Dragon Age 2

[The Tourist]

I pre-ordered my Signature copy yesterday.
Anyone else do likewise, and is looking forward to it? Or are the changes making you nervy...

Frankly, I didn't think Origins needed changing (other than a new lick of paint. And different paint!). But BioWare are definitely going down the Dragon Age: Mass Effect route.

Unlike Skyrim, there's a slew of screenshots and some video of DA2. The concept art at the official site, in particular, looks superb - so the overall art design could be a worthy improvement over DAO's.

[Dlarsh]

(stuff)... But BioWare are definitely going down the Dragon Age: Mass Effect route. ...(more stuff)

This is exactlly where I'm at on this one.
As you said, the art direction looks solid (I won't go higher than that, I hate it when games/t.v. shows completely revamp their look...), but I'm really dreading that it will be Mass Effect 2 with swords. I love Mass Effect, and I love Dragon Age, and the reason I love them both is because they both offer something different from the other. Please BioWare, don't take that away from me (<-begging)

That said, I preordered the BioWare Edition, and I'll probably like it well enough, even if my fears come to pass...

[DorostheConqueror]

As long as they don't mess with my Warden and Lel's happily ever after, they can screw up the series as much as they want and I'll still play it regardless.

The fact that you can only be a hyoomin is OK by me; I only ever played as a knife ear or midget for a lark, anyway. It's too bad I've got to be a Lothering peasant and not, say, the spawn of Morrigan and the Warden, but as long as you can pick your class, gender, and appearance, I'll get over it. Otherwise, it's still too early to pass judgment one way or another; the commercials and previews for DA:O convinced me the game was going to be awful right up until the day I bought it anyway, yet now it's possibly my favorite BioWare title.

[Taters]

I pre-ordered it almost 2 weeks ago now, and am definitely looking forward to it. I find myself different from most people in that I don't tend to mind when things change; the change can be bad, but just because it's different doesn't make it so, and I think a lot of people think different is always bad. It's like music; you'll get people complaining that album #4 isn't exactly the same as album #1 and wah wah wah, but I don't want it to be the same. Anyway, enough rant.

YAY DRAGON AGE!

[Kestral]

Pre-ordered. Ready to Dragon Age.

[DorostheConqueror]

It's like music; you'll get people complaining that album #4 isn't exactly the same as album #1 and wah wah wah, but I don't want it to be the same.

Yes, but you still want it to be good. Change is only good when it makes things better.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

I forgot to pre-order it.

But I have MS Points for the XBOX, I'll just buy anything I missed for Signature Edition in the form of DLC.

Which, PS, is a cheap way to make more money. You don't make the game, the just cut off some parts and make people pay extra for it. DLC is fine, but DLC being released as the game is released...

[The Tourist]

I don't think this will be another Oblivion for me, with Origins becoming BioWare's Morrowind in my eyes - simply 'cause even if they do turn it into DA:ME (cool abbreviation), it'll be a mighty fine game.

But I don't understand why BioWare set out to make a [relatively] hardcore A/RPG, then start dilutting those very elements. The real-time combat from the DA2 videos looks fairly horrid, especially the animations. And I don't want to hear my PC talk in these games. If the silent treatment is good enough for the Nerevarine and Gordon Freeman (not to mention F.E.A.R.'s Pointman, Reach's Noble Six, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'s, erm, Stalker!), then it's good enough for Ms or Mr Hawke.

Using the magical power of 'guessing', I'd say the changes have already had a detrimental effect: less Origin stories equate to less replayability. I've created 20+ characters on DAO, but still never beat the game as a dwarf (or a good mage).

I love Mass Effect, and I love Dragon Age, and the reason I love them both is because they both offer something different from the other

My sentiments exactly.

Doros: yeah, I saw Origin's various trailers pre-launch and thought it looked terrible (animation, script, graphics). But I didn't have anything to compare it to, save BioWare's post-KOTOR lineage. Origins has established itself, and big changes are going to be noticable. Still, DA2's guaranteed to sell better, because---

[here comes the controversial bit!]

---casual muppets were scared off by Origins combat.
But like Luke not being the last hope, there is reason to believe: BioWare have never let me down. Yet.

[videogmer314]

(stuff)... But BioWare are definitely going down the Dragon Age: Mass Effect route. ...(more stuff)

I'm really dreading that it will be Mass Effect 2 with swords. I love Mass Effect, and I love Dragon Age, and the reason I love them both is because they both offer something different from the other. Please BioWare, don't take that away from me (<-begging)

It's EA. What did you expect?

[Dlarsh]

(stuff)... But BioWare are definitely going down the Dragon Age: Mass Effect route. ...(more stuff)

I'm really dreading that it will be Mass Effect 2 with swords. I love Mass Effect, and I love Dragon Age, and the reason I love them both is because they both offer something different from the other. Please BioWare, don't take that away from me (<-begging)

It's EA. What did you expect?

The first Dragon Age was EA as well, but they let it ship as a solid traditional rpg, and it did really well.

[apploud]

Discover a whole realm rendered in stunning detail with updated graphics and a new visual style.

