RobVarak wrote:Took about 7-8 hours before it really sunk its hooks into me, but I'm all in now. Lots of systems to come to grips with (Finish a mission and getting XP and Power and Influence and Perks...it's all a bit kitchen sink, isn't it?) and I wish the min/max process was a little more streamlined, but it's really a damn good game.
I see a hundred + + hours of this game. Just getting used to the controls and what was going on took 3-4.
Its very pretty and its huge but most of all its fun.
I know my wife is somewhere north of 50 and doesn't feel like she's even halfway through.
I'm probably 20 hours in, on 3 different characters and feel I'm barely scratching the surface.
Easily GOTY for me. I don't want to go all nuts with proclamations of greatness, but this is one of my favorite games I've ever played. The longer you go, the more detailed the systems are and the more you appreciate it.
TCrouch wrote:
Easily GOTY for me. I don't want to go all nuts with proclamations of greatness, but this is one of my favorite games I've ever played. The longer you go, the more detailed the systems are and the more you appreciate it.
Exactly.
I keep saying wow wtf!
Just figuring out how to play it is a game.
Bioware put in some serious effort and I am appreciating it more by the minute.
We were just having this discussion. Of all of the games I've played in my life, what would I rank above it? Not much, on sheer volume of things to do and bang for my buck. The combat is fun and there are a few things I wish they had (the tactics like the original Dragon Age, instead of just "follow/defend" and forcing you to use tactical camera), but as far as a $60 game without an always-online world like an MMO, it's easily the most impressive piece of software I've had in quite some time.
TCrouch wrote:We were just having this discussion. Of all of the games I've played in my life, what would I rank above it? Not much, on sheer volume of things to do and bang for my buck. The combat is fun and there are a few things I wish they had (the tactics like the original Dragon Age, instead of just "follow/defend" and forcing you to use tactical camera), but as far as a $60 game without an always-online world like an MMO, it's easily the most impressive piece of software I've had in quite some time.
There are a few design elements that just make me so happy. The easy and elegant re-spec option. The tremendous search function. The integration of the map and journal. All new standards of RPG excellence.
Still a few niggling issues. Inventory management could probably be streamlined a bit more. The skill trees are remarkably simplistic and at least through level 9 this version continues the tradition of remarkably few enemy types. Friendly AI could be better. I specced one of my rogues with twin daggers/stealth and prioritized those skills, but she absolutely never used them unless I took control. She'd hack away doing middling damage. I'd have to take control, execute a stealth attack and just unload a ton of DPS.
Those are small, small blemishes though. It's a stunning game.
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
TCrouch wrote:We were just having this discussion. Of all of the games I've played in my life, what would I rank above it? Not much, on sheer volume of things to do and bang for my buck. The combat is fun and there are a few things I wish they had (the tactics like the original Dragon Age, instead of just "follow/defend" and forcing you to use tactical camera), but as far as a $60 game without an always-online world like an MMO, it's easily the most impressive piece of software I've had in quite some time.
WoW and the Forza series are the only games that have taken up so much of my time.
I find myself doing every side quest that I run into as not to miss anything.
Top three all time games in my book for sure and I dont think Im close to the end even though I have played tens and tens and tens of hours....
I know my wife is getting near the end, but she's got almost 80 hours logged.
I'm nowhere near the end, but I have 3 or 4 characters at 20+ hours each. Had to try a sword and board warrior, a 2H warrior, an archer, a mage, etc. By the time I finish it with one of them, it will probably be 2016.
The more I play it, the more it's my GOTY. You got it on PC and not PS4, right Danimal?
Danimal wrote:Has anyone finished this yet or come close? I keep getting distracted, I feel like a do chasing a ball.
I felt like I was making good progress at around 20hrs. Then <spoiler><spoiler><spoiler><spoiler><spoiler><spoiler>. Holy $hit, this game is freaking huge!!
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
TCrouch wrote:
The more I play it, the more it's my GOTY. You got it on PC and not PS4, right Danimal?
Yes, I contemplated buying it for the XB1 so my 11 year old could play, but some of the content is pushing it for her IMO. During the winter I migrate to the PC since my consoles are set up in my theater room in the basement and it's really cold down there.
