Dragon Age II Origins

The Age of Dragons; but where are they?


Developer: Bioware

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Xbox360, PS3, Microsoft Windows, Mac
Release date: March 8, 2011
Genre: RPG
Players: One
System Requirements: CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 GHz Processor or equivalent/AMD Phenom II X3 Triple core 2.8 GHz or equivalent, RAM: 2GB (4 GB Vista and Windows 7), Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater/NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater,DirectX 11 Video: ATI 5850 or greater,DirectX 11 Video: NVIDIA 460 or greater

All controlled characters

Dragon Age II Origins is one of the very best RPGs that came out at the 1^st semester of 2011. Applying the DirectX 11 this game tries to take the top in the RPG sector. The sequel of Dragon Age I, this game continues the story from were we leaved it, but from someone elses actions. Yet, the trailer of DA II was something that caused chills on our spines, unfortunately, the let down was quite heavy.

Plot

Here, as the title clearly states, the story is about how the Dragon Age tale begun. Firstly, after choosing  your character (along with the customization) and your class you will see Varric, one of your companions, been ordered to tell your story. The first intro Varric says is fake and used as a tutorial to the game. After you complete it, he decides to truly begin the story. You will find yourself and your family being haunted by orc-goblin like creatures. Later on a couple of warriors is added to your ranks (one is injured and doesn’t fight;) and then you face a giant ogre. That ogre depending on the gender of your character and class kills one of your characters siblings. For example, a male wizard will have his mage sister taken out, while a  male rogue will have his brother killed. It is in the game engine that your group will definitely posses at least one mage. Then the group is saved by a dragon, later transforming into an old witch. She gives them a “lift” to the nearest port asking only for a small favor. After arriving to the town of Kirkwall. Our hero will have to make himself useful to be accepted into the city. After getting admitted, the protagonist will have to do various missions and quests to make himself useful, rich and maybe even magistrate of that town. The options are quite various, but still the plot is centered only in the city of Kirkwall. This town was sheltering a band of Qunari warriors and its leader, who tried to destroy the town until you show up and bring them down. The Qunari leader was very easy and unentertaining.  Also, the trailer was also quite deceiving; all of us thought and hoped that we would defeat him as in the trailer. That was only a promotion stunt. At the final chapter a dispute between Mages and Templars was promising a huge battle, but it quite let us down. You will roam through the same caves, roads, people over and over again something which is really tiring.

Gameplay

There are three classes to choose from : Warrior, Rogue and Mage. The warrior can yield a great-sword or fight with a shield and a one handed sword, the rogue can use either dual blades or a bow and the wizard uses his/her stuff to unleash deadly spells. A typical RPG in any other way, but you can, unlike most RPGs, you can control each action of your companions in battle and adjust your gameplay according to any situation! That is the characteristic that distinguishes it from any other RPG.

Killing enemies earns you experience, which after gathering enough you level up your character. In each level up you earn 1 ability point and sometimes a Specialization point (allowing your character to achieve more specializations, meaning more moves and combos) and 5 stat upgrades. Those upgrades can greatly affect each characters effectiveness in battle. Unless you don’t want to bother yourself with that, there is an auto-level up button. This is especially good for your companions unless you  know what are you doing. Another aspect you should take into account is the behavior of your characters towards you. There are situations in which you will relay on your companions to get yourself out unharmed or allow you to get additional information. Furthermore, accomplishing a very good standing with a companion of the opposite gender may result to…to interesting “evenings” in your characters bedroom and even marriage!

Ohhh yeah, time for daddy to get the spoils of war.

Still, the fights are quite monotonous. It’s not that you don’t have many moves/combos to do; it’s just that you can’t do them all! Learning all specializations will allow you to do variable moves, but they aren’t going to be effective enough as the game continues. Harder enemies will appear, enemies which can easily outclass you and your group, unless you do a good strategy. Boss fights is the backbone of the game. If it wasn’t for the immense boss battles, the game would be just another game. Still, bosses could have a better AI; you can easily out-maneuver them, and have your companions shooting at them, while the boss hunts you. All in all the game is easy even in the very hard difficulty level.

Graphics
The game engine supports DirectX 11. The graphical results are astonishing. Every video cut scene, visual effects and character designs are of extreme detail and beauty. Magic spells are very good even at DirectX 9. They are just state of the art, what else can we say?

Sound

As far as the sound is concerned, well, we can’t say anything good or anything bad. The voice-overs are very good, almost like they were making a movie, but the soundtracks and ambient really pass as if they were not there. The battle sound effects aren’t good, hearing a sword bashing on a shield doesn’t apply here. Only the magic effects are good, which however, could have been way better.

A dragon!

Summarizing, the game is good and decent. Yet, it could have been more impressive and worthwhile if it corresponded to what the trailer depicted.

Plot                        7,5

Gameplay           8

Graphics              10

Sound                   7

Constitution      8

You should think carefully before buying. Do you wish spending a few hours (total gameplay is a few hours, the cut-scenes make it last ages), playing a game with little fighting? I can’t really form a suggestion here, but I think you should buy it, cause the effort was good.

Qunari says: "BUY ME"