So Dragon Age 2 is really bad on the PC and consolized?

[Macamus Prime]

Consolitis is bad for the "real gamer", great for the publishers and developers. Stealing games results in these bastardized sequels.

Now, you yourselves may not be stealing. But, others stealing has clearly changed and affected how and where games end up.

 

[sourceninja]

My only problem is the stupid MA dialog system. I would much rather read what I was going to say then a short 'feeling' of what I'm going to say. I hate it when what I pick and his dialog are nothing similar.

Otherwise I've been enjoying the game, although I miss the tactical view.

 

[Gheris]

These days it seems to be a case of PEOPLE noticing something being different followed immediately by a knee-jerk response of "OMG THE CONSOLES ARE KILLING US ALL".

This is very true. I have put about 4 hours in and besides not being able to choose my class(always happens) I have pretty much enjoyed the game and the story. I like the speedier combat so far. It's not DAO but I really wasn't looking for more of the same. Loss of crafting items really hasn't bothered me. Mostly used that stuff during solo runs in DAO if ever. Overall I am happy with DA2.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I beat DAO in like 50 hours the first time around... you KNOW some people poop socked DA2

Uh, what?

 

[mb]

Anyone having trouble with the game crashing? It probably crashed 10 times in 3 hours last night. I had even done a clean install of the new nvidia beta drivers that are supposed to help with DA2.

My specs:
2x evga 768mb gtx460 in SLI
Intel 920 @ 3.3 GHz
6GB DDR3
Crucial C300 256GB SSD w/ latest firmware

I was disappointed to find I couldn't run the game in max settings but it still looks good on High detail (instead of Very High) and normal textures. I also dropped AA down from 8x to 4x.

It seems to be dialogs that crash my game, like when I click on a random book/scroll sitting around or start a conversation with a NPC. I had to get in the habit of hitting F5 frequently.

 

[JoshGuru7]

The issue is that Dragon age was supposed to be a throwback RPG for people who remember old school, which is mostly was. Then instead of improving upon that, they go the ME route and throw the baby out with the bath water and make it seem like a completely different game. That's 2 original IP's with a sequel apiece that Bioware has mishandled. 3 if your counting KOTOR. They seem to be great at that first game, then veer of course. Hopefully ME 3 will show us they know how to properly correct their mistakes.

I don't fault you for wanting a particular sort of product, but it's ridiculous to say that DAO2 was "supposed" to be anything other than what Bioware wanted to make it. Unless you own EA and the Bioware employees are refusing to follow your orders?

Personally, threads like this make me happy. They've already released the product so the fewer people who buy it on the PC the faster the price will drop for a nice package deal + DLC. I bet it will be a great use of $40 this summer.

As far as "consolitis" goes, my favorite games of 2009 and 2010 were both PS3 games (Uncharted 2, Red Dead Redemption). The console vs. PC debate seems very old and tired to me.

 

[Mem]

I don't fault you for wanting a particular sort of product, but it's ridiculous to say that DAO2 was "supposed" to be anything other than what Bioware wanted to make it. Unless you own EA and the Bioware employees are refusing to follow your orders?

Personally, threads like this make me happy. They've already released the product so the fewer people who buy it on the PC the faster the price will drop for a nice package deal + DLC. I bet it will be a great use of $40 this summer.

As far as "consolitis" goes, my favorite games of 2009 and 2010 were both PS3 games (Uncharted 2, Red Dead Redemption). The console vs. PC debate seems very old and tired to me.

I think one thing is clear there were people in Bioware that did not like the direction DA2 was going,I quote my earlier post by Brent Knowles,

Discussion on Dragon Age 2 began around this time and looking ahead I
knew that I wasn’t going to be satisfied with what Dragon Age 2 would
be. Party control/tactical combat are huge factors in my enjoyment of a
role-playing game as is adopting the role of the hero (i.e., customizing
my character). I was fairly certain Dragon Age would transition towards
more of a Mass Effect experience, which while enjoyable is not the type
of role-playing game I play. Could I be the lead designer on such a
title? Certainly… though if I were going to work on a game adopting a
set-in-stone protagonist I’d rather work on something lighter, like a
shooter.
Through a series of circumstances it was decided that with my not
wanting to participate on Dragon Age 2 it was time to transition in a
new lead to finish the Dragon Age console versions and ramp up for
Dragon Age 2.

