Dragon Age reviews and press

[zerocool84]

Ugg I wish I had money for this game. Been wanting this one so bad.

 

[ZzZGuy]

An extremely restrictive form known as Steam. It often glitches out and prevents people from playing their lawfully owned games for several hours at a time, then randomly starts working again. People are already having trouble with it, but there is no consumer backlash against this DRM because the community fawns over the company that created it.

Ummm, no.

The steam version uses steam.

Other digital distributors such as Impulse seem to use a new from of DRM (to me at least) where you are required to connect to a EA/Bioware account and download content to allow the game to work when you first start the game after a fresh install (after the content is downloaded a internet connection is not required). There is a limit of 5 installs in a 24 hour period, something about having to wait 24 hours to play if you install on a second computer (eg, one account used to activate two installs at the same time), BUT you are not limited to X number of installs total. All DLC appears to require to use this DRM be it retail or digital verison.

The retail verison only has a CD check and does NOT use steam. So if you don't like CD checks get the digital version.

I do not know what software the DRM is but it isn't Securom as far as I can tell. None of this info is offical either, until news come out of the hard facts of what is on the various verison.

On another note, all verisons come with "The Stone Prisoner" & "Blood Dragon Armor" DLC, digtal "Delux" version includes "Warden's Keep" ($7USD) but the CE retail version does not (had physical items instead).

-edit- I have the retail (standard) version, so I can confirm there is no Steam on this version.

 

[Ackmed]

More trolling and lies from godless. Never would have though.

 

[Modelworks]

The company providing the D2Drive DRM uses Securom but not the CD check version of course. It is online activation. Enter your serial and it goes online and activates for that pc. After that you don't need online access. Think of it like activating windows OS when you install. Securom ddes not stay resident on the system running in the background.

http://www2.securom.com/Online-Activation.91.0.html

 

[Chriscross3234]

I've been reading/watching some reviews and I'm definitely going to buy this game. It's nice to see that Bioware didn't shaft it's PC Gamers like some other games (cough... Borderlands).

 

[BlueWeasel]

For someone completely new to Bioware RPG's, what's an older BioWare game that's recommended? I'm sure just yet I want to run out and spend $40-$50 for this game.

Mass effect is $20 bucks at Steam and Jade Empire is $15. I don't really enjoy the Star Wars games, so I'll pass on KOTOR 1/2. Baldur's Gate 2 is probably the closest to DAO but dated graphically.

Leaning toward ME out of those. Even though it's a completely different setting, will playing it let me decide if I enjoy BioWare's party-based RPGs?

 

[Tristicus]

Mass Effect was awesome...which reminds me for the 29499492th time I need to finish it. Wow how the hell am I going to finish DA:O...

 

[Kalmah]

For someone completely new to Bioware RPG's, what's an older BioWare game that's recommended? I'm sure just yet I want to run out and spend $40-$50 for this game.

Mass effect is $20 bucks at Steam and Jade Empire is $15. I don't really enjoy the Star Wars games, so I'll pass on KOTOR 1/2. Baldur's Gate 2 is probably the closest to DAO but dated graphically.

Leaning toward ME out of those. Even though it's a completely different setting, will playing it let me decide if I enjoy BioWare's party-based RPGs?

Baldur's gate has options to extend the screen resolution rather large. The higher resolutions are marked as unsupported, but they work fine. It is an old and very awesome epic game. The pre-rendered graphics don't really seem that dated though to be honest.

If you play this I reccomend that you get both baldur's gate 1 and baldurs gate 2. Then download a program called "baldur's gate TUTU' which allows you to play BG1 in the BG2 engine. You'll be playing it for months.

Nothing matches bg in epicness.

Mass Affect is a damn good game as well. But it's from Baldur's Gate where Bioware got their original fame.

 

[gizbug]

Just took out the boss in the tower. Only took 2 1/2 hours of play time. Good game so far.

