Does Dragon Age Inquisition get better?

[cmdrdredd]

I enjoyed the game a lot when I played it not long after it launched. It's interesting to shape the world around your inquisitor and do all the quests your companions offer. That's just me though, I like the character interaction.

 

[desura]

Screw it. I'm returning the game. It's so heavy and plodding and boring with you as the leader of this mass movement from the beginning.

I swear, Bioware games suck when they hit the 3rd act. The 2nd act is great, but the 3rd always sucks. My favorite Mass Effect game was the 2nd also.

Crap, can't return, only 24 hour window. Oh well.

 

[Sonikku]

KOTOR was pretty sweet in its third act...

Though that was before EA.

 

[desura]

KOTOR was pretty sweet in its third act...

Though that was before EA.

No, 3rd KOTOR game was SWTOR.

 

[dmoney1980]

I played and finished all 3, have to say I'm surprised someone mentioning DA 2 as favored over 3. The constant random mob drops from thin air, recycled dungeons, and lack of options for follower gear drove many gamers mad. I did like the combat mechanics but that's about it. I thought DA 3 was great, perhaps maybe too much scale which led to lengthy missions at times.

 

[NoSoup4You]

DA2 was the worst in the series by far, so if you liked that one then you're probably not going to like DA:I much. DA:I doesn't really change at all so just be prepared for that. As others have mentioned, don't try to clear the Hinterlands before moving on to a new zone. Sadly I did this and it was a real joykill... but it's not at all necessary and I ended up over leveled for some of the story missions which made them too easy/boring.

DA2 was like a quasi-Mass Effect set in medieval times, if you haven't tried that series then check it out as it may be more of what you're looking for... although set in space.

 

[desura]

DA2 was the best because of the story where you're scraping by for your family. There was also a cool quest where you have to help a shy girl court her crush. It felt more real that way.

DAI they're talking about high-minded stuff that I just cannot get myself to care about. There's none of the immediacy of DA2 left, it's so impersonal and self-important.

DA:O I had serious problems with too, and Awakening was really bad IMO, but the character of Morrigan was pretty great. It was an intro to the world so it gets some slack.

 

[Midwayman]

I know I spent way too much time in the starter area trying to run down every last quest. Just move on with the story missions it does pick up after a little bit. I really wish they had kinda pushed the story along early game.

 

[desura]

I'm a bit further in now.

Yeah, still negative impressions.

My next complaint: too much lore text. Worst laziest game design is putting in lore to be read in a video game. This stuff needs to be narrated with a voice actor.

Next to zero party banter or reaction during conversation. Still in Hinterlands, combat amounts to hitting the attack button until all enemies are dead while hitting other ability buttons while cooldowns expire. Character models look interesting like they might have interesting interactions, but they don't do or say anything.

 

[bystander36]

I'm a bit further in now.

Yeah, still negative impressions.

My next complaint: too much lore text. Worst laziest game design is putting in lore to be read in a video game. This stuff needs to be narrated with a voice actor.

Next to zero party banter or reaction during conversation. Still in Hinterlands, combat amounts to hitting the attack button until all enemies are dead while hitting other ability buttons while cooldowns expire. Character models look interesting like they might have interesting interactions, but they don't do or say anything.

All RPG's have lore to read, if you want to, but is completely optional. It's "lore", and there are people who like to read that stuff. Just ignore it if you don't.

And as has been mentioned many times by others, if you want to enjoy the game, don't spend too much time in the Hinterlands. Move on. Do the main story quests and most past it. The game doesn't take off until after you close the main rift.

Banter doesn't take off until you start to know the characters, which requires you to push the story a little.

 

[bystander36]

And I'll add this last thought for you. You sound as if you don't want to like the game, or give it a chance. If you don't want to play it, quit now, but until you've got the main story rolling, you really have no idea with the game is like.

 

[desura]

Update: beat the game recently.

I enjoyed it. Especially when the Mage gets that fireworks ability.

My earlier complaints are still valid I believe, and Dragon Age 2 has better combat for Melee characters and tactically. But on its own terms, the frostbite engine allows for some really great and expansive maps, larger and more intricate than any other game engine. The story was pretty neat too, kind of high concept and not as intimate as DA2, but still pretty interesting in the end.

