He is right on every point. The combat is far worse if you ask me compared to the original. Yes it has a lot of flash and style and gibs raining everywhere but unless your a huge Soul Caliber fan you'll find battles are over so quickly and things are so chaotic that there is absolutely no tactics to them what so ever. Even the big battles with the dragons require no more thought than the random gangs that look like each other that assault you at every other point in the game. And I played it on Hard even as I had heard that it adds a bit more challenge and lets you strategize much more, but I found it just wasn't the case in all but perhaps three or four fights through the entire game.

In the end the game is a down and out failure and EA knows it. The game had zero actual plot, crack addict (or 2 year old attention span) combat, no exploration, completely linear zones, the same two dungeons for 15 different events and largely boring characters with a tenth the draw and character of the originals companions.

My biggest complaint about DA2 is the lack of content. Sure it's a fairly long game but I spent 45 hours in the game and I did every single thing there was to do. I did every quest, found every resource node, every single bit of lore to be found, all of it. Likewise I did the same with my first run through of DA:O only it took me around 200 hours for that one because it was so deep of content and rich of story that I enjoyed every second of the game. Some I'm sure (if not most of the console players) ran through the game and ignored all the little interesting bits of story you could find, lore you could discover and all the side events and cool tidbits you could gain by exploring the world and it's deep history. But I personally love that stuff so when I discovered that it was sorely lacking in the sequel I was most disappointed.

I'm not saying Origins was without fault, but as a PC game that harkened back to the golden days of cRPGs it was amazing. I understand on the console the combat wasn't very good because it lacked the camera angles and the strategy of the PC version (It was developed as a PC game, EA just forced the game to be pushed back half a year so a console version could be made). But it was easily the best cRPG from Bioware since Baulder's Gate 2. Now I just hope EA learned a lesson. You cant push a game out in 1.3 years and expect it to even remotely compete with the original and perhaps the greedy fucks will give Bioware 2-3 years to make the third game.

*promote because I just watched this episode.

FYI, http://blogs.forbes.com/davidewalt/2011/03/08/behind-the-scenes-of-communitys-advanced-dungeons-dragons/

Yeah, well.. He's accepting interns.

>> ^BoneRemake:

umami
meme this sheen thing is taking off. I bet he wrights a book about it, and wins.

I agree with dismissing magic, it was a very interesting system to screw with for quite a few levels, but once you know two magic schools the "hard" factor that was in the game initially (like forcing you, as a mage, to find high ground and develop some useful tactical spells) became a complete slaughter. Then if I summon 8 guys to defend me I might as well sit down until their timer wears out (summoning needed to be powerful, but with a much longer casting time, longer shelf life, and a "slot" system depending on what you summon).

Don't get me started on Earth magic being completely overpowered and buggy to hell and beyond.

The item system, while at first seems neat, but even by level ten you realize that every RPG I've ever played extended and amplified their item systems over time. In Two Worlds you can metallurgically upgrade it then add crystals/stones to it to enhance it. This would have allowed for an amazing system, but again they spent minimal time and effort doing it--so it sucks.

The A.I. is a mixed bag. They do well at first, but have HUGE clipping and line-of-sight issues (archers and mages are happy to stand behind a rock and shoot at you: hitting the rock. Then many enemies get stuck in planer or clipping joint areas that have small gaps and IT HAPPENS A LOT! Most engines have dealt with this issue in some form (as it's been ten plus years to learn how to stop them; programmers still screw it up; yes, I know the engine is complicated, but give me the same game on Crytek's engine and I'll be much happier)...

The trade skills are alright have a little promise with them at least starting in the right direction, but as you level up they become useless except for ones you can do on the fly (mostly, metallurgy and fusion).

The rest of what Yahtzee said is correct. The game is buggy. The multiplayer is a let down (where the hell is open roaming or campaign playthrough?) The spell system is terribly broken in some areas (I'm looking at you Fire and Earth) and weak in others: Necromancy or as I call it Necropansies--you're forced to learn another magic or you'll die, unless you really love summoning and waiting the required 5 minutes per fight for a MINOR fight... But, again, the spell card system with maybe Magickas combo system together would make spell-casting an AWESOME experience.

