250°

FTG Dual Impressions: Dragon Age 2 Demo: What Have You Done to My Dragon Age?

"So the Dragon Age 2 demo came out. I was rather hopeful for this game since Dragon Age: Origins is my favorite game ever. Let me make sure this is clear with all of you: Dragon Age: Origins is a glorious, fantastic game. It is well written, has amazing character, and uses perfectly executed tactical combat. It is the pinnacle of RPG games. Every RPG should try to be it, and nothing needed to be changed."- Darth Bedivere

Read Full Story >>
fronttowardsgamer.com
Kran4826d ago

Made it better. Thats what. Better graphics. Better dialogue. Better everything. And. The load screens dont take years.

NYC_Gamer4826d ago

i'm still upset about the action based combat....

Kran4826d ago

I quite like it. Much better than Origin's/Awakening.

And I bet people think its too easy. In the demo playthrough for me, Hawke got knocked down twice.

HolyOrangeCows4826d ago (Edited 4826d ago )

I thought the new combat was going to improve it.

Boy was I wrong. The only real change is that you have to mash X/A/etc over and over instead of it being done automatically. The AI is pretty dull, too. They constantly allow themselves to get surrounded and die very quickly.

I was only sort of a fan of the first game. Definitely won't be picking up 2.

"I guess people are scared of a change"
That's what all people say when their crappy ideas are shut down.

JohnnyMann4204826d ago

Wait a sec. If you hate the action based combat then don't use it.

The old method of clicking and waiting was horrible. Queing up really doesn't make sense in an action setting. All it does is slow crap down.

Now we have the best of both worlds. We can pause and Queue OR choose to take the action route.

Sounds like we all win, right?

Fragger2k84826d ago (Edited 4826d ago )

@NYC_Gamer:

I am as well. Finally an article about DA 2 that I can relate to.

I can't believe how much they changed the game from the first one, it's complete bs and should not have happened. It's not the same game anymore.

Origins was an amazing game, and the combat was great and it had a D&D feel to it and focused on using tactics, but now we have this crappy way-too-fast action game that totally killed that.. All for the idiots out there that can't appreciate a great game.

When you're catering an RPG like Dragon Age to the masses, you are making a horrible mistake. But that's just my two cents..

teething4826d ago

I 100% disagree with the reviewer. Mind you, I am coming from the 360 side of things.

Better graphics, better gameplay, proper dialogue from your character, better menus, combat that is fun. I tried so hard to like origins, but could not. This, I like.

This is the problem with reviews from super-fans: they tend to fawn all over something, or resist change 100%.

Iroquois_Pliskin4826d ago

I guess people are scared of a change.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4826d ago
despair4826d ago

Graphics still suck, dialog not that great, just reference the chantry woman in the beginning and the male templar and the combat has been striped down to something resembling dynasty warriors with mass groups of enemies and a lot more hack and slash with less tactics, a lot less.

I am very disappointed in the game, seems like they wanted to do for DA2 what ME2 did, only that one made some sense while this one seems like it will suffer. I know its only a demo but I don't like it that much and its not like I was a massive fan of the original either so its not die hard fanboyism.

pain777pas4826d ago

Wow. I'm truly surprised by the angst. I think that DA2 is the game for me. you have different character types and can switch between them on the fly for a different combat feel. Love the mage and the sort of melee style combat. The pause button is still there too. I'm going to download the demo off steam today before I make my decision on which platform I get this game for. The first in on PC but the console version to me looks MUCH better than before so it will come down to gameplay.

ceed9114826d ago

I played for over +65 hours completing everything quest in the Dragon Age game. That doesn't even include my completion of the expansion.

I was wrapped up the in the game's universe,storyline, and dialogue. I loved it so much I Suffered through the crappy gameplay that it was filled with.

I know the "hardcore" RPG fans feel the need to riot because "OMGZ CHANGE!" but this was a much needed fix to a broken combat system that made combat boring up until the 50th hour and then even after that it wasn't that great.

The current way Bioware has set up Dragon Age its quality has the ability to compete with Mass Effect. Now Mass Effect is obviously the better choice but DA has been pushed up into that tier thanks to its changes.

