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My time with Dragon Age Origins was a long time coming. For nearly two years, I have been prepared to play the game but unable to find the time to devote to it despite the 4PP community urges. With Dragon Age 2 quickly approaching, I finally sat down with Dragon Age and for 2 months of my life, that was all that I played. I finished the game with only a week to spare and with a full understanding of the praise that the game has received. While similar in a lot of ways to other Bioware endeavors, Dragon Age is special thanks to it's unprecedented storytelling and unique approach to choice. With the release of Dragon Age 2 last night, I sat down and played the first hour of the game (largely composed of content I played at PAX 2010) and have a few thoughts about the changes being made. Opinions that might end up putting me at odds with the likes of other members of 4PP.
On Dragon Age Origins...
With Dragon Age Origins, I was in a unique position thanks to the fact that I had little or no experience with this style RPG. Baldur's Gate, the unofficial, spiritual influence to the Dragon Age universe, is a game that is held dear by RPG and Bioware fans alike thanks to some of its more hardcore gameplay elements. Dice rolls and extensive stat and equipment management is something that I enjoy in small doses but find myself easily overwhelmed by. I don't get the same kind of enjoyment out of this meta-game as the hardcore RPG crowd but I pushed through Dragon Age regardless, basking in the glory of its other great aspects. In the end, it was the amazing characters and mature approach to the world and storytelling that captured my heart. The combat mechanics I found to be often-times frustrating because success in battle ultimately relied on the amount of time that I spent in the menus tweaking my character. In fact, I would say I probably spent close to 20% of my time in the menus.
In the course of 40 hours, like many of you, I rose to power after my noble family was betrayed and subsequently murdered. I attained great power from a trusted mentor only to lose that mentor before all the lessons had been taught. I was left to my own devices to learn the lessons about power and responsibility all while striving to bring an end to a menace that threatened the entire world. I made several friends and enemies along the way thanks to some incredibly tough decisions. Decisions that had to be made despite the repercussions. Just when I thought Bioware had engaged me in a way that I didn't think possible, I fell in love with a girl. While many of these experiences and emotions are reminiscent of those in Mass Effect, they simply don't feel as genuine as they did in Dragon Age. There really is something to be said about the amount of control you are given over the outcome of your story in Dragon Age. In the end, Bioware kept me invested despite my frustration with the way in which the games core combat mechanic worked.
On Dragon Age 2...
Now, barely 2 years since the release of Dragon Age Origins, we are slammed with Dragon Age 2, a game that sticks to the core of what made Dragon Age a brilliant universe yet obviously designed to appeal more to someone like me. Someone who could do without all of the complexity of a more hardcore western RPG. Someone who appreciates the cinematic flair and often times depends on it as an important storytelling device. These are my initial thoughts after the first hour of Dragon Age 2.
On the art style...
While the story was an absolutely amazing part of the original Dragon Age, it lacked the polish and presentability of other Bioware projects (on consoles anyway). With Dragon Age 2, Bioware chose to give the game a more artistic flair rather than move more in the direction of realism. The result is quite dramatic especially when coming right off of Dragon Age Origins which was a buggy, ugly mess. Not only does the style give it some flair, it also ensures that this game will stand the test of time longer than the original. While not the most technically impressive, it certainly has done wonders for the game's presentation. A few awkward animations aside, Dragon Age 2, initially at-least, sports one of my favorite art styles in recent memory.
On the cinematic approach...
This is where I'm sure to split from several of my colleagues. I'm sure many will argue that the more aggressive cinematic approach is unnecessary and actually to the detriment of the perceived maturity of the original. Honestly though, I don't care. Seeing this universe come to life with a bit of that Mass Effect flair is refreshing and just what I want from my fantasy-epics. Of course, the story will only be as good as the writing so perhaps this subject is something that I will hold for our Dragon Age 2 podcast special.
On the combat...
This is where I'm sure the audience will split the most. For the hardcore western RPG fan, I doubt the combat in Dragon Age 2 will ultimately top that of the original. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, (correct me if I'm wrong), the audience that the original Dragon Age was built for live for the intricacies of character customization and dice rolls. They seem to prefer control over character commands rather than being given direct control over the character movement in battle. In other words, tactics over twitch based combat. While I certainly can understand the appeal, I can't help but feel engaged by Dragon Age 2's combat in ways that I never felt in Dragon Age Origins. It is too early for me to tell but Dragon Age 2 combat feels like it may have made the right compromises for both sides of the equation.
On the dialogue trees...
In what I'm sure was a step taken to ensure they nail the cinematic approach of Mass Effect, freedom within conversations has been scaled back. It disappoints me to see the dialogue teetering dangerously on the edge of transparent good/evil choices, yet I don't feel like it has negatively affected my perception of the story. Of course, the big decisions are still ahead of me and it will be those key plot moments in which this change will have the most profound effects.
My initial Dragon Age 2 experience left a good impression. It is obviously built with a slightly different audience in mind but the changes feel less like simplifications and more like appropriate compromises. The game has a lot to live up to and a lot of room for failure by taking a different approach and riding on the coat-tails of the success of Mass Effect. Hopefully mediocrity won't rear it's ugly head.
Keep your eyes on 4PlayerPodcast.com in the coming weeks for our inevitable Dragon Age 2 podcast special. It's sure to be one of the most talked about games of 2011 on our site so stay tuned. I hope at least a few people understand where I am coming from and sympathize with me as i'm sure I will be in the minority in coming weeks.
Comments
13 years, 8 months ago
Can't say I agree on the art style, I think it looks god awful, but that's just aesthetic preference. Can't wait for the show.
