TL;DR (facts about Hawke/DA2):
-Hawke is not god baby; nor is Morrigan the mom
-Human, can be male or female, usual appearance customization options remain intact along with class selection.
-The game takes place probably in the second half of the Dragon Age (since DA starts around the 30th year or so of that age. Some people are speculating it's a prequel instead of "sequel" but that's highly doubtful due to what's been stated (Hawke being a Blight survivor and there being a 400 year lapse between Fourth and Fifth Blights).
-More DLC and patches for DA, both Origins and Awakening before DA2 (not too hopeful on this due to you get less than what you pay for)
-Hawke WILL be fully voiced
-Hawke used to live in Lothering prior to the start of the Blight before he fled north to Kirkwall. One small speculation is that if DA2 starts with Hawke's escape from Lothering, then technically, your Warden and his companions are still alive, making DA2 somewhat concurrent with DA:O and A.
-On that note, Kirkwall is in the Free Marches, so we're OUTSIDE of Ferelden and basically right below the Tevinter Imperium (might have connection to mage lady in Game Informer Cover?)
-According to Game Informer, this isn't about a Blight or some ancient evil; so we'll have to wait and see what the plotline will be like.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kujoe
(Post 3132190)
Hmmm. I can imagine a Front Mission 5 style chronology here.
If Hawke's adventure begins after the flight from Lothering, and thereafter takes place in the span of ten years, then his story will go past the events of Awakenings. Perhaps we'll see events taking place while the events of DAO and DAA were going on and then beyond that, but the setting is no longer Ferelden. Moreover, according to Game Informer, the narrative of DA2 is being retold as it happened in the past.
Some more info:
1) We will be able to import our DA:O games into DA2. (!)
2) We will see Flemeth at some point. (!)
3) Pissing off party members won't always be a bad thing. "They won't necessarily leave. They may still join you, but they're going to try to show you up, and that may influence battle in a different way."
4) We're getting the ME2 conversation wheel, but this time instead of having some dialogue be a particular color the center of the wheel will show a symbol to show what kind of reply it is. (The article uses the examples of them being something like aggressive or sarcastic) (wait, what?)
5) The way the story unfolds will be very different compared to the past Bioware games. "Dragon Age II has a framed narrative structure, which means that the exploits of Hawke occured in the past, but are being retold in the present." "Narrators with unique insights into the events in question tell the tale of his past adventures."
6) We may get to see some of the DA:O events at the start from a different perspective. "Dragon Age II begins as the events of Origins are still taking place, so you may see some familiar events from a different angle."
7) Because of the game spanning a decade, we get to see the consequences of our actions sooner, rather than in a little text at the end of the game.
8) The PC version's combat system remains mostly the same. "The PC version implements the same strategic approach afforded by a mouse-and-keyboard control scheme." "Rather than try to mimic the PC experience on consoles, Dragon Age II has a battle system more tailored to the strengths of the PS3 and 360."
* The story of DA2 starts at the time of the darkspawn attack on Ferelden.
* Flemeth will appear
* Mages will have slow-motion finishing moves.
* Mages have been given more flexibility in battle
* There is significant difference in different classes as they engage in combat. This likely refers to more difference in fighting styles between warriors and rogues.
* Dragon Age is a multifaceted story, Dragon Age II marks a shift to another facet; while the Grey Warden quelled the Blight in Ferelden, other people across Thedas had their own adventures.
* Dragon Age II takes place in a new region, with a new hero and story.
* The new hero's tale begins in Lothering.
Lead-in
* BioWare is one of the premier RPG developers in the world, gamers embraced Dragon Age: Origins' old-school aesthetic because of BioWare's skillful implementation.
* BioWare views Dragon Age as an enduring property with multiple installments, knows that old-school mechanics can't be counted on forever.
* Dragon Age II more than a sequel, establishes a new identity for the Dragon Age universe, no longer bound by being a spiritual successor to another series.
* Executive Director Mark Darrah: "At the core, what we're doing is trying to give Dragon Age a shot of adrenaline. It means amping everything up... but keeping what already works."
* Dragon Age II will not leave behind its roots, just allows players to experience elements in new ways and expand lore.
