Dragon Age: Origins was a long, long game. Players put anywhere from 30 hours to more than 100 hours into the campaign, and according to Mike Laidlaw, executive producer for Dragon Age II, the sequel is shorter than the original, but still provides a hefty experience.
During a roundtable interview, Laidlaw told PSU that the length of Dragon Age II’s campaign will depend on how you play. “Take a look at how you play games,” he said, to determine how long the campaign will last. “I’d say it’s a bit longer than Mass Effect but shorter than Origins.”
The original Dragon Age offered plenty of hours outside the main story. You could spend hours after hours performing side quests or looking for loot, and Dragon Age II will be no different.
“The game will take longer with side quests,” he said, adding that there are full boss level creatures tucked away off the main story. “At the same time, you can get through the story quite a bit faster because so much content is off to the side. Mileage will always very, just take your habits and extrapolate.”
The goal with Dragon Age II is to create a more accessible, more “aerodynamic” game, Laidlaw said. He was quick to point out that he doesn’t like to think of the game as a “streamlined experience.” The game is still complex, but it tries to introduce you to the experience in a way that is not overwhelming. “You won’t have to spend a year in character creation.”
Even with a revamped combat system, Dragon Age II still focuses on the classic RPG elements. The game is out on March 8 in North America and March 11 in Europe on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.