Zero Punctuation: Dragon Age: Origins
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
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I think the game's strongest point is its dialogue and characters, which is ESSENTIAL for a good RPG game. There have been MANY moments I have LOLed at, and like in a good movie, I've come to hope for the best for the characters because I actually like them. It's refreshing, in a way, and I think it ends up making a decent (if somewhat cliche-y fantasy) storyline into something that honestly drags you in. I have pretty much played this thing every spare moment I've had since I got it. It's been a long time since I was drawn to an RPG like that.
Very amusing, though I was surprised that you didn't offer any praise for BioWare finally managing to ween itself from the Force mechanic; sure the formula of BioWare games varies so little from KOTOR to DA:O that each iteration is largely the same game with shinier graphics and a different story, but one major step away from the foundation should be applauded, even if it's just one hand that's doing the clapping. I'm still partially dreading getting past the "Mass Effect" part of Mass Effect II, oy.
You know for some reason I kept thinkin that this game was goin to be like Golden Axe? I dont know why, my brain just kept tellin me this fact even while I was watchin the review I was still like 'So its like Golden Axe then?'
Also, congrats on the winners of them contest
-M
Also, congrats on the winners of them contest
-M
I really want this game. I plan to buy it based off friends, and now Yahtzee. Good review, not as funny as the originals, but still made me chortle.
That's exactly what I felt about DA:O though: the blight was already upon Ferelden: losing Ostagar and Lothering, the preying on the weak fleeing for their lives, the tragedy of the Dalish elves and their leader, his vengeance that has gone unfulfilled for eons, the dwarves scheming, and caste that seemingly punished a pregnant young dwarven woman abandonned by her father for loving a casteless dwarven man. All those tragedies ... that's dark fantasy. The spiteful Chantry and their fanaticism that lead to the downfall of the elves, and control of mages. It's a fucked up world, that's dark fantasy.Shadowkire said:
Almost as bleak and chaotic as "Berserk" world, and the heroes did have to go through a lot to get to the final battle. Morrigan and Leliana are both tragic characters in their own way, so is Alistair, and Shen.
Can't wait to get more of DA:O.
I can't bring myself to even watch the 'review'. I've grown tired of Yahtzee ripping everything (except his own games and ones almost like them) to shreds.
Actually, he liked it.dukethepcdr said:
I wonder what the follow up extra punctuation will be like. I know Yahtzee is a busy man, and I've been playing this game for about 60 hours and I just now feel like I'm reaching the end. I'd like to hear his thoughts on the story but I'm not sure he's up for the task of finishing it through to its conclusion.
Really? What a shock!!! I may actually have to watch that review. I haven't seen a Zero Punctuation review that was even remotely positive for so long.AcacianLeaves said:
Thanks!
Okay, I watched it. I guess the fact that it didn't bore him to death after playing it a long time qualifies as "liking" the game. He still tore it to shreds and made fun of pretty much ever aspect of it and of the people who like fantasy RPGs. He also continues to resort to cussing and disgusting references to things that people under the age of 18 shouldn't be hearing or seeing (adults shouldn't rot their brains with it either for that matter).dukethepcdr said:
I now resume my boycott of Zero Punctuation. Thanks for the reminder of why I don't like those video "reviews".
Wow this is grey right here.dukethepcdr said:
@Topic
Anyway Yahtzee is actually making a lot of sense in his complaints here. Most RPGs is very very tolkien (mind you Lord of the Rings is a complete and utter rip off of norse mythology elves and everything even down to the mother fucking ring).
But there is something about BioWare RPGs that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Compared to Bethesda that mostly makes me feel awkward. Fallout 3 is ok but not a real Fallout. It's true.
Why are these threads usually turn into flame wars between people whe diasgree with yahtzee and people who agree with yahtzee
i saw the end at 25 hours in... it's not rocket science you see most of the map straight away.
Tiny world all condensed into little maps, Bioware really don't do sandboxed RPGS. (Although Mass Effect felt 100% better than this piece of garbage). Dialogue would have been better if they had hired decent writers; Do you hear that? - Mr Tolkein rolling in his grave.
Graphics were laudable, plus the fact you actually get an NPC at your camp beginning you to help them ONLY if you download premium content, with just a few clicks. You're kidding me? no, he's really there.
Then there's the Bugs, no where near as bad as a certain KOTOR or worse Bethedsa's joke of Fallout 3, who for some reason managed to create MORE bugs with each edition they shipped out. (i'm serious go from Xbox, PC to the PS3 version and scratch your freaking head).