"The Champion"
* Hawke is a legend in his time, Champion of Kirkwall; like all legends, his history is shrouded in mystery and rumor. He escaped Lothering as it was destroyed and fled to Kirkwall. What Hawke did between his escape and his rise to prominence is covered by Dragon Age II.
* No "ancient evil you have to defeat", the game revolves around the question of who Hawke is that is answered by player decisions.
* Hawke is a more defined character than the Warden from the previous game. He/she is human, but this allows BioWare to provide voice acting for the character, a cue taken from BioWare's Mass Effect franchise. BioWare felt limited by keeping the Warden mute.
* Dragon Age II will use a conversation system similar to Mass Effect, players will select dialogue options from a wheel. An icon at the wheel's center illustrates an option's intent, like aggressive or sarcastic.
"Consistent Universe"
* Mass Effect let players carry over decisions between games, Dragon Age players can expect a similar level of consistency from Dragon Age II.
* Choices the Warden from the first game made are reflected in the sequel, such as who is ruling Ferelden and who killed the Archdemon.
* BioWare's goal is to let decisions carry across different platforms as well. Executive Director Mark Darrah: "...If you played the first game on PC and the second game on console, we'd be able to react to your choices."
* Dragon Age II has an established canon if the player has not completed the first game.
Notable Image Captions
* Will we see any character from Origins in Dragon Age II? "We are certainly not done with Morrigan's story," hints lead designer Mike Laidlaw. "I can say that."
* Darkspawn are still a threat in Dragon Age II, but they are less dangerous without an archdemon to lead them.
"A Story in Pieces"
* Major goal of the game is to expand the player's understanding of the universe as a whole.
* Story will span 10 years of Hawke's life, new format has allowed BioWare to "mess around" with the narrative structure of their previous games: go through the intro, beat stand-alone areas, then play the final mission.
* Hawke's adventures occurred in the past, are being retold in the present where Hawke is already Kirkwall's champion.
* Story is essentially a conversation between a male dwarf named Varric and a female Chantry Seeker. At the time, the world is on the brink of war; the Seeker believes that by understanding Hawke's actions, she can prevent the war. Varric is a reluctant narrator of Hawke's story.
Notable Image Captions
* Dragon Age II begins as the events of Origins are still taking place, so you may see some familiar events from a different angle.
"Make Your Choice"
* Dragon Age II continues tradition of no defined morality system.
* Consequences of decisions will be experienced much sooner because the game encompasses a larger span of time. If you save a city, it will be there later in the narrative; if the city is destroyed, the player can see how that affects the region.
* Mike Laidlaw: "Instead of waiting 80 hours for an epilogue that tells me who got married and who did what, I get to see those interactions within hours."
* Like Origins, there will be a range of major and minor choices.
* In Origins, party members would abandon the Warden if he made decisions they did not like, resulting in players not using certain party members even if they were the best ones to use for a quest. This "meta-game" is gone in Dragon Age II. If a character disagrees with the player's actions, they may still complain. However, the player can now be openly hostile to party members and still unlock combat bonuses, previously only available when the player established positive relationships.
"A Makeover for Thedas"
* Origins' visuals did not translate well to consoles from PC, team is making an effort to "hot rod the art" and make it distinct.
* BioWare believes Origins' art style was "a little bit messy, kind of overwrought, pretty generic."
* New art style consists of "better use of negative space and more angular, grim depictions of your surroundings."
* Team felt that the "whimsical qualities" of Origins' art "didn't reflect the austere nature of the world."
"A Better Battlefield"
* Mike Laidlaw: "Warrior, mage, and rogue are archetypes for a reason, but I don't know that Origins delineated between the enough... A rogue dual-wielding was just a warrior with less armor in some cases. What I want to do is make sure that you feel like this unstoppable juggernaut, a lithe super-ninja, or field artillery."
* Mark Darrah: "What we want to do is give the player more depth of choice. So you might really like the fireball. We're going to let you customize and enhance the fireball itself, so by the end of the game you're actually tailoring that spell to the way you want it to be."
* Fewer abilities overall, but more ways to customize them as the player prefers.
Notable Image Captions
* This dragon is more than it appears. After swooping down and grabbing a darkspawn in its talons, it transforms into a familiar figure: Flemeth. Still holding the dead darkspawn in her hand, Flemeth walks through the flames and approaches Hawke, saying: "Well, well. What have we here?"
