Dragon Age Origins - Victory of Substance over Style?

TelePaul · 23-11-2009 12:57PM #1

Just picked up Dragon Age on Friday night. After playing for a about ten minutes, two things became abundantly clear:

1) The graphics are (comparatively) terrible
2) The gameplay is pretty amazing

I suppose this isn't a particularly radical scenario...I was browsing other threads and I caught a very accurate summary of the original Assasin's Creed (a 3/10 game in a 9/1 game engine, I think). On the PS3, Dragon age looks like the PC version running on an underperforming or under-spec'd machine: I'm seeing frame-rate issues, screen tearing and an overall lack of graphic detail in everything but the characters. There's some audio drop-out, where whole sections of conversation just aren't triggered (which I find pretty poor to be honest).

Set against this is the immersive gameplay which seems to pride itself on staying true to the tropes of the RPG genre. In playing it, I'm reminds me of Diablo or more recently, the Elder Scrolls series - albeit with a touch of Golden Axe or Gauntlet Legends thrown in. The class system seems quite comprehensive, though I'm not entirely sure as to whether I'm supposed to play an active hand in managing the other characters in my party...the last time I did that was Final Fantasy 7! But initial impressions seem to suggest a fun game with longevity as one of its major selling points.

It just seems to be a shame that developers can't reconcile stunning visuals with fantastic gameplay - Oblivion and MGS, and the new AC seem to be notable exceptions. What do you guys think?

inFamouxe · 23-11-2009 01:18PM

Im thinking of picking this up today, but nevermind i don't want to waste my e54!

TelePaul · 23-11-2009 01:36PM

inFamouxe wrote: »

Im thinking of picking this up today, but nevermind i don't want to waste my e54!

It's 45 in HMV. And a great game.

inFamouxe · 26-11-2009 01:44AM

I played this game on my mates pc earlier and it's fecking class! Im still thinking of getting this game on ps3 but still can't decide really, just wondering if the graphics really look like this? if so not bad at all!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaeU1Hlpb9c

RAIN · 26-11-2009 10:14AM

Even with the awful textures and the like the game still has its moments of beauty. I love it, Iv put in about 13 hours and I don't even really have 1 of the main quests fully finished. The sheer volume of story detail/side quests/party tactics is bewildering. The only thing thats frustrating is that the difficulty seems to spike at random times, I wish there was some sort of training ground to try out new tactics before you hit a big battle cus I'm still thinkering with my party.

TelePaul · 26-11-2009 11:02AM

RAIN wrote: »

Even with the awful textures and the like the game still has its moments of beauty. I love it, Iv put in about 13 hours and I don't even really have 1 of the main quests fully finished. The sheer volume of story detail/side quests/party tactics is bewildering. The only thing thats frustrating is that the difficulty seems to spike at random times, I wish there was some sort of training ground to try out new tactics before you hit a big battle cus I'm still thinkering with my party.

I'm the same, having alot of fun with it but really havn't fully got to grips with the Tactics screen yet. Really gonna give it a go on the weekend.

Daemos · 26-11-2009 09:59PM

I think it really is a niche game, and you'll either like it or you won't. One mag rated it 95 IIRC, while another rated it 64 :rolleyes:

inFamouxe · 26-11-2009 11:22PM

So it depends with the taste then. i can't pick this up yet due to i have to finish AC2 first which is im nearly with my first platinum...

but im definitely gonna pick this up... I reckon the graphics is ari and not bad for an rpg game tbh!

inFamouxe · 27-11-2009 06:42PM

Omg! this game is really really good and the graphics is not that bad i must say! still nothing can beat Petruccio's face from Assassins Creed 2 when it comes to ugliness!

inFamouxe · 27-11-2009 07:39PM

can you lads help me out how to download the blood armour?

inFamouxe · 29-11-2009 12:29AM

This game is definitely on my top 5 list! This game is very addictive it's like i want to swap different characters all the time just to try their different skills, the story is fecking class no doubt and seriously the graphics is not bad as what other people say i think it's ari for an RPG game. Face on AC2 is worst and definitely enjoying this game much more than AC2!

Oh and can't believe having sex with a guy is a trophy? I don't want my mage to be gay lol :eek:

jmx009 · 29-11-2009 10:54AM

I soo want to play this game but i dont know if i should get this or assassins creed 2. I cant afford to buy em both. So one of them will have to wait till after christmas.

