[Aptorian]

Powered through Awakening. Liked it better than the main game, more of the same, but more refined/improved.

About the ending:

Spoiler

I chose to ally with the Architect. I was really torn on that. On one hand he offered a change, a chance that the circle of Blight and devastation might be ended. On the other hand, how much more dangerous would armies of sentient darkspawn become if they organized their attacks?

A difficult choice. In the end I just wanted to see what would happen because I found the Architect interesting. Completely unscrupulous and monstrous but also full of potential.

Does he pop up later on?

I am a couple hours into Dragon Age 2 now. I assume the repetitiveness might show up later but as an intro, walking around in Kirkwall, this game is leagues ahead of Dragon Age: Origins. So many improvements in UI, character interaction, shops, etc. Dragon Age 2 feels like a modern game while DA:O felt like a game that could have been made in the 90s.

[Primateus]

I've played through DA:O several times and I've never experienced any memory glitches, though obviously that doesn't mean they don't happen. But I agree, unlike ME1, it hasn't really aged that well. Mass Effect is by far the superior game. I'll even go so far to say that KOTOR has aged better aswell.

[Morgoth]

I'm playing KOTOR 2 now that it's availble on steam with the content mod. It has aged surprisingly well. Kreia is such a fantastic character.

[Gothos]

Morgoth, on 09 August 2015 - 09:17 PM, said:

I'm playing KOTOR 2 now that it's availble on steam with the content mod. It has aged surprisingly well. Kreia is such a fantastic character.

Single greatest reason this game, even in its unfinished state, beats KOTOR1 by miles.
No, wait. Not single. All the characters are more interesting.

[Maark Abbott]

Once I have a PC that can handle games again, I'll be re-playing KOTOR2 with the content added. The un-modded ending was shoddy and made no sense (you can tell it's a rush-job).

Statement: At least KOTOR2 still retains everyone's favourite meatbag killer.

[Gothos]

Maark, on 10 August 2015 - 10:38 AM, said:

Once I have a PC that can handle games again, I'll be re-playing KOTOR2 with the content added. The un-modded ending was shoddy and made no sense (you can tell it's a rush-job).

Statement: At least KOTOR2 still retains everyone's favourite meatbag killer.

I must say I am tempted to get the modded version.

[Maark Abbott]

Gothos, on 10 August 2015 - 10:58 AM, said:

Maark, on 10 August 2015 - 10:38 AM, said:

Once I have a PC that can handle games again, I'll be re-playing KOTOR2 with the content added. The un-modded ending was shoddy and made no sense (you can tell it's a rush-job).

Statement: At least KOTOR2 still retains everyone's favourite meatbag killer.

I must say I am tempted to get the modded version.

Affirmation: A wise choice, indeed, meatbag. Although I suspect that you would buy the basic version and then Steam will patch it for you.

Metro 2033 is Steam's GWG this month. It's pretty good so far. I'm off to rescue my whiskey.

[Gothos]

Maark, on 10 August 2015 - 12:23 PM, said:

Gothos, on 10 August 2015 - 10:58 AM, said:

Maark, on 10 August 2015 - 10:38 AM, said:

Once I have a PC that can handle games again, I'll be re-playing KOTOR2 with the content added. The un-modded ending was shoddy and made no sense (you can tell it's a rush-job).

Statement: At least KOTOR2 still retains everyone's favourite meatbag killer.

I must say I am tempted to get the modded version.

Affirmation: A wise choice, indeed, meatbag. Although I suspect that you would buy the basic version and then Steam will patch it for you.

Metro 2033 is Steam's GWG this month. It's pretty good so far. I'm off to rescue my whiskey.

I have the boxed original. I wonder if Steam will accept me adding it. Or maybe I already did...?

Metro 2033 is one of those games I can't forgive myself for not finishing. I think I ragequit after I learned that I missed an armor upgrade several levels back.

[Maark Abbott]

If Steam recognises it upon install then yeah, should do. It recognised some games I installed from disc and added them to my library. Might depend on the game though.

[Morgoth]

you get a prompt suggesting you should add the mod when you start up the game from steam. Or just get it from the workshop, there are some other good mods there.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

I loved the first dragon age but graphically it felt
dated on release. I imagine it looks terrible now. Fun game. I played it almost 3 times through, but never finished mass effect.

