Dragon age 2

[Floppertje]

1. no it's not. gameplay is quite different, the only similarties are the same ones that were introduced in RPG's somewhere in the pleistocene...
2. would that be such a bad thing? both are excellent games.
3. they're both by bioware. is it so strange that two rpg's in completely different settings have some similarities if they're made by the same company?

 

[Woodsey]

Well the thing is with a more personal story they can do far more interesting things, now when you're saving the world it's big and epic but it doesn't leave alot of room for any real tension,you kinow that in the end the world willl end up saved and lots of bad guys will be dead. It also means much of the story needs to revolve arund the player battling with an enemy that poses a credible threat to the world, which really restricts what you can do because most enemies like that must by nessesity fall within a few tightly defined archtypes.

The thing about this is that...the world is a bit too young to add personal stories yet.

I've said it before, but what I was expecting at the end, after my character died heroically, to have some sort of cutscene at the end with my character's corpse in the Fade (where souls supposedly go where they die) and the archdemon roaring in the background. (Then waking up, being either soul forged with the dragon or doing something to defeat it for good, go back to the real world, etc)

They left a lot of unanswered questions to which it seems we'll never get the answers.

An example of a world well done is the Forgotten Realms (now ruined by 4e and the Spellplague) where it was developed enough for personal stories yet still had some mysteries. It seems that Ferelden is all a mystery and Bioware isn't sharing the answers.

Eh?

There's a codex full of information on the world that you can reference at any time during the game, and I'm pretty sure you only enter the Fade when you dream, it's not an afterlife (unless you become trapped there whilst alive).

 

[Devias-]

So because you can no longer pick between different origins, it's going to be a clone of Mass Effect?
Doesn't that sound just a little bit silly?

I hated the origins. It was tedious completing all the storylines just because you want to try out a different class.

Well the thing is with a more personal story they can do far more interesting things, now when you're saving the world it's big and epic but it doesn't leave alot of room for any real tension,you kinow that in the end the world willl end up saved and lots of bad guys will be dead. It also means much of the story needs to revolve arund the player battling with an enemy that poses a credible threat to the world, which really restricts what you can do because most enemies like that must by nessesity fall within a few tightly defined archtypes.

The thing about this is that...the world is a bit too young to add personal stories yet.

I've said it before, but what I was expecting at the end, after my character died heroically, to have some sort of cutscene at the end with my character's corpse in the Fade (where souls supposedly go where they die) and the archdemon roaring in the background. (Then waking up, being either soul forged with the dragon or doing something to defeat it for good, go back to the real world, etc)

They left a lot of unanswered questions to which it seems we'll never get the answers.

An example of a world well done is the Forgotten Realms (now ruined by 4e and the Spellplague) where it was developed enough for personal stories yet still had some mysteries. It seems that Ferelden is all a mystery and Bioware isn't sharing the answers.

Eh?

There's a codex full of information on the world that you can reference at any time during the game, and I'm pretty sure you only enter the Fade when you dream, it's not an afterlife (unless you become trapped there whilst alive).

Am I the only one who wants all the codex to be collected in a book?

Holy crap am I nerdy.

 

[s0denone]

Yeah, this is like, so 5 months ago.

Newest edition of PCG came through my letterbox today, and the review is MASSIVELY positive, totally wiped away any concerns - although the only one I really had left was in relation to the story structure, since a retrospective narrative can often not work, especially in RPGs.

Yeah, I wouldn't place much trust in such a review.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Dragon Age 2 will be a bad game - but early exclusive reviews are ALWAYS EXTREMELY POSITIVE. Caps were needed there.
It's just to get more people to preorder the game.

Same reason previews are always extremely positive too.

They upset the developer (with an non-positive review)? That means they don't get an exclusive early copy (to review) of their next game, which may cause a loss of sales.

Again, feel free to have all your doubts washed away. I certainly wouldn't, though

 

[darth.pixie]

Eh?

There's a codex full of information on the world that you can reference at any time during the game, and I'm pretty sure you only enter the Fade when you dream, it's not an afterlife (unless you become trapped there whilst alive).

I read all the entries. And the Chantry does state that souls enter the Fade after you die(to meet the maker or somesuch). Mage refute this as they never saw spirits there, but that's just another question really...

And in the codex, there are details but not the important things. It took our PC character to go and see how darkspawn are even made. With them existing for quite a long time. So there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I want to know the answers to at least some of them before starting a personal quest. I like the idea, I just feel it's a bit early.

 

[Woodsey]

Yeah, this is like, so 5 months ago.

