The amount of gameplay hours is what makes D2 great. So let's make is a little poll... What would you rather have: more hours? more impactful decisions?
Can't I have both?
I understand that this game was meant to be a glorified hack n slash with RPG elements (modern Diablo if you will) without forcing the user to really consider in depth choices that alter that session of the game. However, a simple internal moral/faction/etc. counter could be implemented easy without huge story arcs. You tend to help the guards more than the merchants and:
Maybe a guard helps you fight the killer bunny with big teeth (loved the Monty Python reference. Or as you pass guards their speech could be in favor, or alternatively if you side with the merchants they make snide remarks.
I think in my particular case it is a matter of how I came to this game. I played Mass Effect. Dragon Age, Heavy Rain, Dragon Age DLC to prep for DA2, Mass Effect 2, then Divinity II. So the last few months I've become accustomed to decisions making huge impacts. Anyway, now that I have been playing this game for awhile now I really don't miss it that much - just stuck out initially. The action, story, endless giddiness of a gold chest, etc. has replaces my loss of in depth decision making.
Some notes on the Dragon:
Despite the notes saying I can't change form without a cool down I can instantly. I really like this! As I can use this as a tactic to fly in and change to human form, spam a few explosive arrows and catch the enemy by surprise. Fun. I do have two major beefs with the dragon form though...
1) I can't see the enemies on the ground. I FULLY understand not being able to attack them, as this would be overpowered unless done just right. However, it kind of kills some of the immersion.
2) This one is bigger than the first. I ... feel... WEAK as a dragon. I'd much prefer be in human form for any battle as my stats are higher, have better gear, have more abilities, etc. The only saving grace in the dragon form is the ability of flight (well and you can cheat by changing to dragon to regen your mana, then go back to human to finish off your prey.) However, I love being a dragon and just wish this was utilized more... or at least I felt like I was actually this terrifying beast and not a pigeon that ate too spicy food.
To add insult to injury, it seems for all the flying tower zones if I'm in dragon form the screen has a super bright light source like I'm flying in the middle of a sun that makes it impossible to see where I'm going. I've tried every graphical setting available and no luck. As soon as I drop to human, the world reappears. This does not happen outside of the flying tower zones, so I believe it to be specific to something used in those zones
I really did like that I could do some things out of order and be temp overpowered as my reward. However, the way that XP is shifted by level forces you to really follow the script or you end up where you are 10+ levels higher than your foes and only getting 1-10xp a kill. The flip of that is if you are skilled with using your terrain you can get over 3k a kill in an area you shouldn't be.
Don't have exact numbers, but think I went from level 19 to 28 with JUST stone's tower. After that tower, the entire game was a cakewalk. I'm 34 now, and still have a page full of quest and two towers to explore.
Sorry if I'm coming off harsh, I really do LOVE the game - the graphical glitch of the towers is what set me off in making this post. All in all it is a solid game and I DO plan a second play through after I finish this one and the expansion. So far I've held true to ONLY ranger tree skills and bow and arrow the whole way. It is kind of lame that as a Ranger I'm wearing heavy plate mail, but I never saw any leather type armor that even remotely had decent stats.
So since I stayed pure, my second play through will be a warrior/mage hybrid do I can try it all. I would go pure mage, but I'm assuming from the loot I've seen thus far there are no staves or robes except for one NPC who taunts me...
Thanks again Larian for a great game. Don't take me rants to heart to deeply, it is just a side effect of me spending so many hours enjoying your creation.
