Dragon Age: Inquisition

[Tick]

 

My excitement is tempered by all the things we don't know about and likely won't until it is released. Even Mass Effect 3 seemed like it would have been good going by what they were willing to reveal.

Mass Effect 3 was good.

 

A bad ending might keep something from being excellent, but it doesn't make the entire game bad.

 

That said, between ME 2, DA 2, and ME 3, I've come to the conclusion that BioWare has forgotten how to do good endings.

 

A BSN guy I saw a while back made a great point about that. They made an exercise of fixing the ending (going off memory): You could only write and change within the last few minutes, either while chasing the teleport beam or just after getting at the Citadel, and you can only use the original elements of the ending and/or whatever elements were built up in the game before that point.

 

The problems of the ending is partly a consequence of the game/series, which kept changing direction in tone and focus and giving itself plot holes. It's pretty impossible for a writer earn a proper ending in ME3. They could have made it less galaxy-destroying and more based on TIM, they could have given the player a medal scene, but it still wouldn't be a good ending in the way it should be. Though, admittedly, I'd take a "Reapers die" button over the buttons given.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

I disliked Mass Effect 3 because of the incredibly linear level design, the plot was too predictable, and it felt that there was more cinematics than gameplay. I'll wait and see for DAI, but I'm somewhat expecting bad level design and too heavy of a cinematic focus to degrade the game for my tastes.

[Orogun01]

Today's video: Exploring the World of Dragon Age: Inquisition.

 

 

As I speculated previously, it's not Skyrim or Kingdoms of Amalur level 'open world.' It's more like the original BG.

 

I view this as a positive.

 

 

I'm still holding  my breath on their promise that they will allow the player to take fortresses, it's incredible how little these videos actually reveal about the game. That said, the level design seems to be a step up from the previous entries in the series.

[Maria Caliban]

@NKKKK

 

You liked the ending of ME 2? I found the idea that the Reapers were liquifying people to make a giant Reaper baby both went against my basic understanding of genetics and didn't fit in with what we learned of Reapers in first game. And the final boss battle didn't do anything for me.

 

If you mean ME 2 as a whole though, I found it very satisfying. The story structure, the building up of your forces to survive the suicide run, the companions themselves, the improvement in areas, the change to more FPS style combat, and it being the 'darker' second part of the trilogy all worked for me.

 

As for Weekes being lead writer, I think he lacks seniority and I think being lead is as much a managerial position as a it is a creative one. I'd also suggest that a number of the problems with the ME 3 ending had to do with the series as a whole.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Maria Caliban

[GhostofAnakin]

I think the problem with the ME3 ending was they tried to be too smart for their own good, but don't have the talent to pull off the kind of ... philosophical/complex ending they came up with.

 

The BioWare games with the most satisfying conclusions are the ones that tended to be more straightforward.  They didn't tend to try and blow peoples minds.  ME3's ending was an attempt to show the world they could be "deep" like the top authors in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, but the problem is Bio's writers have the talent that's the equivalent of young adult novel writers.

[lobotomy42]

I disliked Mass Effect 3 because of the incredibly linear level design, the plot was too predictable, and it felt that there was more cinematics than gameplay. I'll wait and see for DAI, but I'm somewhat expecting bad level design and too heavy of a cinematic focus to degrade the game for my tastes.

 

But you felt okay with these things in Mass Effect 2? ME2/3 are very similar in this regard: lots of one-off, linear levels, with some limited choice in what order to approach them, and lots and lots of special movies.  It was a step back from ME1, IMO, but I didn't feel a significant difference between 2 and 3.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

 

I disliked Mass Effect 3 because of the incredibly linear level design, the plot was too predictable, and it felt that there was more cinematics than gameplay. I'll wait and see for DAI, but I'm somewhat expecting bad level design and too heavy of a cinematic focus to degrade the game for my tastes.

 

 

But you felt okay with these things in Mass Effect 2?

No. ME2 was much less enjoyable for me than ME.

[NOK222]

I think the problem with the ME3 ending was they tried to be too smart for their own good, but don't have the talent to pull off the kind of ... philosophical/complex ending they came up with.

 

The BioWare games with the most satisfying conclusions are the ones that tended to be more straightforward.  They didn't tend to try and blow peoples minds.  ME3's ending was an attempt to show the world they could be "deep" like the top authors in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, but the problem is Bio's writers have the talent that's the equivalent of young adult novel writers.

But-but LGBT issues!

[Azarkon]

Bioware games never deal in depth with LGBT issues. This is rather irritating when you think about the Dark Ages setting they have for DA, complete with religious orthodoxy, persecution of other races and beliefs, etc. But when it comes to gender and sexuality, it's downtown SF.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Azarkon

[NOK222]

Well. Let's break this down. 

 

Andraste never said anything about Homosexuality, she was more about "Hey, these mages are being ****". the Chantry forms in Orlais, Orlais is about as sexually deviant as the old romans were IRL. The Chantry is in Orlais. The Chantry never outlawed homosexuality. 

 

In Orlais homosexuality is accepted. In Fereldan, it's not outlawed, but people see sodomites as "odd". No, they don't go in depth, and they shouldn't. 

Edited August 21, 2013 by NKKKK

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

I like my sodomy to have plenty of depth.

[AGX-17]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/08/21/so-i-am-feeling-cautiously-optimistic-about-dragon-age/#more-165514

 

Guys sorry if this video in the article has been posted before but if you haven't seen it you really need to watch it. I will be really surprised if anyone isn't really excited after watching it

Because of the possible prospect of torture?

