Hopes for Dragon Age III

[Chris Tian]

I am currently replaying the Dragon Age games and while i still love Dragon Age: Origins as much as ever, my opinion of Dragon Age 2 changed a bit during my second time playing it.
Originally it was a massive disappointment and while it still cant hold a candle to DA:O, now i have fun playing it.

What brings me to the topic i want to talk about: What are you expecting from Dragon Age 3?

I, for one am mildly hopefull and here is why:

First off: I think the root of most of the shortcoming of DA2 is that they rushed it out in like less than half the time they should have taken to develop it properly. But it has the bones of a good game, they just paintet them pink instead of fleshing them out and hoped nobody would notice. And it seems they won't repeat that mistake with DA3.

Secondly: In my opinion DA2 isn't such a bad game on its own, its greatest failure is being worse than its predecessor and failing everyones expectations. Like I said, i think it hat some good parts that just would have needed polishing (and balancing in case of the combat).

Thirdly: Another big shortcoming was completely avoidable, and that is the super awkwardly paced mess of three unrelated main-storylines. I will never understand why they did this, it makes no sense. You have the perfect setting for the main conflict, mages vs. templars, right from the start. Either you or your sister are a apostate in a city de facto ruled by templars. They could have hurled Hawke right in the middle of that conflict. Why wait two boring acts to kick that off?

And last but not least, i am a very optimistic guy

So, your thoughts?

 

[Casual Shinji]

The biggest problem with DA2 is that they tried to turn it into Mass Effect, while it was perfectly fine doing its own thing.

I'll still probably check out DA3, but the information that again you can't choose race and are forced to play human is already a bad start.

 

[Chris Tian]

I'll still probably check out DA3, but the information that again you can't choose race and are forced to play human is already a bad start.

I am actually hoping i get to be Hawke again, otherwise DA2 would be completly futile and the only important part would be a short summary of the last act: Templars and Mages in Kirkwall went batshit crazy and kicked off a big ass war.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'll still probably check out DA3, but the information that again you can't choose race and are forced to play human is already a bad start.

I am actually hoping i get to be Hawke again, otherwise DA2 would be completly futile and the only important part would be a short summary of the last act: Templars and Mages in Kirkwall went batshit crazy and kicked off a big ass war.

I feel DA2 already was pretty futile. Heck, the ending is the epitome of futility; No matter whose side you choose, everyone's a bad guy and you have to kill them all.

 

[Uhura]

I purchased DA2 about a week ago and I'm now 5 hours into the game. Based on my first impressions, I would like to see the following improvements in DA3:
- Fix the combat system. I'm not having fun with DA2 combats.
- More customization options. I liked tinkering with companion armors etc. in DA:O.
- Ability to choose race & different origin stories, like in DA:O.
- "Deeper" character interactions. The discussions in DA2 feel awkward and superficial and I'm not sure if I like the discussion mechanic used in the game.
- the PC doesn't have to be voiced.

Based on the things I've heard about DA2, I also have to add:
- Better romance options for "Fem-Hawke" (or whatever the main character is going to be called in DA3). As I understand, the options Fem-Hawke has in DA2 are all quite moody/emo and I prefer Alistair type of LJs.
- Larger setting. I hear rummaging around Kirkwall gets a bit boring after a while.

Yeah... I guess I could summarize it by saying, go back to DA:O type of story/gameplay. Duh.

 

[Chris Tian]

I'll still probably check out DA3, but the information that again you can't choose race and are forced to play human is already a bad start.

I am actually hoping i get to be Hawke again, otherwise DA2 would be completly futile and the only important part would be a short summary of the last act: Templars and Mages in Kirkwall went batshit crazy and kicked off a big ass war.

I feel DA2 already was pretty futile. Heck, the ending is the epitome of futility; No matter whose side you choose, everyone's a bad guy and you have to kill them all.

I feel basically the same way. Thats kind of my point, if I get to be Hawke again, at least I would be "reunited" with my character, who at least saw that sh*t happening even if he couldn't make a difference.

 

[Auron]

If we go back to the DA:O story skeleton we'll be saving the world again, I'd rather take part in a civil war against the church to be perfectly fair. I liked that the story in DA 2 was localized in one city and had to deal with regional politics and what-not, it was a break from fantasy RPG where you save the entire world from menace X, we've had a million of those by now, just think the ending could have been a bit more defined and choices could have mattered more.

 

[CloudAtlas]

I have some hopes for Dragon Age III, because I see some potential, but I'm skeptical, because I didn't particularly like either predecessor.

