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Dragon Age: Character Creation
Oct. 20th, 2009 11:21 pmIn just over two weeks, Bioware's new CRPG Dragon Age: Origins is going to be out. If you hang out with me IRL, you probably already know how ridiculously excited I am about this game. If not, you're going to hear about it now *g*.
It's true to say that I have never in my life anticipated a computer game like I'm anticipating DAO. I've got the special edition pre-ordered so I get the shiny metal box and all the other goodies, including the bonus in-game content. On November 5th I will be calling my local store at nine to check if the game is really in stock, and if so I'll be there before ten to pick it up. I've already downloaded the Character Creator and built characters for each different origin story. I even have a list of RL things I have to get done before the game comes out, because I know that once I have it I won't want to leave the computer to get a haircut or pick up the drycleaning. (There are distinct advantages to being unemployable right now.) I'm also planning to document my first play through on my journal. I've had so many fun and amusing experiences playing CRPGs, and for once I want to write them down as they happen so I remember them later.
Why am I looking forward to this one RPG so much, when I'm usually content to wait until they show up on the bargain table before committing myself? Well, for starters, this game is being produced by Bioware and many of the people behind my favourite RPGs ever, the Baldur's Gate trilogy. Everyone involved is keen to stress that this is a spiritual successor to those games, with a strong emphasis on character and the epic story. Better still, this time they're not shackled to the D&D rule set or mythos, and are free to make up whatever they want. What they've created sounds interesting so far - there are humans, elves and dwarves, but not quite as we know them. Elves are second-class citizens, many of whom have been enslaved by humans. Dwarves have a complex society where dirty politics and assassination are common but the appearance of honour is is all important. The whole tone of the game is much darker and more blood-soaked than their D&D games, with moral choices that appear to go beyond being a paragon of virtue or an evil overlord cliché. There are companion NPCs you can build relationships with, both sexual and otherwise. Speaking of which: there are three romance options for my female PCs! One of which is an f/f romance! I don't know if I'll actually play through it, but I'm giving Bioware a gold star for giving everyone the options. (There are also two m/f romances and an m/m for male PCs. Everyone seems to be assuming that the elf is the bisexual guy, but I'm hoping that Bioware has decided to avoid the cliché and it's actually the human knight.) Best if all, there are six distinct origin stories to choose from that will have an impact on how you interact with the world.
There are a bunch of game mechanics I like the look of, too. The tactical, party-based pause-and-play combat is similar to Baldur's Gate and other Infinity Engine games, and there's even an optional isometric camera view for those of us who get nostalgic for such things. They have mana bars rather than spell memorization for mages, which just seems to work better for computer games. There are lots of special moves for warriors so there's something to do with them other than clicking on an enemy and waiting for it to fall down. (I really enjoyed the similar mechanic in Drakensang earlier this year.) There are even finishing moves, which look insanely cool.
I'm sure that there will be things that I don't like as well - characters who rub me the wrong way, mechanics that drive me nuts. I already think it's annoying that if you want to play a mage you only have one origin to choose from. Bioware have also ensured that I will not be buying the tie-in comic by hiring Orson Scott Card to write it. (Maybe they didn't tell him about how same-sex relationships are accepted in Ferelden?) However, I don't think it's a big leap to assume I'm going to enjoy the game, and luckily the people writing that have not done anything that's forced me to swear off giving them money.
Mainly I will be happy if the camera does not spend the whole time trying to get me killed. (Neverwinter Nights 2: three camera modes, all of them terrible!)
( Details of my planned first play-through below cut. Minor plot spoilers from the trailers and potentially boring discussion of CRPG mechanics. )
It's true to say that I have never in my life anticipated a computer game like I'm anticipating DAO. I've got the special edition pre-ordered so I get the shiny metal box and all the other goodies, including the bonus in-game content. On November 5th I will be calling my local store at nine to check if the game is really in stock, and if so I'll be there before ten to pick it up. I've already downloaded the Character Creator and built characters for each different origin story. I even have a list of RL things I have to get done before the game comes out, because I know that once I have it I won't want to leave the computer to get a haircut or pick up the drycleaning. (There are distinct advantages to being unemployable right now.) I'm also planning to document my first play through on my journal. I've had so many fun and amusing experiences playing CRPGs, and for once I want to write them down as they happen so I remember them later.
Why am I looking forward to this one RPG so much, when I'm usually content to wait until they show up on the bargain table before committing myself? Well, for starters, this game is being produced by Bioware and many of the people behind my favourite RPGs ever, the Baldur's Gate trilogy. Everyone involved is keen to stress that this is a spiritual successor to those games, with a strong emphasis on character and the epic story. Better still, this time they're not shackled to the D&D rule set or mythos, and are free to make up whatever they want. What they've created sounds interesting so far - there are humans, elves and dwarves, but not quite as we know them. Elves are second-class citizens, many of whom have been enslaved by humans. Dwarves have a complex society where dirty politics and assassination are common but the appearance of honour is is all important. The whole tone of the game is much darker and more blood-soaked than their D&D games, with moral choices that appear to go beyond being a paragon of virtue or an evil overlord cliché. There are companion NPCs you can build relationships with, both sexual and otherwise. Speaking of which: there are three romance options for my female PCs! One of which is an f/f romance! I don't know if I'll actually play through it, but I'm giving Bioware a gold star for giving everyone the options. (There are also two m/f romances and an m/m for male PCs. Everyone seems to be assuming that the elf is the bisexual guy, but I'm hoping that Bioware has decided to avoid the cliché and it's actually the human knight.) Best if all, there are six distinct origin stories to choose from that will have an impact on how you interact with the world.
There are a bunch of game mechanics I like the look of, too. The tactical, party-based pause-and-play combat is similar to Baldur's Gate and other Infinity Engine games, and there's even an optional isometric camera view for those of us who get nostalgic for such things. They have mana bars rather than spell memorization for mages, which just seems to work better for computer games. There are lots of special moves for warriors so there's something to do with them other than clicking on an enemy and waiting for it to fall down. (I really enjoyed the similar mechanic in Drakensang earlier this year.) There are even finishing moves, which look insanely cool.
I'm sure that there will be things that I don't like as well - characters who rub me the wrong way, mechanics that drive me nuts. I already think it's annoying that if you want to play a mage you only have one origin to choose from. Bioware have also ensured that I will not be buying the tie-in comic by hiring Orson Scott Card to write it. (Maybe they didn't tell him about how same-sex relationships are accepted in Ferelden?) However, I don't think it's a big leap to assume I'm going to enjoy the game, and luckily the people writing that have not done anything that's forced me to swear off giving them money.
Mainly I will be happy if the camera does not spend the whole time trying to get me killed. (Neverwinter Nights 2: three camera modes, all of them terrible!)
( Details of my planned first play-through below cut. Minor plot spoilers from the trailers and potentially boring discussion of CRPG mechanics. )