Dragon Age.

[Rub'Rum]

I still have a right to think the combat is lame?

I just don't like how it allows you to pause and everything is so coordinated, I find it more fun when you actually have to think on your toes, I mean, I could literally sit for hours and think of my next move, and it saps some of the games challenge when I can do that.

Yeah well I'd agree if I was only controlling one guy, Diablo with a pause feature would be mega lame indeed.

But that's a different game. If you think this is lame, I still have a hard time understanding why you bought the game. Might as well eat pizza and proclaim pizza sucks because it has dough in it.

Anyway, yeah, you do have the right to *think* the combat is lame.

 

[Monsterzuma]

I wouldn't have a problem with the pause "feature" if they just dropped the hypocrasy and made all of the combat decisions pause based. Right now it's like you have to cheat the controls to get anywhere. "Whoawhowhoa, too quick, let me cast a heal spell and catch my breath..."

 

[Harbringer]

RPG combat has been this way since the days it was on Pen and Paper, i'm not sure why you would even buy an RPG if you dislike a key element its gameplay.

And what game does not allow you to pause? To my knowledge, outside of a couple of online games, all games allow you to pause and even Action-RPG's like Oblivion allow you to do/plan stuff like drinking potion while paused. Also, if you really dislike that, it can be easily fixed by not pausing the game.

Yes, but those RPG's had the redeeming quality of there story. This games story is trying to suck hard, I was already yawning at the open video with mentions of ura khai...er... I mean, "darkspawn" and...I cant even talk about it with a straight face. Its like they pulled the story from some cheesy bargain bin fantasy novel. This games combat is AND its story sucks, leaving me with what?

Yeah well I'd agree if I was only controlling one guy, Diablo with a pause feature would be mega lame indeed.

But that's a different game. If you think this is lame, I still have a hard time understanding why you bought the game. Might as well eat pizza and proclaim pizza sucks because it has dough in it.

Anyway, yeah, you do have the right to *think* the combat is lame.

Because I thought it might have a redeeming amazing quality like all good RPG's? Look, my gripe is that this game could have come out in 1990 and save the graphics, no one would know the difference. Theirs being nostalgic and old school and then theirs just being old fashioned.

 

[MobBoss]

Yes, but those RPG's had the redeeming quality of there story. This games story is trying to suck hard, I was already yawning at the open video with mentions of ura khai...er... I mean, "darkspawn" and...I cant even talk about it with a straight face. Its like they pulled the story from some cheesy bargain bin fantasy novel. This games combat is AND its story sucks, leaving me with what?

Well, given the fact that the overwhelming opinion in regards to this game is completely opposite your finding, you feeling this way is simply indicative of 'you cant please everyone'.

I find the story quite compelling, very well written, and full of content not seen in any other similar game.

I also tend to like the combat options quite a bit as well. Being able to script an NPCs AI to the level available in the game means I dont have to pause and micro-manage to the exent you claim, and can simply enjoy the graphics of the encounter. In other words, the combat engine is flexible enough to satisfy micro-managers and those who dont enjoy that so much equally. A nice accomplishment to say the least.

Because I thought it might have a redeeming amazing quality like all good RPG's? Look, my gripe is that this game could have come out in 1990 and save the graphics, no one would know the difference. Theirs being nostalgic and old school and then theirs just being old fashioned.

Like I said, you cant please everyone, and if you think this game sucks, then realize your opinion is going to be of the vast minority in regards to this game.

Since I am curious, could you give us a similar game in this genre that you would say doesnt suck and in your opinion is obviously better than Dragon Age?

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Yes, but those RPG's had the redeeming quality of there story. This games story is trying to suck hard, I was already yawning at the open video with mentions of ura khai...er... I mean, "darkspawn" and...I cant even talk about it with a straight face. Its like they pulled the story from some cheesy bargain bin fantasy novel. This games combat is AND its story sucks, leaving me with what?

Regarding the story, did you see this:

Edit: By the way, it's on Zero Punctuation this week. I was hoping to see it there.

