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[anexanhume]

Curious why game reactor Sweden's 7 counts towards metacritic when literally all other regional game reactor scores at the end of the article are 9s.

Despite that oddity, news seems greatly positive for DA:I. A lot of major outlets scored it really high. Bioware usually can win RPG of the year when they release a game, but with a lot of this year's good games being remasters, they've got a fighting chance at some actual GOTY awards. Should be interesting.

 

[Love Deterrence]

I've never played Dragon Age before so I'm glad to hear that this game isn't tied down to the stories of past games. Really looking forward to this one!

 

[ghostjoke]

Those 5 years of steady decline in quality since Origins is still burning deep. Definitely want hands on for a few hours before I chunk out money for Inquisition.

 

[Gumbie]

I looked around and didn't see anything....any reviewers talk about if PS4 holds a steady framerate?

 

[Menome]

Meh, the picture on the wall and their reactions suggested that they were in couple in that video. I mean friends won't care about sex in video games.
That's why it was fun, imo.

It's an ongoing joke-situation where Jim is playing the part of Chris' dad and thoroughly disapproves of everything videogame-related.

 

[Eudaemonium]

There is nothing inherently wrong with DA2's narrative of not being the Chosen One or saving the world from an Ancient Evil. I like that idea. I just think DA2 did a piss poor job of executing on that premise. Personally, I have no issue with a Save the World story like it seems Inquisition has, so long as it's done well. But I wouldn't mind some other sort of story either provided its done well.

Oh, I agree completely. It's just that I suspected that BioWare would retreat back to home ground after DA2's reception instead of trying to press on with it (in terms of narrative and themes), and I'm slightly sad to hear that it seems to have been the case (I will, of course, judge this when i actually play the game).

 

[Ralemont]

If that were my friend he'd be nodding his head saying "Yes, do iiiiiit."

Reviews are great as expected. Can't wait.

Oh, I agree completely. It's just that I suspected that BioWare would retreat back to home ground after DA2's reception instead of trying to press on with it (in terms of narrative and themes), and I'm slightly sad to hear that it seems to have been the case (I will, of course, judge this when i actually play the game).

It was a pretty safe bet after DA2 and ME3's ending that BW was going to play this one safe. I've always found the critical path fairly weak in BW games so I don't mind; it's the characters that makes their stories amazing.

 

[Omnipunctual Godot]

Well, that's one birthday present decided.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Sold. I need this.

 

[Monochromaticx]

I looked around and didn't see anything....any reviewers talk about if PS4 holds a steady framerate?

From what I read. Yes its solid. The only issue (which is fixed now) was caused by the ps4 firmware 2.0.

 

[jschreier]

I looked around and didn't see anything....any reviewers talk about if PS4 holds a steady framerate?

It's pretty solid when you're playing, but it gets choppy during dialogue and cut-scenes.

One thing that really impressed me (and that I assume is not the case on the last-gen versions) is the lack of load times within each huge region.

 

[Bl@de]

Great to see the good reviews. I always like a good RPG for the cold winter days. But I'm going to wait till people actually played the game and I need to see how the (dynamic) combat is. I'm not a fan of tactical views ... but if the game plays like Diablo 3 (PS3) in the third person view (press button for "Awesome Magic" and another button for "Standard Attack") ... Then I might jump in it.

 

[Ramocalypse]

Two super minor questions, did a little googling to no avail, is there dynamic time of day that changes while you play in the regions? Also, do the crafting upgrades like hilt, pommel, actually change the look of the weapon? Love aesthetic details like that.

 

[Eudaemonium]

It was a pretty safe bet after DA2 and ME3's ending that BW was going to play this one safe. I've always found the critical path fairly weak in BW games so I don't mind; it's the characters that makes their stories amazing.

Very much agreed on this point. I've always thought that DA in particular had very strong companion writing, and am looking forward to getting to know the companions in DA:I and see them go through their various arcs. The crit path often tends to be somewhat lacklustre, but as long as it's a well-realised save-the-world plot line I'm sure I'll enjoy it immensely.

 

[Kinthalis]

Especially since a lot of the reviews seem to work their way back to a handful of issues, that I feel like could be deal breakers for some people.

