Support NeoGAF

[Nirolak]

??? What the hell? I even said that there was nothing to worry about since those screens were clearly too early! Jesus man. It's no secret I didn't like DA, but looking at the comments in this thread what exactely was so special about mine? I made the comment regarding Final Fantasy due to the stupidly disfunctional sword in the pic, and:



...looks like I'm not the only one?

What the hell, Nirolak?

I was assuming you were hating on the Final Fantasy series randomly in this thread for whatever reason you rant about the "bioware/bethesda crap" in other threads where it seemed kind of out of context.

If you were just complaining about the sword design, then nevermind. I agree with you that the visuals are terrible.

 

[FrankT]

Just got my mag in as well. Shots are representive of what is in here as well. Looks rather early like.

 

[Gorgon]

I was assuming you were hating on the Final Fantasy series randomly in this thread for whatever reason you rant about the "bioware/bethesda crap" in other threads where it seemed kind of out of context.

If you were just complaining about the sword design, then nevermind. I agree with you that the visuals are terrible.

Ah, ok. Yes, you're right I complain a lot in other threads about the "Bioware/Bethesda crap" :lol , but in this case I was just commenting on a particular aspect of the art direction. I don't think though that the final graphics are going to look like this at all, but the art direction probably will follow along these lines.

 

[Rufus]

It's still in alpha, so yeah, early like is exactly right.

What makes even less sense than these fugly screenshots is the gaming press reporting on it... I've looked at quite a few and they all mention the fact that it has better graphics and they can tell by just looking at these screens, like they are drooling over this?!? Odds they get paid to say that?

Link.

 

[Lostconfused]

What makes even less sense than these fugly screenshots is the gaming press reporting on it... I've looked at quite a few and they all mention the fact that it has better graphics and they can tell by just looking at these screens, like they are drooling over this?!? Odds they get paid to say that?

Probably.

 

[Diablohead]

It's still in alpha, so yeah, early like is exactly right.

But why even show screenshots of a sequel when it's half finished? they had no need and if things are to improve they should have waited it out, I don't think you will see much of a change from the given images in this thread to release especially when it's dated for 2010 (it is, right?)

 

[darkpaladinmfc]

But why even show screenshots of a sequel when it's half finished? they had no need and if things are to improve they should have waited it out, I don't think you will see much of a change from the given images in this thread to release especially when it's dated for 2010 (it is, right?)

2011, before March.

 

[Nirolak]

But why even show screenshots of a sequel when it's half finished? they had no need and if things are to improve they should have waited it out, I don't think you will see much of a change from the given images in this thread to release especially when it's dated for 2010 (it is, right?)

It's March 2011.

Admittedly it's not much time, but here's the amount of change they enacted in a similar time with SWTOR.

October 2008:
http://cdn-www.swtor.com/sites/all/files/en/ss/SS_20081021_ForceChoke_full.jpg
http://cdn-www.swtor.com/sites/all/files/en/ss/SS_20081021_TombLightsaberDuel_full.jpg

June 2009:
http://cdn-www.swtor.com/sites/all/files/en/classes/smuggler/images/ss4_1920x1080.jpg
http://cdn-www.swtor.com/sites/all/files/en/trooper/images/ss1_1600x900.jpg

 

[water_wendi]

It's still in alpha, so yeah, early like is exactly right.


Link.

The link in the OP has this..

These exclusive hi-res screens of Dragon Age II showcase the new artistic direction for the game, depicting the new designs for darkspawn Hurlocks and Ogres. The team at BioWare is also aware that many gamers weren't satisfied with the graphical quality in Origins; Dragon Age II not only looks better, but sports a new artistic direction that gives the world of Thedas a more distinct visual identity.

 

[scoobs]

The link in the OP has this..

Giantbomb and some other gaming blog website that I'd rather not mention right now rave about the graphics. Ends in a "q".

 

[Nirolak]

Giantbomb and some other gaming blog website that I'd rather not mention right now rave about the graphics. Ends in a "q".

VG247 also said it looked great, but they always seem to be smoking something. :lol

 

[tahrikmili]

Someone tell Bioware that Directx 9 came out.

Thread should've ended right there.

 

[markatisu]

I trust Bioware, this whole thing reminds me of Epic Mickey.

