Dragon Age II a 'disappointment'?

[X4NDR]

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface. I just dismissed it because it's a demo, but seeing it being played live on 4PP it was mostly unchanged, and I was quite put off by it. I've read a few reviews complaining about the game being dumbed down too much and being a poor PC port. For those who are playing the game, what are your thoughts on it? Is it really that bad?

 

[AlternatePFG]

I do not understand most of the complaints. While I generally don't like BioWare's approach to sequels, this game was just as good as Origins. The combat is much more fun to play, and the quests are designed well, with many memorable and interesting quests. I really like Kirkwall, at first I didn't like the idea of spenidng most of the game time there, but I think it looks really good.

Don't like the dialogue wheel though, and the fact that you can't give companions armor is kinda stupid (you still can equip weapons and accessories but meh). I don't understand all the hate personally.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Betting this is a case of, "They changed it! How dare they!" I recall a lot of people saying Dragon Age was too hard and the controls were unfriendly for consoles. BioWare attempted to fix this and now people are upset because they changed some things that people wanted them to change. Can't please everyone. I bought the game today and I'm going to start it tonight. If it does turn out to be as bad as people make it out to sound, I will eat my shoe.

 

[Mcface]

Problem with Bioware sequels is first time around they do great, second time around they change it completely.

I don't get it.
Sure, tweak it, make minor improvements, but we liked the first game, dont make it so much different.

Now it's hard to judge DA2 from the demo. The combat was decent, though kind of repetitive and boring.
It also felt VERY linear. You follow one path throughout the entire demo, no real exploration or freedom of movement. I know DAO didn't have too much, but you could at least explore other tunnels or paths.

 

[Gill Kaiser]

I don't trust user reviews at the best of times, but especially not at launch. Lots of people are idiots.

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

Dragon Age 2 is VERY similar to Origins. It's a tiny bit more streamlined, and the combat is many times over improved. I honestly can't think of anything DA2 has done that is demonstrably worse than Origins. Tactics are somewhat improved, combat is a lot better, the dialogue is at least as good... why are people complaining?

 

[SovietSecrets]

Dragon Age 2 is VERY similar to Origins. It's a tiny bit more streamlined, and the combat is many times over improved. I honestly can't think of anything DA2 has done that is demonstrably worse than Origins. Tactics are somewhat improved, combat is a lot better, the dialogue is at least as good... why are people complaining?

The simple rule of haters gonna hate I suppose.

 

[mireko]

Let's see if we can solve this mystery. To the lab!

Here's the post. It's not detailed enough, zoom in! Enhance!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface. I just dismissed it because it's a demo, but seeing it being played live on 4PP it was mostly unchanged, and I was quite put off by it. I've read a few reviews complaining about the game being dumbed down too much and being a poor PC port. For those who are playing the game, what are your thoughts on it? Is it really that bad?

Zoom in! Enhance!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface.

More, damn it!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic.

We're getting something, but it's grainy. Enhance further!

user reviews

Oh I see.

 

[Jennacide]

Dragon Age 2 is VERY similar to Origins. It's a tiny bit more streamlined, and the combat is many times over improved. I honestly can't think of anything DA2 has done that is demonstrably worse than Origins. Tactics are somewhat improved, combat is a lot better, the dialogue is at least as good... why are people complaining?

Because people are entitled douche holes?

Finally started playing my copy, despite the negative reaction had to the demo it's not so bad. The demo scene they picked was a really awful one. The main thing I have issue with is the same one I've had since the demo though, why the hell did they make two things prettier in exchange for EVERYTHING ELSE being uglier? Better lighting and character models, bland as hell environments, inferior enemy models, and completely stupid and/or ridiculous animations.

 

[MisterShine]

I've read a few reviews complaining about the game being dumbed down too much and being a poor PC port. For those who are playing the game, what are your thoughts on it? Is it really that bad?

I'm 8 hours in, on the PC version.

Everyone who said the game is now a button masher or 'dumbed-down' is either:

A. Is playing on Casual
B. Hasn't played it
C. Is a moron

Or possibly some combination of the above.

The abilities for classes were cut down in number (I don't know by how much exactly, but I'd wager 20-30% less?), however there were so many useless abilities in Origins or ones that you only took to get to the good stuff. In DA2, almost every tree has a use to you. Also, they fixed Archers!! Yay! Also, crappy port? There are several systems in the game designed exclusively for the PC, how could it possibly be a port? Idiots...

So far the characters are all at least moderately interesting (except Bethany, your sister. She's kinda Ho-Hum to me), though no one has quite stood out to me like Morrigan did in Origins (and to be fair I have not recruited everyone), and the story is a very different approach to Bioware's usual fare.

God willing, this is the new evolution of cRPG's. I welcome the day.

 

[DustyDrB]

I don't trust user reviews at the best of times, but especially not at launch. Lots of people are idiots.

I agree with this. User reviews skew towards the extremes (and haters are always more vocal), and often are done by people who haven't played or have barely played the games.

Go ahead and call me a tool for turning to critics, but I have my five or so websites whose opinions I respect (not that I always agree): Destructoid, The Escapist, Eurogamer, Giant Bomb, and Kotaku.

 

[mireko]

Dragon Age 2 is VERY similar to Origins. It's a tiny bit more streamlined, and the combat is many times over improved. I honestly can't think of anything DA2 has done that is demonstrably worse than Origins. Tactics are somewhat improved, combat is a lot better, the dialogue is at least as good... why are people complaining?

Because people are entitled douche holes?

