Last year, Bioware's Dragon Age was a stunning, popular success. It is no surprise that most of us are waiting eagerly for the next installment. Gameinformer is releasing exclusive information every two days and there are also a few rumours running around on various gaming websites and magazines. So, here's what we know.
The story will be about a human called Hawke, who may be male or female and will be fully voiced either way. Hawke was in Lothering before it was destroyed by the darkspawn, and he fled north, out of Ferelden. The story will have a ten-year timeline and it will not be about ending Blights or some ancient evil. It is about Hawke and his choices and how be becomes the Champion of Kirkwall.
Graphics will also be improved and improvements to the combat system made. While the PC will retain its tactical elements, the consoles will get a new combat system that will take advantage of their controls. I have mixed feelings about the last bit. Will the console gameplay be turned into something similar to Oblivion? Or will the combat system be drastically changed to make console gameplay comfortable? Personally, I'd prefer something similar to the PC's that would work on the console. I liked the tactical element in Dragon Age on the PS3, even though it was frustatingly limited at times.
Gameinformer has also released some interesting background information to spice up the the background of the Dragon Age world. There's a timeline with the major events and an interactive map with at least ten clickable locations and which will show you the whole continent and how small Ferelden really is.
A German game magazine called Gamestar also has got its hand on exclusive Dragon Age II information. They mentioned all of the above and some more. Mages, apparently, will be getting the slow-motion finishing moves that rogues and warriors had in Dragon Age: Origins.
They also released some information about Hawke's possible allies. Those mentioned were Bethany, Cassandy, Varric and Flemeth. Yes, that old shapeshifting dragon is still kicking.
Bethany is Hawke's sister, a mage, who according to the magazines, will support him with "fire magic". This might be a possible picture of her: http://www.gamestar.de/_misc/images/original.cfm?pk=2119686
Cassandra is an Inquisitor and has a great interest in Hawke. I have no idea what an Inquisitor is nor was there anything to indicate why she was interested in the hero - or heroine.
Varric is a dwarf, who is also the narrator in the story. I've seen this posted next to his name on a forum post, so I'm just going to put it here just in case: http://images.idgentertainment.de/images/idgwpgsgp/bdb/2119687/300x.jpg
And finally, there's Flemeth. You all know who she is. Her presence raises so many questions. How is she still alive? What the hell is she? And more importantly, is she going to do something about Morrigan?
I'll keep an eye for more information and post it here. Until then, so long.