Dragon Age II - Reviews

(3.4)

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21.7.2011

Anyone familiar with the original Dragon Age origins or the excellent Mass Effect series (also by Bioware), will know what to expect from this latest installment of the Dragon Age saga (megadrive).This game differs significantly from the original in a number of ways, firstly in the character class system. In the original Origins (oranges), the player could choose from seven `starting' stories for the playable main character. These short introductory levels were unique for each of the characters, and included scenarios such as a well-to-do elf leaving a rich life, a dwarf coming up to the surface for the first time, a noble human on the run and a mage looking for freedom.These origin stories were short introductions, which all linked to the same starting point of the main quest, meaning you could play through the game with any of the characters and not miss anything. This turned out to be a little bit of a gimmick, really, as apart from the opening section, there weren't many notable differences in playing through the game with the different character classes (aside from a few alternative dialogue choices throughout the game).So, Bioware, uh, `be aware'...that this game is quite a bit simpler with respect to the initial character choice. At the start of this epic saga (master system) you basically get the choice of a male or female human. You then get to chose whether your character (named Hawke, incidentally) will be a warrior, a rogue or a mage. Each of the classes has access to different attacks, skills and weapons and the different classes also lead to some subtle dialogue and story changes as in the first Dragon Age.This isn't the only example of the game skimming off the fat of the first one (with an axe), you still collect tons of armour and weapons, but this time around the supporting characters basically kit out themselves (aside from some rare collectible pieces), so you only have to concern yourself with Mr. or Miss Hawke's equipment.The other main advantage to having less character choices this time round is that the main character now has a voice. So whenever a line of dialogue is selected, you get to hear his or her response and Hawke also joins in during the cut scenes chatting with the other party members. This makes the player feel more involved and it's also interesting to see how Hawke will respond if you select, say, the angry or sarcastic answer when questioned.The epic saga (Dreamcast) starts out with one of your party members Varric, (a dwarf with a crossbow you pick up on your travels) being questioned and telling his captors the story of the Champion of Kirkwall. The game is told as a sort of `flashback' (not to be confused with the old Megadrive Flashback game... ahhh, remember that?). So Varric begins telling the story and the tutorial section features your character as a wildly exaggerated, `beefed up' version their true self, as Varric has a habit of twisting the truth slightly. The player gets to try out some basic combat and spells/techniques on a group of dark spawn (the enemies from the first game......keep up). This gives you a chance to try out some of the special moves you'll pick up later on, as well as being a nice introduction to the faster paced combat and highlights the difference from the original game's slower, almost turn based battles.The game takes place in and around the city of Kirkwall and is set over a ten year period. This is then split into three chapters and countless missions (well, you probably could count them, but it would be quite a high number). There's a lot to keep the player busy in the game world and even though you spend your time in and around one city, there are enough different quests and areas to keep your interest levels up. The quests are all highlighted in one of your (many) inventory screens and you can keep track of which particular mission you're currently tackling. The missions are split into main quests, which need to be completed in order to advance the story, companion quests which gain the loyalty of your team mates (a lot like in the Mass Effect games) and side missions which are simpler, smaller missions mainly completed to gain money, equipment and experience points. One of the things I liked about both the Dragon Age and Mass Effect games was the fact that your current objectives and locations are easy to follow and because you always know where to go and what to do next, you never get stuck or lost. This thankfully cuts out a lot of the frustrating and monotonous backtracking that spoils so many other RPGs (Role playing games...not grenade launchers. If anything `backtracking' might help line up the shot to assist with the trajectory of your rocket propelled- uh, wait...what am I talking about?).Leveling up your characters is also enjoyable and skill points can be distributed to the characters in a number of areas such as strength, stamina, cunning and overall health. The player gets to manually level up all of the supporting characters, as well as Hawke, and you get to decide which skills and specialties to grant them as well. There is a real feeling of character progression throughout the game, especially for Hawke, as he/she begins the game as a refugee coming to the city with basic skills and attacks, and by the end of the saga (Saturn) he/she/it is the respected champion of the city with a range of powerful skills and special abilities.Oh yeah, and there's sex in the game.....sort of. Bioware have been pulling the old `sex sells' approach ever since the first Mass Effect game. Basically your character can, with the correct set of dialogue choices, `get it on', so to speak, with a number of members of the opposite (or even same) sex. You can also form a relationship with one or other of them, which again leads to slight differences in the story and feels deeper than the Fable games' attempts at the whole `relationship' thing. Again, there is no real need to do this (apart from seeing some awkward, fully clothed dry humping) and you can just choose to be really horrible and sarcastic to everyone instead. The fact that there are so many dialogue and character class options means this is the sort of game you will easily end up playing through multiple times and have it still seem fresh and interesting.As well as all of this, the actual story and dialogue is well crafted and written and often the exchanges between characters is genuinely amusing, especially some of the cheeky comments from Varric and Isobella (a saucy, busty female pirate you meet along the way, who looks like a very sun tanned Lara Croft...but much, much less uptight).Each of the three chapters has a different main plot thread going on throughout but the whole game is leading up to the epic showdown between the Templars and the Mages at the game's finale. At multiple (hit) points throughout the game, Hawke must chose to side with the mages or go against them leading to finally choosing whether or not to side with them in the final, massive, epic, uh,... massive show down!In conclusion then, this is quite an improvement over the original Origins (Orangutan), which was in itself a solid, well written and enjoyable role playing game. This sequel takes the best aspects of the first Dragon Age and trims off all of the unnecessary bits, making for a faster, more enjoyable and deeper experience. This added to the fact that it can be played through multiple times makes this an extremely rewarding game and well worth the asking price (unless they're asking, for, like a thousand pounds or for you to pay with sovereigns or something). I can wholeheartedly recommend this wholeheartedly to veterans (geeks like me) and newcomers alike....wholeheartedly!Overall score: 4 dead mages out of 5.

