Zero Punctuation: Dragon Age II

[the_green_dragon]

You had to go to the companion's house to be able to really chat with them, that actually annoyed me even more then the camp thing, at least at camp they were all in one place rather then making me hike halfway across town and back (thru 3 or 4 loading screens)

That's what I meant sorry, I'm talking about dragon age 2, going to Ander's clinic was always a complete chore.

Dragon age origins was better because you could talk to them anywhere, and only some cut-scenes were restricted to camp.

Hey, totally, and how about Avaline and her stupid office at the Viscount's place? I mean when did she EVER actually get any work done in there? She was with me the whole time.

 

[Worgen]

personally I kind of liked how you didnt have some huge world ending plot and it was more about your life.... altho they certainly could have done a better job at that and the endless baddies did get old, I mean you would think at least the dogs would have some self preservation instinct

It really did get ridiculous after a while, I would be walking around hightown with OTHER PEDESTRIANS strolling peacefully, suddenly I'm attacked and they don't even run, just continue walking quietly by while arrows and fireballs made of demon-magic-killthefuckoutofyou fly over their heads.

I was not a fan of this game, it's fine if you want to tell the story of his life and not of a world threatening event, but then don't split it so clearly into 3 sections with three big conflicts as if you're using some sort of story-stencil.

my main problem with it aside from the random fights in front of guards was that, what the hell is happening to you during those 3 years that the game doesnt follow you? I mean it would have been really cool if you could have set something that your char was working on so there was a reason you werent being jumped in the streets by gangs of 40 muggers at a time

 

[Acting like a FOOL]

the games okay...I also guess it's nice to hear that yahtzees getting some man meat. some real protein right their. (I am so getting put on probation)

 

[mechanixis]

Dragon Age 2 is definitely a game that requires certain expectations and a certain mindset to enjoy. If you go in wanting an epic, overarching plotline, you'll be disappointed. If you play a Hawke who doesn't fit the narrative Bioware's laid out for him, you'll be disappointed. If you want traditional tactical combat, you'll be disappointed. If you happen to stumble into the weakest branches of the branching narrative or have the key scenes of the story fouled by bugs, you'll be disappointed.

Personally, I liked the departure from the epic overarching plot; I enjoyed the story less and less the more epic it became. It was nice as a story about a refugee making his way in the world and rising from abject poverty (though that said, after Act 1 the poverty problem was put to rest and your motivation gets a little hazy.)

And I have to disagree that this is just a shameless cash-in sequel. Obviously there's some of that; game design is still a business. But I have a hard time believing that Bioware doesn't genuinely care about Dragon Age or this whole world they've pieced together. I think the sloppy design comes more from a rushed development cycle than anything else - if they'd had another year to design more environments and iron out bugs, the game would definitely be much better.

So the mindset I need to go in with is: "I didn't need that $60 anyway?"

I find it a bit odd how you say it was not a cash in, but that the sloppy design comes from rushed development

Why do you think they rushed development and cut corners? Because a wizard made them?

Hostile much? What I'm saying is, for me, Dragon Age 2 happened to be the best experience I've had with a Bioware game since the original Mass Effect, and it's a shame I'm in the minority for that. But the way it's designed pretty much guarantees people's experiences will be all over the place.

And really, the people writing the game don't set the deadlines and release schedules. That's done by the marketing execs, and obviously their primary interested is profits. That's their job. But to say that the creative team didn't care is pretty hard to back up; they obviously invested a lot in fleshing out the world and characters. Dragon Age 2 was developed in one year - Origins was developed in seven. They cut corners due to pragmatism, not apathy. It's pretty fair to say that if these people had been given another six months, they gladly would have added a few more caves and everyone would be happy.