Bioware may of got the game they wanted but its clear the reaction from gamers and even some of their ex-developers it is far from what they wanted.

Good games company SHOULD listen to feedback from gamers.

 

[Gheris]

Anyone having trouble with the game crashing? It probably crashed 10 times in 3 hours last night. I had even done a clean install of the new nvidia beta drivers that are supposed to help with DA2.

My specs:
2x evga 768mb gtx460 in SLI
Intel 920 @ 3.3 GHz
6GB DDR3
Crucial C300 256GB SSD w/ latest firmware

I was disappointed to find I couldn't run the game in max settings but it still looks good on High detail (instead of Very High) and normal textures. I also dropped AA down from 8x to 4x.

It seems to be dialogs that crash my game, like when I click on a random book/scroll sitting around or start a conversation with a NPC. I had to get in the habit of hitting F5 frequently.

My system is much slower than yours and I am not experiencing any crashes. Sounds like the issue could be sound related. I would check your system/application logs, you'll probably see an error referring to a particular dll. Google that dll, find out what it's for and update any drivers you need from there. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Gheris]

I think one thing is clear there were people in Bioware that did not like the direction DA2 was going,I quote my earlier post by Brent Knowles,



Bioware may of got the game they wanted but its clear the reaction from gamers and even some of their ex-developers it is far from what they wanted.

Good games company SHOULD listen to feedback from gamers.

Seeing a lot of "It's not my type of 'RPG' so I am not interested" here. Developer said it wasn't the way he liked it so he bailed. OK, good for him. Is it me or are we entering a new age of RPG snobbery?

 

[Mem]

Seeing a lot of "It's not my type of 'RPG' so I am not interested" here. Developer said it wasn't the way he liked it so he bailed. OK, good for him. Is it me or are we entering a new age of RPG snobbery?

Dumbing down is RPG snobbery?..getting rid of tactical and companion content control ie armour etc..to meantion only a few things that are well known in RPGs.

End of the day many people like myself don't like the direction Bioware is going,they seemed to have taken two steps back from DAO with DA2,some may argue its console port or trying to make DA2 more for the masses,I don't know but I do know I don't like the direction they are going.

Bioware by all means give us new content and ideas in your games,however don't take away what makes RPG a RPG by dumbing down etc....(are we really asking for much?..hell no).

 

[Red Storm]

DA:O is better than DA2. That being said, I'm still enjoying the game (I was fortunate enough to get sick on release day giving me plenty of time to play), though I definitely do miss the things they took out and quite frequently I do notice them not being there.

Here's to hoping Bioware learns from their mistakes and makes DA3 the best one yet (you know you've gone too far when even Gamespot mentions how consolized the game has become in their review).

 

[drebo]

Seeing a lot of "It's not my type of 'RPG' so I am not interested" here. Developer said it wasn't the way he liked it so he bailed. OK, good for him. Is it me or are we entering a new age of RPG snobbery?

No, I think it's more that Bioware took a good thing and broke it for no real reason.

The engine and gameplay of DA:O did not need fixing. There were little things that needed adjusting, sure, but gameplay was not one of them. Style was not one of them.

Bioware had a sure thing going with DA:O and could have easily had a smash hit with DA2 by not changing anything but the story and maps.

Instead, they decided they would alienate the majority of their existing fan-base in an attempt to make something nobody actually wanted. While it may be a fun game in some terms, it is not what people were expecting nor what they thought they would be getting out of a sequel to DA:O. The fact that they called it "Dragon Age" may even be insulting to some people, as it is such a huge departure from DA:O.

They're capitalizing on the name to release a game nothing like the first and with no real relevance to the first. Fans of the first game have every right to be upset with Bioware over this "sequel", whether or not they actually find the game enjoyable to play.

 

[darkewaffle]

Dumbing down is RPG snobbery?..getting rid of tactical and companion content control ie armour etc..to meantion only a few things that are well known in RPGs.