22.3.2011

Who would've known? Apparently, flashing up some of your character's moves makes a game a button masher..I'm an avid PC gamer, always have been. I've constantly supported PC titles and spoken out for the PC when developers decide to treat us unfairly due to the expanding console movement. I know when PC gamers are mistreated, and in my opinion, Dragon age 2 isn't an example. I can understand a few of the outbursts by PC fanatics, but in Dragon Age 2's case, I think the expressed hatred is just an act of stubbornness. Don't get me wrong, Dragon Age 2 is still flawed, and Bioware have stripped some features that were unnecessarily removed, but for me,this doesn't diminish the game's quality.One of the main complaints I've heard from people is that the story's a load of rubbish. I for one, disagree completely. Dragon Age 2's story takes a more political turn, causing it to be a much less cliched plot than the original. This is an adult fantasy, edging away from cliches into themes that concern our lives in the real world. Corruption, flawed perceptions and rogue religion are just some of the occurring themes popping up throughout the game, making it a much more adult affair, which is well suited for the setting of the game. Origin's story was more than a little Lord of the Rings-esque, and fortunately, Dragon Age 2 turns against this. No longer is there a horde of darkness coming to threaten all that is known in the world, and no longer is there a typical hero who overcomes all odds and saves the lands from definite destruction. While Origins most certainly handled the plot magnificently, there can't be a denial of its major inspiration from The Lord of the Rings. Dragon Age 2 is more similar to something like 'A Game of Thrones' where characters are never completely good or evil, and politics shape the events that occur in the world. The story is focused entirely in Kirkwall, which manages to make events all the more personal - Major events are happening in your own hometown, and those changes affect you as well as the whole city. Admittedly, the story ends with some loose ends. Not all answers are revealed, and not every characters' fate is known. It's a slight downside, but everything leading up to it is fantastically done, and 100% satisfying. Similar moral dilemmas as seen from the brilliant 'Witcher' are shown here, making you question which path to take, sometimes if only for the lesser evil. Bioware have a trend with their fantasy RPGs to improve their stories with their expansion packs (Shadows of Undrentide for example), so I'm sure that there'll be an expansion pack released later on this year, in order to round up the answers together. Enough is explained and finalised in the game itself to be satisfied however.Another complaint I've heard is "The characters don't match those in Origins". In some extent, this might be true. Origins's highlight was its characters, owning layer upon layer of complex traits never before seen in a video game. Any characters are hard to live up to when you consider Origins's greatness. But that doesn't mean the character focus in Dragon Age 2 is any lesser however. More effort has been made to form relationships between the characters. Dragon Age 2 is focused over a period of 10 years, which means there's potential for many complex relationships to bloom throughout the game. One wonderful character, the Welsh-accented elf Merill, develops over the years from being a nervous, socially unaccepted Dalish elf into a much more confident, chirpy character, able to befriend a great deal of your companions as well as a wide array of characters outside your party. It's not only Hawke's relationships that develop, but every character in your party begins to create bonds with others, even forming a romance or two on the way. More conversations between your party members are made during gameplay, consistently bringing the relationships to life, developing further something that Origins merely touched upon (Alistair and Morrigan's relationship for example). Some people might complain the dialogue wheel ruins the 'old-school' feel for the game, and that's true enough. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. All it does is manage to make Hawke a much more emotionally attached character to the player, furthering the personal feeling to the game. There may be a few less dialogue options because of this, but the sacrifice is well worth it in my books. I don't think Dragon Age 2 would've succeeded in telling its tale if the main character's speech was nothing more than a mime like the first game. The characters themselves are astonishingly detailed. You can't hate someone like the Arishok, despite his extremist views on humanity. His outlook makes undeniable sense, even if his intentions are incorrect.And now to the largest complaint of all - the gameplay. The debate about the gameplay is unquestionably misplaced from reality. If there's any possible resemblance to a 'hack and slasher' in the game, it would have to be in the easy difficulty. Origins itself played at around the same speed if selected on easy, so I really don't see what the fuss is about. Any difficulty higher becomes more strategic. The top down view had been stripped unnecessarily, but that doesn't ruin the gameplay like others are making it out to be. If there's a change in the gameplay, it's that the animations are a lot more vivid, and fast-paced. Strategic elements aren't abolished because of this. There were a few moments in the game where I really did have to strategise things delicately in order to succeed. The complaints about the combat are baseless, and just stubborn if truth be told. There's enough variety here to keep an RPG fan satisfied, while not alienating those who don't often try RPGs. People claiming that the game's 'not an RPG' are being ridiculous. It may be a little more streamlined than Origins, but it's a helluva lot more complex than your average RPG these days. Not being able to change your companions' armour is pointless and changing the inventory screen a little is unnecessary, but this does not brand the game as being any less an RPG. It's still one of the more strategic, brain-using games around, and those claiming otherwise are being fools. You want something completely brainless? Go play Black Ops or Halo Reach. Dragon Age 2's combat is intricate and deep, and these common complaints are completely out of place.It is unfortunate that EA clearly decided to rush Dragon Age 2's release, and occasionally it falters to reach the original's quality. Some environments are repeated continuously, showing that the developers were pushed into release, which is a true downside. In some respects however, it peaks what the original's already succeeded in doing and develops the game further into greatness. Us PC gamers have gotten used to moaning so much recently (and rightly so, since we've been mistreated greatly), it seems some of us can't help but carry on the trend even if the complaints are baseless. Dragon Age 2 is a fantastic RPG, not dwelling on your typical Lord of the Rings structure often found in games. It's a little unfinished, but for what it is, it's brilliant. I understand not everyone will agree with my review and that's fair enough, but for me, I really think the criticism for Dragon Age 2 is completely off the rails. Bioware have done it again.

