Well, I've discussed worst endings. Far more difficult, of course, are good endings. What makes a good ending? Well, the game's plot must be concluded satisfactorily--no cliffhangers that leave half of the game unexplained, no abrupt twists of tone, no petering out of the story. Often, the chance to see how I affected the game world for better or worse with various actions throughout the game is a plus.
As before, this is a list of the best endings of games I have personally finished, and it is the endings themselves I am rating, not the endgames (that will be another list. Someday.)
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
"Dragon Age Inquisition Trespasser" DLC Review
Publsher: Bioware
Genre: RPG
Summary: As the Exalted Council meets to determine the future of the Inquisition, a fully-armored Qunari warrior is found dead on the grounds. Investigate secret plots and conclude the Inquisition's story.
Gameplay: As in the other "Dragon Age: Inquisition" DLCs, enemies scale with your character. Trespasser also adds new abilities for your Inquisitor's Mark gradually throughout that are both helpful and interesting from a story perspective.
Fortunately the combat, while challenging, is combined with plenty of exploration of mysterious ruins and tantalizing knowledge learned. The pacing is nicely set with regular returns to the Winter Palace and therefore a chance to stock up and chat with your friends in between combat, if you so choose.
There are also numerous little opportunities to earn attribute bonuses via searches and other acts so minor I hesitate to call them minigames (microgames, perhaps?) These are a nice, if minor, touch (I don't think I even discovered the fireworks-creation one until my third or fourth playthrough.)
Style: The misty landscapes are beautiful, as usual. There are some clipping bugs, but the major issue I've had is serious lag (and usually several crashes) during the underground portion of the DLC. Fortunately, it only seems to be a problem for that location.
Story: Trespasser (not the best name, something that seems to plague Bioware's best DLCs recently) is a success on several levels. On a basic level, it offers a bit of fun combat and exploration. It's also a chance to interact with Inquisition's characters again, with plenty of memorable moments and conversations.
Moreover, Trespasser fixes a weakness in the original game by offering a satisfying conclusion to Inquisition's story. In this fitting epilogue, much is determined by decisions made in the previous game, for better or for worse (or just who the Inquisitor is kissing.) And there are a few more choices to be made within the DLC that feel momentous (who knows if they might be, but it's nice that they feel that way.)
And all the while providing an ending, Trespasser deepens characterization and lore for the gameworld and suggests exciting possibilities for the future of Dragon Age. All in all, not much more can be asked of an epilogue.
Genre: RPG
Summary: As the Exalted Council meets to determine the future of the Inquisition, a fully-armored Qunari warrior is found dead on the grounds. Investigate secret plots and conclude the Inquisition's story.
Gameplay: As in the other "Dragon Age: Inquisition" DLCs, enemies scale with your character. Trespasser also adds new abilities for your Inquisitor's Mark gradually throughout that are both helpful and interesting from a story perspective.
Fortunately the combat, while challenging, is combined with plenty of exploration of mysterious ruins and tantalizing knowledge learned. The pacing is nicely set with regular returns to the Winter Palace and therefore a chance to stock up and chat with your friends in between combat, if you so choose.
There are also numerous little opportunities to earn attribute bonuses via searches and other acts so minor I hesitate to call them minigames (microgames, perhaps?) These are a nice, if minor, touch (I don't think I even discovered the fireworks-creation one until my third or fourth playthrough.)
Style: The misty landscapes are beautiful, as usual. There are some clipping bugs, but the major issue I've had is serious lag (and usually several crashes) during the underground portion of the DLC. Fortunately, it only seems to be a problem for that location.
Story: Trespasser (not the best name, something that seems to plague Bioware's best DLCs recently) is a success on several levels. On a basic level, it offers a bit of fun combat and exploration. It's also a chance to interact with Inquisition's characters again, with plenty of memorable moments and conversations.
Moreover, Trespasser fixes a weakness in the original game by offering a satisfying conclusion to Inquisition's story. In this fitting epilogue, much is determined by decisions made in the previous game, for better or for worse (or just who the Inquisitor is kissing.) And there are a few more choices to be made within the DLC that feel momentous (who knows if they might be, but it's nice that they feel that way.)
And all the while providing an ending, Trespasser deepens characterization and lore for the gameworld and suggests exciting possibilities for the future of Dragon Age. All in all, not much more can be asked of an epilogue.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
"Dragon Age: Inquisition The Descent" DLC Review
Publisher: Bioware
Genre: RPG
Summary: Earthquakes are disrupting the dwarven lyrium mines and leaving them open to attack by the fearsome darkspawn. You must delve into the depths and discover the true source of these tremors.
Gameplay: The only major change from the regular game is that enemies level with you, and boy does it make a difference in difficulty. The exact amount will depend upon when you attempt to to play the DLC and how characters have been built (and skill of the player), but no matter what, a bunch of equally-leveled characters seems to be more of a slog. Perhaps it's just that enemies are more closely clustered here than in the open environments of the main game.
There are also a few puzzles to get and find extra loot (including a Towers of Hanoi puzzle, for old times' sake), but nothing that is vital.
Style: This is the most beautiful the Deep Roads have ever looked. The cutscenes, too, are the best in the game in terms of sharp, smooth animation.
Story: The two dwarven companions are interesting and quickly well-characterized, but there's sadly little dialogue from your usual party. There is fascinating new lore learned, but only after several hours slaughtering things. Overall, the combat outweighs the story. I wish there was a more even balance between the exploring and fighting. I can't focus on exploration while fighting an army of darkspawn, and the new areas the can be opened up afterwards are small.
There also aren't any choices in the story. I'm sure Bioware is getting tired of having to account for every new possibility, but having some sort of options within the story would have been nice (maybe some paths with less combat? Or even just alternate routes?) As is, I find little reason to replay.
Genre: RPG
Summary: Earthquakes are disrupting the dwarven lyrium mines and leaving them open to attack by the fearsome darkspawn. You must delve into the depths and discover the true source of these tremors.
Gameplay: The only major change from the regular game is that enemies level with you, and boy does it make a difference in difficulty. The exact amount will depend upon when you attempt to to play the DLC and how characters have been built (and skill of the player), but no matter what, a bunch of equally-leveled characters seems to be more of a slog. Perhaps it's just that enemies are more closely clustered here than in the open environments of the main game.
There are also a few puzzles to get and find extra loot (including a Towers of Hanoi puzzle, for old times' sake), but nothing that is vital.
Style: This is the most beautiful the Deep Roads have ever looked. The cutscenes, too, are the best in the game in terms of sharp, smooth animation.
Story: The two dwarven companions are interesting and quickly well-characterized, but there's sadly little dialogue from your usual party. There is fascinating new lore learned, but only after several hours slaughtering things. Overall, the combat outweighs the story. I wish there was a more even balance between the exploring and fighting. I can't focus on exploration while fighting an army of darkspawn, and the new areas the can be opened up afterwards are small.
There also aren't any choices in the story. I'm sure Bioware is getting tired of having to account for every new possibility, but having some sort of options within the story would have been nice (maybe some paths with less combat? Or even just alternate routes?) As is, I find little reason to replay.
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