Is Bioware losing its magic?

[SirDX]

Bioware lost its magic a long time ago.

 

[Belvadier]

I have played every major BioWare release that I can think of and I would say I tend to agree with the OP. Many people say that the Baldur's Gate series is the epitome of BioWare's catalog of games, however, I personally think that KOTOR is the company's crowning jewel. Regardless, both BG and KOTOR were much better than DAO and ME...

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE DAO and ME (3 playthroughs each, loved every minute) but you are right: I think BioWare did their best work when they didn't have the processing power to add in all the fancy voice-over and graphics and concentrated much more on storytelling. KOTR was genuinely moving and emotional while I don't really care about many characters from DAO and ME's chars even less.

I think that both DAO and ME have made positive gameplay advancements/changes, and I enjoy PLAYING them more but do I FEEL as good after I'm done or do I FEEL as connected to the characters? Not by a long shot. (although I do feel Shale has now officially beaten Minsc and Boo as funniest BioWare character...he is just hilarious =)

 

[Mr Wednesday]

I too was begining to think the same, but I changed my mind. Why?
One word.

Virmire.

Games grew up a little on Virmire.

 

[kannibus]

Bioware can do no wrong. At least in my opinion. I've enjoyed the hell out of all the games from them I've bought. They are the one company that I will preorder from not waiting for even the most elementary of reviews. I haven't enjoyed any of their recent games less than the old ones, in fact, I enjoyed Mass Effect a little bit more than anything so far.

 

[UltimatheChosen]

I was underwhelmed by DA:O, as well, although I played it on the 360, not the PC (my computer isn't good enough for modern games).

I think you might have hit upon the problem with the whole "pre-established setting" thing. Mass Effect's world is very good, but I think they spent so much time fleshing it out that the game suffered slightly. It's still an outstanding game... it just could have been better.

I'll still keep buying their games, though. Bioware still kicks ass, even if they're out of their element.

 

[Altorin]

In Short, no.

Bioware, for the last decade or so, has BEEN gaming for me.

I bought my Xbox because of KOTOR, and I was not disappointed. I then played Jade Empire, and that was my favorite game of all time.. until I played Mass Effect. I hadn't even played Mass Effect yet, but it, all by itself, was enough to sell me my xbox.. And now my Xbox is broken, but do you know what's sitting ontop of my xbox, causing me to contemplate on getting a replacement? Freakin' Dragon Age Origins.

Bioware sells me xboxes.

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

I disagree. You seem to be suffering from a severe case of nostalgia. ME and Dragon Age are better games then BioWare's older titles, in my opinion. Perhaps, tis just personal taste on your part that makes you believe the way you do. I think your wrong.

 

[Zing]

Dragon Age was amazing, I hadn't felt so immersed in a game since I first started playing WoW. BioWare are getting better and better in my eyes.

 

[Emenhil]

Now you see, I agree with your point on Baldurs Gate 2.


However, I struggle to rememeber what made it so great. the combat wasn't that good, the magic spells were a bit limiting, the story was good, the world map was a bit limiting, the sidequests were hindered by the main storyline. Graphics were okay. I just can't put my finger on why I love it.

Actually, that's a great question. I replayed both BG recently, so I think I can try and answer that. I think the key answer is "immersion"; especially in BG2. The combination of great music and exploration - I can't stress that enough! Advancing towards the Friendly Arm Inn, at night, with that mysterious music playing in the background... You're there. Exploring Athkatla and Baldur's Gate (again, let me say I was not familiar with the Forgotten Realms before playing the games) is an engrossing experience: plenty of places/houses to visit, background noises, excellent medieval-esque melodies. Now compare that with Denerim. Ugh. Bland setting, few places to visit from the get-go, and forgettable music (well, that's only my opinion). Were did that "I'm lost and must explore" feeling go? I'm not exactly arguing for the return of fog-of-war town maps, but you see what I mean .

That's what Baldur's Gate did best. I did not feel lost once in DA - not even in Orzammar. Maybe technical issues are to blame (smaller environments, I guess), or maybe I'm not a teenager anymore and have become picky. Go wonder!

Again, thanks for the input (and occasional thumbs up) guys. And I agree with whoever said Jade Empire rocks. It does, and I would love to see a sequel!

 

[Thatotherguy]

I find that the way people enjoy games varies from person to person. Mass effect did seem to fall a tad bit short or feel a little bit hollow, but it was really, really good. Why else would we go back and play them so many times (I'm going back through just to prepare for the sequal) and why do we enjoy them while we play them so much? It is a good game and I commend Bioware for staying on the ball for so long. Can't wait for more games to come, Mass Effect 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic, and any others.

 

[fontlas]

I fucking loved Mass Effect. One of the most interesting universes ever, I think.




I do like Kotor better though mostly because there weren't enough towns in the game like in Kotor and Jade Empire. Other than that, I haven't played any of their others, not Dragons Age or even Baldurs Gate.

 

[Daedalus1942]

Well to me, Bioware has always been a "cinematic RPG" experience and I think they have stayed true to their formula, more or less. I enjoy their games, but prefer Oblivion-Style RPGs.

With Bioware the whole world is static and limited. You can't move stuff around, you may only open certain containers, you may not walk along that way, you may only talk to certain people, etc. The storyline sets the rules and the world is built around it to accomodate it. Whereas in Oblivion-style RPGs the world comes first and the storyline is set into that world. You can go everywhere, open everything, talk to everyone... it feels alot more alive and realistic.

I still enjoy Bioware games. But it hurts me every time I want to walk along a certain path only to have the game stop me with some invisible wall because the area is "off limits". I find RPGs where I can walk anywhere, look into everything and climb atop the roofs of houses, if I so wish, alot more enjoyable.

There are far better first person role playing games (that's the proper term) than Oblivion. Oblivion was a glitchy clusterfuck and I'm surprised anyone gave it higher than a 5.0 (let alone a 9). So many issues with that game. And your reference to story... in Oblivion? Aside from having a few (count them) three decent voice actors, the story was absolutely horrible. The only time I didn't want to gouge my ear off at the presentation of the story was during the Knights of the Nine quest (possibly the only part of that game I actually had fun in).
I have finished that game 100% and can safely say I will never play it ever again. Videogames in my book are supposed to be fun. Oblivion for me is basically my personal rendition of what hell would look like.

 

[Eponet]

I barely managed to get through the first chapter of Neverwinter Night's Origional Campaign, yet I still hold that I derived more enjoyment out of that game than any other I've played for one reason.

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Community_News.Detail&id=1254#Files

Until the player base for it dropped, The planescape server was the best multiplayer experience I've ever had. Neverwinter Nights was amazing for one reason, the community, even if the storylines of the stock games were a little boring.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Eh, to be honest Mass Effect is the only game from bioware thought was anywhere above average. Most of their games I've had one of my friends recommend to me, played, and did not enjoy. To be honest I didn't even notice the mutual name of the company who made these games until I started coming to these forums and people where going "I LOVE BIOWARE! THEY MADE (Game(s) I hated)" I'll admit, I'm kind of looking forward to mass effect 2. Nothing I'm going to preorder, but something for me to get around to when I get bored of everything else.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Hmm. I thought this would be more of a Dragon Age dump rant, and it was, in some sense, but much more tame than I was thinking it would be. So, kudos to that. But I do think that while dialogue options have decreased, inter-party talking has definitely been a fresh high point for me--especially in DA:O--There's extensive dialogue between all your party members as you're traveling (my favorites are Morrigan and Alistair, they flirt so damn well).