18.8.2013

Dragon Age II is the successor game to Dragon Age: Origins, although not a sequel in the traditional sense. It takes place in a different location with a (mostly) different cast of characters with, unusually, a much smaller and tighter focus than the first game in the series. These changes have proved controversial, with praise for the focus, the writing and the characters being contrasted with harsh criticisms of gameplay changes and problems resulting from the game's rushed development.BioWare released Dragon Age II in early 2011, only eighteen months after the release of Origins. Electronic Arts, which took over BioWare shortly before Origins's release in late 2009, is alleged to have mandated a 'quickie'sequel to be developed on a very tight time schedule and budget to help make up for the lengthy (and therefore expensive) five-year development of Origins itself. There was resistance to this at BioWare - the lead designer of Origins quit in protest, fearing the game would suffer from being rushed out of the door - but ultimately they had to comply. At the same time, EA seem to have been rather impressed with Mass Effect 2 and various mechanics from that game, such as the dialogue wheel and the loyalty missions, were transposed over to Dragon Age II.The result is a schizophrenic game that hangs between some excellent conceptual ideas, characters and writing but in which the gameplay feels like it's been compromised to make up for it. It's still very playable and very enjoyable, but it does feel like a game that's been rushed out before it was fully ready.To deal with the bad issues first, the most annoying problem is combat. Battles in the game start in the traditional manner with you spotting a bunch of enemies and engaging them. However, most battles will see additional 'waves' of enemies arriving (usually just as you think the battle is about to end) who can't be seen coming and can attack from any direction. Early in the game there seems to be more care taken about how these enemies arrive (jumping down from rooftoops or rushing in from nearby buildings) but by the end the designers have given up and enemies simply materialise directly onto the battlefield. This means that positioning your characters in the best place to have an impact on combat is now futile, as you can be swamped from any direction at any time and not be able to do anything about it. The developers help you out by turning off the 'friendly fire' option on area-of-effect spells (you can switch it back on again at the higher difficulty levels), so you can firestorm the heck out of massed gangs of enemy without fear of sustaining injury, but this simply removes the (limited, but still present) tactical realism of the first game and makes the whole thing feel too arcadey.This is not helped by the fact that Dragon Age II has simplified inventory management beyond even the heavily-streamlined mechanics of the original. Your companions' armour cannot be changed at all, although you can give them different magical amulets and rings. Only Hawke's weapons and equipment can be changed at will.Another major problem is the re-use of the same maps for locations. All the mines in the game have exactly the same lay-out as one another. The same is true for mansions, caves and sewers. The developers drop different partitions into the maps to try to change things up, but they are all clearly the same places (and the mini-map never changes to take into account the partitions, often resulting in you going down dead-end passages which are shown as being open on the map). Obviously this is a result of the crippling budget issues, but even so it's repetitive and monotonous to the point of boredom.The final issue is the lack of choice in the game: major events happen in the game which it is impossible for you to influence, even when it feels like you should be able to (some of Anders's actions in the endgame, most notably). This silliness reaches its zenith in the climactic battle where you have a lot of choices to make and the battle ends up unfolding more or less the same way regardless. The much greater freedom and resonance from your decisions seen in Origins is absent here.So, weaker combat than Origins (and Origins itself was riddled with some major problems in that regard anyway), a lack of choice and some seriously bland locations should all make for a poor game, right? Not entirely. Dragon Age II does do a lot of other things right.Most importantly, it is far better-written than Origins. Dialogue is less expositionary and portentous. Instead, it's more naturalistic and enjoyable. The voice acting is superior right across the board and the companion characters are more interesting. The 'loyalty mission' mechanic from Mass Effect 2 also helps in this area. Each companion has their own interests, problems and issues to deal with, and by helping them out you can improve their loyalty to you. This will determine who stays with you, who turns against you and who flees during the culminating battle. It's a nice idea as completionists will want to complete all of the companion quests, resulting in a better understanding of the characters (in Origins there was a whole bunch of characters I left in camp and never bothered with because the game never gave me a reason to use them over my core team) and their relationships with one another. BioWare have done a better job of giving the characters their own arcs (some rather tragic) and making them deeper and more complex than those from the first game.Additionally, the story and worldbuilding are much better-integrated with one another. Origins suffered from presenting Thedas as yet another epic fantasy identikit landscape, with the more interesting background elements (such as the the templar/mage tensions and the Qunari) kept to one side in favour of dealing with the generic horde of generic monsters. Dragon Age II, on the other hand, brings these elements front-and-centre and makes them far more compelling as a result. The game also tries to make up for its lack of scale and smaller number of locations by using Kirkwall as a city in which the affairs of the larger world are both reflected in micro and can also cause reverberations across the continent, acting as a sort-of medieval fantasy version of Babylon 5's titular space station. It's an idea that almost works, though the fall-out from the events of this game will not fully be explored until Dragon Age: Inquisition (the forthcoming third game in the series). Dragon Age II substitutes the epic scale of Origins for something more focused and intimate which has its drawbacks (Kirkwall is a well-designed city but you'll be sick of it by the end of the game) but broadly works in furthering the game's themes of tolerance, coexistence and family.Dragon Age II (***½) is a far cry from the unmitigated disaster some have labelled it as. It has some problems, sure, but then so did Origins. In fact, the two games seem to have swapped their issues: Origins had better combat but poorer writing. Dragon Age II's combat is less satisfying but the writing, story and characters are superior. Ultimately, the two balance out, leaving Dragon Age II a reasonable - if flawed - companion game to the flawed - but enjoyable - original game.

12.4.2011

Considering all the hate this game has been getting I'll put first of all some qualifications in my review: I've played all the recent Bioware games, Neverwinter Nights (all expansions), Knights of the Old Republic , Knights of the Old Republic 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins (and Awakening).In one sentence, I've always loved Bioware games for the storytelling, characters and immersive experience, KOTOR and Mass Effect series being the crown jewels in that regard. Graphics were always good/really good and gameplay didn't get in the way of the story. Lately they've been transitioning from the RPG classic gampeplay style and making it more dynamic.While some people don't appreciate that in my opinion it made their games much more fun. There are no boring parts, i.e. you would not wait for the next cutscene, nor would you skip the cutscene, since it's all fun (in different ways).Graphics and level design:Let's get this out of the way. It's a bit tweaked from Origins (i don't think there was Depth of Field in DA:O, interiors look better). You will recognize character models and haircuts from Origins (maybe 1-2 more for the ladies). The levels look good, I especially liked the coastline and THE cave. This makes the game seem a little bit rushed, since there are many levels reused (THE cave, THE ambush point, THE coastline meeting point and that's about it). However, let's not forget that DA:O also had "ambush points" that kept being reused (the village, the Imperial Highway, Denerim streets). I would have liked to see more cave layouts though since it gets predictable after a while, even with customizable barred doors and such. Perhaps another darker style for the caves would have been nice.Most of the animations are standard "Bioware style". If you liked previous games, you'll take them for granted. I do have a grope with the Hurlock animation, it's just ridiculous how they move.Gameplay:I played the PC version, so I didn't get the "press A to attack" fiasco, just had auto-attack like Origins.The combat is much more dynamic than in Origins, each class has much more abilities/spells at its disposal. They made ranged viable! Ever since NWN my first character was always ranged, in NWN I dropped the first because he was poorly developed and only on the second run I could "make" ranged viable. In NWN2 I had to abandon it altogether and in DA:O just the same, you had to put a lot of work into making a "good" ranged character (or perhaps I just don't get it). I'm not a hardcore D&D'er and I don't enjoy spending lots of time to plan my character ahead. But no more! In DA2 ranged Rogues have a special ability tree with decent abilities (including cross-class combos). Cross-class combos are sequences of 2 abilities from different classes that, when applied to an enemy (or more), do additional (massive) damage. They are a great addition to gameplay, although I could only get 1 or 2 combo possibilities per party.You can play DA2 without ever pausing (as an Action RPG as Bioware calls it), but you can still play "Origins" style and it works just as well, or even better, since at higher difficulties you'll play more with pause on then with it off ;)The inventory system is changed, it that those piles of malachites and such are correctly labeled "junk" now (not sure why they still exist though). You cannot change the armor of your party members. This is a big change but one I welcome. Gone are the days when you pick up a new character (Morrigan, I'm looking at you) and have to exchange their awesome initial clothes with a green robe and a pointy hat (and if you don't, they'll just die at every encounter).Difficulty levels have been reworked, "normal" is no longer "hard". I tried to go through the game on hard, and it is quite challenging, but after the Rock Wraith boss (which I did finish on hard, took 1 hour to kill him after figuring out how, in one try) I decided that I don't have the patience so I switched to Normal. The Dragon boss was the only challenge on Normal, the rest of the fights were quite easy. Maybe I should mention that Bioware included waves of spawning enemies into the battlefield, which is quite a nuisance on Hard.Story:In trying not to spoil anything, I'll keep this one short. The story is great, but you have to keep in mind it is a chronicle not a single story, there is no overarching evil, no encompassing plot but the life of the Champion. Each year in Kirkwall can be (and should be) treated like a story in itself.The characters are instant classics. Without spoiling, let's just say that Bioware outdid themselves on characters. They actually made the player respond emotionally to them, whether it's laughing (that's certainly not new), giggling at their naivety, feeling sorry for them or outright swearing at them for double-crossing you (never did that before). It's also very interesting how they layed out the interaction with the "family" characters and it makes you really connect to them.All in all, it has its flaws, but it is an enjoyable game, with fun gameplay, a good story and a lot of unforgettable characters.AndreiLE: I completely forgot to mention dialogues and voice acting in general. I applaud the idea of restraining the character to one race so that all dialogues are completely voiced, it gives great immersion to the game. Plus the voice acting is good on both genders. While the Origins in DA:O were also a good idea, I don't feel they should do that in EVERY game. The story here is revolving around the main character, and it would have been a pity not to have voice acting and a "standard" model.Dialogues with party characters, or dialogues between them are an absolute treat. There is a lot of interaction between the characters, they even "visit" one another from time to time, which moves away from the classic star-shaped social network in RPGs, with your main character at the center.Conversation options are a bit sketchy, a lot of times it's only reconciliatory-funny-drastic combo (it's not good/funny/bad as you might think, the bottom lines aren't always bad, they're more "to the point" and less diplomatic). This does however remove problems with "hidden sarcasm" I've found in a lot of Bioware games, where you would unknowingly select the sarcastic remark not recognizing it as such from the text.I've also forgot to mention the character side-quests, which are engaging and seem to interweave much better with the "current main plot" (from the current act) or past main plots ("previous acts").

