Reminder

In writing or any other creative genre, some events seem to be a most powerful source of inspiration.
There is, for one, happiness!
There are those moments that make you smile,
and while it can be nice to describe your feelings to the outside world,
being happy doesn't necessarily sharpen your pen or your mind.
Constant happiness is a strong opiate.

How many songs or stories are written about being happy?
Well, there are some, but they are not really as clever or insightful as the ones about pain. People rarely self-reflect on why they are happy. And why would they?! Oftentimes it would make them unhappy to question the synthesis of a well-balanced state of mind.

Sadly, there are those other events like the loss of someone you love, experiencing life-threatening disease, or maybe the end of a relationship. People try to avoid getting hurt, feeling helpless and experiencing loss. It is a desolate state to be in. These traumatic changes throw you in daunting places. The corridors seem to wind and unwind without an end while your mind moves in dark circles, not being able to find a way out:

We are sent on a terrible Mission.
We are here to endure Loss.
It takes your Heart. It shreds your Core.
The universe is sending a Message:
Don't you ever get used to Life.


Remember, this is the depressive side of me speaking!
I know that this is not all there is in pain.
In adversity, it can be a strong motivation.
It propels you forward towards newer, unfamiliar grounds.
Grounds that might be promising.

And slowly but surely the feeling of hopelessness will subside and it will get tolerable to think or even speak about your darkness without being caught up in it all over again.

I promise.

Hang on.

Dragon Age 2 Reviewed

                 



A Quick Hooray For Origins!

It was one year ago. I remember inserting the disc and being immediately turned off by the annoying flickering graphic details on the PS3. This was the first yak I encountered with Dragon Age Origins, the RPG by developer Bioware, the guys everyone was talking about. The design choices were questionable, tacky at times. The menu navigation felt sluggish and the strange blend of tactical and real time combat was a mediocre effort. And don't even get me started on the horrible font. All in all I wasn't excited.

But as it turned out, I was quickly stand corrected.

I fell in love with Dragon Age Origins inspite of all its awkward retro design choices and graphic flaws, because the rest of this game was pure and simple amazement. The wonderful characters with their unique and interesting backstories, the impressive cast of voice acting talents, the excellent story and cleverly crafted dialogue, the musical score underlining the events, it all fit like a glove.
 
I was confident that Bioware would create a worthy successor, with them being able to deliver that kind of story as a prelude to the series. A little polishment of  the design and the menus, a more eye-friendly color palette and we would be having another first-class game on our hands. For sure.


And Yes, They Did It!

In Dragon Age 2, the design is very appealing. The menu looks great, the character customization is alright (a little dumbed down for my taste, but I can live with it) and the combat system is awesome. I chose to play a rogue and the knife-wielding and fast movements feel amazing and super effective against my opponents. It's like the house of flying daggers! The music is beautifully integrated into the world and skillfully attuned in combination with the sound effects. At times, it's even better than Origins. A definite improvement.


A Medieval Disaster

Speaking of improvements, there are some other changes in Dragon Age 2. And I am really heartbroken to tell you that unfortunately it is the story aspect of the game which changed for the worse. It is just not that memorable and clear what the hero's part is in this world. The missions feel like a half-baked reminiscence of the predecessor. The city by the name of Kirkwall is full of legends and tales about the former hero, the one who slew the arch demon. These were the times and unfortunately I'm not in them anymore.

In Dragon Age 2, I'm a hero, who is busy doing insignificant chores while preparing for an expedition, making some money, so me and my family can climb up the social ladder after being fugitives for a very long time. Finally move out of my uncle's house. That damn man gambled away our fortune! My sister is a mage, an apostate, to be accurate, and so was my father. He died somehow.

My companions are for one, a quick-witted dwarf, the tank of my party is a righteous member of the city guards who always wants to play by the rules, and the mage is a grey warden exile who has a soft spot for apostates. Other possible options are a frightened elven outcast, an ex-servant of some big mean guy, and a rogue pirate girl. I don't now much more about them and exactly that is the problem. Maybe they told me, but I don't remember. And I am not that demented yet!


The Antonym Of "Epic"

Seriously, Bioware?! Or is the publisher to blame? Now admittedly, I'm not finished with the game. There is still time for something exciting to happen but I fear it won't, or at least, nothing creative comes to mind to rectify the lack of drive throughout the game. It's mostly a problem of storytelling. I'm curious what they will come up with for the endboss, a big bad guy maybe, a common enemy, a reason to feel like all this leveling up will pay off and is not just a non-sensical time-killing endavour.

I know that Bioware only calculated 18 months to develop this game, and that is little time as it is, but it doesn't excuse the arrogant lack of effort. You thought you could pull it off. Well, you didn't. The story seems to be a carelessly put together and highly generic tale of nothingness. You, Bioware, of all people, renowned for your great stories! How could you let this happen?

Dragon Age Origins (PS3)
Dragon Age 2 (PS3)

Dear Friend.

This post is dedicated to you. You decided to quit the world of social networks. I applaud you.

This network experience, it’s really something, isn’t it? Everybody is present, in a manner of speaking.

Everybody pretends to be something. Everybody is convinced that the outside-eye is watching. Does anyone care? Just in case they do, everybody, go boost your personal stats! Go represent!

Look good, pretend to be worldly, sound smart. 
Broaden your mind, eat that raw fish, 
don’t be so provincial! Swallow, simpleton. Post a picture of it.

Be liberal, tolerate all opinions, have some respect for your kin. 

Chose agnosticism, simulated scepticism is a definite go-go.

Mention it in your profile. 

Question authority but don’t challenge it. Go vote. But steer clear of the radical misfits. 

Take your pick in the middle and click the Like-it button.

Pretend to care about reputable issues. Feminism, the environment. World peace. 

Join a group. 

Avoid looking at the big picture. Focus on the detail and run with it. 

Everybody is entitled to his opinion.

You know the etiquette and you hate it.

And that is why, for you, my friend, I lay all my cards out on the table. 

I am middle-aged, sometimes depressed, I have antisocial tendencies. 
I am an atheist. 
When I wake up I look like roadkill. 

I like to eat Schnitzel, not Sushi.
Popmusic, videogames and hanging out at home 

make my heart feel light. Only once in my life have I successfully left the continent. 

I never wanted to have a career. I don’t want to be rich. 
I am really scared of death.
World peace is fine with me, as long as it doesn’t stand in the way of my happiness. 

Feminism, great, so I can get rid of some of the domestic chores. 

I am unambitious, impatient, intolerant and as far as I’m concerned very gifted in the brains department.

And still, nobody cares. Maybe you, a little.

I'll miss you.

For Tom.