70°

Dragon Age 2 Retrospective Review

Continue Play: "When people say that Dragon Age 2 is more closely aligned with Mass Effect than Dragon Age: Origins, I agree. Beyond the conversation wheel, Dragon Age 2 borrows a lot of narrative cues from Bioware’s cold sci-fi trilogy, even if at first a lot of people don’t recognize the similarities. It’s a game that allows you to import your choices from the first game, yet those choices only create a sense of ownership, not agency."

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cleft54081d ago

DA2 had problems but I really enjoyed what there was of this game. The problem for me was the one central location thing and how abrupt the third act ended. Other than that I did like the characters and the dialogue. I get why people had problems with the game and I completely respect that because the game was rushed and very different from DA1.

anticlimax4081d ago

I feel like people get too hung up on the reused locations deal. In the end, to me, it's only one thing in the list of:
- fast combat, effectively turning it into an arpg
- couldn't properly gear your partymembers
- the idea of three distinct acts was interesting, but didn't work for me either, it didn't feel like one story
- your actions and choices did not actually influence the outcome that much

Add massively hyped expectations to that and well, we all know the outcome. When Bioware makes a game, you expect something great, not something that is quite okay if you can overlook its faults.

NeoTribe4081d ago

Gonna wait for reviews before picking this one up. They burned me with the garbage that was dragon age 2.

Sketchy_Galore4081d ago (Edited 4081d ago )

If you didn't like Dragon age 2 I wouldn't recommend picking this one up. It's quite similar.

ps. Sorry for the snark, couldn't help myself,

Sketchy_Galore4081d ago

I'm on the verge of buying either this or the Awakening DLC. I loved Dragon age: Origins, mostly for the incredible writing, characters, and freedom of choice, I've heard so many awful things about this game, about how simplified and dumbed down the combat and inventory management is and about how it takes place entirely in one city but I suspect I could handle that if the writing and freedom of choice was anywhere near as good as the original.

Awakening on the other hand, I have heard is basically just more Origins in terms of gameplay but has far duller and less interesting writing and characters. Plus I'm happy with how my character's story ended so I would be creating a new character for it anyway. I just recently have a real urge to play a good choicey fantasy RPG and nothing from the Skyrim add-ons to any other fantasy game look like they will scratch that itch like a Dragon age game would.

anticlimax4081d ago

I've got both, and I'd say buy Awakening. More of the same isn't always a bad thing. Of course, since both will probably be relatively cheap these days, you could just buy both. That way, you get your savegames in order for DA:I.

(Also, there are plenty of oldschool rpg's worth playing, if you can stand some buggy mechanics and dated graphics)

Sketchy_Galore4081d ago

Thanks for the advice. I was leaning more toward Awakening and now I will definitely go for it.

70°

EA Made Dragon Age and Mass Effect DLC Free On PC By Retiring The BioWare Points System

Immersed Gamer writes: "In order to replace the oppressive BioWare Points system, EA is making a large portion of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age DLC catalogs free for PC users.

For those of you blissfully unaware, EA and BioWare employed a payment system called BioWare Points on PC to pay for DLCs for titles like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. While PC gamers have been struggling with BioWare point’s unfair conversion rates and extremely scarce and cost-detrimental sales.

Console players have been allowed to purchase content in pieces through the appropriate Sony and Microsoft shops. For real money, and not BioWare monopoly bucks. In turn, console players missed out on some DLC content, such as Mass Effect 2 pre-order bonuses that have been repackaged into a DLC pack."

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immersedgamer.com
TinkerNation1050d ago

Great response to Ubisoft and their disgusting behavior. Ubisoft decide to take away DLC from people who paid for it, while EA give it for free to everyone when they realize their system sucks. Who would have thought that EA of all companies would be showing Ubisoft how it should be done (even if this is EA fixing their own mistakes as well).

Mobis-New-Nest1050d ago

What goes around comes around and I promise you, Ubisoft will see their actions blow back on them when their diminishing sales numbers and stock taking a hit downward. That's the only way a company learns when they decide to be reactive instead of proactive.

160°

All BioWare Games Ranked from Worst to Best

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!"

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bosslevelgamer.com
Orbilator1209d ago

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

autobotdan1209d ago

Wow to think at one point in their history they made a Sonic the Hedgehog game..crazy

chicken_in_the_corn1209d ago

Anthem is crazy underrated. I really enjoyed it. ME1 is Bioware's best imo

1209d ago Replies(1)
Michiel19891209d ago

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.

170°

'Dragon Age' and Why It Sucks to Play Cult Favorite Games

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.

Snakeeater251332d ago

All dragon age games are terribly boring

Kerppamaister1332d ago

Why'd you play DA2 if you thought 1 was boring?

Snakeeater251332d ago

Because of the reviews, I thought they could do better specially gameplay wise and the third one was even worst

spss111332d ago

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.

arkard1332d ago

The same reason you read a different book, or watch different movies. Different world, characters, lore and story.

jeromeface1332d ago

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.

spss111332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

@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.

Yui_Suzumiya1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

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.

SegaSaturn6691332d ago

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?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1332d ago
phoenixwing1332d ago

Is it really a cult following if it's in the millions?

IanTH1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

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.

melons1332d ago

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.

IanTH1331d ago

I've heard about this hidden gem called GTA V...

jznrpg1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

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 .

Yui_Suzumiya1332d ago

Second was the best game which is the biggest hot take I've ever had, lol

ElvisHuxley1332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

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.

moomoo3191332d ago (Edited 1332d ago )

DA: Origins was cool, but I got Mass Effect 2 at the same time and goddayum there was no comparison imo.

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