Related Sections: Game Diaries
Dragon Age: Is it a mistake to play it on the Xbox 360?
I had intended to play Dragon Age on a PC for a couple of reasons. Partly because I'd like to be able to take my own screenshots to post for this series of game diaries. Partly because the PC version looks better. Partly because you can zoom out farther during battles, playing them like a strategy game rather than a close-in pausable action game. But mostly because I tried to play Mass Effect, Bioware's last RPG, on a console system and eventually got fed up with the interface. I didn't want that to happen in Dragon Age. So when the Xbox 360 version showed up, I had a tough choice to make.
Read about it after the jump.
Actually, who am I kidding? It wasn't a tough choice at all. Do I play a copy of Dragon Age I was actually holding in my hands or do I not play it? Duh.
Sorry I won't be able to post specific screenshots. That is a pretty nifty picture up there of a dragon breathing fire, although it's got nothing to do with anything you're going to read today. And based on the screenshots I've seen, the PC version definitely looks better. But I'm no graphics whore*. In fact, after a while, I simply stop noticing graphics unless they're terrible or awesome. Dragon Age is neither.
The lack of zoom during combat could be a problem later. At this point, battles have been trivially easy. They pretty much play themselves. And if you've played Mass Effect on a console system, you know how well the radial command wheel works in battle.
The interface is fine so far. There aren't a lot of fiddly bits. The inventory breaks down easily enough into discrete lists, and the lists cross reference easily enough with each other and with various characters.
But mostly I'm happy to be playing on the 360 because this is a long game with a lot of down time where I really don't need a mouse and keyboard. Time spent in dialogue trees. Time spent poring over character sheets. Time spent considering the detailed descriptions of skills and equipment. Time spent checking the map. Time spent watching cutscenes. For every minute I might have wished I had a mouse, there have been ten minutes I'm glad I can sprawl out on the couch.
Of course, it's entirely possible this is all a rationalization for the decision I made to open the game and start playing instead of waiting for the PC version to arrive. And I'm not sure it matters that much anyway, because I'm not really into Dragon Age at this point. I'm not going to be into it for a while. In fact, it's not going to hook me until I've clocked 10 hours, 22 minutes, and 15 seconds.
Tomorrow: What happens at 10 hours, 22 minutes, and 15 seconds.
* Offer not valid for shooters, platformers, driving games, and the latest Ratchet & Clank.
By Mihos at 4:37 PM ON 10/27/09
mods, dude, mods... I will always default to the PC versions for that reason alone. When I think of how many hundereds of extra hours of awsomeness I have gotten from Fallout 3 and Oblivion alone on PC because of mods, it makes a world of difference. Don't even get me started on Neverwinter Nights mods.
By Brad Grenz at 5:36 PM ON 10/27/09
Not having a 360 or PS3, nor early access to games as a member of the (legit) press, it's an easy choice for me. I want to like this game, I want to zoom all the way out and relieve the Baldur's Gate series, I want to be able to mod the crap out of it so it's PC all the way. But I certainly can blame you for dropping the disc you actually had into the appropriate tray.
Frankly, I'm just glad that this fall it seems Assassin's Creed II is the only big multi-platform that has pushed the PC version into next year.
By ComplexedOne at 6:54 PM ON 10/27/09
My choice to play DA:O on the 360 is due to the fact that my graphics card is woefully out-of-date. I'd really like to replace it in time for the launch, but as a lowly college student, I know that isn't going to happen.
If I had infinite resources to keep my PC up to date, I'd game on it so much more. Kinda miss my PC gaming roots.
By MeanMrMustard at 9:30 PM ON 10/27/09
Hey Tom Chick. I just read a PSBlog post and wanted your opinion on Brutal Legend DLC free on PSN for two weeks EXCLUSIVELY!!!!
By fbot at 10:49 PM ON 10/27/09
"For every minute I might have wished I had a mouse, there have been ten minutes I'm glad I can sprawl out on the couch."
You have, what, 8 PCs and you don't have a gaming system for the TV with a pad?
By beryl at 3:43 AM ON 10/28/09
Mr. Mustard,
Tom just posted about the free Brutal Legends DLC PS3 exclusivity earlier today on his personal blog. He's clearly very upset, and has threatened to start an online petition and organize a roving message board mob to bombard all the Playstation blogs, which will no doubt get tons of N4G coverage. I'm sure you'll read all about it in the coming days on.
By MeanMrMustard at 10:46 AM ON 10/28/09
beryl,
Could you post a link to his personal blog, can't seem to find it.
By beryl at 11:17 AM ON 10/28/09
Mr. Mustard,
It's hosted at the website owned by his dad Jack. Just look for the link on the front page.
By Michael the little boot at 2:38 PM ON 10/28/09
beryl, are you serious? I looked all over that site and found nothing but Christian proselytizing. I also find it highly dubious Jack Chick would allow anything about video games linked from his site, even if Tom is his son. Could you post the link to the actual blog? Sorry if I sound a little harsh, but people try tactics like this all the time to get people to go to sites like Jack Chick's.
By Qalu at 3:39 PM ON 10/28/09
Michael, I think it might have been a joke.
In fact, it's really very obvious that it was meant to be a joke.
By UncleJeet at 3:40 PM ON 10/28/09
What's that *whooshing* sound?
By Michael the little boot at 5:22 PM ON 10/28/09
Qalu, it's obvious? I mean, I'm certainly clueless. Could just chalk it up to that. I've got no love for Jack Chick, his stupid tracts ruined my childhood. So I probably just went off for no reason. Still, I don't see where it's obvious. But I'm dense.
By Tom Chick at 5:42 PM ON 10/28/09
For the record, I am technically no relation to Jack Chick. He disowned me after I was caught with a copy of Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals hidden under my mattress. And the really funny thing is that I didn't even own a computer to play it on!
By Michael the little boot at 8:25 PM ON 10/28/09
Nice, Tom! Badge of honor to be disowned by someone like that, even if it was for Leisure Suit Larry.
Of course, you're probably joking and I'm just making an ass of myself again. Either way, good on!
By MeanMrMustard at 9:44 PM ON 10/28/09
beryl,
Thank you!
By Ieolus at 10:28 AM ON 10/30/09
Props for the LSLIII full title reference!
Ieolus:
Props for the LSLIII full title reference!...More »