I haven't played "Baldur's Gate," but I have played BioWare's spiritual successor, "Dragon Age: Origins," and after a 10-minute session (albeit one without a proper tutorial), it planted the idea this style of RPG might not resonate with players who've come to expect differently from BioWare.
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If you're like me, your first experience with a BioWare RPG was "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic." I knew "Baldur's Gate" was beloved by PC gamers, but BioWare's action-y take on traditional combat resonated with me.
"Jade Empire" and "Mass Effect" took this combat philosophy in new directions, both giving more direct control over combat to the player.
"Dragon Age: Origins," which BioWare has billed as their spiritual successor to the now Atari-owned "Baldur's Age" series, is not like these games. The combat in "Dragon Age" is more methodical and tactical. It actually feels like "Final Fantasy XII," a game whose combat seemed interesting but didn't grab me.
In the 10 minutes I spent trying out "Dragon Age" a few weeks ago at Electronic Arts' Redwood Shores offices, I died quickly. That's mostly because BioWare dropped me into combat without walking me through a proper tutorial, but it only takes a moment to realize "Dragon Age" combat is different than anything BioWare has attempted for a console game before.
Like "Final Fantasy," it didn't hook me. It feels MMO-like, and immediately made yearn for "Mass Effect 2" in my head. That said, if you are looking for a new "Baldur's Gate"-style game from BioWare, "Dragon Age" looks absolutely poised to deliver. Like Stephen admitted yesterday with "Street Fighter IV," maybe this is a case where I'm just the wrong audience.
That could change, though.
We haven't seen what BioWare plans to do with the console versions of "Dragon Age." Maybe the interface overhaul will make "Dragon Age" more friendly to someone like me. In its current state, I can't see how it would directly map to a controller, but BioWare hasn't let me down yet, so I'm keeping an open mind.
Are you like me, readers? I'm giving BioWare the benefit of the doubt, but from what you've seen of "Dragon Age," do you share my concern?
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