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[smudge]

Optional side quests aside... I still found the game bland and was not compelled to play it to completion. The combat lacked depth and was incredibly generic.
Overall I found the game a huge disappointment after Origins which I loved

 

[mnz]

Well, you do, because if you're not dying and the game is still easy, you already know that no more grinding or additional side quests are necessary for you to progress, unless the game otherwise says so. Like with most other RPG's, you can do the side stuff if and when you need, dependant on the difficulty curve, that is the only indicator one really needs, otherwise you do them because you want to do them.

Who plays RPGs like an action game, where your only goal is to get through it as fast as possible? The point of these open world RPGs is to explore and check out what is going on in that world. And most that is very bad in this game. Some of the worst I've ever seen, really.

That being said, the main route quests aren't that great, either.

 

[psychotron]

You don't know that while playing it. That's what I just said.

The payoff for collecting all the shards for example, is a complete joke. Why would you ever know that while doing it? Excuse me for doing one of your game-spanning quests, I should have known it's completely useless before I did it!

I just started this a few days ago and have been in the Hinterlands for a couple hours doing quests, but I still feel like I'm not getting something. For combat, all I'm really doing is running up to enemies, holding down R1 and occasionally hitting square, triangle or circle. Health gets low, I drink a potion. The story is progressing but I feel like I'm missing something in the gameplay.

 

[flatearthpandas]

Oscar equivalent?

Maybe if Michael Bay and Adam Sandler movies swept the Oscars every year.

 

[Zareka]

IFor combat, all I'm really doing is running up to enemies, holding down R1 and occasionally hitting square, triangle or circle. Health gets low, I drink a potion.

That's combat for the entire game. I played on hard mode and barely did anything different from that, apart from kite enemies when my dumbass team mates got themselves killed. It's offline MMO combat and not much more.

One gripe I had with the side quests is that 99.9% of them were completely disconnected from the main story. Everyone keeps shouting "omg!!! rifts are everywhere, you must close them chosen one!!!!" but you can ignore the rifts for the entire game, do some fetch quests and it will have absolutely zero effect on the ending. The ONLY motivation is "well I need currency to unlock this area so".

There was one quest in the entire game that actually effected the main game which made a later boss easier to kill. That was pretty cool! I felt awesome when I got the jump on them. I just wish there was a lot more of that and a lot less of "fetch x item" and "kill x enemies".

 

[nib95]

Who plays RPGs like an action game, where your only goal is to get through it as fast as possible? The point of these open world RPGs is to explore and check out what is going on in that world. And most that is very bad in this game. Some of the worst I've ever seen, really.

That being said, the main route quests aren't that great, either.

I don't know about you, but I don't play my action games just so I can get through them as fast as possible lol. Quite the opposite in-fact. And with regards to your initial complaint about there being too many optional side quests, I don't get how that impairs you from being able to explore or check out the world, quite the contrary, it enables it. The scope to which is optional, and something they presumably added a hefty number of to satisfy those who do want more content and play time.

If you take issue with the design of the quests themselves, that is an entirely different conversation, and one that imo carries far more merit, but that is also even more subjective.

 

[gogosox82]

I don't think that Larian Studios wanted to spend 1000$ for award. That is why DICE awards are really sad.

You have to pay money to get nominated? Didn't know that. That kind of changes how I feel about the awards since this would basically mean only AAA games would get recognized.

It's a peer voted award, so I assume the noms are as well. It's about what the industry and developers feel is the most deserving, not the consumers.

That said, nobody can argue that Dragon Age is a very well crafted experience. Very nice art, great soundtrack, and compelling from a story standpoint.

It is depressing the amount of hate the game gets here simply because "EA" is stamped on the box. The game, unlike DA2, bleeds classic Bioware.

Well apparently you have to pay $1,000 to get nominated so I don't think its about what most deserving. And I don't know if it bleeds classic Bioware since there are no tactical options to be found in this game which is something I come to expect in a classic Bioware game. I also don't think people hate it because it has EA on the box. They just don't like the design philosophy that is present in this game and don't like the game as a result.

Well, you do, because if you're not dying and the game is still easy, you already know that no more grinding or additional side quests are necessary for you to progress, unless the game otherwise says so. Like with most other RPG's, you can do the side stuff if and when you need, dependant on the difficulty curve, that is the only indicator one really needs, otherwise you do them because you want to do them.

