Dragon Age II

[dsheinem]

Just announced with some details:

http://dragonage.bioware.com/da2/

I sunk plenty of time into the first game and the Awakenings expansion over last winter and would hope to do so with the sequel. I am not a very big RPG player, but something about the mechanics, customization, and story captivated me. An early 2011 release should give me ample time to go back through and play the numerous DLC content for the first one as well...

Who else is looking forward to this?

[MrPopo]

I am very much looking forward to this and Mass Effect 3. It also looks like this game won't feature the Darkspawn, based on the blurb, so hopefully we'll get to see more of the Dragon Age world besides Ferelden.

[brickiemart]

Rumor: You can only choose the gender of your character, not the race. lt's being referred to as the Commander Shepard effect. I assume your character will have actual spoken dialog if that is the case. Also, the story spans ten years with your decisions having a major say-so over the future, kinda like Fable.

I'm interested for details, especially on the combat system and in game graphics.

[Octopod]

I bought Dragon Age for PC when it came out and I still have not had time to get to it. It seems to be a problem with Bioware games. I still have not got too far in to Mass Effect 1 and will most likely just restart it when I go back to it. Too many games and not enough time I guess. Or too much time spent on the internet instead of playing games more likely.

[AmishSamurai]

Hear that Bioware? That was the sound of my hopes of having a Quanari background for my MC being shattered. And my tears. Thanks assholes.

In seriousness, I'm excited over this. I'm facing the Broodmother in the Deep Roads in Origins now, and still pretty sure I'm not even halfway done.

[dsheinem]

http://kotaku.com/5585473/dragon-age-2- ... -footsteps

http://kotaku.com/5582435/dragon-age-ii ... er-shepard


Dammit.

I haven't played the ME games and I know they are supposed to be great, but I quite liked the things that they are stripping from the DA sequel (various origins, dialogue choices, combat, etc.). I am especially leery of the consolized combat...I can't usually sit for countless hours at my PC to play an RPG.

Some of the commenters @ Kotaku seem happy with the changes, some seem perturbed. Are these drastic changes enough to make DA2 seem like something completely unlike DAO? Am I needlessly worried?

[AmishSamurai]

http://kotaku.com/5585473/dragon-age-2- ... -footsteps

http://kotaku.com/5582435/dragon-age-ii ... er-shepard


Dammit.

I haven't played the ME games and I know they are supposed to be great, but I quite liked the things that they are stripping from the DA sequel (various origins, dialogue choices, combat, etc.). I am especially leery of the consolized combat...I can't usually sit for countless hours at my PC to play an RPG.

Some of the commenters @ Kotaku seem happy with the changes, some seem perturbed. Are these drastic changes enough to make DA2 seem like something completely unlike DAO? Am I needlessly worried?

The consolized combat doesn't affect me as much, since I plan on buying the PC version anyways. However, as said before, I seriously wanted multiple backstories like in DA:O. Maybe add on a human commoner, wilder mage, and Quanari. However, as the second article said, I feel more attached to my Warden than I ever did Shepard, like they're more of an extension of me. Even if they are a scantily clad elf girl.

[MrPopo]

If they change to the wheel and keep the interrupts I'll be a happy man. ME2's interrupts were the best thing to happen to the WRPG. Finally you no longer have to sit there while the villian is monologing; you can instead shoot the gas pipe under him.

As for consolizing the console combat, I see that as a good thing. Or more specifically, the fact that they're leaving the PC controls and combat the same as it was in DA:O. This is what is known as doing a cross-platform title RIGHT. They acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of each platform and play to each indepdendently.

I don't understand the "I don't want to sit at my computer" argument for getting the console version. When I was in high school I spent all day and nigiht in front of my PC playing DX, CS, UT, and SC. You just need a nice chair, and maybe a good surface to kick up your feet on. And I won't even talk about how much time I spent on WoW in college.

[dsheinem]

I don't understand the "I don't want to sit at my computer" argument for getting the console version. When I was in high school I spent all day and nigiht in front of my PC playing DX, CS, UT, and SC. You just need a nice chair, and maybe a good surface to kick up your feet on. And I won't even talk about how much time I spent on WoW in college.

I used to do the same in HS and college (with plenty of Quake 3 as well), but my options for gaming spaces were much more limited so I took what I could get. These days, I'd rather game on a 55 inch HD screen instead of on a nice 24 inch monitor, and on a couch/futon/recliner instead of in a comfy office chair. For me there is no way to play comfortably with a keyboard/mouse for long stretches because of how I have to sit (more upright). I'd rather lean back on the couch...

Good to hear you think the changes are good, though.

[MrPopo]

You could do what I do. Mouse + keyboard on the reclining couch and the 50" plasma that's 5 feet away (yay 1 bedroom apartment!). I don't snipe as well as I used to, but I'm oh so comfotable.