The new Bioware! Is okay ...

After more than 60 hours I arrived with the latest work of Bioware end. A long adventure so and one that I do not regret. However, one that I will probably soon forgotten. It sounds paradoxical? Is it not, wait.
After the disappointments of Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age 2 I was skeptical whether Bioware can rouse again to knock us all of the socks.
The answer: yes and no.
Bioware has delivered an undoubtedly good product that, if one really considered only the logical consequence of the development since EA's acquisition (ie ME2> DA2> ME3 and now> DA: I). More on that later. But thus it is no longer a game, as Dragon Age: Origins was one. . Some fans feel that, including myself, the phrase "product" instead of "art" by the way I use deliberately, but is not meant evil: After all, I'm pretty happy with the product!

But now I have to honestly say that I also no "real" successors of the first DA was expecting more due to such developing from Bioware, but rather a sort of Mass Effect 3 in Fantasy ... if you will. My only real expectation was that the polished technique and one in EA and Bioware again more diligence on the day sets than the direct predecessor, because their own reputation has recently suffered quite yet. And they did, of course, if only for economic reasons: Still a disaster and the brand Dragon Age probably would have been dead. But rants enough we come to the game:

The story (and its presentation):
The Story of DA: I must be 100% "New Bioware". It is not per se bad, benefiting as ME2 and 3 but once immensely from the fact that it is based on a great predecessor who has stamped an entire franchise from the ground. On this tour de force had DA: I just build. That does it, namely approximately at the level of DA2. Where the predecessor of bombast was missing, goes Inquisition from the emotion. Overall, they move at the same level. But what is it anyway?
- The continent Thedas is torn by transnational war Templar against the rebel mage. Freedom against oppression. Anarchy against order.
- In heaven there is a crack in the parallel world of "Nothing" does on, flow out of the incessant nightmarish demons.
- A corrupted form of the magical substance Lyrium, the so-called Red Lyrium, poisoned people and the environment alike..

And who is to judge it? We, of course!
But who are we? In this part we can again choose the race and even more than the grandfather Origins: human, elf, dwarf or Qunari both sexes are at our disposal. That is in itself great, the hammer is that the player characters have been completely set to music. A plus for the atmosphere!
In the first hour of play after character creation, however, begins the disillusionment: Somehow tastes this story entry fade, the drama seems forced, the characters behave implausible. Who the hell are we? How do we get here? In the beginning is unclear where Bioware with its history at all want to go. The hope that this is a perfidious trick to knock the players with a twist ... remains a hope. Eventually, the picture becomes clearer, you know where things are headed. And thinks: Meh ...
However, that's about what I expected: much bombast, cinematic staging, beautiful panoramas, effects, music and pompous heroes and heroines! But without a draft. Without hard choices. Without uncomfortable grays. Sorry, no appreciable progress has also been made more in the facial expressions for ME3.
Just to clarify once again: DA: I is entertaining as ME3 yes was also entertaining. The complexity of Origins is however not even be guessed. The emotions never rain almost. There is slapstick here and there, which brings a smile, but anger, genuine grief? Concern? None. Who still asks, is at Bioware now at the wrong address. Their products have other advantages!

This is popcorn cinema, which is nice to look at. It is the widest possible audience to be addressed, the end is preparing the way for the continued blithely or DLC. That must be nothing wrong, you should just know what you're getting into.

