Dragon Age: Inquisition - Nov. 18

Momewrath said:
The game play, story, and character development of DA2 were great. The reused environments were a result of a stunted 15 month development cycle that was forced upon Bioware by EA wanting to push the game out of the door way before it was ready. This was confirmed by a few people at Bioware, one of them being David Gaider. In comparison, DA Origins had a 5 year dev cycle, and by the time DAI comes out, it will have had a nearly 4 year dev cycle. Inquisition is going to be total quality, and I can't wait. DA2 is still a great game full of great moments though, and it doesn't deserve nearly all the hate thrown its way. It quite like ME3 in that sense.
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15-month cycle was quite short, but it's not like it's a record low. Some other development notes suggest that the game may not have been a full fledged sequel from the first place but an in-between stuff, when it was called Dragon Age Exodus (which I consider a better title). Moreover I think Bioware could have said no to the development cycle, seeing just how much right they had (and still has) on their projects. So my guess is that after 5 years of working on DAO devs wanted to do things fast this time - which, unfortunately, resulted in another 4 years of development for the third game, nearly a reboot in terms of the game's system.

But IMO going forward Dragon Age needed this, and it should have happened with DA2 already. I liked both games at the end of the day, it might even be the only one from the fantasy genre I can actually enjoy, but it's not what fans were promised waaaaay before DAO was first announced. There were lots of ideas back in DAO that ended up being scrapped and backtracked, especially all the ambitious attempts to make it more action-oriented, and in the end what we got was an old but quite unbalanced game that could easily show its seams. Making it truly action-oriented and tactical at the same time required something more than DA2, and from what I've seen so far they have found the right place. Hopefully, all of this will pay up in October.
 
I'm about 7 or 8 hours into DA2 now. I'm enjoying it. I'm focusing on the character interactions, which are good as usual for Bioware. I'm reading all the lore, though I'm not really absorbing most of it. The visuals are bland, but I'm not paying much attention. The combat is fine, though I am finding the pause & command awkward. I'm playing as a mage, which I like.

I have enjoyed the little stories involved in the subquests and companion quests. I just finished one of the early family-related quests, the one where you find the will, and I liked that. People complain about the main storyline in this game, but so far the subquests have been pretty good. And good character banter.

I'm just forgetting about hoping for environmental beauty or variety in the game, and I'm focused on story, character interaction, and the fun of shaping the characters/combat. So far so good. It's nice to be able to play a Bioware RPG again. It's been a long time (probably 2 years).
 
Andy said:
I'm about 7 or 8 hours into DA2 now. I'm enjoying it. I'm focusing on the character interactions, which are good as usual for Bioware. I'm reading all the lore, though I'm not really absorbing most of it. The visuals are bland, but I'm not paying much attention. The combat is fine, though I am finding the pause & command awkward. I'm playing as a mage, which I like.

I have enjoyed the little stories involved in the subquests and companion quests. I just finished one of the early family-related quests, the one where you find the will, and I liked that. People complain about the main storyline in this game, but so far the subquests have been pretty good. And good character banter.

I'm just forgetting about hoping for environmental beauty or variety in the game, and I'm focused on story, character interaction, and the fun of shaping the characters/combat. So far so good. It's nice to be able to play a Bioware RPG again. It's been a long time (probably 2 years).
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I guess you will be talking about other aspects later on, so I'll just comment on a few things you mentioned...

I scrammed through DA2 at the end of last year's summer break, and I share basically the same sentiment of getting back to Bioware game after so long. We were having almost a yearly release of Bioware RPGs from 2009 to 2012, and in-between the releases we were constantly teased about the next release, so one-and-a-half year of complete absence (two full years in your case) was pretty long. DA2 did have something that makes up what Bioware games are, I can't put my fingers on what that is, mostly narrative related, but just the feeling that I came back to Bioware game was satisfying enough.

Regarding a narrative, which I constantly claimed to be one of the best of Bioware, I call it Gangs of New York in fantasy setting. Hawke and Fereldan refugees in Kirkwall are basically Irish people who immigrated to New York. The way they are discriminated and scorned, the works Hawke needs to rely on to make for a living, the 'one score' that will change their fortune, etc. heck, the massive harbor of Kirkwall with a huge statue must be a metaphor of New York harbor. It's not what one would expect from a fantasy genre, but I like it for what it is. Thedas tends to be more closely related to real life than, say, Tamriel or The Witcher universe, so it fits pretty well. Problem is that they take place in the same map you've seen earlier on, but at least, unlike ME1, all of them get a proper narrative, so after the later half of Act 2, you'll want to pass through battles asap to see how the story will unfold.

BTW the whole family stuff is really well done throughout the story, and remains the central theme until the end, but I've heard that Bethany is a much more likeable character than Carver (if you are not mage, Carver dies at first instead of Bethany), and I played the game as a rogue. I'm interested in hearing how Carver holds up in your playthrough.
 
team56th said:
I guess you will be talking about other aspects later on, so I'll just comment on a few things you mentioned...

