Dragon Age: Origins was unleashed on the world three years ago and received significant praise from many major video game and media outlets upon its release. Two years following, BioWare released its sequel, Dragon Age 2, that was shown to have some significant improvements from its predecessor, the most important being the inclusion of a voice for the protagonist. However, having given the main character a voice, we're restricted to the Human race. While Dragon Age 2 was originally believed to have been a continuation of Origins, the player finds themselves introduced to Hawke (Garrett or Marian, default names for the male and female, respectively), a character of nobility and honour, who's fleeing Lothering from the darkspawn of the Fifth Blight. Naturally, as this is the same setting and time period as Origins, one can assume Hawke's adventures are occurring parallel to that of the Warden's (protagonist from Origins). It's also learned that Hawke's mother, Leandra, is related to the Magi Warden of the Origins game, should you import such a save from the previous game. Hawke, who arrives in the city of Kirkwall as a lowly refugee, soon becomes its legendary champion over a turbulent decade of political and social conflict.
Gameplay in Dragon Age 2 is quite similar, but rather different than its predecessor. It's still a hack and slash role-playing game, but there's more involvement of the player during combat--instead of just pressing a button or two to issue commands, you're actually required to button-mash, so to speak. During the introductory customization menu, the player decides the given name, gender, appearance and combat specialty of Hawke. Hawke can be either a warrior (who wields sword, axe, mace and shield), a rogue (who wields daggers or a bow and arrow) or a mage (who wields a magical staff and uses magic).
As with Origins, the player is not only in control of Hawke. From the very start of the game, you're given access to several companions who accompany Hawke in and out of battle. You may choose up to three companions to bring along, while the rest remain in reserve. Hawke's companion characters are Bethany, his/her sister, Carver, his/her brother, Aveline, Varric, Fenris, Merrill, Isabela, and Anders. The Exiled Prince expansion pack adds an interesting character named Sebastian. These characters have their own dedicated background and plot.
As seen in Origins, after a battle, the player may loot the enemy for money and equipment. Battle also yields experience which can be used to unlock new combat abilities for each character. Outside battle, the player gets to control Hawke's interactions. When a dialog occurs, the player gets to choose what Hawke asks or answers.
As seen in Origins, after a battle, you may loot your enemies for money and equipment. Combat also gives experience which can be used to unlock combat abilities and specialities for each character. Outside battle, the player gets to once again, control the main character's interactions. However, instead of choosing from a select choice of dialogue as in Origins, the player now chooses Hawke's response from personality icons, and depending on your situation, you'll see quite a different number of them, such as:
⇢ Diplomatic/Helpful: Light Green Highlight/Light Blue Highlight (Olive Branch/Angel Wings with Halo)
⇢ Humorous/Charming: Purple Highlight (Comedy Mask/Diamond)
⇢ Aggressive/Direct: Red Highlight (Fist/Hammer)
There's also a few special options, similar to the Paragon/Renegade checks in Mass Effect. Such as...
⇢ Combat (Crossed Swords) which initiates combat and ends any further dialogue--a good way to shut someone up.
⇢ Call on Companion (Glowing Head Silhouette) which calls on a specific companion to chime in and help resolve the issue in a, usually, non-violent or profitable solution.
⇢ Flirt (Glowing Yellow Heart) engage with a companion in an amorous or suggestive manner. Flirting is the only way to instigate a potential romance.
⇢ End Romance (Glowing Red Broken Heart) Used to reject a romantic proposition from a companion or end an existing romance.
...and many more.
Saved information can be imported from Dragon Age: Origins as well as the expansion, Dragon Age: Awakening. This data will affect the background story of Dragon Age II.
Overall, Dragon Age 2 is a brilliant sequel to an amazing predecessor, and I'm much looking forward to Dragon Age 3.
BLG writes: "There was a time that BioWare games were the biggest deal in gaming. The Canadian developer’s legacy of all-time classics is well known. Mass Effect, Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur’s Gate are some of the biggest names in gaming.
While BioWare’s quality has fallen off lately, there’s no denying the quality of titles in their portfolio. That’s why we’re going to dive in and rank every BioWare game from worst to best. By every, I do mean every BioWare game, even the ones you completely forgot about!"
Ranked from worse to even more worse more like, they been on free fall for a fair few years now and I personally don't think any of there earlier games have aged well
Wow to think at one point in their history they made a Sonic the Hedgehog game..crazy
Anthem is crazy underrated. I really enjoyed it. ME1 is Bioware's best imo
Replies(1)
I actually put quite a bit of hours into Anthem but i dont think its underrated. It was a huge mess, server issues, gameplay issues, crashes, no endgame loop, too few different enemies, uninteresting gear. too few dungeons.
