Discuss Dragon Age 2

[sygnus21]

So I got my copy of Dragon Age 2 on Tuesday. I've got about 12 hours (usually play a few hours a day) in thus far so here's some info.

First off - you can not judge this game by the demo. The demo was limited snippet of the game and did not showcase the graphics.... even without the texture pack!

Now... you have a DX11 card you definitely want to get the texture pack here... Choose Language | BioWare Social Network. It's a little over a gig. Here's the notes.....

This will add the option to enable higher detail replacements for most textures in game. A big difference will be noticed on level art especially.

Requirements:
Using high-resolution textures requires a graphics card with at least 1024MB video memory.

Most of the benefits from the Hi-resolution textures will only be seen if you are able to run the game in DirectX 11.

To manually download your new content on the PC:


Download the installer from the link below and run it.

• Run Dragon Age II.
• Open the Options menu.
• Select Video options.
• Check the "Hi-resolution textures" checkbox.

Note: In order to enable the "Very High" setting you will need a video card that supports DX11 and the latest drivers.

For those running a DX10 card you can still use the texture pack but I wouldn't recommend "Very High" settings. Just use "High". Also there have been all sorts of performance issues reported with the pack as seen here - DX11 known issues and drivers

Graphics/Video - The game does look good with the texture pack running in DX11 mode and though I haven't had any major performance issues (slowdowns) I do get the occasional screen tearing. Well actually in some areas it can look like it's raining. Hmmm.

Sound - One issue I do have with the game though is the voice sounds. It sounds like the characters are detached from their bodies when they speak. It's almost as though they're in an echo chamber. It sounds weird. This is definitely something that needs to be fixed/patched!

As for game play.... You can import your character from Dragon Age Origins. Didn't know that till after I chose my character and got ready for game play, you're then presented with a few options on how you want to proceed in DA2 and one of the options is to import your character from DA:O. Once you do that you're told that the decisions you made in DA:O will have an impact in DA 2. You still start out from level 1 though.

Also one thing they did improve on is combat style - it a little more dramatic, and decisive. I also must add that the effects are nicely done, as well as some of the moves the charactors make.

Performance - Overall it's pretty good on my system thus far. I do have the graphics set to very high and have not noticed any slowdowns or stuttering thus far.

That's about it thus far as I'm early in the game.

 

[boogieboy]

I started today and played little and selected my character as a Female Rogue hehe and i have imported my user files from DAO for the decisions i made in DAO in which i was Level 33 after completing almost all DLC's + Awakening. I'm running the game on 1440x900 with 8X AA on DX9 rendering but with Medium quality but i can get to High Quality textures from the menu when i select DX11 rendering although it does'nt give me all the options due to DX10 based card and my game starts to stutter with or without V-Sync. But for now i've maxed out all the settings for DX9 mode as i have mentioned already and im getting a smooth gameplay and i must say the graphics on these settings are still little better than previous DAO.

Besides the Graphics im gonna love the game im sure coz for me It's not about Graphics it's about the Story, Gameplay and having a good time with it. I like the new Combat system + the interface and better loading times and yeah females looks more sexier in DA2 and finally our main character can speak too LOL

 

[vierasniper]

Is the combat system different then the one shown in the DEmo? thats one of the reasons i love DA:O, the intricate combat system. i'd hate to see it be thrown aside to please console gamers

 

[sygnus21]

Well I'm playing as male rogue. He's currently at level 7. Remarkably I've been able to get him to look like my character from DA:O

Here's my settings right now....

Is the combat system different then the one shown in the DEmo? thats one of the reasons i love DA:O, the intricate combat system. i'd hate to see it be thrown aside to please console gamers

I hate to break it to you but.....

Seems like the combat is cleaned up a little. Even though the combat is simpler in DA 2, it's not awkward like it was in DA:O. I also like the fact that they added a "target the nearest enemy" key.

Say what you will of the combat but if they had to "dumb it down" they did a good job of it.

So yeah, it's like the demo - though once you get into really playing the game, they don't seem that bad.