I applaud Bioware for not catering to the same 10 people who spam their forums about changes and rather did what they believe was right.

dc14826d ago

I too have spent countless hours with DAO (Well over 100- the game was immersive). However, I have to express my displeasure with the unrealistic fighting style (Everything is secondary when compared to this). In short, it’s very cartoonish/unrealistic: it disengaged me from the world that Bioware created. --See Demon's souls combat as a referential example of realistic action orientated combat perfection (but agreeable at a much slower pass than preferred DA).
Not a diatribe.. just my quick opinion.

ceed9114826d ago

Not to say your wrong about this combat being unrealistic but I believe the warrior could kill someone in the last game by screaming loudly toward the end.

dc14826d ago

But it felt like it fit. (Skyrim has a similar shout)
Here’s to holding out hope for slight modifications...
On a positive note, I'm sure the story will be just as good.

JohnnyMann4204825d ago

Unrealistic? Yeah, because in the real world you queue up your punch if you get in a fight?

Yeah last night I queued up my dinner and then got in my car and queued up where it should drive.

Please don't talk "realism" in a game with friggen dragons, ok?

dc14824d ago

Johnny... ever heard of a context driven arguments....

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4824d ago
maxcavsm4826d ago

I guess we'll see in a matter of weeks. Now how in the hell am I going to have this sitting at my house while I'm at PAX East?

ArtsyGamer4826d ago

Did anyone else have issues in the demo with stuttering graphics? Especially when the Dragon comes down and when starting battles.

ceed9114826d ago

what were you playing on?

ArtsyGamer4826d ago

Tried it on both the PS3 and 360, they both had weird stuttering. I was skipping the cut scenes however, so maybe it loads some during the cut scenes and had trouble catching up.

Stealth20k4826d ago

finally someone is making sense

Show all comments (39)
70°

EA Made Dragon Age and Mass Effect DLC Free On PC By Retiring The BioWare Points System

Immersed Gamer writes: "In order to replace the oppressive BioWare Points system, EA is making a large portion of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age DLC catalogs free for PC users.

For those of you blissfully unaware, EA and BioWare employed a payment system called BioWare Points on PC to pay for DLCs for titles like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. While PC gamers have been struggling with BioWare point’s unfair conversion rates and extremely scarce and cost-detrimental sales.

Console players have been allowed to purchase content in pieces through the appropriate Sony and Microsoft shops. For real money, and not BioWare monopoly bucks. In turn, console players missed out on some DLC content, such as Mass Effect 2 pre-order bonuses that have been repackaged into a DLC pack."

Read Full Story >>
immersedgamer.com
TinkerNation667d ago

Great response to Ubisoft and their disgusting behavior. Ubisoft decide to take away DLC from people who paid for it, while EA give it for free to everyone when they realize their system sucks. Who would have thought that EA of all companies would be showing Ubisoft how it should be done (even if this is EA fixing their own mistakes as well).

Mobis-New-Nest667d ago

What goes around comes around and I promise you, Ubisoft will see their actions blow back on them when their diminishing sales numbers and stock taking a hit downward. That's the only way a company learns when they decide to be reactive instead of proactive.

160°

All BioWare Games Ranked from Worst to Best

BLG writes: "There was a time that BioWare games were the biggest deal in gaming. The Canadian developer’s legacy of all-time classics is well known. Mass Effect, Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur’s Gate are some of the biggest names in gaming.

While BioWare’s quality has fallen off lately, there’s no denying the quality of titles in their portfolio. That’s why we’re going to dive in and rank every BioWare game from worst to best. By every, I do mean every BioWare game, even the ones you completely forgot about!"

Read Full Story >>
bosslevelgamer.com
Orbilator826d ago

Ranked from worse to even more worse more like, they been on free fall for a fair few years now and I personally don't think any of there earlier games have aged well

autobotdan826d ago

Wow to think at one point in their history they made a Sonic the Hedgehog game..crazy

chicken_in_the_corn826d ago

Anthem is crazy underrated. I really enjoyed it. ME1 is Bioware's best imo

826d ago Replies(1)
Michiel1989826d ago

I actually put quite a bit of hours into Anthem but i dont think its underrated. It was a huge mess, server issues, gameplay issues, crashes, no endgame loop, too few different enemies, uninteresting gear. too few dungeons.

