- Joined
- Aug 9, 2009
- Messages
- 283
NOTICE: This review is based on the demo and not the actual game. The actual review of the game will be up March 8th.
So, today Dragon Age 2 Demo was released and I got a good look at it. This is somewhat my first attempt at being a professional critic so bear with me. I like to separate the game into certain categories, placing my own unique critques on each, much like IGN and Gameinformer. Also, this is the PC version review.
Graphics: First off, if you're a Directx 11-user, you immediately have the options of having High to Very High Graphic settings. But that doesnt mean it'll look ugly for DirectX 9 users. I have Directx 9 on my XP and was forced to play with medium settings. And it still looks gorgeous. Characters aren't lifeless statues anymore with just mouths moving, with emotions being clearly shown, and there is plenty of fast-paced action to gaze at. It certainly is no Mass Effect, but still holds the unque feeling that is of Dragon Age lore. Models have improved tremendously (especially with the case for Flemeth) and battles have never gone faster and smoother.
Sound: With the addition of the main character having a voice now, the game still sounds beautiful. The voice acting is pretty spot-on (I especially love Varric's) and the music is what'd you expect from DA. There are at times sound cuts but this may be due to my sound card or because its a demo.
Gameplay: And here's the important part. If you played DA: Origins, then you'll immediately recognize the faster pace in combat. Hawke responds well and your allies are actually very smart. However, the gameplay is more forced in terms of interactivity. Though it is still that point-and-click combat system, you have to manually control your character to make him target various enemies. This is probably a nod towards console users. Abilities are especially more useful, especially for mages. There is a dialouge change, switching from a list to a wheel like Mass Effect which isn't a bad thing. I still love the idea of leaving out a moral system, like Paragon/Renegade. Overall, the combat is dumbed down and is quite obvious to be more action-focused, leaving strategy gamers to be very disappointed, but it's not extremely terrible enough to ignore the game.
Story: If you dont know the story for DA:II then there is no reason for you to be reading this. It's very original and suspenseful even in the first few minutes. Focusing the story to shape your character rather than hunting down and killing some giant demon or something is a very unique concept and is actually well done within the first five minutes. The story also holds a "strange" narrative to the RPG realm, being something that resembles The Princess Bride movie (story within a story).
Overall: The demo highlighted a lot of the game's contents, even with a lot of it blocked. It's faster, smoother, more fun, and has that sense of badass-ery to it. The gameplay has been bogged down for the action gamers, but dont let that hold you back. DA:II is very fun and enthralling and holds an original concept that mixes the old with the new. All I have to say is that the demo cannot make the wait seem any longer than it was before.
SCORE: 9.5/10
So, today Dragon Age 2 Demo was released and I got a good look at it. This is somewhat my first attempt at being a professional critic so bear with me. I like to separate the game into certain categories, placing my own unique critques on each, much like IGN and Gameinformer. Also, this is the PC version review.
Graphics: First off, if you're a Directx 11-user, you immediately have the options of having High to Very High Graphic settings. But that doesnt mean it'll look ugly for DirectX 9 users. I have Directx 9 on my XP and was forced to play with medium settings. And it still looks gorgeous. Characters aren't lifeless statues anymore with just mouths moving, with emotions being clearly shown, and there is plenty of fast-paced action to gaze at. It certainly is no Mass Effect, but still holds the unque feeling that is of Dragon Age lore. Models have improved tremendously (especially with the case for Flemeth) and battles have never gone faster and smoother.
Sound: With the addition of the main character having a voice now, the game still sounds beautiful. The voice acting is pretty spot-on (I especially love Varric's) and the music is what'd you expect from DA. There are at times sound cuts but this may be due to my sound card or because its a demo.
Gameplay: And here's the important part. If you played DA: Origins, then you'll immediately recognize the faster pace in combat. Hawke responds well and your allies are actually very smart. However, the gameplay is more forced in terms of interactivity. Though it is still that point-and-click combat system, you have to manually control your character to make him target various enemies. This is probably a nod towards console users. Abilities are especially more useful, especially for mages. There is a dialouge change, switching from a list to a wheel like Mass Effect which isn't a bad thing. I still love the idea of leaving out a moral system, like Paragon/Renegade. Overall, the combat is dumbed down and is quite obvious to be more action-focused, leaving strategy gamers to be very disappointed, but it's not extremely terrible enough to ignore the game.
Story: If you dont know the story for DA:II then there is no reason for you to be reading this. It's very original and suspenseful even in the first few minutes. Focusing the story to shape your character rather than hunting down and killing some giant demon or something is a very unique concept and is actually well done within the first five minutes. The story also holds a "strange" narrative to the RPG realm, being something that resembles The Princess Bride movie (story within a story).
Overall: The demo highlighted a lot of the game's contents, even with a lot of it blocked. It's faster, smoother, more fun, and has that sense of badass-ery to it. The gameplay has been bogged down for the action gamers, but dont let that hold you back. DA:II is very fun and enthralling and holds an original concept that mixes the old with the new. All I have to say is that the demo cannot make the wait seem any longer than it was before.
SCORE: 9.5/10
