I really wanted to write a blog called Dragon Age: Dicktits and harp on about how Bioware and EA had abandoned their core Dragon Age fans in pursuit of the sort of gamer who just wants to ‘kill shit’ with this sequel. As it turns out though I’ve poured a huge amount of time into DA:Dicktits and I’ve really enjoyed it. So either there’s more to it than I’m willing to give credit for or I AM one of those fist-pumping knuckleheads who’s all about games of the smashy face variety (a possibility that horrifies me). Anyway this blog isn’t about that.
It’s about this. So I played DA:2 as a goody, of course. Kitt Hawke was all about doing the right thing, in every situation, following her strong moral compass, supporting the underdog and becoming the champion that the troubled city of Kirkwall needed. Without spoiling the plot the game focuses on the politics and more acutely on the mistrust and suspicions between the Mages and the Templars tasked with policing them. Between and above them are the Chantry, the religious body that benevolently presides over all. Ser Hawke finds herself slap bang in the middle of the tussling and has to make some big decisions. What you do though doesn’t really affect the main plot points. Much like in its space-fairing sister game, Mass Effect, (be in no doubt, they are the same game, merely offering a choice between swords and lasers) there will be war. Dragon Age 2 is about your companions. This doesn’t become apparent until halfway through Act 2, when years with the same people at your side begin to take their toll. They do not exist to serve you. They have their own agendas and ultimately you can’t agree with them all. By the end of the game I was shocked by how playing as a goody had meant so much sacrifice. More than seemed fair. No good deed goes unpunished, so they say. So I did something I’ve never, ever done before. I played the game again… as a bad guy.
Being Evil Hawke meant I could pick all the fun dialogue options, like when your Mother is reminiscing about her parents and her idyllic youth and you get to say “Your Mum was a bitch!” It was like having Tourette’s Syndrome. I found myself exclaiming things out loud while playing, so much more than I usually would. “Yeah, you really think I’m going to let you get away with that? I’m the Champion of Kirkwall, bitches!” STAB! The friends who I had alienated in my last game now thought I was totally awesome while my previous allies were disgusted with me. In the end I had to sacrifice as much as I had a goody and when I had a few dialogue options right at the last, I couldn’t help but show a bit of compassion rather than sticking two fingers up at everyone right before the final battle. It was great fun though. I feel maybe I’ve missed out all these years by being a goody two shoes in games. Mass Effect 3 look out, Kitt Shepard’s had a change of heart.
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