It's very hard to find fantasy stories in the classical setting that are not common. (and when they do have exceptional stories it's by twisting the poop out of fantasy and creating something like planescape torment).

 

[Yeekim]

I have one gripe with the story, which is that you can't really roleplay an evil character or choose your side. Even if you'd like to play the meanest, most indifferent SOB the world has ever seen, you are still forced to be the hero who eventually saves the world.

 

[Ulyaoth]

That's every story.

 

[Harbringer]

Since I am curious, could you give us a similar game in this genre that you would say doesnt suck and in your opinion is obviously better than Dragon Age?

Well lets see, FFIII, Legend of the seven stars, secret of mana, Earthbound, Lufia, Chrono Trigger, Breath of fire two, the secret of evemore, Vagrant story.

And if you want a game from this century I cant really think of any that this one is similar to.

It's very hard to find fantasy stories in the classical setting that are not common. (and when they do have exceptional stories it's by twisting the poop out of fantasy and creating something like planescape torment).

True, but you can still make an old story compelling, its done all the time. When it comes down to it there are really only so many different plots you can use, what keeps them fresh and interesting is the characters and setting a few other bits Im to lazy to remember. The characters in Dragon Age are neat(at least Allistar is, who seems to be universally liked), but the setting is just blah drab boring. Its like they wanted to go generic and went way overboard.

 

[Ulyaoth]

Well obviously you're just a fan of JRPGs then.

 

[Rub'Rum]

Well lets see, FFIII, Legend of the seven stars, secret of mana, Earthbound, Lufia, Chrono Trigger, Breath of fire two, the secret of evemore, Vagrant story.

Wow these are you examples of games similar to Dragon Age? Yeah, JRPG indeed. Well that explains a lot then. In a game like Earthbound, you don't have any more direct control than in Dragon Age in combat, just as you said you hated, you can sit around and take hours to decide your next move. Anyway.

PS: I'm a huge Earthbound and Chrono fan.

 

[MobBoss]

Well lets see, FFIII, Legend of the seven stars, secret of mana, Earthbound, Lufia, Chrono Trigger, Breath of fire two, the secret of evemore, Vagrant story.

And if you want a game from this century I cant really think of any that this one is similar to.

Apparently someone really loved their SNES.

But really, those are little kid games in comparison to Dragon Age.

And one thing that is a fact. There is no 'good old days' of gaming. Older games like these simply do not age well in comparison to more modern games. At all.

The characters in Dragon Age are neat(at least Allistar is, who seems to be universally liked), but the setting is just blah drab boring. Its like they wanted to go generic and went way overboard.

Like I said, there is no accounting for taste in the genre. DA:O has won Game of the Year and Best RPG on the Spike Video Game awards, and has also won PC Game of the Year, Best XBOX RPG of the year, Best Story of the Year, Best PC RPG of the Year by IGN.

Obviously there are a great many people who disagree with you on the story.

 

[Rub'Rum]

Okay well I disagree with Harbringer but your arguments are kindda not very good.

But really, those are little kid games in comparison to Dragon Age.

The games he listed are brillant for the most part. Not because they're old. Chrono, Earthbound and Secret of Mana haven't really aged.

Like I said, there is no accounting for taste in the genre. DA:O has won Game of the Year and Best RPG on the Spike Video Game awards, and has also won PC Game of the Year, Best XBOX RPG of the year, Best Story of the Year, Best PC RPG of the Year by IGN.

Obviously there are a great many people who disagree with you on the story.

Yeah and Nickelback wins Grammy awards and Miley Cyrus is a best selling artist.

 

[Ulyaoth]

I just watched my brother and cousin play through Secret of mana in the past few days and it seemed pretty cool if having a nonsense story and seemed a bit easy. Never played the rest, but I know in general I hate JRPGs, but it's not because they're old. Old games are plenty awesome most the time. If it weren't for a few stupid little issues I didn't like with Civ3 I'd never play 4.

 

[Ozbenno]

Yeah and Nickelback wins Grammy awards and Miley Cyrus is a best selling artist.

