We're on board as long as that plan doesn't involve throwing raspberries into the blender -- a raspberry and chain mail smoothie may sound good, but it is a bad idea. Trust us on this one.
Muzyka: BioWare to throw previous Dragon Age games into a blender for next title
by Jessica Conditt 
on Aug 21st 2011 2:30PM
88
We're on board as long as that plan doesn't involve throwing raspberries into the blender -- a raspberry and chain mail smoothie may sound good, but it is a bad idea. Trust us on this one.
Reader Comments (88)
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:34PM Breakdown said
Good idea, though I hope they lean heavily on DA 1 for the mix. They kinda blew it in DA2, imo.
Posted: Aug 22nd 2011 11:43AM singleandlovinit said
Im playing DA2 now and having the entire game take place in Kirkwall and that cave with a platform and 2 huts at the end is quite frankly a joke. I would expect this kind of cost cutting BS from an indy game, not a major studio.
Reply
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:38PM Huey2k2 said
As much as I loved the combat in DA:O I wouldn't mind if they stuck with the combat that was in DA2 and brought back the inventory/item management that was in DA:O.
I understand they were trying to simplify things ala ME2 but there was far too much repetition in DA2 and the lack of being able to find any real items for your party members was a huge bummer. Also the repetitive environments were borrrrrrrrrrrrring.
Not to mention the fact that the story in DA:O was way better than in DA2.
I understand they were trying to simplify things ala ME2 but there was far too much repetition in DA2 and the lack of being able to find any real items for your party members was a huge bummer. Also the repetitive environments were borrrrrrrrrrrrring.
Not to mention the fact that the story in DA:O was way better than in DA2.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:30PM Draugdraugr said
@Huey2k2
Combat from DA2 was a huge turn off for me, and was for a lot of people. Bioware recognizes that not many liked the waved combat idea they went with.
I also don't like the more 'comic book/anime' style combat they implemented, with ordinary people doing supernatural things, inexplicably(like rogues 'bamfing' around a room.)
They could have made the DA:O combat more snappy without making sure when someone presses a button 'SOMETHING AWESOME HAPPENS.'
DA:O combat was about tactics, and while you could play DA2 like that to an extent, it's clear it didn't get the attention DA:O did in the combat dept, and was more concerned with making sure everything looked more 'action-packed.'
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Combat from DA2 was a huge turn off for me, and was for a lot of people. Bioware recognizes that not many liked the waved combat idea they went with.
I also don't like the more 'comic book/anime' style combat they implemented, with ordinary people doing supernatural things, inexplicably(like rogues 'bamfing' around a room.)
They could have made the DA:O combat more snappy without making sure when someone presses a button 'SOMETHING AWESOME HAPPENS.'
DA:O combat was about tactics, and while you could play DA2 like that to an extent, it's clear it didn't get the attention DA:O did in the combat dept, and was more concerned with making sure everything looked more 'action-packed.'
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 4:56PM ShivanSwordsman said
@Huey2k2
I'm still wondering why this article says reviewers for inconclusive. With Dragon Age 2, people said it was a boring, repetitive, lazy, watered down, console port piece of crap riding on the laurels of an actually really good game. That doesn't sound inconclusive, that sounds like a lot of people hating on a boring, repetitive, lazy, watered down, console port piece of crap.
Personally, I really enjoyed the faster paced combat of DA2, and them removing Friendly Fire from Normal Mode. But that's about it. They took all the fun features out of it, and made it a hack n' slash version of DA:O. You could compare this to the way that ME was originally an RPG shooter, only it felt like it had more gender problems than David Bowie.
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I'm still wondering why this article says reviewers for inconclusive. With Dragon Age 2, people said it was a boring, repetitive, lazy, watered down, console port piece of crap riding on the laurels of an actually really good game. That doesn't sound inconclusive, that sounds like a lot of people hating on a boring, repetitive, lazy, watered down, console port piece of crap.
Personally, I really enjoyed the faster paced combat of DA2, and them removing Friendly Fire from Normal Mode. But that's about it. They took all the fun features out of it, and made it a hack n' slash version of DA:O. You could compare this to the way that ME was originally an RPG shooter, only it felt like it had more gender problems than David Bowie.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 4:57PM muir666 said
@Draugdraugr
I don't think DA2 was all that bad. Rushed definetly and they needed to make sure every cave wasn't the exact same design. I finished replaying 1 last night and to play as anything other than a mage was a pain in the ass. Being pushed around and not being able to attack some one running at you, my character always turned and ran after them as they went past. That needs to be addressed. Otherwise they're both good fun games.