16.3.2011

Dragon Age 2 Signature Edition took me a little over 50 hours to complete. It is similar to Dragon Age but doesn't give the gamer quite the same experience.I played as a female mage on hard. It appears that the normal setting is for people who don't really want to pause often. Hard setting appears to be for those who want to pause more often but still largely concentrate on controlling a single character (how I played). Nightmare appears to be the only setting for those who want to concentrate on micro managing the party. Casual I guess is for those who want to get past a point very quickly. I would recommend playing on at least hard for those who have completed Dragon Age and dropping down only if you encounter a difficulty spike.Immediately the Dragon Age player is shown less choice.You only have the options of picking a human male/female rogue/warrior/mage. I chose a female mage with a bad seventies disco haircut. The starter area is a single path between cut scenes. No varying origins here. The skill set looked smaller. Immediately the combat was very disappointing. If five enemies appeared on screen I would unleash my skills only to watch another 5 enemies crawl out of the surroundings like rats. With my small selection of skills on cool downs I ran around firing my staff. The odd skill came of cool down and was used up and a second set of enemies had crawled out like rats... Hmm not much fun.10 hours in and things hadn't improved. In that time more disappointments had raised their ugly heads. Firstly I still didn't have enough skills to last the waves of enemies. Secondly the waves of enemies meant that I required more effort to move my characters around the screen and I had no zoom out option. THAT'S NO ZOOM OUT OPTION. Out of annoyance my party always consisted of hand to hand specialists so I didn't need to keep finding space. I could equip my team with weapons and trinkets but only I could equip armour. Levelling up involved raising my main stats to fit in with the available equipment, which didn't feel much like choice. The war hound was just a mindless uncontrollable meat shield. I had already seen the world; A handful of city areas and a handful of country areas which are visited repeatedly for the list of quests. Graphically Dragon Age 2 is a mixed bag with some very flat areas and some pleasant face shapes. Conversation mostly revolved around selecting between wet social worker, bull headed aggressive and sarcastic teenager. None felt right. My personality seemed very jumpy. I hadn't witnessed much in the way of plot or party friendships and banter despite getting options to start romancing practically every one.After chapter one I found myself back in the same place ready to visit the same places... Hmm not much fun. The whole experience could be summed up as disappointing.I did find myself enjoying Dragon Age 2 after that though. Right up to the very end. Combat is quite balanced between warrior, mage and rogue. The waves give the enemy a chance to do to you what you do to them. I used to struggle to stop myself fireballing enemies at the edge of the screen in BG and getting attacked by a mage that appears mid fight feels like deserved payback. An enemy rogue can unstealth and backstab with a chance to kill a low con mage. An enemy mage can cause devastation to carefully laid attack plans. An enemy warrior can slow down your attack. Your warrior isn't as guaranteed to achieve crowd control as in Dragon Age and you cannot just place you party at the start of the battle. I found myself keeping a careful eye on the methods of the enemy and my teams location on the battlefield throughout most battles. With a larger skill set the wave/cooldowns aren't as big a problem and the wave/cooldown combination pushed me to use more of my skills in a battle rather than settle into a routine of the most effective handful. The skill set becomes quite pleasing. All these changes mean Dragon Age 2 accomplishes quite enjoyable strategic battles some of the time.Not being able to equip armour on your party members did mean that I was more likely to chop and change my party. In Dragon Age I used to pick team members with the best equipment and best equip my early favourites. In games in the past I used to strip inactive team members to max out my current team. Taking a piece of armour off a giant and putting it on your dwarf is not particularly likely, nor is reloading and stripping a character if you find out they are about to leave. With their own equipment I didn't get an urge to micro manage in out of character ways.The inventory system of being able to label items as junk and mass selling junk is a welcome addition. The plot and character interaction picks up and there are some great cameos. The conversation options become less grating. The story is not as interesting but I prefer stories that don't just singled you out throughout the games as something special so that wasn't all bad either. The whole game is quicker, more balanced and more streamlined. For the majority of the playing time things work well even if the changes to Dragon Age rarely work for the better. I would say that during the latter part of the game things work better than in Awakenings however (as long as Bioware don't bother to fix the lack of difficulty and overpowered skills in Awakenings anyway).Overall it is a massive shame that the complete package has too many back steps and side steps from Dragon Age Origins. There was no need to release a sequel so soon after the original & Bioware can achieve much more charm in a game than this. I thought Dragon Age was a disappointment from Baldurs Gate, despite it being one of the best modern RPGs the professional reviews made it sound like the perfect resurrection of a much loved game. Surely Dragon Age sold enough copies plus DLC to warrant its development time? It didn't need anymore marketing squeeze. Yet despite this one being an alright modern RPG, the trend has sadly continued down instead of levelling off with more factory production style development techniques and even blinder professional reviews.When it comes to a charming story and original design in films, the cult classic tends to achieve where the action block buster fails. Action sequels tend to achieve minimal charm or original design. This unfortunately is an RPG with an action sequel style production.

