Dragon Age II Message Board  

So,just wondering your thoughts on this game so far...
Waiting to get mine when iam paid.Tomorrow or friday.

Haven't finished the game yet. You have to think of DA2 (not DAO2, btw) as a completely different game from the first one. By now you know, the main character is different, the companions are different, there's the ME dialogue wheel, etc.

If you just take it as a new game, a spin off, but not a sequel, of Dragon Age Origins, you'll be just fine. I like it, but I don't "love" it. Some will "love" it and think it's the greatest ever. Because it copies ME games, it is not as "original" as it might have been. It took the Dragon Age name and the ME mechanics to make this game. It took some characters from DAO - so far, I've met Flemeth (you see her in the demo, too), Bodahn Feddic and Sandal. There's Cullen the Templar. There's the duelist, Isabella, who is a companion in this game (who stole her body from Miranda of ME2). The Qunari now have horns.

The journal works very well. (I like journals that just give what quests are open(Rumors, Main, Companions, Secondary, and Side). There's a mini-map in the upper right corner of the screen, as well as a regular map. Both are clear and easy to see. Inventory works well, though you can't change the armor or robes of companions -- it upgrades itself -- but you can change their weapons and jewelry (amulets, rings, belts).

Yes, the combat is much faster and flashier, and some people are extremely impressed. It IS impressive but...it isn't the end all and be all, for me.

One thing, after playing now for a day and a half (I had two days in a row off from work for a change) is that -- yes, I am comparing DAO and DA2 now, hahaha! -- the companions of DA2 are not nearly as fun and compelling as DAO. The DAO companions were just really memorable, and the DA2 companions are, well, plain vanilla. I think the writers tried, but the dialogue between DA2 companions were flat.

So, as it turns out the DAO camp dialogues were more revealing and the banter and bickering while traveling much sharper (and funnier).

Also, most of the story I've played so far, takes place in the city of Kirkwall, with a few side trips in the country outside the city. I don't know about other players, but it "feels" a bit claustrophobic.

Haven't read many reviews, just one, and it was a glowing 94 (out of 100). Can't say I can get all that excited after playing it for a while. I found that what I have played so far is almost getting monotonous, just one quest after another, of just "helping" people who can't seem to take care of their own problems. After a while, you start not to care. (Of course, the whole idea is to earn enough money to finance a Deep Roads expedition which, for some reason not yet obvious, is part of the main quest.)

It could be my imagination but it seems there's not as much loot, and there's loot that's called "junk". Dragonling eyes, torn trousers, frayed rope, empty stained bottles, flawed gems -- that you think, in the beginning, might be spell or potion components. But they aren't.

But so far, DA2 has been enjoyable, the trainer worked with no problems. I won't give it a "grade" yet since I haven't finished the game, just that IMHO it isn't a 94 (so far).

Honestly, I'm kind of ****ed off by it. I'm guessing you've all probably heard the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.". Well, EA/BioWare decided to ignore that wise old saying by taking Dragon Age: Origins (a game that was a hugely popular success) and made it's sequel significantly different. Like pocketnuu said, they modeled it heavily on ME2's mechanics. Now don't get me wrong; I enjoy the Mass Effect games, but I feel that Dragon Age 2 should be modeled from the game it's supposed to be a sequel to. The reason I so heavily anticipated and consequently bought part 2 was because I loved the first one so much. To be fair I've barely started the game and I have no doubt it's going to be fun in it's own way, but it's not the game I was looking forward to for so long. Even if it's good I'm still disappointed.

I really dislike the way Bioware decides to reuse the same maps in DA2 for like 90% of their quests. I be finished with the game by tomorrow ish.

Most people seem to miss understand the game, they said before they started this is not dragon age origins 2, this is dragon age 2 you are a champion of the people and this is your story of how you become the champion.

The whole game is about how you got kicked out of your home by the invading Darkspawn, and how you end up being the bad mofo Champion, not how the story is linked to dragon age origins, there would be small things that are linked to dragon age origins in dragon age 2 and if you have your save game from the first game it will get semi linked to the new game.

I don't know if that was directed at me, but the story isn't what I take issue with. It's the mechanics and design.

pretty much same for me. I know some dungeons in DAO were the same but so far ive been the the same dungeon map like 4 times(the cave one) and its kinda depressing. I also have problems with sound and stuff but that just be on me for some reason. I also love ME and I like the wheel thing and I can even deal with not being able to customize your parties armor. But I cant help but feel like the games been very dubbed down for consoles. The game even feels smaller and less epic(I havnt finished the game yet so I dont know if that will change for me or not). I dont think the game is bad far from it in fact, but I wish they hadnt messed with what made DAO so great, and I also hope they release some modtools soon cuz thats also partly why DAO was so awesome. Oh and the style change of the darkspawn kinda threw me for a loop at first...kinda weird. Oh and the crafting thing while I know takes away from the rpgness of the game I think kinda works since I hated collecting all of those materials and spending points on craft skills. but it does feel like somethings missing. maybe like you could gain points by crafting things on your own which would allow you to create better items then are sold, but you know thats just me.

Oh and one more thing...if I dont think of anymore that is...I hated the first part of the game, it was so boring and just felt like a waste. It was just like going through the motions and then the time jumps were lame. I still hate the jumps, it totally takes me out of the story. I know this isnt "your story" like the wardens was but it just feels I dunno wrong, like they couldnt think of anyway to have the game progress other then having you do some random quest that results in you taking a really long time to get back to the city...but you dont get to play how you get back or what happens in between. I just makes me not feel immersed in the story or very invested in the characters. I honestly just esc through the dialogue before when your taking on a mission cuz I dont care, its all some bs that plays no part in the mission and makes no difference if you hear it or not, plus it takes for freaking ever for them the spit it all out. Honestly I think the game has more useless dialogue then actual content. sorry for my ramblings.

[Edited by powergrind, 3/10/2011 12:50:13 AM]

Well Im in the first year of Hawk's heroism, both the game look great as for the beginning, I personaly like the new conversation sistem nad combat system. The graphic are nice too, Dragon Age II is easier then Origins, both cash is tight