SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Dragon Age II

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I played the original, not the expansion, and I was planning on eventually getting into Dragon Age 2... but something is wrong. Very wrong indeed.

MetaCritic Ratings:
PC Critic Score: 84/100
PC User Score: 3.9/10
PS3 Critic Score: 83/100
PS3 User Score: 3.7/10
Xbox 360 Critic Score: 82/100
Xbox 360 User Score: 4.0/10

Fan reviews are scathing. In fact it is so bad that it is almost as though Anonymous was attacking EA.

Additionally there have been reports that EA put DRM on the Physical Media distribution of the PC version of the game. The Steam version has been reported not to have it. I have found that the reports are not clear though and that it may not be true.
http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/g21gu/dragon_age_2_stealth_installs_securom_without/

If you read the forums, there is a lot of negativity in just the headlines:
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/category/141/index

A critique of the game that seems to sum up the primary complaints others have been making:
http://www.hookedgamers.com/editorials/2011/03/02/dragon_age_ii_the_decline_of_the_classic_rpg.html

What I find so interesting is that the Critics gave such favorable scores.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 08:17 pm

My review so far on this game, I've logged quite a bit of hours on it since It came out on Tuesday.

Oh and what is DRM GP?

Likes:
-Graphics
-No Crashes or Lock Ups
-Smooth Playing
-Fighting is Fun/Challenging
-Characters are loveable and you see some Cameo's from the first game, and even get one of them members from the DA:O Expansion to join your team.
-There were some Decisions in the Story that made me think hard about what I wanted to choose.

On The Fence About:
-Story, In DA:O You were a Grey Warden off to save the world from a blight, in this one your a survivor from the last game, and you make a name for yourself in a city, become champion, and at least so far (and I'm in Act 3) you're not doing much that effects outside the City.

The last game's story seemed more "epic". But at the same time, I am Enjoying it.

Dislikes:
-Levels. A lot of levels are recycled. You have to go into 4 or 5 different Mansions through out the town during the game, but they are all IDENTICAL. Caves, and just about everything else is the same unless its specifically based around the Main story, and then still sometimes.
-Import Save system. Ok, So I Imported my Save Game from DA:O, and I have to tell you, It hasn't really effected jack shit except a few minor things.

*SPOILERS FROM DA:O*
I made Alistar King, and Killed Whatever his name was, Legain, and Sure, Alistar was king, and it mentioned him dying. I turned the Were-wolfs into Humans, and at one point there were some elfs persecuting a human who use to be a were-wolf. But that is LITERALLY all I've seen or heard, all the way into Act 3.
*END*

-Can't equip your people with Armor. You find armor "upgrades" pretty rarely for them too.
-Darkspawn don't look like they did in DA:O. I don't know what the hell they look like now, but it wasn't what they were.
-You basically have 3 options of Dialog. "Good" "Smart-Ass" and "Bad".
-Your Character's History and race is picked for you unlike the first one where you could come from different backgrounds and races.
-A lot of the later story focuses on Apostate Mage's and the Circle, and Templars Cracking down, but there never seems to be any problem with you or your teammates just raining fireballs in the middle of town. Just doesn't make sense.
-They Took away the tactical above view (the only thing I used in DA:O) and you have to follow 3rd person now. Much more Action driven than Tactical driven.

Overall, I am enjoying the game, but I feel DA:O was a better game. I'll give you an update once I finish it up. Really though, Bioware didn't come close to matching Mass Effect 2 IMO.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 09:47 pm

What the fuck is a cRPG? Does the C stand for classic? Cuz the guy in the review keeps saying "classic cRPGs", which would be redundant.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 09:55 pm

You mean you've never played a Classic Classic RPG?

Seriously, For shame.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 10:05 pm

1up.com had an interesting review, and they position it as more so a reboot than a sequel. at least thats what the reviewer said.
http://www.1up.com/reviews/dragon-age-2-review

Posted: Mar 11 2011 10:31 pm

A reboot? But there's only been one other game! And they called it Dragon Age 2!

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

I wonder how many people bitching about the game actually bought it.

I like it. I wish the story would move its ass a little more. The side quests don't help, as spending hours on the little tasks makes you lose sight of the overall pace. I like the characters much more this time around, as I can actually remember their names this time (If you say your favorite character wasn't Alistair, Morrigan, or Sten, you're lying). I will concede that Ferelden was a much more interesting setting, maybe because it's been nearly fifteen hours and I'm still in the first goddamned city.