5.4.2011

First of all let me start by saying, take a review that has actually been written by someone who has played the game thoroughly and finished it over multiple playthroughs. It's easy for someone to 'Rage-Write' a review while their controller still lies in bits scattered across their bedroom floor after they couldn't beat the bosses, even on Casual mode!Revisiting Thedas...Everything has had a revamp. Firstly, this game is visually stunning, a total improvement from the first game which was a little muddied and rough around the edges. The character definition around facial features is amazing, even when you are creating him/her. The bad side of this is that some of the characters from the first game dont look like their original counterparts.I will not reveal who they are but when you see them you will think 'Ah, yes that opinionated reviwer on amazon.co.uk was right!' The qunari look like a completley different race compared with Sten who we saw in the first game.In summary, while the graphics are brialliant, the producers definatley seem to have shot themselves in the foot, even with good intentions and basic improvments.The Conversation Wheel...Fans of Mass Effect will not that this game has an almost identical conversation mechanism, with the Good, Bad and Middle ground basic conversation replies. The answeres the main character gives (Who is fully voiced, and while rather bland initially, seems to come into his own as the game progresses) are represented with symbols i.e. an olive branch for a peaceful retort, or a red clenched fist for an agressive one, followed by a brief line of text giving the central theme of Hawke's argument. Anyone with an ounce of brain power can see what symobl represents what...really, it's not difficult. There are arguments that people find this a little 'Black and White'...Yes, funny how they didn't say the same thing about Commander Shepard (Im guessing because he's an AMERICAN!) They will find a way to complain about everything us BRITS do, even in video gaming it seems.In summary, Yes, i do believe that the Convo-Wheel can portray itself to be a little one or the other, but it's just good to hear my character speak, rather than a measly solitude line of text replicating my exact words.Combat...It just seems you can't please some gaming fans. First of all they didn't like the fact that in DA1, you simply pressed a button and watched your character carry out a series of attacks while you micro-managed their powers or 'moves'. Now, when Biowarwe finally hand them back power to attack...they STILL don't like it! I mean, come on. Choose a side for goodness sake! Yes, it is frighteningly reminiscent of 'button bashing' but at least now your character reacts to you, so you actually feel like you are Hawke (The main Character) and not just a puppet master. Although you still manage what powers they use and when.Again, this part of the game is an improvement from the first as for me, there really is no substitute for the feeling that YOU and not the computer has hacked down an enemy!Decisions, Decisions...The game is full of optional extras as it were. Companion stories that take the length of the game to complete, side quests and treasure hunts can really keep you going for hours in DA2. Each story has a beginning, middle and an end. However, it's not just at the end of missions where you choose how it is going to play out. Right from the begining of each quest, you can plan out with certain characters how it is exactly you want it to play out...although plot twists and turns do everything in their power to make it difficult for you, and many of the main quest story lines have many optional endings your charcter has to choose.This really is the cornerstone of DA2. Bioware may have tripped over themselves with certain aspects of this game, but my word have they delivered on this! If Role Playing and the old 'Decions and Consequences' dicotomy is the real reason you love games like this, then on this basis alone. I can't fault it. Genuinely a briallant, brialliant part of the game. Arguably, it's saving grace.My One main Criticism...Recycled environments. Mass Effect, and even as far back as Baldur's Gate very rarely copies environemtns brick for brick as it were. Each environment in those games seem to be their own. You really got the sense that when you were travelling to a different place that it really was geniunely unique. A real place where even the trees were a different type to the environment from which you just came. Well absolutley NOT in DA2. There is still rolling countryside and cramped city environemens that you can explore in DA2, its just that...Well, for the most part it looks EXACTLY the same, with a few exceptions, but whever you go to 'a cave' or 'the sewers' or 'an ambush site' or 'a dungeon' ... They seem to be total replica's of their counterparts, simply peppered with different plot points or characters. It's this, that really brings the game down, just downright lazy graphic design.I could go on and on and on about where this game is astounding, and where this game needs tweaking, and where this game is just bad. But, you really need to play it for yourself. Anyone qwho says that "If you played the first one and are expecting a good sequel, then you will be dissapointed" is wrong. While there are some changes and differences, the game really does deliver as a sequel. If you enjoyed the character banter from the first game, if you enjoyed the decision making capacity, if you enjoyed the lengthy satisfying game time, if you enjoyed the epic scale of Dragon Age, if you enjoyed the fact that Dragon Age is one of the best RPG's there is....Then go out and get this game. With any luck, you won't be dissapointed. Hope this cleared the air! Happy gaming!

13.3.2011

I felt compelled to write something about DA2 because a lot of the criticisms people have put forward regarding the game are completely misinformed, or just plain wrong. In fact, it strikes me that most people 'reviewing' the game haven't played it whatsoever, and are simply jumping on the EA haters bandwagon. Having played it extensively over the past few days, I'm quite hooked, and enjoying it a lot.Lets start at the combat - I've seen too many people claiming it's a consolified hack and slash affair, however this couldn't be futher from the case (unless, perhaps, they're playing on easy, and not using any of their classes abilities whatsoever). I actually prefer the combat compared to Origins,there are just as many varied and interesting abilities for each class, perhaps more so, but what I really like is the sense of tactical interplay between the classes. Abilities can trigger status effects, e.g. rogues disorient targets, which can be exploiting by warriors or mages if you're quick to react with an appropriate ability. In addition, the combat animations for abilities are more visceral and satisfying than the previous game, and it feels like a lot of work has gone into the combat to make it flow nicely. Playing on hard, I've come across some quite challenging fights - but nothing that wasn't manageable with proper use of cc, dps focus, tanking, cooldowns and cross class combos. To say these mechanics contribute a 'button masher' is inappropriate, I think.With regards to the characters, they're an interesting and varied bunch, from a cunning dwarf that named his crossbow, to a slightly nervous, Welsh, Dalish mage. As before, there's ample opportunity to befriend or make rivals of your team, with a lot of dialogue options and companion quests. Origins did this very well, I thought, and it's good to see DA2 reiterating this nicely. As for the dialogue wheel, this is a mixed blessing. I can see why some people wouldn't like the reduction in specifics in the dialogue responses - your character generally has a choice between 'themes' of response, be it neutral, peaceful, agressive, joking, etc. I quite like it, personally, but I suppose such a thing is subjective, and a matter of taste. What is certainly good, however, is the nature of the writing for the responses. All to often in fantasy games you might pick a response and be faced with a half arsed karikatura of what you wanted the character to say, and it just seems inappropriate. However Bioware seem to have done it rather well this time, every response seems appropriate to the context and your character, and whatever choices you make appear believeable. Of course, the game is also littered with moral choices and events that lead to storyline permutations later on, in the typical Bioware style.The game does take place mostly in Kirkwall and the surrounding areas, however there are detours and other places to visit. Most importantly, Kirkwall is an interesting and varied place - I didn't become bored with the settings or areas in my playthrough. The areas also look quite nice, and the graphics are a marked improvement from origins, particularly in combat. I would recommend downloading the free PC texture pack from the Bioware site. However, Bioware does have a habit of reusing cave structures and rooms in their games, which can get a bit annoying when it's noticable. This applies to all their titles - origins and mass effect 1/2 included. As expected, you can decide your own pace in the game - either explore everything and complete every side/companion quest (this applies to me - I'm a bit of a perfectionist in these matters) or simply get on with the main quest.What concerns me most is that a lot of the criticisms I've read for this game are completely false or misinformed - I've seen a leading review on this site that, for example, criticises the games combat for being too similar to Diablo 3 - a game that won't be released for nearly another year! It also stated that the game boasts a 'Sci-fi UI' similar to mass effect - this isn't the case, it has a fantasy-themed UI, and it's quite minimalist and well designed.So to conclude, DA2 really doesn't deserve the bad publicity that the EA haters and console naysayers are giving it - as a matter of fact, it shows a lot of improvements since Origins, which was a gem of a title in its own right. The combat is very enjoyable and tactical on the harder difficulties, character pace and progression is very good, with a host of interesting abilities to be unlocked in each skill tree (of which there are many). The game looks decent, particularly the combat, and the diologue/writing is well implemented and developed. I would suggest that if you've been put off buying the game by misinformed reviews (many of whom probably haven't actually played the game themselves) take the plunge and play the game yourself. Form your own opinion - I did, and found it quite worthwhile.

