What could be better than slaying more dragons? The sequel to “Dragon Age: Origins” aims to capitalize on the original’s epic tale, while offering up a brand-new hero and fixing all the control foibles. “Dragon Age II” has better graphics and an improved control scheme, and finally includes vocal acting for the main character, which is a huge leap forward.
Right from the beginning, you’ll get a taste of what Garrett Hawke can become as either a warrior, rogue or mage — the tale starts with an exaggerated rendition of a fight with a horde of the evil darkspawn, with the actual battle taking place a few minutes later. No matter which class you pick, prepare to wreak havoc on the battlefield — a warrior can carve through groups of baddies, a rogue is a master of damage and deception, and a mage casts spells that rain destruction.
While the first game had spectacular graphics, the sequel takes even greater steps forward both in game and in the cut-scenes. Too bad this appears to be where a majority of the production time and money was spent. All of the dungeons are exactly the same based on type — there are only mountain, warehouse and ruin instances — and they are only differentiated by which entrance you use.
| ‘Dragon Age II’ |
| » System: Xbox 360, PS3 |
| » Price: $59.99 |
| » Rating: 3 out of 5 stars |
One huge improvement over “Origins” is the menu system. This time around there is just one radial menu to navigate in battle, and you can pick what items or spells are mapped to it.
The game’s only real shortcoming is that it does not feel as epic as its predecessor. With the story told as a series of flashbacks, a majority of the game takes place in the city of Kirkwall. The plot is split into three acts, with the first being your arrival in the city as a refugee. Almost all of the quests during this time are of the “run here, kill this, come back” sorts. This section ends with a trip to the cavernous Deep Roads — though the trek there only takes about an hour, which is a bit disappointing when the nonplayer characters have been talking up the trip for ages. The next two sequences are spent building your character’s renown and becoming a hero.
“Dragon Age II” takes about 30 hours to clear, and that’s with taking on most of the side quests. The game is action-packed, though it feels more like a really big expansion rather than a fully fledged sequel. Keep a lookout for another “Dragon Age” title soon, as the less-than-epic ending clearly sets up a third game.