End of the day many people like myself don't like the direction Bioware is going,they seemed to have taken two steps back from DAO with DA2,some may argue its console port or trying to make DA2 more for the masses,I don't know but I do know I don't like the direction they are going.

That's because there are only a few. I still don't see how it's dumbed down; there are some legitimate reasons for not being able to change your companion's armor. Further, is that minor of a detail really what's going to take a 'dumb' game and make it a 'smart' game? Or however you wish to term it.

I don't think it makes the game any better, but to dismiss it on such trivialities really just comes off as begging for reasons to dislike something without giving it a fair shake.

The camera I would like to have back, but I'm not too fussed about it. Like I said earlier, tactical camera makes the game easier. Learning to manage your characters and their decisions from the third person perspective and position them without the birds eye advantage adds a bit more thought to combat really.

 

[drebo]

That's because there are only a few. I still don't see how it's dumbed down; there are some legitimate reasons for not being able to change your companion's armor. Further, is that minor of a detail really what's going to take a 'dumb' game and make it a 'smart' game? Or however you wish to term it.

Not being able to change your party's armor is not a "minor detail". It's a huge, massive, glaring omission that says one of two things:

1) Bioware didn't think its players could handle juggling armor for more than one characters (i.e. Bioware thinks its players are stupid, lazy, or both), or

2) Bioware is lazy and didn't feel like spending the time on the art models.

Either way, it's a huge downer for me. Customization is one of the reasons I enjoy playing these types of games. I don't always just throw the "best" armor on...I throw on the armor that I think looks coolest, as well as provides me with enough protection to do get through the game. I like being able to make my party look the way I want them to look.

If I wanted to play a graphic novel, I'd play FFXIII.

 

[Mem]

That's because there are only a few. I still don't see how it's dumbed down; there are some legitimate reasons for not being able to change your companion's armor. Further, is that minor of a detail really what's going to take a 'dumb' game and make it a 'smart' game? Or however you wish to term it.

I don't think it makes the game any better, but to dismiss it on such trivialities really just comes off as begging for reasons to dislike something without giving it a fair shake.

The camera I would like to have back, but I'm not too fussed about it. Like I said earlier, tactical camera makes the game easier. Learning to manage your characters and their decisions from the third person perspective and position them without the birds eye advantage adds a bit more thought to combat really.

Problem is a lot of people are not happy with storyline or content ie forget about armour etc its not a big issue for me but other things are ie did you read this from a member that posted there

I have several gripes:

1. Don't fix what isn't broken. Sorry Bioware, it's seems that this has to be one of your greatest flaws. Innovation is a great thing but only when it IMPROVES the product. THat said, I'm going to break the mold from the traditional RPGers and say I actually ENJOY the reactive combat and the pacing of combat in DAII. Great job making it better. HOWEVER, why strip out the tactical camera? From what I heard from the devs, it was because they lacked the budget (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). If that's the reason, then wow... is EA seriously skimping on one of their most promising RPG franchise? The tactical camera was the staple of DA:O. Yes, one can argue that this isn't DA:O 2 but that's not the point as a SEQUEL to DA:O, one would think that keeping a key game mechanic from the original. To follow this point up, why alienate one of your core fanbases? You already have ME to appeal to the shooter and console fans so why not use DA as the SEPERATE franchise that appealed to the hardcore crowd? That way, Bioware has an appeal to BOTH sides. There's plenty of other things that were fixed when there really wasn't a big problem but I leave it for others to comment on.






3. Only in Kirkwall - A more personal story and a frame narrative I can handle. However, this game spends 90% of the time in that damn city. WHY? I'm not asking for a open-world game like Fallout and Skyrim. I'm asking for a world to explore like DA:O. Many times, I hoped to beyond Kirkwall and EXPLORE different nations and experience NEW cultures. Having the game spent half of the time here is downright disappointing. I don't care if I don't an archnemsis just give me Thedas to explore, to learn, and to love. Mind you, Kirkwall is fine, it's just that for a game that was promised to explore a world and how it was affected by your actions, we sure don't spend much time looking around and exploring it.