13 years, 8 months ago
Glad you made this post Nick as I wondered(along with a couple of other community members) what Nick will think of this game just having beaten and enjoyed Dragon Age Origins. I had a feeling this game would appeal to you far more and don't condemn you at all for liking this games direction(since you've played Origins); I personally dislike much of what this game has changed and certainly don't see myself subjecting to the change bestowed upon this game :(
13 years, 8 months ago
A really nice read here, Nick. I actually agree with you a lot because for quite sometime, I hated Dragon Age: Origins. I was mostly frustrated because I wasn't getting too hooked in the story in the beginning, and, like you, I certainly wasn't the biggest fan of the combat. On the other hand, after about a year of avoiding the game, I came back to my file and found myself a lot more invested in the story and caring a lot more for the characters that I was with. As a result, I set the combat to casual mode so I can experience the story and choices, which were excellent for the most part.
On the topic of Dragon Age II, I found myself thoroughly satisfied from the combat because of its fast pace. Although I had to constantly mash the X button on the PS3 controller (which might get annoying), I found myself switching between characters to gain the upper hand like Dragon Age: Origins, except I was doing it in real time rather than pausing the game more (as I did with the first game).
In terms of the cinematic feel to it, I am not sure what to think. Some scenes had me scratching my head because they seemed a little awkward and sudden, but I don't think they will be too offensive in terms of the final product. With the dialogue system, I did not feel as connected to my character because there are not as many choices to choose from this time, a consequence of using a Mass Effect styled dialogue wheel. In the first game, I always found myself finding a choice that I really wanted to choose because of how I felt rather than being forced into a certain role every time my character talks (diplomatic, aggressive, etc.). I'm still happy that there isn't a paragon/renegade system, so I have a more freedom of my choices, but I don't think it will reach the first game's sense of identity. In the end, I'm still very excited for Dragon Age II, and I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say in the podcast.
13 years, 8 months ago
Nick, don't worry; I'd guess that if I had to pick a side, I'd have to agree with you. How DA2 compares to the orginal I won't judge yet simply because I haven't finished Da2 yet. Also, I played a good bit of DA:O (+70 hours) and it is one of my most favorite games of this generation. But I'm thouroughly enjoying DA2. I can see how a few people would complain about the combat change, and I can understand them, but DA2 shifted into a territory that I simply enjoyed more. I'm not sure on where I stand with the dialog yet. The voiced dialog isn't as big of a problem as I had once thought, but Im not sure why they changed it to the ME system. (Don't get me wrong, I like the system. But I loved DA:Os)
(Though, I reserve my rights to switch, over the events of the game. I also realized How hypocritical this is of me since I was disfavoring Changes from the first ME to the second)
13 years, 8 months ago
Thanks for the post Nick! I was wondering what you were going to say about it.
13 years, 8 months ago
I too recently finished DA:O for the first time after a year of it sitting on the shelf. Like you I had little to nothing experience with this type of game. However I decided it was now or never and I am glad I picked it up again. I truly enjoyed the story and character interactions, but felt overwhelmed at times with all the equipment managing and combat. Dragon Age 2 is looking to be an interesting game so far. I still think conversation flowed better in Origins, but I'm only a few hrs in, so I'm sure it'll get better.
13 years, 8 months ago
I'm enjoying DA2 a lot as well, but I do face some problems with it like the mentioned dialogue trees. But moreover, it lacks how involved you are with the world. In Dragon Age: Origins, you could step into an argument a couple of NPCs were having, and made you feel like you had an actual part in the world. There's fewer NPCs to talk to in DA2 which is pretty disappointing, and it feels the dialogue overall has been watered down and sliced to the point where it makes it easy for newcomers to be welcomed into the series, but for veterans to feel left out of what could've been. It's kind of a shame, but I don't mind it too much.
13 years, 8 months ago
I really dislike the combat in DA2.
Haven't used that writer so much since I was 13.
Lame joke. It's late here.
13 years, 8 months ago
I don't know if I'm in the minority here on this one but I like both styles that they have used in DA quite a bit. It would have been nice had it been more like the original because it helped keep the two universes (Mass Effect and Dragon Age) being distinctly their own in terms of design and gameplay.
In the end it just goes to show be careful what you complain about when giving game feedback. People complained about lack of direct control in combat in DA:O (the whole getting hit while running away because the dice had already rolled). I also recall complaints of dialog selections leading to an unintended reaction because it wasn't laid out as explicitly as it could have (thus leading to the wheel and icons in dialog). I just wish there wasn't so much backlash when they tried to do what people asked them to.
13 years, 8 months ago
I'm actually pretty much with you Nick. What kept me going throughout Origins was the story and characters and they were amazing. The combat got so frustrating and when I think about the places you went in Origins, I can say if it weren't for the story in all of them I would have hated them. The fade was awful, the deep roads were ridiculously long and incredibly difficult, the Dalish forest was barely memorable and finding the ashes for Eamon was too hard. I may have just been bad at the game but I'm having a much more enjoyable experience combat-wise in DA2. I like both styles but prefer the second's just a little more. Also I can understand having a problem with the dialogue system but I really liked it in Mass Effect so I see no reason why I won't like it in DA2
13 years, 8 months ago
This will lead to an Interesting Podcast...cannot wait!
13 years, 8 months ago
You certainly are not alone, Nick. The game feels right in many places. However DA:O was a return to old school RPGs. Playing Mass Effect and DA:O was a distinct experience. Now it feels too similar. It kinda lost it's identity, but as a game it's enjoyable nonetheless.
I hope Arcane Warriors are there, and as awesome as in DA:O.
9 years, 10 months ago
Dragon games are very interesting normally. Children are often playing this game, in this the images you are include is very attractive.