Skyrim puts Dragon Age to shame

[Lunar Templar]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry over the fact that Dragon Age 2 was released the same year as Skyrim. After defeating my first dragon in an epic battle, I realized just how deeply Bethesda has humiliated Bioware. Think back on your experience in Dragon Age 2 and compare and contrast with Skyrim. The Dragon Age team needs to step up their game.

Discuss!

http://www.g4g.it/g4g2/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Dragon_Age_2_hires_01.jpg

really -.-, ignoring the glaring fact for now -.- these games have what in common? they both have dragons in them? this is what your basing your comparison on? really? ....


ok, now that THAT'S out of my system.

Skyrim and Dragon Age, have really only 2 things in common

1) dragons
2) fantasy setting

Skyrim is an open world game, where story is more or less shelved in favor of a world that is vast and explorable for god know how long.

Dragon Age, ether, are traditional RPGs, you have a story, a few side quests, but the world and game are pretty linear, you can wander around some but there are SNES RPGs with more explore-ability.

that fact you've said what you have smacks only of some one seeking to start a flame war between fan bases, that, or you don't understand how radically different the 2 developers are (even if one seems to be selling out to 'please the masses')

 

[Sexy Devil]

I wasn't aware they were competing with each other.

In the world of fanboy wars, Call of Duty gameplay is comparable to Skyrim so Dragon Age 2 being comparable to Skyrim isn't a huge stretch for them.

 

[TheCowman]

So, if you could buy only one game and had to choose between Skyrim and some other non open world game, don't ask here because you will be told how pointless it is to compare games that are not exactly the same.

Well, I'd probably ask them if they prefer open world games or story-driven ones.

From there, the recommendation is rather simple.


And Skyrim companions are to Dragon Age companions what bottle-rockets are to space shuttles.

 

[DracoSuave]

Valid Comparison is Valid.

Also, Skyrim is totally a worse shooter than Panzer Dragoon.

What

 

[Epona]

So, if you could buy only one game and had to choose between Skyrim and some other non open world game, don't ask here because you will be told how pointless it is to compare games that are not exactly the same.

Well, I'd probably ask them if they prefer open world games or story-driven ones.

From there, the recommendation is rather simple.


And Skyrim companions are to Dragon Age companions what bottle-rockets are to space shuttles.

You mean you wouldn't ask them what genre they liked? You could suggest Skyrim to someone wanting to play a racing game if you don't ask that basic question.

 

[trophykiller]

Because this thread will be locked soon, let's hi-jack it and have an interesting "this is better than that' discussion. Ready?

Cake or pie.

 

[Epona]

Because this thread will be locked soon, let's hi-jack it and have an interesting "this is better than that' discussion. Ready?

Cake or pie.

Pie I think. Thanksgiving is approaching and I am looking forward to Pumpkin pie.

 

[TheCowman]

You mean you wouldn't ask them what genre they liked? You could suggest Skyrim to someone wanting to play a racing game if you don't ask that basic question.

Ah, sorry. I was under the impression we were still on the Skyrim/Dragon Age comparison. I didn't know we'd branched out into other genres.


And I vote pie, but only pumpkin or chocolate pudding.

 

[Epona]

You mean you wouldn't ask them what genre they liked? You could suggest Skyrim to someone wanting to play a racing game if you don't ask that basic question.

Ah, sorry. I was under the impression we were still on the Skyrim/Dragon Age comparison. I didn't know we'd branched out into other genres.


And I vote pie, but only pumpkin or chocolate pudding.

That's my point, these two titles are comparable because they are both WRPG's (ie, the same genre). That one has party members and the other doesn't is really not enough to make it an invalid comparison.

 

[TheCowman]

Well, I'd say that one being open world and first person and the other being story driven and third person was a bigger difference, but whatevs.

 

[Epona]

Well, I'd say that one being open world and first person and the other being story driven and third person was a bigger difference, but whatevs.

About as big a difference as a Final Fantasy game and a Tales of game, both JRPG's but take different approaches to the genre.

Something else to think about, the number one reason these titles are comparable are because they have the same fanbase. Take a look, people are quick to say "they are/aren't comparable" but that means that every one of those people have played both.

 

[TheCowman]

Something else to think about, the number one reason these titles are comparable are because they have the same fanbase. Take a look, people are quick to say "they are/aren't comparable" but that means that every one of those people have played both.

Well, to be fair, I'd trust the opinion of someone who'd played both over someone who'd only played one. After all, who better to say if they're comparable or not than someone who's sampled both?

 

[Greatjusticeman]

I wasn't aware they were competing with each other.

They're both fantasy games with dragons. That's like saying you weren't aware CoD and BF were competing.

