kobriel: Example: I hate the new meditation thing and making potions. Because I can't have a good view of the inventory and plan what potions or oils to make, what items to save for later or for crafting (since some of the items are suitable both for alchemy and crafting). I'm no fan of "older is better" concept, but I believe this is the case here.
Another example: I feel like I lost something with the new combat system. Here, again, I think that the old "styles" system was way better, even if the new mechanics make the game and the action more fluid and nice.
I guess the developers aligned themselfs with the trend and tried to make things more eye-appealing, overlooking the functionality, the purpose and actually dimishing the fun instead of increasing it. It's the same thing I disliked about the Civilization IV, when it came out after Civ III. For instance, the new nice graphics made the things harder to spot, and I'm still playing Civ III more than IV (and I never touched V), even if I have to admit that the new concepts are better, in IV. Another comparison would be Age of Empires 3. In this case, I liked a lot the new graphics and some other things, but the micromanagement thingy was all but gone. And since so many players loved the series, I can't understand how exactly did the devs decide that this crucial element of it needs to be simpified. Or the Mechwarrior series, where the mech's management was also simplified, somewhat, in MW IV.
On the contrary, there are series of games, like STALKER, or Mass Effect, where the new ideas fit perfectly, and the new games in series seem overall better than the old ones. At least, for me. And there are some, like Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas, where the new game just gives more of the first, more adventure, without changing anything, actually. Which I find better than changing some very important elements for worse.
On the other hand, I'd like to make a note regarding BioWare, because I find the comments a bit unfair - when people compare the two great companies - CD Red and BioWare, looking down to the "BioWare guys", and I think it's the same error the "other guys" do when they look down to the CD Red fans. I also found boring the Dragon Age series, but they produced so many other games, they innovated so much (and I'm personally in love with their Mass Effect series, from which CD Red borrowed some elements - the dialogue system, the moral choices with profound implications at the end of the game and even through the next game in the series, the in-game sex thing that helps relating to the characters and the story etc.). I think they are both great companies and they both deliver wonders to the benefit of us, the players. Only some people love some specific games and love is blind :)) Wouldn't people fight for their lover, even if it's unfair, or employing unfair tactics? :)
Interesting post, with some valid points burrowed beneath strange comparisons:P
The alchemy part hasn't been fleshed out well, since at the most difficult battles(some happen without previous knowledge) you can't use them midbattle and they require you to load a previous savegame which breaks the immersion a little bit)
I started playing Civ at 3, and found Civ IV perfect and not worse then III. Though i must say i bought V on the release day and was severly disappointed. That one would be a valid argument and was way to simplified(although the combat was a improvement)
Regarding bioware.... I still love some parts of the company but i can't get over the fact that the main storylines in their new games(Dragon age and Mass effect) are plain bad. They're overly simplified compared to their older games. Although i loved Dragon age 1(let's not talk about 2 still disappointed with that one) it's actually worse then Neverwinter nights 2 regarding it's narrative. Mass effect 2 started off brilliantly in my opinion.... but behind the incredible presentation i found a shallow main character(never something intelligent ) and a weak narrative and plotline.
The Witcher 2 is a vast improvement regarding quests (less fetch quests and no killing x but something more of a purpose like destroying nests when it comes to board quests)
It looks amazing and has a brilliant atmopshere(been a while since i felt that way)
Combat system, while more direct and more involved is at times frustating because of the block mechanic/auto targetting. The game is actually a good challenge and only became frustating when you were facing Letho for the first time(strangely he is hardly any stronger at the very part of the game!)
Choices have direct concequences, something i didn't see in mass effect(even mass effect 1>>2 only showed very minor cameo apperances and the only major thing i found was on the Krogan planet)
And while i found the ending good, i felt like it could;ve been great and better(gave me some time to explore outside the city, they mentioned that the council would start months later, why not give us some chapter/area in between:P)
