilta from (a) house 11 allatiivi -lle : -ille to talolle : taloille to (a) house 12 abessiivi -tta : -itta without talotta : taloitta without (a) house 13 komitatiivi -ine- together with taloine(ni) with my house(s) 14 instruktiivi -n : -in with (the aid of) taloin with (a) house
Finns ^^
Though I'm not sure how translation of house with different prepositions is related?
I have the same love/hate relationship but for different reasons. I disagree with most of what you said (agreed on some points won't specify). However my "hate" part in the love/hate relationship is that the main character is forced to be good. There are zero to none options to roleplay a evil or villanous character. It is extremely hard to even be immoral. As a game I love DA:I. As a roleplaying game I hate DA:I.
I personally think the narrative doesn't easily allow for an evil PC in this case, as Cassandra would put those iron clasps back on your hands the minute you go full on dictator, but to each their own. Perhaps this could have been worked around, the Inquisitor builds up to the evil subtly until it's too late to depose them.
One of my headcanons is that the Inquisitor becomes a zealot, false-messianic figure, kind of like how the cult in the Hinterlands believes. It would have been awesome to roleplay as someone who truly embraces the Herald of Andraste title but abuses the power received to reshape the land. They wouldn't be evil, just misguided or ruthless, depending on your viewpoint.
Even the revelation in the Fade would not necessarily dampen this zealotry but cause the Inquisitor to go on a crusade against any who defy their divine will (and silence those who deny their divinity).
If the game had played out like an actual inquisition rather than a growing military power, these evil and ruthless options would have been easier to implement. More hardened Leliana tactics, less Josephine-backed-by-Cullen's-sword-arm.
Finns ^^
Though I'm not sure how translation of house with different prepositions is related?
It is not but you are lucky to have been born into this language.
It is not but you are lucky to have been born into this language.
I know 
There is tons of funny memes about the language ^^
Everything else aside, I will never understand this opinion. I remember literally no music from DAO or DA2, but the song that plays when Corypheus walks out of the fire at Haven gives me chills to this day. I suppose taste truly is subjective.
I like DA:I's music quite a bit. What little there is, I should add. There was a design decision (profoundly misguided in my view) to pretty much dispense with the music while exploring. Seeing as how something like 90% of the game is exploring...
A lot of the time, the music felt like a mix between Star Wars/KOTOR rural peaceful tunes, and actions scenes which frequently had stuff that sounded like it belonged in Halo of all things.
As to party members, I was always geniunely shocked to see party members receive a close up and actually comment on stuff, because it happened so rarely in this game that I kept forgetting it even could happen in DA:I. When discussing about the Well of Sorrows or whatever, your party members chip in a few thoughts and I was like 'Oh my God, you mean you actually have a proper, honest to goodness opinion on this?!' Its just so surprising when you're reminded that the characters are more than just some health bars on the main missions...
And seriously, what is the point of the Approval/Disapproval system? It doesn't seem to affect anything, and I always seem to have the same conversations and be best friends ever (according to the game at least) with my party members, no matter what i do.
I'm not in the mood for delving into specific issues, but overall I find DA:I a rather funny game as there are many aspects of it I think could be significantly improved (in some way or other, pretty much every aspect of the game is noticably flawed IMO - and I've pointed plenty of those flaws out on these forums in the past), but despite that, I still thoroughly enjoy playing it.
Wow. Am I the only one who think companions in DAI are more interesting than DAO and DA2, as well as their characterisation? Overall of course I mean, Blackwall, Iron Bull, Varric is a bit dull. I do think that DAO and DA2 have better companion interactions and connections to the PC, however, in terms of character, I find DAO companions more likable, while DAI companions, not all as likable, but more interesting.
I hated Sera and Vvn, thought Solas was just boring bald nerd, and Cassandra just a typical strong woman stereotype. But when I finally gave more patience and spent more time learning towards them, I actually enjoy myself hating Vvn, find Sera adorably annoying, respect Cassandra and her faith, and loves Solas character to death. And their character still give me surprises even in my second playthrough.
Wow. Am I the only one who think companions in DAI are more interesting than DAO and DA2, as well as their characterisation? Overall of course I mean, Blackwall, Iron Bull, Varric is a bit dull. I do think that DAO and DA2 have better companion interactions and connections to the PC, however, in terms of character, I find DAO companions more likable, while DAI companions, not all as likable, but more interesting.
I hated Sera and Vvn, thought Solas was just boring bald nerd, and Cassandra just a typical strong woman stereotype. But when I finally gave more patience and spent more time learning towards them, I actually enjoy myself hating Vvn, find Sera adorably annoying, respect Cassandra and her faith, and loves Solas character to death. And their character still give me surprises even in my second playthrough.
Wow. Am I the only one who think companions in DAI are more interesting than DAO and DA2, as well as their characterisation? Overall of course I mean, Blackwall, Iron Bull, Varric is a bit dull. I do think that DAO and DA2 have better companion interactions and connections to the PC, however, in terms of character, I find DAO companions more likable, while DAI companions, not all as likable, but more interesting.
I hated Sera and Vvn, thought Solas was just boring bald nerd, and Cassandra just a typical strong woman stereotype. But when I finally gave more patience and spent more time learning towards them, I actually enjoy myself hating Vvn, find Sera adorably annoying, respect Cassandra and her faith, and loves Solas character to death. And their character still give me surprises even in my second playthrough.