So, that's just some of my gripes and some of you might think I'm pretty damn negative. I'm not. I still enjoy the game but Bioware's finest this isn't.

You only need to go to their forums and look over the threads.
Are we really asking for much ie improved game on DAO(which was decent IMHO) lot of new areas (RPGs are supposed to have new areas), seems some people like standards to be dropped .

However way you look at it they have dropped standards on DA2.
Bioware look up what RPG games are meant to be,now remove them is that Bioware's solution?


I'll go far and say they dumbed down because its easier to port between PC and console ,saves them time and can get the game out quicker,less headaches and bug testing.

 

[nageov3t]

companion armor and crafting kinda felt like throw-aways in the original game.... inevitably, my companions were just wearing my castoffs and my inventory was filled with junk armor

 

[Red Storm]

That's because there are only a few. I still don't see how it's dumbed down; there are some legitimate reasons for not being able to change your companion's armor. Further, is that minor of a detail really what's going to take a 'dumb' game and make it a 'smart' game? Or however you wish to term it.

I don't think it makes the game any better, but to dismiss it on such trivialities really just comes off as begging for reasons to dislike something without giving it a fair shake.

The camera I would like to have back, but I'm not too fussed about it. Like I said earlier, tactical camera makes the game easier. Learning to manage your characters and their decisions from the third person perspective and position them without the birds eye advantage adds a bit more thought to combat really.

Boosting the difficulty by making the interface more frustrating to deal with is a terrible, terrible decision. Make the game harder by actually making the game harder, not by making the interface more difficult.

While I'm still enjoying DA2, it's painfully obvious how console friendly the game has become at the cost of things that made the first one so good (the art style, animations, game pace, character customization, etc.). The art style doesn't have anything to do with PC vs Console, but I'm including it in that group because they went off in a weird direction with it that makes the game look like it was designed by Cartoon Network.

 

[darkewaffle]

Not being able to change your party's armor is not a "minor detail". It's a huge, massive, glaring omission that says one of two things:

1) Bioware didn't think its players could handle juggling armor for more than one characters (i.e. Bioware thinks its players are stupid, lazy, or both), or

2) Bioware is lazy and didn't feel like spending the time on the art models.

Either way, it's a huge downer for me. Customization is one of the reasons I enjoy playing these types of games. I don't always just throw the "best" armor on...I throw on the armor that I think looks coolest, as well as provides me with enough protection to do get through the game. I like being able to make my party look the way I want them to look.p

So it's a huge, massive, glaring omission that you can't play dress-up? I think you're really making a mountain out of a molehill.

Or it says Bioware was trying to deal with fewer variables in the game to make difficulty levels more appropriate. Or trying to keep character appearance in line with 'who' the characters are so you don't have Alistair running around in robes or Morrigan in plate. Or to encourage players to explore the game so they can find those secondary quests to find more of their companions' gear and personality.

The amount of firebranding over these trivialities is inane. It's as though the game is completely unplayable, yet (simply for comparison) many people love The Witcher in spite of it's (in my opinion) obstinate camera and the very few ways in which to customize your character's appearance. These factors do not make or break a game. Well, a camera can, but it is far from being that bad.

 

[NYHoustonman]

companion armor and crafting kinda felt like throw-aways in the original game.... inevitably, my companions were just wearing my castoffs and my inventory was filled with junk armor

I'd tend to agree on the crafting front. It seems silly in DA2 to not have to gather materials, but that really isn't a huge omission.

I would really like to be able to control my teammates' armor, though. I think that's the only legitimate 'dumbed down' complaint I've heard thus far. The combat is fine; There are a ton of abilities and I actually like their tree-based structure; The story (and, let's be honest, the fact that your character has a voice) necessitates a human main character.

 

[Mem]

So it's a huge, massive, glaring omission that you can't play dress-up? I think you're really making a mountain out of a molehill.

Or it says Bioware was trying to deal with fewer variables in the game to make difficulty levels more appropriate. Or trying to keep character appearance in line with 'who' the characters are so you don't have Alistair running around in robes or Morrigan in plate. Or to encourage players to explore the game so they can find those secondary quests to find more of their companions' gear and personality.

