Dragon Age

[Emeli]

Okay, so I'm insanely busy right now, got family, christmas, studies, starting up a business, it's pretty fair to say that I don't have time to be getting into a new game, but Dragon Age is on the market and calling to me like a siren.

It looks pretty good, but you know how you occasionally just have a great big warning light go off in your head? A phrase that is guaranteed to set that off in me is "In the spirit of..." of "Spiritual successor to..."

"In the spirit of Baldur's Gate" translates in my head to "we'd like Baldur's Gate fan to buy this."

I'm prety torn, cause Baldur's Gate is quite possibly my favourite game ever, or at least top three. If this game really delivers the same kind of experience, I'll make time. If I blow a bunch of cash on it and it turns out to just be another fantasy RPG then I'm going to be seriously pissed off.

So is it actually a spiritual successor to BG or are they just taking advantage of my weakness for the series?

 

[Worgen]

its much deeper then most fantasy games, altho Im not sure how much of a successor to bg it is since its been forever since I played that, I can say that dragons age has grabbed me by the balls and wont give them back

 

[high_castle]

Alright, I say this as someone who considers Baldur's Gate 2 to be the greatest game ever made, and the original a close follow up: buy Dragon Age. It's not the same game, not set in the same world, but the things I love about BG are there. The characters are all unique and well developed. The story is both engaging and genuinely touching at times. The choices you make are multi-faceted and can have long-reaching repercussions. Basically, it's classic BioWare.

I'm also someone who has been disappointed with the state of the fantasy RPG recently. Oblivion was...a mess, frankly. Fable II was the most monotonous game I've played in a while. Two Worlds barely deserves a mention. This is just so much better than all of these recent attempts. If you liked Baldur's Gate, you should really enjoy this. It's the type of game I can play for 5 hours and have to force myself to turn off so I don't fry my 360. Even then, 20 minutes later I want to go right back in for more. It's so layered and detailed. I just did one play through with a mage, I'm doing another one now with a daelish elf and...wow. The experience changes so much. The team did a great job in making your origin and class truly affect every aspect of the game.

My recommendation is to definitely pick this one up. It may even usurp BG as the title of my favorite game, it's that good.

 

[squid5580]

Alright, I say this as someone who considers Baldur's Gate 2 to be the greatest game ever made, and the original a close follow up: buy Dragon Age. It's not the same game, not set in the same world, but the things I love about BG are there. The characters are all unique and well developed. The story is both engaging and genuinely touching at times. The choices you make are multi-faceted and can have long-reaching repercussions. Basically, it's classic BioWare.

I'm also someone who has been disappointed with the state of the fantasy RPG recently. Oblivion was...a mess, frankly. Fable II was the most monotonous game I've played in a while. Two Worlds barely deserves a mention. This is just so much better than all of these recent attempts. If you liked Baldur's Gate, you should really enjoy this. It's the type of game I can play for 5 hours and have to force myself to turn off so I don't fry my 360. Even then, 20 minutes later I want to go right back in for more. It's so layered and detailed. I just did one play through with a mage, I'm doing another one now with a daelish elf and...wow. The experience changes so much. The team did a great job in making your origin and class truly affect every aspect of the game.

My recommendation is to definitely pick this one up. It may even usurp BG as the title of my favorite game, it's that good.

Ya what he said

And install that puppy then you don't need to worry about it frying your 360. You can play forever and it barely gets warm.

 

[veloper]

So is it actually a spiritual successor to BG or are they just taking advantage of my weakness for the series?

Well, if you want to try a new RPG with full party control, then it's either DA or try your luck with the J-RPGs.

DA has all the basic BG2 gameplay elements: customizeable PC, recruitable NPCs, direct party control, realtime with pause.

That doesn't guarantee you'll like this game, only that DA is the only game in town.

 

[DracoSuave]

It's like Baldur's Gate had an exotic lovechild with George R R Martin.

Seriously. It's so loveable but damn if it doesn't keep slashing its wrists the little brat.

But yes, I love it.

 

[Ixal]

To me DA is a very hollow experience (I have played BG II). It isn't inspired or interesting. Combat and character development are dull, couldn't care less about the party members either. The game feels a little half-assed somehow, reminds me of NWN.

I'm in the very early stages of the game and don't know if I'll keep going. I had a bad feeling about DA but of course I caved in and bought it anyway.

So you haven't really played it but you know its bad because you disliked it from the beginning?

