Dragon Age II: The Quickening

[Matt]

Sebastian is another ranger rogue. Seemed odd considering Varrick is awesome.

Yeah, I know. If you need a ranged rogue, WHY would you not use Varrick? He's entertaining to have around and Dalia is a hell of a weapon to have in your arsenal. He's also easy-going enough that you're never gonna piss him off when you have to make character decisions.

In truth, I really can't think of a combat-class archetype that is missing from the regular arsenal of companions. If ANYTHING, they should probably have another mage in there in case:

  Spoiler: spoiler 

you have to get rid of Anders. He's definitely set up to be the 'healer' mage in the game, and losing him because of plot choices could be catastrophic for your chances.

[BillyG]

I think I have another 15-20 hours left, but so far my favorite part was Varrick's "Scarface" moment when he is telling the story about finding his brother in Hightown. So much fun.

[Matt]

I think I have another 15-20 hours left, but so far my favorite part was Varrick's "Scarface" moment when he is telling the story about finding his brother in Hightown. So much fun.

YES! That was great, and he was totally doing a Tony Montana on the thugs. I laughed my ass off during that entire sequence.

Suggestions for you, if you want to get in a few laughs:

- Aveline is going to have a quest where she wants to, essentially, get laid. This is during Act 2. Bring Isabella along for this quest, you won't regret it.
- In Act 3, you'll have some follow-up on this quest with Aveline. Be sure to have Aveline and Isabella in your party if you want to hear some 'interesting' banter.
- If you end up hooking up with Merrill, have Isabella and Merrill in your party. Again, you'll get some good banter going.

In short: try and keep Isabella in your party at all times. Varrick has his moments, but Isabella provides the real gold.

[BillyG]

I'm pretty much skipping Isabella right now, since I'm a rogue, and running melee heavy in Dragon Age proves aggravating most of the time. Next time around I plan on grabbing Isabella and running her at all times. It kind of drives me insane how long it takes to gather group members, I think I was 10 hours in before I had everyone.

[Matt]

Yeah, I didn't 'need' Isabella in my playthrough as well (I was also a rogue) but the sheer amount of entertainment value that she brought into play by simply being in the party could not be overlooked.

[Matt]

Alex has a really good article on Derp regarding DA2. I think that he's dead on with all of his points and criticisms regarding the game. I also agree that, in spite of all of the wrong-headed changes, the game still merits a 4/5 rating.

[BillyG]

The issue with DA2 is we expected (and rightly so) a similar leap as from ME1 to ME2. Instead DA2 takes lots of steps forward but just as many back. I can't even say it was rushed, because these are core design issues, not bugs and nagging little things that pile up.

[Matt]

agreed 100%. I personally have not run into any bugs with DA2...in fact, it's running much more smoothly than DA:O or DA:A ever did. It's just that the mechanics of the game have totally changed the 'feel' of what made DA so special.

I hold out hope that a patch is released that addresses some of the complaints that everyone is having. We need to get Arcane Warrior and Ranger back as specializations, and we need to be able to change the look of our character and our party. I know that modders are hard at work already on the second issue, and there's already at least 1 boob mod out there.

[BillyG]

There definitely bugs. Like completely broken quests. Had at least three so far that I remember being completely busted and unable to complete.

[Matt]

downloaded Sebastian tonight. I started on his first quest so I haven't actually interacted with him yet.

Andy yeah, you're right...there are bugs. I haven't been hit with them that I'm aware of, though. For instance, all of the Merrill quests played correctly. The only bug that really concerns me (and MAY have effected my first playthrough) is the bug surround Isabella and Sebastian giving you bonuses. The patch that just went out didn't fix that issue, but there is a mod on dragonagenexus.com that supposedly neutralizes it so that it's playable.

[BillyG]

I'm just super pissed that several VERY interesting optional quests are fucking broke and not playable. One that very much pissed me off was that a companion quest for Isabella didn't show up until

  Spoiler: spoilz 

she stole the relic and vanished from the game

Now how the FUCK do I finish that? Goddamn Bioware.

[Captain Russ]

The apostate mage quest broke for my own mage when Thrask died outside the cave whilst fighting templars.

Got another hour or two in and realized this broke the game when I was on my way to the Deep Roads and Varric kept cock blocking the quest.

Some bullshits right there bro.

[BillyG]

Beat it. Shit got crazy at the end. Funny thing is how 10 hours before I called Anders' insane plan out to myself as well as questioned the positioning of those statues in the Gallows. Nice Lelliana nod at the end, and Sandal's store at the end was one of those game moment contrivances that just make you laugh.

[Fil]

Well, finished Origins, Awakening, and all the DLC. I'm probably going to start Dragon Age II tonight but, I'm wondering, is The Exiled Prince DLC is worth buying?

Reading about the bugs in the game has me thinking I should wait, but I want to start the game already!

[Matt]

I'll be honest, I'm not that impressed with the Exiled Prince DLC. You do get a really nice cameo involving someone from DA:O because of it, though. Sebastian himself just isn't all that useful as a party member...Varric easily fills the 'ranged attack rogue' role perfectly and is much more fun to have around.

eta: deleted...forgot you're on the PS3, not on the computer.