|
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Bioware
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: Mature
Release date: Available now
If you haven’t played Dragon Age: Origins, stop reading now. There are no spoilers below for Witch Hunt itself, but given the premise of the DLC and how it’s all about the story, there’s no way to discuss it without spoiling Origins. Head on over to the Origins review, decide if it’s worth a play, then come back when you’re ready. For the rest of you…
Everyone has their own special relationship with Morrigan, but whether you love her, hate her, or are somewhere in between about this particular Witch of the Wilds, there’s no minimizing the role that she plays in Origins. Whatever your decision was on the eve of the fateful battle, you have some serious issues to discuss. You return to Flemith’s abandoned hut to discover that someone has been there since the Legendary Witch’s exit. Your only traveling companion: your faithful Mabari hound. It appears you’re not the only one hunting Morrigan, however, and your Merry Band almost immediately begins to grow. The Dahlish have a bone to pick with your favorite apostate, and have sent Ariane to ask for your help in doing some research at the Circle Tower that might assist both of you in achieving your goals. Let the fetching and fighting begin! Upon arriving at the Tower, you discover that there’s someone new in charge (Gregoir might’ve finally taken a long-needed vacation), but being the Warden Commander has its perks, so you’re given the access that you need. You also discover that a particular enchantment savant (though slightly more mature and with an almost grown-up voice) has survived the final battle and resides within the Tower’s walls. It is here that you also meet up with Finn, who, despite his abilities, doesn’t seem all that far removed from his apprenticeship. He also has an interest in Elven relics, and now your foursome is complete. There’s more to explore, and no trip to Ferelden would be complete without a detour through the Deep Roads (they really need to build an inn down there). What at first had seemed a simple journey to find one lost witch has turned into so much more.
 Just like the last DLC, once you complete the install, select “new game” (you must have an available character slot), “Witch Hunt” from the external menu, and “import character.” You can import from either Origins or Awakening, but you want to do it after you’ve slain the Archdemon (or at least after Morrigan’s departure from the party) for the story to make sense. Creating a new character would be pointless (unless you’re dead, but that raises a whole other set of issues). One neat new feature is the ability to auto level. I guess it was included for those who don’t need to control everything, and allows you to hit the easy (“Y”) button to gain AI-suggested attribute points and abilities when the time comes. It felt good coming home to the original map upon leaving Flemith’s Hut. While you can’t actually travel to Redcliffe or Denerim to check on the homestead in this expansion, it’s comforting to see that they might be options in the near future. This time inside the Tower library (it looks much cozier without all of the body parts strewn about) you must explore and actually read some of the books (“Just Say No to Elfroot: A Guide for Parents”). Of course, there are basements that need clearing and magic gone awry. If you get stuck on something (though the linear nature of this DLC would make that difficult), listen to what your companions are saying. These two are more useful than your usual dungeon-diving buddies. Combat hasn’t changed, but if you think the Darkspawn are gone, think again. There are still a few scattered bands lurking about, and they’ve learned a few new tricks since we last met in battle (even if you’ve completed Awakening). There is one challenging boss battle to wage, and as for loot, while there’s not much in quantity, you come across such new goodies as Paragon-level runes, two or three shiny swords and…let’s just say a gift from an old friend. There’s also a few more achievements included, so the completionists among us have a tad more about which to brag.
Sparkly dialogue returns, so listen closely to the folks talking about you in the background for some seriously laugh-out-loud moments. I heard an interesting rumor about Aidan Cousland, the Pirate Queen and three nugs, but I dare not repeat it here. Claudia Black (TV’s Farscape) returns to voice the Witch herself in the final scene, and I can honestly say that I don’t think that I’ve seen Morrigan give a more powerful performance.
 As for its downsides, are we still talking about how the game has the best possible graphics for a 2005 title? I think we all admit by now that it’s no imaging superstar, but since that’s not going to change until at least March, we just need to accept it and move on. My only true gripe with Witch Hunt is its length. It doesn’t even take two hours to complete. You’re paying $7 for the last five minutes of the expansion (admit it, the final scene is really why we all downloaded it), and that’s just a bit too steep. Still, we’d probably agree to pay even a little more just for a glimpse of the answers to some very important questions.