Newest edition of PCG came through my letterbox today, and the review is MASSIVELY positive, totally wiped away any concerns - although the only one I really had left was in relation to the story structure, since a retrospective narrative can often not work, especially in RPGs.

Yeah, I wouldn't place much trust in such a review.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Dragon Age 2 will be a bad game - but early exclusive reviews are ALWAYS EXTREMELY POSITIVE. Caps were needed there.
It's just to get more people to preorder the game.

Same reason previews are always extremely positive too.

They upset the developer (with an non-positive review)? That means they don't get an exclusive early copy (to review) of their next game, which may cause a loss of sales.

Again, feel free to have all your doubts washed away. I certainly wouldn't, though

Well that'd all make sense, if all previews really were extremely positive, and all early reviews were like that too.

 

[Trolldor]

So, I take it Flemeth is back if we can get a 'Flemeth Helmet' for PC?

Goddamnit, where's my Morrigan Story?

 

[Bobbity]

Bioware fans, including my self, have been arguing with each other about this for months now.
It's pretty well established by now though that this isn't just going to be a fantasy clone of Mass Effect.
If you take a look at the gameplay videos, it's still the same Dragon Age we loved, but this time the character is voiced. What's wrong with that?

 

[Knight Templar]

So because you can no longer pick between different origins, it's going to be a clone of Mass Effect?
Doesn't that sound just a little bit silly?

I hated the origins. It was tedious completing all the storylines just because you want to try out a different class.

But couldn't you test out a class during the origin?

So, I take it Flemeth is back if we can get a 'Flemeth Helmet' for PC?

Yeah, I guess all that "if she even can die" and "she is more than she seems" talk wasn't just for show.

Goddamnit, where's my Morrigan Story?

That would be witch hunt, kinda, sorta.

 

[Trolldor]

Bioware fans, including my self, have been arguing with each other about this for months now.
It's pretty well established by now though that this isn't just going to be a fantasy clone of Mass Effect.
If you take a look at the gameplay videos, it's still the same Dragon Age we loved, but this time the character is voiced. What's wrong with that?

It's not precisely the same as the old DA:O

Combat for consoles is more button spam than pause and plan, judging from gameplay videos (although they said the PC version will retain the ability to pause and plan for tactical combat)
The dialogue wheel severely limits the 'clarity' of choices, along with the level of variety.

A character being voiced also limits the 'RP' component. Voices don't necessarily reflect the character you wanted to create.

 

[Trolldor]

So because you can no longer pick between different origins, it's going to be a clone of Mass Effect?
Doesn't that sound just a little bit silly?

I hated the origins. It was tedious completing all the storylines just because you want to try out a different class.

But couldn't you test out a class during the origin?

So, I take it Flemeth is back if we can get a 'Flemeth Helmet' for PC?

Yeah, I guess all that "if she even can die" and "she is more than she seems" talk wasn't just for show.

Goddamnit, where's my Morrigan Story?

That would be witch hunt, kinda, sorta.

Except Witch Hunt was incomplete.

Default DA:O Morrigan walks off to nowhere.
Witch Hunt: Morrigan (and maybe PC) walks off in to mysterious portal, with revelation Flement is not an abomination (Which we already knew)

Edit: By incomplete I meant the absence of a resolution, and the 'Morrigan Story' includes the 'old one' child.

 

[Devias-]

So because you can no longer pick between different origins, it's going to be a clone of Mass Effect?
Doesn't that sound just a little bit silly?

I hated the origins. It was tedious completing all the storylines just because you want to try out a different class.

But couldn't you test out a class during the origin?

So, I take it Flemeth is back if we can get a 'Flemeth Helmet' for PC?

Yeah, I guess all that "if she even can die" and "she is more than she seems" talk wasn't just for show.

Goddamnit, where's my Morrigan Story?

That would be witch hunt, kinda, sorta.

I suppose you could. But you would really have to get past the story arc to level up to the point where you can determine if you would be satisfied with the class. It was just arduous that you have to play through the same thing again and again (for example, if you want to be a human, but wants to try out a Rogue instead of the Warrior you're currently playing). I wish BioWare would implement a feature Bethesda did. Before you exit the tutorial level, you're free to choose your race, class and skills all over again. This is highly unlikely though, seeing how story-heavy BioWare is.

 

[DustyDrB]

Bioware fans, including my self, have been arguing with each other about this for months now.
It's pretty well established by now though that this isn't just going to be a fantasy clone of Mass Effect.
If you take a look at the gameplay videos, it's still the same Dragon Age we loved, but this time the character is voiced. What's wrong with that?

