Dragon Age 2 : Post-play comments

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:38 pm

a00krido wrote:I agree completely. That's why I think the combat is so important. Lets face it, you usually spend more than 50% of your time doing combat in RPGs.

The exception from this rule is Mass Effect. 50 % of the time you were driving the MAKO, the OTHER 50% of the time the MAKO was in mid-air and you couldn't control it.

Rad · Post by **Rad** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:20 pm

Stworca wrote:The exception from this rule is Mass Effect. 50 % of the time you were driving the MAKO, the OTHER 50% of the time the MAKO was in mid-air and you couldn't control it.

Unless I'm the one playing, or someone else who bothered to look at the map and find a better route that didn't involve going the hard way...

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:36 pm

Rad wrote:Unless I'm the one playing, or someone else who bothered to look at the map and find a better route that didn't involve going the hard way...

What do you mean? I don't pi.. oh! AN ORE DEPOSIT! QUI- oh damn! a bump on the roa- cartwheeldoubleflaretrippleaxelmohawkturn720barrel.. and a perfect landing! Yeah! In your face Tony Hawk!

Rad · Post by **Rad** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:21 pm

Stworca wrote:What do you mean? I don't pi.. oh! AN ORE DEPOSIT! QUI- oh damn! a bump on the roa- cartwheeldoubleflaretrippleaxelmohawkturn720barrel.. and a perfect landing! Yeah! In your face Tony Hawk!

Hint: Full power and a straight line are usually NOT the way to go...:laugh:

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:45 am

But I LIKE flying the Mako! Especially from that High Geth Base.....

Rad · Post by **Rad** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:56 pm

GoldDragon wrote:But I LIKE flying the Mako! Especially from that High Geth Base.....

The unmarked Geth base with turrets and Armatures? Oh, stop whining. If you have problems getting down from there I need to tell you there's a road/path down that makes it really easy..:laugh:.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:03 pm

No. The Geth base that has lots of the Dragon Teeth outside, and a Geth Dropship comes after you clear it and dumps several High-level Geth. Right in front of that path down.

Besides. It's fun driving the Mako off a cliff (especially a high one) and landing it without a scratch.:laugh:

Anyways, we should get back on topic, I think.

After Anders caused his "incident", I (as the player) asked him: Do you think you could have gotten a bigger boom, Anders?

To Paraphrase a Mythbuster: GD wants Big Boom!

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:23 am

GoldDragon wrote:
Anyways, we should get back on topic, I think.

Indeed...

simulacrum · Post by **simulacrum** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:45 am

I have clocked about 20 hours into it so far and I am pretty much in sync with what Guillerms II has said. I can't imagine how some reviewers score this game below 7, I believe such reactions are mostly due to Bioware/EA's overhyping and exaggerations that backfired. If the game doesn't go seriously downhill from where I am, it certainly deserves a solid 8 for me, maybe even higher.

I think the biggest improvement is the combat. More responsive, with some very cool abilities (both visually and effectively), better talent tree structure, simply much more fun. The tactical aspect is a bit downplayed, even in the more challenging settings (I am playing on Hard, thanks to the online feedback I read beforehand, while Origins was equally challenging on Normal for me) but pausing the game is still instrumental to success and I find myself using it even more than I did in Origins. The A.I. of the companions also seems improved and I find it a huge plus that I've never yelled at them for acting stupidly or not obeying my orders.

I play at High video settings (my card is only DX10 compatible) and the graphics look good, not amazing but certainly pleasing to the eye. Same goes for the voice-acting, although the companions' speech as a whole is maybe a tad less distinctive than what we heard in Origins. I do not mind reused areas, it was pretty much the same with Origins and other recent RPGs I played (Divinity 2 for instance).

The only thing I am a bit disappointed about is the limited interaction with NPCs and companions that Guillerms mentioned. What's there is of good quality but I do miss the long (mostly optional) chats around the campfire that fleshed out the chatacters as well as the talkative bystanders who simply seemed eager to share lore or their everyday troubles with you. It added to the immersion and most of it is now gone (although there is still a lot of stuff to read in the Codex).