Anyway, I would only suggest this game if you desperately need an RPG to play. If you've yet to play Torchlight play that instead. Otherwise, get Bulletstorm as the comic value and writing (Duke Nukem type one-liners and more) make it worth buying alone.; I hope Duke can live up to this--if it has full Physics I think it will. BTW, the Unreal Engine sucks, bad... There are a lot of games I've liked on it and it looks pretty, but the physics and map abilities leaves A LOT to be desired, BUT it is also a good engine in the manner that it's easy to develop for and very flexible in what it can do (Deathspank is an excellent example; same with Dungeon Defenders on the iPad). At this point though it is by far more a console engine than a PC one.

/My two cents and review for Two Worlds II, with a small peppering of Unreal Engine talk that has nothing to do with the review...

//No grammar check just spell; Deal...

>> ^xxovercastxx:

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skyrim
>> ^shuac:
And the leveling system will likely be the same as before. Mods will just as likely present a workaround.
They've already described the new leveling system. It will be skill-based but not class-limited. Leveling any skill contributes to your level.
Level-scaling is in effect on the main quest and can be implemented on certain side-quests. Generally, monsters and such are not supposed to be level-scaled. Level-scaled quests are supposed to "lock-in" when you start them. If you're getting your ass kicked, you can run away and level some more and return without everything in the dungeon having leveled-up with you.
Well shut my mouth!

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Skyrim

>> ^shuac:
And the leveling system will likely be the same as before. Mods will just as likely present a workaround.

They've already described the new leveling system. It will be skill-based but not class-limited. Leveling any skill contributes to your level.

Level-scaling is in effect on the main quest and can be implemented on certain side-quests. Generally, monsters and such are not supposed to be level-scaled. Level-scaled quests are supposed to "lock-in" when you start them. If you're getting your ass kicked, you can run away and level some more and return without everything in the dungeon having leveled-up with you.

>> ^charliem:

...is this a parody?


Some of the lines in this are just too good.... and if you watch some of his other videos... yes I think it is parody.

"I'm not a particularly busy man.."

"If I was good at talking to people I'd leave the house. I'd go do something interesting instead of playing your game"

Really liked all the evil stuff he pointed out: pentagram, crystal ball,... and Dungeons & Dragons?!
If this would be newer they'd probably have shown a Harry Potter book

Man I loved Syndicate so much...>> ^cybrbeast:

@<a rel="nofollow" href="http://videosift.com/member/ponceleon" title="member since February 8th, 2008" class="profilelink">ponceleon
Don't forget
# Syndicate (1993) (producer)
# Theme Park (1994) (project leader/lead programmer)
# Magic Carpet (1994) (executive producer)
# Hi-Octane (1995) (executive producer)
# Dungeon Keeper (1997) (project leader/designer)
I'd say that only after he founded and became leader of Lionhead Studios he screwed everything up and only produced shit.

>> ^cybrbeast:

@<a rel="nofollow" href="http://videosift.com/member/ponceleon" title="member since February 8th, 2008" class="profilelink">ponceleon
Don't forget
# Syndicate (1993) (producer)
# Theme Park (1994) (project leader/lead programmer)
# Magic Carpet (1994) (executive producer)
# Hi-Octane (1995) (executive producer)
# Dungeon Keeper (1997) (project leader/designer)
I'd say that only after he founded and became leader of Lionhead Studios he screwed everything up and only produced shit.


Ah, didn't know he was involved in some of those. All quality offerings, but I stand by my overall statement. Since Molyneux grew his gigantic fucking head, he has not made a quality game and has constantly over-promised. I'm done with him and his Miloesque bullshit.

@ponceleon

Don't forget

# Syndicate (1993) (producer)
# Theme Park (1994) (project leader/lead programmer)
# Magic Carpet (1994) (executive producer)
# Hi-Octane (1995) (executive producer)
# Dungeon Keeper (1997) (project leader/designer)

I'd say that only after he founded and became leader of Lionhead Studios he screwed everything up and only produced shit.

>> ^Winstonfield_Pennypacker:

kceaton1
Wow - and I thought I typed long posts. I tip my helm, sir.
I enjoy WoW for various reasons. It has the solo experience down to a T and you can find enjoyable ways to spend your time doing PVP, or dailies, or solo questing, or PUG dungeons (shudder), or crafting, of achievements, or other stuff. If you're in a fun guild then you can do dungeons & raids for fun as well. It isn't just the 'lewts' and numbers. Yahtzee has it wrong there. Any raider worth his salt will tell you without blinking it is the fun of raiding with friends, and solving what are (essentially) multi-player puzzles.
And you don't have to be 'addicted' to do it. I putz around in WoW for maybe an hour or two in the late evenings on 2 or 3 nights a week after the kids are down & the wife is doing other stuff. I was easily able to get to level 85 in a couple weeks that way (plus a day or two of multi-hour gaming over the holiday). My guild raids one night a week, for a 2-hour stint. Easily doable while leaving plenty of time for myraids of other interests. Moderation. It's all about moderation.


