News

Dragon Age II is gold
Posted: 12.02.2011 16:38 by JonahFalcon Comments: 9
BioWare lead designer Mike Laidlaw declared during a live developer chat that Dragon Age II has achieved gold master status, which puts it on target for its March 8 release in North America and March 11 release in Europe.

Game Banshee wrote a transcript of the developer chat, and described the gameplay demo that was shown off with a female Hawke. The quest shown was "Fools Rush In", and starred the memorable Captain Isabella, whom most gamers recall as the pirate who was more than willing to invite you, Zevran and Leliana into a foursome (and if Oghren was in your party, he'd faint from just thinking about the sheer awesomeness of that encounter.)

According to Game Banshee: The quest takes place at night and Laidlaw notes the streets are more empty (and indeed there were no NPCs walking around) and dangerous at this hour, and, as expected, the group is attacked in the course of the quest, showing off the combat, pause functions, and special attacks. Laidlaw explains how mages have a supportive roles in applying buffs, like stone armor and elemental weapons. The buff effects are no longer shown outside of combat. Weapons and items are graded by a star system which allows you to compare at a quick glance.

The entire transcript can be read here.
Source: Game Banshee

Comments

By Xyfer117 (SI Core) on Feb 12, 2011
Xyfer117
Sounds good! I'm currently playing the first game and am about 20% through and enjoying it!
By Jake_SI (SI Elite) on Feb 13, 2011
Jake_SI
I stayed awake until 3am to watch the live demo broadcast, and even though it was rather short and none of my questions were answered in the Q & A afterwards, it was still well worth it. I'll be a happy happy man when I get my hands on the demo in 9 days, and then the full game not long after that! :)
By Illusive_Serb (SI Veteran Member) on Feb 13, 2011
Illusive_Serb
I love BioWare's games... Dragon Age included...
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Feb 13, 2011
herodotus
Darn it, have to get around to playing the original. Too many games, too little time in a day.
By Revan (SI Elite) on Feb 14, 2011
Revan
Not expecting too much from this one...
By Jake_SI (SI Elite) on Feb 14, 2011
Jake_SI
Personally, I think Dragon Age 2 will be a strong contender for Game of the Year. It has massive potential, and if it's even half as good as Dragon Age: Origins, it will be a big success, both in sales and in critic reviews.

It wont necessarily win, as it has strong competition this year (such as Mass Effect 3, Battlefield 3, SWTOR), but still.. I think it will put up a good fight, at least making it into the Top 5 of most GOY lists.
By Illusive_Serb (SI Veteran Member) on Feb 14, 2011
Illusive_Serb
I don't judge games by their game of the year award. Every good game has a place in my heart, no matter if they won GOY or not :)
By FoolWolf (SI Elite) on Feb 15, 2011
FoolWolf
@ Jake_SI I actually hopes and thinks that DA2 will be better then DA:O. I'm not that impressed with DA:O and seeing what they did with ME2 after ME - they will hopefully stay truer to what they want to release then what their fans believe they want.
Every time someone brings up Baldurs Gate in comparison to a gmae and you receive some kind of KOTOR-like game I get hugely disapointed. Don't mention BG - let it rest - you won't get that feeling again - because you are no longer tht company - do what you believe in and it will be good. DA is a very limited ruleset game made easy while the complete AD&D was complex - loads of rules and tactics. DA:O was more of talking, interacting and get the huge number on a weapon and hope you had a few levels so your fighter could do something other then mark an opponant for attack and wait. Mages and rougues were immensly more fun to play...
Also I hope the game is quicker in play because DA:O made me bored at certain points so after going to redcliff and then to mages circle - I never ventured further because I was bored out of my socks with the game. I hope that DA2 will make the play more immense, more in the "flow" because since BioWare want so hard to control the story anyway - this will be a better overall experience.
By VHugoSama (SI Core) on Feb 19, 2011
VHugoSama
I agree with you FoolWolf.