It for sure had potential and if they could have managed to keep the same gameplay of the classes but without the rest of the issues, this game could have been huge, but in the state in which it launched it was such a letdown. They partly fixed some of the issues, but it took too long. A grinding game like this needs to hook players from day 1.
Delving into a well-loved game or series years after its release, when it already has an enthusiastic and devoted fanbase, can be incredibly difficult. People can be casually mean on the internet without intending to, and that happens a lot when you say you don’t like something they do. Fans of the franchise take their love of the game very seriously. They’re fervent and devoted, which has its charms, but it can also feel like you’re disappointing them when you decide their thing is not your thing.
Because of the reviews, I thought they could do better specially gameplay wise and the third one was even worst
I've never been able to complete a Dragon Age game. They always felt too rigid in design. I eventually think "why am I playing this over Witcher 3?" or pretty much any other rpg.
The same reason you read a different book, or watch different movies. Different world, characters, lore and story.
Idk, because maybe you completed the witcher 3? Not all of us like repeating a game over and over just because its the best in genre.
@arkard
Never found the story or lore of DA interesting. Inquisition was just generic evil dude with demon army wants to conquer world and you're the chosen one.
@jeromeface
I've played through Witcher 3 once, at the same time I was playing DA Inquisition. Hence the example. I never finished Inquisition and went on to complete Witcher 3.
Well the first bored me but I loved 2 and 3. I could never get into The Witcher or Elder Scrolls but I enjoyed those as far as medieval themed RPG's go.
I played inquisition and thought the story was pretty well done. Voice acting as well.
Lost interest when i found an ultimate weapon that could only be wieldable postgame. Like wtf would they let me even obtain it for?
lol Definitely a fair point. When a game is made and published by one of the largest video game companies on Earth, has at least 12 million sales between DA:O/DA2/DA:I, DA:I noted as being BioWare's most successful launch, and made EA enough money to greenlight a 3rd game? I'm thinking it's tough to argue that's niche :-p
If you take cult following on the face of it - a group of people who are highly dedicated & passionate about something - the author wouldn't be wrong. But they have to know that term is most widely associated with the group being small/the object being obscure, so it can't really apply here.
Yeah, in what universe is a series with three games, a fourth on the way that's sold millions and is published by EA a "cult favorite"? Next you'll be telling me The Witcher 3 is a plucky and underrated indie.
Cult favorite? It’s well known and sold fairly well and they are making a fourth game . I don’t see it anywhere near cult favorite status . I really enjoyed the first game and the third was pretty good (with failed mmo faults you could notice) but the second game was lazily made garbage .
Loved the first one, second was pretty good. Couldn't even get through the third one. Don't have high hopes for 4, but hey, nowhere to go but up hopefully.
DA: Origins was cool, but I got Mass Effect 2 at the same time and goddayum there was no comparison imo.
With the successful release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, could BioWare be considering the possibility of a remaster of the Dragon Age games?
Only if it's Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition. Those were amazing but Origins was kinda suck ass.
Replies(2)
It mirrors the Mass Effect trilogy quite well. Origins, like ME1 is very different to the games that precede it and as a consequence would require significant more work if a remaster were to happen. Respect the games mechanics like they did with MELE but it definitely needs a massive visual overhaul.
honestly the first time i hear this lol I hope it's satire Origins was amazing and the others well not so much
I've been making the same statement on N4G for 10 years now and I still get the same responses.. in fact, 10 years ago last month is when I bought Dragon Age II and ended up getting the platinum for it. I tried Origins but it bored me. It's a shame because the story seemed awesome. Then I got Inquisition back in 2015 and enjoyed it.. but Part 2 is what I have a true soft spot for. I still do a playthrough of it on my PS3 occasionally.
What? Origins was the best one. All of them were good but nothing compared to origins.
I would rather have them both.
These are the kinds of remasters I like. Where they are going in and improving the game assets. I hate remaster where they just port the game to the new platform and call it a day. I want to see noticable improvements in not only framerate and graphical resolution, but textures, environments, and character models. Keep the gameplay as it was, but improve the full look to nextgen.
Interesting to see you on the praising side of DAII. I've heard many choices Bioware made are quite divisive with the community at large.
For some reason I still can't encourage myself to get into the Dragon Age or Fable series. Either it's something in the previews or the general artstyle itself that feels terribly shopworn by its competitors.
Nice -> formatting, btw.
The rating is a bit high dont see dat often for this game but very well written
Good review, I've been getting into action rpgs lately, gonna get dark souls and oblivion next, so the Dragon Age games are also on my list.
The game was okay. The dialogue was some of the best I have ever heard, but the rest of the game was okay. The story was weak and the combat was lacking.
i for one also liked the hell out of this game. the Scope and the Dungeonrecycling are a bad thing, and something that should be mentioned, but yeah - i agree with the fact that DA2 is a very good title.