Dragon Ages: Origins

So I got this game a month ago, and I just wonder: what is the appeal of this game?

I really wanted to like it, playing 40+ hours, but it just feels like an incredibly boring Baldur's Gate with shit controls (maybe it's just the PC version?), inconsistent a.i. (unresponsive tactics prompts, again PC?), and extremely repetitive combat (lemme walk over here, 15 dark spawn appear, use the same skills to slow/snare most, use tank as meat-shield, etc). It's enough the class system was torn to shreds and reduced to the 3-archetypes of bash-sneak-cast (yeah, there specialties to be unlocked, but they have such limited options).

 

Well the AI has problems that are actually controllable, Some of the inconsistencies may be because ur switching around character control a lot.
Other inconsistencies could come from your tactics as some may overpower others, you might tell an AI to attack someone but you could have a "Attack target of Main Char" and that will negate your recent command. Generally I had few inconsistencies with AI, they took potions well, healed me well etc...

The main appeal I guess is the choices you have and the story to a certain extent. Although I do like other bioware stories more, (mass effect, KOTR1) this one is still interesting enough.
You can change your party members around if your getting bored of them, and this is an RPG, they ALL have repetitive combat...if you know one that doesn't please share

 

Buying this game on ps3 was a huge mistake.Its an absolute mess, terrible slideshow-like framerates, huge amounts of pop in, it feels like a pc game made into a sloppy unfinished console port. I reinstalled baldurs gate and am having way more fun playing that. fuck this game, huge waste of money.

 

Yeah, I actually find the PC version the best when it comes to controlling what's happening on the screen and actually seeing anything

CGB, from what you say I deduce that you're not really that much into RPGs. The repetitive combat is, like mentioned by Sharp, something you can almost be sure most if not all RPGs share.
Some of them are turn based(many jRPGs), some are a'la TPS with cover system (ME) or FPS with slow-mo system (Fallout 3), but the main appeal in most RPGs is (or at least should be) the story and the characters.

If you don't find this RPG good and say the same about Oblivion and Fallout3, maybe jRPGs are more your style
Final Fantasy XIII is only 2 months away

 

Actually it is my favorite genre (especially since my all time favorite games are RPGs). For me RPGs are about choice, and though combat can be repetitive, I'd like the option to avoid it all together. This is why the first Fallout is the best RPG to date. I've beaten it 60+ times, all in different ways, and you do ever need to fight as long as your speech or sneak skill is adequate.

jRPGs are all shit and are all the same. Where is the character development? Why does the protagonist have to be either spunky kid or a quite loner type? Why the sword/gun-sword? Why are there always elemental enemies with, *gasp* a weakens to their opposite? It is a shitty genre and should have no "RPG" before the j.

As for Fallout 3; having just spent 70 hours playing through the entire quest (+dlc) over this semester break I can say (as well as the 130+ hours on Oblivion): Bethesda can not make a good game. Shit combat; seriously, terrible AI, horrible shooting/casting mechanics, utterly horrendous unarmed/melee combat make a combat approach pointless. Both games also have speech skills... which do next to nothing (yeah, you can convince Col. Autumn to leave, but it has no effect on Broken Steel). Even more so, talking to anyone in those games is painful due to shit script writing and the fact they only have 5 voice actors with no voice acting talent. Sneak skills are fucking crap and rewarding compared to games that rely solely on stealth mechanics (i.e. Thief, Hitman, the first (better) AVP to an extant). What do you got then in those games? Yeah, it is fun to walk around, but then after the first cave/ruins/bandit camp/vault you've pretty much seen them all (I've been to all to verify and yes I'm a masochistic).

I'm just sick of the RPGs being made nowadays. Very combat driven, even though the mechanics thoroughly suck ass.

Which is why after uninstalling Fallout 3 I played through the originals.

If only Bioware/Bethesda could make an RPG with the options that Fallout, Arcanum, and Planescape: Torment had.

 

In defense of JRPGS they almost always have great soundtracks. Especially if Uematsu is involved.

 

I understand you completely. Fallout 1, Fallout 2, Torment (Arcanum not so much for me) are really genre defining, but the are what RPGs 'used' to be like. I miss them too, but I've abandoned all hope of those coming back to be able to enjoy the new ones.
For better or worse (Most would say the latter) the genre has (d)eveloved into something a bit different.

I can't blame you, and fully understand you. I however am guilty of enjoying the exploration (among other aspects) of Fallout 3's and Oblivion's world. I sincerely think that Bethesda CAN and WILL make good RPGs. Like it is with all games however, not all people have to and of course not all people WILL like them.

Anyway, sorry for slightly derailing the thread
Dragon Age for me is still an excellent RPG, even though nothing has so far beaten Fallout and Torment for me

 

Nothing will probably touch PLanescape

 

Have you played Demon's Souls?

 

Can you beat it without killing anyone with the use of speech options, which leads to Role-Playing as you can play any role you wish?

 

Yes.

 

Then I plan to get it some day.

 

Demon's Souls breaks most RPG conventions when it comes to combat. The game runs at a furious pace and is excruciatingly unforgiving from the second you start playing. You cannot hack and slash at any point in the game or you will die. Every single swing of a sword, every block, every use of magic, has to be calculated and exact or you will die. Every single enemy in the game, even the weakest foe, can kill you with one or two hits if you aren't alert. The level of difficulty in the game is tremendously high and mastery of combat is required almost instantly.

