Poll: Pre-ordering Dragon Age 2: Is it worth it? Poll!!

[WaywardHaymaker]

Hell, I already did. I had the money lying about and I just thought, "Hey, if I pre-order this game right now and pay the same amount I would if I just bought it on Day One, I get more game." I already know I'm gonna like it at least a little, BioWare has yet to steer me wrong.

 

[Magicman10893]

Well, my answer is a combo of "I want the DLC" and "The game should be awesome." My opinion on DLC is actually very low (I FUCKING HATE IT--it was made to get money from all the people who buy the games used, but I never do that, so producers should give codes in all new games that unlocks all the DLC for free, and make the used buyers pay for it). This pre-order comes close to my vision for DLC (since it is free if you pre order), so hopefully my support for it will make the industry realize that free DLC to new buyers and preorders is the way to go. And then they will do it for ME3, because I was forced to give them $10 for the ME2 Liara DLC... And I paid $60 for the collector's edition (anyone else know why they chose that name?).

In short, yes it is worth it because you get free DLC.

That is what they have been doing for the last year! EA started the $10 plan, where they hand out a code with every copy of the game for free DLC, and then have the DLC for sale online for $10 or more. Bad Company 2 had that in the form of new game modes and maps, Madden (and other sports games by EA) have it in form of a pass that lets you play online, Mass Effect 2 had the Cerberus Network and Dragon Age Origins had Shale for free with a code that came with the game.

Yeah, well it was just a few DLCs not all the DLC... I want all the DLC to be free with a new game purchase... ME2 had some of the DLC free (not the Liara one though...), Dragon age had only Shale free. Those are the only EA games I got last year, and they have the closest to new games get free DLC. But it should be all the DLC (or at least all the good DLC, I don't want extra weapon and armor packs, I want more missions and more story).

You can't realistically expect them to give all DLC for free since they don't exactly have every DLC planned out before the game is released, and if they do, that means they really are money grubbing assholes. The main thing to worry about is DLC that is released in first couple weeks of the games release. Those DLCs are definitely the ones that were going to be on the disc, but got cut so they could prevent the release date from being pushed back. If they charge you for that, then that's bullshit. But luckily for us, the $10 plan that EA has come up with keeps that DLC "free" for the people that buy it new.

The codes couldn't be given out with the new copies since they don't quite know what DLC is going to come out. And I don't think that a code that unlocks any DLC that comes out for the game would work. Unless the company wants to be really generous and release free DLC like Valve, I don't expect to be given any free DLC unless it is a really small one, especially if EA or Activison is the publisher.

 

[MCDeltaT]

Best thing about Bioware games are the characters, and seeing as you get a free DLC character with the pre-order I'd say "Hell yeah"

 

[ImprovizoR]

I'm a Bioware whore. I am going to buy every game they make so why not pre-order it to get some extra goodies? I'd say it's worth it.

 

[snagli]

i normally never buy anything that isn't on sale, but this game looks so gosh darn awesome! i'll pre-order it

 

[indiangrunt91]

I pre ordered the game mostly because i loved Dragon age origins and Mass effect 2 and just trusted that Bioware would do a good job. After playing the demo im glad i did because its pretty sweet. they also put a lot of work into not making it look like shit, good UI in my opinion, better tactics system and better graphics. only issues i have so far are the lack of zooming all the way back like origins on the pc, but i get why they dont have that anymore, and the dialogue has become overly simplistic.

 

[MisterShine]

That being said, I do like Bioware, and I want to support them. But I am on a budget, and I'm still skeptical. What are you all planning to do?

I think it depends alot on how you view BioWare games.

Every BioWare game I've ever played has been superb and easily worth the money, and not at all worth the wait for a price drop or even to hear other people's opinions on it. And honestly, even if everyone else hated it I would still get it anyway. Lots of reviewers disliked Alpha Protocol, and I thought it was one of the best games of last year.

So in your situation, I'd say weigh in how much you've enjoyed previous Bioware games versus just renting it the first couple weeks or maybe picking it up this summer when its on the Steam sale.

edit: Damn necro threads. Fooled me!

 

[Comic Sans]

I was actually unimpressed by the demo. The battles look flashier but the nuts and bolts are similar. The graphics are appalling, at least in the bit I played. The Darkspawn look like cartoons, not the frightening monsters they were in the first one. It's simply too cartoony. The camera is also not suitable for someone like the rogue, who needs to be flipping around. The top-down view means I can't see archers until I'm on top of them, and while I get the idea (targeting enemies in a crowd), I'd rather have less enemies than the swarms I was fighting and a better camera angle.

I'll finish the demo later, maybe it will change my mind. But as of now, meh.

 

[Traun]

I pre-ordered the game simply because I love Bioware and I was impressed by the free "Signature Edition" upgrade. Whether or not I end up buying the game is up in the air, but my pre-order is fully refundable so there really is no risk here.

I don't mind DLC, but DLC that was developed before Day 1 should always be free, it was made during the development of the game.

Anyway, knowing that they will milk the game to no end is a no-go for me until I see the ultimate edition. Thought truth be told, I don't think the game is worth my money...

 

[mireko]

I was actually unimpressed by the demo. The battles look flashier but the nuts and bolts are similar. The graphics are appalling, at least in the bit I played. The Darkspawn look like cartoons, not the frightening monsters they were in the first one. It's simply too cartoony. The camera is also not suitable for someone like the rogue, who needs to be flipping around. The top-down view means I can't see archers until I'm on top of them, and while I get the idea (targeting enemies in a crowd), I'd rather have less enemies than the swarms I was fighting and a better camera angle.