16.3.2011

Okay, I've just finished my first run through of Dragonage 2. I'll attempt to write a comprehensive review without any spoilers to the plot, so feel free to read on.This game has received mixed reviews. I feel this is not because of the game itself, but because the hordes of Dragonage fans (similar in many respects to Trekkies)wanted, demanded and expected this game to be 'The Further Adventures of The Hero Of Ferelden'. Despite being warned months in advance by Bioware there is still an uproar when they don't get what they wanted.The story is this.While the 'blight' that is the main focus of Dragonage Origins rages, a family of 4 get the heck outta Lothering (that village in Origins where you first met Leliana and Sten)and then head off to a completely new to the game location, a huge city called 'Kirkwall.'Set over 10 years, this story is about your character's, ie one of that family's members, rise to being 'Champion of Kirkwall.It ain't about another 'Blight'. The Darkspawn are in it, but not that often.You start off creating your own character. You have to be a human called 'Hawke'. You can be a male or female and a warrior/ rogue/mage.Like Mass Effect you can simply be the 'generic Hawke', or you can design your own.This is like Origins but has more hair/beards etc etc and I found the character's I was making were much better than in Origins.You are asked to give a history from Origins. There's three 'set' ones to choose or you can upload your own file. That gives you a plot summary about which Dwarf king is on the throne, who is King of Ferelden, what happened to Morrigan at the end etc. etc. These all have a bearing on what's about to happen.It really doesn't matter what class you play as because the first massive improvement in DA2 is the combat.Remember how it took you an absolute age to swing a double handed sword in Origins???? Gone. Lightning fast.Remember the really soft, wimpy mages that stood at the back taking forever to cast a spell? Now they are like Ninjas with fire and they actually fight with their staffs.And The Rogues???? Simply brillaint...too fast to watch properly half the time.But the best thing about this, like Origins, is the superbly written story.Origins was based on Lord Of The Rings. Number 2 has a very, very mature plot.There's discrimination, corruption, racism, murder all going on in Kirkwall and you are smack bang in the middle.There's two very different and distinct sides you can pick (and you have to pick one, no wimping out).Your companions are divided in beliefs and loyalty. You can never please them all and not all will survive as a result.Two side quests to give an example of how mature the story is:1. You are hired to capture an escaped con. He kidnaps and murders children. You decide whether to take him in to face the law or simply gut him.'GUT HIM' you all cry...ahhh but it's not that simple. Is it really him doing it, or is he possessed by demons? And which ever you choose alters later story lines.2. There's an early quest that introduces you to a serial killer you have to track down. This goes on throughout the game. Can you stop the killer before he kills someone close to you? I didn't!!!The companions you encounter are, once again, fascinating and deep enough to woo them, flirt with them or get on their nerves and start to dislike them.Some old favourites pop up for cameo roles but basically they're all pretty new with the exception of 'Anders the Mage' from DA Awakenings.It's very similar in looks nd feel to Origians and yes, you can't change your companions armour (boo hoo), but it's a completely new story. The main character, your character, is now voice acted and each situation has a choice of replies. My second creation, a female mage is a bit cheeky with her dialogue and it's a very good voice over.All I will say about the plot is this. At the very end you are left thinking 'There's gonna be a third one'. My guess is the third one will combine your two previous stories.I also predict a third one is gonna see one almighty grudge match between Morrigan and Flemeth (the witches of the wilds).It's as much fun as Origians, it's as enjoyable, but being 2 years later on it's improved a bit.The story is much more 'mature'. I don't mean there's loads of swearing or sex but it is wise to note it's an 18 rated game.Stop listening to the 'I wanted more of the same' brigade and buy this game.It's great.

22.7.2011

Despite absolutely loving Dragon Age Origins and replaying it many times, I was put off from purchasing Dragon Age 2 from all the negative reviews that I've seen. Having borrowed the game from a friend and playing it now, I don't think it's as bad as people are making out.Overall I would say that this does not meet the same high standards of Dragons Age Origins, and there is less choice for you in terms of the gameplay (quests are more linear), equipment is less varied, etc. However, you still have choices to make where it matters and it is an engaging and fun game to play, but it doesn't have the same replay value as the first game.The characters are just as interesting and varied as in theoriginal game - Isabela has a similar conflicted and interesting personality that Morrigan did in the first game. There is also a lot of humour remaining in the game, and some of the inter-companion discussions when exploring are hilarious, particularly some of the one-liners that Isabela comes out with. The characters are well-developed to usual high Bioware standards and the dialogue is brilliantly written and acted; there just wasn't enough of the companion interactions for me. The prompts for the interactions also felt less spontaneous as you'd get a quest to go and speak to a companion, rather than just go and talk to them.Graphically the game is very similar to the original, but clearly a larger amount of focus has been given in some areas; for example Flemeth and the Qunari look significantly different (and much improved imo) compared to in the first game. There is a lot of repetition of the same areas, e.g. cave structures etc, and the game takes place in 3 acts, all of which use the same locations. However, there was a lot of repetition of the same locations used in the original game as well. Personally, it didn't dampen my gaming experience that much.Combat-wise, the game is quicker and I think there are fewer animations used compared to Dragon Age Origins. There is also the introduction of something called cross-class combos, which means your characters can work together to deal significantly greater damage to enemies; for example warriors can stagger enemies which can then be exploited by a rogue or mage. It's a similar idea to the stacking spells in the original game (e.g. casting a tempest and a blizzard to create a more damaging "storm of the century", but has been expanded upon. I do have to say that overall I didn't die as frequently as I did in the original game and didn't find the combat as challenging, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.Character-development wise, the choice of talents is more restrictive meaning you have to choose some talents to unlock others. I actually think this is a good idea as it forces you to think more carefully about the choices that you make. There is no choice of race in this game, you have to be a human male or female, but that's because you're character is now voiced (unlike in the first game), and overall I have to say that I think the trade-off is worth it.Moving on to equipment, there are fewer unique items in this game, and a lot of the armour and weapons at higher levels look exactly the same as the lower level equivalents, whereas in the original game, there were different textures used so it felt like the equipment was different. Also, you have no control over the armour that your companions where; you can just buy upgrades for it (which don't change the appearance).

