I've literally just finished the demo for Biowares upcoming sequel to dragon Age and it's safe to say I'm interested. So, what's to tell?
The combat has changed a heck of a lot, with button presses translating to direct on screen action as was hinted at by the developers previously. In addition to this, the aiming system has changed to a free style allowing for quick changes of target on the fly.
I was playing the Xbox 360 version and the controls are mapped similarly to how they were last time around, with moves assigned to X Y and B as well as a secondary set of moves revealed by holding down the right trigger while the A button is used for your basic attack. The dauntingly complex and unweildy menu system of the last game also seems to be a thing of the past, with the start button bringing up a much more Mass Effect inspired option menu.
My choice of character was mage and an instant difference comes about thanks to the aformentioned pace change in the form of attack combos with the mages staff, Hawke (your character) twirling and spinning the staff with each fireball ending the sequence with a multi-hit attack. certainly more exciting to look at. It was satisfying, though the aspect of hammering the A button did little more for the whole affair than make it feel like I was playing the greatest Dynasty Warriors game ever.
The dialogue system has also been refined with Mass Effects successes in mind, with the return of the conversation wheel. This time around, highlighting an option changes an image in the middle of the screen to let you know what moral path you're choosing. An interesting addition is that the middle choice, usually reserved for entirely typical but morally ambiguious retorts is now reserved, most of the time, for comedic or sarcastic choices. I know what I'm going to be tempted by the most on my first play.
And finally, the graphics. Out of the crop of consoles you could play Dragon Age 2 on, it's safe to say it wont be the best looking on the 360 but in spite of this it seems the subtle changes in art design have allowed for the refinement of what was often a less than attractive looking original entry. Graphics are smooth and textures are crisp, if a little dull in places. It seems there's been a redesign for the darkspawn too, with the faces of the creatures now looking far more horrific as distorted humans rather than the orc like creatures seen first time around.
Am I cancelling my pre-order? Am I buggery!
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Most Anticipated Games of 2011 Part 2
Welcome back to a look at the year to come in gaming ladies and gents. Onwards for great justice!
2nd Quarter
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
I'm a bit of a fanboy for the Warhammer 40,000 universe it must be said. I used to buy the figures and paint them but never really bothered with the game itself, I was pretty content to have a vast army of cool looking deamons along with the books full of lore and history to pore over. That was years ago now but the power armor wearing, stoic warriors are still a big draw and the next game to try and capture the essence of that is on the horizon this year.
In Warhammer 40K: Space Marine you play an Ultramarine, the best of the best. Interviews with the developers in the past have included a lot of emphasis on the idea of being a walking tank, that taking cover is not going to be what the game is about, that you're more likely to soak up damage whilst obliterating hordes of enemies. It's an interesting change from the tried and tested run/gun/take cover style of other shooters but it does beg the question of where the challenge lies if you're able to soak bullets like a sponge. Time will tell as more details arise though truth be told I'll be tempted to buy it provided there's a decent amount of Chaos presence (Blood Thirster fight please!) and some nice set pieces featuring some of the biggest units from the tabletop game.
November
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It's taken a good long while for Bethesda to pipe up about the next installment in the Elder Scrolls series but the time has come for a trickle of details to make its way to the public. So what do we know?
Firstly, there's a new game engine to boost the graphical fidelity and overal experience of the world. The screenshots released look like amarked improvement over the last game, which is to be expected really, and show off the incedible lookin terrain and creatures.
Next up there's the quest system that sounds like a great idea. Instead of fixed plotlines and character interaction the game will decide things for you on the fly depending on your previous actions. According to the interviews there wont be any more trotting off to revisit areas you've already been to, the game will never send you to a location you've been to before for a mission. Nor will quest givers be the same for everyone, the game picking NPCs you may have already met and making them quest givers on the fly. Sounds very interesting but at the same time rife for problems. First one that comes to mind is what happens if you seriously explore for a long time then go hunting for quests. Will you end up being sent off to some far flung location because you've already been everywhere local? What happens if you've intentionally explored every possible location before taking on a quest?
Other details that have come out involve the combat system. To say that Oblivions combat was broken and, well, crap is perhaps an understatment so change is good. You'll now be able to mix and match what your character has in his/her hands allowing for a good range of tactics. Timing and tactical choices are also said to be more important now, with counters and assorted weapon related mechanics mixing things up from the simple "bash until dead" style of Oblivion.
Las thing I wanted to mention - DRAGONS! At sodding last we get to fight dragons in an Elder Scrolls game without having to install mods!
Autumn 2011
Batman: Arkham City
Arkham Asylum is possibly the most well polished and thoroughly satisfying super hero game ever made so the prospect of a sequel spanning a larger area made by the same team is very good indeed. Taking the already fantastic action of the original and refining it is all this game needs to be absolutely stellar as far as I'm concerned and from what's been shown so far that's what the development team are doing.
The only sad part of the whole affair is that Mark Hamill will be retiring as the voice of The Joker after this game which is a real shame seeing as he so perfectly captures his character so well in everything he does.
