Quote:First things first, I'd like to point out to all the flaming ragers with too much testosterone flowing in their flipping bloodstream that I do love BioWare and the games they make, especially the Mass Effect series. However, BioWare isn't really in any position to criticize their Eastern counterparts in the industry when it comes to innovation. Sure, JRPGs are pretty much all the same at this point, as BioWare's co-founder Greg Zeschuk was so quick to point out, but wait a minute, BioWare's fallen into the exact same pitfall with two of their biggest, if only two, series, Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

Full Story: BioWare Is In No Position To Criticize JRPGs

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Yeah I noticed the same things.
Especially after DA2, it was apparent they they are using the same ideas over again. They may not do that again after the crazy fan backlash with DA2, but then they may not.

Their room to talk is slim to none, especially after DA2 got lower scores then FFXIII and honestly didn't sell all that well in its opening month and a half. (Only a little over 1 Million with all three platforms sales combined.)

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I wouldn't agree that the battle sytems of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises are the same. The shooter mechanics of ME are much more involved and for example missing targets and cover play a large part. Whereas in DA whether or not you or your opponent's attacks hit each other is largely claculated by in game variables (although in DAII there is more of a possibility of dodging attacks by, for example, hiding behind a pillar.) and the use of abilities is much more tactical and actually necessary in the larger/harder battles.

I do however agree with the fact that the non-battle mechanics are almost exactly the same and that Bioware really is the pot calling the kettle black in this situation. In fact I would say that Dragon Quest IX changed about as much from DQVIII than from ME1 to ME2 and FFXIII was alot more of a departure from previous FF titles than any of Bioware's sequels have been - although I'm sure if we got up to Dragon Age XIII it would be pretty different.

Also, side-note: Bioware is alot more innovative in terms of story - both story content and methods of storytelling - and world-building than most JRPG developers like Square Enix, Konami or Atlus.

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All over opinions ^_^...
My personal opinion?
Mass Effect 1 -> Mass Effect 2 brought a nice change of pace and battle mechanics, yet much more shooting was required, and less story. BUT: it gives plenty of opportunity to evolve your character and to communicate with your teammates, which I enjoyed very much.

Dragon Age Origins -> Dragon Age 2 ... oh well. Personal opinion here is that the transition didn't go too well. Bioware took everything the users loved about Origins away, most notably the option to talk to your team members whenever you want to... or to have an open world. They put in swift, button-mashing battle mechanics which I personally quite like. The characters? I like 'em, but the lack of conversation is major. Still, I enjoyed playing it quite a lot, once I got used to it.

As for the conversation wheel? As for the "transferred storyline from Origins"? Bioware clearly tried to make things easy, and they don't work out, at least with the latter. It's a joke compared to incorporating your story from ME1 into ME2.

As for JRPGs, one is never like the other. Bottom line: if you want to dislike a game, well, have fun with it. I try to enjoy it as much as possible, repetetive and all ^_^

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(April 20, 2011 01:41:42 PM)Sabine Wrote:  Dragon Age Origins -> Dragon Age 2 ... oh well. Personal opinion here is that the transition didn't go too well. Bioware took everything the users loved about Origins away, most notably the option to talk to your team members whenever you want to... or to have an open world. They put in swift, button-mashing battle mechanics which I personally quite like. The characters? I like 'em, but the lack of conversation is major. Still, I enjoyed playing it quite a lot, once I got used to it.

Exactly, and they turned it into a Mass Effect clone.

It's not so much disliking their games, their games are enjoyable, but it's them just being hypocrites and criticizing JRPGs for not being innovative when they themselves are doing the same thing: just recycling the same old formula.

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