Dragon Age DLC: Leliana's Song review
Jul. 7th, 2010 10:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aithne So I got home last night and lo and behold, there was a new DLC waiting for me. After some issues with the XBox (I got it to cooperate eventually by threatening to file a bug against it), I get everything up and running and downloaded the DLC.
The good: I have to say I'm impressed. The DLC is short, but longer than most of the other DLC that's been put out. It took me about two hours for my first playthrough. The really nice thing is that it's fully voiced, Mass Effect style--you choose from a list of responses with the general gist of what you want to say, and the game then expands that for you. I really hope that DA2 has the same thing (though that would probably necessitate moving it to two discs, just like Mass Effect).
Leliana's Song is quite self-consciously cinematic, which is completely appropriate for a dive into the past of a bard. I really liked the "character introduction" cards, and at one point they were used to excellent effect in a reveal. There are four distinct acts to the story, which I liked much better than the Darkspawn Chronicles one-long-act plot. I really like Leliana as a character, and I liked watching the dynamic between her and Marjolaine. Most of the supporting cast was pretty strong as well, which was nice to see.
If you play, be very sure to read all of the codex entries. As there always is in DA, there's a lot going on that isn't necessarily made explicit on-screen. The aforementioned reveal is much better if you've read up on the codex entries.
The bad: Dear Bioware, I know that new maps and textures are expensive, but can we please be done with the Denerim Market District now? I would have loved to see Orlais and have had to cope with an entirely new map and setting. There was one character who was introduced a bit late, who I would have liked to have seen a bit more lead-in with. (Seriously, you guys know about foreshadowing, yes?) And probably the biggest bad thing was that I ran into a glitch at the end where all of the conversation and cut scenes near the end repeated twice, which took me out of the story. I am reluctant to blame that one on Bioware, though--it could easily be our XBox.
Verdict: well worth the $7, especially if you enjoy playing rogues and if you like Leliana.
The good: I have to say I'm impressed. The DLC is short, but longer than most of the other DLC that's been put out. It took me about two hours for my first playthrough. The really nice thing is that it's fully voiced, Mass Effect style--you choose from a list of responses with the general gist of what you want to say, and the game then expands that for you. I really hope that DA2 has the same thing (though that would probably necessitate moving it to two discs, just like Mass Effect).
Leliana's Song is quite self-consciously cinematic, which is completely appropriate for a dive into the past of a bard. I really liked the "character introduction" cards, and at one point they were used to excellent effect in a reveal. There are four distinct acts to the story, which I liked much better than the Darkspawn Chronicles one-long-act plot. I really like Leliana as a character, and I liked watching the dynamic between her and Marjolaine. Most of the supporting cast was pretty strong as well, which was nice to see.
If you play, be very sure to read all of the codex entries. As there always is in DA, there's a lot going on that isn't necessarily made explicit on-screen. The aforementioned reveal is much better if you've read up on the codex entries.
The bad: Dear Bioware, I know that new maps and textures are expensive, but can we please be done with the Denerim Market District now? I would have loved to see Orlais and have had to cope with an entirely new map and setting. There was one character who was introduced a bit late, who I would have liked to have seen a bit more lead-in with. (Seriously, you guys know about foreshadowing, yes?) And probably the biggest bad thing was that I ran into a glitch at the end where all of the conversation and cut scenes near the end repeated twice, which took me out of the story. I am reluctant to blame that one on Bioware, though--it could easily be our XBox.
Verdict: well worth the $7, especially if you enjoy playing rogues and if you like Leliana.
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Date: 2010-07-08 09:34 am (UTC)