Granted there was a large gap between releases. But the games are going to be compared.

No one with two brain cells to rub together would make the comparison, especially not in the sense of combat, and especially not in the sense of tactical, party-based, pseudo-turn-based combat versus real-time combat.

Well, Dragon Age 2 was completely and utterly rushed by EA, where Bethesda had more than 7-10 months to make a game.

Origins came out in late 2009, DA2 came out in 2011, work on DA2 was begun before Origins was completed. Not that a few months over a year is enough time, but saying its 7-10 is giving them way too much absolution.

The project leads shoulder the blame too. Especially when you look at some of the comments they've made in the forums (the lead writer makes me want to hurt myself), and post-release interviews they've given.

No, development for the game began after Origins was completed. True production began when the success of both the sales and reviews of Origins were apparent.

Dragon Age 2 was a rushed title that had a little over a year in development. Skyrim had 3, if not more, years of development.

However, I agree with you about the project leads. The lead writer is an absolute jackass who blamed bad review scores on 4chan and trolls the Bioware forums. Mike Laidlaw doesn't have that great of a vision either.

However, if Dragon Age 2 had anywhere the development time that Skyrim did, it would be magnificent - as would many games if they had that time frame.

The reason Bethesda is able to create such massive, detailed games is because they have years of development. This is not a fair comparison.

Origins and Skyrim would be a more fair comparison, and both of those are close.

 

[blizzaradragon]

So you're comparing two different games simply because they are both RPGs that have dragons? That's like comparing Rage to Team Fortress 2. They are two different types of RPGs that focus on two different types of elements. Both have their pros and cons, plain and simple.

If you really want to compare them though, I've had more fun with the Dragon Age games(yes, even Dragon Age II cause I actually enjoy it more than I enjoyed Origins) than I've been having with Skyrim.

 

[MDMR]

yes lots of potions man, lots of potions

(Without mods, did ANYONE have a team without Wynne if they weren't a healer themself?)

I didn't use Wynne and i didn't give Morrigan (my only mage) ANY healing spells at all. Plus i played on nightmare, reloaded any time a party member 'went down' in battle, never used storm spells indoors, and i also kept her as a standard mage. (no overpowered specializations) And this was my first time playing too.

So yea, healing spells are totally unnecessary. Just guzzle healing potions !

same here man

 

[NerfedFalcon]

If it's Dragon Age: Origins we're talking about, I haven't played either but would take DAO over Skyrim. Why? Because killing dragons loses its weight when there's an infinite amount. Not that killing dragons by simply tossing profanities at them didn't do that already.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

I hated origins(thought 2 was a major improvement.) but skyrim is something that doesn't happen often. It's that sort of game you can play for years, and elder scrolls games are the only single player games I can think of that give you that much entertainment.

It's like comparing Jesus to your local priest in terms of holiness.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

Two different games...two different genres...two different sets of fanboys...WHO WILL WINNN????

Seriously. The only thing these games seem to have in common with me is that there are dragons...and...the studio that made them starts with a B.

You are comparing apples to bananas man. They are both fruits...completely different fruits that give you different vitamins.

Anyhow, I enjoyed both Dragon Ages and what little bit of Skyrim I have gotten to play, I have enjoyed! I think it's pretty unfair to compare them.

Yes, different genres. One is an WRPG and the other is a....WRPG. Maybe the party members in Bioware's games make it a WJRPG? Oh wait, doesn't Skyrim have companions too?

What next, Mario and Sonic are not comparable because while they are both platformers, one is a hedgehog and the other is a human?

Dude really? One is an open world game were you don't really need companions. One is a fairly linear game set up D and D style were you need companions to beat the freaking game.

 

[Epona]

Two different games...two different genres...two different sets of fanboys...WHO WILL WINNN????

Seriously. The only thing these games seem to have in common with me is that there are dragons...and...the studio that made them starts with a B.

You are comparing apples to bananas man. They are both fruits...completely different fruits that give you different vitamins.

Anyhow, I enjoyed both Dragon Ages and what little bit of Skyrim I have gotten to play, I have enjoyed! I think it's pretty unfair to compare them.

Yes, different genres. One is an WRPG and the other is a....WRPG. Maybe the party members in Bioware's games make it a WJRPG? Oh wait, doesn't Skyrim have companions too?

What next, Mario and Sonic are not comparable because while they are both platformers, one is a hedgehog and the other is a human?

Dude really? One is an open world game were you don't really need companions. One is a fairly linear game set up D and D style were you need companions to beat the freaking game.

Dude really, they have the same fanbase for a reason.

 

[Broken Orange]

At least Bioware made Dragons more than a mere annoyance. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving Skyrim and I enjoyed both Dragon Age games, but Bioware did a better dragon.