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I don't think DA2 was all that bad. Rushed definetly and they needed to make sure every cave wasn't the exact same design. I finished replaying 1 last night and to play as anything other than a mage was a pain in the ass. Being pushed around and not being able to attack some one running at you, my character always turned and ran after them as they went past. That needs to be addressed. Otherwise they're both good fun games.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 5:01PM (Unverified) said
@Draugdraugr
I liked the faster more action paced combat in DA2 myself. Combat simply was more interesting. The classes definitely felt different while playing.
Now, I agree on the waves. I thought the waves were more tedious in a lot of areas. Many times having these huge waves in small areas did not make sense. Bioware just needs to make the individual mobs stronger and remove the majority of waves.
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I liked the faster more action paced combat in DA2 myself. Combat simply was more interesting. The classes definitely felt different while playing.
Now, I agree on the waves. I thought the waves were more tedious in a lot of areas. Many times having these huge waves in small areas did not make sense. Bioware just needs to make the individual mobs stronger and remove the majority of waves.
Posted: Aug 22nd 2011 1:18AM GuardianLegend said
@ShivanSwordsman
Dragon Age 2's metacritic score is 82/100, while the user score is 42/100.
I guess that's why..
This makes me think that critics are bought and paid for by the publishers. Not many people liked this game!
Reply
Dragon Age 2's metacritic score is 82/100, while the user score is 42/100.
I guess that's why..
This makes me think that critics are bought and paid for by the publishers. Not many people liked this game!
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:38PM Exu said
Just make it Mass Effect but not in space.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:53PM Shadowbender said
@Exu
Fantasy-Mass Effect would be a dream come true.
Reply
Fantasy-Mass Effect would be a dream come true.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:05PM Draugdraugr said
@Exu
No thanks.
I'm a huge ME fan, but that's not what I want at all.
Reply
No thanks.
I'm a huge ME fan, but that's not what I want at all.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:42PM Diodax said
As a Bioware fan, I think that pleasing ALL of us is going to be nearly impossible.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:46PM FlashJS said
Can't be that hard to do. Just write a better story and create more varied game environments.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:46PM slickie said
Does Dragon Age 2 even have fans?
If Dragon Age 3 is going to be a blend of 1 and 2, it's going to be because people actually liked 1 and Bioware is too stubborn to admit 2 was a crappy rush job.
If Dragon Age 3 is going to be a blend of 1 and 2, it's going to be because people actually liked 1 and Bioware is too stubborn to admit 2 was a crappy rush job.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:13PM Draugdraugr said
@slickie
Well said, I totally agree.
Yeah, you keep hearing stuff like this. at least they got the message that DA2 wasn't so great.
They can never just come out and say it though, it's bad for business. Regardless of the situation they are always going to pretend there is something to take away from DA2 (aside from how to not do a sequel to an excellent RPG)
Art style for 2 wasn't bad, but also didnt really strike me as any more impressive than the first game. I thought the art for the first game was just fine. Oh, also the look for Darkspawn in the second game was Lame. Just Lame.
Here is hoping that DA3 totally redeems the franchise. I CAN DREAM!
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Well said, I totally agree.
Yeah, you keep hearing stuff like this. at least they got the message that DA2 wasn't so great.
They can never just come out and say it though, it's bad for business. Regardless of the situation they are always going to pretend there is something to take away from DA2 (aside from how to not do a sequel to an excellent RPG)
Art style for 2 wasn't bad, but also didnt really strike me as any more impressive than the first game. I thought the art for the first game was just fine. Oh, also the look for Darkspawn in the second game was Lame. Just Lame.
Here is hoping that DA3 totally redeems the franchise. I CAN DREAM!
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:27PM Major Pyr0 said
@slickie
While I do agree that DA2 was a rush job and in general a weaker game, some elements such as:
- combat speed
- voiced protagonist
- art style / faction designs
- morality system
were(while not perfect) an improvment over the original.
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While I do agree that DA2 was a rush job and in general a weaker game, some elements such as:
- combat speed
- voiced protagonist
- art style / faction designs
- morality system
were(while not perfect) an improvment over the original.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 6:06PM OrangeGamer said
@slickie This. so much. Here's hoping it's more of a DA:O.