Finally started playing my copy, despite the negative reaction had to the demo it's not so bad. The demo scene they picked was a really awful one. The main thing I have issue with is the same one I've had since the demo though, why the hell did they make two things prettier in exchange for EVERYTHING ELSE being uglier? Better lighting and character models, bland as hell environments, inferior enemy models, and completely stupid and/or ridiculous animations.

I haven't played the game beyond the demo yet [small](damn you, EU release dates!)[/small], but it didn't look quite so bad to me. The darkspawn were pretty bland and zombie-like, but they were always pretty bland and zombie-like. The city in second half, however, was a one hell of a lot prettier than Denerim ever was, and the new animations seemed fine. Yes, they're a little cheesy, but in DA:O it looked like your weapons just weren't hitting. They seem to have fixed that aspect at least.

I should probably point out that I didn't particularly like the art style in the first game.

[small]And that I haven't actually played the game yet.[/small]

[sub]And hey, DX11~[/sub]

 

[X4NDR]

Let's see if we can solve this mystery. To the lab!

Here's the post. It's not detailed enough, zoom in! Enhance!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface. I just dismissed it because it's a demo, but seeing it being played live on 4PP it was mostly unchanged, and I was quite put off by it. I've read a few reviews complaining about the game being dumbed down too much and being a poor PC port. For those who are playing the game, what are your thoughts on it? Is it really that bad?

Zoom in! Enhance!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface.

More, damn it!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic.

We're getting something, but it's grainy. Enhance further!

user reviews

Oh I see.

I lol'd. But yes there is the case of the unpleasable fanbase and the "they changed it now it sucks" fans, but surely there's SOME warrant to all this whining. But I suppose it's still a bit early to tell whether all these complaints are valid or just haters preemptively hating.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Let's see if we can solve this mystery. To the lab!

Here's the post. It's not detailed enough, zoom in! Enhance!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface. I just dismissed it because it's a demo, but seeing it being played live on 4PP it was mostly unchanged, and I was quite put off by it. I've read a few reviews complaining about the game being dumbed down too much and being a poor PC port. For those who are playing the game, what are your thoughts on it? Is it really that bad?

Zoom in! Enhance!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic. I haven't played the game yet so I can't comment on the standard of the game, but I did play the demo, and the only problem I had was regarding the game's user interface.

More, damn it!

Dragon Age II's getting some scathing user reviews across all platforms on Metacritic.

We're getting something, but it's grainy. Enhance further!

user reviews

Oh I see.

I love everything you just did there.

 

[Eldarion]

Sorry, I can't get into the second game if I can't continue my character from the first one. Oh, now I have to play as a character with an already defined name? I hated that about mass effect. Its one of my biggest issues with bioware games, you aren't your own character. You play 3 different versions of bioware's character. I don't consider that role playing.

 

[mireko]

I lol'd. But yes there is the case of the unpleasable fanbase and the "they changed it now it sucks" fans, but surely there's SOME warrant to all this whining. But I suppose it's still a bit early to tell whether all these complaints are valid or just haters preemptively hating.

Oh, I'm all for being cautious. It's just that user reviews are notoriously unreliable, and this is especially true when a game has recently been released.

Sorry, I can't get into the second game if I can't continue my character from the first one. Oh, now I have to play as a character with an already defined name? I hated that about mass effect. Its one of my biggest issues with bioware games, you aren't your own character. You play 3 different versions of bioware's character. I don't consider that role playing.

If you didn't like Dragon Age: Origins, then I'm not sure why you were all that interested in this.

Y'know, because everything you just described was in that game as well.

[sub]Yes, the name too.[/sub]

 

[Eldarion]

I lol'd. But yes there is the case of the unpleasable fanbase and the "they changed it now it sucks" fans, but surely there's SOME warrant to all this whining. But I suppose it's still a bit early to tell whether all these complaints are valid or just haters preemptively hating.

Oh, I'm all for being cautious. It's just that user reviews are notoriously unreliable, and this is especially true when a game has recently been released.

Sorry, I can't get into the second game if I can't continue my character from the first one. Oh, now I have to play as a character with an already defined name? I hated that about mass effect. Its one of my biggest issues with bioware games, you aren't your own character. You play 3 different versions of bioware's character. I don't consider that role playing.

If you didn't like Dragon Age: Origins, then I'm not sure why you were all that interested in this.

Y'know, because everything you just described was in that game as well.

[sub]Yes, the name too.[/sub]

It turned into a rant on these games in general, but I liked dragon age origins enough to play through it once. I also played and really liked both mass effect games, doesn't stop a bunch of things about them from bugging me though.

 

[rockingnic]

My only gripe is that it won't load into a certain area after I'm about to complete a quest. So now I'm doing every other quest... Yea, there's like millions of side quests where all you do is find something for someone and give it to them...

 

[mireko]

It turned into a rant on these games in general, but I liked dragon age origins enough to play through it once. I also played and really liked both mass effect games, doesn't stop a bunch of things about them from bugging me though.

Fair enough, there are certainly valid criticisms of the series, I was just reading your post in the context of the "AAAAH DIALOGUE WHEELS" threads.

 

[MisterShine]

The real tragedy is they dumbed down the brothels in the game.

I just visited one and I could only do ONE elf guy! One!

There's no implied/explicit bestiality, five-somes, inter-species action in this game like Origins, clearly Bioware has sold out to its EA overlords by removing this. Outrage, slap in the face, yadda yadda.

(P.S. Propositioning said Elf with your sister in the party is funny "Its too late now, I can't get it out of my head.. I can't unsee, I can't UNSEE!!")