The Fellows
Counting basically yes even to the story, should still be traded separately (I think). For what dear fans at their Bioware games yet, except the rich universes and exciting stories? The unique characters of course!
Companion there are so few, including members of all races, religions and sexual orientations. That Bioware's PR department particularly stressed the latter over and over again has, incidentally, quite fatigued me. Gab's namely already in Origins (and was great!). A scandal is but no longer. It makes the developer no longer be fearless pioneers, rather the opposite: political correctness says hello. All seemed overall pretty fake. Well.
Among the companions in:

+ Wide variety
+ Appropriate amount of cut scenes (some more and others less gotten ...)
+ Personal quests
+ The "Status" changes based on one's own actions, however, there is nowhere you can see if you set someone friendly, neutral, etc.. You have to find out yourself!
+ Some really successful scenes!
But:
- In conversation the attendant cast only very, very rarely something one, agree to, protest etc. Often you forget it completely. Too bad.
- Bioware makes every effort to create distinctive characters, but create these it only limited to arouse sympathy or interest in me. This is also the questionable dialogue system, more on that later.
- There is no way that characters die (eg, in the final or as a result of decisions), a cheat, etc., you can send away some, but that is of no consequence.

Gameplay
On the combat system I will not forgive a lot of space. I'm sorry, for me that was playing at Bioware has always been only accessory. A nice change of pace if you read hours by the Code or conducted endless conversations. The system of DA2 has indeed still annoyed me, but only because it just did not seem to fit into the universe. So:
It bangs and flashes properly, it takes place much faster than Origins. The tactics ... view exists. But is rather impractical, even the zoom level is a joke. Need you but they do not really do. Although I "normal" games even on. Overall, the fights are very nice to look at.
A unique selling point is there of course: the dragon! Very bombastic, epic and God knows what else! Do not miss. Plus a little note that I can not resist an old fan: "High dragons" were in Origins still as good as extinct, the mere sighting of such a monster heralds a whole era! What the hell. Skyrim had many dragons, now has Inquisition them up also. Bills must be paid.

The Quests
Are mostly stupid and act like an MMO. Even Code entries are scattered throughout the ton, but are so inconsequential and interchangeable, that I have read much of anything more from a certain point of it. They made me the impression of fillers or employment measures for the Writer. Where you made use of the successful Skyrim with Dragons fighting, to do this also with the OpenWorld, help Assassin's Creed with mini-games such as the "council of war", setting up headquarters and a truckload of interchangeable collection and kill quests. No surprise, nor a doomsday, but: I had the few but often more overwhelming emotional side quests from Origins prefer. Inquisition is for a better game Feierabend because less complex.

The dialogues are the additional gameplay element that I would mention. In ME3 there was already this bad habit, that there was no cutscene, but that hero and NPC just stood in the area and have losgeplappert. In Inquisition these pseudo dialogues make good 50% of all conversations. A minus for the atmosphere. Why not play here Bioware its strengths? The existing cut scenes are staged attractively and professionally!
I have already mentioned, the full soundtrack, which is really commendable! The Dialograd I hold in there but still for misplaced. Precise answers are impossible to identify with the character suffers. It has also been generally less freedom in making decisions, whether it be in (spoken) behavior of the character or in the decisive moments. Where you could play in Origins even the nastiest, most bloodthirsty psychopath who has ever cursed "hero" (as if you wanted to), the variations in Inquisition are much more limited. You may occasionally grumpy. But is also what.

Conclusion: Overall, I repeat that DA: I for me the money was worth it. Most of the many criticisms arise in fact only when comparing with the origin of the series. That I will not be included in my rating because it would simply not fair: Bioware makes today different games with different focus. I got with Inquisition roughly what I expected: A oriented to the recommendations of the market researchers game that wants to be as profitable, has thereby however hardly anything to do with his own origin. But it's fun if you approach with the right attitude. And I must emphasize, however: Bioware has not just struggling with fierce competition in the staged role-playing games segment. Actually, with none at all. So there is no comparable competitive products and Bioware is currently conducting a rather relaxed life in its market niche. Players like me are absolutely starving, when they finally got a Dragon Age: Inquisition get their hands and have out Mass Effect 3 basically nothing to compare. Yes, such a thing has an effect on my as well as on the official reviews. In The Witcher 3 I'm curious in the relationship. Perhaps then a new wind blowing so in industry?

Let's see what the future holds.

(These star ratings are inexact!

DA: O -> 93%
DA 2 -> 71 &
DA: I -> 84%)