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Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:47PM DevilSei said
Things to keep from Dragon Age 2:
-Art style
Things to keep from Origins
-Everything else.
Seriously. Combat was marginally better in 2, but it felt way to floaty and animated. I actually enjoyed the more realistic looking abilities and style present in Origins and Awakening, instead of the nightcrawler-ing around with puffs of smoke and jumping 20 feet across an area from a standing position in heavy plate armor and great sword.
Also drop the "archetype" out of the characters, if I want to make Merril my healer, then dammit let me make Merril my healer. I can't stand Anders 180 degree spinaround, so I don't want to be forced to have him in my party.
Oh, and companion armor? For the love of god, let us at least switch through their prior styles like you allowed in Mass Effect 2.
Also, maybe having a development cycle lasting more than the roughly year-long cycle Dragon Age 2 had will help. At least that way you can make sure that the Day-One DLC you released and its achievements actually works on day one.
-Art style
Things to keep from Origins
-Everything else.
Seriously. Combat was marginally better in 2, but it felt way to floaty and animated. I actually enjoyed the more realistic looking abilities and style present in Origins and Awakening, instead of the nightcrawler-ing around with puffs of smoke and jumping 20 feet across an area from a standing position in heavy plate armor and great sword.
Also drop the "archetype" out of the characters, if I want to make Merril my healer, then dammit let me make Merril my healer. I can't stand Anders 180 degree spinaround, so I don't want to be forced to have him in my party.
Oh, and companion armor? For the love of god, let us at least switch through their prior styles like you allowed in Mass Effect 2.
Also, maybe having a development cycle lasting more than the roughly year-long cycle Dragon Age 2 had will help. At least that way you can make sure that the Day-One DLC you released and its achievements actually works on day one.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 7:06PM echerringtonYAHOOCOM said
@DevilSei Yes, DA:O was the longest game I ever played. The best scene was the elf kid in DA:2 showing up, killing the horde, and said Enchantment. I laugh my butt off.
Reply
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 11:01PM (Unverified) said
@echerringtonYAHOOCOM
Your opinion no longer matters when you don't know the name sandal. Or that he's a dwarf....
Good lord. That aside DA2 wasnt that bad. It is much better then an rpg pretty much made by any company other then bioware.
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Your opinion no longer matters when you don't know the name sandal. Or that he's a dwarf....
Good lord. That aside DA2 wasnt that bad. It is much better then an rpg pretty much made by any company other then bioware.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:49PM Timjoy said
I never liked dragon age....
Combat feels too stiff
Combat feels too stiff
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:35PM Draugdraugr said
@Timjoy
In an effort to bag you as a customer of DA they made DA2 for people just like you, and surprise, surprise, you still didn't care!
It's almost like they should stop worrying about pleasing everyone, its not like DA:O was a let down for bioware in the sales dept.
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In an effort to bag you as a customer of DA they made DA2 for people just like you, and surprise, surprise, you still didn't care!
It's almost like they should stop worrying about pleasing everyone, its not like DA:O was a let down for bioware in the sales dept.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:50PM alzeer said
hope it got wardens + blight + less porn star looking female characters
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:55PM Cleric said
Well they certainly threw something in the blender that resulted in Dragon Age 2...
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:56PM Shadowbender said
BioWare will proceed with care. I imagine they're deeply disturbed by some of the DA2 hate that's been rampant recently. I'm pretty confident to say that they'll do just fine this time around.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:57PM Van Redd said
I liked the characters of 2 far more then 1. I really enjoyed getting to know them over several years. I found the personal quests to be the one thing that made me go back and smile over my playtime.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:11PM MSUHitman said
@Van Redd I agree. Varric is my favorite dwarf EVER in ANY medieval style fantasy lore. I also really like Bethany, female Hawke, Isabella, and Aveline. The only companions I liked in Origins were Morrigan, Leiliana, and Allistair. I NEVER used anyone other than those 3 when I left Lothering, except for Oghren when you had to for the dwarf section of the main quest and Wynne for the Mage section.
My perfect (but will NEVER happen) DA 3 would be my female Hawke with a party of Bethany, King Allistair, Morrigan, Leiliana, Cassandra, Isabella, Varric, and Aveline. I'm assuming there wouldn't be a way for my Warden in Origins to be imported but it would be cool if that was possible. If others from the first 2 wanted to make cameos ala Zevran did in 2 then that's fine also.