 

[okitana]

sadly i mostly agree with this vid...

i finished it last night and well... even if its supposed to be "a more personal story"
you become champion... ok cool, you pick a side... ok cool, you kill EVERYONE ANYWAY... lame

by the end of the game the threads you weave dont even matter.

at least with origins when you meet a fellow player you can have these massive convosations about how you played it.... dragon age 2 wont have this

 

[mr.mystery]

very funnay as always. Hes the best reviewer ever

 

[SatanTheBear]

Why is it all british people in video games at the moment are being voiced by the same condescending tit? Both Hawke and the annoying british Helghast are voiced by the same guy. Is there going to be an uprising soon and the UK become the next target for the USA's bombs because they're just so clever and witty but all so condescending and we just dont get it so there for they must be destroyed? Great review though. Spot on!

 

[cerebus23]

Mainly because your boring. If you enjoy your office job good for you, some people like reaching for the stars.

Please tell me what office job involves tracking down a serial killer necromancer, quelling an uprising of foreign monsters, blowing up gigantic statues representing the oppression of a race animated by a demented power hungry knight commander hellbent over a magical amulet using the statues to physically accomplish what they metaphorically represent whilst a bunch of robed monks blast fireballs at it to-
Okay, you get the point. Hawke's life was exciting but not as lamely cliché. Plus it suits Dragon Age a lot better since the game is more or less built around the "pissing around" mechanic. Think about it: The majority of Epic RPGs like this consist of side quests that have about as much to do with the main storyline as wit does with the screen writing of Two and a Half Men and yes that was forced but who cares, I hate the show :/ My point is, when you are the last Grey Warden and thus the only one capable of saving the World there's an over hanging guilt whenever I'm chasing around a thief who took a rich dwarf's pocket change, and a sense that there should perhaps be something more important to do.
In Dragon Age II however, the side quests are what make up Hawke's day-to-day lives and are weaved seamlessly into the character development (see the aforementioned necromancer serial killer quest) not to mention building up a reputation in the city of Kirkwall. The Main Quests come to you instead of vice versa and even though I have a feeling that all of this came about due to rushed dev time and hastened writing, it worked very well. If Bioware actually tried to accomplish this in a new game, they'd be dangerous. A concentrated story following the fate of Kirkwall, instead of a huge nation is much more focussed and thus, affective.
Plus, you get to live in a Mansion and have everyone call you "Champion". How is that Not aiming for the stars?

I agree, and I liked most of the companions and especially their banter. But I have to agree with the people who say it needed another 6-12 months dev time to make it great. I'm sad the brilliant storytelling potential is being overshadowed by lazy gameplay choices, and the plot kind of falls apart at the end. I found this review [http://www.richardcobbett.com/journal/dragon-mage-ii/] to be the fairest I've read.

I also enjoyed the characters more than any other non-gameplay element, as usual with Bioware. I can't deny that it could have used another year or so very well, however. The plot did seem sloppily finished, and the ending was not nearly as satisfying as one would have hoped.

Pretty much this.

Bioware and their games have sufffered what i liken to the stargate series problems, each arc in stargate was the same rehashed plot over and over change the names and events some and you got stargate sg1, stargate atlantis, for bioware you got bg, bg2, kotr, me1, me2, dao, the same plots and plot devices tweaked a bit for each game with names and places and events changed up a bit but the exact same basic story structure. not to say that they were not expertly crafted for the most part.

Then you get stargate universe and dragon age 2, sgu i think is the best stargate since the early sg1 seasons, and is a hell of a lot more interesting with better characters than i can recall in awhile. but the old sg fanbois hated it, not enough stargates where is the big god wannabe baddies? this is not stargate! and the show suffered because of all the hate they heaped upon it.

dragon age 2 has the unending nerve to break the typical bioware story mold, and try something new, and omg the haters will hate. yes the game is far form perfect the lack of levels is inexcuasable especially in the second game in a engine they have worked with. but the story works it works better than DAO by far, it works better than ME1 and ME2 in that i never was far less taken out of the story by the thought that why am i rescuing kittens and old ladies purses while the entire universe is going to be obliterated like in a few hours? why am i having to solve the problems of the dwarves and the elves and the entire city of denerim while the entire nation is supposedly going to wiped off the face of the earth, why the hell is everyone asking me to run around and solve their personal problems? and why was the hole darkspawn showdown so anticlimatic?

the lack of that impending and overarching doom in da2 was refreshing and more natural and more immersive. you are simply helping your friends doing the occasional odd job, while events unfold around you and you get caught up in them. even if you are aware of the problems what are you going to to do lead an army on the templars or mages? you can offer to become king but your are an immigrant and have a tad too shadey past to really make a serious run, nm al the factions you utterly pissed off on your journey along the road of fame and fortune.