Design-wise, DA II feels more like a direct follow-up to Awakening with a healthy dose of Mass Effect 2 splashed in, rather than a descendant of Origins. There is a more "contained" story, limited interactivity (most merchants are just vending machines now) and the environments feel a bit empty and lifeless compared to the first installment. I am quite pleased with the overall experience so far but it is a little sad to acknowledge that Origins was probably the last Bioware title with "traditional" party-based gameplay and design philosophy to come out.

On a side note, I miss the lighthearted-ness of Origins. In DA II everything seems to be taken much more seriously aside from the occasional wise-cracking comment (most of which are not even funny, especially the ones Hawke makes) and the nods to Dragon Age veterans. I also find it rather strange that (*MINOR SPOILER AHEAD*) Anders is now a bitter, dead-serious homosexual, while in Awakening I seem to remember him as a smart-mouthed womanizer. There is some backstory to his current status but it doesn't really explain that change of heart in a very satisfying manner. Maybe I need to replay Awakening in order to get my facts straight...

a00krido · Post by **a00krido** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:12 am

This game is a very frustrating experince for me. I find myself posting angry forum post everywhere more than I'm actually playing the game. If the game was any good I wouldn't have time with that.

For me DA1 was a step in the right direction from Neverwinter. It gave me hope that there was still hope for the RPG genre. DA2 is a HUGE disappointment. While DA1 was step closer to BG, DA2 is a lot closer to Diablo. Don't get me wrong. Such games can be fun to play too but there already exists a bunch of them and alot more are comming. With DA2 old school RPGs are now officially dead. Thats my feeling at least.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:05 pm

I have only read the first post, as to preserve myself from spoilers.

I have to say, I'm 13 hours in, and I'm not even done with the first chapter (Year 1 in Kirkwall), so I don't know where the 15 hours come from. I'm a torough player, and I do each and every sidequest, and read everything. Still, the difference looks huge, if the next chapters are more or less as long as the first.

Monks · Post by **Monks** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:08 pm

the game is doable in 15h if you play on casual (possibly normal) and rush trough, slaugthering everything.
im currently working on nightmare. and i have to say some of the fights there, will make you extremly pissed (dubble assasins 1shotting both your support chars with a backstab and plenty other situations, its doable yes, but there is a randomness factor in it)

vio · Post by **vio** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:54 pm

I'm fairly happy with the length of the game. it's possible to play it rather fast, but still not too fast, if you skip a lot of the sidequests (which is something I suspect I will be thankful for on future playthroughs) but if you're thorough there's enough content to make it considerably longer
personally I find that this tends to be the best approach, on the first few playthroughs a longer game is better, you're still discovering new things and trying to do them in different ways and there's plenty to keep you occupied. on later playthroughs when you know the game better and some parts are just less appealing you can skip or skim through them and get to the parts you're more interested in faster

despite my earlier complaint on replayability I am still playing it through again, I just wish there were more big consequences instead of the little ones. to be fair though some of the little ones are fairly interesting, just rather inconsequential

childofbhaal · Post by **childofbhaal** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:54 pm

I just finished chapter 1 and I already played 36 hours(combat is fun and I am playing on nightmare as DW rogue).The hardest fights so far: 1. Captain Qerth 2. Rock Wraith.

Kirkwall is the best city since Athkatla(seriously).The game is very good so far(seems to better than DA:O).

The conversation wheel sux but its not as bad as I expected.Oh and the Deep Roads expedition was a letdown(I expected lots of fight with the darkspawn and all I got was 1 group of trash with a hurlock emissary(he died from 1 twin fangs) +1 ogre.

childofbhaal · Post by **childofbhaal** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:09 pm

simulacrum wrote: What's there is of good quality but I do miss the long (mostly optional) chats around the campfire that fleshed out the chatacters as well as the talkative bystanders who simply seemed eager to share lore or their everyday troubles with you. It added to the immersion and most of it is now gone (although there is still a lot of stuff to read in the Codex).

