Poll: Was I the ONLY one who actually liked Dragon Age II?

[Byr0m]

I know about a million people (exaggeration) have already said this but yes, I did like Dragon Age 2. Was it better than Dragon Age: Origins? Hmm...
I like the new dialogue system because it made your character feel more alive than the one in Origins (i.e. he/she has a *proper* voice) and the dialogue wheel I liked again and while you didn't always know exactly what your character was going to say for each option; you had more of an idea because of the icons in the middle.
I like the new companions but they fit into stereotypes a lot more than the ones in Origins did which is kind of a bad thing.
Combat is pretty much completely better - with closing attacks, quicker attacks, pretty much everything, it just felt more fluid and excitingapart from the stamina system for warriors - it just regenerates too slowly if you tank as a warrior IMO, even if you drink stamina potions every time you can.
I feel they did a pretty good job with the plot considering it's the 'middle game' of the trilogy because they left enough room for another game without sacrificing the plot (particularly), however I feel Origins' plot wasn't connected enough - there wasn't really an overarching story between the first 2 games.
The repeated maps are kind of lazy I suppose but it is really that much of a big deal? What annoyed me was when the map in the top right indicated rooms that didn't actually exist. I'm sure it wouldn't have killed them to do individual maps. It wasn't exactly a game breaker though.

Anyways so TL;DR: I liked the game - currently running through my third playthrough, as a rogue this time, and still enjoying it (bought the game last Saturday).

 

[CATB320]

Not at all. I loved it.
Origins was better (except for the combat), but DA2 had a lot of interesting plot/character elements. While a lot of these weren't as fully realized as they could have been, I still enjoyed the more "dark" and personal aspects of the story.

Spoiler: for example

Anders and Justice, Hawke can save everyone in Kirkwall and their goddamn cousin but not his/her own mother (and sibling(s)), the cost of freedom, the cost of keeping order, etc.

 

[asteroth21nox]

Dragon age 2 could have been extreamly good and maybe even better if they had not rushed it. There are signs that the game was rushed all over, the fact that the first chapter was the best chapter and most complete and longest should be the first sign, the second sign was the limited dialog options and not so far a reaching consequences for your actions. The third sign was how pitifully easy the boss fights were, especially at the end. The fourth sign was the broken quests in the third chapter. And the fifth sign the game was shoved out before being polished, edited, and truly completed was that unlike in dragon age origins you couldn't just start a conversation with a character. That's probably my biggest gripe, the characters were so shallow it was ridiculous with nearly no depth. Characters in dragon age origins had depth, lots of it, and personality. Dragon age 2 characters could be summed up in one word each.
Avaline: lawful
Fenris: Emo
Anders: whiney
Meril: Nieve
Dwarf: chatty
Isabella: slutty

And that's all you need to know. Combat mechanics were greatly improved, it's a shame my enemies were as predictable as sun rise. The story could have been epic if it was spruced up just a little more, perhaps letting us get to know meridith and the first enchanter before having to choose which one to ally ourselves behind. I mean would it have been hard to throw in two extra quests from them in chapter one as an introductory? A little extra work, a little extra time, and dragon age 2 could have rivaled the first and maybe even exceeded it. More dialogue, more depth, far reaching consequences, and more choices would have made it golden. But instead we have to settle for silver, silver is nice but I was expecting gold.

It's worth the play, it's not a bad game, but it is NOT better then the original. But it "could" have been and that to me is a little sad.

 

[teebeeohh]

short answer: no, you never are special enough to be the only one.
long answer: i hated the game but the consensus seems to be that it's not as bad as the initial rage made it out to be

 

[cleric of the order]

DOA was mediocre. But DA2 was trash. Keep in mind, i'm comparing them to good RPGS of the past. Not todays bullshit.

which ones are you refering to?

http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=46288

thanks
i'm glad baldur's gate 2 was ranked. i would have been remised if it wasn't.
also i'm going to pick up some of these from GOG which would you suggest first.

