So with Dragon Age 3 on the horizon next month it's probably time for a final Dragon Age 2 thread to put our thoughts to rest on this controversial game.
To begin with, thoughts on Origins. Wow, what game. Brought back the CRPG in style with high production values, a great storyline, interesting combat and memorable characters, alongside great lore and an amazing soundtrack. I did at least 2 full playthroughs of this title and it's DLC and was in general a huge fan of the game.
Then Dragon Age 2 came. A lot of people were disappointed in this game. It started off as a fairly ambitious title with an interesting concept, a story focusing on a single person and his companions as they weather various crisis over the course of 10 years, in a single location, with time jumps. However the feel and gameplay of Origins was completely lost.
1. Lord of the Rings slower style tactical combat replaced with button mashing less tactical anime style combat with waves.
Combat was a bit reason why DA2 failed. Sure it was slightly more interesting visually, but enemies and characters teleported around, enemies teleported in from the ceiling making positioning impossible, and generally the feel of Origins as a grounded fantasy experience was completely compromised.
2. Changes in art style.
The art style of many creatures changed between the games. The actual art (concept arts etc.) of the games remained a similar style, but things like the look of armour and the design of the Darkspawn and the Elves changed for no reason and lost a lot of their grittiness and realism from the first game to be replaced by brutal spikey stuff. Everything in game looked a lot worse and there were low res textures everywhere.
3. Disjointed story
The games story about Hawke's journey across the course of 10 years really interested me, but instead it ended up as being a fairly hollow experience of 3 different plots with only Hawke and Kirkwall as the constants. The companions all had bizarre off screen character development, as did Hawke, and the game felt like it climaxed after the Qunari invasion, a lot of momentum was taken out of the story after act 2 ended. Also Kirkwall didn't change or evolve, all areas always seemed the same, which brings us to point 4. ~Also they changed Anders character and Merill was an idiot.
4. Low production values.
Copy paste enemies, copy paste environments, low res textures, lack of weapons and armour sets when compared to Origins, plain ugly graphics, junk items, unfinished UI and a lack of organic change in Kirkwall characterised the games production values.
However...the game had so much potential to be good but ultimately fell flat because of these 4 points. What will you remember about DA2?
To begin with, thoughts on Origins. Wow, what game. Brought back the CRPG in style with high production values, a great storyline, interesting combat and memorable characters, alongside great lore and an amazing soundtrack. I did at least 2 full playthroughs of this title and it's DLC and was in general a huge fan of the game.
Then Dragon Age 2 came. A lot of people were disappointed in this game. It started off as a fairly ambitious title with an interesting concept, a story focusing on a single person and his companions as they weather various crisis over the course of 10 years, in a single location, with time jumps. However the feel and gameplay of Origins was completely lost.
1. Lord of the Rings slower style tactical combat replaced with button mashing less tactical anime style combat with waves.
Combat was a bit reason why DA2 failed. Sure it was slightly more interesting visually, but enemies and characters teleported around, enemies teleported in from the ceiling making positioning impossible, and generally the feel of Origins as a grounded fantasy experience was completely compromised.
2. Changes in art style.
The art style of many creatures changed between the games. The actual art (concept arts etc.) of the games remained a similar style, but things like the look of armour and the design of the Darkspawn and the Elves changed for no reason and lost a lot of their grittiness and realism from the first game to be replaced by brutal spikey stuff. Everything in game looked a lot worse and there were low res textures everywhere.
3. Disjointed story
The games story about Hawke's journey across the course of 10 years really interested me, but instead it ended up as being a fairly hollow experience of 3 different plots with only Hawke and Kirkwall as the constants. The companions all had bizarre off screen character development, as did Hawke, and the game felt like it climaxed after the Qunari invasion, a lot of momentum was taken out of the story after act 2 ended. Also Kirkwall didn't change or evolve, all areas always seemed the same, which brings us to point 4. ~Also they changed Anders character and Merill was an idiot.
4. Low production values.
Copy paste enemies, copy paste environments, low res textures, lack of weapons and armour sets when compared to Origins, plain ugly graphics, junk items, unfinished UI and a lack of organic change in Kirkwall characterised the games production values.
However...the game had so much potential to be good but ultimately fell flat because of these 4 points. What will you remember about DA2?