Is BioWare dumbing down their games? Dragon Age II might be proof of this.

Whether it is out of demand for more cinematic and easier to play games, or out of a need to please the console crowd, BioWare, like many companies, is going straight down the path of casualizing their video games. We've seen it all before. At first, it was regenerating health. And then, it was the conversations wheel. Now, it's hack and slash action.

I watched several gameplay videos of Dragon Age II today and became very apprehensive about the changes they have made. The animations are still as awkward as ever. The game looks more like a hack and slash than an RPG descended from the roots of DnD. You can no longer tilt back the camera like in Baldur's Gate II (or the original Dragon Age, for that matter). There are a number of other tweaks as well, but I can safely say that Dragon Age II is no spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate II.

I don't know what is forcing BioWare to abandon their roots (they pretty much created one of the best CRPGs of all time, and they are throwing all that away just to please the casual crowd and console kiddies?), but Dragon Age II and Mass Effect (no matter how good the mainstream press declares them to be) will ever recapture the complexity, mystique, and general satisfaction that games like Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, and Icewind Dale once had.

I blame the need to cater to console kiddies for these changes. I know, EA has to make money, but these changes bother me because there is simply no respect for traditions and old conventions anymore! Especially traditions that have made these games popular to begin with!

Mass effect 2 was already proof. But I suspect DA 2 will be streamlined as well. It sort of already is considering you have to be Hawke.. what is this?? A jrpg? I though bioware was criticising JRPG devs for this stuff?

Mass effect 2 was already proof. But I suspect DA 2 will be streamlined as well. It sort of already is considering you have to be Hawke.. what is this?? A jrpg? I though bioware was criticising JRPG devs for this stuff?

Espada12

You noticed that? Somehow, more I watch gameplay of DA 2, i'm like wow... This seems much like the JRPG Grandia then what Bioware likes to spit off as a WRPG.

Honestly, I' rather Dragon Age do its own thing than try to be too much like Bioware's older works. Some people need to begin enjoying games for what they are and not what they expected them to be.

ME2 > ME1 for everything with the possible exception of story. If it's called dumbing down, I hope they beat DA:O over the head with a crowbar to make DA2, because I couldn't stand the gameplay.

Obligatory: DragonAge was painfully boring anyway, and the sequel looks even more painfully boring :]jg4xchamp

Almost as boring as Supernatural if I may add.

lol

ME2 > ME1 for everything with the possible exception of story. If it's called dumbing down, I hope they beat DA:O over the head with a crowbar to make DA2, because I couldn't stand the gameplay.

Twin-Blade

"I don't want my RPGs to play like RPGs"

Bioware is the most overrated developer out there. They produced one mediocre game after another.

They've been riding Baldurs Gate II success for so long. Now that it's worn off, EA marketing comes to the rescue.

[QUOTE="jg4xchamp"]Obligatory: DragonAge was painfully boring anyway, and the sequel looks even more painfully boring :]GreenGoblin2099

Almost as boring as Supernatural if I may add.

lol

Or the Green Goblin as a villain.

Whether it is out of demand for more cinematic and easier to play games, or out of a need to please the console crowd, BioWare, like many companies, is going straight down the path of casualizing their video games. We've seen it all before. At first, it was regenerating health. And then, it was the conversations wheel. Now, it's hack and slash action.

The_Capitalist

BioWare has said that you can play it with with either the hack and slash combat, or with the pause and play combat like the original.

[QUOTE="Twin-Blade"]

ME2 > ME1 for everything with the possible exception of story. If it's called dumbing down, I hope they beat DA:O over the head with a crowbar to make DA2, because I couldn't stand the gameplay.

Raymundo_Manuel

"I don't want my RPGs to play like RPGs"

As far as Biowares RPGs are concerned, sure.

>I blame the need to cater to console kiddies for these changes. I know, EA has to make money, but these changes bother me because there is simply no respect for traditions and old conventions anymore! Especially traditions that have made these games popular to begin with!The_Capitalist

[QUOTE="GreenGoblin2099"]

[QUOTE="jg4xchamp"]Obligatory: DragonAge was painfully boring anyway, and the sequel looks even more painfully boring :]Twin-Blade

Almost as boring as Supernatural if I may add.

lol

Or the Green Goblin as a villain.