Infamouxe, you might be able to help me on this (since you've played both). Which should i go first ,Assassins creed or Dragon age origins ?

inFamouxe · 29-11-2009 12:13PM

It depends with the taste really mate... for me i find AC2 very easy and a bit boring but if your a fan of the first one definitely mate you will like this!

Dragon Age: Origins for me is really good like, if your a big fan of RPG games or let's say Never Winter Nights kinda game you'll definitely gonna love this one. im actually enjoying the battle system of this game much more than AC2 tbh. The story of the game is really class!

They both start off slow but it get's interesting after a few hours like.

TelePaul · 29-11-2009 12:49PM

Really have a hared time defending the graphics when you compare it with, say, Oblivion, in terms of the environments anyway. Fair comment about the niche-interest, I think you need quite a bit of patience to get the most out of it.

pablomakaveli · 29-11-2009 12:55PM

jmx009 wrote: »

I soo want to play this game but i dont know if i should get this or assassins creed 2. I cant afford to buy em both. So one of them will have to wait till after christmas.

Infamouxe, you might be able to help me on this (since you've played both). Which should i go first ,Assassins creed or Dragon age origins ?

I got both last monday and i'd recommend Assassins Creed II which has greatly improved since the first one.

I've been a bit disappointed with Dragons age. It seems to be a cross of Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic. There is some depth to the game but i just have'nt enjoyed it. I think the real time battles are just too chaotic to control properly, the graphics are poor on the PS3. Maybe if i give more time to it i might enjoy it more.

If your going to get Dragons age i'd reccomend getting it for the PC and wait a while for the price to go down.

RAIN · 29-11-2009 01:56PM

I'm about 20 hrs in and I think it just gets better and better, weirdly it's only in the last couple of hours that I have really got the hang of the combat system. I recommend going to casual for an hour or two, it lets you concentrate on what you're doing instead of worrying about dying! Once you get past the first few hours you do notice a lot of pretty locations and the visual become less of an issue. Story is fantastic, mind bending amont of detail and lore. Haven't played AC2 but it could well be the safer bet, of coarse there is also the chance that you will think both are ****. Make sure you know what you're getting into! YouTube video reviews etc.

WolfForager · 29-11-2009 03:33PM

My only problem is whether to pick this up on PC or PS3... I prefer console gaming to pc gaming but i've heard brilliant things about the PC version...

TelePaul · 30-11-2009 12:33PM

RAIN wrote: »

I'm about 20 hrs in and I think it just gets better and better, weirdly it's only in the last couple of hours that I have really got the hang of the combat system. I recommend going to casual for an hour or two, it lets you concentrate on what you're doing instead of worrying about dying! Once you get past the first few hours you do notice a lot of pretty locations and the visual become less of an issue. Story is fantastic, mind bending amont of detail and lore. Haven't played AC2 but it could well be the safer bet, of coarse there is also the chance that you will think both are ****. Make sure you know what you're getting into! YouTube video reviews etc.

I'm exactly the same, 20 hours in and have found my feet with regards to tactics, etc.

inFamouxe · 30-11-2009 04:05PM

Im at the lothering at this point, and Morrigan is fecking badass! Just wondering lads does the enemy gets tougher? cause i feel like they are too easy....

TelePaul · 30-11-2009 04:26PM

inFamouxe wrote: »

Im at the lothering at this point, and Morrigan is fecking badass! Just wondering lads does the enemy gets tougher? cause i feel like they are too easy....

What difficulty setting? I have it on medium and yes, it gets so tough!

inFamouxe · 30-11-2009 04:35PM

TelePaul wrote: »

What difficulty setting? I have it on medium and yes, it gets so tough!

Well that's good then!

Mine is on normal aswell...

RAIN · 30-11-2009 05:22PM

inFamouxe wrote: »

Im at the lothering at this point, and Morrigan is fecking badass! Just wondering lads does the enemy gets tougher? cause i feel like they are too easy....

yeah it gets tougher, jesus you're in for a surprise! The start is piss easy.

inFamouxe · 01-12-2009 02:22AM

Ohhh nooooooo! I have to start ova again! didn't know you can buy backpack on this game! :mad:

inFamouxe · 05-12-2009 04:16AM

Any tips gaining party members affection? I really can't wait to shag all of them...

jmx009 · 05-12-2009 07:55AM

inFamouxe wrote: »

Any tips gaining party members affection? I really can't wait to shag all of them...

lol !!

Dragon Age Origins - Victory of Substance over Style?

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