Anyway where was i... oh yeah, the bugs, the worst one being the little exploit where you can go to level 20 within the first 30 minutes of the game. Due to the fact the guy gives XP for the blood (3 vials.. with me) but as long as you don't pick up the other thing (spawning the "slut" of the game) you can keep handing in the same vials of blood for the XP. Since XP doesn't change per level (bizare for an RPG) nor do you really feel that much powerful, just get better abilities.
How that got through testing.. i'll never know and that's the rub, the game feels like it was forced out by EA more quickly than sex with jessica alba because you were "tired" and "excited". This was probably to make way for more work on Mass Effect 2 (looks great) and the Star Wars MMO Beta.
Dragons Age has suffered, sure we'll get some DLC content... but it'll still feel like they missed out on so much, they could have optimised the engine, made loading times less... even created better facial animations so they don't all look constapated and walk like we went back in time to the first "ghost recon" on the xbox.
at least the actors are okay, well except the dwarfs.. the dwarfs all sound like fat humans.
it feels unfinished, playing it on normal it'll take you 40 hours... easy will take 10 hours off that. The best NPC characters are the ones who talk a lot.. i like alistair, the french girl and shale (a female dwarf of all things).
but it was traded in, in less than a week because i had mostly done everything and seen almost all the endings, bar one where you let the evil SOB actually LIVE. come on. (you'll KILL a lot of dragons, the developers are in the school, when in doubt make the boss a dragon - you'll kill 3 of the big things in the game; shapeshifter, cult "leader" and the end "demon")
couldn't make it through all the starting origins though except human and mage. Funny how the racism all but disppears when you enter the elven part of the city as a human
it's like the writers got bored half way... and went "meh".
oh and help the girl bartender, and the other chick with cash... you even get lines at the end of what happens to them. Only characters i actually cared about what happens... the rest are a dime a dozen. (alistair forgets all about helping his sister).
Go buy Mass Effect, better game.. half the price thank god for unchartered 2, better than this pile of ****. Jade Empire was worse though.
Tiny world all condensed into little maps, Bioware really don't do sandboxed RPGS. (Although Mass Effect felt 100% better than this piece of garbage). Dialogue would have been better if they had hired decent writers; Do you hear that? - Mr Tolkein rolling in his grave.
Graphics were laudable, plus the fact you actually get an NPC at your camp beginning you to help them ONLY if you download premium content, with just a few clicks. You're kidding me? no, he's really there.
Then there's the Bugs, no where near as bad as a certain KOTOR or worse Bethedsa's joke of Fallout 3, who for some reason managed to create MORE bugs with each edition they shipped out. (i'm serious go from Xbox, PC to the PS3 version and scratch your freaking head).
Anyway where was i... oh yeah, the bugs, the worst one being the little exploit where you can go to level 20 within the first 30 minutes of the game. Due to the fact the guy gives XP for the blood (3 vials.. with me) but as long as you don't pick up the other thing (spawning the "slut" of the game) you can keep handing in the same vials of blood for the XP. Since XP doesn't change per level (bizare for an RPG) nor do you really feel that much powerful, just get better abilities.
How that got through testing.. i'll never know and that's the rub, the game feels like it was forced out by EA more quickly than sex with jessica alba because you were "tired" and "excited". This was probably to make way for more work on Mass Effect 2 (looks great) and the Star Wars MMO Beta.
Dragons Age has suffered, sure we'll get some DLC content... but it'll still feel like they missed out on so much, they could have optimised the engine, made loading times less... even created better facial animations so they don't all look constapated and walk like we went back in time to the first "ghost recon" on the xbox.
at least the actors are okay, well except the dwarfs.. the dwarfs all sound like fat humans.
it feels unfinished, playing it on normal it'll take you 40 hours... easy will take 10 hours off that. The best NPC characters are the ones who talk a lot.. i like alistair, the french girl and shale (a female dwarf of all things).
but it was traded in, in less than a week because i had mostly done everything and seen almost all the endings, bar one where you let the evil SOB actually LIVE. come on. (you'll KILL a lot of dragons, the developers are in the school, when in doubt make the boss a dragon - you'll kill 3 of the big things in the game; shapeshifter, cult "leader" and the end "demon")
couldn't make it through all the starting origins though except human and mage. Funny how the racism all but disppears when you enter the elven part of the city as a human
it's like the writers got bored half way... and went "meh".oh and help the girl bartender, and the other chick with cash... you even get lines at the end of what happens to them. Only characters i actually cared about what happens... the rest are a dime a dozen. (alistair forgets all about helping his sister).
Go buy Mass Effect, better game.. half the price
thank god for unchartered 2, better than this pile of ****. Jade Empire was worse though.