Dragon Age 2 - Here be spoilers.

[Ingmar]

Might be Vista bullshit, Win7 handles that stuff much better. Windows treats the Program Files directory as protected space.

[caladein]

Gibbed's released a save generator.  I also had to download .NET Framework 4 which I swore I had already, but it was only a couple minutes.

Figured it was a good excuse as any to restart as a tank-ish Warrior so I can use my (now) intended party.

E: Fixed link.

[Sjofn]

Found some call backs to my decisions in DA:O ... at least one of them happened in a way I was really not expecting. It pleased me greatly AND made me feel guilty at the same time. 

[rk47]

Gibbed's released a save generator.  I also had to download .NET Framework 4 which I swore I had already, but it was only a couple minutes.

Figured it was a good excuse as any to restart as a tank-ish Warrior so I can use my (now) intended party.

E: Fixed link.

Shit. saves me the trouble from replaying DAO

[Hawkbit]

Interestingly, the Amazon customer reviews are pretty damn harsh right now, mostly due to the "dumbing down" of the gameplay and linearity of the story.  There's quite a few reviews that said to the effect "if you liked DA:O for what it offered in the RPG genre, you will likely not like this", lots of bashing of Bioware. 

Grain of salt and all that, but at least there's 20 or so vocal folks that don't much care for the changes. 

[tgr]

Windows treats the Program Files directory as protected space.

I was going to say good point, but after thinking about it for a bit, I'm still curious. The only reason I can really think of that causes this is if it's trying to change its own files during startup, I'm assuming this is part of the "activate with EA" bit where it's downloading and decrypting some file during first startup, otherwise it should just be fiddling with the files in the documents and settings (or users) directory. If that theory is correct, then it should work as a normal user after the first run, but if that theory isn't correct and removing the antivirus helps, then I'd say that the antivirus is possibly being overly restrictive. vOv

[Velorath]

Interestingly, the Amazon customer reviews are pretty damn harsh right now, mostly due to the "dumbing down" of the gameplay and linearity of the story.  There's quite a few reviews that said to the effect "if you liked DA:O for what it offered in the RPG genre, you will likely not like this", lots of bashing of Bioware. 

Grain of salt and all that, but at least there's 20 or so vocal folks that don't much care for the changes. 

The only thing I can really fault Bioware for so far is the Auto Attack fiasco in the console versions (which was pretty retarded), and the complaints I've heard about them copying and pasting a lot of the areas in the game.  All the other complaints about the game are either about the marketing, or people complaining about what the game isn't rather than judging it on its own merits.  If this game had been released under another name by another developer, it would probably be getting a lot of praise right now.  It's not an instant classic, but it's a solid RPG.  To a lot of people though Dragon Age was the closest they felt they were going to get to having new Baldur's Gate games, and they hate to see the series go in more of a Mass Effect direction.  You can see in the Gaf thread that a lot of people were determined to dislike the game (including the moderator who made the topic).

As far as my own opinions on the game go, I haven't decided if the combat is any better or worse than DA1.  They both have a habit of reusing the same enemies over and over, there are balance issues in both games, and I think that while DA1 had a lot more breadth in the number of talents and abilities it wasn't really any deeper or more strategic than DA2 because a handful of abilities stood out as the most useful.  Really, when it comes down to it, they feel pretty similar to me.  Playing on Hard, the game has a fairly satisfying difficulty to me (I'm trying to stay away from most of the DLC items I've got also).

As far as the linearity of the story goes, after the opening (same as in the demo) when I got to Kirkwall, I was pretty much flooded with main quests, side quests, quests where I picked up companions, etc..., with a lot of freedom in the order in which I could do everything.  Maybe it gets linear again at some point, but right now it's not looking like an issue to me.  So far none of the areas I've been through have felt like a slog like many of first game's areas did to me.  The characters maybe aren't as good as DA1 (although I still need to pick up a couple of them).  In particular there's nobody I like as much as Shale or Sten from DA1, but I'm still early on in the game.  It also probably doesn't help that the voice talent involved isn't up to Bioware's usual standards, with a lot of the important roles, including the voices for the PC's, being VA's who just voiced background characters in DA1.  I don't know if everyone else was tied up doing ME3, SWTOR, or other projects, but the PC voices in particular are a bit disappointing (as is the change in Ander's voice actor).

