..Dragon Age II..

REVIEW |

Over the last few years, BioWare has distinguished itself as the leader in revolutionary RPGs -- that trend continues with Dragon Age II. The first thing that jumps out is the tremendous facelift the game was given, as character models have been re-imagined for this sequel. After playing through DA: Origins, the biggest complaint was the archaic dialogue system where the main character is essentially a mute. I wondered why they didn’t use the dialogue system from their über-popular Mass Effect series. Well, it turns out that someone was listening and the dialogue system was added for the sequel.

- There's an even greater emphasis on cinematic presentation & storytelling -

Unlike its predecessor, the amount of character classes have been greatly reduced to three core concepts: Mage, Warrior, and Rogue. This actually makes the game more accessible for gamers who just want to jump right in. The leveling has also been simplified quite nicely, allowing the player to focus more on the action, of which there is a sometimes absurd amount. It’s obvious from playing the game that the folks over at BioWare spent a lot of time improving on the combat for this sequel. Expect a mixture of the combat from DA: Origins and BioWare’s Jade Empire. The controls are spot-on, and the fighting has that arcade feel that was missing from its predecessor.

The story of Dragon Age II is deep and involved, and the simplified menu system allows for the player to absorb all of the story and feel like they're really affecting the world that BioWare has built. The events of the first game have an effect on this incarnation, but not so much that it’s overpowering. The cinematic nature of the game achieves the ultimate goal of transcending the genre. 

- The intense action is widely appealing, but it can be brutally difficult -

Dragon Age II is the game you buy for people who don’t like RPGs, as it has the action they want without being bogged down or overwhelmed by the game's many functions.

The first game was pretty good, so for BioWare to outdo itself in such a fashion for the sequel is jaw-dropping. Dragon Age II might just be in the race for game of the year, with pinpoint accurate controls, moving music, a rich and involving story, and action that will test even elite gamers.

GameDynamo's Score for Dragon Age II (PS3)

Dante' R. Maddox

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