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I also feel like I need to mention just how truly excellent the music for the game is. There is one cut scene in particular where the music really jumped out at me as being SOOOO well done - you and other wounded survivors are gathered around a fire in a make shift camp trying to figure out what to do. The mood is somber and hopeless. I mean, things are terrifyingly bleak.
Then, quietly, a revered mother begins singing a simple song, The Dawn Will Come. People slowly join in until, with a swell, the whole camp is singing. IT'S SO FREAKING GOOD YOU GUYS! AAAAGH!
Besides the emotional heft it can carry, the music's also good because it's rarely something that screams for attention and forces its way to the foreground. For instance, during my initial wanderings of the hinterlands, I stumbled into a ravine where I could make a camp. After doing so, I went out the other side and discovered a bunch of drakes in the valley.
When my party was suddenly engulfed in flames and a shadow swept over the screen, I panned the camera up and my jaw dropped. So began a long and desperate battle trying to kill the drakes without getting cooked from on high.
When it was over and the music calmed down, I'd realized that I didn't notice the music had gotten so intense. I also didn't realize that I was sitting bolt upright in my chair and had been chewing my lip with amusing determination. The tactical map can, for me, really take a lot of the tension out of fights as I can calmly sweep and pan and execute well crafted strategies without much immediate worry. But the music, the music totally drew me in in that moment and when I escaped with my life afterward with a cart load of scales and dragon blood from the drakes, I thought, "Dang. This is a freaking good game. Shoot."
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I'm really enjoying the character interaction. The dialogue options are nicely varied and interesting, and you no longer have to deal with your party members suddenly deciding to tell you their backstory at random while you're traveling. I was pleasantly surprised during a conversation with Cassandra at Haven when she suddenly started asking my character questions about her background. I hadn't expected that.
I've read several reviews of the game that commented on how expansive it feels, and I agree. Skyrim does feel small by comparison. Perhaps it's the variety of terrain, but the world feels like a world even if your character can't travel to every part of it. I'm also enjoying assigning missions at the War Table more than I thought I would.
Also, the dragons in DAI are badass. A DAI dragon could eat five Skyrim dragons for breakfast.
Things I don't like:
Your character gets the same starting costume no matter what race or class you choose. It would be nice if they offered a couple of apparel options based on one of those variables (for example, one costume for each basic class, or one costume for each race). Alternatively, they could provide a standard outfit but let your pick your costume color.
I wish Qunari were gray like all the concept art I've seen, instead of having basically the same complexion options as all the other races.
I don't like the tactical view in combat. It takes me out of the moment and I find it hard to see what's happening in that mode. But fortunately it's optional so I don't have to use it.
I have slain a HIGH
Whew! Whattafight! Took every healing potion, every lyrium potion, and every regen potion I had and I still had two party members go down and stay down before the dragon was finally defeated.
What a satisfying and rewarding challenge, too! WHOOOOOOOO!
@Krensky - and Bull's celebratory chat at the tavern afterward was hilarious =)
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I have slain a HIGH
Whew! Whattafight! Took every healing potion, every lyrium potion, and every regen potion I had and I still had two party members go down and stay down before the dragon was finally defeated.
What a satisfying and rewarding challenge, too! WHOOOOOOOO!
@Krensky - and Bull's celebratory chat at the tavern afterward was hilarious =)
Yeah, Dragon fights are pretty epic in this game. Of course, imho dragon fights should be epic! I also enjoyed the first few times I ran into a giant or two as well.
Dire elf's mention of the variety of terrain making the game feel very expansive is right on the money. You feel like you are traveling across a continent because you see the seashore, plains, forests, snow capped mountains, cities, etc.
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So I am now playing through ME3 for the first time. Despite starting in a way that didn't really work for me, the game is now in full swing and is simply amazing.
One thing I don't really like in it though is that a lot of the dialog is taken away from the player - Shepard would often talk without me having any control over what he is saying, and when there ARE options, they are trimmed down to 2 instead of 3. Granted the middle option is not often chosen in past games, but it sometimes is and having it there makes me feel more free to choose what I say.
How is DA:I in that regard? how is the dialog executed?
From what I've played thus far...similar.
Sometimes more options, but often your character doesn't say what you think they are going to say, and occasionally for me, have stated the exact opposite.
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Playing on Xbox 360. Really, really enjoying the game.
Female Dwarf Rogue named Goldie Cadash. My one problem is I chose the American female voice and during general conversations her inflection can be a bit... Dull, like the voice artist thought she was recording the voice for the machine you get when you call a bank or something.
Since Dwarves have established American accents it didn't feel right choosing the British accent.
Anyway, I just recruited Iron Bull and Goldie is going to ride the bull.