Does Game Informer have some kind of deal to get shitty screenshots

 

[Ricker]

Remember the first game guys...the awful video`s with the cheesy music,awful angles and bad resolution video`s...the game turned out great,even though it still looked kinda bad on the consoles,most of the time(the first area in the forest was atrocious and the whole Fade area with the blur didn`t help things on consoles hehe)...loved the first,looking forward to this one as well,bad textures on consoles included ;P

 

[REV 09]

Giantbomb and some other gaming blog website that I'd rather not mention right now rave about the graphics. Ends in a "q".

bullshit on Joystiq. they specifically said that they were unconvinced with the claimed "graphical enhancements".

Saying that Dragon Age 2 has better graphics than its predecessor isn't much of a compliment. Though Dragon Age: Origins remains one of our favorite games from 2009 (as a matter of fact, it was our #4 pick!), on consoles, it looked like the game's entire texture library was secretly replaced with macro photographs of roadkill.

The game's announcement promised "updated graphics" and a "new visual style," and the first two screenshots – part of Game Informer's month-long look at the title – are certainly updated, but we're not quite ready to call them "visually super hot" and we're not seeing the "new visual style." The image above shows a highly detailed Hawke (remember, s/he's the new Commander Shepard-esque lead) but look at that ground texture! The image after the break shows a new Ogre, some awkward Hurlocks, and Hawke's not insignificant ups.

Be sure to peep the full-res images at Game Informer, then come back and tell us what you think. We're going with: unconvinced but optimistic.

 

[painey]

no gaming site or media ever rag on games in previews, because they fear they will suffer blacklisting from the publishers. Its why "gaming journalism" is such a state.

 

[Darklord]

Giantbomb and some other gaming blog website that I'd rather not mention right now rave about the graphics. Ends in a "q".

I love giantbomb but that Brad Nicholson guy has been terrible so far. One of his other recent articles said Bioware developed The Force Unleashed. I think he used to write for Kotaku which explains some things. Keep Matt, ditch Brad.

 

[iam220]

Any one know of a game that had worse graphics than its prequel?

DA2 will look better than the original on all platforms.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Any one know of a game that had worse graphics than its prequel?

DA2 will look better than the original on all platforms.

Probably a whole lot since prequels are made after the original.

Sorry to be a pedant, but I think you're looking for "predecessor" or something like that.

 

[DogWelder]

EviLore plays almost all his games on PC.

That said, EviLore has an interesting counter-perspective to some of the people in this thread, as IIRC he views Mass Effect 2 as BioWare's best game since BG2, but views DA:O as a shitty game.

Please correct me if I'm wrong about that though EviLore.

Mass Effect 2 is their best game since NWN...fact.

 

[darkpaladinmfc]

Any one know of a game that had worse graphics than its prequel?

DA2 will look better than the original on all platforms.

Assuming you do indeed me predecessor. DQ8 > DQ9 .

 

[water_wendi]

Mass Effect 2 is their best game since NWN...fact.

Well then.. looks like bargain binning ME2 is out of the question with a recommendation like that :lol

 

[iam220]

Probably a whole lot since prequels are made after the original.

Sorry to be a pedant, but I think you're looking for "predecessor" or something like that.

Gah, yeah, predecessor is what I meant. Maybe I'm due for another cup of coffee.

DQ8 > DQ9 .

Ok ... add "same platform" as a criterion.

 

[DogWelder]

Well then.. looks like bargain binning ME2 is out of the question with a recommendation like that :lol

Sarcasm? Regardless, ME2 has hit $20 twice already.

 

[water_wendi]

Sarcasm? Regardless, ME2 has hit $20 twice already.

No not sarcasm. Its just my opinion that NWN is by far Biowares worst effort.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Mass Effect 2 is their best game since NWN...fact.

Opinion. I found Dragon Age to be the far superior game. I even enjoyed the original Mass Effect more than the sequel despite its comparative lack of polish.

 

[CreativeWriter]

Gah, yeah, predecessor is what I meant. Maybe I'm due for another cup of coffee.



Ok ... add "same platform" as a criterion.

At the risk of angering people who are looking forward to the game: Fallout: New Vegas. Played it for about 30 min. at E3--it really did look worse than F3 (on 360--can't imagine the PS3 port is any better). Super ugly game, though I know people aren't buying that one for the graphics.

 

[Eliciel]

*walks into thread, sees horrible screenshots*
Talk about a poor show Bioware, but because it's Dragon Age, I'll hold out hope.