Why man, why?? Ido no harm!!! :cry:

[QUOTE="jg4xchamp"]Obligatory: DragonAge was painfully boring anyway, and the sequel looks even more painfully boring :]GreenGoblin2099

Almost as boring as Supernatural if I may add.

lol

[QUOTE="Twin-Blade"]

Or the Green Goblin as a villain.

GreenGoblin2099

Why man, why?? Ido no harm!!! :cry:

I haven't watched Supernatural for years, but it was pretty cool at the time...

...But honestly, I just wanted to use that gif. Green Goblin is a cool guy.

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

Mass effect 2 was already proof. But I suspect DA 2 will be streamlined as well. It sort of already is considering you have to be Hawke.. what is this?? A jrpg? I though bioware was criticising JRPG devs for this stuff?

jedikevin2

You noticed that? Somehow, more I watch gameplay of DA 2, i'm like wow... This seems much like the JRPG Grandia then what Bioware likes to spit off as a WRPG.

Yeah! You know I wouldn't come down so hard on them if they weren't criticising JRPG. However they are then they are turning around and making their games like them. Except they like giving a false sense of choice to make it pass as innovative or a wrpg...

[QUOTE="GreenGoblin2099"]

[QUOTE="jg4xchamp"]Obligatory: DragonAge was painfully boring anyway, and the sequel looks even more painfully boring :]jg4xchamp

Almost as boring as Supernatural if I may add.

lol

No disclaimer this time?? Seems like you're just trolling me... MODS!!!!

:P

Bioware is the most overrated developer out there. They produced one mediocre game after another.

They've been riding Baldurs Gate II success for so long. Now that it's worn off, EA marketing comes to the rescue.

-Damien-

Dragon Age 2 looks like a fine game honestly. I don't understand the negativity that surrounds this game, especially after the recent footage they have shown us.

Mass Effect 2 was proof of this.

if mass2 didn't hit you in the face, I'm sure this example will.

Dragon Age II is proof? Please, Mass Effect 2 was proof that BioWare couldn't keep something compelling going without cutting corners and dumbing it down, then tossing in CoD design and AI to match.

I'm apprehensive about Dragon Age II, but I don't want to lose hope in BioWare yet. Crappy as Mass Effect 2 is, I still would rate ME1 as a 9.0 on both 360 and PC, and I would rate Dragon Age: Origins as a 10 on PC. I haven't played DA2 obviously, so I can't judge. But I'm very, very apprehensive in regards to it based on the gameplay/dialogue changes. That and the fact that ME2 might stand as the single most over-rated game this gen (96 average on 360? Really?) has me a little on edge.

I really hope Dragon Age II ends up as a quality RPG in a vein that's at least somewhat similar to Origins.

I seen this coming after bioware made that jade empire game... at first exclusive to xbox... consolized dues ex 2 treatment.... I was shocked at Dragon Age 1 but 2 looks to have a serious consolitis!Midnightshade29

Yeah, I played Jade Empire on Xbox, but I was way surprised when a PC version released like two years later. That game just would not translate well to a PC. It's just so basic that the only way to enjoy it would actually be on a console. It's such a basic game in comparison to the two games that followed; Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins.

Granted, I may have to replay it now just to be able to determine if it's still their most basic game or if ME2/DA2 will be taking that spot. :P

What I particularly can't stand is that people think they have become privileged and know enough to criticize RPGs when the only one they've played was Mass Effect 2.

Nah, it looks better than the first (which was painfully boring IMO).

What I particularly can't stand is that people think they have become privileged and know enough to criticize RPGs when the only one they've played was Mass Effect 2.

PSdual_wielder

Dragon Age II is proof? Please, Mass Effect 2 was proof that BioWare couldn't keep something compelling going without cutting corners and dumbing it down, then tossing in CoD design and AI to match.