...
That was awful.
The American male voice likewise sounds like your Inquisitor took a blow to the head and dropped about 60 IQ points.
Heh.
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...
That was awful.
If memory serves, that's the line in the game.
Personally I loved the duel for Josephine's hand and how she yells at you over it and how if resolves.
Also, the incidental diaolg between Josephine and Liliana about taking advantage of the nobels wanting to court Cullen.
"I am not bait."
"Be quiet and look pretty."
Yeah, Cullen's reactions about being "bait" were hilarious. I am really enjoying the game so far. Dragon fights are epic like they should be.
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Ran into my favorite line of dialog this week.
In the Western Approach, when you find the {cultist} doing demon making stuff before the whole {ancient keep named after archaic name for diamond} mission, he says that the {faction} are nothing more than tools. Sera then says the exact phrase that I, the controller holding player said, "You're a tool."
It was great. I know she gets a lot of hate for being all ... Sera, but her dialog injections and party banter w/ solas and blackwall are priceless. One of my favorite companions.
Also,
SKYHOLD!!!
Finally, you are mine!
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No, I'm not, I- OH! Skyhold. Nm.
Cassandra is so deliciously tsundere fangirl. The little heart cutouts on her Battlemaster mail arms are adorable.
...
A great temptation.
SKYHOLD!!!
Finally, you are mine!
For some reason I totally thought "Skyfall" when I hear Solas say it.
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No, I'm not, I- OH! Skyhold. Nm.
Ha!
(Looks at the DA dialogue tree...)
Friendly response: Nicely played.
Humorous Response: I don't think you're my type.
Antagonistic Response: Yeah, you wish!
rpg.net is a bit rankled due to Sera firing off some ugly comments about other party members and various npcs.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a GREAT game, but I do have a few issues with it.
One: Some quest items are actually sellable and I have accidentally sold a few, which kind of sucked. Check online at which items under 'valuables' are quest items so this does not happen to you! No main quest items have this problem, but a few side quests do.
Two: The specializations can be tedious, particularly the Templar specialization quest.
Three: Only one specialization for each character.
Four: There is a smaller selection of skills that characters can choose from.
Five: Firestorm, and several other cool abilities, are Focus Skills, which cannot be used at will, only when a gauge is filled by scoring a certain number of hits.
Still, the game is VERY awesome, so don't let any naysaying keep you from playing it!
As a matter of fact, I am considering opening a Pathfinder campaign set in the world of Thedas, after the events of Inquisition. Anyone think it would be a hit?
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I'd play it. Thedas is one of my favorite fantasy settings. I'd have to actually get this f$$~ing game to work first though so I can finish it.
Got it for the PC? PC versions of games, at least in my experience, tend to be pretty buggy. That's why I stick to console versions!
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The PC version is generally better if the developer has any clue what they're doing. On average, they tend to run better, and look better while doing so (not to mention the potential for mods).
Unfortunately, Bioware does NOT know what they're doing any more.
I've never had a problem with a game on PC that I didn't have for a console unless I screwed something up (mod conflicts in Skyrim, frex, or setting graphics quality to something my computer can't handle). Not counting this experience, I mean.
Yeah, it's frustrating as hell that they don't put in the work to deliver an inventory and skill system which isn't obviously ripped straight from the consoles.
Also, is it just me or is the Knight Enchanter specialization just amazing and OP? I've always wanted to lightsaber someone in an RPG! :D
I'll get Inquisition once ive finished Awakening and then DA 2. I'm not particularly looking for ward to playing 2, but i want to have my own personal, hand-forged story to import into inquisition.
Does anyone else find Dorian's friendship quest to be less than credible?
I got a personal quest with him, but I'm not sure if it's the correct one, since it was begun by Mother Giselle.
I found that, too. Although maybe NPC didn't take the same route through it that I did, so it could be that this could affect how it transpires.
That's the one, and yes it's entirely credible and very well handled.
I just don't see the point. I played through it and thought "What's the issue? Have him marry, produce an heir, and take a master, mistress, or whatever you call it for a male. Nobles do it all of the time and everywhere." So long as the marriage is there to ally another family and the next generation of careful breeding is taken care of, nobody would take issue with it. Even Brother Genitivi points this out in his codex on sexuality across Thedas.
The thing was performed well and they hit all of the right notes to get the emotional reaction they wanted, it just doesn't seem to fit.
Yeah, well. Not all people everywhere accept the same things. Dorian wanted to be openly gay and have none such attachments placed on him. And good for him, IMO.
Except marrying and then dallying is an open secret sort of thing...
So, its a "I hate my society" story dressed up as a "Reconciliation" story?