Foreword

It is bordered by resignation, but only sincere: in the great monotony of PC gaming it happens now unfortunately only rarely that one of the contents of a particular title is really swept away and convinces. Looking to that fact that with BioWare a game company exists, which can provide the lechzende make again and again with precisely such works is even more astonishing.

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“Dragon age 2″-Packshot

Exemplary the flagship games “Mass Effect” (Computer Base Test) and “Dragon Age Origins” (Computer Base Test) can be given as for this recent. In particular the latter convinced us in the context of the appropriate test in November 2009 so that we could praise the RPG epic only in the highest notes: “Seldom a title could convince this such as”Dragon Age Origins”.” “Viewed from a distance this is because that BioWare presents a total round product that finally meets a large claim compared to many competitors: in DAO of the players in a huge, exciting, diverse and authentic world is fired, which design, connections and peculiarities develop in the course of the story bit by bit and thus ensure steady curiosity”-this song to the now legendary DAO was at that time.

The claims, eagerly awaiting the and now at last available successor named sober are higher in the present “Dragon age 2″ (DA 2) be addressed. The key question of this test is therefore whether the second part developed in the year procedure is able to fill the giant footsteps of its predecessor.

System requirements

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Content

Entry & plot

It belonged to the highlights of “Dragon Age Origins” (DAO), that the makers have for accessing cope a little treat. While other representatives of the genre at this point just place the mandatory character Editor as well as direct entry into the plot, these two aspects in DAO have been cleverly linked: depending on for which players class you chose you was rewarded with one of three comprehensive entrances – a powerful advantage for the category of “replay value”.

Refrain from like the developers for “Dragon age 2″ (DA 2) unfortunately largely. Here the entrance turns out less extensively with a mini tutorial of kind of will continue to cleverly connected with the main story and the choice of the player class after all has influence on the composition of the party. Even if it is just a detail in the view of DA 2, so can however, that this procedure – is exemplary for the overall project away from maximum detail, to solid but less ambitious food.

But in turn. “Dragon age 2″ represents a completely new chapter, that certainly content to the predecessor connects, not as a classic continuation be understood can. As the events of the previous play a role while in the background continuously – on the prominent characters from DAO meets you but only on the edge and that also only rarely. In this respect, it is a nice, but not very relevant gimmick, that you can load its old DAO scores to apply certain story turns from its predecessor. This does affect than that but only to the extent depending on the following earlier decisions may other “old” characters find their way into the new action. Who has no scores, can draw naturally on existing standard story endings, which emphasises that the differences be minimal.

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New and old friends from the plot of DA 2

The DA-2 plot unravels around the new heroes of Hawke – either male or female, fleeing with his family just at the time, in the started the main plot of the DAO, the dark brood in his home town Kirkwall. Kirkwall is a city which has to offer different facets with a fortress and several districts of the glitzy shopping arcade up to the dangerous dark angle to the main venue versatile in scene of the game. The sound design of Kirkwall is however necessary, because after all it is – you remember just mentioned change away from the DAO detail the only city in which you can go in DA 2.

Even if the creators in this respect to make a schmälerne constraint can accuse the scope of the game and competition: the trouble in is largely reduced because it BioWare in “Dragon age 2″ manages to tell a story of exciting over long distances. The core is it of course always to Garrett – and how this working himself and his family by a group of belonging to outlawed refugees in the high realm of power, politics and conspiracies. Garnished is this personal narrative course by an external main story in the to the chagrin of some DAO veterans the dark breed and the heroic history of the struggle against will the ore demons hardly be implemented, but instead the enmity between the Church (or their Templars) only has the first part and the renegade mages is addressed.

The evaluation of this perspectives shift can be objectively hardly serious. As indicated, DAO-Kenner are likely to crave again and again a consistent increase in connection to the already told – who wants fresh air, can ignore it but also easily. The mostly very consistent narrative, which imposes a coherent framework and keeps the inclined player without any problems until the last minute when the rod is commendable in any case again.

Party

It belonged also to the great power of “Dragon Age Origins”, that the makers integrated a comprehensive party. To this essential element, you can access in the successor up to nine different companions, although still accompanied by a maximum of three other characters can be.

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Party members: there is nothing about good contributors

The design of the aforementioned NPCs is also in this case again as “managed”. Even if the presentation of the still complex backgrounds of the respective contributors thinner fails our feeling for something, as still in its predecessor, also this time the members of the party contribute again decisively to the gameplay: as, for example, the bustling dwarf Varric, the mysterious Dalish elfin Merrill, the beautiful pirate Isabela, and the iron good Warrior Aveline – is companion, not least about once again successful dialogues and stories are all, which you can figure out piece by piece (but not must), provide for a clear increase in depth.

A small Downer is in the process that you can now not more at any time can enjoy of the aforementioned dialogues: who clicks on one of his companions between a few struggles, is only with a short commentary on gefrühstückt – a pity.