So yeah, much like the first game, this one has some flaws to it but it's a solid 7-8.  Not really as horrible as the Amazon or Metacritic user reviews are making it out to be, but not a GOTY contender either.  Shit-ton of people on metacritic giving the game 0's or 1's which really should be reserved for non-functional, shit games that fuck up your computer, not because one feels the developer somehow betrayed them by taking their franchise in a direction they didn't like.

[Merusk]

Son of a bitch, the back key ate my very long post.

Ah well. Summary:

* I bought it using tax money and played something crazy like 16 hours.  I certainly don't think the game sucks. (Yay unemployment.)
* Still feels like Dragon Age to me, my opinoion is if you hate it you're really trying.
* The game's as linear as any other RPG. The only real complaint I have is that it's all stuck in one city.
* Perhaps if you thought "Doing Redwall before the Circle this time!" is the definition of Free-Form RPG you can complain it's linear.  I like the time advancement mechanic better, so I can see the consequences of my actions.
* No crash/ install bugs here.  Go go old machine still running XP SP2. Game has been smooth and I played all 16 hours without a hiccup.
* Minor gripe about cut & paste of areas
* Minor gripe about spiders. (Seriously, they even send you a letter later on saying "Gee, all the spiders fled Ferelden. Hope you have had the same luck!)  
* Love the new talents. Feels more useful than the old system and I've worried about gimping myself by not taking a talent earlier a few times.

* Unlockables: I was worried at first it was too powerful.  Now that I'm level 10 I'm finding gear better than it which irritates me. I'm never satisfied.  
* Combat has gotten a lot tougher since the Deep Roads, mostly because I don't have the stats for the better gear I'm finding. Minor irritant.
* Fuck dragons.

Best Character: Merrill
Sample: Best Character interactions: Merrill and Varric
Sample:

[Lantyssa]

The only thing I can really fault Bioware for so far is the Auto Attack fiasco in the console versions (which was pretty retarded), and the complaints I've heard about them copying and pasting a lot of the areas in the game.  All the other complaints about the game are either about the marketing, or people complaining about what the game isn't rather than judging it on its own merits.  If this game had been released under another name by another developer, it would probably be getting a lot of praise right now.  It's not an instant classic, but it's a solid RPG.  To a lot of people though Dragon Age was the closest they felt they were going to get to having new Baldur's Gate games, and they hate to see the series go in more of a Mass Effect direction.  You can see in the Gaf thread that a lot of people were determined to dislike the game (including the moderator who made the topic).

If a game is part of a series, it's important to consider what came before it.  Too many changes and it should have a different name on it.

The demo felt close enough to the first one for me since I'm more concerned with the worldly aspects, and the differences felt like improvements in gameplay, but people's tolerance for change can vary.

[Paelos]

So there's no map anymore or even the illusion of picking places to go? Is it all just, go to this zone, then to that zone, then to that zone?

[Bunk]

From what I've played so far, its just all on a smaller scale. The "world" map is a map of Kirkwall with markers for all the different districts and such. Basically appears to be set in Kirkwall and the surrounding area.

[tmp]

So there's no map anymore or even the illusion of picking places to go? Is it all just, go to this zone, then to that zone, then to that zone?

In the dev playthrough they didn before the launch there was map of the city (which you'd toggle between day and night version) with about dozen hot spots and from the same screen there was also map of the city surroundings with couple other places to visit. Granted it's limited amount of locations but technically you could still pick them from the map.

[Merusk]

What Bunk said.   It's as if your whole Dragon Age game took place on the map of Denerim.   There's a few major zones (The 3 major city quarters) and minor zones (your house, the inn, the market) that stay on the map  and a few places on the "overworld" map of the surrounding area (Daelish Camp, Mountain Peak, Other Mountain peak, Deep Roads once it's unlocked) but for the most part that's it.   There's day/ night versions of the city map so that makes for a little change but it's still the same architecture, of course.

[MournelitheCalix]

I finally was able to play for a very limited amount of time last night.  Some observations that I would like to make:

1.  I really like how family is playing into my initial game.  The interactions with your mother and Bethany really took me back to the BG days with the Bhaalspawn and Imoen.  Bethany reminds me of a less thiefy Imoen.

2.  I thought Ander's introduction into the city was really quite nice.  I was very pleasantly surprised to see the events of DA:Awakenings accurately recounted for my game.

3.  I really like the interparty bantor and was glad to see this return.

4.  As of yet I really haven't seen the need for the normal archtype characters.  For instance I haven't been playing with a warrior.  Two Rogues and two mages have been quite viable.  I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to take down the "mature dragon" without many problems


Dislikes:

1.  The locations really suck.  Some of the places like the family "Estate" simply put looked terrible and some things were completely out of place.