How is it a positive that the game is piss easy on normal? And what about doing side quests because your invested in the world and the side quests enhance the story and lore in the game instead of just being mostly pointless filler like it is in this game? They could have made some interesting side quests like they did in Origins but instead they give you these pointless that really do nothing besides fill up a progress bar.

 

[Laconic]

You have to pay money to get nominated? Didn't know that. That kind of changes how I feel about the awards since this would basically mean only AAA games would get recognized.



Well apparently you have to pay $1,000 to get nominated so I don't think its about what most deserving. And I don't know if it bleeds classic Bioware since there are no tactical options to be found in this game which is something I come to expect in a classic Bioware game. I also don't think people hate it because it has Bioware on the box. They just don't like the design philosophy that is present in this game and don't like the game as a result.

This.

All of this.

 

[psychotron]

That's combat for the entire game. I played on hard mode and barely did anything different from that, apart from kite enemies when my dumbass team mates got themselves killed. It's offline MMO combat and not much more.

One gripe I had with the side quests is that 99.9% of them were completely disconnected from the main story. Everyone keeps shouting "omg!!! rifts are everywhere, you must close them chosen one!!!!" but you can ignore the rifts for the entire game, do some fetch quests and it will have absolutely zero effect on the ending. The ONLY motivation is "well I need currency to unlock this area so".

There was one quest in the entire game that actually effected the main game which made a later boss easier to kill. That was pretty cool! I felt awesome when I got the jump on them. I just wish there was a lot more of that and a lot less of "fetch x item" and "kill x enemies".

Well that's a bit disappointing. The opening of the game seemed really cool, but if it's going to be the same brainless combat, it might make me bored.

 

[Doran902]

I can't argue with it but its mostly because nothing from last year stood out to me. Just a bunch of solid but not amazing games.

 

[Melchiah]

I unlocked 2 additional areas after the hinterlands and the quests there were exactly the same as the hinterlands. There was very little variety in any quest. It all seemed very influenced by MMO style quests.
If I am not compelled to carry on play a huge RPG after 12 hours then there is something wrong with the game, as this is my favourite genre. I put 80+ hours into Origins, I even finished DA2.
Inquisition lacked any depth for me, I found it boring and repetitive.

There's Valammar quest in Hinterlands, Still Waters in Crestwood, Chateau d'Onterre in Emerald Graves, Call Me Imshael in Emprise Du Lion... but naturally you miss them if you fast forward through the game, or quit before you come across them. It's not like you're forced to do the sidequests, if you just want to see the story through. Although, the aforementioned quests, along with the companion quests, are a big part of the experience, and skipping them would certainly diminish its effect.

And I'm not sure if I could make a qualified judgement on, say, FFVII-X after 12 hours. Considering, that all of them took 80-100 hours to play through. It's like judging a 10-hour game after the first level. Of course all games aren't to everyone's taste, but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with DA:I.

 

[fluffydelusions]

I can't argue with it but its mostly because nothing from last year stood out to me. Just a bunch of solid but not amazing games.

This game is pretty amazing IMO

 

[Ayt]

I just started this a few days ago and have been in the Hinterlands for a couple hours doing quests, but I still feel like I'm not getting something. For combat, all I'm really doing is running up to enemies, holding down R1 and occasionally hitting square, triangle or circle. Health gets low, I drink a potion. The story is progressing but I feel like I'm missing something in the gameplay.

I felt that way for 18 hours until I finally lost any will to fire it up again.

 

[Servbot24]

Holy shit those are some depressingly bad nominees. Wow.

 

[K.Sabot]

I'm struggling to think of the last time GAF seemed to universally praise a AAA RPG release.

Probably Witcher 2.

 

[Servbot24]

Probably Witcher 2.

There's lots of criticism for W2. I'd say maybe Xenoblade or Dark Souls if you want to count that.

 

[eXistor]

Truly the oscars of gaming...

 

[psychotron]

I felt that way for 18 hours until I finally lost any will to fire it up again.

Welp, I guess I'll be selling this to get some money for The Order. Got dat new 3DS XL paid off already thankfully.

 

[QaaQer]

They mean that literally.

They're a peer voted academy award show.

The only difference I can see is that, unlike with film, there are like only 5 or 6 AAA games released every year and none of them have any ambition beyond making players feel like badasses. The exception last year was DA:I, so deserved win for bioware.

