Dragon Age 2

ShadowHearth · 06-03-2011 11:39pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

gave the demo another try yesterday for a little bit, but no.. they've ruined dragon age. I was looking forward to dragon age 2 so much and this is just such a horrible dissapointment

on the plus side Ijust started playing stalker: shadow of chernobyl for the first time, and I have pripryat bought as well so i wont be stuck for rpg-ish fun. 10 hours straight today playing chernobyl... hell of a game

If you playing original then get oblivion mod for it. It makes game as it had to be, in fact, when developers where doing Pripyat they borrowed allmoust all stuff from oblivion mod.

Great great game.

As for dragon age.. I hawed it got dumped down. I watched some live stream of it, and it was prety... Horrible... It looked like 1 man bad slasher wit some party members doing feck knows what...

I will wait for few more rewies, then wait for bargain bin

johnny_ultimate · 06-03-2011 11:54pm

Playing through the first one now, and while I like it - the choices are particularly well integrated - I hate the dull fantasy setting and the combat just seems bland to me. Probably in stark contrast to everyone else here :P There's a lot to like, but even though Mass Effect's sci-fi setting isn't the most original either, I enjoyed spending time in that world more-so than the elves/dwarves etc world of Origins. Still playing though, because despite the blandness of the setting I think Bioware's strengths show through in the amount of ways you can tackle problems which is even greater than the scope of ME2. Just a shame there's so much fantasy rubbish in between

Obviously won't be on board for a second 'til I finish Origins (and have the ultimate edition so it's gonna be a while!) but if the writing and world are more interesting this time around, there's a lot of potential. Still think Mass Effect is my Bioware franchise of choice though.

the untitled user · 07-03-2011 12:26am

Played the demo. Can't decide whether I like it.

Combat seems a bit more responsive, and perhaps more satisfying for it, if a little dumbed down. The characters seemed dull and contrived though and the cut scene system is irritating they way it just boots into one without warning.

I dunno, looking forward to getting my hands on it proper (enjoyed the first one too much not to play this), but at the same time I don't think I'll be in a rush to get it once it launches. Might wait til we start to see its price drop.

Spunge · 07-03-2011 12:38pm

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Playing through the first one now, and while I like it - the choices are particularly well integrated - I hate the dull fantasy setting and the combat just seems bland to me. Probably in stark contrast to everyone else here :P There's a lot to like, but even though Mass Effect's sci-fi setting isn't the most original either, I enjoyed spending time in that world more-so than the elves/dwarves etc world of Origins. Still playing though, because despite the blandness of the setting I think Bioware's strengths show through in the amount of ways you can tackle problems which is even greater than the scope of ME2. Just a shame there's so much fantasy rubbish in between

Obviously won't be on board for a second 'til I finish Origins (and have the ultimate edition so it's gonna be a while!) but if the writing and world are more interesting this time around, there's a lot of potential. Still think Mass Effect is my Bioware franchise of choice though.

Yeah i really enjoyed Dragon Age, its rare i play a game all the way through and this one i did. But the story/setting was very generic and mostly uninteresting, couldnt be bothered to read all the codex stuff. Mass Effect on the other hand was one of the rare times in a game i read/listened every single bit of information i could, just found it far more interesting.

What kept me playing Dragon Age was the combat though, on Nightmare it was very strategic and challenging. From what ive heard thats all gone now, and if all im left with is story/characters then well, i couldnt really care.

Kiith · 07-03-2011 7:51pm

Game isnt even out yet, and they've already released a high def texture pack for the pc. At least they didnt charge for it...

http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches

humanji · 07-03-2011 8:04pm

Jaysus, it doesn't bode well for the PC version. I was all excited when it was first announced, but now I'm waiting until the reviews and Boardsie opinions come in to see if I'll bother.

Gunmonkey · 07-03-2011 8:41pm

Kiith wrote: »

Game isnt even out yet, and they've already released a high def texture pack for the pc. At least they didnt charge for it...

http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches

Well it isjust over 1Gb of a download, if they were to try cram it into the box it woudl have been a two disc job and they probably had scheduled for it in the pressing factory. At least they gave the option rather than leaving it with the same lower res textures as the consoles.

And only review I have seen so far is PCGamer UK with a 94% score.

Magill · 07-03-2011 9:15pm

Gunmonkey wrote: »

Well it isjust over 1Gb of a download, if they were to try cram it into the box it woudl have been a two disc job and they probably had scheduled for it in the pressing factory. At least they gave the option rather than leaving it with the same lower res textures as the consoles.

And only review I have seen so far is PCGamer UK with a 94% score.

GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

RPG of the decade they said

Really excited about this game, cant wait.

Helix · 08-03-2011 1:42am

Magill wrote: »

GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

well it shouldnt be

wait til the reviews that DONT meet the embargo beating requirements come out first

Kadongy · 08-03-2011 10:53am

Kiith wrote: »

Game isnt even out yet, and they've already released a high def texture pack for the pc. At least they didnt charge for it...

http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches

Does anybody know for sure if this is in the steam version? I am guessing it's not.

humanji · 08-03-2011 11:21am

Kadongy wrote: »

Does anybody know for sure if this is in the steam version? I am guessing it's not.

Just read on Kotaku that they say it's compatible with the Steam version, so I guess it's not included.

Skerries · 08-03-2011 11:33am

i have this on pre-order so it will probably arrive early next week
just as well as i wanted to get into the mood for it so played Risen which was decent and only finished it last night so it may be too soon for me to go straight into another big game
might load up a good shooter in the meantime to blow the cobwebs out before starting into it, Black Ops any good?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 08-03-2011 12:15pm

ShadowHearth wrote: »

If you playing original then get oblivion mod for it. It makes game as it had to be, in fact, when developers where doing Pripyat they borrowed allmoust all stuff from oblivion mod.

i am playing the complete 2009 mod/patch, but I went and did the last mission way way too early last night (didnt realise it was the last mission) so im gonanreload a previous save and just play the game out properly. Ill probably play pripyat after, then oblivionn lost SOC.. then maybe clear sky.. im hearing bad things about clear sky so im no rush

--edit

stop playing wow, and get back in starcraft.ie!

Gummy Panda · 08-03-2011 1:54pm

When is this out?

Sephiroth_dude · 08-03-2011 2:17pm

Gummy Panda wrote: »

When is this out?

Friday

Mitch Connor · 08-03-2011 3:39pm

Skerries wrote: »

i have this on pre-order so it will probably arrive early next week

same with myself. Posted out today, so probably get it some time next week. Order from play so they generally take a while, unfortunately.

jamezy · 08-03-2011 3:59pm

My Bioware Signature Edition DA2 came today... An unexpected suprise! Frigging nice one though. Just about to play this bad boy.

Mr Freeze · 08-03-2011 4:03pm

jamezy wrote: »

My Bioware Signature Edition DA2 came today... An unexpected suprise! Frigging nice one though. Just about to play this bad boy.

Mine too!!!

\virtual high five

Sephiroth_dude · 08-03-2011 4:06pm

jamezy wrote: »

My Bioware Signature Edition DA2 came today... An unexpected suprise! Frigging nice one though. Just about to play this bad boy.

:eek: where did you order from?

Helix · 08-03-2011 4:26pm

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

:eek: where did you order from?

gonna say videogamesplus since theyre on the ball delivery wise and its out here today

Kiith · 08-03-2011 5:17pm

Can you actually play it though? There's a release date check on it, which i'm assuming will stop you from playing it.

Jim · 08-03-2011 5:39pm

Kiith wrote: »

Can you actually play it though? There's a release date check on it, which i'm assuming will stop you from playing it.

Is there? I've never had a problem playing any game I've gotten early before.

Helix · 08-03-2011 5:48pm

Kiith wrote: »

Can you actually play it though? There's a release date check on it, which i'm assuming will stop you from playing it.

no such thing exists

its an urban myth along the lines of "playing a game pre-release will get you banned" - it wont. otherwise there wouldnt be a game journo left with an active gamer tag

Icyseanfitz · 08-03-2011 6:56pm

just read the gamespot review, dont think il be buying this game (which is a first for me and anything bioware related), if gamespot are complaining about it being overly simplified it must be pretty damn bad

and they also said the story wasnt on par with Origins which tbh was crap to begin with for a bioware game, and to top it all off i see a preview for dlc on the gamespot homepage ffs.

What has happened to the bioware that gave us a ton of content in a quality game with a great story

Kiith · 08-03-2011 6:58pm

Helix wrote: »

no such thing exists

its an urban myth along the lines of "playing a game pre-release will get you banned" - it wont. otherwise there wouldnt be a game journo left with an active gamer tag

There actually is a release check on this. Having been following the release on some...other...sites (already pre-ordered it, just want to play it now), the game couldnt be installed until the 8th for most people, as that was first release date. It ran a check, and wouldnt install until the correct date.

Not sure if it applies to the european launch on the 11th though.

Also, i was talking about the PC version, not console.

Magill · 08-03-2011 7:07pm

Kiith wrote: »

There actually is a release check on this. Having been following the release on some...other...sites (already pre-ordered it, just want to play it now), the game couldnt be installed until the 8th for most people, as that was first release date. It ran a check, and wouldnt install until the correct date.