It for sure had potential and if they could have managed to keep the same gameplay of the classes but without the rest of the issues, this game could have been huge, but in the state in which it launched it was such a letdown. They partly fixed some of the issues, but it took too long. A grinding game like this needs to hook players from day 1.

170°

'Dragon Age' and Why It Sucks to Play Cult Favorite Games

Delving into a well-loved game or series years after its release, when it already has an enthusiastic and devoted fanbase, can be incredibly difficult. People can be casually mean on the internet without intending to, and that happens a lot when you say you don’t like something they do. Fans of the franchise take their love of the game very seriously. They’re fervent and devoted, which has its charms, but it can also feel like you’re disappointing them when you decide their thing is not your thing.

Snakeeater25949d ago

All dragon age games are terribly boring

Kerppamaister949d ago

Why'd you play DA2 if you thought 1 was boring?

Snakeeater25949d ago

Because of the reviews, I thought they could do better specially gameplay wise and the third one was even worst

spss11949d ago

I've never been able to complete a Dragon Age game. They always felt too rigid in design. I eventually think "why am I playing this over Witcher 3?" or pretty much any other rpg.

arkard949d ago

The same reason you read a different book, or watch different movies. Different world, characters, lore and story.

jeromeface949d ago

Idk, because maybe you completed the witcher 3? Not all of us like repeating a game over and over just because its the best in genre.

spss11949d ago (Edited 949d ago )

@arkard
Never found the story or lore of DA interesting. Inquisition was just generic evil dude with demon army wants to conquer world and you're the chosen one.

@jeromeface
I've played through Witcher 3 once, at the same time I was playing DA Inquisition. Hence the example. I never finished Inquisition and went on to complete Witcher 3.

Yui_Suzumiya949d ago (Edited 949d ago )

Well the first bored me but I loved 2 and 3. I could never get into The Witcher or Elder Scrolls but I enjoyed those as far as medieval themed RPG's go.

SegaSaturn669949d ago

I played inquisition and thought the story was pretty well done. Voice acting as well.

Lost interest when i found an ultimate weapon that could only be wieldable postgame. Like wtf would they let me even obtain it for?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 949d ago
phoenixwing949d ago

Is it really a cult following if it's in the millions?

IanTH949d ago (Edited 949d ago )

lol Definitely a fair point. When a game is made and published by one of the largest video game companies on Earth, has at least 12 million sales between DA:O/DA2/DA:I, DA:I noted as being BioWare's most successful launch, and made EA enough money to greenlight a 3rd game? I'm thinking it's tough to argue that's niche :-p

If you take cult following on the face of it - a group of people who are highly dedicated & passionate about something - the author wouldn't be wrong. But they have to know that term is most widely associated with the group being small/the object being obscure, so it can't really apply here.

melons949d ago

Yeah, in what universe is a series with three games, a fourth on the way that's sold millions and is published by EA a "cult favorite"? Next you'll be telling me The Witcher 3 is a plucky and underrated indie.

IanTH948d ago

I've heard about this hidden gem called GTA V...

jznrpg949d ago (Edited 949d ago )

Cult favorite? It’s well known and sold fairly well and they are making a fourth game . I don’t see it anywhere near cult favorite status . I really enjoyed the first game and the third was pretty good (with failed mmo faults you could notice) but the second game was lazily made garbage .

Yui_Suzumiya949d ago

Second was the best game which is the biggest hot take I've ever had, lol

ElvisHuxley949d ago (Edited 949d ago )

Loved the first one, second was pretty good. Couldn't even get through the third one. Don't have high hopes for 4, but hey, nowhere to go but up hopefully.

moomoo319949d ago (Edited 949d ago )

DA: Origins was cool, but I got Mass Effect 2 at the same time and goddayum there was no comparison imo.

Show all comments (23)