 

[K.Sabot]

There's lots of criticism for W2. I'd say maybe Xenoblade or Dark Souls if you want to count that.

Yeah but I wouldn't say the criticism got to the point of general backlash, like most AAA games go through after their honeymoon period.

Like the worst criticism I remember about W2 post release was roll and quen spam to get through the game.

 

[cripterion]

Destiny, Shadow of Mordor, Dragon Age : Inquisition. All mediocre games. If this is what is considered the best in the gaming business, perhaps I need a new hobby.

 

[Chakan]

Just finished the game and I couldn't agree more. Amazing game.

 

[QaaQer]

Destiny, Shadow of Mordor, Dragon Age : Inquisition. All mediocre games. If this is what is considered the best in the gaming business, perhaps I need a new hobby.

AAA gaming, sure. But that is a tiny part of games. Its like hating books because marvel comics are stupid.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Did they have to collect a certain number of trophy fragments and bring them back to the podium for the award?

Spoiler

jk.kinda

Great game, I would have gone with Divinity Original Sin, but Inquisition is a far more accessible game from a platform and gameplay standpoint, so I can see why they went with it instead.

 

[smudge]

There's Valammar quest in Hinterlands, Still Waters in Crestwood, Chateau d'Onterre in Emerald Graves, Call Me Imshael in Emprise Du Lion... but naturally you miss them if you fast forward through the game, or quit before you come across them. It's not like you're forced to do the sidequests, if you just want to see the story through. Although, the aforementioned quests, along with the companion quests, are a big part of the experience, and skipping them would certainly diminish its effect.

And I'm not sure if I could make a qualified judgement on, say, FFVII-X after 12 hours. Considering, that all of them took 80-100 hours to play through. It's like judging a 10-hour game after the first level. Of course all games aren't to everyone's taste, but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with DA:I.

It isn't that I judged it after 12 hours, it is that I didn't feel compelled to play anymore as I wasn't enjoying the experience at all. I shouldn't have to force myself to play on the faith that it will just get better. If I am not compelled to play a game, then I just won't bother. The combat was very dull. I didn't enjoy the mmo style in which quests were presented. This game is a stark contrast to classic Bioware in terms of quest design, for both main storyline and side quests.
Thinking back though, I think it was the combat which put me off playing the most. I tried Mage and Rogue and found both very dull indeed. I am currently enjoying a replay through of Baldurs Gate 2 in which side quests are just as compelling as the main story and in some cases more interesting.
Maybe I did judge the game after 12 hours, but it was just as the gameplay left me unfulfilled.So why should I continue to play something which left me feeling bored.

 

[cripterion]

AAA gaming, sure. But that is a tiny part of games. Its like hating books because marvel comics are stupid.

I guess some games are just too big not go away with an award but still..

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

bayo 2 wasn't even a nominee? destiny was?

ahuehuehuehuehue

Japanese game........



Honestly, I do not even pay attention to these game shows, awards, nominees, GOTY's normally because gaming to me is basically a popularity contest. Well, at least I liked DA:I. Can't lie. I sunk 80 hours into it and had fun.

 

[-tetsuo-]

There's Valammar quest in Hinterlands, Still Waters in Crestwood, Chateau d'Onterre in Emerald Graves, Call Me Imshael in Emprise Du Lion... but naturally you miss them if you fast forward through the game, or quit before you come across them. It's not like you're forced to do the sidequests, if you just want to see the story through. Although, the aforementioned quests, along with the companion quests, are a big part of the experience, and skipping them would certainly diminish its effect.

And I'm not sure if I could make a qualified judgement on, say, FFVII-X after 12 hours. Considering, that all of them took 80-100 hours to play through. It's like judging a 10-hour game after the first level. Of course all games aren't to everyone's taste, but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with DA:I.

This is absolutely not true at all. I grinded shitty quest last night because I had to to gain the 22 power I needed to go on the next quest from the main story. One decent quest per zone is a laughable defense, and the companion quest are no different than the other shitty "run to the diamond" fare junk that fills the game. At least not yet, I am doing some of them now. Destroy the red lyrium, find the grey warden artifacts, find the circle book etc...

 

[Ralemont]

Maybe I did judge the game after 12 hours, but it was just as the gameplay left me unfulfilled.So why should I continue to play something which left me feeling bored.