I'm apprehensive about Dragon Age II, but I don't want to lose hope in BioWare yet. Crappy as Mass Effect 2 is, I still would rate ME1 as a 9.0 on both 360 and PC, and I would rate Dragon Age: Origins as a 10 on PC. I haven't played DA2 obviously, so I can't judge. But I'm very, very apprehensive in regards to it based on the gameplay/dialogue changes. That and the fact that ME2 might stand as the single most over-rated game this gen (96 average on 360? Really?) has me a little on edge.

I really hope Dragon Age II ends up as a quality RPG in a vein that's at least somewhat similar to Origins.

NeonNinja

^This. For the love of all that is holy, ^THIS. Be enriched by this man's wisdom.DarkLink77

[QUOTE="PSdual_wielder"]

What I particularly can't stand is that people think they have become privileged and know enough to criticize RPGs when the only one they've played was Mass Effect 2.

jonathant5

Which is the very reason it is calles a "Action-RPG"

Then you hardly did any side quests.

Again, if you didn't do any side quests.

If you did do the side quests. I beat KOTOR in about eight hours with doing no side quests.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]^This. For the love of all that is holy, ^THIS. Be enriched by this man's wisdom.IronBass

Oh, IB. I've missed our little discussions. :D

In other news, you're wrong.

Oh, IB. I've missed our little discussions. :D

In other news, you're wrong.DarkLink77

Enjoy.

Has a Dynasty Warriors feel on it

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]Oh, IB. I've missed our little discussions. :D

In other news, you're wrong.IronBass

Enjoy.

Has a Dynasty Warriors Dynasty Warriors feel on it. :]

Except that you can totally pause and play, like they do in the video. You disappoint me, IB. You used to be better than this.DarkLink77

You canpause, but the game is still built around an action game.WOODynasty Dragon Age

You canpause, but the game is still built around an action game.WOODynasty Dragon Age

IronBass

That's not Dynasty Warriors, bro. I can't just keep pressing X. :P

Why u mad, IB? I ain't mad.

[QUOTE="NeonNinja"]

Dragon Age II is proof? Please, Mass Effect 2 was proof that BioWare couldn't keep something compelling going without cutting corners and dumbing it down, then tossing in CoD design and AI to match.

I'm apprehensive about Dragon Age II, but I don't want to lose hope in BioWare yet. Crappy as Mass Effect 2 is, I still would rate ME1 as a 9.0 on both 360 and PC, and I would rate Dragon Age: Origins as a 10 on PC. I haven't played DA2 obviously, so I can't judge. But I'm very, very apprehensive in regards to it based on the gameplay/dialogue changes. That and the fact that ME2 might stand as the single most over-rated game this gen (96 average on 360? Really?) has me a little on edge.

I really hope Dragon Age II ends up as a quality RPG in a vein that's at least somewhat similar to Origins.

DarkLink77

Wow. Was that like an endorsement from you?

*sniff*

THANKS BRAH!!!

Sure you can pause... But lets be honest... If you can go past content without pausing. Do you NEED to pause? Aint pausing over kill? You know like lighting a cig with a flamethrower?KalDurenik

[QUOTE="KalDurenik"]Sure you can pause... But lets be honest... If you can go past content without pausing. Do you NEED to pause? Aint pausing over kill? You know like lighting a cig with a flamethrower?DarkLink77

Why u mad, IB? I ain't mad.DarkLink77

[spoiler]

Problem, DarkLink?

[QUOTE="KalDurenik"]Sure you can pause... But lets be honest... If you can go past content without pausing. Do you NEED to pause? Aint pausing over kill? You know like lighting a cig with a flamethrower?DarkLink77

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]Why u mad, IB? I ain't mad.IronBass

Problem, DarkLink?

Bro, I don't even know what award that's for. :P

Also, this. But you'd know that if you read mah blog. You jerk.

[spoiler] Man, IB, you're losing your touch. I expect better from you. [/spoiler]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

[QUOTE="KalDurenik"]Sure you can pause... But lets be honest... If you can go past content without pausing. Do you NEED to pause? Aint pausing over kill? You know like lighting a cig with a flamethrower?KalDurenik