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Danimal wrote:Has anyone finished this yet or come close? I keep getting distracted, I feel like a do chasing a ball.
I felt like I was making good progress at around 20hrs. Then <spoiler><spoiler><spoiler><spoiler><spoiler><spoiler>. Holy $hit, this game is freaking huge!!
That little tangent is why I asked the question.
Still went back to the Hinterlands last night to close one very annoying rift.
Yeah, I've found myself dragon hunting lately. Those things are no joke. The one in the Hinterlands was fun, as he'd strafe around and make you work for it. Cutting down a single limb was cool, though, as he'd flop around and limp and wasn't as mobile afterward.
I'm very behind the curve, only having about an hour to put in a night but did everyone complete most of the Hinterlands before moving on? I went back to Haven and started using the War Council room and headed off to the missing solider in that swampy area (name escapes me at the moment) and I'm getting my ass handed to me. Varic seems kind of useless with his crossbow and I feel like I should of put points into the 2 daggers skills.
Generally what level were people when they left the Hinterlands?
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Swampy area should be the third zone you visit, so you pretty much skipped half of Hinterlands and then the entire Storm Coast.
I don't think I hit the Fallow Mire until I was level 10 or 11.
Personally, I treat it like an MMO. I clear everything I can do in a zone before moving to the next. The only things I didn't have done in the Hinterlands before I left were the level 12 rifts and the landmarks/shards. The rifts because they'd beat me down at level 8 or 9, and the shards/landmarks because you have to kill the dragon to get to them.
But in general, I clear absolutely everything I can realistically do before moving on. Even uncovering the entire map.
I ask this question about DA:I and every highly rated RPG: Is this the RPG for people who don't play or "get" RPGs, like me?
If I approached this game with an open mind, would I enjoy it? Is there enough action to keep me entertained, or is it primarily wizards, dragons and spells and all that crap I usually dislike or don't care to wrap my head around?
Thanks.
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pk500 wrote:I ask this question about DA:I and every highly rated RPG: Is this the RPG for people who don't play or "get" RPGs, like me?
If I approached this game with an open mind, would I enjoy it? Is there enough action to keep me entertained, or is it primarily wizards, dragons and spells and all that crap I usually dislike or don't care to wrap my head around?
Thanks.
Well it's entertaining as hell...but there's practically nothing but wizards, dragons and spells. If the fantasy context turns you off, stay away. There's nothing grounding the subject matter in the way of say, Game of Thrones. GoT uses the fantasy setting to tell Shakespeare meets Soap Opera stories that are easy to relate to. This is classic fantasy, where the story is driven by the supernatural.
It's an easy enough game to pick up and play without being a lover of fantasy tropes, but I can't imagine that you'd have the drive to get involved with the astonishing depth of the various systems at work if you aren't compelled by the setting.
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
I wish Origin had an hours played thing like Steam. I still haven't left the Hinterlands, well since coming back. There are like 2 rfits I can't close because I die and some other collection quests. Every time I think I am done I stumble on some new area and get my ass kicked and find new quests. I'm really hoping to find new party members because I want to dump Varric.
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Danimal wrote:I wish Origin had an hours played thing like Steam. I still haven't left the Hinterlands, well since coming back. There are like 2 rfits I can't close because I die and some other collection quests. Every time I think I am done I stumble on some new area and get my ass kicked and find new quests. I'm really hoping to find new party members because I want to dump Varric.
Whats wrong with Rob? but yeah...
For the last two party slots, I find myself going the assassination rogue/mage or two mages instead of either archer most of the time now. I did like opening fights as the archer in the earlier parts of the game.
Its Cassandra and I every time. She sure can tank. The way I play my 2h reaver warrior out of control shes is very important.
Two games in a row, I'm finally digitally memorialized but they spell my damn name wrong!
I'm playing as a DPS machine Rift Mage. I always have Cassandra along for tank. I switch between one of the 2H fighters or a double-dagger specced rogue for 90% of the game. I'll bring along a second wizard if there's a particularly vulnerable foe.
It's hard for me not to just always take Iron Bull because his comments are awesome.
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
