Poll: Dragon age 2 worth it?
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dont listen to the other haters, DA2 is an amazing game, people are just hating on it because they compare it to origins, but in my opinion DA2 is way superior to origins, its a great game so yes buy it, essentially they took origins and fixed everthing that was bad about it
Dragon Age 2 is a strange beast. It took much of what people liked about Origins and changed it, and this is where a lot of the hatred and bile stems. However, what most haters failed to realize is that the game also removed much of what made Origins bad (clunky combat, for one).
DA2 is, at its core, still a dragon age game, with the central mechanics still remaining, but it's a much more unique experience than Origins, from the art style to the companions to the way the story is framed. And while the repetitive (to put it lightly) environments and lack of diverse classes within party members (one healer and one tank? Seriously?) certainly keep it from being the stuff of legend, I think that DA2 is still far better than the origins DLC. Though I do recommend you get Awakening at some point down the line, because it is a great experience.
DA2 is, at its core, still a dragon age game, with the central mechanics still remaining, but it's a much more unique experience than Origins, from the art style to the companions to the way the story is framed. And while the repetitive (to put it lightly) environments and lack of diverse classes within party members (one healer and one tank? Seriously?) certainly keep it from being the stuff of legend, I think that DA2 is still far better than the origins DLC. Though I do recommend you get Awakening at some point down the line, because it is a great experience.
Its okay and it'd be worth it if you could get it cheap, but don't go expecting anything even nearly as good as Origins.
If you're a casual gamer, yes.
If you want something more then compelling characters, avoid it like the plague.
If you want something more then compelling characters, avoid it like the plague.
I'm probably demonizing it more then I should, but to me it represents the dying of a great company, and a massive change for the worst in the games industry
As a long time fan of Bioware (and we're talking back in the Black Isle days), I can tell you that Dragon Age 2 is utterly not up to their standards of what makes an RPG. If you liked Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and the first Dragon Age, you likely will not enjoy Dragon Age 2 as a continuation of the genre.
It takes steps forwards and backwards. Story-wise, it's more of a stand-still. It's more interesting (to me, at least) because it is much less standard than Origins' plot. But it makes some serious missteps (towards the middle and end) and gives you next-to-no choice in determining its outcome.
The core gameplay is improved. The combat is much more fluid and interesting, and non-mages are given more options on how they want to build their character. I say "non-mages" because Rogues and Warriors are given a good bit more variety, but mages are about the same if not worse off. The game is easier, however. Basically, whatever difficulty you played in Origins, go one higher in Dragon Age II. I'll probably go up to Nightmare difficulty for my Warrior playthrough, as I'll have more health than my archer and my mage (some enemies have some attacks that can virtually instakill characters with lower consitutions).
Aside from that, I'm a huge fan of the voiced player character. At the risk of echoing Mass Effect's FemShep fans, I think Jo Wyatt did a great job as the female version of Hawke. Meanwhile, the visuals have pluses and minuses. At first glance, Dragon Age II is a much more interesting looking game than Origins. But you'll get familiar with the game's locations...and then you'll get really familiar. Then you'll likely be bored with the looks of the game (and, in the case of inexplicable and blatant environment reuses, you'll be downright annoyed).
Overall, it's one of my favorite games of the year (Probably coming in after Portal 2 and just ahead of Alice: Madness Returns. It is likely about to be knocked down many notches in the coming months though). The flaws are undeniable, but how much those flaws hurt the experience varies greatly from person to person. I was able to overlook them because I enjoyed the core of the game.
The core gameplay is improved. The combat is much more fluid and interesting, and non-mages are given more options on how they want to build their character. I say "non-mages" because Rogues and Warriors are given a good bit more variety, but mages are about the same if not worse off. The game is easier, however. Basically, whatever difficulty you played in Origins, go one higher in Dragon Age II. I'll probably go up to Nightmare difficulty for my Warrior playthrough, as I'll have more health than my archer and my mage (some enemies have some attacks that can virtually instakill characters with lower consitutions).
Aside from that, I'm a huge fan of the voiced player character. At the risk of echoing Mass Effect's FemShep fans, I think Jo Wyatt did a great job as the female version of Hawke. Meanwhile, the visuals have pluses and minuses. At first glance, Dragon Age II is a much more interesting looking game than Origins. But you'll get familiar with the game's locations...and then you'll get really familiar. Then you'll likely be bored with the looks of the game (and, in the case of inexplicable and blatant environment reuses, you'll be downright annoyed).
Overall, it's one of my favorite games of the year (Probably coming in after Portal 2 and just ahead of Alice: Madness Returns. It is likely about to be knocked down many notches in the coming months though). The flaws are undeniable, but how much those flaws hurt the experience varies greatly from person to person. I was able to overlook them because I enjoyed the core of the game.
This is actually a pretty accurate and balanced assessment. I second it.DustyDrB said:
The romances are different, if that's something from Origins you were all about. Not worse or better I'd say (though I'd tend towards saying "less" in some ways), just different. Long term relationships are more work I guess.
I do like DA2 as much as DA:O/A personally, just for different bits over others.
I'd go for Origins DLC. I loved Awakening and Leliana's Song. Didn't care for Witch Hunt, and I didn't play Darkspawn Chronicles (But that looks pretty cool).
One of the most fun things I've done in an RPG is having a high leveled Mage from Origins imported into that, and then enjoying just how overpowered you get. Seriously. Awakening is worth the asking price just to see how much shit you can wreck with my personal favorite spell combo: LIGHTNING TORNADO THAT IS ON FIRE. WITH AN EARTHQUAKE FOR GOOD MEASURE. I'll give you a hint: It's a fucking lot.
While I wasn't really able to get over myself and really enjoy the game, the only thing I have to add to this is a counter-point on behalf of DA: Awakening. (And that the Male Hawke's voice is pretty good, too)DustyDrB said:
One of the most fun things I've done in an RPG is having a high leveled Mage from Origins imported into that, and then enjoying just how overpowered you get. Seriously. Awakening is worth the asking price just to see how much shit you can wreck with my personal favorite spell combo: LIGHTNING TORNADO THAT IS ON FIRE. WITH AN EARTHQUAKE FOR GOOD MEASURE. I'll give you a hint: It's a fucking lot.
I played Dragon Age 2 about 2 1/2 times. That's completing the game twice (including Legacy DLC) and I finally got bored in the middle of my third playthrough.
DA2 is both similar and different, better and worse than Origins in different ways.
As for what to buy.
First get Ultimate Edition of Orgins. It includes all the DLC for cheaper than if you bought them separately.
Then pick up DA:2. Both games are like $30 now.
DA2 is both similar and different, better and worse than Origins in different ways.
As for what to buy.
First get Ultimate Edition of Orgins. It includes all the DLC for cheaper than if you bought them separately.
Then pick up DA:2. Both games are like $30 now.
Depends what "it" is. I played it once, had a good time, the asset reuse is completely ludicrous and it's way shorter and narrower than Origins but it's certainly better than any of the Origins DLC. If you can get it for what you'd consider cheap and have already played Witcher 2 a few times then go for it.