And at the end of da2 your actions and the events that have unfolded arguably are more world changing, then all the events in DAO.

 

[[Gavo]]

Really liked the point about the plot, that's what really bugged me about the game. I assume Yahtzee was playing on a console, though, the PC controls were fine. Also, the graphics are much better.

 

[Chronologist]

Wow. I reviewed this game recently, it's scary how close his opinion is to mine.

Seriously, the #1 reason not to buy this game is the lack of plot. The three acts of the game are only tangentially connected with each other, and your choices in the first two mean nothing in the end. The last act comes right out of nowhere, and is the only actual IMPORTANT part of the game. It's 30 hours of meaningless combat leading up to 3 hours of actual story.

And you thought FF13 was bad.

More importantly, there is no antagonist in the entire game. Mass Effect had Saren, ME2 has the Collectors, Dragon Age has the Blight. This game has... being poor, and even that goes away after the first act. Act 2, you're only doing quests because shut up. Act 3, you get roped into a power struggle of sorts, and both sides are horrible, horrible choices, with no real reason for you to be involved.

Here's something else that annoyed me. During the time skips, Hawke does not get more actual in-game wealth. She does does not get experience. She does not age. I can only assume that during the time-skips she is cryogenically frozen for years. The time skips could have been filled with gameplay, even generic dungeons, or even just giving levels and gold. Instead, we get... nothing. Great.

Dragon Age 2 is a wonderful game to play if you want to see first-hand the worst of what modern RPGs are like. Foul gameplay, no plot, and bland visuals. Perhaps you disagree, and if you enjoyed this game, then good for you. I simply did not enjoy Dragon Age 2 at all.

 

[valleyshrew]

Some good jokes and clever insight, but not much depth. I suppose I didn't get a feel for the game because there's no footage and it doesn't go into the game mechanics at all.

 

[Roxor]

Well, I guess this explains all the whining on the forums over the last couple of weeks.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

I think Yahtzee just became one of my best friends right now! plus it is truth there's some resemblance between the ME2 and DA2 main characters...

 

[NeoShinGundam]

HAHAHAHA!!!!! Aw man, I almost fell put of my chair with that bit at the very end in the dinner. That was pure awesome!! ^_^

 

[jackpipsam]

I really felt this game was a let down from the last one

 

[KaWaiiTSuKI]

I still think this is way better than the first one.

 

[Canadish]

Oh look, Yahtzee is recycling the same dull, easily countered points that every Dragon Age 2 hater has been spouting for the past month without fail. CRITICISM, you has it!

Seriously though, no plot? I guess you could see it that way if you spent all the time in game thinking of lame, slightly offending gay jokes to be edgy instead of, oh I don't know, listening in on the characters or following the story. Shocking, I know.

The camera didn't follow your direction in DA:O either, nor did the party members automatically heal themselves in any way - but that was OK to the Origins elitists, because it was all about micromanaging! Now, even though it's exactly the same, it's suddenly dumbed down and herpderp.

Luckily the drooling masses are happy to move on with their hate faster than the Big Brother crowd, so I'm guessing by the time the first DLC for Dragon Age 2 comes out the only people who'll care are the fans of the game - which is about 95% of the gaming populace.

Honestly...? Your getting very defensive of the game. Why so serious?
The use of the word "Hate" is getting thrown around way to much. I doubt many "hate" the game, but I think the majority are let down by Bioware, to different extents.
I've yet to hear a reasoned argument that puts the game in a good light. Only justifications for why it turned out as it did (A big let down).