 

[Mxrz]

I liked it. Combat didn't put me to sleep compared to the first one.

 

[AlternatePFG]

DOA was mediocre. But DA2 was trash. Keep in mind, i'm comparing them to good RPGS of the past. Not todays bullshit.

which ones are you refering to?

http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=46288

thanks
i'm glad baldur's gate 2 was ranked. i would have been remised if it wasn't.
also i'm going to pick up some of these from GOG which would you suggest first.

Planescape: Torment would be a good game to start, if you can get over the rather lackluster combat.

 

[P.Tsunami]

The repeated maps are kind of lazy I suppose but it is really that much of a big deal? What annoyed me was when the map in the top right indicated rooms that didn't actually exist. I'm sure it wouldn't have killed them to do individual maps. It wasn't exactly a game breaker though.

It's not a matter of laziness, it's a matter of necessity. The story goes that due to pressure from the publisher, the dev team was forced to put the game out in nine months. Nine months is less than most shitty movie-tie in games get. Most AAA-titles produced in nine months are on a desperate time schedule, and that's why the maps repeat, or why side quests tend to be recycled.

Oh, Electronic Arts, how I love thee.

Planescape: Torment would be a good game to start, if you can get over the rather lackluster combat.

Plus freaking one. The combat is pretty much what you'd expect from a 90's RPG (I don't remember Baldur's Gate being much better). The user interface is kind of a PITA. The story, though, is where Torment shines. It's one of the best video game narratives I've ever had the joy to follow (up there with Bioshock and Portal), and easily Chris Avellone's masterpiece. I could not possibly recommend Torment strongly enough.

I should note, though, I hear more and more "OMG IF I WANT STORY IN MY GAME I WILL READ A BOOK". This is not a game for someone afraid of doing a lot of reading. There -is- a lot of it, but it's also amazing.

 

[General_Potatoes]

From what i've seen...... yes. Yes you are

 

[P.Tsunami]

DA2 was far from perfect, there where a couple of things that could of used some more work. But considering the time constraints they where under while making it I'd say the dame does bloody well at what it sets out to do. But them I'm one of those wierdos who found origins dull, boring and frankly kinda unfun. It's why to this day I've never finished origins but have 3 or 4 DA2 completions under my belt.

That's kind of funny, I'm your complete opposite. I've replayed DA:O tons and tons of times, and I think it's a stellar experience. DA2 never caught me (barely managed a single playthrough), and I thought it was rather bland and shallow. Different strokes, I guess?

 

[AlternatePFG]

Planescape: Torment would be a good game to start, if you can get over the rather lackluster combat.

Plus freaking one. The combat is pretty much what you'd expect from a 90's RPG (I don't remember Baldur's Gate being much better). The user interface is kind of a PITA. The story, though, is where Torment shines. It's one of the best video game narratives I've ever had the joy to follow (up there with Bioshock and Portal), and easily Chris Avellone's masterpiece. I could not possibly recommend Torment strongly enough.

I haven't gotten extremely far into PS:T mostly cause of saves corrupting and the like, but I think Baldur's Gates combat felt a bit more visceral and faster paced. I wouldn't say Torment's combat is as bad as some people say it is, but as far as the Infinity Engine games go it's the worst.

For me, yeah the story and setting really set it apart from other games. The only CRPG in my opinion that came close to Planescape, was the NWN2 expansion Mask of the Betrayer. In many ways, it felt like a spiritual successor to that game.

 

[VanTesla]

I mean, seriously. You'd think it was Sonic 2006 from the amount of complaining I've seen about it.

I liked combat a LOT more than the first one. I also liked how the dialogue tree is now similar to Mass Effect (Which is my favourite series ever).

I will admit the plot itself is a bit disjointed, and the three acts have little to do with one another, though.

Also, there's the fact that we stay in Kirkwall for 90% of the game, but really, I didn't mind that at all while I was playing it. I really like city settings in games anyway.

Edit: Since my poll seems to be broken, I'll just tell you that the answer is apparently no.