Not sure if it applies to the european launch on the 11th though.

Even if it did exist, all you'd have to do is change the date on the system....

jarain · 08-03-2011 7:15pm

Eurogamer Review

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-03-08-dragon-age-ii-review

8/10

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 08-03-2011 7:27pm

ugh
nothing in that review made me happy

Helix · 08-03-2011 7:40pm

Kiith wrote: »

There actually is a release check on this. Having been following the release on some...other...sites (already pre-ordered it, just want to play it now), the game couldnt be installed until the 8th for most people, as that was first release date. It ran a check, and wouldnt install until the correct date.

Not sure if it applies to the european launch on the 11th though.

Also, i was talking about the PC version, not console.

isnt that the thing where you download it on steam and it activates on release day? isnt that fairly common like? dont think it applies to retail

Jim · 08-03-2011 7:46pm

As someone who enjoyed and defended the demo a lot in that review makes me sad, almost to the point of reconsidering buying the game.

Also, I find the line in the review

Only the truly hardcore role-player will allow such design choices to dampen the experience.

pretty patronising.

humanji · 08-03-2011 9:10pm

Helix wrote: »

isnt that the thing where you download it on steam and it activates on release day? isnt that fairly common like? dont think it applies to retail

When you try and install it, it apparently does an internet release date check no matter what version you have. Could be bull, but more and more games insist on an internet connection to install, so it could be true.

Mr Freeze · 08-03-2011 9:11pm

3 Friggin codes to redeem outta the pack, one being the online pass.

I really hate this craic, especially since the other codes that have to be redeemed online before getting the xbox code, dont work, sick of pre-order incentive codes, I would just like to buy a game, put the disk in the drive and to hell with all these extras, that should be on the disc anyways. /Rant

Shiminay · 08-03-2011 9:22pm

Having looked at the Eurogamer review, specifically the video contained within that kicks off after the demo finishes, it seems all elves speak with an awful stage Irish accent

humanji · 08-03-2011 9:40pm

"On all platforms, Dragon Age II caters to an audience that didn’t connect with Origins, while alienating those who did. This may result in a better console experience, but considering that Dragon Age: Origins was a love letter to old-school PC RPGs, BioWare’s neglect of the sequel’s PC release is tragic."

Think I'll give it a miss until it's out in a Steam sale.

Outkast_IRE · 08-03-2011 10:02pm

i never thought i would say it but bioware has let me down

Shiminay · 08-03-2011 10:20pm

They're cashing in on console's superior market-share. Disappointing, but not surprising. That said, as I said already, it's now more my kind of game, so I'll be looking forward to playing it

I assume that a lot of Bioware's PC/RPG people are busy with Star Wars: The Old Republic...

Kiith · 08-03-2011 10:21pm

Magill wrote: »

Even if it did exist, all you'd have to do is change the date on the system....

humanji wrote: »

When you try and install it, it apparently does an internet release date check no matter what version you have. Could be bull, but more and more games insist on an internet connection to install, so it could be true.

It true. I've seen it in person, at least before the 8th (US release). It's an online checker, which activates by communicating with a server.

Magill · 08-03-2011 10:22pm

Kiith wrote: »

It true. I've seen it in person, at least before the 8th (US release). It's an online checker, which activates by communicating with a server.

what.... so you need to have internet access to play it ?

Magill · 08-03-2011 10:23pm

Kharn wrote: »

They're cashing in on console's superior market-share. Disappointing, but not surprising. That said, as I said already, it's now more my kind of game, so I'll be looking forward to playing it

I assume that a lot of Bioware's PC/RPG people are busy with Star Wars: The Old Republic...

Its not really... the orginal was fine on console.. its not like people were complaining that it needed dumbed down.

Sephiroth_dude · 08-03-2011 10:25pm

Helix wrote: »

gonna say videogamesplus since theyre on the ball delivery wise and its out here today

are they always that quick?

Mike Litoris · 08-03-2011 10:31pm

humanji wrote: »

"On all platforms, Dragon Age II caters to an audience that didn’t connect with Origins, while alienating those who did. This may result in a better console experience, but considering that Dragon Age: Origins was a love letter to old-school PC RPGs, BioWare’s neglect of the sequel’s PC release is tragic."

Think I'll give it a miss until it's out in a Steam sale.

I thought what happened to Deus Ex 2 was tragic but this way tops it.

Captain Chaos · 08-03-2011 10:32pm

Magill wrote: »

Its not really... the orginal was fine on console.. its not like people were complaining that it needed dumbed down.