Potential because, first and foremost, the game seems to be about the mages vs. templars conflict. This can make for a much more original, interesting story than your generic "save the world from evil" story that plagued Dragon Age: Origins. The big theme, freedom vs. security. Moral ambiguity. No good vs. evil conflict. Perhaps slavery and the Qun both play a major role as well, because both fit to the same theme, freedom. And so would the Dwarven caste system. Ending slavery, that would be something that would motivate me much more than fighting some arch demon. And, by the way, Game of Thrones should have proven by now that even fantasy fans like stories that are about something else than saving the world from evil.


Oh, and BioWare said (I believe) that Dragon Age III will be more open-worldish, so that should be an improvement over the ridiculously small levels of both predecessors.

Skepticism because, well, everything else. All these story elements were already present in Dragon Age: Origins, but the main story was instead the generic "save the world from evil". And I'm afraid Dragon Age 3 might end up just the same. Maybe some new arch demon forces templars and mages to work together and... blablabla, same old. I know many love Dragon Age: Origins, but I just found the story and the world to be very derivative, bland, boring. Okay, the story changed in Dragon Age 2, but that story is a mess for other reasons. Almost the whole game I felt like I was doing nothing but secondary quests, just running errands for anyone with a problem. And excepting me to care for the death of a character (your sibling) that I know for just 15 minutes or so, that just doesn't work.
Both Dragon Age games were visually unappealing to me. Dragon Age: Origins was entirely devoid of style in my eyes, and DA2 was better, but with recycling the same environment to infinity there's only so much effect you can achieve.
The combat system was nothing particularly creative, but serviceable in DA:O, I guess. But it was sooo incredibly repetitive in DA2, every single fight played out exactly the same way, even many boss fights. Not to mention the parachuting enemies. And the AI was horrible in both cases.
The characters were such a mixed bag as well, in both games. Not bad, sure, but today, I expect more. And BioWare did better in Mass Effect. Many were just too one-sided, and sometimes over the top too, like Merill and Isabella. I get it, Isabella is sexually liberated, that's great, but does the game have to comment on that every damn minute?

In short, I want to be hopeful for DA3, not the least because good western RPGs are rare, but DA1 and DA2 are so full of design decisions that I think were bad or lazy that I am very skeptical. And if I have to save this damned world from evil again... I don't want to return to DA:O.

 

[Vern5]

So many people holding out hope that Dragon Age will return to its form in Origins. Honestly, Origins is probably going to look like the spinoff of this series by the time Dragon age 3 comes out. Why? Because Bioware and EA is not in the habit of backpeddling when it comes to design.

My guess is that Hawke will return to fill the role of Protagonist and follow the footsteps of his alternate-universe co-star, Shepard.

It will be about the aftermath or the continued war between Mages and the Chantry. Both sides will lose power and practically destroy everything around them. In light of this sudden weakness, the Tevinter Empire will see an opportunity to regain its former glory and go on the offensive. Hawke will try to convince the other factions to lay their differences aside to fight this rising threat. They wont listen. SO Hawke will need to put together a stronger team of special individuals (a squad) to combat the Tevinter Empire before it has the chance to put its war effort into action.

Does this plot sound familiar? Well it should. Bioware's history ensures me that they will recycle any story content they couldn't shove into Mass Effect 2 or 3 and re-brand it for DA3.

 

[Chris Tian]

Does this plot sound familiar? Well it should. Bioware's history ensures me that they will recycle any story content they couldn't shove into Mass Effect 2 or 3 and re-brand it for DA3.

I don't think that would necessarily be a bad thing. They made several good games along the same story-formula before.
I for one don't have such a big problem with the retelling of storys. I don't mind saving the world a hundret times over or whatnot, as long as the story is told well and filled with interesting characters. Of course i would like a well told new story, but if i have to choose between a well told old story and a badly told new one i take the fromer.

 

[Chris Tian]

I have some hopes for Dragon Age III, because I see some potential, but I'm skeptical, because I didn't particularly like either predecessor.

Well if you didn't care for either previous DA games, its pretty unlikely the third one will appeal to you.

And, by the way, Game of Thrones should have proven by now that even fantasy fans like stories that are about something else than saving the world from evil.

You are right of course. But like i stated in my post above, if i have to choose, i care more for how a story is told, than what it is about. I mean if Game of Thrones would be badly written, even the rather interessting plot couldn't save it, at least for me.