[Primateus]

I'm playing Total War: Rome 2! Those barbarians are going to be subjugated whether they want to or not. When I've played through with Rome I'll start up a game with Sparta instead. This game has come a very long way since the disaster it began with.

[Tiste Simeon]

Is it actually good? I wanted to get it but heard so many bad things. I haven't really enjoyed a Total War since Rome the original...

[Maark Abbott]

Raymond Luxury Yacht, on 13 August 2015 - 03:52 AM, said:

I loved the first dragon age but graphically it felt
dated on release. I imagine it looks terrible now. Fun game. I played it almost 3 times through, but never finished mass effect.

Yeah it was graphically not so far removed from KOTOR. It's not a pretty game, these days,

Primateus, on 13 August 2015 - 09:14 AM, said:

I'm playing Total War: Rome 2! Those barbarians are going to be subjugated whether they want to or not. When I've played through with Rome I'll start up a game with Sparta instead. This game has come a very long way since the disaster it began with.

Hold those Hot Gates, boy. Hold 'em good.

[Aptorian]

I am well into the second act of Dragon Age 2 now.

Oh boy, those repeating environments are starting wear on me. The entire game feels like you're just running back and forth, back and forth, over and over somehow discovering somebody else, something lost, something found, in almost the exact same room.

Still, I like the concept of the game. It could clearly have used a bigger budget for design of the environments and perhaps a smarter evolving narrative, but I still feel this is a better game than Dragon Age: Origins.

I REALLY like these Quonari guys. They remind me of a mix between the Klingons and Seguleh. Half the time they are speaking I don't even understand what they are talking about. Feels like a great execution of a race that is alien to a human.

I also just realised that the advertisement that I remember from DA2s release, was not about the Darkspawn at all but featured the Arishok leader of the Quonari. I have no idea where this story will go in the end but if he turns out become my enemy I hope I have an awesome showdown with the guy.

[Maark Abbott]

Spoiler

You have to deal with him at the end of Act 2. However it's possible to deal with it peacefully, in a one-on-one duel, or via a group boss fight. One-on-one sucks if you're any kind of quishy because he hits only a little bit less hard than Rhonda Rousey.

As a race, I liked them. As you say, quite alien to humans, but with reasons that make sense when you consider them from a Qunari point of view.

Also:

"...Did he satisfy a demand of your Qun?"

[Aptorian]

More Dragon Age 2.

Just finished the "all that remains" storyline in act 2 and the story, if you can even call it that, has soured my opinion of this game. I cannot believe how hamfisted they've been so far. I thought the death at the end of act one was poorly executed and utilized, but now in the second act it is clear that the writers just don't know how to frame a scene, capture emotions or write dialogue. Sitting through those events was like watching a car accident happening inside a writing class.

Spoiler

The mother who has been completely ignored in act 2 even after her children, your siblings, are dead, gets kidnapped, gets her head sawed off and dies in your arms, and the best they can do is, "mother I will save you" -> "No son it is too late" -> "I have failed you" -> "I will be with [loved side character], be strong" -> The end.

No proper follow up. No emotional character development just him sitting in a chair in a smoking jacket in front of fire, looking like a fucking robot as he utters cheap Hallmark quotes to the Uncle. Urgh.

My god this was bad on so many levels. How does this crap pass quality control. Surely somebody else read this manuscript and told them this was worse than Days of our Lives. Right? RIGHT?

This post has been edited by Apt: 13 August 2015 - 03:46 PM

[Morgoth]

It gets worse. Enjoy.

[Mentalist]

Once I'm done with Witcher 3 (if ever), and then Bioshock Infinite, I was planning to go through the Dragon Age trilo.

How essential is DA2 to the story? Do I really need to suffer through it? (I'm a completionist)

[Gothos]

Has anyone tried the new DLC (The Descent) for Pinkquisition?
I only managed to get about an hour in it yesterday evening, but I'm liking it so far. It's pretty tough, even compared to Jaws of Hakkon. Bring a real sword/shield tank.

@Apt: Yeah, it gets worse. DA2 is a game with a tonne of potential that has been completely wasted by a rushed release and trying to cash in on Shepard's success. Thankfully, Hawke has a cameo in Pinquisition that seems to me a better characterization in 5 minutes than the entire second game.
Also, I was always mad that I couldn't side with Qunari in Kirkwall.

This post has been edited by Gothos: 14 August 2015 - 08:05 AM