Although I think it's a fantastic game, I don't believe that the game magically gets a whole lot better once you get to Skyhold. Main quest aside, the post-Skyhold zones are largely designed with the same principles as the Hinterlands, Storm Coast, and Fallow Mire. The story content in side quests doesn't substantially shoot up except for a few exceptions like Crestwood. Accordingly I think it's a safe bet that if you don't enjoy the game after 15 hours there's a very good chance the game is simply not for you.

Those who really enjoy the game find the exploration itself enjoyable, paired with the great characters and story and shitton of lore spread throughout the zones. Combat is also going to be YMMV, though I'd really have to recommend playing on Nightmare difficulty so that you are at least forced to plan some encounters such as Rifts.

One decent quest per zone is a laughable defense, and the companion quest are no different than the other shitty "run to the diamond" fare junk that fills the game. At least not yet, I am doing some of them now. Detroy the red lyrium, find the grey warden artifacts, find the circle book etc...

Those aren't the companion quests, or rather, they aren't the story-based companion quests that net you Power upon completion. The quests you're speaking of are only there to up Approval for companions and little else.

Classic Bioware was never like this. They made pretty straight forward games in the past with a well structured narrative and way less filler. All of that is missing in DA:I.

Uh, Baldur's Gate I, Mass Effect 1, and NWN would like a word.

 

[Gully State]

The only difference I can see is that, unlike with film, there are like only 5 or 6 AAA games released every year and none of them have any ambition beyond making players feel like badasses. The exception last year was DA:I, so deserved win for bioware.

DA:I is hardly the exception. If anything it's about as cookie cutter power fantasy as it gets.

 

[K.Sabot]

DA:I is hardly the exception. If anything it's about as cookie cutter power fantasy as it gets.

Yeah you basically become jesus for their world, they even literally sing you praises.

 

[silvermember]

Destiny, Shadow of Mordor, Dragon Age : Inquisition. All mediocre games. If this is what is considered the best in the gaming business, perhaps I need a new hobby.

This is clearly rational behavior. This reminds me of my niece, whenever she doesn't get the whole piece of bread, she throws away the piece she got.

 

[Timeaisis]

Man, those nominees are awful. Like, really awful.

MIA: Bayo 2, MK8, SSBU, Wolfenstein TNO, Alien: Isolation

All games well-deserving of at least a nomination. But instead let's go with safe Western AAA open-world games.

 

[Bananajama]

The choice of nominees?

Is this event paid for by Sponsors?

Our company regularly wins awards
But some of those we earn by sponsoring the damn events!

 

[AcademicSaucer]

The Oscars of gaming? Lmao. Who thinks these awards are relevant?

indeed

 

[FunkyLounge]

Bioware nominated for DICE award for using Frostbite.

Okay I can leave now

 

[foxtrot3d]

The Oscars of gaming? Lmao. Who thinks these awards are relevant?

The developers and industry insiders that voted and attended...

 

[cripterion]

This is clearly rational behavior. This reminds me of my niece, whenever she doesn't get the whole piece of bread, she throws away the piece she got.

Or perhaps you couldn't grasp the sarcasm in my post? Cause you know, clearly I was going to throw away several consoles, my gaming pc,laptop and tablets over gaming awards.

 

[Timeaisis]

The developers and industry insiders that voted and attended...

Yes, the developers of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Destiny, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Far Cry 4, and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft were all in attendance and voted.

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

I'm level 7, so I guess I haven't played a ton (Smartglass says 19 hours but there's no way that is true...maybe like 8 if I'm guessing), but I'm kind of not seeing what everyone else is in this game. Am I just not far enough yet? I've been to three different areas (yes, I left the Hinterlands like everyone says)...(Hinterlands, Storm Coast, and Fallow Mire.) and I'm finding that I am constantly getting my ass kicked by enemies, have a shortage of potions, spend wayyyyyy too much time walking (why can't there be quick travel to something other than a camp), and just am severely overwhelmed by what I can and can't do.

I don't know, maybe I just need more time with it...

This is coming from someone who put over 120 hours into Dragon Age 1, so I'm not sure what to think.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

The King gets another GOTY award.

In the Inquisition We Trust.

 

[crimzonflame]

Gonna trade it in this weekend. Just wasnt for me.