I like many of the companions and advisors. Some of the points you make are the reasons why I don't feel as close to them as the other games, DA2 especially. It's true, they are nuanced and more complex than some of the other characters from past games, but one of the difficulties is investing the time into discovering more about the companions. The banter issue is a big problem for this. But also, so much of the game is filler, read a journal entry, pick something up, quest completed, that it became more difficult for me to try and concentrate on delving in to the areas which DO have deeper content to them. The game is also so large that it would take forever to find all of the character details which only come out in specific locations or companion combinations, etc.
Cole, for example, provides a lot of insight into companions' subconscious, so if you never recruit him or have him in your party, you automatically miss out on a facet of the companion you have no other way of learning about. So yes, I think the companions are deeper, but it's more difficult for the player to discover the nuances of the characters and the gameplay does not help in this. One can blame lazy gamers who now expect information to be handed to them without asking, but the game should help develop characters without the player going through hoops to discover all of the content.
I spent my last playthrough trying to get Dorian and Iron Bull's romance to begin, but even after including them in my party for almost all of the maps, I didn't get close to having their romance initiate. A casual player would have no clue they could even pair up unless they came to these boards. We shouldn't have to work so hard to access character development.
It is subjective. DAI's soundtrack, while effective, sounds to me like something from the Two Steps From Hell school of generic bombastic orchestral movie soundtracks. Inon Zur's Origins soundtrack was much more ethereal, subtle, and distinctive.
This is exactly how I feel. DAO's music was distinctive, it had its own identity and was part of what gave DA its own identity. DAI's music, while good enough and certainly enjoyable most of the time, is mostly generic, and with it the the DA universe lost some of its distinctive identity. Other elements contributed to that as well.
Wow. Am I the only one who think companions in DAI are more interesting than DAO and DA2, as well as their characterisation? Overall of course I mean, Blackwall, Iron Bull, Varric is a bit dull. I do think that DAO and DA2 have better companion interactions and connections to the PC, however, in terms of character, I find DAO companions more likable, while DAI companions, not all as likable, but more interesting.
I hated Sera and Vvn, thought Solas was just boring bald nerd, and Cassandra just a typical strong woman stereotype. But when I finally gave more patience and spent more time learning towards them, I actually enjoy myself hating Vvn, find Sera adorably annoying, respect Cassandra and her faith, and loves Solas character to death. And their character still give me surprises even in my second playthrough.
DAO's characters are still my favorites. They're not as noticeably streamlined to cover a specific set of tropes and more, well, natural people, barring a few extreme lines that attest to Biowares traditional incompetence with subtlety in certain areas. DAI's characters are good though, way better written than DA2's extreme representations of stereotypes, include a truly unique one with Cole, and their writers managed to create credible personalities after mostly failing to do so in DA2. They're clearly the most well-written set, but none of them has the presence of Morrigan or Shale.
It is subjective. DAI's soundtrack, while effective, sounds to me like something from the Two Steps From Hell school of generic bombastic orchestral movie soundtracks. Inon Zur's Origins soundtrack was much more ethereal, subtle, and distinctive. However, DA2 soundtrack was utterly forgettable in my view.
I'd agree with this ranking to some extent. DAO has some of the best musical moments in the series. (it also has the worst tho the Darkspawn chant song. Darkspawn darkspawn... This may have been on Awakening? Can't remember). What strikes me is the varied colour in the arrangements: the use of French horns in the main theme and the use of human voices in songs like "I am the one", the last which gave some of the songs a world music feel instead of just generic classical.
Bearing that in mind you might want to relisten to the DAI music, preferably on a good sound system or thru headphones (WATCH THE VOLUME . The DAI music relied heavily on strings. I'm no expert on this type of music, generally I avoid it. But I do know that orchestral string music tends to be sublter in some of the tonal nuances conveyed.
With the games I've played in 2015 I'm more acutely aware of some of the issues DAI had, than before.
BioWare pulled off a sprawling and often wonderful but flawed game that deserves both its praise and criticism
because of its ambition of mastery that it was on the edge of reaching and because of the disaster it teetered from being.
Gimped by it's difficult development on Frostbite 3 that I think was tougher than is sometimes hinted at, the game for all its controversies got away with it. They dodged a bullet and in the right light the parts that are half-arsed, clanky and outclassed by 2015 games, can be forgiven.
Whatever the truth of it, I spent hundreds of hours playing it (and possibly as many clattering around its forum).
It dominated my gaming leisure time in the winter/spring of 2014/15 and I will always have a fondness for it, despite its issues.
One day, these forums will declare it a masterpiece (when DA4 is released) 
.
I'd agree with this ranking to some extent. DAO has some of the best musical moments in the series. (it also has the worst tho the Darkspawn chant song. Darkspawn darkspawn... This may have been on Awakening? Can't remember). What strikes me is the varied colour in the arrangements: the use of French horns in the main theme and the use of human voices in songs like "I am the one", the last which gave some of the songs a world music feel instead of just generic classical.
Bearing that in mind you might want to relisten to the DAI music, preferably on a good sound system or thru headphones (WATCH THE VOLUME . The DAI music relied heavily on strings. I'm no expert on this type of music, generally I avoid it. But I do know that orchestral string music tends to be sublter in some of the tonal nuances conveyed.
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