Gomb

The ME series is meant to be a shooter/rpg hybrid, so the controls stay the same in the sequel. That said, it is understandable that people who do not play shooters would find the controls to be "bad" compared to rpgs at first glance, (I had similar reactions, as I also play more rpgs than anything else) but after you get familiar with the game you'll realise the controls are actually quite simple and user-friendly.

Or at least I do not consider it a coincidence that after The Witcher videogame Bioware implemented a rather similar conflict between elves and humans in DAO.

I think you'll find that DA:O was in preparation before TW - it was horrendously late on the original expected date. In addition, TW is built on a (rebuilt) Aurora Engine which powered the NWN stories which was built by Bioware. So no, CD Projekt did not get there before Bioware in RPGs anyway.

-Y-

Yes I'm aware of that, but the 2 years that separate the release of the games are not that short of a period to make a few changes here and there. I'm not saying it bothers me, because it doesn't, I just find it odd that after a The Witcher, which was a huge success among rpg fans, came out another rpg which handled the same issue in a very similar way.

On a side note: point-and-click games usually have the best stories among video games, although that genre has been quite dead for some time.

<== you mean the very old games like Space Quest, Kings Quest (before all the fighting came in), Quest for Glory, etc?

The only other genre of Point'n'Click that I can relate to is the Diablo franchise lol... and yes, that does have an excellent story. Hardly dead, but hardly meaningful either, very linear storylines.

Sorry, I thought point-and-click was another term for "adventure puzzle games" such as Grim Fandango, Monkey Island, Syberia etc. I meant those kind of games.


Regarding the "elf racism' topic: Sure, these kind of racial rivalries/differences can be spotted in a great deal of fantasy fiction, (the drow, just to bring up the most obvious example) but I believe it was Sapowkis' novels which popularised this "in-your-face" racism theme in fantasy fiction. Or at least I do not consider it a coincidence that after The Witcher videogame Bioware implemented a rather similar conflict between elves and humans in DAO.

DA:O was a watered-down version of The Witcher

I really do not see the reason for the constant need to compare The Witcher to DAO as a whole and name The Witcher as the absolute winner. Calling DAO a "watered-down version of The Witcher" is, in my opinion, unreasonabe. Sure, Bioware did stole the idea of racism between elves and humans, and the witchers may have a few things in common with the wardens, but that's where the similarities end. The only things in which TW is clearly superior to DAO is the more natural atmosphere, thanks to such things as the day-night cycle, dynamic weather, (which Bioware unfortunately decided to scrap in their next-gen fantasy games) the more authentic area and architecture designs, and more lively villages/cities. These are done very well in the Witcher and DAO does not come close to it in these aspects.

However, I did not particularly find TW more "sophisticated" than DAO in terms of writing; it does have a few good moments, but most of the dialogue is just rpg small talk. If any game, then the Witcher really does lack memorable npcs, ( I know, I should read the books to know them, but the game itself did not portray any of them as particularly interesting) and while the story seemed pretty good at a few parts (I'm thinking of the investigations in Vizima, and the parts when you "teach" Alvin) it had one of the worst finales and a really dumb "plot-twist". With the different origin stories, more memorable and better developed cast of characters, I still find the clichéd plot of DAO much better written than TW. Not to mention that the better delivery of VAs also add a lot to the dialogues.
My point is: The biggest selling points for single player rpgs are usually atmosphere and writing; TW does one part better while DAO does the other, hence I do not see much point in people always pointing out how TW is more "mature".

And if there is any reason I prefer BW rpgs over others, then it is because of the humor, self-irony and trope satire. Yes, shame on me, I do not like my game to take itself too seriously. Which does not mean I do not appreciate "epicness" or "deep characters", but most games are usually just interactive versions of already established ideas and clichés ,with a few small twists here and there if done well. In my opinion, it was only Planescape: Torment which could pull off a more "original and deep" story among rpgs, and even that game had several common tropes.
On a side note: point-and-click games usually have the best stories among video games, although that genre has been quite dead for some time.

As for DA2, I think it still has the aforementioned BW flavour to it, only to a lesser degree, but I still find it enjoyable for this reason. I would not recommend it to anyone over BG2 or DAO, or even ME2, and would certainly not for anyone who is looking for an outstanding rpg. But it still has it's good points, or gimmicks, as Tempest put it (which do work, since many people seem to enjoy the game), it's just not the exact same quality to which Bioware fans are used to. Which does not surprise me, since the game was thrown together in what, 18 months? I think that all the hate just came from people expecting way too much for such a short deadline.

I'd get Dragon Age: Origins if you want the "BG2 experience". DA2 mixes DA:O with the worst parts of Final Fantasy and Mass Effect (and none of the good parts thereof).

Are there any good parts of Final Fantasy? The only real jrpgish influence I found in the game was Fenris. (And a few bits of the soundtrack.) The other bad parts I simply took as a result of a short deadline and bad game design choices.