I'll finish the demo later, maybe it will change my mind. But as of now, meh.

Were you playing it on a console? None of your complaints sprang to mind when I was playing it on the PC, anyway.

The darkspawn are fortunately not the main focus of the game, but the overall change in design is wonderful imho. The city in the second part of the demo is so much better than anything we saw in Origins.

EDIT: Argh, this thread is ancient.

 

[ultrachicken]

Hard to say if it's worth it since it won't be out til March. I want to know as little about the story and characters as possible before hand so I haven't following it closely. I checked out a gameplay trailer and the combat looked like an improvement over Origins. Though if it didn't come with a decent amount of bonus stuff, I wouldn't have pre-ordered it.


If you are worrying about money and don't mind not playing games asap, then just wait it out. Everything drops in price eventually.

(For the poll: combo of all 3 yes options so... I pass on voting)

Play the demo. It gives you at least some picture of what the main characters are like.

If you're buying it for a console, then I recommend pre-ordering just to ensure a copy gets to you. Otherwise, it's entirely up to you.

 

[Comic Sans]

I was actually unimpressed by the demo. The battles look flashier but the nuts and bolts are similar. The graphics are appalling, at least in the bit I played. The Darkspawn look like cartoons, not the frightening monsters they were in the first one. It's simply too cartoony. The camera is also not suitable for someone like the rogue, who needs to be flipping around. The top-down view means I can't see archers until I'm on top of them, and while I get the idea (targeting enemies in a crowd), I'd rather have less enemies than the swarms I was fighting and a better camera angle.

I'll finish the demo later, maybe it will change my mind. But as of now, meh.

Were you playing it on a console? None of your complaints sprang to mind when I was playing it on the PC, anyway.

The darkspawn are fortunately not the main focus of the game, but the overall change in design is wonderful imho. The city in the second part of the demo is so much better than anything we saw in Origins.

EDIT: Argh, this thread is ancient.

I'm playing on PC with the settings on High and with 1920x1080 resolution (no AA though). It looks like crap. The animations on the human characters are better, but the style just feels different from DA:O in a bad way.

I had to go to work before I could finish the demo, so maybe the rest will change my mind. But I doubt it.

 

[BoredDragon]

Ok, I've said this on every thread containing Dragon Age and I have yet to get a fulfilling answer (or any answer for that matter) about why people like this game.

I have played Dragon Age: Origins and I didn't particularly like it. To me, is seemed like WoW minus the multiplayer and it perplexes me on how many people like it so much.

Can someone tell me why so many people love Dragon Age?

 

[Comic Sans]

Ok, I've said this on every thread containing Dragon Age and I have yet to get a fulfilling answer (or any answer for that matter) about why people like this game.

I have played Dragon Age: Origins and I didn't particularly like it. To me, is seemed like WoW minus the multiplayer and it perplexes me on how many people like it so much.

Can someone tell me why so many people love Dragon Age?

I kind of agree. It had a lot of aspects I liked, but I couldn't get myself to like it as much as I wanted to. The dungeon length is probably what got to me. They were LOOOOOOONG, especially the Deep Roads. I think people like it because it's a throwback to Baldur's Gate and the like. I never played those, so I have no nostalgia for the game style.

 

[Kimarous]

Ok, I've said this on every thread containing Dragon Age and I have yet to get a fulfilling answer (or any answer for that matter) about why people like this game.

I have played Dragon Age: Origins and I didn't particularly like it. To me, is seemed like WoW minus the multiplayer and it perplexes me on how many people like it so much.

Can someone tell me why so many people love Dragon Age?

I'm perplexed by what you mean by that. Clarify A) how Dragon Age feels liek "WoW minus multiplayer", and B) why this should be construed negatively.

 

[BoredDragon]

Ok, I've said this on every thread containing Dragon Age and I have yet to get a fulfilling answer (or any answer for that matter) about why people like this game.

I have played Dragon Age: Origins and I didn't particularly like it. To me, is seemed like WoW minus the multiplayer and it perplexes me on how many people like it so much.

Can someone tell me why so many people love Dragon Age?

I'm perplexed by what you mean by that. Clarify A) how Dragon Age feels liek "WoW minus multiplayer", and B) why this should be construed negatively.

Ok I'll try to clarify what I mean.

A) From what I remember, the combat to me feels very reminiscent of WoW. You select an enemy and immediately start auto-attacking it. Then you select various moves you have learned from leveling up to use on said enemy by pressing different hotkeys you have mapped on your controller. Then you keep auto-attacking until the cooldowns of your special attacks you just used ware off and you can use them again.
Again from what I remember you can't interactively block or parry to protect yourself (if it is in the game I apologize)
You keep moving to different mobs until you get to a final boss, defeat it, complete complete a quest, and turn it in for experience and gold or item reward.

I'm not saying it's exactly like WoW with the dialogue trees and moral choices, but there are a lot of things that remind me of everyone's favorite MMO.


B) The thing I like about WoW is being able to play and interact with people online while playing, especially with my friends. Having that makes some of the more tedious grinds of an MMO bearable and makes it so the game is still fun to play. Dragon Age is obviously single player which I can't experience with my friends. Thus the tedious parts of Dragon Age like its repetitive combat and some of its quests make it a deal breaker for me.


Admittedly, I didn't play through the entire game so there maybe something later in the game that I'm missing that cause other people to love it so much. However, from what I played, I really didn't like it that much

 

[NathLines]

Wait for the Ultimate Edition. Cheaper and you will feel better about it knowing that you have everything the game has to offer.