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Thoughts on DA2 :)
Posted by: Cesque
14:04:49 03-15-2007

Long time no see. It actually took Colin to let me know that DA2 is acutally available for download, and it took me a few more weeks to actually download it. Deep somewhere I feel shame that I didn't actually buy DA2, but who knows, maybe in a few years I'll satisfy my need to show support for the "ridiculous projects of Xorlak".

Anyway, I didn't beat DA2 yet, and so far I'm after the transformation / Raze battle, but I think I'll share a bit of my thoughts on the game so far.

Honestly, my general impression was dissappointment towards what I have envisioned earlier, in terms of the game world (and plot). Maybe I'm just getting older (heh...). The game simply doesn't let you feel that its world is huge - let's face it, beside Drena there's only one bigger "surviving" town I've visited (the one with coliseum), and most of the action takes place in Drena anyway. Note that while it's not generally bad, it kind of ruins the idea I had up to the "demo end" point in the game. DA1 had some more, hmm, world-travel.

On the other hand, the plot gives the game an overally dark feeling (much darker than in original DA). The moment you realise that Darken pretty much controls all the world and there's no escape from him, the game world begins to seem alien and sinister. It's a pretty unique thing, compared to all these RPGs where the villain's evil influence is limited to his tower.

In terms of gameplay, the game is great, including the lovely level-up system (I play as a water-elemental mage, by the way). Still, hacking through code and all ;), I think there are some weaknesses, e.g. improving "Tech" skill only learns new moves and doesn't affect current ones as far as I know, so there's little difference between having 46 and 54 points (again, as far as I know / believe / see it).

In any case, it's certainly a great game, and maybe my expectations are too far-fetched. Or maybe I didn't see everything yet. But it's good to see a game this addictive, or hear that you have DA3 in plans :P

"Xorlak is the most powerful, evil, vile and feared dark wizard known to man!"
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