 

 

I like my sodomy to have plenty of depth.

Edited August 21, 2013 by AGX-17

[HoonDing]

Careful, calling homosexuality sodomy is no longer politically correct.

[Azarkon]

Well. Let's break this down. 

 

Andraste never said anything about Homosexuality, she was more about "Hey, these mages are being ****". the Chantry forms in Orlais, Orlais is about as sexually deviant as the old romans were IRL. The Chantry is in Orlais. The Chantry never outlawed homosexuality. 

 

In Orlais homosexuality is accepted. In Fereldan, it's not outlawed, but people see sodomites as "odd". No, they don't go in depth, and they shouldn't. 

 

That's just game lore designed to justify a higher level design decision - to not explore gender/sexuality issues at all. Saying Bioware explores LGBT issues is equivalent to saying Gears of War explores the effects of violence.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Azarkon

[Sargallath Abraxium]

...feels like I's gonna git turned inta a pillar o' salt jus' fer readin' these last two pages...What would Jebus do??...

 

 

...WHO LUVS YA, BABY!!...

[Orogun01]

Careful, calling homosexuality sodomy is no longer politically correct.

But being politically correct is no longer cool, so it all evens out.

[Elerond]

Careful, calling homosexuality sodomy is no longer politically correct.

 

Sodomy means all sexual acts that don't aim to procreation. Which is thing that many people forget when they shout their bible references.

[Tick]

 

Careful, calling homosexuality sodomy is no longer politically correct.

 

Sodomy means all sexual acts that don't aim to procreation. Which is thing that many people forget when they shout their bible references.

 

I'm pretty sure some people had the intent to procreate when committing sodomy laws, however...

Humans and elves, asari and everything else.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Tick

[NOK222]

Careful, calling homosexuality sodomy is no longer politically correct.

 

I was being cheeky. Although this is a serious issue in a county in the U.S. where a crazed sheriff was recently arresting people for "sodomy". 

 

Now then. Here's another pic.

 

[Volourn]

"That said, between ME 2, DA 2, and ME 3, I've come to the conclusion that BioWare has forgotten how to do good endings."

 

ME2's ending was fantastic.

 

 

DA2's ending could have been way better. No doubt about it.

 

This so called BIO 'fanboy' hasn't even finished ME3 so haven't perosnally experienced ME3 ending but what I've seen from the whining is the whining is over the top stupidity.
 

[Orogun01]

 

 

Careful, calling homosexuality sodomy is no longer politically correct.

 

Sodomy means all sexual acts that don't aim to procreation. Which is thing that many people forget when they shout their bible references.

 

I'm pretty sure some people had the intent to procreate when committing sodomy laws, however...

Humans and elves, asari and everything else.

 

I don't know how much biology they knew back in the Middle Ages but babies don't come out of a poop chute no matter what you shove in there. At some point it must have become evident. Unless you're Irish sodomy meant unnatural sex for pleasure.

[Hurlshort]

I just finished the 3rd DA book, Asunder.  I think it was the best one yet, it was a nice mix of some new characters and some old, and it had a good pace.  Gaider has improved as a writer as he's gone along.  It is still pretty standard fantasy, but there were a few decent surprises mixed in.  Also it seems to be a pretty big stage setter for the 3rd game.

[Rhamnetin]

"That said, between ME 2, DA 2, and ME 3, I've come to the conclusion that BioWare has forgotten how to do good endings."

 

ME2's ending was fantastic.

 

 

DA2's ending could have been way better. No doubt about it.

 

This so called BIO 'fanboy' hasn't even finished ME3 so haven't perosnally experienced ME3 ending but what I've seen from the whining is the whining is over the top stupidity.

 

 

Agreed, ME2 had a cool ending and the last mission of the game was just one of the best things ever.  Except for that boss fight of course.  That's where Bioware started to devolve.  ME3 didn't have any dumb boss fights thankfully, but ME2 and DA2...  

 

I see where most of the hate comes from about ME3's ending, but I find it to be really exaggerated.  Most people don't like how the choices provided to you at the end are unaffected by all of the choices you've made throughout all three games (which isn't 100% true but close enough).  I for one saw this coming.  

Edited August 22, 2013 by Rhamnetin

[licketysplit]

"That said, between ME 2, DA 2, and ME 3, I've come to the conclusion that BioWare has forgotten how to do good endings."

 

ME2's ending was fantastic.

 

 

 

 

No it wasn't. It leapt with reckless abandon into camp territory with the Franken-Reaper and Collectors. The entire plot was an an unfortunate diversion from the main premise set up in ME1. ME2 was all about characters, and it was very good on that level. But it's where **** started to go downhill.

Edited August 22, 2013 by licketysplit

[BruceVC]

 

"That said, between ME 2, DA 2, and ME 3, I've come to the conclusion that BioWare has forgotten how to do good endings."

 

ME2's ending was fantastic.

 

 

DA2's ending could have been way better. No doubt about it.

 

This so called BIO 'fanboy' hasn't even finished ME3 so haven't perosnally experienced ME3 ending but what I've seen from the whining is the whining is over the top stupidity.

 

 

Agreed, ME2 had a cool ending and the last mission of the game was just one of the best things ever.  I see where most of the hate comes from about ME3's ending, but I find it to be really exaggerated.  Most people don't like how the choices provided to you at the end are unaffected by all of the choices you've made throughout all three games (which isn't 100% true but close enough).  I for one saw this coming.  

 

 

I'm confused? Are you saying that the choices in the previous ME didn't make a difference in the final outcome of the last game?