Of all the Dragon Age DLC thus far, Witch Hunt appears more thoroughly thought-out and rolls very much like a natural progression from either the Origins or Awakenings finale. This is a must-have DLC for all Ferelden adventurers. Its “to be continued” ending left me screaming (literally) for more, and I found myself trapped in a cliffhanger-type ending from a 1940s adventure serial. When the next piece of the puzzle comes out, I will have no choice but to join in. There are still too many loose ends to be tied. “Change is coming to the World!”
Our Score: 
Our Recommendation: 
|
Looking forward to playing this on my pc, but its in the wait while i noob it up with Sc2
i have yet to play anything from bioware [pc] that i havent absolutely enjoyed, and replayed at least twice
I have mixed feelings about this dlc. It does sort of hint at how DA2 will start but the ending is so buggy. For the money, I think it’s a great value. 3+ more hours of fun with some new characters. The ending kind of killed it for me though.
Really? The ending was the one part that made the trip worthwhile for me, although I must confess to trying every possible permutation with every possible character I had at my disposal to get “more” out of her. Up until then it was find, fight, kill, fight, move – repeat as necessary. I would like to see what’s inside the package she left before the launch of 2, and my main character is seriously interested in the whereabouts of the “other matter”.
I don’t even believe you played it Mr. Reviewer. It sucked and it’s broken. Morrigan assumes all the decisions you made at the end with your brief conversation that you have with her for three minutes at most. So at the end of a 2 hour journey (if that), at which they recycle most of the areas from other DLC, nothing is really resolved and she leaves you again. LAME!! Super Lame DLC! Probably the worst released by Bioware for the Dragon Age series.
Worse than Amgarrak or Feast Day Pranks? Impossible!
Totally agree with Shawn on this one. The content in this DLC is recycled, broken (Morrigan said I refused her offer even though I didn’t), short and adds almost zero to the Dragon Age story.
I am curious, though, that’s the second time I’ve heard talk of bugs, while I didn’t experience any during my four trips through, that doesn’t mean they aren’t lurking somewhere. Are you guys talking the PC or 360? We really should compile a list.
Not everyone experiences the bug. However i disagree with this review
and its 4 star rating. It does make me believe the reviewer didn’t play it.
Its DA 2 commercial that cost us $7 to see Morigan for 4 minutes at the end,
and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is resolved or concluded.
ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS DLC IS THE VERY LAST ONE FOR DA:O.
The cliffhanger ending was cheap. Whats worse for us DA:O fans, is that
ME 2′s Lair of the Shadow Broker is soooo good, and Witch Hunt is crap.
For the doubters – Gamertag = Phantom H53
PSN: sani4u
Sarens Ghost aced it with the “DA2 Commercial” jab. Ha! I also concur on this being such a poor showing for the final DLC to such an epic game. I mean, damn! Baby girl couldn’t even give a brother some nookie before she took off again. I have been hanging out with surly dwarfs and metro sexual mages fighting a chewed up tittied predator face lady this whole time! Give me some love! … I guess I’ll just go have to hang out with my bottom b$#%h Liara. Later DA.
I agree with most here that this is not a quality ending for any add-ons to DA:O. I got direct here from Bioware’s site picking this site, (obviously) because it probably is the only place that gave it a good review, but the review comes across as if the author didn’t play it. The ending left much unsaid, even still after it was fixed. Now that I mentioned a “fix”, yes it has been re-uploaded to their download queues for those that have an account on their “entitlements” page for PC players. As of this post, there still isn’t a console fix for the issue. It was frustrating getting to the end and Morrigan not acknowledging that we did the Dark Ritual as well as not even acknowledging that she was my love interest during the whole of the game. Now that they re-released a working file and having to play through it again, at least I got what I was supposed to, from what Morrigan and I experienced together in DA:O, not what I thought was a quality ending for DA:O that didn’t seem to segue into DA2.
