Poll: Dragon Age 2 Demo Impressions

[DustyDrB]

-British accents. Seriously, why are they always British accents in these games? It just bothers me, and I really don't know why, but damnit If you're gonna make me listen to my character talk at least give me a couple of regional options for the voice I have to pretend is mine.

It's always the same British accent. I would just love it if rather than using a 'traditional' British accent, they opted for a Scouser or a Jordie accent instead as that would be fucking epic.

Fereldan is supposed to be like Britain, Orlais like France, Antiva kind of a mix between Spain and Italy (the culture is more like Italy, but the accents are more Spanish sounding), Tevinter Imperium like the Byzantine Empire, and the other places I don't know what their supposed to be like (Freemarches, Rivain).

 

[Mimssy]

I want to start by saying that I really really loved DA:O. Having played the demo for DA2, I can safely say that I won't be picking up this game which is a bummer. I really hated most of the new gameplay to the point that I don't even want to see the story out. Pretty bummed.

 

[badgersprite]

It felt a little weird playing as an archer (there are issues with selecting targets, especially since I'm on a console), but as a two-handed rogue, I kind of liked the speed of the combat and the speed with which you need to make decisions. Being able to dodge out of the way of opponents very quickly is a great addition. Also, they fixed it so the archer doesn't instantly disarm and switch weapons when attacked. This is a huge improvement.

Also, the moments where you do pause to target AOE attacks and stuff feel really jarring considering the emphasis on fast and fluid combat. I can understand why you would have to pause to make tactical decisions, but, in a way, I would almost prefer if either enemies moved while you aimed or you automatically aimed at whichever enemy you're currently targeting. It would just help keep up that pressure in the heat of combat.

This all said I get the feeling that this combat system is going to become really quite dull and repetitive in a way that DA:O's combat didn't for me. Maybe being a mage would be more interesting.

 

[Sarge034]

-The combat system makes it feel like a hack and slash. During a fight with an Ogre or whatever that big thing was, I was actually able to avoid being hit by moving away once he threw his rock. That's not RPG combat, that's arcade combat.

Sorry, this complaint just made me chuckle a little.

"How dare Bioware give me the option to use skill to sway the tide of battle in my favour. Those dicks!"

Yeah, I'll get back to you when/if I decide to download it.

It was an example of how the combat system is not an RPG system. RPGs don't have active dodging, that's what skills and rolls are for. In the original you played with tactics and strategy, in this one you mash buttons and kite.

That's rather narrow-minded, considering the great variety of RPG systems there are out there, and the fact that there are also skills and rolls present for avoiding damage.

Really, moving out of the way of a straight-moving attack is no different than moving out of the way of AoE magic, which was possible in the first game as well.

O NOES... hes usin logic

OT, I never did like moving away from an enemy and then, out of no where falling flat on my face from an attack that missed me by 20 feet. I'm just worried I'll wear out my A button on basic attacks.

 

[Dunstann]

"The tactics menu locking up and shizz"

Yeah, I have that same problem. To get past it you just go in and out of the tactics menu until it works.

 

[ThePirateMan]

I havn't formulated an opinion on the actual demo yet but the ending made me laugh so hard.

First they inserted an increadible cock-tease

Then they cut to the "BUY OUR GAME" demo video.

Classy, Bioware, very classy.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Well, I loathed the combat in the first, so any move to simplify that is a good thing. I played the first on easy because of how mind numbingly tedious it was otherwise.

 

[MarcoSnow]

I just wanted to set the record straight for all those who are accusing DA2 of being a mindless hack-n-slash: the final version of DA2 WILL feature an auto-attack option (disabled in the demo).

 

[StormShaun]

Could do better warrior.....but oh well this looks good....

 

[Azaraxzealot]

honestly i find the style pretty awesome, granted i loved the pause and tactic approach, as kotor and DA:O are two of my favorite games ever, but when the full game comes out and you can do both, i will be giving a thumbs up to bioware for having both so both styles so that people can play as they like.

yeah, that's what ive been saying too, but it seems EVERYONE ELSE is just pissed that there IS an option

why would you be pissed about something that you can choose to turn off? that's like being mad that someone offered you a cake that you didn't like along with a cake they already gave you that you love.

 

[Susurrus]

I really hated the art style. The enemies look so much less convincing than in the first one - seriously, the screenshot comparison someone posted on the previous page ought to be evidence enough of that... I saw similar pictures when DA2 was in development, and assumed that it was an early version, where the models were unfinished.

I've got Origins, Awakening, and almost all the DLC, but I've cancelled pre-order of this, and my interest is non-existent now.

And seriously, Isabella's model looks AWFUL.

 

[Continuity]

I'd love to spew venomous hate about everything Bioware does wrong that everyone else ignores for some odd reason, but I think they're on to me, the download keeps breaking.

you're not alone on the venomous hate. Just thought i'd mention tht ^^

Its just a symptom of the industry having sold out.. the trend has been clear for some time now, the more money is involved the more generic they make the games to ensure the widest possible audience.

