The Dragon Age 2 Impressions Thread

Could you please put a friggin spoiler alert???

 

Mmmmm, I'm seeing a lot of hating on DA2, and I'd just like to drop my 2c off here.

1) Storyline
Yep, DA2's storyline isn't quite as epic as DAO's was. Fair points.

Though it's a really great twist when it you kill your remaining sibling and then inflict the darkspawn taint on all of your companions so they have to stick with you or die. And then there's the cutscene where you burst into the room where that female Templar is holding Varric and kill him too, so he can't give her any more information. Plus of course that section at the end which involves you hacking your way into the castle at Denerim to knock the king off his throne and take it for yourself. I wonder how that works for people roleplaying good characters? Or what if you helped a different king in DAO?

2) Companions' armour
It's not really a big deal to me not being able to swap out my companions' armour, though not having any use for the other two classes' armour does make me a little bit sad.

Companions aren't that squishy. I'm doing my first playthrough on Hard, and even then my companions don't usually get 1HKOed.

3) Gameplay
Is DA2 for everyone? Probably not. Is it a bad game? Answer to that is no, as well.

If you liked the tactical aspects of DAO and Baldur's Gate, you may be a little disappointed. If the heavy action of Mass Effect was more your style, then DA2 will probably be more appealing to you than its predecessor was.

I'm a fan of X-Com and Mass Effect in equal measure, so it's all golden over here.

 

I actually liked the Awakening more than DAO. DAO bored me to death, it was like in South Park's - catch the dragon scene, I kept joking with my friends about it. DA2 is ok, but after the Awakening I thought they finally got things right... instead I got exactly what lidowxx said, I half-baked product. It is still interesting in the sense that you get to know how the story goes on... but besides that... I will not go into details. IMO, the story and the fast pace of the game is the only thing saving it from complete failure.

 

A lot of the complaints over DA2 are not surprising considering Bioware is probaby spending a lot of their resources on their MMO. Bioware just seems stretched too thin, which is why I think their recent ME2 and DA2 are almost 1/3 just cut scenes to get reduce game content.

Compare the Giants of Gaming Standards. Bioware, Blizzard and Valve.
- Valve and Blizzard both take forever to release any game and dedicate all their time on it. Sure SC2 for Blizzard started 12 years ago, but the actual development five years. That's because the SC2 staff were working on World of Warcraft and the expansions. Blizzard does not release games simultaneously like Bioware does. It seems as if Blizzard does release simultaneously, but if you look at their development schedule they really don't.
- WC3 development began in 1998 and released in 2002. 2001 is when Blizzard began developing World of Warcraft which uses the same engine as WC3. 2001 is when Blizzard was just polishing up WC3, they don't need everyone working on that. SC2 development in 2003. But this development was halted as the team worked on WoW. Development of SC2 resumed in 2007, AFTER Burning Crusade released. Diablo 3 has dedicated 50 people working on it since 2001. Seems to be unrelated to the SC2/WoW development. And the development team are composed of Warhammer 40K, Company of Heroes and Blood II with lead designer as one of the co-creators of Fallout. This to me seems like an elite group.
- Valve has 250 employees to work on just one game. And each game is essentially either a mod or an expansion. HL2 spawned expansions and the mods Counter Strike and TF2. The Portal games were developed by a mod community which Valve polished up. And L4D and L4D2 are essentially again HL2 mods. Use the same engine for all games which as slowly been evolving.
- Blizzard has 4,000 employees... Much of that dedicated to running World of Warcraft.
- Bioware has 800 employees. In comparison, Bioware has been releasing and developing more games simultaneously than Valve and Blizzard combined in the last 4 years.

Infinity Engine > Aurora Engine > Odyssey Engine > Eclipse Engine > Lycium Engine. It just seems to me over a 10 year period, their engine hasn't developed as well as it should have. In comparison Valve's Source Engine just seems to be so much better and still just using DX9 in comparison. Valve has one of the best facial animations, among the best in physics etc. And the engine is so versatile for a variety of games with a variety of appearances. The Bioware engines had evolved greatly until their acquisition by EA. 2D to 3D obviously. Odyssey much better than Auora. But then Eclipse engine was terrible. Buggy, memory leaks, slow loading times etc etc. And Lycium while improved on Eclipse it still doesn't seem quite right, it's like Bioware's version of UE3.

