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Dragon Age II |OT| The Revenge of Shit Mountain
- Thread starter EviLore
- Start date
HadesGigas
Member
Pakkidis said:
Haha, just you wait until it gets there. You'll wish it never did.
VanillaCakeIsBurning
Member
I'm just wondering, who is Felicia Day? This is first time I've heard of her and I'm wondering why it's a big deal that she's in this DLC.
Evil Benius
Member
I bought and played through the new DLC on Saturday and I am really not sure what to think at this point. The zone variety was pretty good with a decent mix of outdoor and indoor zones plus a few new enemy types were thrown in to mix things up. I think I missed some dialogue somewhere though because the story did not make a ton of sense to me. Also Felicia's character model was just plain weird looking. I could not stand to look at her face because the mapping of it was really off.
The "Awkward" scene really was just that and I have to wonder if they were trying to make some kind of reference to her
or if it was just a really bad joke. Either way it was a total throw away conversation that did not need to exist at all and added zero to the overall plot.
There was also some decent loot to be had and my mage got a new set of gear that was better than the Champion gear I finished the game with. Of course that stuff is pretty much pointless unless we see another DLC release so I am not sure how much that matters.
Finally they mix the content up a bit by having some optional puzzles in the Vault and an optional stealth section that you can choose instead of fighting your way through an area. I only chose the stealth though due to an achievement and it really was not that fun. There is also a fairly lengthy dialogue based quest in the middle (where the Awkward scene comes in) that felt like it went on far too long. Speaking of dialogue there did not seem to be any real interaction with existing characters during this DLC. I was hoping for some new Varric conversations, but there were none to be had.
The "Awkward" scene really was just that and I have to wonder if they were trying to make some kind of reference to her
Qun background
There was also some decent loot to be had and my mage got a new set of gear that was better than the Champion gear I finished the game with. Of course that stuff is pretty much pointless unless we see another DLC release so I am not sure how much that matters.
Finally they mix the content up a bit by having some optional puzzles in the Vault and an optional stealth section that you can choose instead of fighting your way through an area. I only chose the stealth though due to an achievement and it really was not that fun. There is also a fairly lengthy dialogue based quest in the middle (where the Awkward scene comes in) that felt like it went on far too long. Speaking of dialogue there did not seem to be any real interaction with existing characters during this DLC. I was hoping for some new Varric conversations, but there were none to be had.
I finished the DLC a few days go.
The story itself was decent and gives a bit of information on the Qun. I suppose that's where DA3 will head. The pacing was actually well done. I didn't feel like it was as random as some of DA2.
+
-
I actually decided to say fuck you to the cool downs this time, and grabbed a mod to reduce the times. The game actually felt much better. As a mage, the cool downs were horrible, because they make your player so useless for too long.
The story itself was decent and gives a bit of information on the Qun. I suppose that's where DA3 will head. The pacing was actually well done. I didn't feel like it was as random as some of DA2.
+
- New setting
- Variety*
- Finally, towards the end, you get new gear.
-
- The setting doesn't feel too different from previous locations
- Practically no interaction with your party members except Felicia
- *
Horrible stealth
- Mediocre side quests
- You only use the new gear for a bit
I actually decided to say fuck you to the cool downs this time, and grabbed a mod to reduce the times. The game actually felt much better. As a mage, the cool downs were horrible, because they make your player so useless for too long.
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
So, the consensus I'm getting from everywhere is not to buy Mark?
I mean, I'm gonna replay DA2 on my super DX11/Sandy Bridge/SSD/awesomeballs computer anyway.
But I wanted to know if it sucked or not.
I mean, I'm gonna replay DA2 on my super DX11/Sandy Bridge/SSD/awesomeballs computer anyway.
But I wanted to know if it sucked or not.
Vigilant Walrus
Member
Gvaz said:
I don't think so personally. I believe fantasy can transcend into being as popular and mainstream as military shooters. I think that a show like Game of Thrones, really ascended as something that most people could get into, because they dropped a lot of the unbeliveable bullshit that a lot of people don't like about fantasy.
I think this is what Bioware is trying to do with their combat systems. It goes back all the way to NWN even. Clunky fucking combat, even for it's time. In KOTOR it' was still d6 rulesets but it was semi-real time. Then they went further in Jade Empire and made a semi button smasher to reflect it's martial arts combat gameplay.. But they lost all sorts of depth. I'm replaying it now, and even though the game is great, the combat is vastly inferior to anything BW has made for many years.
Then you had Mass Effect. Almost a pure shooter. But like KOTOR and Jade, still with wacky shitty gullible inventory shit. Those fuckers didn't know how to kill their darlings, and we were left with retarded micro management that didn't give shit. People speak of depth and RPG elements, but it's actually just superficial junk that gives some wacky illusion of true customization.
