The Gamesmiths at Bioware has long since proven that they the best at creating amazing RPGs. With Dragon Age II, they are probably in for another hit.
When Dragon Age: Origins appeared in 2009, it scooped critics and fans over to Bioware and the studio’s own, brand new fantasy world. But there was also some criticism, mainly directed against the inferior console versions of an otherwise nice game. Bioware knows that the console versions did not reach the level they should, and words like “ugly” and “boring” was mentioned by the team during my meeting with the developer.
That does not mean you were not proud of the great world, where Bioware’s fingerprints were on every detail. Theda is still the venue for this adventure. Hawke, a refugee from Ferelden, risk life and limb to get out of the war zone. A bit unusual for an RPG, the Hawkes family also unhurt from Lothering; a mother and two siblings, left by his deceased father-magician.
The story is told through a meeting between one of Hawkes classmates and a poorly equipped interrogators. The changes that have occurred throughout history, has apparently made Hawke into a much sought after person. This type of storytelling gives Bioware the opportunity to create situations where we as players do not immediately know what is right or wrong.
Hawke, which can be played as pre-designed female or male character, or personalized with a character editor, is an effective protagonist. Unlike in the past, we once again hear the voice actors when we choose replicas of the new dialogue wheel, which will be familiar to anyone who has played Mass Effect.
The story will span a total of over a decade in Hawkes life. How many of those years that will be available for the player is still unclear, but in my short time with the game passed a whole year with a short scene transition. If it becomes like The Spire in Fable II is too early to tell, but lets hope that it does not.
It is not only architecture and environment that has changed. Races have also changed their appearance so that they are much more distinct than their counterparts from Origins. The most obvious change is undoubtedly for the Qunari people. While they are still tall, this time they’ve been given rear-facing horns and a face only a mother could love.
The Witcher is originally a book series created by Polish Andrzej Sapkowski. The games are of course based on these books, and begins immediately after the book’s end. The Witcher is about Geralt of Rivier. Geralt is a witcher or demon hunter, with special powers.