Before I begin, massive SPOILER warning. Additionally, I intend no particular complaint against the game itself - as a standalone the writing is exceptional, the game polished and the few flaws seemingly in-keeping with a modern triple A game.... I'm looking at you Black Ops.
Today I completed Dragon Age 2 and I feel disappointed. This isn?t my typical post-completion low that most decent books, films and games give, however. I just feel under whelmed, possibly unduly.
My complaints branch into three parts. The first is pretty superficial, but with a possible bone of contention. The second is incidental and possibly pedantic. The third is a point that others have lamented elsewhere on the grand ol' web.
1) Leliana has a brief appearance at the end of the game in a piece of cinematic. This was a wonderful moment, similar to the brief cameo by Zevran - a true ? oh it?s you! Continuation and permanence to the universe! However, the woman goes on to mention the ?disappearance? of the Warden.
That just hurts! In my particular game, my Warden slew the Dragon, bit the bullet, was the hero of an age. I am aware that this dialogue can be assumed to reference the other Warden who would feature in the Awakenings DLC in such a case, but it still seems just a little contrived, given that the ?martyr? ending of DA:O is something selectable at the start of the sequel, even without an old save-game imported. The single penultimate line just seems to undermine the carry-over and I even found myself checking online that the Seeker I thought I recognised was Leliana! Song or no song, I can?t help but feel this fits-all ending doesn?t sit well with the carefully nurtured relationship I thought my DA:O Warden had created and it jarred a little. Was he not The Warden for ending the blight in the full game? It must have been a damn fine piece of DLC then! Though it still hurts that the other guy was better than me?.
A cynic could make a point here about relative story line impact of DLC compared to whole game in multi-game storylines, but that diatribe could take a while and is probably another debate for another day.
2) I loved Kirkwall as a place! The history is rich and the idea of a single location over time is ripe for plucking! ?But? I just wanted more incidental bits! The land of Thedas seems huge and incredible! Religion, magic, politics! But it?s the little incidental things that sold me in DA:O. One of my most arousal-piqued moments was a short conversation with Ash Warriors on the eve of the Battle of Ostagar. That group had no plot significance, no other reference (except in the title of a few low-level items) and added nothing to the plot except atmosphere. But they were Ferelden! Uncivilised! (by Antivan standards.) Unsubtle! (by Orlesian standards.) Colourful! (By apparent Free Marches standards.) There just seemed so little that wasn?t ad nauseum fantasy trope, or specifically Kirkwall?.. but with a single play-through only, I will happily stand corrected.
3) The ending seems rather pre-ordained. This may be petty, but in the last act, the quest ?The Last Straw?, I felt destined to fight everyone. Regardless of past choices. The divorce of control just seemed ?off?. Having gone the moderate route, yet still seen the destruction of the Chantry, I told Anders to bugger off? twice (the dense tit), I thought I had been rather a paradigm to the mages. I was on their side throughout, annoyed ol? Meridith wherever possible, fought well and still Orsino jumps to blood magic at the messy end of things?. It just doesn?t seem to fit with the image of moderation and that cultivated relationship with the player! Of course, this may be reading too much into things ? given both limitations of design and the illusion of absolute player choice, but feel a little cheated here?. Though I hope to eventually see where I forced my own hand with the endings others achieve.
OK. Complaints over! Incidentally, to give credit where due ? Sister[sic] Patrice is possible the best villain I have ever been made to hate! Exceptional writing! The detestability invoked was beyond that I have felt for a fictional character for an age! Marvellous stuff!
Today I completed Dragon Age 2 and I feel disappointed. This isn?t my typical post-completion low that most decent books, films and games give, however. I just feel under whelmed, possibly unduly.
My complaints branch into three parts. The first is pretty superficial, but with a possible bone of contention. The second is incidental and possibly pedantic. The third is a point that others have lamented elsewhere on the grand ol' web.
1) Leliana has a brief appearance at the end of the game in a piece of cinematic. This was a wonderful moment, similar to the brief cameo by Zevran - a true ? oh it?s you! Continuation and permanence to the universe! However, the woman goes on to mention the ?disappearance? of the Warden.
That just hurts! In my particular game, my Warden slew the Dragon, bit the bullet, was the hero of an age. I am aware that this dialogue can be assumed to reference the other Warden who would feature in the Awakenings DLC in such a case, but it still seems just a little contrived, given that the ?martyr? ending of DA:O is something selectable at the start of the sequel, even without an old save-game imported. The single penultimate line just seems to undermine the carry-over and I even found myself checking online that the Seeker I thought I recognised was Leliana! Song or no song, I can?t help but feel this fits-all ending doesn?t sit well with the carefully nurtured relationship I thought my DA:O Warden had created and it jarred a little. Was he not The Warden for ending the blight in the full game? It must have been a damn fine piece of DLC then! Though it still hurts that the other guy was better than me?.
A cynic could make a point here about relative story line impact of DLC compared to whole game in multi-game storylines, but that diatribe could take a while and is probably another debate for another day.
2) I loved Kirkwall as a place! The history is rich and the idea of a single location over time is ripe for plucking! ?But? I just wanted more incidental bits! The land of Thedas seems huge and incredible! Religion, magic, politics! But it?s the little incidental things that sold me in DA:O. One of my most arousal-piqued moments was a short conversation with Ash Warriors on the eve of the Battle of Ostagar. That group had no plot significance, no other reference (except in the title of a few low-level items) and added nothing to the plot except atmosphere. But they were Ferelden! Uncivilised! (by Antivan standards.) Unsubtle! (by Orlesian standards.) Colourful! (By apparent Free Marches standards.) There just seemed so little that wasn?t ad nauseum fantasy trope, or specifically Kirkwall?.. but with a single play-through only, I will happily stand corrected.
3) The ending seems rather pre-ordained. This may be petty, but in the last act, the quest ?The Last Straw?, I felt destined to fight everyone. Regardless of past choices. The divorce of control just seemed ?off?. Having gone the moderate route, yet still seen the destruction of the Chantry, I told Anders to bugger off? twice (the dense tit), I thought I had been rather a paradigm to the mages. I was on their side throughout, annoyed ol? Meridith wherever possible, fought well and still Orsino jumps to blood magic at the messy end of things?. It just doesn?t seem to fit with the image of moderation and that cultivated relationship with the player! Of course, this may be reading too much into things ? given both limitations of design and the illusion of absolute player choice, but feel a little cheated here?. Though I hope to eventually see where I forced my own hand with the endings others achieve.
OK. Complaints over! Incidentally, to give credit where due ? Sister[sic] Patrice is possible the best villain I have ever been made to hate! Exceptional writing! The detestability invoked was beyond that I have felt for a fictional character for an age! Marvellous stuff!
In my mind, my Warden wouldn't leave her, so I'm a little annoyed.