It's not precisely the same as the old DA:O

Combat for consoles is more button spam than pause and plan, judging from gameplay videos (although they said the PC version will retain the ability to pause and plan for tactical combat)
The dialogue wheel severely limits the 'clarity' of choices, along with the level of variety.

A character being voiced also limits the 'RP' component. Voices don't necessarily reflect the character you wanted to create.

False. The same pause and plan mechanics can be used on consoles. I've watched plenty of gameplay videos myself.

And a voiced character appeals to role-playing of a different type (I am him, rather than he is me).

 

[Trolldor]

It may be different, but it is still limited.

 

[JordanXlord]

What worried me was the previews that said it would be more action orientated. I mean I didn't hate Origins but it was virtually non-stop combat, how can you get more action?

Combat is quicker, more finishing moves (including for magic) and it's more fluid. I don't think they meant more enemies. That would be difficult.

Honestly, I had hoped Bioware would go forwards with the story they released. What are darkspawn, will we go to the Black City, what are the archdemons? ...I was dissapointed ever since the beginning about it. I've also played at least the beginning. It's very 'Witcher 2' (2 characters talking about you). It didn't feel like ten years to me.

I however, don't doubt that I will dislike it while the rest of the world will like a new 'RPG'. That's what happened with Mass Effect 2 anyway.

Wait wait wait More Finishing moves?!

FINALY!!! THANK GOD I PREORDED THIS

 

[Fr]anc[is]

ME is awesome. DA is awesome. I fail to see what the gripe is about

 

[minispike47]

To be honest I was I little annoyed when I first found out (months ago) but as long as there other customisation options I won't be too pissed. I played as a city-elf rogue in DA:O and I really enjoyed it. I never had time for multiple playthroughs and if I have more customisation of my skills and abilities I will be happy.

In addition I will likely play as a mage or warrior which will (hopefully) play drastically different to my character in DA:O.

However, another little worry I have is the move towards more Mass Effect style of gameplay. I'm fine with the speech system from ME but after looking more at some sceen-shots of the skill trees and other menus in DA2, it seems that the DA franchise is moving closer and closer towards that of ME.

I never got into ME because i'm more of a fantasy gamer. I don't just want Mass Effect:Fantasy Edition!

 

[Bobbity]

Bioware fans, including my self, have been arguing with each other about this for months now.
It's pretty well established by now though that this isn't just going to be a fantasy clone of Mass Effect.
If you take a look at the gameplay videos, it's still the same Dragon Age we loved, but this time the character is voiced. What's wrong with that?

It's not precisely the same as the old DA:O

Combat for consoles is more button spam than pause and plan, judging from gameplay videos (although they said the PC version will retain the ability to pause and plan for tactical combat)
The dialogue wheel severely limits the 'clarity' of choices, along with the level of variety.

A character being voiced also limits the 'RP' component. Voices don't necessarily reflect the character you wanted to create.

When you say button spam, that's not entirely accurate. It's not as if this has turned into a hack 'n slash or God of War etc. but rather that the abilities are now more responsive, and faster. You can still pause and plan on the consoles as well as the pc, it's just that the combat has been (on consoles) orientated to be suited for a more direct approach. It's not as if you're spamming 'A' or 'X' or anything, just that when you do press them, your character will move to perform the ability much more quickly, which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing.

As for the character voice, it's true that this may restrict some elements of role-playing, which annoys even me, but I don't think that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not what some people were looking for.

 

[Thedayrecker]

You're a little late to the party - did you really not realize that DA:O was the medieval version of ME: 2 (or, alternately, ME: 2 was the sci-fi version of DA:O)?

Must be pretty thick, OP.

This.

It's like this for every Bioware game. We've known about this for a while.

Ever notice how you join some super, secret, awesome club in all their games? In KotOR it's the Jedi, in Mass Effect the Spectres, and in Dragon Age it's the Grey Wardens.

But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Mouse One]

As for the character voice, it's true that this may restrict some elements of role-playing, which annoys even me, but I don't think that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not what some people were looking for.

Bingo. I was hoping for basically DA:O with better graphics. And I was one of those disappointed I couldn't drag my dual wielding city elf with a chip on his shoulder into DA2. And I've never been a fan of the dialog wheel-- it just gives too much away by the position of the comments. C'mon-- who in Mass Effect never thought "Well, I'd probably say the neutral thing, but I need those Paragon/Renegade points, so I'll pick another option" If you haven't, you're a more honest RP'er than I.

But. That was then, this is now. If I'd never played DA:O, I'd be really excited about a fantasy Mass Effect. I loved Mass Effect. Sure, DA2 isn't what I wanted, but it'll probably still be a fun romp.