I’m trying to figure out what your angle on this is Michele. I’m looking over at Metacritic on the reviews for this game, and you’ve got the only positive one I’ve seen.
Even those softballs over @ IGN gave it a 65. The content is bland, short, and the story is non-existant.
I’ve done some EA games reviews in the past. I know they treat you “right”. First class airfare, open bars, etc. I can’t imagine they bothered flying you out for a DLC, but I also can’t figure out how anyone would give this 3/5 let alone higher.
Hands down this is the worst DLC, and yes, much worse than Golems. Don’t waste your money people.
As for you Michele, I can’t imagine taking any of your reviews seriously after this questionable piece.
when i finished origins, i couldnt sleep the first night after the betrayal. i knew this would come in a form of a dlc/sequel. but this was not it. my complains:
-TOO EASY! the next time i track a witch who said she didnt want to be found i expect to run into an army of drakspawn/zombies, the forces of nature’s beasts, defensive magic, multiple dragon battles, actual puzzles(!!), running into flemmeth! A CHALLENGE!. you know nothing of her whereabouts, yet you track her with 3 companions and some stupid research?! WHAT?! ARE YOU JOKING?!
-TOO SHORT! tracking some1 who has been missing for 2 years, and has magic at his disposal in a huge world apparently takes a dog, an elf, and an English explorer mage elf. WTF?! 1 hour, 4 zones. tracking?! are you serious?!
-TOO DULL! nothing breathtaking, no emotion, id say even at the end (and im one of the heartbroken ppl from the original’s ending as i mentioned before).
i still pray they delete this DLC and turn into a sequel, coz id play a track&hunt game if it presented a challenge and the things i mentioned above.
the only redeeming thing about this is that it allows you to find morrigan. thats it.
2.5/5 coz im generous. i thought of a better plot while sitting in my bathroom.
@ Redcloak: No angle, and we literally get “nothing” from EA in exchange (most of the time not even the product) for review. I call them as I see em’, and yes, while disappointed that it was over so quickly, I enjoyed the expansion. Question me all you like, I’ll continue to issue my unbiased (even by the masses with whom I disagree this time) opinion.
Michele, the DLC wasn’t close to what you gave in the impression you leave for the Witch Hunt. How you state that you’ve not seen Morrigan give a more powerful performance, just confirms that, since she was in the DLC all but about 3 minutes at the very end.
And yes, it was buggy for PC and from what I have read in the Bioware forums, the fix still hasn’t been released for the PS3 or 360 versions. there are numerous threads on it, two of which are officially started Bioware threads. After finally getting it fixed, i ahd to replay the whole DLC just to get the ending correct, though Buioware stated I could just use the save right before seeing Morrigan. This is just one of the official threads, regarding the fixed version for PC.
http://tinyurl.com/2b9k5qo
I’ve never experienced the bug for the 360, and yes, I feel that the performance (and I mention her appearance as taking place for five minutes in the review – could be 3 depending on how many conversation threads you explore) was indeed the best Claudia gives in the series. In my first playthrough she referred the the something by gender, refused to disclose its location, and explains her reasoning behind it. She also referred to my need for an heir for Ferelden, and in subsequent playthroughs discussed it appropriately as it pertained to that particular character’s storyline. I truly feel bad for those that have experienced the bugs, but I have to review what I’m given, not what somebody else experiences. When Morrigan refused to give me more information than the warning and an acknowledgment of our friendship, her abrupt departure was dramatic and literally did have me screaming for more. Perfect season finale ending in the TV world, and we will all pick up with the story when it returns in March.
what the heck i dont get it is the game on xbox 360. The dragon age oragins witch hunt i wana see morgana PLEASE HELP ME WHEN IS IT COMING OUT IN XBOX 360 OR IS IT ALREADY OUT……? when i tell u when!!!!!!!!!!!!!…….? XD
It’s been out for the 360 for about a month
Yes, they all came out at the same time, but the “fixed” console versions still have not been released (most in the forums think it is MS and Sony doing their own certifications on it and that Bioware already is finished with it). He could purchase and download the bugged version if that person so wished. I would wait until word is out that the fix is released.