I know how you feel on the poll screw up. Happens to me most of the time... No, I had little enjoyment from DA2 thanks to the slow bug and the lack of wanting to finish the game. First Bioware game I have will not likely complete anytime soon...

 

[Crazedc00k]

You're not the only one of course. However a lot of people on this site are elitist PC assholes. I like Mass Effect 2 but the amount of hate that game gets on this site (OUT OF NOWHERE) is astounding. No one complained about this game when it came out but suddenly it's cool to hate it.

"Elitist PC assholes" means that because we are aware of the fact that we prefer our platform, we're jerks for demanding a higher standard. Seriously, grow up. If you play on the Xbox, then obviously you want its games and community to be given attention and respect.

PS. Mass effect 2 got hate because on PC, the ME one port didn't have the octogenarian graphics engine problems it did on the 360, for which reason many players enjoyed the first one more.

Actually I play on all systems so I wouldn't say that applies. Also there's a difference between preferring a system and just being a total dick. I've seen numerous people who claim to be PC fanatics on this site who just bash the hell out of everything else. Also are you telling me that the reason people enjoy Mass Effect 1 on the PC is because of the graphics? What the hell does that mean? You say, "For which reason many players enjoyed the first one more." You didn't say, "For many reasons," so you prefer games with graphics? Because that's what it looks like.

Sorry but being an asshole ("Seriously, grow up" For what?) doesn't improve the PC's community. Hell I'd go as far as saying that the PC has definitely got the worst fanbase I've ever seen. When I said "PC Elitist assholes," that does not mean you prefer systems that just means you're an asshole.

My apologies for the crass "grow up" remark. Believe me, my intent was not to antagonize you, and I apologize. If, in fact, you are a multiplatform gamer, it STILL applies: just to the gaming community as a whole. I understand resentment about PC gamers being "dicks," except for the fact that I haven't really encountered that on the PC. What I have encountered is intense Anti-Semitism (I'm Jewish) on both Xbox live and PSN and not in mainstream PC online communities. Perhaps You think the PC fanbase sucks, but I would say that zealous support for your platform is a lot more acceptable than claiming that the holocaust did not happen. Also, my Mass Effect 1 point was meant to illustrate that on PC, many elements of the game (MAKO, inventory, more open exploration) was not frustrating and limited due to an outdated graphics engine an poorly optimized technical aspects. For this reason, many PC players were disappointed with ME2's simplified approach, and resented what they perceived as a change of direction for mass effect. It wasnt graphics, it was the quality of the game's elements.

 

[VanTesla]

DA2 was far from perfect, there where a couple of things that could of used some more work. But considering the time constraints they where under while making it I'd say the dame does bloody well at what it sets out to do. But them I'm one of those wierdos who found origins dull, boring and frankly kinda unfun. It's why to this day I've never finished origins but have 3 or 4 DA2 completions under my belt.

That's kind of funny, I'm your complete opposite. I've replayed DA:O tons and tons of times, and I think it's a stellar experience. DA2 never caught me (barely managed a single playthrough), and I thought it was rather bland and shallow. Different strokes, I guess?

I agree with you 100% on DA:O and DA2. Still haven't even finished DA2 because of the lack of care...

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Usually, threads beginning in "Am I the only one who...."
I would just reply, no, you are never the only one...
But this time, I think you are the only one. That game was worse than Origins.

 

[MercurySteam]

I enjoyed it and I will be getting the next DLC on release day. Origins and Awakening had much more depth which shaped the world of Dragon Age but I enjoyed the fast paced action in DA2 much more than the combat in the other two games.

 

[sharpsheppard]

The internet has taught me I'm NEVER the only one...in anything.

And here it's proven yet again. I liked DAII better than Origins. Mostly because the story of origins was...so ridiculously long for one single game, and I just couldn't bear myself to play it again when my HDD died on me.

sorry if i do not get what you are saying but did you just complain they put too much into a game because i have never head that before and if so wow.

 

[Hectix777]

Loved it