Does it count as having "Updated Graphics" if the new Visual style is supposed to make it look more cartoony/unreal? I think that DA2 will deliver with a story, I just think they're going cut it off at the knees by altering gameplay in a bad way.

[videogmer314]

The first Dragon Age was EA as well, but they let it ship as a solid traditional rpg, and it did really well.

They seem to have a habit of this: making a good game, then making all the sequels suck. And given that the vast majority of their games are sequels rather than original games...

[Symphonic]

I forgot to pre-order it.

But I have MS Points for the XBOX, I'll just buy anything I missed for Signature Edition in the form of DLC.

Which, PS, is a cheap way to make more money. You don't make the game, the just cut off some parts and make people pay extra for it. DLC is fine, but DLC being released as the game is released...

Play on PC at all? I recall reading that you can still preorder the Signature Edition on Steam, though you won't get a hard copy that way, if that's what you're into. (I am, usually.)

[The Raven]

Probably gonna buy it, but I just dislike that it's just like Mass Effect, they only show concept art, pictures and stuff for the male character... :|
Where's FemShep and FemHawke...

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Play on PC at all? I recall reading that you can still preorder the Signature Edition on Steam, though you won't get a hard copy that way, if that's what you're into. (I am, usually.)

I do, but for a lag-free experiance I go to the X-Box to play games first.

[The Tourist]

To any wavering potential buyers, check the Making Of/Part II vid.

I was a little concerned, and maybe I still am til I play it, but that vid's quite reassuringly impressive.

Where's FemShep and FemHawke...

Though I'll undoubtably go for an XY playthrough first, it's strange they haven't shown the XX Hawke yet (or if they have, I clearly didn't see it). I'm guessing you'll still be able to customise the look of Hawke, either way.

Doh! A quick google resulted in Me Being Wrong (or at least Out Of Touch With The Latest In Gaming Screenshot News).

A massive part in 'selling' Hawke is the voice work, and I've no idea how that's going to pan out for either gender. And I'd still prefer my Hawke keep schtum.

[Symphonic]

Just bought a brand new, beast of a PC. Got DA:Ultimate off Steam. Realize how infinitely better the PC version is (not just graphics). Regretting that I preordered the Signature version of 360...

[videogmer314]

A massive part in 'selling' Hawke is the voice work, and I've no idea how that's going to pan out for either gender. And I'd still prefer my Hawke keep schtum.

My guess is that Jennifer Hale will do the voice acting for her.

[Kestral]

"Hawke" really don't translate into a female name. I mean, every instance of Hawke I've ever seen the gender is always male.

[Dlarsh]

"Hawke" really don't translate into a female name. I mean, every instance of Hawke I've ever seen the gender is always male.

I agree (and it seems BioWare may as well since they appear to be leaning towards a male Hawke for canon), but I believe they'll use it as a surname, like Shepard in Mass Effect, though I could easily be wrong.

[Cactus]

Perhaps her first name will be Fem.

[The Tourist]

(and it seems BioWare may as well since they appear to be leaning towards a male Hawke for canon), but I believe they'll use it as a surname, like Shepard in Mass Effect, though I could easily be wrong.

Whilst BioWare always lean on the male Shep for promotional material, in the game there's absolutely, literally no difference. The only difference could be in central romantic lead, but as in ME it's clearly Liara, that's negated too.

So the canon is gender neutral, and DA2 is in exactly the same mould. Ditto the usage of Hawke. Aside from the use of a surname, Bio have kept exactly the same template through KOTOR and Jade Empire, as well as the two current franchises.

As for Hale doing the voice over? Not a chance. BioWare would need to distinguish the two IP's (ME & DA), and having the same voice actress would go against that.

[videogmer314]

(and it seems BioWare may as well since they appear to be leaning towards a male Hawke for canon), but I believe they'll use it as a surname, like Shepard in Mass Effect, though I could easily be wrong.

Whilst BioWare always lean on the male Shep for promotional material, in the game there's absolutely, literally no difference. The only difference could be in central romantic lead, but as in ME it's clearly Liara, that's negated too.

So the canon is gender neutral, and DA2 is in exactly the same mould. Ditto the usage of Hawke. Aside from the use of a surname, Bio have kept exactly the same template through KOTOR and Jade Empire, as well as the two current franchises.

As for Hale doing the voice over? Not a chance. BioWare would need to distinguish the two IP's (ME & DA), and having the same voice actress would go against that.

It didn't stop them from having her voice Bastila from KOTOR and FemShep.

[The Tourist]

True, but they across different gens. It was, what, 4yrs between the two? It'd be absurd to have the same actress voice the main character on two IP's at the same time (more so, considering both DA2 and ME3 launch in 2011).

Generally, BioWare do some of the best voice work in the biz (take note, Bethesda.. ). So I'm inclined to trust 'em with whoever they find for DA2.

[Kerr]

I have pre ordered it i'm really looking forward to it. I'm glad you import your save.

Spoiler:

I wonder what Morrigan, my male city elf self and my kid will be getting up to when they passed through the eluvian together, also Flemeth must die....again.