When I play a game, I don't just play... I live it. It starts to encompass my entire world so that really nothing else besides the game can be accomplished and Dragon Age II is no different from any other game I've played. I'm not quite sure, other than I'm just a backwards person, but I decided to read some people's review on the game after the fact that I've played and finished it. I found nearly all of them to have a good perspective and good points about positive and negative aspects of the game. Generally I personally enjoy the game (when you have the same producers that created nearly the greatest games of all time: Mass Effect series, you just can't go wrong).
So let's start with the dialogue. Its great..... and yet a bit redundant at times. Having played through a couple times, choosing different dialogue options and choices throughout the game, I discovered that much of it stays the same regardless of things you do. For example, let's look at the Blackpowder Promise mission (This mission is prior to the Blackpowder Courtesy). You begin the mission by stumbling upon a dwarf being attacked by giant spiders. He tells you about this powerful explosive blackpowder made by the Qunari and he then asks you to hunt down the Tal-Vashoth (a ruthless band of rebel Qunari) as a favor for the Arishok. At this point in time you have various dialogue options ranging from the basic "yea I'll do it", "this is a stupid plan", to the downright, "forget it". Regardless of which dialogue option you choose the mission (as with all the missions in this game) remains open for you to perform. After taking on the Tal-Vashoth you then are prompted to return to the docks and speak with the Qunari leader. Through two different play-throughs I chose one, "yea I'll do it" and one "forget it". The dialogue between the dwarf, the Arishok, and myself didn't vary at all. The game highly prompts that the choices you make alters game play and I just don't see this consistently with the various missions.
Fighting: Wonderful. The game designers really improved upon an already good system. I recall games earlier on in my life where it was mere button smashing in order to fight your way through your enemies and most games today have drastically improved this. Dragon Age II has a wonderfully easy radial menu with six options open to various fighting styles you can personally assign to each. I just loved that they kept this from the first one. Also with this sequel the moves that you see your characters performing have become even more flourished with grace and style. I was also quite impressed that the mages in the game went from mere point and shoot with their staff to a much more kung fu type movements as they twirl their staffs along their body.
Armor: Very nice that I no longer have to worry about purchasing armor for my companions as they wear what is originally assigned to them, but you are allowed to upgrade each one's armor to help protect you along the game with the progressively stronger opponents. I was hoping for more style and pizazz for my character, but I wasn't entirely disappointed either. The ultimate champion armor of course being one of the best looking armors available, I was intrigued that instead of just handing it over in the third act, you are instead expected to fight a boss dragon (which was one heck of an ordeal).
Ending: I enjoyed that you are still able to romance your various companions so as my first run through with the game I chose to woo Anders, an apostate mage who has fused himself with a spirit of justice. I was dreadfully disappointed that he turned out to be a mass murderer with no sense of regret or guilt. It made me think of how different it would have been if the designers instead allowed you to stop him if pursuing a relationship with him, and not have that capability if romancing any of the other companions. I just wish that I had more control over the events that lead to and end the game. With Mass Effect I felt that every choice, even in regards to the smallest of side missions, ultimately had some affect on the rest of the game play and ending. Your companion's lives are literally in your hands in Mass Effect 2, but you just don't see or feel that way with Dragon Age II.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the game and I personally would give it a 7.5 out of 10. I suppose after having played Mass Effect, my standards have risen in regards to RPG's, but Dragon Age II surely doesn't disappoint in entertainment value.
Cheers!
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