Upgrading is a lot easier to work with as well, and a lot easier to understand where you're progressing to.

Overall a nice feel to the game. It's not as bad as people made it out to be, at least game wise, story wise remains to be seen.

 

[vierasniper]

sygnus you heartbreaker i didn't really a reason for it to be "dumbed down"", but if it works i cant really complain that much. you say your at 7 level seven, with just a few hours in. is it that easy to level up? also is it the same ability wise? i played the demo and saw most of this, but im still in denial about it

 

[mickey megabyte]

level 7 after only 4 hours - maker's breath!

 

[boogieboy]

level 7 after only 4 hours - maker's breath!

:roflmao:Straight from the Chantry

I hit level 2 right in the begining...

 

[sygnus21]

sygnus you heartbreaker i didn't really a reason for it to be "dumbed down"", but if it works i cant really complain that much. you say your at 7 level seven, with just a few hours in. is it that easy to level up? also is it the same ability wise? i played the demo and saw most of this, but im still in denial about it

First off as for leveling up - though I'm a level 7 rogue doesn’t mean I've progressed very far into the game. Between DA:O and Awakening my character was up to level 33, and DA: Awakening didn't have that many level ups so....

As for the combat system itself - some people complained it was a bit much, and a little too complicated in DA:O, so they changed it up a little.

To me it's easier to work with and not as clumsy. I also find that I don't have to do the constant pauses that everyone employed as t tactic to get through the game. If it was one piece of advice I heard over and over was "I just hit pause to set up my attacks". With DA 2 you really don't have to do this (a lot) so it makes the game flow much easier during fights. Also like I noted - the now added "Attack the nearest enemy" key (R) helps move the game along as well.

Some people might view this as a "dumbing down" of the game, that's what I meant. Personally I don't see it that way but that's me.

Getting back to game length I can't comment on that yet as I'm nowhere new the finish line. I did however hear the the game was shortend but.... also because I pre-ordered the game I got a few added items plus a DLC for free - The Black Emporium. I also shelled out another 5 bucks for a released day DLC called "The Exiled Prince" which I finished off earlier. So these items helped with leveling as well - though I haven't played the Black Emporium yet, I didn't recieve and in-game message about it.

With regards to purchasing the Exiled Prince.... yeah normally I wouldn't have done it.... but I wanted to add this to see what the final product (Dragon Age 2) is about as I review it. Should it have been included with the original game? On the surface no, but we'll see when I finish DA 2.

Hope this helps.

level 7 after only 4 hours - maker's breath!

Well maybe 4 hours was a bit of a stretch, but nonetheless I'm at 7. And those of us who are actually playing the game know the progression level.

Peace

 

[sygnus21]

level 7 after only 4 hours - maker's breath!

Well maybe 4 hours was a bit of a stretch, but nonetheless I'm at 7. And those of us who are actually playing the game know the progression level.

Peace

To clarify here's my player profile.....



Achievements....

 

[mickey megabyte]

it's ok sygnus21, i wasn't accusing you of massaging figures () - i was trying to make a joke, that's all

i really want to get the game (and a new gfx card) but i recently had to replace my phone and pay for scooter repairs after some idiot smashed into it in a carpark and drove off.

i was put off by the demo, but your recent comments have warmed me to it...

 

[sygnus21]

it's ok sygnus21, i wasn't accusing you of massaging figures () - i was trying to make a joke, that's all

No offense taken mickey. Anyway I edited the post or else someone would get the wrong impression of the game

I was trying to show my actual playtime but I guess DA 2 doesn't show those stats like DA:O did.

At any rate the game is alot better than the demo let on, especailly graphics. Though really, how much can you get from a demo other than a snippet of game play?

Good luck in getting you issues sorted.

Peace

 

[Hellriser]

The tactical side of the battles were totally neglected in DA2. Now, it's a pure action RPG.
Tons of sidequests, the Deep Roads Expedition act, even though it seemed like it will be an epic chapter, was quite short.
Inventory fills up pretty fast, and you pretty much get ridiculously wealthy around the half of the game.
Played 10-15 hours of the game and the combat seems repetitive from a point.