Questdesign

The Questdesign known from the first part remains in “Dragon age 2″ largely faithful. And this is thanks to the good design good thing. Accordingly, one can assume various quests to many corners of Kirkwall, which mostly open up new possibilities and ways in addition to money and items and provide additional details and secrets of the DA world. In addition, like missions, which you can find out more details to the backstory of his are to the party members.

All in all it is this still a good system, which skillfully weaves together content with each other and and thanks to the solid structure of the Hauptquests for a plus in terms depth provides. This is possible by a comprehensive content variance: man vindication, for example, according to the testament of hawks grandparents, helps the Church persecuted mages and cares quite incidentally even the great and all of the main story – no wonder that difficult boredom comes up. “Dragon age”-typisch, in this context, it has also always personal, moral decisions to make that quest not only to the implementation of the respective, but also affect the relationship with the members of the party.

Talent system

It was indicated that BioWare in “Dragon age 2″ is moved away from a high level of detail and complexity in the direction of solid everyday food together with substantial simplifications. This is most evident when looking at the concept behind the content.

What is even more clearly expressed in the combat system (see next section), already indicates that when looking at the talent system and the equipment, because here already a clear, at least puts purification has taken place.

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DA-2 talent system: easier, but less free

While it it quite could get with some use in the average complex talent system of “Dragon Age Origins” to “reverse kill his character due to wrong talent decisions”, this is almost impossible for the successor due to unique simplification. So may be used in upgrading the character only solid talent groups, which only provide the skills relevant to the respective class. In addition, that the companion itself in this regard are limited, so for example, not every Warrior learn the fight with two weapons can be. Although this has the advantage, the beginners without any problems with the system is can – work around but about the first baby steps, is the simplification rather as restriction of freedom. Is mitigated this problematic issue however by the fact that the new talent groups sense and assorted fail: how to develop the a warrior to an offensive barbaric butcher, while the other focused on defensive shield tactics. Which is fine, is able to neutralize the already incurred by abdominal pain, especially since the question is why such simplification must be, where there is also the possibility to have automatically perform upgrades but not fully.

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Video glimpse in “Dragon age 2″

Almost same diskussionswürdig precipitates the interference in the equipment. Here you can supply only the main character with armor items at will. The members of the party, however, have fixed armor that can be upgraded while the personal quests, otherwise but not modified. As a result, that just these articles, if they don’t fit Garrett Hawke, can be used regularly only for sale. After all: Smaller items such as belts, rings and amulets can be assigned as freely.

Combat system

One sees from the plot, so the biggest change is the “Dragon age 2″ differs from its predecessor, the combat system. In a nutshell we can say: DA 2 is – at least in this respect – as compared to the previous action and less role-playing game.

This is first a has menu. The DA-2 surface is clear just in the fight, but accordingly also less influence. The prospect of action is reinforced by the speed of combat: while still comparatively leisurely was to DAO, where to work, the DA-2 characters unfold a quite speed sword blows and the shooting of arrows and fire balls, cool moves included. Is significant, however, that most without intervention of the player by visit goes: a goal is once dependent hacks or shoots the party automatically on the enemy, until this blesses the time.

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DA-2 combat: more action, less tactics

The factor of “Tactics” it depends on accordingly less here, as still in its predecessor, and thus also the complex from the perspective of a friend of action “if-then”-Scripterei you certain its characters with the Auto features à la “if health at X, use Heiltrank” could assign, hardly is needed because you – “normal” – comes through at least at the level also without problems.

Also with regard to the quality of these changes, you can be divided. While action player will certainly approve the described shift, true role players here are expected to identify a deterioration. We would follow at this point the latter view: the battle system of “Dragon age 2″ fails to automatically and systematically defy the player, which raises the question whether you actually forcing more dynamics must buy less depth and complexity with a.

In addition, that also the overview is sacrificed to increase the share of the action. Because it is obviously not appropriate for a so-called “action RPG”, to integrate a classic camera directly above, this function known from DAO is omitted so that you only have minimal can zoom with mouse wheel from the shoulder perspective, what has the effect that one more often need to press the pause button for reasons of the overview, to fly once to “around the character”.

Technical

Graphic

Technically, you can see “Dragon age 2″ quite at that it was developed under time pressure and use of the well-known, BioWare’s own Eclipse engine. Although the game quite waiting with some new Visual delicacies and also the revised interface knows to convince – if you expect a big update or a high-end image at all, but will be disappointed.

You can find the aforementioned delicacy especially in the fighting, where brilliant explosions and animations together series. Really sad work the criticism already in the previous smaller stages and SideShow, which all too often come from the preserve, however, and with mud textures (solid workaround is the optional HD textures package here) and more make some detailed poverty not really contemporary impression.

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More visual impressions to “Dragon age 2″

Despite this shared impression, the graphical implementation does no significant harm, which is due mainly again successful action, which draws the player captivated and that one or the other hose level extremely limited in the size makes tolerable the thrill.