People were criticizing Fallout and Oblivion for being too easy and too casual friendly...well Demon's Souls is about as far from casual as you will find in a video game.

The easiest enemy in Demon's Souls is like facing a final boss in a Final Fantasy or Diablo game or Oblivion. And Demon's Souls isn't artificially difficult because the enemies have enormous lifebars or overwhelming numbers like many other RPGs. The enemies are hard because the game strives for realism (in fantasy combat that is), if you get stabbed in the stomach by a lance then you will die, if you get hit with a fireball then you burn to death. This isn't Oblivion or Fallout where you can get stabbed, shot, lit on fire, and step on grenades and mines and still live. One hit from a sword or blade in Demon's Souls if you aren't paying attention and you are done for. If you can't get a read on an enemy within a few seconds of combat then you are DONE FOR. That is how harsh the game is.

In Demon's Souls you cannot take on multiple enemies at the same time. More than two or three enemies simultaneously attacking you means you will most likely die unless you are a true master of combat (and the combat in Demon's Souls is incredibly deep). You have to approach enemies with utmost preparedness and awareness. You need to study attack patterns and familiarize yourself with how enemies behave. And you cannot heal in combat as well, healing has a purposefully long animation that also must be done in game, meaning in order to heal you need to step away from direct combat. This isn't Diablo where potions are instant or Oblivion where you can heal from a paused inventory or do a healing spell that comes out in a few frames of animation.

And speaking of pausing...Demon's Souls has no pause function. Everything in the game has to be done in real time. Meaning if you need to change items or spells, the enemies won't wait for you to do it. You need to come fully equipped for combat and know what awaits you ahead. If you get stuck in combat and your weapons aren't working then you are going to die.

And in Demon's Souls you will die and die often. Even the most seasoned RPG players will have their hands full. And what separates Demon's Souls from the rest of the pack even further is that when you die...the game becomes harder. Every time you die, the enemies get stronger, do more damage, have more health, and become harder to kill. Instead of toning the difficulty down for players who are having trouble staying alive, the game punishes you for not knowing what you are doing.

And here's the biggest unconventional aspect of Demon's Souls. The game saves every three seconds. So if you die, or take a wrong turn, or buy the wrong item, or kill an essential NPC, that change is permanent and cannot be reverted. The second you die the game saves that instance and you can never take it back. So buy an item you didn't want? Can't undo that. Kill a shopkeeper that sells certain items? You now have no source of those items for the rest of the entire game. Even if you kill an NPC by accident because you set the controller down to answer the phone and hit the attack button...the game saves EVERYTHING. All of your actions mean something in Demon's Souls.

As far as RPGs go I play many. I love video games, I love board games, I love fantasy elements and stories. Dragon Ages is good, Oblivion is good, Fallout is good, Diablo is good, and while Planescape Torment is great, there is nothing like Demon's Souls in terms of a raw challenge.

Give Demon's Souls a rent at least if you enjoy RPGs (it's PS3 exclusive though so you'll need one of those).

 

EmpNovA is right, best game of the year for a reason folks.

 

I completely agree. This game is incredible when it comes to combat and difficulty. It feels like you're really fighting i.e. a skeleton in real life. You wouldn't just stomp on it, you'd fight as if you could die right there right that moment... however...

As a full RPG title with all its aspects (Story, character development, combat mechanics, etc.) IN MY OPINION the game can't even smell Fallout's (not Fallout3!) or Torment's dick...
As a current gen RPG though, it's a must-play game, although it's for reasons completely different than the ones you'd play Dragon Age.
Dragon Age is about story, although there's lots of combat.
Fallout is like Oblivion, lots of exploration.

Every RPG has its dominant charactersitic and you can't do shit about it. You choose your RPGs based on which one you like (or if you like them all, like me, you enjoy every fucking one of them )

 

I play Lost Odyssey for the music, presentation and dream sequences.

The combat is pretty shallow, the storyline is good but not great and the character developement is decent. In fact, come to think of it, the story is in fact just character developement.

 

I played lost odyssey because it had REALLY WEIRD events that I haven't seen in an RPG before, like you find out you have grandkids and your daughter died, when has that ever happened in an RPG? You usually play as a single young guy, not an immortal who has had families..

and the dream sequences (which are amazing short stories) are the other main reason I bought the game.


Also, wow now I REALLY wanna play these older games O.O. theres not enough time in the day ugg
and you guys are REALLY making me want to play demons souls, it sounds like EXACTLY what i was looking for in a rpg but i dont have a ps3 ><

 

Shoulda said spoilers. That's the biggest twist in the whole first disc.

I like how the writers used such an overdone plot as amnesia to great effect.

it's one thing to find out your character's past but when your character has lived 1000 years then there is a whole lot more to uncover.

The character developement in Lost Odyssey is very well done. Also, I really liked the voice actors.

 

Hahaha, I had so much fun watching this review, I actually like the guy.

RazorFist - Rageaholic Dragon Age: Origins Review

 

That review makes me wanna pick up this game