Dragon Age 2

[Krug]

Bought it but don't have time to really play (or even install) it yet. What do people think?

 

[fba827]

Bought it but don't have time to really play (or even install) it yet. What do people think?

I am in the exact same boat as you.

Though I did just play through the demo last week. I did enjoy the demo (somewhat... mind you, i'm an "in it for the story" sort of player, so not getting much of the story, which makes sense for the demo, was not quite the same for me). And from the demo, things seems similar enough to DA:O that i could feel the consistency (despite claims on other message boards where people talked about how it felt nothing like the origins.. i disagree. at least from the demo. it all felt the same...)


Anyone else who does reply to Krug's post... please, i am asking nicely, be sure to put spoilers in sblock tags or something. i would greatly appreciate not getting anything spoiled since the game has been out less than a couple days at this point. thanks in advance.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I haven't played it yet, but my wife is crazy hardcore into Bioware games (I think she beat origins with 20 different characters -- really) and, naturally, she's been going nuts since getting DA2.

The stuff she likes (not spoilers, since it was talked about in interviews) are the time gaps in the narrative, which you saw some of in the demo. They allow the story to develop more quickly than if you had to play it all out in (almost) real time and relationships can evolve over the years.

She also likes the more realistic relationships with companions. Instead of Morrigan, or whomever, flipping you the bird and storming out in a huff, you can have companions you disagree with who still like you or who are with you for the good of the people, even if they think you're kind of a ninny.

But yeah, she'd been scared of all the people saying how much it's changed from DAO, but other than not being able to play her beloved dwarf characters, the experience has been very similar this time around for her.

 

[Welverin]

(despite claims on other message boards where people talked about how it felt nothing like the origins.. i disagree. at least from the demo. it all felt the same...)

It doesn't, at least on the consoles.

As I mentioned in the demo thread, I played the demo on my PC and PS3. The combat is so different it's like I was playing two different games, kind of like how Wii games are different from PC/PS3/360 games.

The PS3 version was more of an action rpg, the X button is your basic attack and the other three face buttons serve as hot keys for talents, with the R2 button serving as a toggle for another three. Playing that first was a reall what the hell moment, and the feeling of dread didn't go away until I played the PC version. This despite reading more than once that the combat change was for the console versions and the PC version was mostly the same.

The PC version was mostly the same (bit more active, but basically the same).

 

[Ebon Shar]

I am shockingly disappointed and I think Bioware made a big mistake. All the things that I loved about DA:O have been removed. No longer do you have to worry about managing your inventory, because it's been stripped down to almost nothing. Nor do you have to worry about equiping your companions, you can only give them rings and amulets. A few you can give weapons, but not all. All of the special equipment, like the Blood Dragon Armor, can only be assigned to the main character, who must be human. Sub-classes? They're gone. Top down, tactical combat? Gone too.

Bottom line, the game has turned into a shallow, Hack and Slash console game. It does look pretty though.

 

[fba827]

I am shockingly disappointed and I think Bioware made a big mistake. All the things that I loved about DA:O have been removed. No longer do you have to worry about managing your inventory, because it's been stripped down to almost nothing. Nor do you have to worry about equiping your companions, you can only give them rings and amulets. A few you can give weapons, but not all. All of the special equipment, like the Blood Dragon Armor, can only be assigned to the main character, who must be human. Sub-classes? They're gone. Top down, tactical combat? Gone too.

Bottom line, the game has turned into a shallow, Hack and Slash console game. It does look pretty though.

All the things that you loved about DA:O are removed? But most of your statements are about inventory. What else has been removed?

(though, personally, i found inventory to be overly complex in DA:O. Plus, I like the idea of companions staying with their signature weapons and armor that upgrades with them - so I can't say based on second-hand knowledge alone that i agree with it as a downside. of course, once i get my hands on it, i may end up changing my position on the matter).

As far as subclasses? I had read that each of the companions get their own special tree, kind of like everyone gets their own special subclass. Is that not the case?


But back to the original point that you made... what else is "everything you loved about DA:O now being removed for DA:2" .. or did you dislike DA:O to begin with and that's why it was only those 3 things (inventory system, subclasses, and topdown view)?

I'm just genuinely curious to see how much our tastes align, or not align. Because I liked a whole lot of DA:O and if I said everything I liked was taken out..well, that would be a huge statement for me to make but for others it might mean less if they liked the original less then i did.

 

[Sutekh]

Wha? Someone said I couldnt play a Dwarf?

Its not a human or human or human choice game is it?

I found the Dwarves in DAO to be extremely interesting with all the caste/ politics going on. Sure they got stereotypical with their deep roads but the connection with the golems and their arena battles was very interesting.

Im not sure I want to play it now if its basically human or human game.

 

[Ebon Shar]

When I play a CRPG, I want the nitty gritty details. I want to micromanage my party. If I could, I'd want to be able to decide what color underwear they are wearing. DA 2 has taken that away from me. Some people may enjoy the new stream-lined combat, with the smaller battle areas, but I do not. I remember an epic battle in DA:O in the dwarven area in which I had to pause every few seconds and issue commands to each of my characters. So far, I've had to do little more than click combat options in DA 2. Tactics haven't really come into play. Admittedly, I've only played up through 6th level, so I may not have seen everything, but what I've seen has been overly streamlined and simplified and just plain dumbed down.

With all my complaints, DA 2 is still fun, but it pales in comparison to the original game.

 

[Ebon Shar]

Wha? Someone said I couldnt play a Dwarf?

Its not a human or human or human choice game is it?

I found the Dwarves in DAO to be extremely interesting with all the caste/ politics going on. Sure they got stereotypical with their deep roads but the connection with the golems and their arena battles was very interesting.

Im not sure I want to play it now if its basically human or human game.

Human only. Sorry. You do get a dwarven companion early in the game.

 

[John Crichton]

As far as subclasses? I had read that each of the companions get their own special tree, kind of like everyone gets their own special subclass. Is that not the case?

Yup, the specializations are still there. You can see them on the talent page. Certain powers can only be unlocked if the companion feels either positive or negative towards you. I dig that quite a bit.