Overall, pretty good. Easily better than Origins. Different from DA2. The review scores are on the mark for this one.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I enjoyed it also. It's no Witcher 3, but quite fun. If you haven't already, I'd suggest you play the Trespasser DLC as that has some important plot points.

 

[xantub]

DAO1 > DAO2 > DAO3 in my case.

 

[bystander36]

DAO1 > DAO2 > DAO3 in my case.

I'd put DA3 slightly higher than DA2 personally. DAO was the best though, but they all had things I preferred over the others.

 

[sweenish]

DA:I's worst offense is gating the story missions. It has a large, beautiful world. The characters are all pretty well fleshed out. But the majority of the game is a single player MMO with clunky combat and endless fetch quests that apparently have to be completed by none other than the Inquisitor.

All the emptiness of an MMO (and you're alone to boot), all the tedium of an RTS (with no automation to be seen), the bulk of your "RP'ing" is all the worst stuff the genre has to offer, and bad combat. I would have liked more of a "base-building" approach. Instead of the Inquisitor mining copper ore, set up supply lines, grow your influence, make deals, etc.

I do like the story and the larger side quests. Falls on the wrong side of mixed for me.

 

[Raduque]

Banter doesn't take off until you start to know the characters, which requires you to push the story a little.

There's also a bug that breaks party banter.

 

[zerocool84]

DA:I's worst offense is gating the story missions. It has a large, beautiful world. The characters are all pretty well fleshed out. But the majority of the game is a single player MMO with clunky combat and endless fetch quests that apparently have to be completed by none other than the Inquisitor.

All the emptiness of an MMO (and you're alone to boot), all the tedium of an RTS (with no automation to be seen), the bulk of your "RP'ing" is all the worst stuff the genre has to offer, and bad combat. I would have liked more of a "base-building" approach. Instead of the Inquisitor mining copper ore, set up supply lines, grow your influence, make deals, etc.

I do like the story and the larger side quests. Falls on the wrong side of mixed for me.

This is pretty much how I felt too. I loved Origins, never played 2 and got bored of Inquisition because of how tedious it all felt. If they would have streamlined the quests it would have been much better for me. The Witcher 3 did side quests right.

 

[desura]

This is pretty much how I felt too. I loved Origins, never played 2 and got bored of Inquisition because of how tedious it all felt. If they would have streamlined the quests it would have been much better for me. The Witcher 3 did side quests right.

I'm actually making pretty good time on the second play through. If you're focused you can get through the main story missions pretty quickly with a minimum of side questing.

 

[desura]

Anyone else irritated that they don't get the look of Hawke right? This is a digital game, and yet Hawke looks pretty generic and not as distinctive as in DA2.

Also, who are the best companions for into the abyss? First play through I just brought whoever. I figure Cole and Solas are the best to take there...leaving a third.

 

[TallBill]

Never finished it... Loved DAO though.

 

[gothamhunter]

Still playing it through and I enjoy it quite a lot. I think the banter being good or not depends on your party. Having Sera and Vivienne in the same party is hilarious. God they hate each other.

Also playing on nightmare, so it's more than just pressing X to win.

 

[desura]

There is definitely less dialogue than in DA2. Less personality overall as well. You would hear Aveline shouting in DA2 all the time, stuff like that. And in DA2 every time you went out with a new combination you heard something new.

Still, I really like the party system. I've played some of Skyrim and it's so solitary it's hard to get into.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Inquisition was one of the first games I played once I got my GTX 970 back in 2014. I really enjoy open world action RPGs and thought the game was excellent. It's also beautiful graphically, I love the lighting and the way your armor shines. I thought the different areas were all really large and interesting to explore. A few of the dragon fights were really difficult, the rest of the game was a little easy, and some of the bugs were frustrating, but overall it's one of my favorite games of the last few years.

 

[desura]

Hmm, so I've run into a problem where I'm out of game pad space for abilities. Is there a way to get more? There are the four and then the alt key for another four, but beyond that I'm stuck.

I do feel like the game could have been more. Like, how tough would it be for archers to aim and have arrow drop? That would have made it more interesting.

Oh, and spoilers, anyone want Solas to succeed? The only interesting parts of the game are where they're in the fade. Orlesian court culture is annoying, the Qunari and single-minded, it looks like a lousy world full of inequality and injustice and violence. Take out the magic and it is pretty boring and stuffy.