* Warrior, rogue, and mage are the three base classes, but each one will feature even more specializations.
"Two Dragon Ages"
* "BioWare acknowledges a disparity in the gameplay on the platforms. Where the PC version emphasized a pause-and-play approach heavy on strategy, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions couldn't deliver tactics on the same level."
* PC versions of Dragon Age II will retain the strategic feel of Origins, but console versions will be "more tailored to the strengths of the PS3 and 360." Console versions to be faster and more responsive, "no more shuffling into position as you wait for your maneuver to activate."
* Versions across all platforms will have the same content despite different gameplay methodologies.
Notable Image Captions
* Magic spells can now deal finishing blows, like making an ogre explode with crushing prison.
So what do you think ?
tkdtiger
2010-07-20 18:52
personally I didn't want to start a new hero...I wanted to play "my" hero and continue his quest...oh well overall though it looks like it will be a pretty good game...
BetoJR
2010-07-21 08:22
I'm actually enjoying what I'm seeing and reading so far. Hopefully, it'll be a good continuation to a great game.
Goddess_suki
2010-07-21 21:56
I loved the first one! I am really looking forward to Dragon Age 2.
synaesthetic
2010-07-21 22:08
Oh great, another sequel.
I was really happy when Bioware decided to do the first Dragon Age, bringing an excellent fantasy CRPG with a new and fresh IP, instead of Yet Another Forgotten Realms D&D Title.
Shit practically every game at E3 2010 had a number in the title. :(
Who
2010-07-21 22:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkdtiger
(Post 3150502)
personally I didn't want to start a new hero...I wanted to play "my" hero and continue his quest...oh well overall though it looks like it will be a pretty good game...
I'm in a similar position as well, although what I've heard about a portion of the game taking place concurrently alongside Origins and Awakening (which from my estimates is about 2-3 years overall... traveling back and forth across Ferelden on foot sucks) is intriguing. I'll feel some small token of condolence and amusement to hear a rumor (ingame playing as Hawke) from an NPC or something about my Warden defiling the Ashes of Andraste or something. :eyespin: This is where I hope the importing filesaves comes into play.
velocd
2010-07-21 22:32
Quote:
Originally Posted by synaesthetic
(Post 3152433)
bringing an excellent fantasy CRPG with a new and fresh IP, instead of Yet Another Forgotten Realms D&D Title.(
Yet another? You speak as if Bioware was churning Forgotten Realms games. Their last Forgotten Realms game was Neverwinter Nights in 2003. Before that was Baldur's Gate 2 in 2000.
I enjoyed Dragon Age, but honestly, and I think I speak for most classic isometric RPG fans, I would give my left arm for Baldur's Gate 3. (prefer my right arm for clicking)
kujoe
2010-07-22 01:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by velocd
(Post 3152469)
I enjoyed Dragon Age, but honestly, and I think I speak for most classic isometric RPG fans, I would give my left arm for Baldur's Gate 3. (prefer my right arm for clicking)
Well, there was supposed to be a Baldur's Gate 3 by Black Isle, which was written as an indirect sequel. Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound.
It was supposed to be a more story-based, low level campaign... totally different.
velocd
2010-07-22 09:52
Quote:
Originally Posted by kujoe
(Post 3152625)
Well, there was supposed to be a Baldur's Gate 3 by Black Isle, which was written as an indirect sequel. Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound.
It was supposed to be a more story-based, low level campaign... totally different.
That project has been in the works forever, tossed around like Duke Nukem Forever. If it's not by Bioware it's no sequel to me. :P
Unfortunately that may never happen because Bioware doesn't have the license to Baldur's Gate anymore. (Atari does)
Crimrui
2010-07-22 10:23
So in short we are getting a Dragon Age/Mass Effect hybrid? Sounds cool. I'm sure BioWare will deliver, but I only wish they make some better and larger variety of armor choices for both male and females. Some sexy ones you know? ;)
BetoJR
2010-07-22 10:55
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crimson Cloud
(Post 3153254)
So in short we are getting a Dragon Age/Mass Effect hybrid?
Not having played Mass Effect (don't have an X-BOX and my notebook cannot handle the games), I don't see this as such a bad move, myself. All the cries of overt simplification of the game and whatnot... I'll wait for the more hands-on opinions before anything.