The combat is improved, with a much more visceral feel (it feels like I'm actually doing serious damage to enemies with my mage, which is rare in RPGs I've played). Against what that last article said, I felt combat in the first was completely tedious and overlong, with too much pause-start-pause-start crap that felt like slogging through mud in lead boots, which you have to repeat all over again if Alistair gets his dumb ass stuck in a wall, and Morrigan has to play tank. I remember getting frustrated with the awful pace (get over it you nerds, DA:O wasn't hard or challenging, the enemies just had a pissload of health) and switching it to easy just so I could move through the story a little.

I was breezing through DA2 game on Normal, then upped the difficulty a bit. After some trouble, I started learning how I could use tag-teaming of spells to get more effect out of everything. I admit the "constantly tap the attack button" is completely asinine, and an alternative should have been presented.

I also don't get the mega love of inventory management and tedious bullshit in PCRPG's (I will not say "classic RPG" unless it's played on a tabletop, a text-only screen, or with someone wearing a sexy outfit). See the Zero Punctuation review of The Witcher for this, as it's damned near close to my opinion.

All of this is naturally based on my opinion. I won't say you're a douchebag for not liking the game, and I hope you won't say the same about me for liking it. Maybe I'm just salty because of the completely ridiculous glitch that I encountered about halfway through a dedicated playthrough of DA:O that completely ruined my experience with the game.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 11:08 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

What the fuck is a cRPG? Does the C stand for classic? Cuz the guy in the review keeps saying "classic cRPGs", which would be redundant.

Computer RPG, he's pretty much one of those people who says that games should've stayed firmly planted in the late 90s... who am I kidding, I'm usually like that too.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 11:12 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

A reboot? But there's only been one other game! And they called it Dragon Age 2!

the reviewer said it feels more like a reboot than an actual sequel. not bioware.

Posted: Mar 11 2011 11:14 pm

TARDISman wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

What the fuck is a cRPG? Does the C stand for classic? Cuz the guy in the review keeps saying "classic cRPGs", which would be redundant.

Computer RPG, he's pretty much one of those people who says that games should've stayed firmly planted in the late 90s... who am I kidding, I'm usually like that too.

I miss the old school Ultima games. Those were badass.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 12:51 am

I love this game. I like the 1st better mechanically, but love the stories and characters far better in this one.

The only issues I don't like is that it was rushed and it shows. Like many others have said, many maps (especially dungeons) are identical to each other.

The PC version looks and plays great, especially with the downloadable high res texture packs and full dx11. (Though, I have heard that nNidia users are having some issues, but those should be address with the next driver update.)

I am in the 2nd act, and find that I care far more about the characters in this game then I ever did about the character in the first. I also like the fact that you are the champion of a just a city and not the world. The "man who saves the world" is completely over used, and this is nice. Being that you spend your time in one place, you become a lot more attached to it, and care more about the people you interact with.

I personally give this game a 8.5.

It's a lot like KOTOR and KOTOR 2.

KOTOR 1 was an amazing new RPG, just like Dragon Age.

KOTOR 2 was a rushed sequel that while familar to the first, it just didn't seem as polished, yet the story was great, and it was more than worth dealing with the imperfections to play through. Just as DA2 is.

It's got some issues, but to me it is a must play RPG.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 01:51 am

Greg the White wrote:

I will concede that Ferelden was a much more interesting setting, maybe because it's been nearly fifteen hours and I'm still in the first goddamned city.

I have 26 hours logged and I'm still in the same City. I think its safe to say this is where the game is taking place.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

Syd Lexia wrote:

TARDISman wrote:

Syd Lexia wrote:

What the fuck is a cRPG? Does the C stand for classic? Cuz the guy in the review keeps saying "classic cRPGs", which would be redundant.

Computer RPG, he's pretty much one of those people who says that games should've stayed firmly planted in the late 90s... who am I kidding, I'm usually like that too.

I miss the old school Ultima games. Those were badass.

Agreed. IV through VII were fantastic, but once the whole game could be controlled with just a mouse, I lost interest.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 10:28 am

Yeah, I played Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss and it just wasn't the same. It was cool in its own way, and is considered a huge milstone within the general, but give me Ultima IV any day.

I think my only big complaint with Ultima Underworld was the combat. You were wandering around in a poorly lit dungeon, and suddenly enemies would run up at you and you'd have to try and respond quickly with clumsy controls. The worst was that since it was first person, sometimes you'd getting attacked and you wouldn't be able to find your attacker right away. And then it would turn out to be some fucking worm thing on the ground.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

I actually loved Stygian Abyss, I was talking about VIII, which let the Avatar jump and a bunch of other random horse shit.

