Dragon Age II

I see that this game is available now at Interact and was wondering has anyone here ordered or going to order it? All the reviews I've read are positive and I'm thinking of ordering it. I enjoyed Dragon Age Origins and, according to some reviews, the sequel is supposed to be better.

Just wondered what you guys think.

Will you be getting it Oldman?

Ana

I probably will knowing me but I hate to be the first. I prefer hearing other Gameboomers comments before I jump in and get my feet wet.

However, since I did enjoy Dragon Age Origins, and I've read some good reviews of this I guess I'll go ahead and order it. Pretty hefty price tag though but then so was DA Origins.

I got it preordered so I played it a couple of weeks ago. I was personally disappointed but that was my fault for expecting another Dragon Age Origins. The game has a more Mass Effect 2 feel to it and seems to work better as a console game. I definitely disagree with the review that says DA2 is better. It's not even close to DAO, but it's not a bad game on its own.

If you need some help deciding whether or not to buy it, you could try the demo first. It's available on steam now.

Smoosh, which console did you play on?

Seeing as the system requirements for the new RPG releases I think I might like ALL appear to be asking way above what my current machine has, I've bought a "used" version of Dragon Age II - just so I at least have a version for when I ever do get a new machine

So, my "In Anticipation" collection has now officially kicked off - and will increase to two when my Witcher II also arrives !!

Mad, is it possible to upgrade components?

I think most rpgs now require at least a dual core computer and a 8800 graphics card - as minimum specs.

And Mad, a good way to see if your current computer can run the game is to download the demo and play it. I have a ATI Radeon 3650 graphics card, and I could play the demo for DA2 just fine.

However, this game is not DA:O2. It is an entirely new game in the DA franchise, there is ancient evil, no secret order, no big bad xxx or zzz to kill. Just a story about a man and what happens in his life during the 10 year old story Bioware has chosen to tell. (whether they did so great or not so great, I really can't tell...)


http://www.rpgwatch.com/#17001

there are some reviews for this game.

As you can see people either likes this game or dislikes the game. My main complaint is about the game, it has been sped up a bit from the combat in Origins. And just when you think you've defeated a vawe of enemies, more waves appear out of thin air. I was like this and when I first saw it. However, the story should be top notch...

Thanks Karsten

Well, I got the game in and am pleasantly surprised. I have played a little in to Chapter 1 and I do much prefer it to DA Origins. The graphics are so much better and I am really liking the storyline.


Will be playing this for quite a while.

Hi ....

I've already upgraded my current machine "to the max", looney4labs
And as said machine is 6 years old, it's likely considered ancient by all except me anyway !!

[Finding the cash for another right now is where the problem lies.]
I suppose I could attempt downloading the demo and hope it doesn't finish my computer off altogether ??

On a happier note, my Drakensang II (from The Netherlands) is asking nowhere near such sophisticated components so I do have ONE new playable addition to my RPG stable

Cheers.

Mad

Hi Mad.

Glad you got the Drakensang 2 rpg just fine

And Mad, I have an 8 year old computer (It'll be 8 years old in late August 2011!) and it did play the DA2 demo just fine.

One of the Bioware tech devs. did say on their tech forums, I think, that Bioware wanted people who still have single core computers to be able to play DA2.

I played Dragon Age II and really liked it. I'm on my 2. playthrough and found several quests that I missed before.
I think it's easier to play than Dragon Age Originals.

Well, if your machine coped then, Karsten, maybe mine might, after all

It seems there's a patch in the works for DA2

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/300/index/6888490/1

Chris Priestly wrote:

Thanks Karsten.....patch patch patch

Just finished this game and I am so impressed with it. It is, in my opinion, so much bettr than Origins in every way. I much prefer the story, the graphics, and the game play.

I'm surprised that since there were so many on this board that were playing Origins that there are not more playing this game.

Perhaps waiting the patch but I'm experience absolutely no problems with the game. I played as a Rogue and am now doing a replay as a mage and really enjoying it. Highly recommend it to all who enjoyed DA Origins.

I didn't like Origins at all - too much walkin and talkin. This considered, would I like DA2? I mean is there more action, fighting etc.

I think you you'll need to download the demo to see the combat for yourself; combat in DA2 feels much more slick, fast and easy (not easy as in 'easy' but as in 'responsive').
Characters actually do what they're told this time, not 3 minutes after...or whenever they feel like it.

Many on the Bioware boards have criticised Bioware for several things, the story, the re-used areas, the lack of a central plot, the x,y and z of it. And from what I've seen from the gameplay videos, I've watched on youtube, I can't understand this? To me, the gameplay looks exactly like Origins, the dialogue choices looks exactly like Origins (although presented in a different way via the wheel) and the story feels and looks great. I'm tired of 'save the world' stories....

And I think, in DA2, if you want to, you can skip many sidequests, just focus on the main quest, and then press a button (if you're playing on console that is) - and something awesome (in terms of action, fighting etc) should (will) happen...

The "just press a button and something awesome happens" option would be nice in real life.