 

[Megalodon]

Based on the things I've heard about DA2, I also have to add:
- Better romance options for "Fem-Hawke" (or whatever the main character is going to be called in DA3). As I understand, the options Fem-Hawke has in DA2 are all quite moody/emo and I prefer Alistair type of LJs.
- Larger setting. I hear rummaging around Kirkwall gets a bit boring after a while.

But all the romances in DA2 (except the DLC one) can be followed by a Hawke of either gender. On your second point, depends on what you mean by "larger" only setting the game in Kirkwall could have worked, if they had put in more than 4-6 environments, then just repeated them. But yeah, more places/greater detail and diversity in fewer places is pretty much a must.

Yeah... I guess I could summarize it by saying, go back to DA:O type of story/gameplay. Duh.

Good summary.

After the one two punch of Dragon Age 2 and Mass Effect 3, I've kinda given up hope on Bioware as a whole. Maybe it'll be good. Hell, I WANT it to be good. But I'm not going to kid myself.

Also this, very much this. On the plus side, they don't have to worry so much about overhyped expectations this time around.

 

[kommando367]

DA3 needs better environment variety and blood magic not being the cause of 90% of problems.

Besides those issues, everything in DA2 was perfect as far as I'm concerned.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

So many people holding out hope that Dragon Age will return to its form in Origins. Honestly, Origins is probably going to look like the spinoff of this series by the time Dragon age 3 comes out. Why? Because Bioware and EA is not in the habit of backpeddling when it comes to design.

My guess is that Hawke will return to fill the role of Protagonist and follow the footsteps of his alternate-universe co-star, Shepard.

Hawke will not be returning. It's a new protagonist.

And I really hope they DON'T go back to the game play of Origins. I liked Origins quite a lot, but the game play is very time worn. There is no shortage of isometric, strategic RPGs on the horizon with the kickstarter explosion. I'd like to see Bioware play to their strengths.

So, your thoughts?

Reasons I'm hopeful:

1. Citadel DLC demonstrated that Bioware finally realized the strength of their games wasn't the narrative, it was their loveable cast of characters.
2. MUCH longer time in the oven than DA2 got. DA2 was doomed to fail, you can't deliver a quality experience in the time they were given. Frankly it's amazing the game was even playable, that could have easily been another Ultima IX situation.
3. Bioware's brand has taken a pounding through the poor reception of DA2 and the internet implosion post ME3. While they haven't always made the best use of mulligans (cough, extended cut, cough), you have to hope people learn from their mistakes eventually. All griping aside, there is still some obvious talent left at Bioware.
4. I enjoyed large swaths of DA2 and ME3 despite the fact both were...ahem...less than optimal experiences, so there's a foundation of game play there I truly do enjoy. I'm not a hard man to please. I don't need them to deliver the stars and the moon. I just need a MILD return to form.

Reasons I'm dubious:

1. I've seen this movie before, when Origin collapsed into shame and ignominy. Old hat, EA. Old hat.
2. Bioware's stubborn refusal to admit to fault post ME3 was more than a little galling. You like to think that was just corporate damage control, but you wonder whether long success went to their heads.

 

[Chris Tian]

Hawke will not be returning. It's a new protagonist.

Is this a fact? Or are you hoping Hawke will not return?

Reasons I'm hopeful:

1. Citadel DLC demonstrated that Bioware finally realized the strength of their games wasn't the narrative, it was their loveable cast of characters.
2. MUCH longer time in the oven than DA2 got. DA2 was doomed to fail, you can't deliver a quality experience in the time they were given. Frankly it's amazing the game was even playable, that could have easily been another Ultima IX situation.
3. Bioware's brand has taken a pounding through the poor reception of DA2 and the internet implosion post ME3. While they haven't always made the best use of mulligans (cough, extended cut, cough), you have to hope people learn from their mistakes eventually. All griping aside, there is still some obvious talent left at Bioware.
4. I enjoyed large swaths of DA2 and ME3 despite the fact both were...ahem...less than optimal experiences, so there's a foundation of game play there I truly do enjoy. I'm not a hard man to please. I don't need them to deliver the stars and the moon. I just need a MILD return to form.

Reasons I'm dubious:

1. I've seen this movie before, when Origin collapsed into shame and ignominy. Old hat, EA. Old hat.
2. Bioware's stubborn refusal to admit to fault post ME3 was more than a little galling. You like to think that was just corporate damage control, but you wonder whether long success went to their heads.

I agree 100% with all of the above.