The amount of firebranding over these trivialities is inane. It's as though the game is completely unplayable, yet (simply for comparison) many people love The Witcher in spite of it's (in my opinion) obstinate camera and the very few ways in which to customize your character's appearance. These factors do not make or break a game. Well, a camera can, but it is far from being that bad.

I think you are missing the point,DA2 could of been so much more,I think most of the members here (including you)could think of positive ways (rather then dumbing down)that would make DA2 better then what has been released,Bioware is not some 2nd rate games company ,they should know better.

 

[Gheris]

I think you are missing the point,DA2 could of been so much more,I think most of the members here (including you)could think of positive ways (rather then dumbing down)that would make DA2 better then what has been released,Bioware is not some 2nd rate games company ,they should know better.

I would wager money that had the engine and look of the game pretty much stayed the same with minor tweaks people would be whining and moaning about how it's essentially a large expansion pack or some other nonsense. Look into your heart, you know it to be true.

 

[Mem]

I would wager money that had the engine and look of the game pretty much stayed the same with minor tweaks people would be whining and moaning about how it's essentially a large expansion pack or some other nonsense. Look into your heart, you know it to be true.

Actually graphics in RPGs is never a factor for me,its gameplay and other things,end of the day only you can decide if you think DA2 is up to DAO quality,did I expect more from Bioware yes I did .

 

[drebo]

The amount of firebranding over these trivialities is inane. It's as though the game is completely unplayable, yet (simply for comparison) many people love The Witcher in spite of it's (in my opinion) obstinate camera and the very few ways in which to customize your character's appearance. These factors do not make or break a game. Well, a camera can, but it is far from being that bad.

The Witcher delivers precisely what it set out to. DA2 capitalizes on a name (Dragon Age) to deliver something no one expected or wanted and is not in line with the existing franchise.

THAT is the complaint. And, while you may see the changes (I mean, really, they didn't keep ANYTHING from DA:O but the two words) as trivial, people who actually did like the first game will see them for what they are: absolutely nothing like the first game.

 

[skace]

I'm feeling kind of stupid for pre-ordering this right now. Who would think there'd be a day that I'd regret pre-ordering a Bioware game.

I know there is a bunch of people who love oversimplification and are all for the changes here. You are the same group who thought Mass Effect 2 was an improvement. The same group that doesn't understand or can't complete Baldur's Gate. You aren't gamers, you are fat, lazy movie watchers. I wish you'd go back to your own medium. I curse the day that video games became mainstream and the lazy ass mainstream became gamers. Least Common Denominator hits a new low with every game, soon the only skill required will be drooling on yourself.

Here is hoping I'll at least be able to stay interested in DA2 long enough to finish it, unlike ME2.

 

[darkewaffle]

Boosting the difficulty by making the interface more frustrating to deal with is a terrible, terrible decision. Make the game harder by actually making the game harder, not by making the interface more difficult

I don't think that's very fair; you could say that FPSes artificially inflate difficulty by not giving you a birds eye view, yet it's not an issue. The overhead camera takes you out of character (relative to the 3rd person at least) and makes it easier to manage battles. While I like the tactical camera for the view it gave me, in DAO I found myself actively switching between overhead and 3rd person depending on the location. I just don't see it as being as critical as everyone's making it out to be.

I think you are missing the point,DA2 could of been so much more,I think most of the members here (including you)could think of positive ways (rather then dumbing down)that would make DA2 better then what has been released,Bioware is not some 2nd rate games company ,they should know better.

Well of course, but such is the case with any game. My piece in this thread is simply that I think people are blowing relatively small omissions/mistakes out of proportion, and missing some of what has been improved in DA2. Combat has gap closers, mages without mana are not entirely dead weight, stamina (in my limited experience) has been re-designed so you no longer have dozens of cooldowns and no resources, combat feedback is more customizable and informative, 2handed weapon users are more effective (I felt they were lackluster in DAO), and I'm sure more that I'm forgetting or haven't even seen yet.

Also one cool touch that I noticed was that the appearance of your family members changes based off of the character you create. I'm almost certain of it at any rate, as my brother and sister looked like they were actually my 'relatives' and looked differently than they did in the demo.