Things get nice and tight in DAO but at the cost of making an old school battle system. Lots of retards whining. Reviewers calling it old school like it's a minus. I bet their focus groups probably had ADHD and were high on ritalin when they demanded more action action action, not boring swing-a-dick lalalala combat.
ME2 and DA2 tries to clean it up. I'm not opposed to the battle system in either, because I don't think highly of the foundations based on the originals. DAO was like playing world of warcraft by yourself. And ME1 had really shitty combat with unsatisfying weapons. It couldn't even compare by itself to a mediocre third person shooter. Game has great points, but the combat was retarded, and became monotone. It didn't have the 20 seconds of awesome that Bungie always talks about. That's why it didn't work very well IMO.
DA2, just like Kirkwall itself needed more time. 6 more months.. perhaps an entire year. I really liked the design and what they tried to do with it. They needed to greatly expand the combat, make skills and abillities that forced you to make you think while fighting hard enemies. Exactly like Jade Empire. At least you could do more in DA2 in terms of combat. But it came half a decade later, so fuck that. It was rushed in a criminal manner, more extreme than KOTOR 2 and NWN2.
What I take away from a good RPG combat system is that you have strategy and get a satisfaction from using your brain to execute an action. I don't think that this means you have to dumb it down, just because you want to mix it with action. Obviously, BW has been on the forefront trying to blur the line between action and RPG for a long time.
I just don't see DA2 as a bad game. I see it as a more brave game design, that should have worked much better than DAO, IF they had given it the love and care.
I imagined Kirkwall as an open world city thing. instead it was copy pasted art pieces and characters all over, and it fucked it up big time. Was it engine related, or all the story pieces that could not mix together in an open space that made them go down the way of small corridors? I dunno, but DAO... DAO was incredible uninteresting I think. I found it bland, and boring, and not like a nostalgic trip like some have.
I think that game has some of the worst fantasy art in recent memory, along with Everquest.
GoT is successful as a tv show because it's a fantasy that is less about fantasy and more about human interactions. There is still tons of fantasy but it's not too absurd as some fantasies.
I rather enjoyed the throwback to older rpgs with DA:O and other than the sluggish and some micromanaging feel to it, I enjoyed it and would call it a plus.
The art in DA2 is pretty fucking boring though, the art in DA:O was muted (perhaps out of design? idk) but looked great for what they were doing. There's nothing wrong with fantasy or the fantasy setting unless you let yourself fall into too many tropes concerning it.
I like the rpg mechanics of say like DA:O or DA:2 and KOTOR but they always trim those aspects and add more combat features, which isn't what I'm playing for. Add a diablo loot/customization system and their new combat and I'll be happy.
I rather enjoyed the throwback to older rpgs with DA:O and other than the sluggish and some micromanaging feel to it, I enjoyed it and would call it a plus.
The art in DA2 is pretty fucking boring though, the art in DA:O was muted (perhaps out of design? idk) but looked great for what they were doing. There's nothing wrong with fantasy or the fantasy setting unless you let yourself fall into too many tropes concerning it.
I like the rpg mechanics of say like DA:O or DA:2 and KOTOR but they always trim those aspects and add more combat features, which isn't what I'm playing for. Add a diablo loot/customization system and their new combat and I'll be happy.
I just beat this last night, on PC.
I honestly had a good time with the game. I'd give it a solid 7 out of 10. The combat was definitely the bright point.
The one thing that surprised me was that had no idea Isabella wasn't going to just show up on her own. By the time I found out how to get her, I figured I was too close to the end for it to matter. I'll just save her bit for whenever I decide to do a Mage run.
Overall, I don't at all regret buying Dragon Age 2.
p.s. - I added a texture mod on top of Bioware's HD texture package, which gave the environmental textures a serious boost in quality. It's called TrufflesDuval Texture Mod.
I honestly had a good time with the game. I'd give it a solid 7 out of 10. The combat was definitely the bright point.
The one thing that surprised me was that had no idea Isabella wasn't going to just show up on her own. By the time I found out how to get her, I figured I was too close to the end for it to matter. I'll just save her bit for whenever I decide to do a Mage run.
Overall, I don't at all regret buying Dragon Age 2.
p.s. - I added a texture mod on top of Bioware's HD texture package, which gave the environmental textures a serious boost in quality. It's called TrufflesDuval Texture Mod.
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
Gvaz said:
I'm looking for constructive criticism. Thanks for writing me off as a dumb fanboy.
HadesGigas
Member
~Kinggi~ said:
There's only 2 story DLCs out. The current complete version of the game can be had for like $40 (or less during sales).