 

[nib95]

Does anyone have a list of the judges that would have voted?

 

[Ralemont]

This is coming from someone who put over 120 hours into Dragon Age 1, so I'm not sure what to think.

Enemies don't scale to your level and there are higher-level areas within zones that may be next to lower-level ones, like having level 12 Rifts in the Hinterlands. Besides that, crafting weapons and armor really helps give you a leg up in combat.

Did you get the horse mount from Redcliffe Farms in the Hinterlands yet? May assist in your walking boredom.

There's also an Inquisition Perk to up your max potions from 8 to 12, and the other potions/grenades can be very useful.

 

[Enosh]

much better top 5 list than the gaf one

 

[Bananajama]

I didn't see the point of the horses

You couldn't spam L3/Left Analogue or whatever

And it didn't seem 'that' much faster

 

[dancingphlower]

The salt in this thread is delicious. I'm gald that Dragon Age won.

 

[Melchiah]

It isn't that I judged it after 12 hours, it is that I didn't feel compelled to play anymore as I wasn't enjoying the experience at all. I shouldn't have to force myself to play on the faith that it will just get better. If I am not compelled to play a game, then I just won't bother. The combat was very dull. I didn't enjoy the mmo style in which quests were presented. This game is a stark contrast to classic Bioware in terms of quest design, for both main storyline and side quests.
Thinking back though, I think it was the combat which put me off playing the most. I tried Mage and Rogue and found both very dull indeed. I am currently enjoying a replay through of Baldurs Gate 2 in which side quests are just as compelling as the main story and in some cases more interesting.
Maybe I did judge the game after 12 hours, but it was just as the gameplay left me unfulfilled.So why should I continue to play something which left me feeling bored.

I definitely can sympathize with that sentiment, as I've quitted games as well when they weren't to my taste, but I wouldn't judge them for lacking content when I didn't get to see most of what they offered. If the gameplay just doesn't click, there's no reason to continue though. Better to spend time with something that entertains you. I found DA:I very enjoyable to play, and it kept me interested throughout the 182 hours I spent with it. It's likely partly because it was the first WRPG for me, apart from Mass Effect, and the first open world RPG as well. So, there was a sense of newness to it, that probably wasn't there for the genre veterans.

This is absolutely not true at all. I grinded shitty quest last night because I had to to gain the 22 power I needed to go on the next quest from the main story. One decent quest per zone is a laughable defense, and the companion quest are no different than the other shitty "run to the diamond" fare junk that fills the game. At least not yet, I am doing some of them now. Destroy the red lyrium, find the grey warden artifacts, find the circle book etc...

You can buy power points in the Skyhold. The Crestwood and Emprise Du Lion sidequests I mentioned are pretty lengthy. I guess it would be possible to get enough power points for the campaign by just doing the more meaty quests, and buying the rest of them. Dunno for sure, as I did all the sidequests available, excluding the bottles and mosaics.

As for the companion quests, they may not be that meaningful by themselves, but by doing them you get to see character growth through the game. Which is another thing people mistakingly think is lacking, when they've skipped those quests.

 

[Bananajama]

Cassandras Sword & Shields was the only real laugh out moment I had
(By Real - I mean a hearty belly laugh rather than a small chuckle)

Still tickles me!

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

Enemies don't scale to your level and there are higher-level areas within zones that may be next to lower-level ones, like having level 12 Rifts in the Hinterlands. Besides that, crafting weapons and armor really helps give you a leg up in combat.

Did you get the horse mount from Redcliffe Farms in the Hinterlands yet? May assist in your walking boredom.

There's also an Inquisition Perk to up your max potions from 8 to 12, and the other potions/grenades can be very useful.

Thanks for the info!

Okay, maybe that's my issue, I tried tackling some rifts where I just got whipped. I guess I always just assumed that enemies scaled to my level, but it seems there's stuff I'm trying to do that I'm not supposed to be doing right now. I just get lost in the map and try doing anything I find right then and there. Mental note now to start jumping around more.

I just got my horse last night, that is actually where I left off, doing a lot of quests around Redcliffe Farms. I believe this will help, yes

That's very good news about the potions being up. As of right now I keep having to quick travel back to camps to replenish my stock every once in a while, but I kind of wish I could have a chance of looting some potions via dead enemies or chests/sacks, but alas, I realize this game is designed around creating your own potions.