In addition, that the not ground-breaking Visual implementation ensures a high system compatibility: ran on high details “Dragon age 2″ on our test system to a resolution of 1680 x 1050 with frame rates between 40 and 60.

By the way: On some of our screenshots made at the beginning of the game is to see, that DA 2 stages very dark fails. To continue to use the gamma slider, = the”Gamma” can be set worth .ini file of the game in the “1″ to “2″.

Sound & language implementation

The sound and language implementation can be expected to hear. Once again were hired for the German scoring some prominent speakers, making her job over long distances very tidy. Commendable, if also actually compulsory (but not always given), is that scoring also lip was commited. The musical background, that supports the content of roiling classic sounds up to gloomy sound carpets deserves the same.

Contrary to the criticism cherished advance at some point had consequently not been ascertained that the implementation in this respect compared to the predecessor quality would have lost.

Copy & minors

The theme of “Copy protection” is traditionally a controversial these days. Accordingly proposed the waves in the context of “Dragon age 2″ high, when it became public that those responsible allegedly put on the widely hated SecuROM. From the official is however cloaks: man put on Sony’s DRM protection release control that zurücklasse only an inactive registry entry. For the first verification requires an existing Internet connection; the DVD must be in the drive.

In terms of protection of minors, it should be noted that the ESRB has granted a release from the age of 18 to the title. As in its predecessor, it is also in “Dragon age 2″ possible to reduce the appearance of blood in the settings.

Conclusion

The key question of this test was whether “Dragon age 2″ the giant footsteps of its predecessor is able to fill. The answer is unfortunately at the end of the consideration: “No”.

This is undoubtedly a controversial statement, which in many places for skepticism or even Verstörung is likely and therefore requires an explanation.

This first has its origins in the quality of “Dragon Age Origins”. As indicated in the preface, it is in our opinion one of the best titles of the past years. The bar that was created for the review of the successor was accordingly great – no good initial condition, bearing in mind that BioWare DA strict 2 with the hot needle and after only one year development time the gold was awarded the title.

You will notice this the new “Dragon age” but also to. The diversity in the sites is just as limited as the rather minimalist Visual review.

&Lt; div > Photo Gallery “Dragon age 2 in the test” (58 images)

All of this would be to cope with, if not a conceptual questionable paradigm shift would be to complain but loose. In principle, is “Dragon age” with the second part of exactly what happens, watch is already in the ratio of “Mass effect” to “Mass Effect 2″ and so on BioWares space epic had: A shift of focus away from areas towards action shares.

This is so tragic as that affected the entire experience is drawn: A game like “Dragon age” now once largely comes from the role-playing game corner, so that a such massive curtailment of this core elements — tags: talent and combat system – cannot remain without consequences for the game mechanics and the gaming experience. Therefore, the essential question for whatever reason, it must be “More on action” arises even more than in the already more action-based “mass effect 2″.

Despite this fundamental criticism comes one but finally, in particular due to the successful continuation of the story and the many part acquired and developed positive aspects but cannot help but “Dragon age 2″ to express a recommendation. Because even if it never is when compared to the predecessor to an equally fantastic epic, it is served still with a game, that must be include to the spearhead of the current offer. This is all the more true for all those who place value on more action and “Simplicity”. It is meanwhile called for more traditional role players: gnashing of teeth and hope for the third part of a role backwards!

Personal conclusion by Volker Rißka

Why! Why has BioWare decided to take this step to bring an RPG on the market, hardly worthy of the name? I do not know it. But sometimes, what is it: it is optimized to death. In my view, exactly above age 2 at Dragon. BioWare has one of the best role-playing games in recent history and made a 0815-mainstream product. Compared to its predecessor is it away from the game ranging to a stupid action game “developed”, comes the draft completely missing the. The ultimately merely mounted RPG elements are a farce.

But this is not all. The mission design is lacking in any love of the (roles) game. While initially in a large town feels and hopes, once it has mastered the “deep ways” with some tougher opponents, it starts properly, will be bitterly disappointed. It remains in the same city, known as already inside and out, gets applied 20 new quests and runs wund further there the hackers themselves. Leftover it is actually hardly, which is supported also by the areas you visit. Because it runs to the fifth, sixth and seventh time outside the city on a small mountain pass on the beach and meets again a dozen opponents, one must eliminate – for the eighth time you can switch off directly the monitor, because you will find the way blind. Or it is once again in a cave. There the programmers have come up whole two different designs with; ultimately there is somehow always by the same cave, regardless of whether a quest 1, 2, or 12. This is not only boring, that invites exit directly to the game.

What remains at the end? Still only average food, living by the reputation of the first part. Can be reached not in an area close the – admittedly – very high level of its predecessor. Man expected not directly epic stories like “tentatively” times (which was made from by BioWare), but a little more content should still exist. Then that makes at least a little fun “go the 100-meter-long way from a to b” and “cut all 25 metres ten opponents” also for the hundredth time. What a pity. This was nothing.