I scrammed through DA2 at the end of last year's summer break, and I share basically the same sentiment of getting back to Bioware game after so long. We were having almost a yearly release of Bioware RPGs from 2009 to 2012, and in-between the releases we were constantly teased about the next release, so one-and-a-half year of complete absence (two full years in your case) was pretty long. DA2 did have something that makes up what Bioware games are, I can't put my fingers on what that is, mostly narrative related, but just the feeling that I came back to Bioware game was satisfying enough.

Regarding a narrative, which I constantly claimed to be one of the best of Bioware, I call it Gangs of New York in fantasy setting. Hawke and Fereldan refugees in Kirkwall are basically Irish people who immigrated to New York. The way they are discriminated and scorned, the works Hawke needs to rely on to make for a living, the 'one score' that will change their fortune, etc. heck, the massive harbor of Kirkwall with a huge statue must be a metaphor of New York harbor. It's not what one would expect from a fantasy genre, but I like it for what it is. Thedas tends to be more closely related to real life than, say, Tamriel or The Witcher universe, so it fits pretty well. Problem is that they take place in the same map you've seen earlier on, but at least, unlike ME1, all of them get a proper narrative, so after the later half of Act 2, you'll want to pass through battles asap to see how the story will unfold.

BTW the whole family stuff is really well done throughout the story, and remains the central theme until the end, but I've heard that Bethany is a much more likeable character than Carver (if you are not mage, Carver dies at first instead of Bethany), and I played the game as a rogue. I'm interested in hearing how Carver holds up in your playthrough.
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Interesting story parallels there, team56th. One of the main differences between DA2 and DA:I is that the former is filled with outcasts, while the latter is filled with "best of" types. I actually like playing as the former better. Their stories provoke more sympathy, and I identify more easily with outsiders and their suspicion of power.

I think the thing that makes Bioware games unique to me is the writing. There is a way that the characters talk, and talk to each other, that is very distinctive. I almost immediately recognized it. It's one of the things I like about their games.

Carver has been interesting. There is this tension because he's resentful over being my little brother and an outsider within the family. Some of the dialog around the family stuff was really good. He seems like a fully fleshed out character to me now, not just the 2-D characters you get in most games.
 
DA2's story felt more personal. It felt more about me shaping the world around me than the world shaping me.
 
Getting nervous with alot of the big name games getting delayed.
 
wshowers said:
Getting nervous with alot of the big name games getting delayed.
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Arkham Knight had some rumors of delays a month ago, so without any of that I'd assume DAI is safe. It's also been in development for a LONG time, so let's wait a week to see what happens.

I personally want to devote myself wholly onto DAI in October. No other games, no other hobbies, just my work and DAI. Would be great for the game to be the best-selling game of October as well.
 
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I agree. October is DA:I month. I just hope that they don't find a reason to delay it. Its not totally unheard of for publishers to sit on a completed game for a legth of time.
 
Since Batman needs more time in his cave this just shot up on my list of most wanted titles.
 
wshowers said:
Getting nervous with alot of the big name games getting delayed.
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Same here. I just posted in the Sony E3 thread that I'll be fine as long as DA:I isn't delayed. If it is, I'll be annoyed.

team56th said:
Arkham Knight had some rumors of delays a month ago, so without any of that I'd assume DAI is safe. It's also been in development for a LONG time, so let's wait a week to see what happens.
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Sounds good. If there's a delay, we should hear about it at E3. At least I would hope so.
 
Dragon Age Inquisition screenshots show new environments, also The Fade


Bioware have released a bumper selection of screenshots from the upcoming Dragon Age: Inquisition—one of the few AAA releases still clinging to a 2014 launch. The new environmental shots show a series of areas set to debut in the RPG sequel, and also offer a look at the returning 'Fade'.

The magical, er, whatever it is, wasn't an entirely popular segment of the first Dragon Age: Origins, and spawned a popular mod to skip the bloody place entirely.

For lore fans, Bioware have also been filling out the backstory of these areas with in-character texts. Through them, you can read a Lord Seeker's address to the students of Therinfal Redoubt, or a First Enchanter's rambling thoughts about The Fade.

None of which will really matter when Dragon Age: Inquisition is released on October 7th. We'll all be too busy killing dragons and sexing companions.

The Fade










The Winter Palace








Therinfal Redoubt










Western Approach











http://www.pcgamer.com/uk/2014/06/0...eenshots-show-new-environments-also-the-fade/
 
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That's a nice variety of environments, especially if you combine them with what we've already seen (e.g., areas that are bright and full of greenery).

I kind of wish they would've made this game entirely for next-gen consoles, rather than cross-gen, but I can understand the reasoning ($). I'm not complaining. These environments look like a big step up from the ones I'm seeing in Dragon Age 2.
 
Andy said:
That's a nice variety of environments, especially if you combine them with what we've already seen (e.g., areas that are bright and full of greenery).