But yeah, looking back and trying to play Stygian Abyss again was such a chore. I could beat it when I was 12, I couldn't sit through it now though.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 10:43 am

I might be able to. That end part where you fight the final boss in that weird dimension scared the hell out of me when I was younger.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 12:45 pm

The entire game takes place in that city.

Origins' development cycle was something like five or six years, and the amount of love and effort that went into it are visible in every aspect of the game.

DA2 was forced through production in a single year by the EA Profit Machine who wanted to cash in on Origins' success, and it shows. The game is fun, but in many ways feels like a step backwards.

That's not to say I dislike DA2, because I'm very much enjoying it. It just doesn't have the same feel as Origins.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 12:48 pm

Was it developed by the same team that did the first one? Because that's what happened with KOTOR2, different developer equals different type of game. Rather unavoidable.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 03:07 pm

LordHuffnPuff wrote:

DA2 was forced through production in a single year by the EA Profit Machine who wanted to cash in on Origins' success, and it shows. The game is fun, but in many ways feels like a step backwards.

I seriously hate EA for that reason. Every fucking name they can gobble up they do, and Mass Produce half ass quality games just to cash in on the name.

Madden, Battlefield, Need For Speed, Command And Conquer. All perfect examples.

I hate EA for having no pride in their games and just wanting to see Quarterly Profits rise.

EDIT: Follow up thought. If I ever have Millions upon Millions of Dollars, I will buy a kick ass Company and have them create Masterpieces. I might even have them make a game based on SydLexia.com. That's if I'm feeling frisky.

2nd EDIT: I just beat DA2. It was worth the play, and for the sake of seeing how things would go the other way, I will play it again at some point.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 04:45 pm

Atma wrote:

EDIT: Follow up thought. If I ever have Millions upon Millions of Dollars, I will buy a kick ass Company and have them create Masterpieces. I might even have them make a game based on SydLexia.com. That's if I'm feeling frisky.

Money does strange things to people. I can remember back to a time when Bioware was its own company.

Actually, I can think of a number of examples of formerly independent rebels that are now just cash machines for the massive corporate gaming empires. Hell, Call of Duty started out as a fan-created mod for Half Life, if anyone can even remember back that far.

...on second thought, I just looked it up to make sure and could find no record that CoD started out as a Half-Life mod. I left it in the post so that I could be corrected if I'm wrong, but I'll be damned if I don't remember it being so from the late 90s-early 2000s. My memory could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I still have a PC Gamer issue from years ago talking about it around here somewhere.

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

Atma wrote:

Likes:
-No Crashes or Lock Ups
-Smooth Playing

Let's be honest here a game running smooth and not crashing is a requiste all games should adhere to lol.

Posted: Mar 12 2011 05:40 pm

Alowishus wrote:

Atma wrote:

Likes:
-No Crashes or Lock Ups
-Smooth Playing

Let's be honest here a game running smooth and not crashing is a requiste all games should adhere to lol.

I completely agree. If we were living in a perfect world.

Tell that to the Fallout: NV fans.

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

Atma wrote:

Alowishus wrote:

Atma wrote:

Likes:
-No Crashes or Lock Ups
-Smooth Playing

Let's be honest here a game running smooth and not crashing is a requiste all games should adhere to lol.

I completely agree. If we were living in a perfect world.

Tell that to the Fallout: NV fans.

I have New Vegas for PC and i haven't had it crash once.

I guess i've just been lucky. Though i've heard of problems with it and from Fallout 3 from people.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Alowishus wrote:

Atma wrote:

Likes:
-No Crashes or Lock Ups
-Smooth Playing

Let's be honest here a game running smooth and not crashing is a requiste all games should adhere to lol.

The worst bug I had with DA:O was this one where enemies would take forever to spawn, and forever to become lootable after death. So I had these long stretches of doing nothing while either waiting for the next wave of enemies to spawn, or standing next to a drake's corpse for 2 minutes while I wait to pick up its damned scales.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

DRM = Digital Rights Management
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

DRM can be simple and kind, or evil and brutal. Steam is DRM because it "keys" the games and your account unlocks them, but this doesn't come across as negative because they don't install rootkits to acheive it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SecuROM on the other hand is a bitch and the authors should be banned from ever touching computers again in their lives.

As for KOTOR vs KOTOR 2. I really enjoyed KOTOR 2 but the bugs were unreal. I have never played through start to finish without having to hack a save file just to get past a glitch.

I am glad to see some reasonable discussion about Dragon Age II. It sounds like it is worth playing, but perhaps not at its $60 cost. I'll wait and pick it up on a holiday sale in a year or so.