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GF Rating
8
Very Good
Dragon Age: Story over Combat
posted by UberBoob (CLARKSTON, MI) Nov 9, 2009
Member since Aug 2006
15 out of 22 gamers (68%) found this review helpful
Bioware games have always put a strong emphasis on story and conversation/character interaction. Dragon Age has been given an epic story and fantastic conversation and voice-over work. The combat has always taken a back seat and there are always little glitches that make it into their games.
Mass Effect, Jade Empire, Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate...if you like these games, you don't need to read any further and you know what you're getting.
On the plus side:
- Engrossing story. Keeps you glued to the game to see what happens next.
- Interesting and sometimes funny characters with great voice overs
- Depth of gear/character customization
- Music/Sound/Voiceover
- Kill animations in combat (You'll see what I mean when your character jumps up on a dragon's head in the middle of combat and jambs a sword through it's skull, both pretty epic and nice touch)
Not-so plus side:
- The combat is hit or miss, with A LOT of micro-managing...or you could just put a healer in the party, set it to Casual Difficulty, and put the controller down
- The classic Bioware glitches (animation, sound etc.)
- The 360 version has literally, "yucky" distance/environment textures (the character/face textures look pretty good)
It depends on what you find more important in a game. It takes a little bit, but I got over the little gripes and really, really got into this one. 40 - 50 hrs without doing all the little extras.
Mass Effect, Jade Empire, Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate...if you like these games, you don't need to read any further and you know what you're getting.
On the plus side:
- Engrossing story. Keeps you glued to the game to see what happens next.
- Interesting and sometimes funny characters with great voice overs
- Depth of gear/character customization
- Music/Sound/Voiceover
- Kill animations in combat (You'll see what I mean when your character jumps up on a dragon's head in the middle of combat and jambs a sword through it's skull, both pretty epic and nice touch)
Not-so plus side:
- The combat is hit or miss, with A LOT of micro-managing...or you could just put a healer in the party, set it to Casual Difficulty, and put the controller down
- The classic Bioware glitches (animation, sound etc.)
- The 360 version has literally, "yucky" distance/environment textures (the character/face textures look pretty good)
It depends on what you find more important in a game. It takes a little bit, but I got over the little gripes and really, really got into this one. 40 - 50 hrs without doing all the little extras.
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GF Rating
9
Excellent
15 dpi teeth, weak texture work, but a killer game
posted by Xsalot (OSSEO, MN) Nov 4, 2009
Member since Dec 2004
30 out of 46 gamers (65%) found this review helpful
I must admit, there was a brief moment as I began the 'human noble' campaign that I thought to myself, oh. my. gawd. This game looks really crumby. I guess over the past few years we've been lulled into a secure state of graphic snobbery so when I gazed upon this game I was less than impressed. I first noticed it on the character models teeth, yuk what is that 15 dpi graphics? then I noticed the clunky bitmaps on the textures, the extremely low grade backgrounds and for a moment there i was kind of upset, I felt a little short changed. It was short-lived however, what this game lacks in visual punch it more than makes up for in other ways. My favorite game of all-time, and it isn't even close, is Knights of the Old Republic, so this game was a must get on launch day for me and I snapped it and the guide up hastily, greedily, as this launch season has seen more disappointing delays than I can ever remember. I had big expectations going in, and while I will admit to be being initially bothered by the look of the game it quickly became obvious that this game has a lot stirring under the surface. I thought back to the look of KOTOR and how it wasn't really that great looking either, yet it's easily my favorite - this game looks and plays a lot like KOTOR, like it or lump it kiddos.
Getting past the initial graphics snob shock I quickly realized this game was going to rule! The combat does away with the button mash (thankfully) and the strategy in play is really cool. From what I have played so far I would give this game a high rank for gameplay and concept but a low grade for graphics. I think a lot of the reviews are right to dock it points for the looks of it but it more than makes up for it with the way you get sucked into the action, and the way the combat flows. I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed at first but then pleasantly surprised after about a hour or so spent with it. I for one can't wait to get back at it!
8.8 out of 10
Getting past the initial graphics snob shock I quickly realized this game was going to rule! The combat does away with the button mash (thankfully) and the strategy in play is really cool. From what I have played so far I would give this game a high rank for gameplay and concept but a low grade for graphics. I think a lot of the reviews are right to dock it points for the looks of it but it more than makes up for it with the way you get sucked into the action, and the way the combat flows. I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed at first but then pleasantly surprised after about a hour or so spent with it. I for one can't wait to get back at it!
8.8 out of 10
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GF Rating
10
Perfect
amazing..........don't rent, buy it
posted by Wookie345 (LEES SUMMIT, MO) Nov 9, 2009
Member since Mar 2005
9 out of 14 gamers (64%) found this review helpful
This game is insanely immersive, the combat is very fun and addicting, for the strategic types, normal mode and harder all require insane thinking before even fighting the weakest of enemies.
the game just came out and already has 3 DLC for it, 2 of which are included in the game's case free if you buy a new copy, on all 3 platforms, and i bet they will release even more DLC for it.
you can play as a Human, Dwarf, or Elf, male or female, each race with not one, but 2 starting prologues to try, each actually fun unlike most games' prologue.
there are many recruitable characters each with a interesting backstory and abilities, each of which you can mold to suit your combat style.
there are only 3 classes in the game sadly, one of which the Dwarves can't be, but each class can be tuned to your combat style, plus each one has 4 profficent sub classes you can get, like ranger for rogue or shapeshifter for mage.
this is truly a great game you must play to even beleive it's greatness, its not a perfect game hence then 9, but it is definitly one to get.
the game just came out and already has 3 DLC for it, 2 of which are included in the game's case free if you buy a new copy, on all 3 platforms, and i bet they will release even more DLC for it.
you can play as a Human, Dwarf, or Elf, male or female, each race with not one, but 2 starting prologues to try, each actually fun unlike most games' prologue.
there are many recruitable characters each with a interesting backstory and abilities, each of which you can mold to suit your combat style.
there are only 3 classes in the game sadly, one of which the Dwarves can't be, but each class can be tuned to your combat style, plus each one has 4 profficent sub classes you can get, like ranger for rogue or shapeshifter for mage.
this is truly a great game you must play to even beleive it's greatness, its not a perfect game hence then 9, but it is definitly one to get.
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