*insert venomous hate rant here*

 

[Dragonborne88]

Man, a lot of people sound like grumpy old men complaining how things were better back in the day. I don't approve of everything the demo had, but 1) It's an OLD build of the game, seriously, I remember watching a video of the same section at E3 last year. And 2) I'd rather Bioware make some changes to the game, and see what works, rather then stick with the same damn game everytime they release something.

That's how progress is made, seeing what works, and seeing what doesn't. I'd be MORE pissed if nothing changed between games, if I want to play Dragon Age: Origins, I'd play Dragon Age: Origins. I'd try the full game out before you condemn it and Bioware to the bowels of hell for a demo that, yeah, was pretty old.

 

[Wolfram23]

Well I just downloaded it last night on PC. I cranked the available options up to the max, and I set DX11 even tho I've read not to due to severely bad performance. I played that first bit and then a little further past that but not too far because the game froze up and crashed. Apparently they're right about DX11 not working in the demo.

Still, it looked great. Unfortunately they had to go with the immature portrayal of women. So far there's a mage with huge tits, probably D cup. And then the mom, who only looks "old" because she has grey hair and 2 wrinkles. She also has large boobs. Sigh. I don't mind a couple "hot" female characters (in fact I like it) but do they really need to make all the women "sexy"?

As for the gameplay, I liked it. It was much more visceral than DA:O. I didn't see anything about making those attack templates for non controlled caracters but assuming they still have that feature, then I think it's looking like a big improvement. Granted I played the first one on PS3 so it was gimped anyway, but I like where they took it.

I'm still undecided if I'll buy it or not. I never did finish the first one and, well, BioWare games have disapointed me lately. Maybe I should drive over to their offices and let them know haha.

 

[Semi-Human]

ugh what a piece of crap.

Spamming the attack button with the occasional special attack is not my idea of engaging combat.
I hate how games have you wield a weapon but that weapon never actually effects any one like it should. You just wave your sword through them without any effect untill the decide to drop dead ins some idiotic animation. Either that or they liquefy completely when you use a special attack

Level design is pathetic. Graphics are ok but nothing special. Presentation...kinda dull.

Story ...bland and generic from what i've seen so far.

To me this is basically same stuff you saw in any other rpg 10 years ago with the only improvement being th graphics and al the old faults left unattended or worsend

 

[godofallu]

I liked the demo, combat was fluent and it felt more action based tha in the 1st DA. The camera was huge turn-off since i couldn't drag it bag more than just a little. And the "new" Flemeth is horrible, i didn't even know it was her before some1 in my party expained it to me. Why do they need to change the way every character looked like in DA1? Even the darspawn don't look like themselves. (I'm not complaining about Isabela though, shes hawt!)

And there was something i noticed in the game and trailer that did not match.

Spoiler

Huge spoiler alert, but this is just a theory and i can be really wrong about this part of the story. In the demo, Hawkes brother dies, but then after meeting the flemeth comes load of cut-scenes. In those cut-scenes Hawkes brother is whit him/her, but i didn't see hes/her sister in those cut-scenes. Maybe she dies in the real game.. Oh my, what a twist. Ofc, just a theory.

JSUK his brother dies if you are melee, his sister dies if you are mage. It kills the redundant sibling.

 

[pezwitch]

I'm using the steam version of the demo with DX11 enabled and video maxed out and the play wasn't choppy at all. In fact, I like the graphics, especially the fire in combat. I didn't enjoy the demo, but it wasn't because of any performance or graphics issues.

I didn't like the dialog wheel and found the combat system boring. I thought I wanted my DA:O character to be voiced, but now that is, I find it annoying. The game feels less immersive with the voice. Game immersion is my favorite part of RPGs.

The game didn't engage me emotionally the way Dragon Age: Origins did so I'm not interested in playing it.

Also, I didn't like the changes to the Darkspawn or the amazing inflatable breasts on Isabela. Flemeth getting hit with the Disney stick was cool though. I thought she looked much more menancing than she did in DA:O, and I like the feathers.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

-British accents. Seriously, why are they always British accents in these games? It just bothers me, and I really don't know why, but damnit If you're gonna make me listen to my character talk at least give me a couple of regional options for the voice I have to pretend is mine.

It's always the same British accent. I would just love it if rather than using a 'traditional' British accent, they opted for a Scouser or a Jordie accent instead as that would be fucking epic.

Fereldan is supposed to be like Britain, Orlais like France, Antiva kind of a mix between Spain and Italy (the culture is more like Italy, but the accents are more Spanish sounding), Tevinter Imperium like the Byzantine Empire, and the other places I don't know what their supposed to be like (Freemarches, Rivain).

*gasp* a game...not based around america?!?!!

RABBLE RABBLE RABBBLE!! ABOMINATION!

/sarcasm

i really hope they get around to unlocking orlais or antiva DLC, i think it would be awesome to visit those areas and see how different it is.

 

[Dragonborne88]

I was hoping DA 2 was going to take you to one of those. Especially Orlais considering how bad the "Caevaliers" or whatever are supposedly to the townsfolk, and how beautiful Lelianna says that Val Royeau is. Instead, they bring us to the Free Marches, which I hardly heard anything about of in Dragon Age, until the DLC had people talking about Kirkwall.