Oh, who am I kidding, I'll probably buy this the day it's released, like I have all of the DLC's for the first one, already...
Who
2010-07-22 18:04
For anyone who's interested in history and setting of games, here's DA's timeline, right from the Ancient Times to the events of the games.
Will try and look for a Game Informer at Gamestop tomorrow.
kujoe
2010-07-23 03:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by velocd
(Post 3153223)
That project has been in the works forever, tossed around like Duke Nukem Forever. If it's not by Bioware it's no sequel to me. :P
Unfortunately that may never happen because Bioware doesn't have the license to Baldur's Gate anymore. (Atari does)
Too bad though. It sounds kinda Planescape-like. More on the plot or role-playing, but less on the action.
I always consider Black Isle/Obsidian to usually have more compelling ideas or stories compared to Bioware—Plansecape: Torment, Mask of the Betrayer, Fallout and so on—but Bioware puts out a more well-built product.
Anyway, with DA2 focusing on this so-called Champion of Kirkwall, it'll be interesting to play as a hero who isn't a Grey Warden. It's like breaking the current Bioware RPG pattern of eventually joining some secretive, elite group in order to save the day (Jedi/Spectre/Grey Warden).
technomo12
2010-07-23 06:19
awesome
now i get to use my old DA:O saved files
BetoJR
2010-07-23 06:49
Quote:
Originally Posted by kujoe
(Post 3154679)
Anyway, with DA2 focusing on this so-called Champion of Kirkwall, it'll be interesting to play as a hero who isn't a Grey Warden. It's like breaking the current Bioware RPG pattern of eventually joining some secretive, elite group in order to save the day (Jedi/Spectre/Grey Warden).
Hmmm... if they do stick with it, that would actually be a refreshing change. There's hope for it, yet - with all the "you choose what you become" emphasis. Let's see.
Irenicus
2010-07-23 09:34
Quote:
Originally Posted by synaesthetic
Oh great, another sequel.
It was always known that Bioware planned DA to be the next big franchise, no? They even called the first game "Origins."
Quote:
Originally Posted by velocd
(Post 3153223)
Unfortunately that may never happen because Bioware doesn't have the license to Baldur's Gate anymore. (Atari does)
Didn't everyone just take Origins as the spiritual sequel anyway? It's not like they were going to continue the Bhaalspawn saga since that one's done and over with. It's the era of the Darkspawn instead, yo.
Naturally I'm totally looking forward to this game.
That said, while Origins was a magnificent RPG by any standards, I think Bioware is taking their own universe a bit too seriously. Art direction more austere than Origins? They make it sound like Ferelden was a magical fairyland of floating cities and glittering dreamscapes, and not the filthy backwater of wet dogs and grimdark men that it was! The DA universe was already a more austere version of the Forgotten Realms anyway, what's with mages being demon-bait, elves oppressed by xenophobia, and the darkspawn borrowing heavily from Tolkien's original orcs before everybody else decided to humanize the lot culminating in a certain green dude named Thrall.
Eh, I guess that's one thing JRPGs will always get one over the West. They don't feel the need to blush and act tough when they want their fantasy worlds to sparkle.
Velsy
2010-07-23 10:01
I still dissapointed with the ending to Dragon age, I havent really considered getting the expansion nor Dragon age 2 :/
I am amazed at the work they did in Dragon age, but the ending was just poor :/. So its not like I really encouraged to continue the story.
BetoJR
2010-07-23 10:29
What was so poor about those endings, if I may ask? The conclusion itself, or the text panels?
In my own opinion, the first game had some of the most satisfying endings this side of Heavy Rain and similar story-heavy offerings.
tkdtiger
2010-07-23 14:32
well I hope that if they make a third game you can continue using your hero and hawke (is that his name?) Will be part of your group...that way it become a trilogy...
Arbitres
2010-07-23 14:52
I hope that next game, they skip 100+ years instead of just 10. I don't have a problem with it, I just think it'd make for easier story telling. (Bioware tends to carry baggage in my opinion.)
Hopefully they do add polearms. I'd really like my halberd right about now~
I wonder if the Green Blade will be seen again? (You know, just throwing that out as a possible outcome of a choice. Would be pretty cool.)