The one review so far that I personally put a little more stock in would be Eurogamer's review, only because its written by Richard Cobbett, who didn't care much for DA2 and enjoyed Origins. He wrote some at RPS and Eurogamer about that, so his criticisms of Inquisition seem like they'd be in line with my concerns for the game.


Seems like many of the negatives in some of the reviews are things I've been worried about for a while:

1. Story is a rehash of Origins just on a bigger scale- Chosen One, Save the World from Ancient Evil.
2. Taking design queues from AssCreed in terms of junk filler collectable quests, even if they tie into the Power mechanic
3. Lack of big city areas- The RPGFan review mentions Val Royeaux, supposedly one of the biggest cities in the DA world, is limited to a marketplace and there are no areas like Denerim or Athkatla from BG2
4. The PC menus are rubbish
5. The tactical camera is not as versatile as the Origins tactical camera. The Eurogamer and RPGFan review mention how the Tactical Camera frequently gets stuck on objects in the environment and in areas with low ceilings. Which means its very much not like the Origins tactical camera which had the ability to break from the geometry to give you an open view on things, regardless of whether you were in an open area or an indoor location.
6. The Tactics menu (that they've been reluctant to show in any streams) has been severely gimped and dumbed down.
7. Various technical glitches unrelated to bad firmware- characters glitching through geometry, dialogue options disappearing

Seems like its a much better game than DA2 (low bar to clear there) but once you get past the visual upgrade, a lot of those concerns are still big concerns for me.


The Eurogamer reviewer loved Origins and disliked DA2.

God damn it. Consolitis strikes again. Dumb UI designed built for the handicaps inherent to gamepads, with no effort or consideration given to the PC UI, and an inferior tactical cam to what was ina a game half a decade old.

No large cities to explore is also a big dissapointment

So no BG2 this is, but it looks like it's leagues better than DA2? I guess I'll take it.

 

[Doran902]

Those 5 years of steady decline in quality since Origins is still burning deep. Definitely want hands on for a few hours before I chunk out money for Inquisition.

Same. Don't trust the reviews as much as friends and others opinions. Hopefully share play is available to give it a go.

 

[SavoyPrime]

*jumps aboard the hype train* Next week just got that much farther away!

 

[Curufinwe]

I read the Polygon and GS reviews. Nothing in them made the game sound appealing to me as someone who hasn't played a Bioware game since KOTOR.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Kind of disappointed at no big cities, but everything else sounds good. Can't wait.

 

[Gumbie]

From what I read. Yes its solid. The only issue (which is fixed now) was caused by the ps4 firmware 2.0.

It's pretty solid when you're playing, but it gets choppy during dialogue and cut-scenes.

One thing that really impressed me (and that I assume is not the case on the last-gen versions) is the lack of load times within each huge region.

Awesome, thanks guys.

 

[Darkone]

Anyone know what will be the difficult setting to choose from?

 

[Hoo-doo]

Just pre-ordered for PS4.

Going in blind. Excited, I loved DA:O.

 

[Spineker]

Anyone know what will be the difficult setting to choose from?

Easy, Normal, Hard and Nightmare.

AngryJoe played on Nightmare and got his ass kicked by the tutorial boss.

 

[Horns]

Any word on how the 360 version is? Could be the last 360 title I buy.

 

[Hristi]

Anyone know what will be the difficult setting to choose from?

Easy, normal, hard and nightmare

 

[shinobi602]

Any word on how the 360 version is? Could be the last 360 title I buy.

Was told it runs better than DAO/DA2 did.

 

[Schweinehund]

Fuck I want this in my veins.

But I also want level 100 WOD in my veins.

Fuck.

 

[Kinthalis]

Easy, Normal, Hard and Nightmare.

AngryJoe played on Nightmare and got his ass kicked by the tutorial boss.

To be fair, he wasnt using tacticla cam, and didn't know you could use health potions until after he dies for liek a 5th time

Love Joe

 

[Naughty_Doge]

A bit disappointed that IGN's review says the plot is weak.

 

[Kinthalis]

Any word on how the 360 version is? Could be the last 360 title I buy.

