Dragon Age: Origins Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So I purchased the Xbox 360 version of Dragon Age: Origins yesterday and have spent WAY too many hours in Ferelden when I should be doing far more constructive things.

Is it too much of a stretch to think that someone who names their blog after semi-mystical airships might enjoy a roleplaying game or two?

The game is not perfect. The graphics are decidedly sub-par, audio glitches occur far too frequently, and on a regular basis I notice tiny white specs, which are the "seams" showing between some images that display environmental graphics. Screen tearing, I think it's called. The latter wouldn't be so bad, if I didn't also have to look for a similarly white-ish graphic that indicates a chest or box or crate or body requires ransacking for the requisite reward. I'm always rotating the camera back for a quick second to be sure I'm not missing out on some loot.

But so what?

The game is deep, the voice-acting well done over all, and this may be the best WRITTEN roleplaying game of the current generation, even if the story itself seems safely (perhaps too safely) rooted in standard RPG conventions. Not even Mass Effect has dialogue options that are as "realistic" and rewarding to hear as what can be found in Dragon Age.

But, just to meet my "geek" and "nerd" quota for the day, I read some reviews. I've never seen so many one-star "reviews" based on just one or two aspects of what is otherwise a fantastic game -- one-star bashing based on (you guessed it) the graphics or the heavy (oh so time-consuming) dialogue.

My take is that this phenomenon exposes a fundamental shortcoming of this particular generation of games -- there simply aren't enough good RPGs that elevate story and dialogue as THE fundamental pillar of the game's success.

In just one short decade, gamers have forgotten how story-heavy games like Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, KOTOR, and other RPGS really were.

In just one short decade, everything is about graphics.

What a tragedy.

Gaming has gone from a hobby filled with gaming enthusiasts with imagination and open-mindedness (in terms of what can be considered a successful kind of game), to a hobby filled with mindless addicts seeking the nearest, the quickest possible thumb-twitch to get their needed dose of adrenaline.

And the internet is such a "perfect" forum for them to express their distaste. Twitchers with short attention spans "write" quick, twitch-like reviews that say GRAPHICS SUCK and FAIL and give one star reviews, as if that's all that matters in a game.

Hardly.

Rather than pay attention to either the mostly positive or mostly negative reviews, rather than pay attention to the polarization that can occur in the review sections of buy-sites, be sure to check out Metacritic or GameStats or other sites that organize and collate reviews from ACTUAL CRITICS.

There's a concept.

Dragon Age is a fantastic game. Deep characterization and playing fundamentals/strategy (on higher difficulty levels), lots of looting and blood and gore, romance with a pretty guy or girl, long-term support from Bioware (hopefully) as evidenced by the downloadable content available on the day of release, and huge "bang for your buck."

Even at 60 dollars retail, that averages to at the very least a dollar an hour in terms of value, for anyone who completes the game. And this isn't 60 dollars of sandbox. Dragon Age doesn't appear to be as much of a "sandbox" game as Morrowind or Oblivion. While great games themselves, they left some players feeling a little left out in the cold, wandering around without enough of story-driven momentum to sustain interest. One can only loot so many caves, kill so many monsters, close so many gates, that don't have significant impact on finishing the game.

And did I say dragons, arch demons, and dark fantasy elements?

Anyone who enjoys RPGs should buy this game. Now.

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Product Description:
From BioWare, the makersof Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, andBaldur's Gate comes Dragon Age: Origins. An epic tale of violence,lust, and betrayal, Dragon Age: Origins is a single player role-playinggame (RPG) set in a fantasy game environment, and featuring three playablecharacter classes, accessible in the form of three races. In addition, thegame features extreme character customization, a new game engine, party-basedgameplay utilizing non-player characters and a built-in personal historysystem for each hero character rooted in a variety of possible origin stories.

6 possible hero Origin Stories.
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3 classes and 3 races to play as.
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Stunning 3D environments.
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Spell combining abilities.
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In Dragon Age: Origins the survival of humanity rests in the handsof those chosen by fate. You are a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancientorder of guardians who have defended the lands on the continent of Thedasthroughout the centuries. Betrayed by a trusted general in a critical battle,you must hunt down the traitor and bring him to justice. As you fight yourway towards the final confrontation with an evil nemesis, you will facemonstrous foes and engage in epic quests to unite the disparate peoplesof a world at war. A romance with a seductive shapeshifter may hold thekey to victory, or she may be a dangerous diversion from the heart of yourmission. To be a leader, you must make ruthless decisions and be willingto sacrifice your friends and loved ones for the greater good.

Gameplay
Dragon Age: Origins is a 3D oriented RPG based in a dark, heroic,fantasy realm where moral choices have a lasting impression on the peopleyou meet, the members of your own party and the world around you. Theinclusion of subtitle "Origins" in the game's title refers to the sixunique origin stories available to new heroes as a new game begins. Eachof these has an impact on the player's motivations and his or her experience,and renders a unique prelude, path, and possible ending(s) to the game.There are many different endings to the game based on the origin storyof the character and the choices you make as you play through the game.The game features three character classes--warrior, mage, and rogue--andthree races of being--Human, Elf or Dwarf--that can assume these classes.Although most game elements, such as weapons, magic, etc., are availableto any character, each class and race has different strengths, abilitiesand affinities which lend themselves to better utilizing different elements.

Dragon Age: Origins is a single player game based on party-basedgameplay and combat where the player can join, control and quest withup to three non-player characters (NPCs). Players can also quest aloneif they so choose, but with the chance of survival are slim. ConvincingNPCs to join you, and treating them well may be necessary depending onthe varying sentiments between the player and the NPC, or between theNPC's in the party based on the chosen history written into the originstory accepted at the beginning of the game. This uncertainty allows fora variety of possible dynamics within the party ranging from open hostility,all the way to romance. The game progresses in real-time via a pause-and-playtactical combat system that allows the player to check inventory levels,equip a character, etc. in a slight vacuum. Additional features foundin the game include: a combination of a standard loot system and a currencysystem based on gold silver and copper; advanced character customizationfunctionality; the use of poison, traps and herbalism; dual-wielding skills;and "spell combos," which allow players to chain together different spellsto create a unique effects.

Key Game Features

BioWare's deepest universe to date with over 80 hours of gameplayand more than double the size and scope of Mass Effect.

Travel throughout dozens of environments and fully immerse yourselfin a shattered world that is on the brink of utter annihilation.
An epic story that is completely shaped and reactive to your playstyle.

Complex moral dilemmas offering no easy choices.

Tailor your Dragon Age: Origins experience from the verybeginning by choose from six different origin stories.
Decide how to handle complex issues like murder, genocide, betrayal,and the possession/sacrificing of children without the securityof a good/bad slider to tell you what to do.

Full character customization allowing the player to sculpt a heroin your own image or fantasy.

Elaborate character creator allows you to create your own herounique from anyone else.
Shape your character's personality and morality based on the choicesyou make throughout the game.

Engage in bone-crushing, visceral combat engaging in battle againstmassive and terrifying creatures.

Unleash legendary powers and choose from over 100 different magicalspells and skills.
Experience the adrenaline rush of brutal combat, beheading yourfoes or casting spells that make enemies explode from within.

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