Dragon Age 2 thoughts

[maniacalpha1-1]

So I got DA2 and am...uh...well I don't know how far but I've played about 7 hours and I always set games to easy because I'm here for the story, so whatever that means. Don't want to reference story landmarks to avoid spoilers.

So...first off, I have not had any problems with frame rates on a GTX 560 like that huge thread under Video Cards suggests, maybe I'm just lucky? The only annoyances are that I had to put the serial number in twice for activation(it scared me, I thought I had a bad code at first) and every time I start it up even though the CD is in, it gives me that CD Not In message, and I have to tab out and click cancel, then back in and it's fine. Other than that no technical issues.

As for the game, I'm liking the story but one thing I notice is that in DA Origins, half of the conversational choices you could make were obvious choices between killing the people you were talking to or letting them go or helping them. Thus far I'm not seeing that there will be very many choices like that...? Anyone else getting that impression?

 

[DaveSimmons]

The problems are only if you turn on ultra high settings and add the optional texture pack, did you do both?

I'm waiting for the price to drop before playing it myself.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

The problems are only if you turn on ultra high settings and add the optional texture pack, did you do both?

I'm waiting for the price to drop before playing it myself.

I turned it up as high as I could. My monitor only does 1680, but I turned up all the other things as high as it would allow. So if "ultra high" means 2500 res, nope.

Didn't know anything about a texture pack though.

 

[NoSoup4You]

I'm playing on Hard and it's quite difficult, or at least certain fights are. Right now I'm just wrapping up the last quest before heading off into the Deep Roads, I'm 25 hours in and my "sense" is that I'm about halfway through the game.

DA2 is sort of the best of times and the worst of times... in some respects it's superior to DA:O (graphics, sound, "fun factor") and in others it is truly abysmal, compared to any game not just it's predecessor (reuse of levels, lame "enemy waves", some embarrasingly idiotic quests, shocking over-sights).

 

[SZLiao214]

In textures there is an option called Very High that puts in some of the dx11 type stuff. Its what is breaking all those nvidia cards are having problems with.

 

[manimal]

the story line and the CHOICES are much more simplistic. I was completely pissed till act 2. Then the as the fights got harder I started to enjoy the game again. I am playing on hard...


Graphically the game does look better...game-play on the other hand has taken a step back...


lastly I wish the specialization that let mages wear heavy Armour was in this game....

 

[RaistlinZ]

the story line and the CHOICES are much more simplistic. I was completely pissed till act 2. Then the as the fights got harder I started to enjoy the game again. I am playing on hard...


Graphically the game does look better...game-play on the other hand has taken a step back...


lastly I wish the specialization that let mages wear heavy Armour was in this game....

Geez, how overpowered do you need to be?

 

[StinkyPinky]

Is it me or are battle really predictable? You kill some, some more appear from empty space (why not attack at once..duh), you kill some more.

 

[Mem]

I'm playing on Hard and it's quite difficult, or at least certain fights are. Right now I'm just wrapping up the last quest before heading off into the Deep Roads, I'm 25 hours in and my "sense" is that I'm about halfway through the game.

DA2 is sort of the best of times and the worst of times... in some respects it's superior to DA:O (graphics, sound, "fun factor") and in others it is truly abysmal, compared to any game not just it's predecessor (reuse of levels, lame "enemy waves", some embarrasingly idiotic quests, shocking over-sights).

Playing on Hard?...good for you m8 ,I'm playing on normal and deep roads is fine but later on its gets harder(act 2 and 3) even on normal where you get frustrated,options are give up,repeat same fight until you get fed up or turn difficulty down.

 

[NoSoup4You]

I would love to get some tips on completing the "Blackpowder Promise" quest on Hard (or higher?). I cannot do it, I've tried 8 times... you can't chug potions as rapidly as in DA:O and frankly once the Qunari magic user is on the field, I can't finish him off. So tough, I think the best shot is killing the "Leader" first which is no problem, but after that I just can't handle wave after wave of these Qunari, most of which are quite strong. Then the mage on top of that...

I had to turn it down to Normal, it's the first battle so far that I just knew I couldn't beat and I've beaten all quests so far with only the Deep Roads to do now (still in Act 1 I guess?). Very disappointed... in myself mostly but also the game (slightly...), if I do end up replaying this game I'll have to prep myself better for this battle, it's the first one in the game that is incredibly difficult. I think I need to incorporate a better party strategy utilizing the various stuns which other classes can exploit. Man, I just don't see any other way that battle is possible. I've tweaked my tactics...etc. nothing worked.

 

[Mem]

I would love to get some tips on completing the "Blackpowder Promise" quest on Hard (or higher?). I cannot do it, I've tried 8 times... you can't chug potions as rapidly as in DA:O and frankly once the Qunari magic user is on the field, I can't finish him off. So tough, I think the best shot is killing the "Leader" first which is no problem, but after that I just can't handle wave after wave of these Qunari, most of which are quite strong. Then the mage on top of that...

