"Was Anders Right?" or "Here There Be Dragon Age Spoilers" - Page 4

Solid Snake · 12-13-2012, 04:16 PM

The Shale DLC was great and Awakening's not a bad expansion, but yeah, everything else for Origins sucks.

Good to hear that the DA2 expansions are worthwhile, because if I remember correctly I got them all, even the silly Felicia Day one.

I need to thank you guys for inspiring me to tackle DA2 on for the first time next. Now that I've finished P4G it'll be next on the docket. I've done several Origins playthroughs but never felt compelled to try DA2 despite it being a day one purchase -- ran into RL troubles that delayed my first playthrough until the critical bashing was full-force and that deterred me.

Anyway, I'll be continuing my Ace Attorney inspired Origins Franziska von Karma character (who kicked ass and took names as a thief Warden) with Adrian ~~Andrews~~ Hawke, a blonde mage who totally hates mages and who will piss Anders the fuck off.

I figure the self-loathing mage option has to be one of the least played through choices in Bioware history, so if the option exists, Adrian's gonna bond with some Chantries.

I'm almost tempted to do what I did for KOTOR way back in the day and write periodic updates of Adrian's self-loathing spoils. But really, what better way to spoil a traditional rise-to-power hero story than having them turn on their own people due to sheer misguided principle? It's like Adrian's every conservative woman I've ever known, eagerly looking for opportunities to blast every other ~~woman~~ mage into oblivion.

Krylo · 12-13-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

even the silly Felicia Day one.

That one is so amazing if for no other reason than the SnarkHawke response at the end.

Kim · 12-13-2012, 11:06 PM

I don't see why you'd put off DA2 when both Krylo and I said it was good.

We're clearly the only ones who matter.

Solid Snake · 12-14-2012, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krylo

That one is so amazing if for no other reason than the SnarkHawke response at the end.

...Shit, I wasn't planning on doing a snark-Hawke playthrough.
Eh, maybe I can see the response on Youtube after I get there.

Also, Kim: The problem is that nearly everyone else on the planet who isn't named "Kim" or "Krylo" seems to disagree with your assessment.
But yeah, gonna play it anyway because fuck, everyone not named Kim was dead wrong about NieR

Krylo · 12-14-2012, 02:25 AM

There's no incentive, in game, to utilize just one response at all times. It's not like ME where you have to PARAGON or RENEGADE at all times.

So you can just snark when you like.

I, personally, am incapable of being anything other than SnarkHawke, though.

And yeah, it is ALL OVER the youtubes.

Solid Snake · 12-17-2012, 12:42 AM

...Are we sure I've received the same copy of DA2 that everyone else has? Maybe my copy is a Super Secret Premium Edition or something.

I think I can sum up my feelings about DA2 (so far) with this statement: If DA2 had been released after ME3, I'd have taken it as a positive sign that Bioware had learned its lessons about 'what went wrong' with ME3 and decided to write strong narratives again.

I can understand the criticism of the gameplay -- it definitely dumbs down Origins in a way similar to how ME2 and ME3's 'revamped' combat oversimplified the ME formula.
In terms of narrative, though, I already feel like I'm being given considerable freedom to write my own story with Hawke. I really prefer the way your companions are handled in this game, too -- treating them less as spineless lackeys and actually giving them a degree of agency and independent thought.

Maybe it's just because I'm comparing it directly with P4G, which I've just played, but P4 was all like "your friends will adore you regardless of how much a douche you are." So it's nice for a game to actually say, "No, if you're an asshole, there will be real repercussions for that."

Other things I like so far about DA2: The 'story-within-a-story' interaction between Varric and that Templar lady; the fact that the game isn't content to merely be a Tolkien clone and actually delves deeper and more intimately into mage / Templar / chantry / Sten's race stuff established in Origins; the aesthetic look and feel of Kirkwall, amplified by those cool medieval style intro videos; Fenris; the emphasis on family in a genre that tends to prefer avoiding the subject entirely with orphan backstories; the way the friendship / rivalry system and some ambiguities in the narrative has led me to think a lot more about individual decisions I have Hawke make during sidequests.

Things I don't like about DA2: Carver being a jerk (and the fact that my pro-Templar mage has to keep sucking up to his point of view); the game feels much easier on default difficulty settings than Origins; there should be more places to explore outside Kirkwall; the snark answers can be a bit too enticing, to the point where I've broken character a couple times just to witness them; the names 'Hightown', 'Lowtown' and 'Darktown' are stupid.

Kim · 12-17-2012, 12:53 AM

I'm very glad you're enjoying it, Snake.

Krylo · 12-17-2012, 01:14 AM

The combat being simplified and whatnot is pretty much fixed in the DLC. Like the DLC keeps up the narrative tone of the game while fixing most/all of the most commonly mentioned gameplay issues (copied maps, poor combat pacing, etc).

They're fantastic.

Also, yeah Carver's a jerk. He grew on me a lot, though, on my mage play through. Bethany is still the superior sibling, however, and I fully recommend doing a rogue or warrior playthrough after you're done with mage.

Edit: And Varric's story telling is fantastic. It comes up during a sidequest again later and it's amazing.

Seil · 12-17-2012, 05:04 PM

I kind of liked most of the DA:O add-on stuff. I mean, Awakening was pretty good, and I liked the Shale thing. One of the other ones I'll recommend is the Warden's Keep one, if for no other reason than the new armor and the party storage chest. Plus it's also pretty neat.

Haven't looked into the Marjolaine one, Darkspawn one or the Golems of blibbitybleebloop.

In terms of DA2, I picked up the market one, and that's pretty great.