ME/ME2/ME3/DA:O/DA:Awakening/DA2 are all formulalic games. They use the exact same formula. Almost no story at all. Barely any. Develop the game through interaction with party members. The game story doesn't unfold through your view, but through side quests you take on with your companions. And then there is the climactic ending. Each of these games are identical in presentation, gameplay, story/plot and character development. That alone shows how strapped Bioware is for resources. They can't even be creative with their own games...
- Blizzard games are entirely different. WoW is an MMORPG. SC2 is a strategy game. And Diablo 3 is a top down action game. These cannot follow the same formula as Bioware has done.
- Valve again same story. Portal a mod entirely different concept/story. L4D series also different from HL2. TF2 another mod, insanely popular online FPS game.

ME/ME2/ME3 are using UE3 Engine. ME2 had so many graphical compromises. Only certain parts of the characters was detailed same for the game settings. Some detailed, then others were so awful it's hard to believe it would exist in any game released in the last 5 years... This is truly not an example of UE3 can be. Batman AA on the other hand had everything with HD textures and details upon details. I don't think this means Bioware is not as good, it means Bioware simply didn't have the resources to do a proper job.

DA2 is using Lycium a modified DA:O engine, for such a project I would have thought maybe a new engine?

DA:O uses Eclipse Engine which is essentially an upgraded Odyssey Engine from KOTOR.

Personally I think the Auora engine is better than the Eclipse, if they upgraded that would have been better I thought. The characters and designs are more detailed in The Witcher for example that uses a modified Aurora. This mostly because CD Project wrote the render engine from scratch themselves. A third party can do more with Bioware's engine than Bioware could...

Details of the Eclipse Engine, DA:O and renamed for DA2, Lycium was already making news in 2004 with speculation for the Jade Empire game. In 4 years development, the Eclipse engine result was DA:O? Really?

Problems with Star Wars:
- Star Wars IP is terrible. Everything since KOTOR, and other than the original movies have been terrible. Even George Lucas couldn't create something decent since Episode VI. I-III are awful, the Star Wars Unleashed even worse and the cartoon Clone Wars just as bad.
- The Star Wars MMO also is not a Bioware engine, but HeroEngine made by some obscure company Simutronic, which has it's own network system built in. And their games look awful too, which is not surprsing since I think the Star Wars MMO graphically looks pretty awful too. Why Bioware chose HeroEngine? It's fast and quick to develop on. While one person can be designing and building one part, another can be doing another. Both people can see what the other is doing in real time. This is to me is the #1 reason why Bioware chose to use a subpar graphics engine. It simply just doesn't look as good as Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV or Tera Online. So far, the low res screenshots from Guild Wars 2 look substantially better than a high res screenshot of SWOTOR... which is sad. Bioware definitely did not have the resources it seems to develop their own engine and to develop their own network system.
- Even EA's own investors are not optimistic about SWOTOR.

- Bioware seems with 300 million in development costs still had to cannabilize Mythic Studios to help work on SWOTOR... That is pathetic. From one blog it seems Bioware again spent all their time on voice work, which I think is why their recent "RPG" games are so limited.
- With this much money spent and cannibalizing other EA studios, this had better be a WoW killer and I don't think it will be. Warhammer Online repeat #2.

It seems with such a large workload, they are making numerous compromises. UE3 engine which makes for a linear and closed areas. A narrow FOV etc. The HeroEngine again not being graphically powerful, nothing close to Arena Games Guild Wars Engine which uses Havok rather than PhysX as Bioware chose.

Anyways, that's how I see it. Bioware had built an amazing reputation and it's name has become the product. EA is hoping that others won't notice the trend in how Bioware is making games and overlook that and just hope the name is enough to carry the games. I think the cracks are showing due to this strategy. Bioware hasn't been Bioware since KOTOR is seems and that the SWOTOR screenshots don't look to be much of an improvement over KOTOR is statement enough.

When did it go downhill? 2005 is when the VG Holdings was bought out by EA, Bioware becoming an EA brand. That's when ME was released and so forth. KOTOR was probably the last true Bioware game that fans of Bioware will remember as amazing games of the last decade. Before the EA acquisition Bioware created their own engines. Before EA acquisition Bioware focused on one game at a time, Baldur's Gate, NWN, KOTOR. Now with EA, Bioware is using UE3, Eclipse which seems to be just an updated Odyssey from KOTOR, and graphically it shows, very dated looking. Their MMO is using HeroEngine (). And within just 4 years, ME, ME2, ME3, DA:O, DA:Awakening, DA2, SWOTOR... All of these games which I think should take 2 years dedication solely. SWOTOR should take a studio 4-5 years dedicated to that just one game.

Bioware games continuing to get praise...