No set date
Mass Effect 3
I'm really looking forward to this but I'm planning a little look into the plot possibilites on here soon so I shant go on about it too much for now.
Deus Ex 3
This was, until quite recently, due out in March but has been put back to the first financial quarter of the year so April is looking likely. Following up the original games has taken an age but a fresh look at the past of Deus Ex is almost upon us.
The plot follows one of the first augmented humans as he becomes embroiled in the machinations of powerful groups and individuals, much like the first two games. With Square Enix in charge it's going to have some incredibly flashy cut scenes, I just hope the gameplay is good enough to warrant my having pre-ordered it. Speaking of which, pre-ordering nets a bonus mission pack; Tong's Rescue. How the heck Tracer Tong is supposed to be alive and well in the three time periods the series covers is something I hope they address quickly or it'll be an incredibly lax callback. I was really hoping to see more of Gunter too, possibly during his pre-enhanced days.
That's it for now. The next few things I intend to post are going to be a bit more in depth so it might take a while for them to turn up, just so you know.
2nd Quarter
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
I'm a bit of a fanboy for the Warhammer 40,000 universe it must be said. I used to buy the figures and paint them but never really bothered with the game itself, I was pretty content to have a vast army of cool looking deamons along with the books full of lore and history to pore over. That was years ago now but the power armor wearing, stoic warriors are still a big draw and the next game to try and capture the essence of that is on the horizon this year.
In Warhammer 40K: Space Marine you play an Ultramarine, the best of the best. Interviews with the developers in the past have included a lot of emphasis on the idea of being a walking tank, that taking cover is not going to be what the game is about, that you're more likely to soak up damage whilst obliterating hordes of enemies. It's an interesting change from the tried and tested run/gun/take cover style of other shooters but it does beg the question of where the challenge lies if you're able to soak bullets like a sponge. Time will tell as more details arise though truth be told I'll be tempted to buy it provided there's a decent amount of Chaos presence (Blood Thirster fight please!) and some nice set pieces featuring some of the biggest units from the tabletop game.
November
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It's taken a good long while for Bethesda to pipe up about the next installment in the Elder Scrolls series but the time has come for a trickle of details to make its way to the public. So what do we know?
Firstly, there's a new game engine to boost the graphical fidelity and overal experience of the world. The screenshots released look like amarked improvement over the last game, which is to be expected really, and show off the incedible lookin terrain and creatures.
Next up there's the quest system that sounds like a great idea. Instead of fixed plotlines and character interaction the game will decide things for you on the fly depending on your previous actions. According to the interviews there wont be any more trotting off to revisit areas you've already been to, the game will never send you to a location you've been to before for a mission. Nor will quest givers be the same for everyone, the game picking NPCs you may have already met and making them quest givers on the fly. Sounds very interesting but at the same time rife for problems. First one that comes to mind is what happens if you seriously explore for a long time then go hunting for quests. Will you end up being sent off to some far flung location because you've already been everywhere local? What happens if you've intentionally explored every possible location before taking on a quest?
Other details that have come out involve the combat system. To say that Oblivions combat was broken and, well, crap is perhaps an understatment so change is good. You'll now be able to mix and match what your character has in his/her hands allowing for a good range of tactics. Timing and tactical choices are also said to be more important now, with counters and assorted weapon related mechanics mixing things up from the simple "bash until dead" style of Oblivion.
Las thing I wanted to mention - DRAGONS! At sodding last we get to fight dragons in an Elder Scrolls game without having to install mods!
Autumn 2011
Batman: Arkham City
Arkham Asylum is possibly the most well polished and thoroughly satisfying super hero game ever made so the prospect of a sequel spanning a larger area made by the same team is very good indeed. Taking the already fantastic action of the original and refining it is all this game needs to be absolutely stellar as far as I'm concerned and from what's been shown so far that's what the development team are doing.
The only sad part of the whole affair is that Mark Hamill will be retiring as the voice of The Joker after this game which is a real shame seeing as he so perfectly captures his character so well in everything he does.
No set date
Mass Effect 3
I'm really looking forward to this but I'm planning a little look into the plot possibilites on here soon so I shant go on about it too much for now.
Deus Ex 3
This was, until quite recently, due out in March but has been put back to the first financial quarter of the year so April is looking likely. Following up the original games has taken an age but a fresh look at the past of Deus Ex is almost upon us.
The plot follows one of the first augmented humans as he becomes embroiled in the machinations of powerful groups and individuals, much like the first two games. With Square Enix in charge it's going to have some incredibly flashy cut scenes, I just hope the gameplay is good enough to warrant my having pre-ordered it. Speaking of which, pre-ordering nets a bonus mission pack; Tong's Rescue. How the heck Tracer Tong is supposed to be alive and well in the three time periods the series covers is something I hope they address quickly or it'll be an incredibly lax callback. I was really hoping to see more of Gunter too, possibly during his pre-enhanced days.
That's it for now. The next few things I intend to post are going to be a bit more in depth so it might take a while for them to turn up, just so you know.
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