Exactly, it was fine the way it was. All Bioware had to do was carry on with a good engaging story, interesting characters and spruce up the graphics and they they went and made an idiot proof hack and slash game with conversation options.

Someone forgot to tell Bioware this is the next gen consoles, we don't want PS2 class RPGs anymore.

The PS3 and 360 can handle any dedicated PC RPG without having to modify it. Of course the graphics will take a hit but the story, level design and menue systems are no issue at all. If the general console gaming public are too lazy to read a manual, tough. They can go and play any other hack and slashers out there and casual RPG lite games.

Captain Chaos · 08-03-2011 10:37pm

Mike Litoris wrote: »

I thought what happened to Deus Ex 2 was tragic but this way tops it.

They just managed to get away with it in Mass Effect 2 because it could stand on it's own to feet as Gears of War lite with robots but DA in the old skool RPG setting can't be dumbed down like that without turning into a hack and slash and a very basic on at that.

Deus Ex 2 didn't happen, like Terminator 3 and 4, just mentally deleted.:(

Kiith · 08-03-2011 10:49pm

Played it for a few hours tonight, and i'm enjoying it. It's not that different from the original to be honest. Combat is much faster yes, but that's not a bad thing. It was too slow in Origins. Maybe it's different on the consoles, but smart usage of skills/talents is still important.

Story seems decent so far, though nothing major to write home about yet. Again though, only a few hours in.

DingChavez · 09-03-2011 1:23am

I played it for a few hours on PC. I'm not finding anything wrong with it. It definitely has the same feel as the orignal and sadly about the same graphics(playing with DX10 without high res texture pack). But I'm not complaining. If you really like the orignal I don't see why you wouldn't like this.

The Dalish elves seem to be Irish and Welsh now. They sound like real voice actors too. Not people putting on an accent.

Gummy Panda · 09-03-2011 10:04am

DingChavez wrote: »

I played it for a few hours on PC. I'm not finding anything wrong with it. It definitely has the same feel as the orignal and sadly about the same graphics(playing with DX10 without high res texture pack). But I'm not complaining. If you really like the orignal I don't see why you wouldn't like this.

The Dalish elves seem to be Irish and Welsh now. They sound like real voice actors too. Not people putting on an accent.

How have you got it on the pc so early?

Kiith · 09-03-2011 10:07am

Gummy Panda wrote: »

How have you got it on the pc so early?

It's probably better not to ask that

Jim · 09-03-2011 10:24am

DingChavez wrote: »

I played it for a few hours on PC. I'm not finding anything wrong with it. It definitely has the same feel as the orignal and sadly about the same graphics(playing with DX10 without high res texture pack). But I'm not complaining. If you really like the orignal I don't see why you wouldn't like this.

The Dalish elves seem to be Irish and Welsh now. They sound like real voice actors too. Not people putting on an accent.

Character has a voice.
Can't choose race.
Combat is less RPG, more Hack n' Slash (although personally the combat doesn't annoy me that much).
No companion weapons or armour.
Almost no room from specialisation in talent trees.
No crafting to speak of.

Basing all this from playing the demo and from reviews. Also from reading the reviews apparently pausing the game mid combat or changing character tactfully is almost redundant and unnecessary. I hope that can be remidied by putting the game on Hard or Hardest. But if not then the game has almost almost all appeal to me.

Kiith · 09-03-2011 10:38am

Jim wrote: »

Character has a voice. About god damn time :P
Can't choose race. - Correct.
Combat is less RPG, more Hack n' Slash (although personally the combat doesn't annoy me that much). - Correct(ish), though also not an issue for me as it's still enjoyable.
No companion weapons or armour. - Wrong. Your companions can get different armour and weapons.
Almost no room from specialisation in talent trees. - Wrong. The talent tree's are quite similar to the previous game (at least for the warrior).
No crafting to speak of. - Wrong. There is a crafting system, and you are able to use any of them once you discover a recipie/supplier

Just to answer some of the above. Also, I've paused the game a load of time in the few hours i play. Just turn the difficulty up a bit and you'll see plenty of times where pausing can definitely help you.

Jim · 09-03-2011 11:03am

Kiith wrote: »

Just to answer some of the above. Also, I've paused the game a load of time in the few hours i play. Just turn the difficulty up a bit and you'll see plenty of times where pausing can definitely help you.

I hope what you say is true, from what I said I'm just going by reviews here.

Companion armour is now completely off-limits while upgrade trees are inflexible and closed off to any new specialisms you might want to give them.

Unless this just applies to the Xbox?

If you want my opinions on the main character being voiced just read Sisko's posts

Dragon Age 2

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