Yeah, Awakenings had some good points, but as an "expansion" of a great game, it fell short. It was more like an add-on, they didn't play to their strength of character development.... I enjoyed it but it was disappointing too.

I'm glad I didn't waste $40 on it. I'll be playing it pretty much all night, so I hope it does get better.

I got Awakening on release date because for some reason it was always cheap here in Europe and I got it from Game.co.uk for the equivalent of about $20. But there is no doubt that it is a buggy, mediocre, and rushed expansion. Origins was a great game with a development cycle of six years and for the most part it was developed before Bioware was acquired by EA. I am afraid this is the reason why Bioware standards have probably changed over the last couple of years.

Well, I'm about four hours into Awakening, and I'm definitely liking it a bit. Seems like it was just that horrible beginning that bothered me.

I want to do a mage with the ultimate goal of being an Arcane Warrior/Spirit Healer combo, in effect a Paladin. What are the best early level spells/spells in general to get me this goal. I plan to focus on healing spells, maybe fortifying spells? But I also want to be offensive not just support. IDK, any help is appreciated

I'm probably at the end of Awakening, and right now, I'm loving it.

I guess it was just that horrid beginning.

After you do the three "main" missions, the game went downhill for me. The whole rushed part shows its ugly face when the last mid game mission is over.

That was...fast. I take it you've done nothing else since yesterday?


I thought the penultimate mission was good (the one where you defend the Keep, anyway). But yeah, as I said, things fall apart at the end. :sadvaultboy:

12 hours isn't too much, is it?

Anyway, for those who want something extra in DA2: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/3204451

Note: Facebook is not required, just the newsletter thing. I wish I read that before registering on Facebook.

Ha! I laugh at your 12 hours. I played Dragon Age: Origins for 18 straight hours before my girlfriend pried the controller from my hand. .

This game is one of the most addicting games I've ever played. :shifty:

How much did you spend? I want it but $40 is way too much.

I'd play more, but the damn memory leaks. <_<



$30.

I think I'll wait for $20 or less. I didn't like when they made the expansion more than that.

I want to play it, but not that bad.

If it ever goes that low.

Only reason I bought is because I'm currently hooked on Dragon Age.

I'm hoping it will.

I played through once and let my friend borrow because I liked it so much that my bragging made him want to play it. He liked it but I couldn't justify that much money for the expansion because I didn't pay that much for the game itself ($35 for the game). I wouldn't mind paying less than $20 for the game and am probably going to wait for the expansion to drop... Trust me, it will.

What really irritates me though is that The Stone Prisoner DLC is $15. What a rip-off.

Glad I got it for free with the CE.

Yea, that small amount of game play is no worth $15. I got it free too. I bought a few dc and I was upset by how much they charged me... That's why I'm waiting for Awakening to be super cheap.

The Stone Prisoner DLC was free for everyone who bought a new copy of the game. It didn't necessarily have to be the Collectors Edition. It was only people who bought a used copy of the game that had to pay the extra cash. This was part of the general plan by several publishers to eliminate the market for second hand sales.

http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/07/23/dragon-age-ii-a-look-at-the-art.aspx I really don't like all the pointy edges in the concept art, it tends to look bad in-game (as seen on the screenshots, as well).

I'm not one to think that Origins' art direction was anything special, but I agree about this new one; not a fan of it, and it has not translated well in-game. The armor and weapons are ridiculous and look like they belong two gaming generations ago, I really don't like the way the Darkspawn have been redesigned (especially the Ogre...who thought that was a good idea?). Sigh.

I'd rather wait for a more polished version to look at and judge the style. What ruins the screens for me is the horribly low resolution of those and the lack of contrast, not the art direction per se.

Well this thread certainly sunk.

http://www.gamersplus.de/images/screenshots/screenshot_da202_35860.jpg
http://www.gamersplus.de/images/screenshots/screenshot_da209_35867.jpg I like this one, as empty as it is.
http://www.gamersplus.de/images/screenshots/screenshot_da208_35866.jpg
http://www.gamersplus.de/images/screenshots/screenshot_da210_35868.jpg
http://www.gamersplus.de/images/screenshots/screenshot_da212_35870.jpg
http://www.gamersplus.de/images/screenshots/screenshot_da205_35863.jpg because the dwarf is exaggerating the story, according to recent developer comments. It will not be like this all the time.

Just in case someone missed these, I did, I just saw them even though they were posted 4 days ago.

*sees new art style* WTF were they thinking, especially the new darkspawn. ugh. I think their atrist is like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_naGYiSJ6k

Ughhh, Bioware why couldn't you just leave the Darkspawn the same.....
The lighting in the architecture shot looks great though.

Those are barely recognizable as the same game. Also it looks like they tried to go all WoW with the art style and add some cartoon flair too it, and spikes and angles. Plenty of that. I'll definitely not be getting this... side game.