Dragon Age II Preview

Cheat Code Central has joined the fray with a brief preview of Dragon Age II that covers much of the same ground as the other recent articles we've seen around the 'net.
The gameplay of Dragon Age 2 is also receiving a large makeover. Where Origins was designed for the PC and then converted to the console, DA 2 will be uniquely designed for each platform. This will make the game more reactive to commands, as well as give the action a more natural feel. There is also going to be a larger emphasis on the action and combat of the game. The BioWare team wants you to (think like a general and fight like a Spartan.) Basically, this is saying that while you will be looking at the overall combat from a tactical perspective, you will also be right there in the thick of the fight. BioWare has always been known for their legendary storytelling in games, while the action is generally a little slower and more tactical. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see the results of this focus on making the combat as epic as the story that goes with it.

As previously stated, the story of DA 2 is going to be covering a much larger area of the map of Thedas. This will give players a look into the different cultures and races that were only mentioned in passing in Origins. The Qunari, for example, remained a mystery in Origins, despite being able to join forces with one of their race. Sten, the Qunari who joins you, never talked much about his culture or his people, leaving them in a shadow of mystery. Now, this shadow promises to be lifted, at least partially. While the role the powerful race will play in Dragon Age 2 remains unknown, the art department at BioWare has been hard at work to give them a distinct, evolved look from what we saw in Sten.