I knew that'd be a long post, but I was trying to include ALL (or almost all) the issues I've had with MMO's and WoW in specific. I felt giving a "summarily summarized" post would be nothing more than noise -- as I've seen my fair share of on "x" MMO forum.

The only reason I posted anything of that length is that I hate to be misunderstood. If there's one thing I've learned on the Internet is that: while being succinct is nice and prudent were it can be used (without compromising your premise and argument), it's a horrific thing to do when you're trying to make useful observations and criticisms. Also, when giving solutions for the target of the criticism. For programmers (and I've been there) the more someone tries to "succinctly critique" a request/argument for you, the less helpful it is, for you. Though my statement may have been superfluous, I did want to cover all my issues with the approach of designers to current MMO design.

Some people read it (as I would assume you read did) and voted it up, so I'd say some appreciate a thorough approach. It's easy to write a lot about this subject for the mere reason that I've played so many others MMOs other than WoW. Each one adds one or two more things to the mix, but there has yet to be a revolution in the mechanics. I, of which, believe that this is something long past due.

The short fact is that I'm someone with programming experience and a slightly higher amount of design experience; that has also played just about every game ever made. Definitely, I've played all the game types. I would just like one MMO to get-it-right!

I also allowed this to be a bit longer to make sure my response didn't sound rude.

But, raids need HEAVY work still. They are VERY much not for an average player -- once again killing MAIN content for 90% of the playerbase. Blizzard needs to take note that every MMO that has gone to a Free2Play model is now back in business, even though they were dying (due to WoW and saturation). Some have seen a quadrupling in profits, not to even mention what happened number wise to the playerbase.

>> ^Winstonfield_Pennypacker:

kceaton1
Wow - and I thought I typed long posts. I tip my helm, sir.
I enjoy WoW for various reasons. It has the solo experience down to a T and you can find enjoyable ways to spend your time doing PVP, or dailies, or solo questing, or PUG dungeons (shudder), or crafting, of achievements, or other stuff. If you're in a fun guild then you can do dungeons & raids for fun as well. It isn't just the 'lewts' and numbers. Yahtzee has it wrong there. Any raider worth his salt will tell you without blinking it is the fun of raiding with friends, and solving what are (essentially) multi-player puzzles.
And you don't have to be 'addicted' to do it. I putz around in WoW for maybe an hour or two in the late evenings on 2 or 3 nights a week after the kids are down & the wife is doing other stuff. I was easily able to get to level 85 in a couple weeks that way (plus a day or two of multi-hour gaming over the holiday). My guild raids one night a week, for a 2-hour stint. Easily doable while leaving plenty of time for myraids of other interests. Moderation. It's all about moderation.


Actually, the real danger in paying for WoW is that your money helps line the pockets of liberal videogame makers. Naw, I'm just kidding, Bobby Kotick donates to the Republican party.

But, seriously -- numbers, numbers. What do those pesky imaginary characters remind me of? Oh! I know -- Videosift! Another dangerous liberal hot spot, plagued by an ever increasing need to sift more and MORE AND MORE videos -- but for what?! To gain powers!! Powers? For what?! TO BETTER SIFT VIDEOS!! Muahahaha! Those evil, evil bastards.

Now that is a damn effective trap to put in my next SAW dungeon.

kceaton1

Wow - and I thought I typed long posts. I tip my helm, sir.

I enjoy WoW for various reasons. It has the solo experience down to a T and you can find enjoyable ways to spend your time doing PVP, or dailies, or solo questing, or PUG dungeons (shudder), or crafting, of achievements, or other stuff. If you're in a fun guild then you can do dungeons & raids for fun as well. It isn't just the 'lewts' and numbers. Yahtzee has it wrong there. Any raider worth his salt will tell you without blinking it is the fun of raiding with friends, and solving what are (essentially) multi-player puzzles.

And you don't have to be 'addicted' to do it. I putz around in WoW for maybe an hour or two in the late evenings on 2 or 3 nights a week after the kids are down & the wife is doing other stuff. I was easily able to get to level 85 in a couple weeks that way (plus a day or two of multi-hour gaming over the holiday). My guild raids one night a week, for a 2-hour stint. Easily doable while leaving plenty of time for myraids of other interests. Moderation. It's all about moderation.