I had to turn it down to Normal, it's the first battle so far that I just knew I couldn't beat and I've beaten all quests so far with only the Deep Roads to do now (still in Act 1 I guess?). Very disappointed... in myself mostly but also the game (slightly...), if I do end up replaying this game I'll have to prep myself better for this battle, it's the first one in the game that is incredibly difficult. I think I need to incorporate a better party strategy utilizing the various stuns which other classes can exploit. Man, I just don't see any other way that battle is possible. I've tweaked my tactics...etc. nothing worked.

I played that on normal as well it was no issue(hard level not yet lol),believe me there are harder ones later even on normal,some are easier it depends,balance is like a rollercoster all over the place.

 

[NoSoup4You]

Yeah, I agree. I'm pretty shocked, I'm 26 hours in and so far had no issues on Hard. Yes, I had to retry several battles 2 or 3 times but until this Blackpowder Promise level... the game was not too tough. Challenging, but not tough.

Funnily enough, I dropped it to Normal for that battle and it became an absolute cakewalk. Go figure... And let me tell you, on Hard it is not even funny how crazy difficult that battle is. Easily harder than any battle ever was in DA:O on Nightmare. Way harder than Jarvia...etc. Again, if anyone can find maybe a Youtube clip of that level getting beaten on Hard I'd love to see it (I searched briefly to no avail).

I am intrigued that the battles are even tougher later on, on Normal no less. Looking forward to them, kinda. The waves of enemies just aren't that rewarding to defeat compared to DA:O's battle system.

 

[manimal]

Geez, how overpowered do you need to be?

arcane warrior was not overpowered on the highest difficulty settings..

 

[Mem]

I can tell you towards the end of the game(I must be close by now?) it becomes a spam fest with wave after wave of everything,my group got wiped out twice on normal level with so many left on their side ,so I might have to put it down to casual level after 3rd attempt..I even have the marabi dog since I have Sig version as 5th helper lol.

I really wish they would balance this game right,I mean how can they expect group of 4 to fight so many?..I'm talking about loads of mages,templars not to meantion boss ,archers etc..I don't know whom they designed this game for lol maybe GOD?

They said they made normal level easier thats complete crap,I can tell you DOA on normal level is easier then this game.

 

[Dumac]

arcane warrior was not overpowered on the highest difficulty settings..

I don't know...

I had higher armor, defense, attack, and damage than any warrior in my party, plus the benefit of spells.

Too bad I couldn't taunt/not get knocked down.

 

[NoSoup4You]

I never tried an Arcane Warrior, the lack of any melee talents (Shield Bash, two-handed sweep, Riposte...etc.) just didn't seem appealing, plus I assumed the mana drain for that talent was so severe you couldn't do much casting...

Might have to fire up DA:O again sometime and try that spec...

 

[ayabe]

I'm happy to hear it gets harder, I'm still early-ish in Act II and have only been doing side quests. I'm playing normal and was going to up on my second play through. Some of the Revenant fights in DO were pretty tough for me and I expected some of the same here. Thus far the only semi tough fight was in the Deep Roads and only because of the knockdown spam.

I respec'd my Rogue again, no stealth just pure damage, duelist and assassin. I'm liking it so far, my stamina pool can't hang though - gives me an excuse to finally use some stamina potions. Not sure how that will play out in a long, long fight - guess we'll see

 

[NYHoustonman]

Yeah, I agree. I'm pretty shocked, I'm 26 hours in and so far had no issues on Hard. Yes, I had to retry several battles 2 or 3 times but until this Blackpowder Promise level... the game was not too tough. Challenging, but not tough.

Funnily enough, I dropped it to Normal for that battle and it became an absolute cakewalk. Go figure... And let me tell you, on Hard it is not even funny how crazy difficult that battle is. Easily harder than any battle ever was in DA:O on Nightmare. Way harder than Jarvia...etc. Again, if anyone can find maybe a Youtube clip of that level getting beaten on Hard I'd love to see it (I searched briefly to no avail).

I am intrigued that the battles are even tougher later on, on Normal no less. Looking forward to them, kinda. The waves of enemies just aren't that rewarding to defeat compared to DA:O's battle system.

I'm playing through on Hard, and I've had issues with most fights including a mage... But I don't remember this one . I play as a rogue, and typically, I'll stun, backstab, followed by twin fangs - and that kills most of the mages I've faced, or at least knocks them down.

my stamina pool can't hang though - gives me an excuse to finally use some stamina potions. Not sure how that will play out in a long, long fight - guess we'll see

There's a talent for that .

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Not that many people will care about easy setting, lol, but for anyone who does I haven't had the whole party die yet with one exception, the A.R.W.(initials to avoid spoiler). I haven't gotten farther than that yet, and it seems like even on easy mode I might not even be half done yet.

 

[Fayd]

I never tried an Arcane Warrior, the lack of any melee talents (Shield Bash, two-handed sweep, Riposte...etc.) just didn't seem appealing, plus I assumed the mana drain for that talent was so severe you couldn't do much casting...

Might have to fire up DA:O again sometime and try that spec...

towards the end of awakening, even after respeccing to put ALL my points into magic (IE, nothing into willpower), i had plenty of mana to sustain all my sustainables as well as several casts of heal, mana clash, etc.

i also took blood magic specialization, so i'd switch to that and use the aoe to completely lock down an area...without using mana.