I kind of wish they would've made this game entirely for next-gen consoles, rather than cross-gen, but I can understand the reasoning ($). I'm not complaining. These environments look like a big step up from the ones I'm seeing in Dragon Age 2.
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Frankly this cross-gen/next-gen thing is a complete myth coming from one exception that is Watch Dogs. BF4 looked great and fully utilized DX11 and 64bit on PC even with 360/PS3 version, so with the same engine, why not for DAI? Especially when these screenshots look great.
 
team56th said:
Frankly this cross-gen/next-gen thing is a complete myth coming from one exception that is Watch Dogs. BF4 looked great and fully utilized DX11 and 64bit on PC even with 360/PS3 version, so with the same engine, why not for DAI? Especially when these screenshots look great.
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I don't know if it's myth or not. I think it makes sense that if they were able to devote all their resources to a next-gen version, rather than splitting those resources, the next-gen version might benefit.
 
Andy said:
I don't know if it's myth or not. I think it makes sense that if they were able to devote all their resources to a next-gen version, rather than splitting those resources, the next-gen version might benefit.
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Can't tell if things could be that simple. If one claims that cross-gen games need to be based on older techs to run on older hardware that is right, but all Frostbite 3 games running on new hardwares looked great. If one says something about splitting resources, I don't know. 360/PS3 versions would not require additional level designers or artists. If it's mostly tech experts and QA related, next-gen only could benefit on something totally different, like, other projects, earlier release date, etc. That said, I would have liked earlier release date.
 
The best news EA/Bioware could give for E3 for me would be an earlier release date for DA:I.
 
As nice as all these screens are looking, I wondering what the PC specs are going to be and if they are going to be ball bustingly high.
 
DA2's dialogue was slighted by 'wow it's dragons' response in prologue, but the 'funny responses' become the player's staple as the story progresses. It also kinda contradicts the ending... which makes things tragic.

As for specs, since most games running on Frostbite 3 are quite similar in terms of requirements, (BF4, NFS, PvZ Garden Warfare which isn't out yet), I don't think it's going to be a groundbreakingly expensive game to play on PC. Add Mantle on that and it shouldn't be that taxing.
 
Is the combat in Dragon Age real time or is it something else?
 
JinCA said:
Is the combat in Dragon Age real time or is it something else?
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It's a real time but you can pause it. Getting used to pausing the game and plan the next move is crucial. Though, well, it's getting a little less important with DA2 and DAI. I don't know why some fans wouldn't bring that up. It has overhead view, but the view is limited on all platform, and you need to approach it more like third-person action game. At least that's what I ve seen of DAI.
 
team56th said:
It's a real time but you can pause it. Getting used to pausing the game and plan the next move is crucial. Though, well, it's getting a little less important with DA2 and DAI. I don't know why some fans wouldn't bring that up. It has overhead view, but the view is limited on all platform, and you need to approach it more like third-person action game. At least that's what I ve seen of DAI.
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Thanks for the info! I'm a fan of action games but I don't really like when the combat gets extremely complicated or makes you take turns. This game looks awesome but I was a bit wary after someone told me that the combat isn't really real time but something close to it.
 
JinCA said:
Thanks for the info! I'm a fan of action games but I don't really like when the combat gets extremely complicated or makes you take turns. This game looks awesome but I was a bit wary after someone told me that the combat isn't really real time but something close to it.
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DAO was so reliant on pause that it couldn't be called real time, but with DAI Bioware is seemingly trying to find the balance between real-time and pause-reliant. Hopefully they will find one, and if it doesn't work it will tend more to real-time.
 
I love that you can switch to the top down perspective on the fly again. The up close cinematic camera looks cool, but for the larger battles, the top down view is great for strategy.
 
Sera, one of the companions:

fdqC6iy.jpg



Not that I'm complaining, but the pouty collagen lips and the sexy outfit is a little silly. It's like in DA2, where everyone is stacked, even the mother. Talk about re-used assets...
 
Andy said:
Sera, one of the companions:

fdqC6iy.jpg



Not that I'm complaining, but the pouty collagen lips and the sexy outfit is a little silly. It's like in DA2, where everyone is stacked, even the mother. Talk about re-used assets...
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I honestly thought this was a mod for Skyrim screenshot.
o_O
 
Andy said:
Sera, one of the companions:

fdqC6iy.jpg



Not that I'm complaining, but the pouty collagen lips and the sexy outfit is a little silly. It's like in DA2, where everyone is stacked, even the mother. Talk about re-used assets...
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Not a bad thing. I'd even tout it as a feature!
 
I'm really confused with the whole DA series, I've tried them, and loved all the other bioware games, but this series just never pulled me in. Its odd because I really like the setting.
The combat just seemed lame along with the writing. Everything seemed generic as well, like it was made by a small dev trying to do a AAA game. I'll give this one a shot as I did the others.
 
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