If you have a PC with an APU you might be able to do better than last gen consoles. If you do, run the specs by us and we'll let you know. You cna always play the game wiht a gamepad on PC (looks like the game is buitl more for gamepads anyway).

 

[Darkone]

Easy, Normal, Hard and Nightmare.

AngryJoe played on Nightmare and got his ass kicked by the tutorial boss.

Hmm, what to choose from...Hard or nightmare.

 

[Kinthalis]

A bit disappointed that IGN's review says the plot is weak.

Yeah I don't know how to process that. Don't they routinely praise COD plot lines??

 

[CrichtonKicks]

A bit disappointed that IGN's review says the plot is weak.

I wonder if how much you played the previous games and/or are into the lore has any effect on perception of plot? Based on the Kotaku article and a few others it soulnds like a lot of the major revelations/plot points won't really mean anything if you aren't super familiar with the previous games.

 

[ComputerBlue]

Glad it's getting good reviews.

Also Kevin from Gamespot also gave it a nine, he's my go to RPG reviewer and I almost always agree with everything he has to say.

 

[a secret-boss]

First Origin game I bought

 

[Laconic]

Yeah I don't know how to process that. Don't they routinely praise COD plot lines??

This is a massive red flag, agreed.

 

[adamsapple]

Was told it runs better than DAO/DA2 did.

wat ? that would be an amazing (DA2 was pretty fantastic across PS3/360).

 

[Chaos17]

It's an ongoing joke-situation where Jim is playing the part of Chris' dad and thoroughly disapproves of everything videogame-related.

Ok, I didn't know about them.

 

[SmokedMeat]

It's great to hear the games getting great reviews! The question is buy it now, or wait ten months for it appear on EA's subscription service?

 

[Wind's Howling]

Kind of disappointed at no big cities, but everything else sounds good. Can't wait.

Fine by me. We already had DA2 and I am glad they put all their focus on a bigger and more diverse regions.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Yeah I don't know how to process that. Don't they routinely praise COD plot lines??

Are the reviewers the same person?

 

[CrichtonKicks]

This is a massive red flag, agreed.

Did you like the plot of DA:O? It seems like DA:I is taking a very similar approach.

 

[Kinthalis]

A bit disappointed that IGN's review says the plot is weak.

It's great to hear the games getting great reviews! The question is buy it now, or wait ten months for it appear on EA's subscription service?

If you are even considering waiting ten months for this game, you're not relaly a fan. Might as well wait in that case. You got GTA V re-release coming, you got AC:Unity, if you're a fan. Don't know if you're a PC gamer but Elte Dangerous comes out in a few weeks. Witcher 3 in february! It's not like you won't have games ot play.

 

[Laconic]

Reviews have been such nonsense, of late.

I think I'm going to just go ahead and wait for the OT, and glean the facts from there, before deciding.

 

[Kinthalis]

Are the reviewers the same person?

I don't know, but I would expect some type of editorial consistency? Maybe not.

 

[Chaos17]

A bit disappointed that IGN's review says the plot is weak.

From what I read in that review and other... I think they're talking about the main plot (closing the breachs? so to stop demons?) been weak and not the focus since most of your time will be consumed to resolve secondaries disputes like in Dragon Origin.

So the sub plots seems to me more interesting that that the main plot goal.
We will to play ourselves and see that.

 

[sdornan]

Any word on how much the Keep stuff affects the story? Would like to know whether it's worth putting a lot of time into it.

 

[Naughty_Doge]

Yeah I don't know how to process that. Don't they routinely praise COD plot lines??

Yeah, they do...
I guess I'll have to find out myself. Reviews are just opinions, after all.

I wonder if how much you played the previous games and/or are into the lore has any effect on perception of plot? Based on the Kotaku article and a few others it soulnds like a lot of the major revelations/plot points won't really mean anything if you aren't super familiar with the previous games.

Hopefully this is the case.

 

[Einbroch]

Honestly, the main plot in Dragon Age has always been pretty eh, and I think this is pretty true for Bioware in general. Their main plots are safe, but where they shine are character choice and interaction.

I don't think it's anything to worry about if you could stomach previous Bioware efforts.

 

[sam777]

GTA or DA, tough choice.