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My perfect (but will NEVER happen) DA 3 would be my female Hawke with a party of Bethany, King Allistair, Morrigan, Leiliana, Cassandra, Isabella, Varric, and Aveline. I'm assuming there wouldn't be a way for my Warden in Origins to be imported but it would be cool if that was possible. If others from the first 2 wanted to make cameos ala Zevran did in 2 then that's fine also.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 2:58PM Faceless Troll said
So what they're saying is they won't have anything new in DA 3.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:03PM MSUHitman said
So is this an official end to any CAMPAIGN DLC or an Awakening sized DLC/disc expansion for DA 2? I want more adventures with my Hawke sisters, Isabella, and Varric dammit.
SPOILERISH
If you can keep Bethany alive from the end of Act 1 (2 ways to do it) she becomes A BEAST at the end of Act 3. They artificially bump up her magic/willpower abilities to match the weapon she now carries, plus you get to add like 12 plus levels of attributes and abilites. I have her Elemental tree 100% filled, and the Force Mage/healing trees 75% filled out. Her Magic/Willpower ratings are well above 50 so the last few I've been adding to constitution, which is at 20 for her.
SPOILERISH
If you can keep Bethany alive from the end of Act 1 (2 ways to do it) she becomes A BEAST at the end of Act 3. They artificially bump up her magic/willpower abilities to match the weapon she now carries, plus you get to add like 12 plus levels of attributes and abilites. I have her Elemental tree 100% filled, and the Force Mage/healing trees 75% filled out. Her Magic/Willpower ratings are well above 50 so the last few I've been adding to constitution, which is at 20 for her.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:08PM Ender7 said
This smells of PR BS. I can't think of a single thing that I want from dragon age 2...oh wait, I did like the elf design...er...thats it. Everything else from DA2 sucked, pretend DA2 never existed, go back to DAO, give us a chance to continue with our wardens or start a new character.
However, they are in some deep denial about the game, and lets be honest, those "positive" reviews from gaming media was because they were bribed with EA ad money. DA2 just sucked, admit it already.
They should go back to DAO and forget DA2 even existed.
However, they are in some deep denial about the game, and lets be honest, those "positive" reviews from gaming media was because they were bribed with EA ad money. DA2 just sucked, admit it already.
They should go back to DAO and forget DA2 even existed.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:10PM Softserve said
I bought these games and generally I regret it.
I can't believe I live in a world where some places give The Witcher 2 lower scores than another Dragon Age. I'm never going to understand it.
I can't believe I live in a world where some places give The Witcher 2 lower scores than another Dragon Age. I'm never going to understand it.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:12PM Jennacide said
Soooo, just keeping DA2's talent trees then? That was better than the boring DA1 trees. And that's about it. Combat more 'action packed' except that there were so few abilities to use in combat if you weren't a mage. You were constantly waiting for cooldowns as warrior/rogue, and it got boring fast.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:13PM Raffi256 said
Just put out Jade Empire 2.
Posted: Aug 22nd 2011 6:16AM Premature ejaculation man said
@Raffi256
HELL YES
Think I'll reinstall the first and play that :D
Reply
HELL YES
Think I'll reinstall the first and play that :D
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:14PM DiscoStick J81 said
DA3 needs to be more like DA1 PERIOD! Stop making games so that casual gamers could also enjoy it.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:16PM SolidDuck said
I dont even consider DO2 an rpg. Its an action adventure game with a level up system. They would be better off just expanding on what they did with 1. I hope they realize that.
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:20PM Enigma7ic said
DA2's graphics and combat with DA:O's story and level design? Sounds like a plan!
Posted: Aug 21st 2011 3:27PM chauncy said
I liked DA2, I even played it twice.
There were definitely some things that I preferred from DA:O though. Inventory management, varied world, non-repeating (or at least less-repeating) dungeons, less focus on wave combat... but then I thought the combat system in DA2 was better (they just didn't take advantage of it, I felt), I prefer the voiced main character, I actually liked the story better and preferred the art style.
So if they can mix those things up for me that would be grand.
There were definitely some things that I preferred from DA:O though. Inventory management, varied world, non-repeating (or at least less-repeating) dungeons, less focus on wave combat... but then I thought the combat system in DA2 was better (they just didn't take advantage of it, I felt), I prefer the voiced main character, I actually liked the story better and preferred the art style.
So if they can mix those things up for me that would be grand.