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
~Kinggi~ said:
They've said there are no plans for an "Ulltimate Edition". Which seems pretty lame, and will more than likely change in the future.
krameriffic
Member
Man, those people are going to be sad once we get to the season based on A Feast for Crows.Vigilant Walrus said:
Just finished the game and I have to admit that I actually had quite a good time with it. Once I turned on the auto attack and the damage numbers it even felt like an actual role playing game. Sure lots of setting were reused and the city felt very small but I was already used to stuff like this from ME 1 and ME 2. Simply after all the hate the game got I just expected it to be much, much worse. I also found the quests, story and characters were all quite enjoyable.
Overall a step back after DA 1 but I'm genuinely looking forward to DA 3 just to see how it all plays out.
Overall a step back after DA 1 but I'm genuinely looking forward to DA 3 just to see how it all plays out.
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
Did you import a save file or start fresh?
legacyzero
Banned
that OP.......is amazing.
You could have gotten a couple of candy bars and a pop for that. What a waste.
Probably. =)
EmCeeGramr
Member
^
Horrible
Better inventory management? They even added more pointless junk items... He liked the same copy pasta areas because he knew his way through them by heart...
Isn't this the website that gave it 10/10.
Yes.
Dark Stalkers
Member
Has Bioware ever made a good inventory system?
The Antitype
Banned
I don't really get the hate for this game.
It's like a 6/10 or 7/10 game, right? When was the last time there was so much vitriol directed at an average-to-decent game. Too Human?
It's like a 6/10 or 7/10 game, right? When was the last time there was so much vitriol directed at an average-to-decent game. Too Human?
Basileus777
Member
It's Bioware, everything involving them becomes full of melodrama.
I imported a save file, though I have to admit I wished that there had been more references to the first one. Something like
actually meeting the grey warden you played in the first one would have been cool
Fimbulvetr
Member
DA2 being a bad, unfinished game is just half the story.The Antitype said:
The marketing, reviews like the one posted on the Escapist, and the responses to criticism from the devs actually resulted in more bad vibes than the game itself.
As someone who actually lives in Brooklyn, Im offended by the comparison. :/
pieatorium
Member
Detroit maybe?
EmCeeGramr
Member
^
Horrible
Better inventory management? They even added more pointless junk items... He liked the same copy pasta areas because he knew his way through them by heart...
Isn't this the website that gave it 10/10.
it's funny because they're literally "Junk Items"
the game labels them that in a category called "JUNK"
the icon is actually that of a beat up aluminum trash can
acheron_xl
Member
That Escapist blurb still isn't as personally offensive to me as Lara from Gamers with Jobs calling DA2 her favorite game of ALL TIME.
Such a weird idea.
Edit: btw. I forgot to mention that I played it on "hard". Made the combat a bit more enjoyable.
toastyToast
Member
Is there a mod to zoom out to DA:O distance? The limitation in place is in infuriating
^I haven't seen a mod of the kind, but if you mean the isometric camera it is unlikely.
LOL that guy. He'll take that 10 score to his grave. Never forget:
Nah, it's a different thing to consider it your personal favourite game ever. I mean, we probably all like shit other people hate.
LOL that guy. He'll take that 10 score to his grave. Never forget:
...
Nah, it's a different thing to consider it your personal favourite game ever. I mean, we probably all like shit other people hate.
toastyToast
Member
God damn it. I can't tell what the hell is going on with the tiny ass view that I've got. I was hoping the combat would be the saving grace of this game since the actual RPGing is atrocious with its shitty script and character archetype responses. Why are all the smart ass lines delivered with the same face?
Glad I only spent $5 on this
I don't think RPGs have been niche this generation at all, not since Oblivion, not when Skyrim can ship 10 million copies in the face of Modern Warfare. Don't forget that Dragon Age Origins sold around 4 million copies which, while not COD, is definitely not niche. In fact I think RPGs have had as much an influence on today's gaming as shooters have. BioWare just needs to realize that.
Also, I would go as far as to say that Dragon Age II did successfully appeal to the casual RPG audience. I know of a lot of people who really liked the game. GAF is the only place where I've seen DAII get so much hate.
I will agree though that BioWare has been trying to step into territory they don't know. They are an RPG house and they don't know the minutia that go into shooters. Even Mass Effect 2 still felt like a shooter made by an RPG studio. It's like if Square Enix tried to make a Ninja Gaiden game.
This is completly my #1 issue with the game (well, one of the many). The combat would be decent if we had the ability to zoom the fuck out. I guess they wanted the game to only be played as a knight/rogue. It's difficult to place magic; it's no wonder why they disabled friendly fire.
I'd personally give it a 4/10. I'm not calling it the worst game of all time, but I also wouldn't call this above average in any way.
DA:O, and both Witchers do this too. A bunch of other RPGs as well. Hate it. HATE IT.