 

[Chriscross3234]

For someone completely new to Bioware RPG's, what's an older BioWare game that's recommended? I'm sure just yet I want to run out and spend $40-$50 for this game.

Mass effect is $20 bucks at Steam and Jade Empire is $15. I don't really enjoy the Star Wars games, so I'll pass on KOTOR 1/2. Baldur's Gate 2 is probably the closest to DAO but dated graphically.

Leaning toward ME out of those. Even though it's a completely different setting, will playing it let me decide if I enjoy BioWare's party-based RPGs?

Honestly, if you're looking to enjoy a true party-based RPG, go with Baldur's Gate 2. ME never truly incorporated the party-based combat mechanics and dynamic party-based dialogues that was seen in BG2 and what is expected of in DA:O. If you're worried about the dated graphics, just make sure you grab the widescreen mod for BG2, it definitely helps a ton.

With that said, anyone think this game is living up to the name of "BG2's spiritual successor"?

 

[Zenoth]

For someone completely new to Bioware RPG's, what's an older BioWare game that's recommended? I'm sure just yet I want to run out and spend $40-$50 for this game.

Mass effect is $20 bucks at Steam and Jade Empire is $15. I don't really enjoy the Star Wars games, so I'll pass on KOTOR 1/2. Baldur's Gate 2 is probably the closest to DAO but dated graphically.

Leaning toward ME out of those. Even though it's a completely different setting, will playing it let me decide if I enjoy BioWare's party-based RPGs?

Go with Mass Effect, best game of its type in many years, if not the very best.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Go with Mass Effect, best game of its type in many years, if not the very best.

for an action-rpg with party elements, it's great. for an rpg designed around party play, it pales in comparison to BG2, namely because you barely control your party members (and that control is spotty at best). I still thoroughly enjoyed myself, so I would definitely recommend it.

NWN2 is much better, IMO, for a modern, party-based RPG (DA:O withstanding)

that being said, you will be hard pressed to find someone who *won't* recommend BG2. It's one of the very best RPGs ever made.

 

[Spoooon]

So far so good. The blood is sort of over the top though. What I'd like to see is someone wipe their mouth or face off after a battle.

 

[smackababy]

Honestly, if you're looking to enjoy a true party-based RPG, go with Baldur's Gate 2. ME never truly incorporated the party-based combat mechanics and dynamic party-based dialogues that was seen in BG2 and what is expected of in DA:O. If you're worried about the dated graphics, just make sure you grab the widescreen mod for BG2, it definitely helps a ton.

With that said, anyone think this game is living up to the name of "BG2's spiritual successor"?

I remember the early videos of ME showed combat like that. If it had been more RPG and less action, it would have be one of the best games I'd ever played.

 

[mwmorph]

No more spoilers, figured it out

 

[masterxfob]

Thats exactly what I want, but I dont think it will happen. Given that the original team of BG1 and 2 got scattered to the winds a long time ago, I dont think we will ever again see quite the same gameplay.

NWN2 with the latest patches comes close, but not perfect.

i was so disappointed by NWN, that i never got around to trying NWN2. i bought it, so i suppose i should give it a try.

 

[coreyb]

<sarcasm>I'm shocked, SHOCKED that Steam is having technical troubles that are locking people out of their own games. Shocked!</sarcasm>

This is par for the course with Steam.

Hater. I've never had a problem with steam nor has any of my friends. If this is such a common event then explain how it hasn't effected any of us yet?

steam rocks

 

[Mem]

Hater. I've never had a problem with steam nor has any of my friends. If this is such a common event then explain how it hasn't effected any of us yet?

steam rocks

Steam is fine in general,been years(back in the early days) when Steam gave me any issues,however I prefer retail box with all the goodies etc...digital download is fine if you want to save space ,however it does not feel like you own a real game if you know what I mean.

 

[alcoholbob]

My computer has never crashed before stop hating on Microsoft.

