Preview: Dragon Age 2
Like it or loathe it (and most people loved it) Dragon Age: Origins was the most successful new IP for Bioware or EA ever. Fact. So it would seem a no brainer that a sequel was on the cards. But what can fans expect from the new title?
The first thing that surprised me is that Dragon Age 2 isn’t exactly what you’d call a strict sequel. The events of the first game resonate through the narrative of DA2 as you take control of Hawk and lead him through some of the same plot points, this time told from a different perspective.
A common complaint of the first game was that attacks and spells were lined up using the pause menu before combat, and then the gamer sat back and watched the action unfold without actively having to do anything else. David Silverman, Brand Manager of both Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2, even joked that one Bioware forum member used this time for toilet breaks. The new game has gone some ways to address this issue.
Combat has been further augmented when coming up against larger enemies. Players of Dragon Age: Origins will remember the death blows that could be dealt by warriors and rogues on enemies such as Ogres and Dragons. This has been expanded to include Mages. The example shown involved some magical hands gripping an Ogre’s arms and ripping him apart. Whilst this is a nice visual addition to the game, variation will be key to stopping this from becoming stale in the final build of the game. Hopefully Bioware will take this on board and deliver many different death blows to keep gamers trying different things.
Whilst the pause and assign system from the first game is still present, this has been reimagined to allow a full view of the battlefield with the improved camera controls. However the more significant redesign is with the real time gameplay. Rather than clicking spells or attacks to create a queue, then waiting for each character to perform them, the moves now freeze out whilst spells are being cast. This means that when you click a spell, that spell happens almost immediately. Whilst this sounds like a small change, it has a dramatic effect on the feel of the game.
Combat is now more immediate
The mantra of the sequel, as with any sequel, has been to improve what worked and fix what was broken. It’s clear that Bioware have tried to carry this through into almost every aspect of the new features we’ve been shown. One thing that was irksome in the last game was a tendency to misinterpret your own responses within conversation trees. Whilst this was a minor gripe, the conversation options now have the addition of an emotion wheel; mood pictures that highlight the intent of any given response. So if you want to be aggressive there will be a clear indicator of what the aggressive response will be, shown by red a clenched fist.
Players will also affect the general behaviour of their character through the choices they make. This is a really nice way in which the developers are creating a relatively unique experience depending on the way in which you play the game. The example I was shown involved the sarcastic and jesting responses, as the hero becomes more sarcastic automatically if these dialogue options are chosen consistently.
Dialogue choices are much harder to misinterpret
The visuals have also seen an overhaul with the new improved graphics. Dragon Age 2 looks a lot more stylised than its predecessor with the strange dichotomy of cartoonised visuals mixed with more gruesome fare; slashing darkspawn this time around can actually dismember them as they fall to their deaths. Whilst this sounds like an oxymoron, it really works. And with a good five months of development left before release, visually this game could be really stunning.
An interesting new development for Dragon Age is the way the narrative is told. Rather than the synchronous story of the first game, with events told in order of when they happened over the course of a year or so, Dragon Age 2 is a story told within a story. The opening sees a particularly shady character, Varric, detailing the exploits of the hero to an inquisitive Seeker. The impact of this change was immediately apparent, as Varric’s exaggerations allow more powerful spells and higher damaging attacks throughout the playable section. When told to tell the truth, the game brings the character stats right down to basics and previously omitted characters make an appearance.
Dragon Age: Origins had two stages to levelling up a character; first assigning stats to characters to increase health, strength, agility or intelligence, then selecting new skills, choosing from a fairly static spreadsheet of abilities. Whilst the stat boosts remain, the skill selection has seen something of a reformation as each skill is separated into trees. Unlocks still happen in order, such as weaker fire spells being needed before the higher strength version of that spell can be attained, but you can now augment specific spells by specialising. For example, if you are particularly fond of your Inferno spell, you can use your awarded ability unlock to increase the area of effect, damage it deals or even the duration the spell lasts. Exact details of these specialised unlocks were not given however.
Combat seems to have been improved all round.
I was a big fan of the original title, even on the arguably weaker console version of the game. The wealth of new features and marginally improved visuals seem to be much needed additions to build on the already eminently playable base of Dragon Age: Origins. However, the success of a Bioware RPG hinges on playability alongside a great storyline. Whilst the narrative focus on the hero’s family and the framing of the story within a story bring a different slant to the Bioware RPG canon, I guess we’ll have to wait until the final release for the full verdict. For now, let’s just say that this preview has made this journalist eager to play the full game in March 2011.
– Tom Wallis
Don’t be fooled…
I’m afraid Dragon Age (and Mass effect to a large extent) is a dumbed down, linear, commercially driven *casual game franchise masquerading as an RPG. Despite excellent production values and story-telling, don’t be fooled by the RPG tag. Origins is more interactive audio-visual book than a game, let alone an RPG, and Dragon Age 2 looks set to follow suit.
These games could have been absolute classics if Bioware had stuck to their principles and developed open worlds with abundant exploration, trading, factions, loot, in-depth leveling and flexible micro management – all key elements crucial to RPGs – and would have sat alongside and challenged the likes of open world greats such as Baldurs Gate, Fallout, Witcher, Elder Scrolls etc. The fact that it falls way short is hugely disappointing… and concerning for all serious gamers and the RPG genre as a whole.
The time spent producing the plethora of drip fed DLC-for-cash snippets should have gone towards developing true RPG masterpieces, and by taking this easier dollar-friendly option Bioware have sold their soul.
* Casual game franchise = appealing to a ‘wider audience’.
I think there’s various levels of casual – hardcore games. I certainly don’t see many really casual gamers playing Dragon Age.
There’s no need to be so elitist about the RPG genre. It has RPG elements for sure. It may not be a pure hardcore RPG but that doesn’t mean it needs to be knocked for it.
It is what it is. They aren’t trying to force it into the RPG genre, EA are just making a good game with varied gameplay element. There’s nothing wrong with that.
In the modern gaming climate you can’t have a niche title like a hardcore RPG with high production values – you just won’t make your money back. I don’t see Dragon Age as being a casual game, if you play on the hardest difficulty, especially on the PC, it presents a fantastic challenge that requires real skill and strategy.
Last time I checked RPG meant Role Playing Game.
And yes your playing as a character so that’s your role and your playing the game. So all I have to say is ME2 and DAO/DA2 are in fact Role Playing Games.
But in the end that’s your opinion and it isn’t fact.