Game Details

Title: Dragon Age 2 (Signature Edition)
Developer/Publisher: Bioware/Electronic Arts
Game Genre: RPG
Multi-player: None
Age Rating: 18
Length: Long (20+ hours for Game Completion)

My Impressions

In anticipation of Dragon Age 2, I replayed the first Dragon Age and all of the DLC so I was well placed to evaluate the sequel as it compares to the original. One of the first things that became apparent was that the combat felt a lot smoother and was more action orientated than in the first game. I also found the graphics to be a step up from those in the first game, though there are better looking games out there.

Another change that quickly becomes apparent is that the conversation system is a tweaked version of that used in Mass Effect rather than the traditional RPG one used in the first game. In the Dragon Age 2 version you generally pick between Good, Bad and Funny responses. As such I am eagerly anticipating the “Hawke is a Jerk” video on Youtube to match the Commander Shepard one.

Your dialog choices can also impact on your relationship with Companions, and depending on your choices in conversation and quests you can end up having to battle companions in the final battle if you go against what they want. While I liked this aspect of the companion system, I was disappointed that you could no longer choose what armour they wear, and am “eagerly” anticipating the inevitable alternate costume DLC.

While I found the gameplay superior to that in the first game, I found the story overall to be inferior to that of the first game. This was not due to the “story telling” mechanism where the “tale of the champion” is being told by one of your companions with a few embellishments hear and there, which I found to be an enjoyable and effective mechanism. The inferiority came down to 2 main reasons firstly the lack of “exploration” and secondly it did not seem like any of my choices really mattered.

While it did take me over 25 hours to complete the majority of the quests with a character, the majority of the quests took place in the same limited set of areas, and those that did not took place in caves, wilderness or warehouses that looked virtually identical to each other. While to some extent understandable in terms of the storyline, it did mean I did not get the same sense of “epicness” that I got from the first game and made me feel that Bioware designed the story so they could get the game completed as quickly as possible without losing too much quality.

The other flaw comes under the heading of what I like to call “the illusion of choice” this is where you think what you do matters but it doesn’t really. The main campaign is largely based around the growing tension between Mages and Templars in Kirkwall, and sadly Bioware went the KOTOR route and companion loyalty aside made all your choices before hand pointless. This is because at the critical juncture you can decide to switch sides regardless of how pro or anti templar/mage you have been before hand. To make matters worse it does not even matter which side you back, as the main enemies you fight are the same, and the outcome is virtually identical.

That being said there were a few moments that shocked or surprised me, with the biggest being what happens to prompt the final confrontation in the game. Sadly this too suffers from the illusion of choice as you can be led to believe it happens due to you completing a companion quest, but it actually happens regardless. Part of me suspects this was done as there where too many choices in the first game to make a direct sequel so Bioware designed the second game to have as few as possible to impact the next game in the series which I suspect will contain both the Warden (if alive) from Dragon Age Origins and Hawke.

That being said I did enjoy playing Dragon Age 2 and in some aspects it is a definite improvement over the original, I suspect that in the future I am more likely to want to replay Dragon Age Origins, than Dragon Age 2.

Signature Edition Notes

As I preordered Dragon Age 2 early on, I got the free upgrade to the signature edition, whose main difference is that you get the Day One DLC The Exiled Prince for free, and a few promotional items.

Regarding the Promotional Items, I found that the Signature Edition ones, and ones from other sources e.g. Dead Space 2 Ser Isaac Armour, Blood Dragon Armour, I thought was well balanced. This is because while they where significantly better than the initial gear you where given, but were surpassed towards the end of the first act. Another safeguard was that they were all but worthless to sell so you couldn’t use them to get rich quick.

As for the Day One DLC, I have mixed feelings. While there is no doubt that it is a high quality piece of DLC and well integrated into the game and it was a nice reward for pre-ordering, I do have qualms about the principle of Day One DLC and pre-order bonuses.

My view is that pre-order bonuses and special editions of games should be limited to things you can do without in game or be non game material e.g. comics, figures, soundtracks etc. If there are in game bonuses they should be limited to items or side quests unrelated to the main story so if you don’t get them you haven’t really lost out too much.

I also have no problem with significant free Day One DLC for people who buy the game new, so long as the game feels complete without it. Unfortunately I think free Day One DLC only for people who pre-order 2 months or more in advance takes things too far, especially when it feels as ripped out the main game as The Exiled Prince does and I would probably still have these qualms if The Exiled Prince was free to all who bought new.

My Recommendation

Buy

While an enjoyable game with a number of improvements over the original game. I found Dragon Age 2 to be slightly inferior to the original but still a worthwhile buy.