17.5.2011

I'm not a die-hard Dragon Age fan and never played the first game. I have sympathy with fans used to the first game who found that the sequel, rather than just being more, bigger and faster, takes them elsewhere. There is a reason for that - EA and Bioware have to make money, which means not just selling the same number of copies as the first game but widening the appeal to sell more. It's the curse of the fan - once you're hooked, you'll buy the stuff anyway and are no longer the target audience. It's tough (eg Star Wars prequels) but unfortunately it's life. And it's not a reason to condemn a very good game.Dragon Age 2 is an epic adventure that gets going quickly and hits you hard,especially if you're not altogether used to Adventure/RPGs. But the characters are developed quickly and you get drawn into a tale that, if not original - flight from comfort into an unknown world where the protagonist needs to prove themselves over - is grippingly told. There is a great deal of value here - it lasted me a week and like a good book was very hard to put down. There's nothing new about the quest/reward/XP/level-up system and this follows all those rules but it's done convincingly and with a polished drama that is the equal of AC2.There's plenty of humour - Hawke's one-liners never grate and the banter with his companions is bubbly. The game also features familial loyalty, tragedy and betrayal for Hawke to deal with as well as the troubles of his friends, ordinary citizens and eventually top brass. His choices in all of these matters influence later options and dialogue wheels - amounting to a serious replayability for as long as anyone can stand it. Then there's the passion - some of it fairly indiscriminate - and a stream of innuendo and suggestive imagery that makes this story an, ahem, romantic epic as well.The combat system is a bit repetitive but is saved by the player abilities, which add greatly to gameplay and particularly to the importance of building a good team. I got to the end of Act 1 and realised at the first big boss fight I hadn't a) picked the right team and b) done sufficient preparation, so had to start again. You don't want to go into DA2's big fights underpowered.I don't have any problem with the repeated use of some of the level maps in caverns and warehouses and I don't believe ten slightly different caves are going to significantly boost my gaming experience. If I had a complaint, it would be that the final act happens too suddenly without a warning to finish your business. I had to leave several side quests undone and there is no chance once the final mission sets off of going back. In addition, after the credits roll, you can go back into the world but not to free roam - it's cut off apart from the DLC, which you have to buy. So unless you want to pay, I'm afraid you are confined to your house! Maybe the Templars have put you under house arrest...In the end, it comes down to which factions you support and where your loyalties lie. For most people, these choices will be an extension of their own values and beliefs, giving the game an ability to resonate with the player personally. It's a powerful thing - there's nothing ground-breaking here in terms of concept. But this huge, well-drawn and well-written RPG script has genuine class and will keep you going for ages.The problem is that once you are hooked, Dragon Age 3 will inevitably be a huge disappointment.

10.4.2011

For anyone looking to purchase this game I recommend you look into it extensively before doing so.The story is based on a Fereldan refugee (you) who is forced to flee Lothering with family in the wake of the blight. It is set over a 10 year period which culminates in the player becoming the champion of Kirkwall. Along the way some of the choices you make influence parts of the story, but overall the story arc remains linear.Story/Quests:GOOD- The plot whilst not as epic as Origins is pretty good with some unexpected twists which are enjoyable.BAD- The management of quests can be somewhat chaotic as the player can have numerous quests which are important to the main story going at any one time.This causes a some what fragmented feel to the story at times. Origins was much more fluid in this respect with quests blending seemlessly into one another.Combat:GOOD- DA 2 is not a traditional RPG, rather an action-RPG. This is largely due to the fact the combat system has been overhauled from origins. The player is now required to repeatedly press A in order to perform attacks. This makes combat faster and slicker, it should be noted that everything else has been kept the same (you are still able to assign skills etc).BAD- Many feel as though the hack 'n' slash nature of combat takes something away from the RPG element and lessens tactical capabilities.Skills&Classes:GOOD- A new skill tree system has been implemented, this is great as it means you no longer have to go through a set of skills you may not want just to get to one you do.BAD- Tighter restrictions have been placed on character classes, BioWare stated they wanted to define the classes more. I find this to be a draw-back. It means rogues can no longer wield single handed swords and the arcane warrior (one of my favourite classes) has been removed.Companions:GOOD- I did find that the characters were well constructed (mainly due to excellent voice acting) with well defined personalities although at times Anders and his woe is me act gets annoying.BAD- You are no longer able to change what armour your companions wear, instead there are upgrades which are available in numerous places around the game. Again, not something I agree with, but a small gripe none the less.Environment:GOOD- Nothing comes to mindBAD- As the game is set on a smaller scale than that of origins, the whole story takes place in one city with numerous locations around the city and a few others outside. Here is the most poignant issue, the scenery is heavily recycled from location to location which in my opinion adds an element of tediousness to the game. My only guess is BioWare have a shed load of DLC planned in order to expand the world? Never the less a sloppy problem which could have been avoided in production.Summary:This game does have its problems, The developers made a lot of changes that many people feel were not necessary and in this respect it made for a sequel that would always struggle to live up to the stage Origins set. Having said that as a stand alone game it does make for good entertainment. The voice acting, story line, and new combat contribute to this. For any RPG fans who have not played Origins yet, I would highly recommend that first. If fast paced, hack 'n' slash action is not your cup of tea then this game may not be for you.