Since Jade Empire, Bioware games have been console games. And the review sites like Gamespot, GiantBomb, IGN etc are predominately console game reviewers. I feel that Bioware continues to gain praise because in comparison to other console games they are great. And in comparison to other console games, these do seem like RPG games. There is a huge shift in how Bioware games are being percieved today than how they were percieved with Baldur's Gate.
- Watch some quick look videos of GiantBomb staff playing a PC Game. They are terrible. It's hard to call them games considering how bad they are at PC Gaming. Watching them play BC2 was painful, just so bad.
- Gamespot game reviews are almost all entirely done on consoles and rarely ever address issues that plague the PC versions.
- IGN sometimes don't even mention the PC at all.

 

Too much to ask, eh?

 

I still can't get over the lack of results from decision making in Bioware's recent games.

For example in DA2, you can choose to go with the "bad" responses. You keep choosing that option telling the person you are talking to no, I don't your help, go away etc. But in the end, you are still forced to do it anyways and the voice acting and cut scene is the exact same if you just said, thank you, yes I want to do it...

This repeats itself all the time. The only difference is that your companions may either agree with you or disagree. But even then it doesn't matter. Like one of my companions said no to me and that would not support my decision. But 30 minutes later in the cut scene my character says you will do this, and the companion agreed and sure enough was doing it.

ME2 was the same.

SWOTOR will likely be the same also since all of that has been voice worked just like these games have been.

RPG is role playing game
I think what is essential to a role playing game is that the player chooses a role. This role is what develops his/her character. And this character development is what makes the player's character unique from another player's. That is essentially the appeal to these type of games I think. Your experience should not be exactly the same as anothers or character be the same. Everyone who is a warrior ends up using the same weapon and armor. Really if you have any brains you will see only one set of armor is superior to all. Even if sword and shield, that same armor is the best and their is again only one shield and one handed sword that is superior to all. Only one 2H weapon is better than all, most DPS, least damage resistance from enemies (Spirit resistance is 50% less vs than other damages, physical, ice, lightning ane fire). And every character's decisions etc will be the same as no matter what you choose, your decision is predicated on what was voice acted, which is usually only one choice.

 

25 hours in and I'm still enjoying the hell out of this game.

 

I love this game. I finished act one, then restarted because I wanted to build my characters based on specific traits as opposed to have them learn everything. And I can see myself restarting again (for the 3rd time as Mage class) to try other builds.

 

That's what the spoiler tag is for.

Spoiler

Bruce Willis is a ghost

 

Spoiler

Tupac is actually alive

 

How many endings does this have? Just finished what I might say as a Happy Ending. Will try a "Kill them all" route just for the Kicks

 

I disagree on this matter. I think Mass Effect 1 was a nice RPG, seemed that it was still lacking some elements, but most of it was there. Also Dragon Age : O was a classic RPG.

 

Then we would disagree on this. DA:O was not a classic RPG, and neither was ME. Both suffer what DA2 and ME2 suffered, no significant consequences for decisions which is essential for role playing. By this alone, I don't think it's a true RPG game. The entire time I was playing both games I felt it doesn't matter what I do or choose. There is never more than one way to solve the issue, there is only one. Sure you can choose to do different things, but the dialogue never matches what you chose which ends up meaning you have only one choice in the end.

In terms of dialogue and choices, DA:O was no better than DA2. I think it was just the excitement of another fantasy "RPG" game from Bioware released since Baldur's Gate influenced the judgement of fans and reviewers. Due to all the compromises made for consoles, some have opened their eyes to the other flaws of DA2 like the lack of consequences.

 

So far I'm up to Kirkwall killing the deserters and I am pretty impressed so far. Loved the bit with the "old hag" at the beginning . I am happy to say that the game runs extremely smooth @ 1920x1080p 4x AA @ high settings DX9 with the 1 GB high rez textures pack. Knew the game was going to run on my good old lappy, but was worried I might get some stutter here and there. I disabled the rings under the characters and put some subtitles in. Also had to change the volume settings to half SFX, half music and full voice since standard the voice was very low. Other than these minor annoyances, I am very pleased to see that even with AA on I get absolutely no stutter and the game looks truly amazing.

 

It runs smooth with an OC'ed 9800M GTS at that settings? ._. Woah and I expected it to stutter a bit :x

 

The DX 9 High Settings is really well optimized so the 9800M GS should handle it fine as well for many mobile GPU's.

DX 11 mode well... Not every GPU could do it on the utter maximum.

 

I now downloading DA2 from steam, but how do i get and install the "texture pack"?

 

From here ._.

 

Spoiler

No matter which side you choose in the end, the result is the same. Bioware games don't have consequences or decisions anymore. Was the ending different in DA:O depending on your choice? Nope. If you died by sacrificing or if the witch cast a spell doesn't really matter, the finale fight scene etc is all the same. It's the same for ME2. You can't choose not to fight and see how it ends that way. You have to enter the Omega 4 Relay or quit. There isn't another solution, like espionage or gather an army or rally the empire... there is only one choice. DA2 is no different.

