Dragon Age Inquisition, first impression

After finishing earlier Dragon Age games I expected a lot from Dragon Age Inquisition. When I installed game and opened it, I was so thrilled. I had heard so much positive things about it and many said it was better than second. But still at first I was completely shocked after playing first few hours. What happened?

There is tutorial what explains what to do. 

The game looks awesome.

Well the new things happened. I really didn't expect gaming system being completely different from earlier. At first it took me a long while only to learn new way of moving and acting when I had way more possibilities and totally new levelling system. It was so confusing that I almost stopped to play game. 

Comparing to earlier games, you can climb and jump!

The map is huge.. and world is open.

But now I am happy I didn't quit game too fast. I gave it a chance and it the more I play it the more interesting it seems to be coming. I admit that at first I missed the plot when was learning new way to play but the more you play the more you will understand. I have tried game by playing elf so can't tell if beginning is different with other races or not. I have been thinking to try some another race also to see if it is completely same or not. I hope there would be variations like it was in Dragon Age Origins. 

The first battles seems to be going fine.

Now horses have been added into game.

The game still has a lot of information about the surrounding world.

World of the Dragon Age still seems mystical and interesting. Even I am still very low level being only level 4 I am startign to be more and more excited about the game itself. Plot begins to seem as good as before and it is nice to see also some old characters from earlier games even I wished not to see some of them. But maybe I can get nicer people into my team when game goes further. And yeah I will post new reviews from this game when I am getting to know it more.

Dragon Age II, How I felt

Now I have played Dragon Age II through for once. And I was kind of satisfied how it ended. Some has said that they didn't like the plot what the game has since it wasn't anything that huge like on Dragon Age: Origins. But at once it felt good to work on smaller area and get known it better. So I have actually been thinking to buy some extra adventure to this game and then play it through a bit differently. So not bad experience at all.

At times battle was a big mess.

The story wasn't nicest always.

There were also mighty enemies who to face.

But there are still issues what I can critize in the game. At times I found battles a bit blurry so pausing was necessary at least if you play on harder mode. There are scenes where huge amount of enemies appears and you just need to kill them one by one. Can become a bit boring. And also at times it was a bit frustrating when you have only two bad options from where to pick. I know role games aren't usually very happy ones but how much misery one has to carry on her shoulders? Without going totally insane.

This noble house looks a bit empty.

This shows how it looks when house in the noble district has turned into whorehouse. 

It also was easy to spot during game that makers had been lazy. They made few dungeon and indoor areas what they used over and over again. Only it variated which door wasn't open to walk and which wasn't. And of course some areas were fuller thann others but still.. Obviously every noble house in Kirkwall has been build at the same time since they're copies to each other. And every dungeons is funnily so similar looking. But when you do not think about it too much and concentrate on the plot, you will manage to play it through.

Dalish camp ahead.

Wounded coast looks stunning and lonely place. 

So plot  was interesting. At least I think so. But also I did like how the game looks. It was simply pretty and at times almost breathtaking. So at times it was nice to stop and look around enjoying the view. So once again there can be beautiness hidden in game even the story wasn't always the nicest. But since I have played this game through now, I can finally move to try a new one: Dragon Age Inquisition. But before I do so I have to say that, yeah.. Dragon Age II was worth of playing through! Not too long and there were nice little plots making the game interesting.

The Dragon Age II: levelling and abilities

Now I have played more the Dragon Age II and get known with the levelling system. And since I have played many kind of games I can say that this system works. It limits your possibilities of course but still you have enough choice to make your character to be the way you want. There are more options on Dragon Age II than what it was in the first game and that ain't bad thing.

I have now played some as a mage and rogue. At first I decided to make mage but started to miss my rogue stylish playing so.. playing game with two characters making a bit different choices during the game. Companios are still mostly same since I just personally prefer to have group of males around me instead of pack of women. My personal choice, that's all.

Varric is usually rather easy to get to be a friend. 

Anders gets some advantages when you get along with him.

Rival or friend? That matters really.  If someone is your rival, they get different benefits than being your friend. If they are neutral to you they do not get anything extra until arrow goes one way or another. Sometimes it might be usefull to keep someone as rivalry but well I do not have heart to do that if I can avoid it. I am just too diplomatic player.

Marian is rogue who uses dexterity and cunning.

Since I haven't played Aveline a while I had to level her more.

Every class what you can play (mage, fighter or rogue) there  are two attributes which are more usefull than others. For my rogue cunning and dexterity comes in handy since she uses two daggers and need cunning to disarm traps and locks. Aveline is fighter so naturally strength and  constitution are what she needs. On the plus side you also see the changes to the armor, damage etc. when you add some of the attributes. Makes it easier to think what kind of character you wish to do.

If you're friend or roval with someone, you gain something extra.

abilities trees gives you a lot of opportunities to make a char what works for you.

And every ability there is good explanation what it really does.