The game is very nice, but it seems that it lost a little from the "epicness" of the first DA series.

 

[sygnus21]

The tactical side of the battles were totally neglected in DA2. Now, it's a pure action RPG.
Tons of sidequests, the Deep Roads Expedition act, even though it seemed like it will be an epic chapter, was quite short.
Inventory fills up pretty fast, and you pretty much get ridiculously wealthy around the half of the game.
Played 10-15 hours of the game and the combat seems repetitive from a point.

The game is very nice, but it seems that it lost a little from the "epicness" of the first DA series.

Yeah I'll give you some points on those but as I said before - DA:O's combat system was awkward and had lots of complaints so they changed it up in DA2. Is it better or worse..... depends

As for getting wealthy, yeah it is pretty easy to get rich. LOL I haven't even spent much yet. In the first game I was scrapped for money.

I haven't even did the Deep Roads Experdition yet as I'm doing all sorts of side quests first. That's me

As for filling your inventory up.... been home lately?

Anyway despite all the "faults" I'm still enjoying the game. Very entertaining. Oh check this armor.....



Ser Isaac armor from..... DS2

 

[simmo]

I have sound issues as well...I play using headphones...and it worked well at the start...as soon as I hit Kirkwall it went west...sounds like it's coming thru an echo chamber and so shite I have not the slightest idea what is being said.

party combat is somewhat BS too imo...a tank that only tanks one target and a healer (mage) with a 20 sec CD on her heals..wtf is that? Would'nt get in any instance in WoW lol...

 

[sygnus21]

I have sound issues as well...I play using headphones...and it worked well at the start...as soon as I hit Kirkwall it went west...sounds like it's coming thru an echo chamber and so shite I have not the slightest idea what is being said.

Yeah I posted about my sound issues at Bioware's forums here - Audio issues, echo

It is annoying as it takes away from the game atmosphere. I hope they can patch it.

 

[simmo]

The tactical side of the battles were totally neglected in DA2. Now, it's a pure action RPG.
Tons of sidequests, the Deep Roads Expedition act, even though it seemed like it will be an epic chapter, was quite short.
Inventory fills up pretty fast, and you pretty much get ridiculously wealthy around the half of the game.
Played 10-15 hours of the game and the combat seems repetitive from a point.

The game is very nice, but it seems that it lost a little from the "epicness" of the first DA series.

Yeah I'll give you some points on those but as I said before - DA:O's combat system was awkward and had lots of complaints so they changed it up in DA2. Is it better or worse..... depends

As for getting wealthy, yeah it is pretty easy to get rich. LOL I haven't even spent much yet. In the first game I was scrapped for money.

I haven't even did the Deep Roads Experdition yet as I'm doing all sorts of side quests first. That's me

As for filling your inventory up.... been home lately?

Anyway despite all the "faults" I'm still enjoying the game. Very entertaining. Oh check this armor.....

View attachment 143048

Ser Isaac armor from..... DS2

Where the hell is home..I have that armor unlocked but got nfi where i have to go to get it

 

[boogieboy]

I took a break for a while im gonna start on monday again as im gonna change my HDD and getting a new one WD Caviar Black also maybe i'll change my Graphics Card too but im not sure yet.

 

[Skulblaka]

I'm enjoying the game so far, not as good as the first though. I'm a little "disconnected" from the game, while in the first I was completely immersed in the story.

Like others have said, it does somewhat feel like a "hack and slash".

 

[sygnus21]

As for filling your inventory up.... been home lately?

Where the hell is home..I have that armor unlocked but got nfi where i have to go to get it

LOL - Did we miss the quest in the Main Plot - A New Home?


That was one of the first quests you did when you went to Kirkwall - after you did your yearlong servitude

 

[simmo]

As for filling your inventory up.... been home lately?

Where the hell is home..I have that armor unlocked but got nfi where i have to go to get it

LOL - Did we miss the quest in the Main Plot - A New Home?


That was one of the first quests you did when you went to Kirkwall - after you did your yearlong servitude

lol...have'nt done the full year atm, ty