Tag: dragon age

Hey, new Dragon Age 2 DLC! (Felicia Day)

I thought that the name would get your attention. New Dragon Age 2 DLC: Mark of the Assassin.

It appears we’ll see Felicia Day as a video game character in BioWare’s Dragon Age universe before we see her in the previously announced live-action web series, Dragon Age: Redemption. BioWare revealed that the next DLC pack for Dragon Age II will feature Day’s Elven assassin character and be ready for download on October 11.

Looks kind of Mass Effect 2: Kasumi – Stolen Memory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0_41SWzCwk&feature=player_embedded

…which ain’t a criticism: I liked that adventure pretty well.  Ten bucks for what’s supposedly supposed to be pretty stealthy; that should appease some of the people who spent the entire first game hiding and sneaking. Continue reading Hey, new Dragon Age 2 DLC! (Felicia Day)

So. New Mass Effect 2 DLC.

I somehow missed that “The Arrival” was due to, err, arrive for Mass Effect 2 until the notification that it was now for sale appeared in my inbox last night.  So, being pretty much useless today for anything requiring actual sentience I bought, downloaded and played it.

Short version: not bad, but not “Lair of the Shadow Broker.”  It ties into the upcoming Mass Effect 3 better than DA:O’s “Witch Hunt” ended up tying into Dragon Age 2.  Worth the seven bucks for Admiral Hackett, a surprisingly difficult (at-first) … [spoilers below fold]

Continue reading So. New Mass Effect 2 DLC.

Annnd Dragon Age 2 is in the can.

At least, the first run-through of it.  Clocked in at just under 41 hours, Level 23 Rogue (decided to go with that instead of my usual Mage).

Thumbnail review: Dragon Age 2 is not the unmitigated awesome that was Dragon Age Origins (or Mass Effect), but like Mass Effect 2 it does not embarrass its predecessor.  Things that I liked: they streamlined some of the combat stuff; made it harder to properly balance the various NPC’s various “issues” with you, the missions, and each other; and had a lot of pretty scenery and background.  Things that I didn’t like: Bioware loves a little too much to give you either-way-you’re-screwed choices; the romance timeline seemed a bit compressed; and as usual, the intro’s too damn long.

Bottom line: if you like DA:O, you’ll like this.  I’m going to play it again, only this time with a specific goal in mind.  And maybe not so Lawful-as-much-as-I-can Good this time.

OK, having now done a runthrough…

…of both Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2, I can say this: they’re both very good games. DA:O is a good roleplaying game with lots of combat, and ME2 is a good combat game with a decent amount of roleplaying.  What worries me is the rumors that Dragon Age 2 is going to be drawing a lot from ME2, which would not be a good idea.  DA:O is simply better at real-time tactical manipulation of multiple characters, and it’s much more customizable in terms of individual character abilities.  Plus, I don’t want a fantasy first person shooter.  Or at least one from Bioware.  The Star Wars ones don’t count.

Bear in mind that I don’t want Mass Effect 3 to be a remake of Dragon Age, either.  Although a better map system would be nice.

…Yeah, that was a bad ending to the DO:A saga.

I’m not going to say anything about it – spoilers, and all that – but I expected a bit more. On the bright side, space cleared for more Mass Effect 2 DLC! No, wait, they’ll release the bridge DLC and shut that down, too. Just you wait.

And so the eternal cycle of expectation, happiness, and crushing disappointment continues. At least we got Leiliana’s Song out of them.

Movie Game of the Week: Mass Effect 2.

Because maybe this way I won’t throw Mass Effect 2 through the [expletive deleted] wall.  It’s gameplay is just different enough from Dragon Age: Origins that all of my reflexes are off.  And when I say ‘off’ I mean there’s actual nausea involved.  And, really, would a tutorial that didn’t make me feel all urgent-y and confused have hurt?

…Yes, yes, in three days it’ll be the Greatest Thing EVAR.

Anyway, we’ll call it a movie and retire The Princess Bride.