What the hell kind of paint have you been sniffing since birth?!?

It's called: "matter of taste"

and if you and the other "defenders of Ferelden" don't feel comfortable with it then why don't you just re-open the " We Love Dragon Age Origins" thread and I won't step into your game. But this thread is about the first Dragon Age 2 Screenshots and they look terribly awful.

I played DA:O and it was the worsest Bioware game ever for me personally, and no I don't mean the visuals. I'm not doing drugs or anything it's my opinion of this game and just to let you know: I love Baldur's Gate but it is just a lot different from DA:O.


Just don't get too insulting everytime you read something that doesn't fit into your world.

Thank you madam or sir.

 

[Yasae]

Ass Fect? Ass fucked?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

It's called: "matter of taste"

and if you and the other "defenders of Ferelden" don't feel comfortable with it then why don't you just re-open the " We Love Dragon Age Origins" thread and I won't step into your game. But this thread is about the first Dragon Age 2 Screenshots and they look terribly awful.

I played DA:O and it was the worsest Bioware game ever for me personally, and no I don't mean the visuals. I'm not doing drugs or anything it's my opinion of this game and just to let you know: I love Baldur's Gate but it is just a lot different from DA:O.


Just don't get too insulting everytime you read something that doesn't fit into your world.

Thank you madam or sir.

I don't think anyone who quoted your original post was calling you out for disliking Dragon Age. I don't agree with you, but that's your opinion. I am pretty sure the comment he made was in regards to your post being nonsense. I just read it twice and I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say. Something about FF6, twists, weapons and shields and open worlds. I can't make sense of it. I apologize if English isn't your native language because I don't mean to pick on you because of that.

I think Dragon Age was getting more and more boring near the end and this screenshot looks awful...there is no more interest in this game.

Preferably I'll be re-playing FF6...at least the story isn't clear before you watch the last scene... I mean DA:O had no real twist you just decide if you want to kill Person A or not. That's your imagination of decission -.-.

If you kill A you get his Hammer or the Sword. If you Partner up with him you get the Shield. But no matter what your current equipment is already a lot better.

Seriously what most of the people call WRPG > JRPG becuase of "open world" and "choice" is just a very big imagination.

 

[K.Jack]

Any one know of a game that had worse graphics than its prequel?

Crysis Warhead.

I say this, knowing full well that CW looks better than everything but Crysis.

 

[Srsly]

 

[ghst]

Crysis Warhead.

I say this, knowing full well that CW looks better than everything but Crysis.

why would the (semi) sequel to a pc exclusive original have lesser graphics?

(trust your instincts).

 

[tahrikmili]

No not sarcasm. Its just my opinion that NWN is by far Biowares worst effort.

And your opinion would be entirely correct.

 

[Kodiak]

It's really easy to jump on a game like this early on for shitty visuals, and it seems to have been a bit of a mistake to show it off in this state, but how can you dismiss a game directly from Bioware with their recent track record? Dragon Age was no Alpha Protocol, after all.

Also judging from what we've seen here it's clear they are taking the visuals in a more defined stylistic direction which will hopefully allow DA to carve out a more unique vibe and aesthetic that the original only hinted at.

 

[Spoit]

It's really easy to jump on a game like this early on for shitty visuals, and it seems to have been a bit of a mistake to show it off in this state, but how can you dismiss a game directly from Bioware with their recent track record? Dragon Age was no Alpha Protocol, after all.

Also judging from what we've seen here it's clear they are taking the visuals in a more defined stylistic direction which will hopefully allow DA to carve out a more unique vibe and aesthetic that the original only hinted at.

Yes, for one, AP actually spent a more than 10 minutes working on textures

 

[Kodiak]

Yes, for one, AP actually spent a more than 10 minutes working on textures

Alpha Protocol is one of the worst examples of texture work I can think of in recent memory, especially in the character department.

 

[MannahContana]

Alpha Protocol is one of the worst examples of texture work I can think of in recent memory, especially in the character department.

Thats a good point about Alpha Protocol, most people seemed to hold out hope that the games graphics would look better once it was released and once it was released people said 'despite its flaws' they love the game. People see what they want to see.
After 15 years I'll trust Bioware more than two screenshots. Reading from the devs on the Bioware forums, lead me to believe that it is indeed in the early stages of development, but like mass effect, they now 'understand' the engine better and it will be alot quicker to textualize and maximize the graphical output, so even though March next year is less than 12 months away that is plenty of time to improve the games look.