After Attributes you still pick abilities. Abilities variates a bit between companions what makes your company more unique. That way you can build your very own dreamtime what works best with your own character. Of course there is always good to be one mage, warrior and rogue in your party but there are multiple choices for these among your companions. So what can I say.. to me this system works way better than what they had in the Dragon Age Origins.

So even I have heard that many didn't like to play Dragon Age II after the first.. it has surprised me positively. That is true that world isn't open and wide like it is in Skyrim but since there are many plots you're following somehow it helps me to work more organized when I do not have to wonder around that much. At times exploring is fun, at times I prefer more straightforward path.

Dragon Age II first testings

When I finished Dragon Age Origins I had strong feeling that I wanted to begin new adventures by playing second part from that saga. So I bought the game and downloaded wanting to play through more adventures. First impression from Dragon  Age II was that I need to learn a bit different style when fighting.

The story begins with your own family.

My first character was mage.

When it was about to time to choose the character I was a bit disappointed. I was only able to play human. Elf or dwarf wasn't option this time at all. But at least I was warned before by my friends about that. Good thing was that you were still able to pick different role so everyone were not meant to be fighters. When the actual story began I was lightly disappointed. yes I had to drag a family with me and any of them didn't seem to like me. At least there were mourning and adoring everyone else except thet main character so didn't feel very nice trying to help them. Maybe I find out reasons for this kind of behaviour when I play game further.

I like the maps in game.

You can gather companions but gaining their friendship isn't that easy.

Now I have played game few hours and even it is rather straightforward the atmosphere has been good so far. Discussions have been interesting to listen and companions what you will be finding to your side are more than pretty face. Thei past haunts them and you need to deal with them carefully. It is also clear that when you make choices you can't please everyone in the group so some are more rivalrous for you than others unless you pick your party very carefully each time.

So far game looks very pretty also.

On the next posting baout Dragon Age II I will be writing more about the skills and abilities. And more about the areas what you can find in game.

The Dragon Age Origins, Final blow

I had a long break from playing games.. Thanks for the decent work with coming live action role game where I am one of the dm's. Even the game is still coming after couple of weeks, I finally had few hours time to play. And I believe I used that time well, since I finished Dragon Age Origins. Which means I can finally start to play two other games from that saga what I do own.

Still fighting against demons

discussion with Anora

I noticed in the end that there were sidequests what I had not finished. But when was doing final battles, I just thought who cares. I have played my own path and decisions what I made with my char lead me towards this end. Okay I admit, I peak some forward information about the possible endings since I didn't  want long playing ending miserably. Call me emotional but I preferred to stay alive even I was playing a female warden so I  had to be cunning. So I made few  choices so that all the companions stayed alive and I got someone to stand on by my side.

Sometimes you need to show some bravery by killing persons who are  third times as large than what you're.

He can be many things but I also chose him to be my lover.

Why I arrenged a nice ending for myself? Well.. Since I knew there are more Dragon Age games for me to play. If everything goes bad for my characters I rarely want to return to that game again. Or try to play second parts. But I won't tell about those possible endings if there is still someone who hasn't played the Dragon Age Origins through. And if you haven't, you should!

I chose to be with Zevran and live freely travelling around the world. Does that sound nice? To me it does and now I am actually curious to try Dragon Age II even I do know that I won't play same characters there. But story of the world simply is so tempting that I want to hear more of it. Luckily I do own the game allready so I do not have to do anything but begin to play!

Dragon Age Origin, Part 2

I promised to write about battles in Dragon Age origins so this text will be about them. How the battles works then? I would say that perfectly. I am person who isn't very talented to fight in games so I have played my Dragon Age on easiest level. That way I do not gain constant headache from battles and I can enjoy more ongoing story. But for those who likes challenges, game offers them. At least some. I really have no idiea how tough game can be compared to other similar ones.

When you move one of your group members, others are attacking autimatically.

Wynne is watching when Ogre gets deathblow.

I am not big fan of the battles which I can't pause at all. In Dragon Age pausing is possible what will give me time to think of my strategy and that I prefer. For those who likes to create exact roles for your group member, game offers that possibility. I haven't paid that much attention to them since I rather stop game briefly, switch to another member and do simething specific with him  them. Probably not so wise and forces me to use more healing potions and spells.. but at least I haven't often tried to play through same monsters.

Broodmother wasn't the nicest enemy.. Especiallu background story behind it was creepy and sad.

At times pausing is good thing. Gives you some time to plan your attack.

Probably battles would be easier if I would have more often two fighters in my group instead of two rogues but since I like certain characters I keep them often around me. And I wanted play rogue myself since that class is fun. I also like caster class what I can try anytime I switch to play Wynne. But detecting traps and opening all the locked chests is a big bonus. That way you leave less locked teasures behind you. 

What I can summarize about battling system? It  is a good thing that you can order your companions whenever you like and command them to attack against certain enemies. Also possibility to change difficulty level is a good. Those who likes more challenge can have it when storybased players can finish battles faster.. since there is a lot of fighting in game. But what else can you expect when darkspwans roams everywhere?