Carver is terrible.

Varric is fantastic.

Solid Snake · 12-18-2012, 10:57 AM

After meeting the Arishok I'm having increasing difficulty understanding peoples' complaints about this game.

...And I'm becoming increasingly disappointed in gamers for telling Bioware that these kind of narratives are to be avoided in the future.

12-13-2012, 04:16 PM	#31
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	If only I could give her glasses like in AA The Shale DLC was great and Awakening's not a bad expansion, but yeah, everything else for Origins sucks. Good to hear that the DA2 expansions are worthwhile, because if I remember correctly I got them all, even the silly Felicia Day one. I need to thank you guys for inspiring me to tackle DA2 on for the first time next. Now that I've finished P4G it'll be next on the docket. I've done several Origins playthroughs but never felt compelled to try DA2 despite it being a day one purchase -- ran into RL troubles that delayed my first playthrough until the critical bashing was full-force and that deterred me. Anyway, I'll be continuing my Ace Attorney inspired Origins Franziska von Karma character (who kicked ass and took names as a thief Warden) with Adrian ~~Andrews~~ Hawke, a blonde mage who totally hates mages and who will piss Anders the fuck off. I figure the self-loathing mage option has to be one of the least played through choices in Bioware history, so if the option exists, Adrian's gonna bond with some Chantries. I'm almost tempted to do what I did for KOTOR way back in the day and write periodic updates of Adrian's self-loathing spoils. But really, what better way to spoil a traditional rise-to-power hero story than having them turn on their own people due to sheer misguided principle? It's like Adrian's every conservative woman I've ever known, eagerly looking for opportunities to blast every other ~~woman~~ mage into oblivion. __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text.

12-13-2012, 11:06 PM	#33
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	I don't see why you'd put off DA2 when both Krylo and I said it was good. We're clearly the only ones who matter. __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

12-14-2012, 02:25 AM	#35
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	There's no incentive, in game, to utilize just one response at all times. It's not like ME where you have to PARAGON or RENEGADE at all times. So you can just snark when you like. I, personally, am incapable of being anything other than SnarkHawke, though. And yeah, it is ALL OVER the youtubes. __________________ I am very tired.

12-17-2012, 12:42 AM	#36
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	...Are we sure I've received the same copy of DA2 that everyone else has? Maybe my copy is a *Super Secret Premium Edition* or something. I think I can sum up my feelings about DA2 (so far) with this statement: If DA2 had been released after ME3, I'd have taken it as a positive sign that Bioware had learned its lessons about 'what went wrong' with ME3 and decided to write strong narratives again. I can understand the criticism of the gameplay -- it definitely dumbs down Origins in a way similar to how ME2 and ME3's 'revamped' combat oversimplified the ME formula. In terms of narrative, though, I already feel like I'm being given considerable freedom to write my own story with Hawke. I really prefer the way your companions are handled in this game, too -- treating them less as spineless lackeys and actually giving them a degree of agency and independent thought. Maybe it's just because I'm comparing it directly with P4G, which I've just played, but P4 was all like "your friends will adore you regardless of how much a douche you are." So it's nice for a game to actually say, "No, if you're an asshole, there will be real repercussions for that." Other things I like so far about DA2: The 'story-within-a-story' interaction between Varric and that Templar lady; the fact that the game isn't content to merely be a Tolkien clone and actually delves deeper and more intimately into mage / Templar / chantry / Sten's race stuff established in Origins; the aesthetic look and feel of Kirkwall, amplified by those cool medieval style intro videos; Fenris; the emphasis on family in a genre that tends to prefer avoiding the subject entirely with orphan backstories; the way the friendship / rivalry system and some ambiguities in the narrative has led me to think a lot more about individual decisions I have Hawke make during sidequests. Things I don't like about DA2: Carver being a jerk (and the fact that my pro-Templar mage has to keep sucking up to his point of view); the game feels much easier on default difficulty settings than Origins; there should be more places to explore outside Kirkwall; the snark answers can be a bit too enticing, to the point where I've broken character a couple times just to witness them; the names 'Hightown', 'Lowtown' and 'Darktown' are stupid. __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text.

12-17-2012, 12:53 AM	#37
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	I'm very glad you're enjoying it, Snake. __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

12-17-2012, 01:14 AM	#38
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	The combat being simplified and whatnot is pretty much fixed in the DLC. Like the DLC keeps up the narrative tone of the game while fixing most/all of the most commonly mentioned gameplay issues (copied maps, poor combat pacing, etc). They're fantastic. Also, yeah Carver's a jerk. He grew on me a lot, though, on my mage play through. Bethany is still the superior sibling, however, and I fully recommend doing a rogue or warrior playthrough after you're done with mage. Edit: And Varric's story telling is fantastic. It comes up during a sidequest again later and it's amazing. __________________ I am very tired.

12-17-2012, 05:04 PM	#39
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	I kind of liked most of the DA:O add-on stuff. I mean, Awakening was pretty good, and I liked the Shale thing. One of the other ones I'll recommend is the Warden's Keep one, if for no other reason than the new armor and the party storage chest. Plus it's also pretty neat. Haven't looked into the Marjolaine one, Darkspawn one or the Golems of blibbitybleebloop. In terms of DA2, I picked up the market one, and that's pretty great. Carver is terrible. Varric is fantastic.

12-18-2012, 10:57 AM	#40
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	After meeting the Arishok I'm having increasing difficulty understanding peoples' complaints about this game. ...And I'm becoming increasingly disappointed in gamers for telling Bioware that these kind of narratives are to be avoided in the future. __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text.