Immediate reactions

[fable]

New game, heavily anticipated, lots of remarkably stupid and misleading PR, advance reviews by fanboys drowning in their own drool. Ah, but what's your impression, now that you've bought and had a chance to try out the game? Give us your immediate impressions, with some explanation.

[Ned Flanders]

Ah, it's a ruse. I opened the thread under the pretense I'd be reading your immediate reactions to the game.

Well, I've got it but won't be installing until tonight. Having followed bits and pieces of development over the years and being satisfied with any bioware title I've played, I am looking forward to it.

In reading reviews I'm delighted to know the heavy metal score accompanying the advertising campaign are not part of the game soundtrack. Not that I have a problem with heavy metal, just don't think it fits.

I'll post some opinions soon enough. I really hope the game stays away from the NPC pool that has been present in most CRPG's as of late. Wasn't really a fan of the NWN2 tavern hosting all NPCs and picking and choosing who you want with you on a particular expedition while the rest sit idly awaiting your return. BG2 still reigns supreme in how it handles your possible party members.

[Gauda]

I remember clearly how excited I was when Dragon Age was first announced, not such a short while after I first got to complete BG2. Then years went on, and we heard nothing. I found never winter nights to be extremely disappointing, and when Mass effect came out, I cared nothing for it, because the fighting was bad and boring and even more so for the cliché story. I ended up playing it to the end though. I began to doubt in bioware's ability or wish to make good games anymore. So when screenshots and previews started surfacing and that horrific trailer with "this is the new ****" showed its ghastly appendage on my computer screen, I began to think that this game almost looks comically bad.

So I wasn't exactly holding my breath at launch, and was hardly surprised to see DA get rave reviews - almost always a result of a much hyped game. However, I got cautiously optimistic when reading in one review that many fights where outright hard requiring a lot of tactics to overcome, and that the game doesn't exactly make it obvious which parts are hard and easy. This is exactly the thing that made BG2 such an extraordinarily great game for me. So I decided to try it.

When I first got into the main menu I got pleasantly surprised: Instead of "the new ****" coming out of my speakers, there was this comforting soothing music, I went into options and found out that I could actually turn of plot helps that show me where I need to go for example, forcing me to think for myself, and I once again got more optimistic. I haven't been able to past the intro, and so far the story isn't very interesting, but I've at least got confirmed that the fighting is indeed challenging (at least at hard), and that even with two people in the party you have to be tactical to survive the battle. It also uses traps well (much like BG2), and in that regard I wonder if there's any way to detect and disable these traps`? Haven't found a way yet.

Anyway, my first impression was actually overwhelmingly positive compared to the expectations I had before the game, and I am pretty sure I will see this game through to the end, and maybe even enjoy myself

[Crenshinibon]

So I went got out of Network Administration early and skipped project management to go to GameStop and pick the game up.

The case looks even better in person, but maybe that's because I'm excited. I personally thought it was unclear as to where to open it, but yes, you just cut the tape and slide it out of the protective covering, not sideways. Underneath the sword, on both sides of the tin case, we have the mark of the Grey Warden and inside there is the cloth map (whose crudeness and bloodstains make it look very nice). The map smells a lot like Magic: The Gathring Cards.

I like the case, it looks to be well made.

The manual I thought was pretty short and while most of the information is only helpful to players new to the game, I found that it did elaborate on some aspects of the game which I wasn't clear on. Most of us that play Baldur's Gate and understand how flanking works can afford to skip it.

Currently I'm installing the game, so the rest of the impressions will wait until later.

EDIT: I tried to redeem the codes for the Collector's Edition material, but none of it would work. Apparently a lot of people are having this issue.

[BlueSky]

Hopefully the son-in-law has picked up his copy by now and probably about 2 hrs in.......so when I get off work today...should have some info, and will be able to see with my own eyes, the gameplay and graphics.....
looking forward to other members impressions.....

[endboss]

You guys with the game, what kind of video cards do you have?

I really want to get it but knowing how games have been shipped the past several years I'm patiently waiting for the first patch. It's ****ING AMAZING to hear that you can turn off the hand-holding stuff and that combat actually poses a challenge (I bet it was listed as a negative in those "professional" reviews, am I right? lol).

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by endboss You guys with the game, what kind of video cards do you have? I really want to get it but knowing how games have been shipped the past several years I'm patiently waiting for the first patch. It's ****ING AMAZING to hear that you can turn off the hand-holding stuff and that combat actually poses a challenge (I bet it was listed as a negative in those "professional" reviews, am I right? lol).

My copy actually came today instead of tomorrow. I've got a GeForce 9600 GT, and no problems running the game. I've just made a character, and entered the tutorial after reading the manual, so I can tell you this much: yes, you can turn off all visual evidence of handholding, or leave it on only for areas you've already explored, or turn it on completely. As for combat, it appears that there are nice flanking attacks, and friendly fire, as well as the ability to combine spells for greater effectiveness (but you won't know whichs do so until you experiment or presumably find/purchase info about this).

EDIT: Interesting: you can see a comparison of an item you're examining with a similar one you're using/wearing. I've heard of this in other games, but not seen it, before.