2.  There are gaping holes in the story and plot.  That to me feel like there was more that should have been added but for some reason weren't.  

3.  I think its possible to miss key items by really questionable "forcing of the story."
4.  I think the art guy needs to be soundly criticized on how some of the enemies look.  The Skeletor Darkspawn just break immersion to me because they are comical versions of their former self IMHO.

5.  I have been forced to hold down the tab while playing.  I really hate that i have had to do that but the environment just isn't very interactable.  The city is full of nonimportant details that look important and that you can't interact with.  Details like signs or what appears to be secret passages in walls that area really nothing but look like something I can interact with.  I guess to put it plainly, I am never sure on what detail I can interact with.  I am not sure why they did this, but its hold down the tab button for me.

[kildorn]

I thought I'd hate Merrill. But her interactions are just hilarious.

In the mines:

Randomly walking around:

More opinions later, but shockingly funny character. Carver is a prick, though. He's had all of one good line:

[Sjofn]

It also probably doesn't help that the voice talent involved isn't up to Bioware's usual standards, with a lot of the important roles, including the voices for the PC's, being VA's who just voiced background characters in DA1.  I don't know if everyone else was tied up doing ME3, SWTOR, or other projects, but the PC voices in particular are a bit disappointing (as is the change in Ander's voice actor).

While it feels like the dude who voiced Riordin is voicing a lot of characters this time around, I find the voice acting pretty comparable. I also love Anders' new voice ... the old guy sounded too much like Cullen. And Cullen is creepy. In fact, I take back all the bad shit I said about bringing Anders back this time around. I heart him. I find it really difficult not to take him everywhere with me, which I *really* did not expect.

Really, I like all the companion characters more than I expected to. I wish I could make out with Sebastian so bad. :(

Any complaints about linearity are ... not my experience. The game feels, to me, a lot more open than DA:O, in fact. I fucking love that time passes. 

[Engels]

If anyone's playing on a ATI 5000 series card, there's some beta driver here:

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/Catalyst114earlypreview.aspx

This resolved a problem I was having of my drivers hanging every now and again.

Other than that, the game is fine. More than fine. People are a bunch of ill tempered entitled whiners.

[kildorn]

I do wish there was a difficulty setting between normal and hard, though. Hard's prologue usually involves me kiting an ogre for 10 minutes, and getting my ass kicked by every encounter as assassins oneshot my mage.

Normal involves my mage casting vortex of lightning storm or what have you, and promptly murdering everything on the field in three seconds.

On that mage note: spirit staff animations are AWESOME.

[Sjofn]

Oh my God, Hard's prologue made me feel so laaaaame. I totally had to turn it down.   

I figure I'll crank it back up to hard on a later playthrough. I'm glad hard is actually hard, though!

[kildorn]

Hard's prologue is essentially "pick mage or rogue. Run around until ogre does attack windup animation. Cast/backstab/shoot. Run more until he does it again"

Hard is basically Crazy mode until you get an actual selection of skills to use.

[jakonovski]

Balancing takes time, which Bioware definitely didn't have. Although to be fair, a lot of games falls into the too easy/too hard trap. Eg. Dead Space 2.

[amiable]

I've been doing my first run through on nightmare and I am pleasantly suprised, it is actually quite difficult.

[Merusk]

amiable:


Kildorn:  The mines one had me laughing so hard my daughter thought I'd lost my mind.  She's well voiced and written, hands-down my favorite companion.

[Ingmar]

I don't know if everyone else was tied up doing ME3, SWTOR, or other projects, but the PC voices in particular are a bit disappointing (as is the change in Ander's voice actor).

I haven't played as female Hawke yet but I have to strongly disagree with this re: dude Hawke. I think he's doing a great job so far (I'm in the 'snarky' voice) - I wish they'd come up with this changing tone of voice thing for the MEs, I'd probably like Mark Meer's work a lot more if he'd been able to be less flat. I'm not sold on different Anders voice (but I haven't actually got him in the group yet so that's just an initial reaction), but the different Isabella voice is an upgrade (Queen Anora's actress did Isabella in DA:O and her weird pause-laden delivery as Anora was probably my least favorite voice performance in DAO. Review based on demo, haven't actually met her yet either.) Merrill is adorable.  

