Editorial Dragon Age - Gamasutra's Top of 2009

[Jason]

Tags: Dragon Age

Gamasutra's <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26234/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_PC_Games.php" target="blank">Best of 2009 PC Games</a> is heavy on RPGs and strategy this year, with the #1 nod going to <b>Dragon Age</b>.
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<blockquote>Dragon Age's pre-release marketing implied tired, shallow characters and situations. The game itself has an uncommon smartness and genuineness. Rarely have I grown as attached to virtual characters in video games, or developed distaste for them based on something other than poor writing. Even better, they convincingly engage in their own independent banter as you lead them around the world. The game and its setting aren't devoid of cliche, not by a long shot; but few games offer such a volume of well-conceived interaction and observation. (Those driven to the game solely by its current angry-bloodbath television campaign are likely to be confused by the thoughtful experience with which they are presented upon startup.)</blockquote>

 

[Emotional Vampire]

Obviously never got through Derp Roads.

 

[circ]

Very professional Gamasutra.

 

[Dnny]

Rarely have I grown as attached to virtual characters in video games

Doesn't need any commenting, just this sentence alone is pathetic enough to dismiss the whole review.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y_M_O_U_S_E]

Rarely have I grown as attached to virtual characters in video games

Doesn't need any commenting, just this sentence alone is pathetic enough to dismiss the whole review.

Ad hominem detected.

And it's a good top list and most of the article seems professional. It's very obvious that gamasutra is not on anyone bribery list.

 

[Kz3r0]

Rarely have I grown as attached to virtual characters in video games

Doesn't need any commenting, just this sentence alone is pathetic enough to dismiss the whole review.

Ad hominem detected.

And it's a good top list and most of the article seems professional. It's very obvious that gamasutra is not on anyone bribery list.

Weak, try again.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y_M_O_U_S_E]

Rarely have I grown as attached to virtual characters in video games

Doesn't need any commenting, just this sentence alone is pathetic enough to dismiss the whole review.

Ad hominem detected.

And it's a good top list and most of the article seems professional. It's very obvious that gamasutra is not on anyone bribery list.

weak try again.

inorite

 

[Brother None]

Very professional Gamasutra.

I'm not a huge fan of too much slobber-toning but at least "game of the year" awards are the spot for this.

I'm not sure what there'd be to protest otherwise. Dragon Age is a clear RPG of the Year, and as far as I can see clear PC Game of the Year too. Does anybody see any competitors?

Still having not played Trine, I'd say Zeno Clash is the only competitor, and it's too short.

Nice of them to give a nod to AAaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!

 

[Lockkaliber]

Am I going insane or something? Why are people praising the game for its writing? There are other things that are actually good about it, but seriously, the writing?

 

[Brother None]

Am I going insane or something? Why are people praising the game for its writing? There are other things that are actually good about it, but seriously, the writing?

We're talking about an industry where Fallout 3 can win the best writing award.

It does not take much to impress the gaming media when it comes to writing. Graphics? Damn hard. Writing? If you can string two coherent sentences together, you're up to bat in the award section.

 

[Hobbit Lord of Mordor]

Empire: Total War @ #4?

Credibility -> 0.

 

[YourDaddy]

Very professional Gamasutra.

Dragon Age is a clear RPG of the Year, and as far as I can see clear PC Game of the Year too. Does anybody see any competitors?

Might be right if (and only if) you are talking about AAA titles. Otherwise, there are several indie and even flash titles I've enjoyed more than Dragon Age this year.

 

[Multidirectional]

I liked Risen much more than Dragon Age. Then again, I only completed 15 percent of DA before getting bored, so maybe I'm not in position to evaluate it. From what I've read, DA becomes just as much of a grindfest as Risen in later stages, but at least Risen has actually fun combat. I was never big on RTwP though, I like either full RT or full TB.
Even Mass Effect bored me less than Dragon Age.

 

[Gragt]

DA is art.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y_M_O_U_S_E]

DA is art.

DA is a Tolkien rip off. Braid is art.

 

[Jim Cojones]

Might be right if (and only if) you are talking about AAA titles. Otherwise, there are several indie and even flash titles I've enjoyed more than Dragon Age this year.

It would be retarded to expect a mainstream site to give RPG of the year award to a niche title. Not because they are sold and must give awards only to AAA games but because the number of games being published is high enough so the ones with small to any marketing budget can be easily overlooked by a site that doesn't concentrate on just one genre.

And even besides this, there's not much sense in calling Gamasutra's choice of GoTY unprofessional while the Codex choice is exactly the same (I blame Jamie for starting the poll too early so DA got many votes from the guys who hasn't spend enough time with the game and later on they realised after the good beginning it becomes BSB).

 

[Gragt]

DA is a Tolkien rip off. Braid is art.

Tolkien is art, so if DA is a Tolkien rip-off then DA is art. Braid isn't art.

 

[Silellak]

Braid is pretentious enough to be modern art, that much is certain.

 

[Zeus]

DA is art.

DA is a Tolkien rip off. Braid is art.

Braid is a Blinx: The Time Sweeper rip-off.

 

[Gragt]

Doom is also art.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Braid is pretentious enough to be modern art, that much is certain.

God yes. I had fun with it, but holy shit.

 

[Volourn]

"Otherwise, there are several indie and even flash titles I've enjoyed more than Dragon Age this year."

Then make your own top 10 list, and make them above DA. problem fuckin' solved.

DA is eaisly top RPG of the fuckin' EON.

Anyone who bashes DA's writing OVERALL 9as opposed to nitpicking a handful of poor examples) is fcukin' dumb and doens't know quality writing when they see it. Period.

 

[Silellak]

Braid is pretentious enough to be modern art, that much is certain.

God yes. I had fun with it, but holy shit.

Exactly. Very enjoyable game, do not regret the purchase in any way, but...damn.

I don't usually use ZP for anything other than entertainment value, but Yahtzee's Braid review is pretty dead-on.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/203-Braid

 

[Burning Bridges]

I would have problems making a list at all, with decent 5 games that came up this year.

 

[Silellak]

I would have problems making a list at all, with decent 5 games that came up this year.

Isn't the list pre-mature, anyway?! The AoD combat demo isn't even out yet! POTENTIAL GAME CHANGER!