 

[viewtiful_dru]

wow dragon age 2, hopefully there will be reall tittiees this time and not have every woman be madame faketits

 

[Kodiak]

Thats a good point about Alpha Protocol, most people seemed to hold out hope that the games graphics would look better once it was released and once it was released people said 'despite its flaws' they love the game. People see what they want to see.
After 15 years I'll trust Bioware more than two screenshots. Reading from the devs on the Bioware forums, lead me to believe that it is indeed in the early stages of development, but like mass effect, they now 'understand' the engine better and it will be alot quicker to textualize and maximize the graphical output, so even though March next year is less than 12 months away that is plenty of time to improve the games look.

To be fair DA had some fucking awful textures and characters in certain places. Like the Darkspawn that look like bad fan art of Peter Jackson's LOTR orcs/elves, but then there are fucking inspired pieces like that dryad wolf chick in the Forest Elves story or some of the monsters like the troll and dragons.

I always hated how the armor was all one texture rather than multiple pieces. It worked in Mass Effect because it's ya know, fuckin Star Trek, but in DA it always distracted me from the conversations a bit.

I'm rambling, but texture work in big sprawling WRPGs always is a weak spot.

 

[Eliciel]

I don't think anyone who quoted your original post was calling you out for disliking Dragon Age. I don't agree with you, but that's your opinion. I am pretty sure the comment he made was in regards to your post being nonsense. I just read it twice and I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say. Something about FF6, twists, weapons and shields and open worlds. I can't make sense of it. I apologize if English isn't your native language because I don't mean to pick on you because of that.

Yeah you are right it is not my native language. Maybe I should double check next time if someone else could possibly understand what I am talking about.

Sorry for that

 

[SenorDingDong]

Two more screenshots from Gamestar. Again, it's looking a little rough around the edges but I'm sure it will improve over time. Looks as though the fire effect may have improved, though I can't really say for certain.

 

[Truant]

That ground texture is an insult to AIDS.

 

[nelsonroyale]

I am sure it looks better in motion...but those shots look very poor

 

[SILVO]

I was going to come in here to defend Bioware against the knee-jerk reactionary hate against the new DA that I've been reading all over the internet, but damn... those last 2 shots do actually look terrible.

Still, the game is early in development, and it's Bioware. No matter what kind of screenshots they show us, I have near absolute faith. Besides, despite how these shots look, I refuse to believe that DA2 will look worse than DA1.

Also, the Ifrit comparison shot on this page is awesome.

 

[water_wendi]

Two more screenshots from Gamestar. Again, it's looking a little rough around the edges but I'm sure it will improve over time. Looks as though the fire effect may have improved, though I can't really say for certain.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2j1ar8l.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://i29.tinypic.com/2qnuusy.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]
Thats putting it mildly :lol Calling it now that there is not going to be a major improvement and that the game is going to look like this at release. If Bioware keeps releasing images like these that means they think there everything is fine.

 

[Saty]

Oh God, save some face, Bioware.

 

[Nirolak]

Thats putting it mildly :lol Calling it now that there is not going to be a major improvement and that the game is going to look like this at release. If Bioware keeps releasing images like these that means they think there everything is fine.

This is from the same screenshot set still.

 

[water_wendi]

I was going to come in here to defend Bioware against the knee-jerk reactionary hate against the new DA that I've been reading all over the internet, but damn... those last 2 shots do actually look terrible.

Still, the game is early in development, and it's Bioware. No matter what kind of screenshots they show us, I have near absolute faith. Besides, despite how these shots look, I refuse to believe that DA2 will look worse than DA1.

The games release date is 8 months from now so how are these "early" by any stretch?

 

[Nirolak]

The games release date is 8 months from now so how are these "early" by any stretch?

Well, here was their official response about the amount of time left.

I'm not really one to comment on the art. All I can really say is that the game already looks better than it does in those screenshots-- there's a lot of work being done on all content, and while I get what people are saying regarding the number of months left you have to consider that we're not dealing with a long development cycle here. Instead of thinking months, think "percentage until complete". It's still pretty early, as far as we're concerned. Hopefully you'll like what we show you in the months to come. From my perspective, I think what I'm playing looks quite striking.

Of course, they are the people who thought it was okay to release these screenshots in the first place, so their perception of better might be a bit bizarre.