As for the walkin and talkin I'm not sure that you'd find DA2 an improvement. However you can het esc and fast forward through dialogue choices I much prefer to hear the dialogue and follow the storyline unless I'm redoing an area.

I think the action is much better and more responsive although it seems to lean toward rogues and Mages more than Origins.

Just my Buck ten cents worth (raised from 2 cents for inflation).

Think I'll stay away - as I prefer the shooters and action-ey type games.
Thanks all for the input.

Ooooh Oldman am loving it too.
Just as good as Dragon Origins but different. Lovely graphics, thought provoking story, combat was fun and I also had no problems and didn't need to patch.

Enjoy your play as a mage, its good.

I might have to try the demo. I loathed the PC controls in DA Origin which made it hard to completely get into the game. If DA II is better with that aspect, I might get it.

For those of you who have problems or just are interested, rpgwatch reports that patch 1.02 for pc, and mac, is now live

Apparently it fixes more than 100 bugs etc. Note this, please:




I'm glad some at least are enjoying the game; it seems that by making the combat more responsive, the story deeper, Bioware maybe just did get the attention of some of the adventure game players...maybe...

Glad you're enjoying it too Anne. The Rogue has so improved over DA Origins and the character is not just for lock picking alone now. I am really enjoying my mage he is quite powerful. Unfortunately I lost the sister in the first play through by a choice I made and now with the mage she died early in the game cause the game won't give you 2 mages at the beginning.

Karsten thank you for all the valuable information you provide. I've just downloaded the patch and will proceed to install it since it is supposed to work with previous saves.

Thank you from me, too, Karsten

I've downloaded the patch and burned it to disk for safe keeping

Thanks Karsten.

Mad and Oldman

That's a weird thing they've done. I played the demo as a mage and when the sister died I assumed it was a scripted event and she was supposed to die.

Anyway, I have played Dragon Age: Origins as well, My impressions of the DA2 demo was that while the combat is faster paced, its not really an improvement. It feels like an odd mix of action game combat and RPG (stat based) combat.

Visuals are greatly improved, storytelling (at least in the demo) seemed superior as well. However, I think I will wait for the price to fall a bit.

Which sibling dies in the beginning (same is true of the demo) is scripted. It's dependent upon which class you choose:



The second event that oldman refers to is something of a spoiler; however, there is a way to alter the outcome:

Apparently, there already is a patch 1.03 in the works

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/300/index/7048387

Rob Bartel wrote



So, maybe this game just needed 2-3 months before release?

Actuallly that is what I meant by wrong choice.

Thanks Karsten

Bioware has decided to help the Japanese victims Bioware has decided to help the Japanese victims for the earthquake; they've made an auction on ebay where you can bid for interesting stuff.




They also encourage you to donate to the

the Japanese Red Cross


I'm trying really hard not to sound like an add for Bioware, but I have to say this is a very cool move for Bioware to do. (and let's not forget that two founders of Bioware once were medical doctors)

for Bioware and Karsten

I agree, looney4labs

I have a question regarding the downloadable content for DA II. I don't have high speed and any patches etc I have a friend down load and give me a disc. Can that be done with the down load content for this game? I usually get a game when that had expired but this time I could actually get it. I know it a one user, one time code and I don't want to mess it up. Thanks for letting me butt into your thread!

Interesting that people aren't playing this game right now.

I'm not sure what to think. I loved DAO. This, on the other hand, feels claustrophobic, what with the odd camera angle. Maybe I'll get accustomed to it, but I much prefer the way DAO looked. To me the landscape in DA2 looks unfinished in camparison to the beginning sequences in DAO. I keep hearing about how good the graphics are in the new game, but it seems to me that there isn't anything to LOOK at in this game. Maybe I'm just tired and grouchy.

I was happy to see , one of my favourite characters from DAO.

Edit: A while in, and I'm much more comfortable with the game. Lots to see and do, and somehow the camera angle has changed so that it's much more comfortable to use. So far so good, on the trusty laptop. Since it's running very well I think I'll get some downloadable content. Anyone know of any good ones? I got some with my Signature edition, but I'm sure there are more.

Dwn_force, I wouldn't know, but hopefully, someone who does will stop in.

Hagatha, I'm glad it's getting more enjoyable for you.

Yes, it now seems more like the original. My "brother" is becoming a rival; everything I say seems to be the wrong thing. How like real life! But I worry that he will abandon ship at the earliest if things don't improve.

Gee, that dwarf is kind of cute.

Hagatha under premium content you should have the armor and boots or maybe you have to download them. The only other downloadable I can think of is the Exiled Prince but it costs about 7 or 8 bucks.

Hagatha, if you have the Signature Edition, you'll have the Exiled Prince for free as this was included in the Signature Edition.

Be sure to download the Black Emporium as well, there'll be a special friend waiting for you - with tails...

I have downloaded everything I can find and am blasting through the game. It's a good romp.

One thing I notice is that it is MUCH harder to influence your friends in this game (aside from the obvious romance dialogue). I'm trying to complete quests with an eye to impressing specific compansions, but that doesn't seem to work as well as I'd hoped.