[Bunk]

I admit I am loving the fact that they put in the charming/snarky options. It always bugged me in Bioware games that the "middle" choice was basically just the non-comittal, wishy-washy choice. Also liking that Bethany seems to be going along with my snarkiness - I was afraid they would make her high and mighty (appears that went to Aveline).

Is it shallow of me to really want to find a helmet soon so that I can drop it on Aveline to cover up her manly face? Is there even an option for another Tank companion? She really doesn't fit with the attitude I'm playing right now.

[tmp]

1.  I really like how family is playing into my initial game.  The interactions with your mother and Bethany really took me back to the BG days with the Bhaalspawn and Imoen.  Bethany reminds me of a less thiefy Imoen.

The family thing got kinda ruined for me when i saw the shoop of Carver lamenting "brother, why didn't you... roll a mage-" as his last entry in the story prologue. Can't unsee now.

edit:

I admit I am loving the fact that they put in the charming/snarky options. It always bugged me in Bioware games that the "middle" choice was basically just the non-comittal, wishy-washy choice.

I rather dislike it, precisely because what some would perceive non-commital or wishy-washy to me was more like middle-road approach suited for character who'd take time to think things through and keep his/her cool under pressure. Which was handy when the alternatives were wide-eyed tree-hugger and curb-stomper entirely lacking a fuse. Now i have only choices of these two or a snarky douchebag that's a cliche repated by about every single show and movie made in last 10-20 years or so. So not an improvement.

edit 2: oh, and you can't equip helmets on companions. So better get used to Aveline's appearance.

[Sjofn]

Hard's prologue is essentially "pick mage or rogue. Run around until ogre does attack windup animation. Cast/backstab/shoot. Run more until he does it again"

Hard is basically Crazy mode until you get an actual selection of skills to use.

Yeah well, in fine Sjofn tradition, I was a warrior. 

[Ingmar]

I admit I am loving the fact that they put in the charming/snarky options. It always bugged me in Bioware games that the "middle" choice was basically just the non-comittal, wishy-washy choice. Also liking that Bethany seems to be going along with my snarkiness - I was afraid they would make her high and mighty (appears that went to Aveline).

Is it shallow of me to really want to find a helmet soon so that I can drop it on Aveline to cover up her manly face? Is there even an option for another Tank companion? She really doesn't fit with the attitude I'm playing right now.

You can't helmet up the companions, their weapons/shields are from drops just like yours but their armor is basically GW Hero-style, you can upgrade it at certain points (I believe) but you can't give them drops.

[Sjofn]

The armor upgrades are treasure you find here and there, I think it's sometimes on merchants too.

[Cadaverine]

Main gripe I have so far is the absolutely ridiculous amounts of blood they soak you with.  It looks silly during the cut scenes after combat.  

[Ingmar]

Main gripe I have so far is the absolutely ridiculous amounts of blood they soak you with.  It looks silly during the cut scenes after combat.  

You can turn it off, uncheck 'persistent gore' in one of the options menus.

[Merusk]

Again: Fuck Dragons.

Aveline can't seem to keep up aggro at all.  It's all based on DPS, and even with the best possible 1h sword (the Unlockable that levels up) she's only tagging shit for 9 a hit.  When Varric is hitting things for 60+ and Merrill does the same with her staff that's just not going to cut it at all.   I'm beginning to wonder if it's a bug of some sort.

[Ingmar]

Hm, I didn't have that problem with the one dragon I fought so far, she held aggro fine, but did eventually die - the potion cooldown is kind of long and I didn't have a mage along who could learn heal...

I don't know, maybe it comes down to spec or something. Is she set up to taunt in her tactics etc?

[Merusk]

This is dragon #3 so there's apparently a ton of the fuckers.  I haven't even run into the Achieve dragon yet. ( )  But yeah, like DA1 tanks she's got persistent abilities that suck down tons of stamina.  (Turn the Blade and Shield Defense) If she turns on Immovable she gets enough stam for 1 taunt.  Turn off the abilities and she loses 25% damage mitigation and a lot of defense.   I'm going to try stacking attack speed and phys attack gear on her this time and see how it goes.

I'm beginning to think that Varric's nice, but his level-up weapon is going to cause lots of problems going forward. It's at 66dps right now and the best dropped 2h weapon I've found is 40.  No way he can do anything BUT pull aggro.  Might just have to trip into town and try respeccing things.

[Ingmar]

I've found a lot of random +stamina regen jewelry, maybe stacking that would help.