31.8.2011

I can see where people are coming from, I agree that it is not as good as the first game, that BioWare should take 2 or 3 years between their titles to ensure they are good and not rush them through to just make money. But people also have to understand, it likely is not their fault. EA are the guys funding them and everyone knows what money grabbers EA are (Fifa, Madden, Smackdown vs Raw, etc etc) and it is obviously effecting BioWare.That said, I still really enjoy this game. That is coming from someone who has played the first Dragon Age through 3 times (Including Awakening expansion twice). I found the combat system more interesting than the first, but I can see why people hate it compared to the old system.I was never a fan of Dragon Age: Origins for the combat system and actually found it one of the worst parts, I loved it for its dark story and difficult choices.So for me, the combat is actually improved in my opinion.The characters in the game are not bad and there are still the same hilarious lines they come up as in Origins. However, neither of the romance choices from the male perspective were in any shape interesting for me and were quite a let down. Another thing I feel is that character development is missing. You can not talk to the characters in the same depth as the first which I miss. The characters do not 'develop' through the game... for example Fenris always hates mages and never changes his views at all... Anders always hates the Templars and never changes his views at all... The characters just felt static, they never grew as people, never gained new perspectives or feelings and to me it made the experience a bit stale.The story itself is again, not as good as the first, but I still found it enjoyable. The story is kind of broken and feels like 3 chapters glued together to make one overall story arch. As seperate stories I found them interesting, but the tough choices were missing on the same scale as Origins had.People have complained of the same environments being used multiple times and it honestly did not bother me that much as the whole game took place in a city and so it made sense to visit some places a few times. The first Mass Effect had the same areas for mines used like a bagillion times and not I did not see such an uproar about that. I do agree that a larger scale should have been used, after being sent to travel around the country in the first game, being limited to a single city in the sequal seems a major step backwards. I want the game to take me to exciting new places, interesting areas to explore, traveling across the province... not stuck in 1 city.If this was not a Dragon Age game it would be rated very highly, but due to what it has followed it has dissapointed a lot of people. I have not been as dissapointed as most, but do hope the 3rd instalment takes a year longer than this one has taken to arrive in hopes that the game is polished and well thought out.I will no doubt play this game a 2nd and a 3rd time in the years to come... but I do hope for a return to form for the series in the next instalment. I wish BioWare could run independantly of EA as that would solve all issues in an instant... but thats just dreaming.

22.3.2011

So here it is, Dragon Age 2, the follow up to BioWare's RPG-epic Dragon Age: Origins. While the game did the receive mainly positive reviews from critics - it has clearly split opinion amongst fans. But why is this?Could it be a rush-job due to pressure from EA? Possibly. However, I think this explains only one small part of the issues people have with this game. The following are the main concerns people have with this game, and what I liked about - each individually addressed.The combat has received numerous complaints. If I played this game on P.C. then I'd have to agree with this criticism - but on a console? Certainly not. In my opinion it is much improved from origins.It feels much more natural and console-friendly. Origins often felt like a real grind, especially on a console due to the lack of micro-management options - but this is very, very rarely the case with dragon age 2. Definitely a step in the right direction for the most part if you're on a console. One negative point though was the number of enemies who just "appear" from nowhere. I find this does make it more difficult to be fully immersed in the game, which is a little bit disappointing.As for the smaller map - this could possibly be due to EA's influence - although thats just an assumption based on no evidence. This is criticism of the game that I do agree with and accept. It is a bit disappointing that in DA2 you spend most of your time in one city - where as in Origins you had a whole region to explore. Not my biggest disappointment in this game, but it is a step backwards.The other part of this game I disliked is the way the story was told. Occasionally cut scenes, in a way, narrate the story, and it does make you feel as if you're not really having much impact in the game. Again, not as bigger problem as people will have you believe, but I like to imagine I am the character in the game - and this made that a little more difficult for the first quarter of the game at least. Also, most of the characters weren't as interesting, likeable or memorable as those in DAO.Some people complain about the graphics. I don't understand why. They are better than in DAO. Shouldn't be an issue really.One nice part of the game is that the game is fully voiced. This is definitely an improvement.Despite my earlier complaints, the story itself is actually pretty enjoyable on the whole.Any other complaints people make aren't really worth mentioning as they really are very, very insignificant.As a sequel this game doesn't really work due to it being rather different to origins. As a spin-off, which it more or less is, it is good.I can't help but think that if this game wasn't treated as a sequel and as more of a spin-off the fans would have received it on the whole much better.On its own, it is a good game. Without a doubt worth playing if DAO, Mass Effect, Elder Scrolls etc. is your kind of thing.To summarise:gameplay +, graphics +, story +, map -, story telling -, enemies from nowhere -Judging the game itself: 8/10(First BioWare game I haven't given 5 stars)

28.3.2011

I was actually shocked to see this game being given an overall low rating. Shocked enough to write a review - something I have not felt moved to do before in many years of shopping on Amazon.It seems to me that people loved DA:O so much that any follow-up which was not simply more of the same was always going to win as many enemies as friends. Unlike films, books and TV series, computer games develop in quantum leaps rather than gradual inclines. There may be some continuity in story, characters and/or setting, but there is inevitably a change in game play. This is, after all, DA2 - a whole new game and not another expansion/add on for DA:O.For me,it was delightful to find that there was so little need to spend time mastering some new and complex method of moving, interacting and fighting. I had expected a new game to require more learning, but this was intuitive and felt very 'natural' after DA:O.I loved the voicing of the character - and the variety of different appearances you can create is pretty impressive. All the old favourite hairstyles are there from DA:O and some stylish new ones too. It is interesting to see how your family change in their appearance to match your own.The story-telling format builds a sense of tension and expectation from the first and the scenes where Varric's imagination runs away with him add a great quirky touch. The choices you make can lead to friendship, romance or eliminate companions from your company - you can even choose never to meet some of them. They come over as very real people, each with their own agenda which you can support or oppose as you choose - and deal with the, often dramatic and unforeseen, consequences...Unlike DA:O, the end of the game is a marvellous cliff-hanger. You want more and you know there will be more - whether in an expansion or in an eventual DA3.If you play games purely for love of the combat side, then personal taste will dictate if you like the system on offer or not. If you play a game for its storyline, immersion, interactions, humour, quirkiness, characterisations and plot choices, it is hard to see how you can fail to be captivated.Is it perfect? No. There are many small things that would be better left out, added in or changed - but I felt the same about DA:O and every other computer game I have ever played. The only thing that did 'grate' for me at all in my first absolutely gripping play through (I have made about two dozen, incomplete, forays into Kirkwall so far to explore the various story paths), is the reusing of the same settings over and over when they are supposed to be completely new locations. But every rose has it's thorn - and not many smell as sweet and unfold into full bloom as beautifully as this.The acid test of any series in any media has to be how much you finish one instalment yearning for the next. On that basis DA2 scores off the meter for me. I even have an odd suspicion that many of the 'moaning minnies' will be back for more, no matter how much they may protest that now.

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