[Aqua-chan]

I've had a few hours now with the game (Go figure today would be the one day at work I got held over for a double - what a nightmare), and I feel comfortable with giving a sound evaluation "at a glance".

Naturally I am playing on the Xbox version, so my experience will probably vary from that of most people here, since we tend to be a PC community at large. In terms of technical tidbits... In all honestly, after hearing all the raving about how the the console versions were sub-par to PC, I have to say that I don't feel my gaming experience has been negatively affected much.

Much.

My only real gripes are the A) over-sensitive camera and movement controls even after I had tried to adjust them and B) the fact that I can't select an NPC directly; I have to toggle through the line. It's ultimately not a huge problem since there's only four to a party, but when your third-in-line is two seconds away from blacking out and you can't get the healing potion to them in time... yeah, that's annoying.

But otherwise, I've adapted pretty well.

I've gotten into the swing of leveling up. It's really in the same vein as D&D, hardly notice a difference if you squint a little. I was worried I was going to have trouble building up an effective Rogue character, but so far it's all been very intuitive. Those of us whom played with the Character Builder BW launched a while back know that your class abilities are organized into different sections. For Rogues it's your lockpick/stealth-like powers, Archery, and Dual Wielding. I was a little put off that my character has to specialize in dual wielding, but just two slots in there's little penalty incurred. Subsequently I have had no trouble leveling up my team members either. I'm not as familiar with warriors and mages, but it's not hard to play it by ear and still have really successful characters.

Without going into too much detail, the character interaction (at least between Morrigan and Alistair, the only party members I've been using in addition to my war hound) is well done. The party members frequently banter in towns and safe areas, and I can frequently start new dialogs with them. Conversations with them affect an Approval rating - things you say directly to them and how you handle various situations can raise or lower their opinion of you, like an advanced version of the NPC-reputation system in Baldur's Gate. I haven't started outright abusing any of my squaddies yet, though I'm sure I'll be tempted to eventually. For now I'm content to stop and snicker every time one of them starts up with the banters.

[fable]

I'll just note that the apprentice mage's initial challenge in the Fade (no spoilers, there) has strong overtones of PS:T in the character writing and archetypes--might even be a sort of nod of homage. Very good, despite the disappointing way riddles are handled (multiple choice).

[Gauda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable I'll just note that the apprentice mage's initial challenge in the Fade (no spoilers, there) has strong overtones of PS:T in the character writing and archetypes--might even be a sort of nod of homage. Very good, despite the disappointing way riddles are handled (multiple choice).

Indeed, I found that the origin story I decided to start with, common dwarf had a very "the witcher"ish feel. I also smiled at the very BGish intro, complete with the fading quote in the beginning .

Anyway I asked this in my previous post, but didn't seem like anyone saw it, so I'll ask again: Does anyone know if there's a way to detect and disarm traps, or do you just have to bypass them?

[Ragin Cajun]

I'm very happy with the game thusfar.

Started off with an elven mage and have gotten several hours into the game. I went back and started a human warrior to see the start up section.

Gotta say the graphics are good. No bugs that I've noticed thusfar. Smooth frame transition and quick screen loads. Might have to dial the gore down for the kids to watch me play though.

I must say the one thing that kind of bothered me was the anticlimactic Joining to become a Grey Warden. The first two guys in the group...pretty awesome. And then me...ok, done. What? What happened? Other than the quick dream sequence that kind of left me wanting more. Hope there are not too many things like that in the game.

Oh, if you've gotten to the first big battle...I SO WANT TO KILL THAT GUY!!!

[Ragin Cajun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauda Indeed, I found that the origin story I decided to start with, common dwarf had a very "the witcher"ish feel. I also smiled at the very BGish intro, complete with the fading quote in the beginning . Anyway I asked this in my previous post, but didn't seem like anyone saw it, so I'll ask again: Does anyone know if there's a way to detect and disarm traps, or do you just have to bypass them?

Now that you mention that, I thought about The Witcher as well while playing.

As for traps, the manual says that a rogue can "attempt to disarm enemy traps by right clicking on the trap".

[Tricky]

I wonder where they got that shining idea.

[stanolis]

for the 360, the graphics seems alittle low for this day and age. not a big thing for me. I am only to level 5/6, but it seems to missing something. i cannot put my finger on it.

it also bothers me that alot of the scenery is fake and they have to 'sparkle' the items of interest, lootable corpes.

maybe missing some important tutorial scenes : i cannot understand how to properly attack as a group. it sounds stupid, but in mass effect. i could effectively operate my team with just the 'power' menu. what am i missing?

my character also feels majorly underpowered. it took me an hour to kill the first 'troll'? i kept dying and i could never heal anyone fast enough to save them. i am playing a archer (rogue) and that may explain some of it. i may not be using the correct skills/powers to be an effective killer and using the more interesting ones. i definitelly need to look at character build templates. i don't what to waste any more time on a bad character, if i have truly screwed up .

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanolis it also bothers me that alot of the scenery is fake and they have to 'sparkle' the items of interest, lootable corpes.

I'm bothered by the fact that they went to all that trouble to create attractive interiors with voiced dialog NPCs, yet you can still stand right in front of people and loot their private belongings. Same as always, and just as dumb.