Does anyone have any numbers on the percentage affected?
I do not know, Bioware certainly isn’t exactly forthcoming in that area. But if you go to the forums, specifically the link I provided in an earlier post in this thread, you can see the complaints from those who own consoles. As I noted, most are suggesting that it is fixed overall, only that MS and Sony are taking their time with their certification process.
I thought it was alright but not a great way to send off the game. I played it on the PS3 and it was pretty buggy. I also had problems with Awakening, though.
Well, i both hated and enjoyed certain aspects of this DLC, it didnt have enough action in my opinion (only real chalenge was The boss before morigan really, and it wasnt even that hard.), and i have to agree with michele when she says morigans final performance was breathtaking.(i dont have this “bug” and im on the 360)
Too short, but it was enjoyable and as someone who romanced morrigan with one play through, it was satisfactory. As long as we find out more in the next one. I want to find out what happened to my warden though who followed her through the mirror… that seems to scream for a sequel.
Concur, Trent. It will be interesting to see how the concurrent timelines play out in DA2, but I fear we may have to wait until 3 to find out what happened on the other side of the mirror and whether or not the child comes back to kill his baby daddy.
ooo.. I was focused on 2 and did not even consider 3.. it would be cool if they revisisted the Warden wouldn’t it?
Michele said:
“It will be interesting to see how the concurrent timelines play out in DA2, but I fear we may have to wait until 3 to find out what happened on the other side of the mirror and whether or not the child comes back to kill his baby daddy.”
There is nothing even close to being out as a rumor to DA having a third installment and your time-line would not fit the synopsis anyway as the mirror is going into DA2. DA2 is a generation after DA:O, so it seems that child will appear in DA2 and anything carried over from that disaster of a DLC of “Witch Hunt” and its allusion to the future as stated by Morrigan would most certainly be in DA2.
Bioware has been fairly forthcoming when letting out future sequels. For example, it was all but known that Mass Effect 3 was coming when mass Effect 2 was announced within months after the release of Mass Effect.
Point taken Tommy… and grey wardens don’t live that long anyway. Perhaps I can play the child in #3
IF 2 does as well as 1, you know they will make one.
trent said
“Point taken Tommy… and grey wardens don’t live that long anyway. Perhaps I can play the child in #3
IF 2 does as well as 1, you know they will make one.”
Actually, I am a little worried about DA2, since the system requirements are already official. According to the recommended requirements, the disk space needed for the game is only 7GBs, whereas DA:O was 20GBs. Either Bioware is using a more comprehensive file compression system, or the game is much shorter than DA:O, or the graphics are seriously toned down. I am thinking it is more the second possibility. I hope DA2 lives up to DA:O, because Origins is hands down the best overall RPG I have ever played.
hmm.
yea I was not aware of that.
When comparing file sizes, don’t forget to take into consideration that there will most likely be the same starting story for everyone instead of six, and only one playable race.
Michele said,
“When comparing file sizes, don’t forget to take into consideration that there will most likely be the same starting story for everyone instead of six, and only one playable race.”
You realize the difference is 13GBs between install size? Having different starting races has little to do with how big the game is in DA:O. No matter what race you started, you nearly had the same location from where to start. Except for Highever Castle, the other starting races locations are already part of DA:O, and it’s not like they are a totally different settings. Consider Highever, and I would venture to say that part isn’t close to 200megs altogether. The character animations are a really small part of the game. The sounds don’t take much but cutscenes take a lot. So, unless they are really toning down cutscenes, or making the game short, I am still a little bothered. The only other thing I can think of that would be a possibility is that they are not including a large multi-language media like in DA:O, that one buys it in the language of their choice. But even then sounds don’t make much up of the file sizes.
My only hope is that there is a really good compression system they use for the files on disc. They certainly fitted nearly 20gigs on one DBL layer DVD for DA:O.
Post a Comment