The world really is a strange place isn't it.

 

[Harbringer]

Well somebody missed my point completely, I was saying that this games combat is trash, just like almost all RPG's, but most RPG's redeeming quality is bunk. All of those SNES classics combat is absolute bunk, but it was the story that made up for the horrible game play. Dragon Age has neither, and I compared Dragon Age to really old JRPG's because it plays the same way. One big linear slug fest with sketchy combat. Modern RPG's aren't comparable to it.

The other thing that's start to bug me is the illusion of branching dialogue trees. No matter which option you pick sometimes you ALWAYS get the same response, why even bother giving us the choice?

 

[MobBoss]

Yeah and Nickelback wins Grammy awards and Miley Cyrus is a best selling artist.

Again, simply because you dont like them doesnt make them bad. And yes, industry leading awards do carry merit whether you recognize it or not.

Well somebody missed my point completely, I was saying that this games combat is trash, just like almost all RPG's, but most RPG's redeeming quality is bunk. All of those SNES classics combat is absolute bunk, but it was the story that made up for the horrible game play. Dragon Age has neither, and I compared Dragon Age to really old JRPG's because it plays the same way. One big linear slug fest with sketchy combat. Modern RPG's aren't comparable to it.

My only point is that your opinion is just your opinion. And your viewpoint is going to be a minority opinion where this game is concerned. Having played a great many such games on the PC, I happen to find it very well done, as do all my friends in my gaming circle.

The other thing that's start to bug me is the illusion of branching dialogue trees. No matter which option you pick sometimes you ALWAYS get the same response, why even bother giving us the choice?

Some of them do give you alternate responses, especially humourous ones. Also, never underestimate the power of coercion. I have put a couple points into that and can often persuade or intimidate extra dialogue.

 

[LDiCesare]

That's every story.

No. In Arcanum, you can decide to side with the bad guy in the end for instance if I remember well.
In The Witcher, even though you get rid of a bad guy, your choices leave the world in a somewhat different situation.

Apart from that, I also believe the combat is rather crappy and the game feels very linear, and it compares poorly to The Witcher as far as I'm concerned.

Forgot to mention: When you're stealthy amidst hostile opponents and can't leave the place because you're in combat yet noone sees you... I can't help but think it's got best RPG awards forr lack of any other (not MMO) RPG these days.

 

[Rub'Rum]

The other thing that's start to bug me is the illusion of branching dialogue trees. No matter which option you pick sometimes you ALWAYS get the same response, why even bother giving us the choice?

Yeah well I sort of have to agree with cases of this happening in many games. It's not necessarily the same responses you get as much as just the general feeling that some of the dialogue options are just there to give you extra tidbits of story and the story won't progress until you say that one thing. There isn't even two outcomes. Except maybe the outcomes where you have a choice between killing someone or not, or those that make you "side with one of the guys" and for about 10 minutes you have a story that would have been slightly different for that 10 minutes if you had picked the other option. Rarely game-length overarching changes. It's true that there is hidden linearity in dialogue options and barely modified outcomes.

 

[Harbringer]

Again, simply because you dont like them doesnt make them bad. And yes, industry leading awards do carry merit whether you recognize it or not.


My only point is that your opinion is just your opinion. And your viewpoint is going to be a minority opinion where this game is concerned. Having played a great many such games on the PC, I happen to find it very well done, as do all my friends in my gaming circle.

Bold by me.

I have to say the characters are what is keeping it going for me. It almost seems as if the game was written by two people or something. You main characters dialogue and personalities are very well done whereas I loath talking to everybody else. They just seem so flat and bored when they speak.

And I gave up linear RPG's a looooong time ago, and its start to grate immeasurably.

 

[Yeekim]

That's every story.

No. In The Witcher, even though you get rid of a bad guy, your choices leave the world in a somewhat different situation.

Apart from that, I also believe ... the game feels very linear, and it compares poorly to The Witcher as far as I'm concerned.

This. I don't complain about the combat, though. I think they've handled having to control up to 4 guys pretty nicely.