 

[BrownShoes]

Played a few hours last night and am liking it so far. The graphics aren't hi-res but, to be honest, I think they are good enough. At least I'm not sitting there going, damn, this sucks.
Looking forward to putting some time into the game this weekend. Let's hear it for decent RPGs.

 

[nanobreath]

For someone completely new to Bioware RPG's, what's an older BioWare game that's recommended? I'm sure just yet I want to run out and spend $40-$50 for this game.

Mass effect is $20 bucks at Steam and Jade Empire is $15. I don't really enjoy the Star Wars games, so I'll pass on KOTOR 1/2. Baldur's Gate 2 is probably the closest to DAO but dated graphically.

Leaning toward ME out of those. Even though it's a completely different setting, will playing it let me decide if I enjoy BioWare's party-based RPGs?

Mass effect is a good game, but it is not a good approximation of what Dragon Age is. In order to get an idea of what Dragon Age is play Baldurs Gate. You can set dragon age up so that it is similar to Mass Effect gameplay, but it centers a lot more around really controlling your whole party, not just one character. There is an AI system very similar to what FFXII used, except you don't have to collect the damn gambits slowly as you play the game. All the AI selections are there, and you start off with two possible AI slots and get more as you level.


One thing I really like so far about dragon age that was difficult for them in BG is that they are not restricted by the DnD license. All the rules, abilities, spells, and game play was developed to be a computer game.

With that said, anyone think this game is living up to the name of "BG2's spiritual successor"?

I have no idea how close it will come to BG atm, I only played through the start for a dwarven noble. I played as a rogue and it was quite fun. I died thrice. Once was because I was screwing with the AI selections and everybody was randomly switching targets, so nothing was getting focused down and I got my ass handed to me. Second was when I was solo and ran into 4 mobs that quickly ate me for lunch. Taught me to stealth. Third time was to that same group of 4 mobs when I was on the last one because I was too stingy with my health potion. Figured I could live without using one...oops. I also learned to run behind things after you stun them...it actually helps! It's nice to have strategy involved in the killing, not just assigning everybody a mob and sitting back while they finish killing.

Speaking of AI selections, what is everybody else using? So far I've put them as:
1. CharactersTarget(Pick the name of that character)->Attack.
2. ClosestEnemey-> Attack.

This made it so that if they currently have a target, they always attack that target. This way when I assign them something to kill they don't switch to a differnt one, and if it's dead they auto select the next closest mob and attack it. As I get more selections I'll probably add in some healing selections.

 

[BrownShoes]

**Spoilers**




I've really gotten into it, but I'm stuck on the sloth puzzle, can anyone do a walk through for the sloth abomination entire dream area thing? I have mouse and spirit forms ATM, but havent fought anything that can be called a boss.

**Spoilers end**

You mean at the Harrowing?

 

[fatpat268]

Mass Effect was awesome...which reminds me for the 29499492th time I need to finish it. Wow how the hell am I going to finish DA:O...

No kidding, I bought the game at launch, but I keep putting it off for some reason.

I'll start the game, get sidetracked with another game, and then I'll come back to ME and I'll start over again because I forget what I have to do in the game.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

How well would Dragon Age run on a two-year old system, with an Intel C2D 6600 @ 2.66ghz, a BFG 8800GT 512 MB, 4GB DDR2-800 and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit? I play at 1680x1050 resolution, and would probably keep AA/AF at a minimum...probably 2x-4x, tops.

 

[crownjules]

How well would Dragon Age run on a two-year old system, with an Intel C2D 6600 @ 2.66ghz, a BFG 8800GT 512 MB, 4GB DDR2-800 and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit? I play at 1680x1050 resolution, and would probably keep AA/AF at a minimum...probably 2x-4x, tops.

Fine. My system is almost exactly (I have an E8400 @ 3.5GHz) the same and I run it on the highest settings. This is not a cutting edge graphics engine.