I hated the DA:O system the new 1 is a lot better imo.
-always the same camp(we travel in a big kingdom but we always return to sleep into the exact same camp...yeah sure)
-gifts(needless to explain)
-"maxing out" for example Morrigan before you left Lothering was a bit ridiculous
-Bodahn and his son(I wonder why he thinks that its a good idea to open a shop in the middle of nowhere)
-the DLC guy(I got a new quest for you but before we go we will need your bank card Warden)

Honestly I dont miss that camp at all.The DA2 system is more believable.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:58 am

I just finished chapter 1 and I already played 36 hours

I'm fairly happy with the length of the game.

:speech:

The only thing I am a bit disappointed about is the limited interaction with NPCs and companions

my biggest complaints :
I hated that many quests had spoilerific titles

Not to sound rude or anything, but have you people ever played any other RPG's than the last few Bioware ones?

-the DLC guy(I got a new quest for you but before we go we will need your bank card Warden)

Well, now it will be "We'll let you know how the storyline ends, but we will need your bank card Warden"

I can't imagine how some reviewers score this game below 7

Because each game that has ever received a score of 7 or above, is simply much better than DA2. Look beyond the half-naked, large-breasted, poorly-voiced, cheap NPCs, and stunning, yet repetitive location textures.

I'd give it a 7 though.. Same note as the prequel received from me. It's better in many ways, but also worse in many others.

Compare. Compare, and you'll see the bigger picture.

Then again.. Now i can believe that some people liked Awakenings or NWN2. Thanks to this thread.

That's it from me, have fun

vio · Post by **vio** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:34 am

Stworca wrote:Not to sound rude or anything, but have you people ever played any other RPG's than the last few Bioware ones?

I have yes, and I explained why the length of DA2 works well. I certainly wouldn't object to a longer game, but I don't have a problem with its length. a lot of the really long games aren't so replay friendly for one thing, even if they do have some elements of replayability they tend to have long, long dungeon crawls which are fun the first couple of times but once you know their layout and secrets by heart just become tedious and rather dull
I've yet to discover a single game with as much replay value as DA:O for example but significantly longer

DA2 has its flaws, absolutely (and low/medium replay incentive is one of them) but I wouldn't consider length to be a major concern. that is of course just my opinion and you're welcome to disagree

as for the camp, while the Origins camp had some flaws, largely due to limits of the game engine (eg: looking the same no matter whether camped near Redcliffe, Orz or Denerim) it, for the most part, fit the story. the party travel a lot, so a camp is sensible
DA2 takes place almost entirely in one city over about a decade. even having all your party in the same inn would be odd. Merrill, for example, isn't there for a visit, she's starting a new life in Kirkwall, it would make sense she have her own house. Varric and Isabella may be happy to live in an inn but most people if staying long-term will look into proper housing

Elevoros · Post by **Elevoros** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:11 am

Stworca wrote: I don't really want a game to be too hard, like - for example - Ninja Gaiden.
But Dragon Age 2 is just like Assassins Creed 2, where you could annihilate entire armies of guards by mashing one mouse button and dodging every now and then. I dont find that entertaining. Both games have their moments.. well.. Assassins Creed 2 was awesome.. But if you have no challenges ahead of you, it kind off kills the moment.

You are clearly exaggerating. I don't know how skilled a player you are but for an average gamer the hard/nightmare modes can be quite challenging and require a certain amount of planing and strategy.

Overall I am pleased with DA2 although at times it was a little repetitive, like DAO. The ending could have been better.

childofbhaal · Post by **childofbhaal** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:11 am

Elevoros wrote:You are clearly exaggerating. I don't know how skilled a player you are but for an average gamer the hard/nightmare modes can be quite challenging and require a certain amount of planing and strategy.

Yeah nightmare is really good this time(in DA:O it was not challenging at all).In DA2 casual and normal is a joke,hard=normal,nightmare is really fun and hard(as it should be).