 

Many thanks

Weird that i cant get it from steam as they use to pach games through steam

 

Well...i am playing the game right now, at High DX11 With Texture pack and the graphics are passable now. Some of the textures are great but still not as good as they can be. As for the gameplay, it kinda grow on you but it's not as AMAZING at DA:O.

I give it a 8/10 for now.

 

What resolution?

 

My mind is torn between playing this or Shogun 2

 

1920 * 1080 on a Asus G53. DX11 High ***Until nVidia releases a non-beta fix*** High Res Texture Pack.

 

The same res and setting as me then, and i am using the gtx460m and i am NOT happy with the performace

 

That's odd, it runs great for me at those settings. no AA of course. With a 19-10 screen you dont need AA at all since you already have so many pixels, it's pointless.

Though, it does run well, Mass Effect 1 and 2 ran FAR BETTER and looked better too. Some games are like that, ugly yet they run like crap. This is one of them.

Wait till the new nVidia drivers come out for this game and BulletStorm and it should all be good then.

 

There really is a difference in 1920x1080p without AA and the same rez with 4x AA. I am currently playing the game @ 1920x1080p on high with the high rez texture pack and 4xAA and I CAN'T see a single jagged line, while without AA I can.

 

Just wounder, if the 9800gts faster than the gtx460?. If i use your setting its not very fluid on my gtx460m

 

On stock settings settings, the 460m should be much faster than the 9800m gts, although I have been overclocking, modding the vbios and installing custom drivers that have enabled my gpu to push out a lot more performance than previously possible. I'm actually playing the game right now, running through the slums. I'll post a video on my youtube channel to show my settings and fps.

 

Also, remember the 9800m G[T]S can only use DX9, while the GTX 460m can push out DX11. Are you both using DX9?

I mean, if Andros is using DX9 and Audi is doing DX11, that'll explain it. I can run the demo just fine at DX9, 720p, and Medium, on my Dellienware.

 

Yes i doing DX11 in full hd

 

The 9800M GTS is only Directx 10 Shader 4.0 so it can only utilise the high setting which uses DX10 only Very high uses DX11 and is only accessable unless you go into the ini when you have a DX11 hardware card.

The difference between high and very high is a big difference when it comes to frames along with the fact that the GTX 460 has not had a happy time with DA2 so far but the fix they released should fix that.

GTX 460 Class 1 9800 GTS Class 2 both great cards mind but the GTX owns like Dragon Age origins does over DA2.

 

Have to come to back to say that after all the bashing I've read on this thread about Dragon Age 2, I really am enjoying it so far.

The story feels more down to earth than the previous dragon age rigins imo, having to really think about your gold and surviving in a city segregated by class status and race. Very fun imo, and I am enjoying the combat very much too on hard setting... I could see how it could get really monotone in "normal" or "easy" since there would be no tactical maneuvering involved whatsoever.

Right now I really enjoy this game in stereo 3d on my 120 inch projector image, runs very smooth and the game has many scenarios that are very enjoyable in 3d. Overall I would say I am enjoying it as much as Dragon Age:Origins, if not more.

 

I'm midway or so into it and loving it. It's a bit different than Origins, but it's still a very good game. I like some aspects of the skills better in DA2 as well. Having 2 mages in a party is downright scary, in a good way

 

Finished playing through twice. The game is trash imo.

- Recycled environments, if you've seen the cave of sundermount you've seen them all
- Extremely simple and linear storyline
- Very poor and illogical ending
- Decisions don't impact gameplay
- Not enough content
- Enemy variety is awful and hardly any new enemies enter the scene. All the darkspawn look the same and you are fighting random bandits (that all look the same) one after another for no apparent reason.
- Recycled bosses
- Quests are meaningless and don't feel rewarding.
- The ending is the same no matter what you do
- All the fights are enclosed and lack strategy
- You're in one city the entire time and running back and forth between different parts is very boring and unnecessary
- The game was rushed and it took out all the content that made Origins such an amazing game

Verdict: 4/10

Only reason I'm not giving this a zero is because Varric has chest hair.

 

Completely agree. The story doesn't even deserve to be mentioned. You easily guess the ending when every other quest emphasizes how the Templars are bullying the mages. The gameplay in no way compensates for the story because it lacks depth in general. Same enemies, recycled bosses, and the lack of item variety, or rather, the lack of items in general, killed it for me.

3/10 for me.

 

lol I love his chest hair too