 

[Spitfire175]

Get it and play it, you'll like it if you liked Baldurs Gate.
Be warned, though, it is a whole lot shorter than they advertise. Also, it can be diabolicallly frustrating to hammer the genuinely retarded AI into submission.

 

[Worr Monger]

I never got into Baldur's Gate back in the day.. wish I did.

Though recently, I tried playing it to no avail.... I just couldn't get into it.... probably just too dated for me now.....

BUT.... I've been playing Dragon Age and I can definitely see the influence from Baldur's Gate, despite my lack of experience with that title.

It is definitely worth checking out if you have the hours to spare... Personally, I think I stink at it... but I'm addicted, and must keep playing.

 

[Ivan Issaccs]

You best have willpower fuelled by the blood of virgins and premium gas if you get this and play around all the things you need to do in your life.
This is a huge time sink and its keeping me awake untill ungodly hours. I never had the opportunity to play Baldurs Gate but this is a pretty solid title.

 

[sms_117b]

Okay, so I'm insanely busy right now, got family, christmas, studies, starting up a business, it's pretty fair to say that I don't have time to be getting into a new game, but Dragon Age is on the market and calling to me like a siren.

It looks pretty good, but you know how you occasionally just have a great big warning light go off in your head? A phrase that is guaranteed to set that off in me is "In the spirit of..." of "Spiritual successor to..."

"In the spirit of Baldur's Gate" translates in my head to "we'd like Baldur's Gate fan to buy this."

I'm prety torn, cause Baldur's Gate is quite possibly my favourite game ever, or at least top three. If this game really delivers the same kind of experience, I'll make time. If I blow a bunch of cash on it and it turns out to just be another fantasy RPG then I'm going to be seriously pissed off.

So is it actually a spiritual successor to BG or are they just taking advantage of my weakness for the series?

If you have a lot on, DO NOT GET THIS GAME, but only if you have a lot on, it will consume your life, well it did mine. (83.1 hours in 14 days, 6 hours a day!)

 

[teisjm]

I will add a question, since i haven't played DA:O eitehr, but been thinking og getting it.
I think i read something about beeing able to use your old char from BG in DA:O (like you could in NWN since they're all DnD based) is this true, or is it just something i read someone wish for.

 

[tkioz]

Buy it. The fact it's a new world is a good thing, it gave them a lot more freedom with the story and world, both of which are truly exceptional.

The game play is exceptional as well, the art design, the depth of the game world, the voice actors, the plot, the side quests, it really is a great game.

However if you've got other things to do, avoid it, you wont be able to put it down, I know I can't.

 

[tkioz]

I will add a question, since i haven't played DA:O eitehr, but been thinking og getting it.
I think i read something about beeing able to use your old char from BG in DA:O (like you could in NWN since they're all DnD based) is this true, or is it just something i read someone wish for.

You can't. It's not set in the same game world, and one of the big points of DA:O is the multiple origins, truly adding depth to the game, NPCs all react differently to you depending on your race/background/choices.

 

[teisjm]

I will add a question, since i haven't played DA:O eitehr, but been thinking og getting it.
I think i read something about beeing able to use your old char from BG in DA:O (like you could in NWN since they're all DnD based) is this true, or is it just something i read someone wish for.

You can't. It's not set in the same game world, and one of the big points of DA:O is the multiple origins, truly adding depth to the game, NPCs all react differently to you depending on your race/background/choices.

Okay, i'll stop planning the BG-BG2-NWN-NWN2-DA:O marathon then... i'm not disapointed at all... my fridge wasn't big enough to hold enough cola to last that long anyways...

 

[Fire Daemon]

The game will always by there. I recommend giving it a bit of a wait, finishing up your affairs, before buying this game.

Besides, it isn't much like Baldurs Gate. It doesn't follow the DnD rules and plays completely different. The story is also nothing like Baldurs Gate, if anything it's a spiritual ancestor to Warhammer or a Warhammer-Tolkien hybrid. It is a great game but nothing like BG.

 

[paddyfro]

Dragon Age: origins is a fantastic game well worth picking up and playing just make sure youdont have a lot on when you do as you will find yourself getting lost in the game. (as in spending a lot of time playing it, not actually getting lost exploring )

 

[Donbett1974]

D.A. does have its flaws like too much blur effect and the casual cut scene repeating its self. But for the most its realy fun game that you have trouble putting down. 8.5/10