Dragon Age: Origins Launch Day Reviews, Continued

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Written by BuckGB on November 3rd, 2009

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The folks at BioWare have shown that they're always looking for ways to make their games better -- each of their RPGs builds upon the previous title. Dragon Age displays this refinement, and while the story may not be completely original, it's told in a way that enthralls and enchants the player. It's the best RPG of the year -- and maybe the best of the HD era.

Despite differences in the mechanics, the land of Ferelden is just as vast and intricate in the console versions of Dragon Age. The involved history behind the characters and organizations lends the world surprising depth, though technical hiccups (like an uneven framerate and occasional glitches) and an awkward interface can hamper your enjoyment of the content. Your dialogue and interaction options eschew the traditional good-versus-evil dynamic, instead embracing a more ambiguous view of morality. The story and its multiple branches will grab your attention, and the combat while different in style delivers plenty of thrills. I prefer the PC iteration, but it's still good on PS3 and 360, and way better than not playing Dragon Age at all.

If you can overlook some systemic BioWare issues when it comes to the technical aspect of their games, Dragon Age: Origins is more than a great experience. It's an excellent one. The game's world feels lived-in and epic and the combat, adventuring and quests all compel you to play its rather lengthy quest. Players that have been pining for a new Baldur's Gate have got it, the wait for the next great BioWare fantasy RPG is now over.

Dragon Age is a brilliant, if slightly predictable, addition to BioWare's stable of RPG classics. It suffers from a few problems with plotting and world building but ultimately triumphs, offering a classic RPG experience that can hold its head high with any of BioWare's previous games.

Like me, you might not have Dragon Age: Origins on your list of definite must-buys and potential game of the year candidates, but I'm here to tell you that you should. It's a glowing example of the RPG genre done very right -- and an experience you'll still be finding surprising, memorable moments in for months to come.

Bioware have released possibly my favourite game this year and something I have yet to grow weary of playing, even though I have recorded over 100 hours of game time to date. It is a fresh breathe of air in a somewhat stale gaming climate in Q4 2009 and one that I will remember for a long time. This deserves to sell millions and we are sure it will, because the interest level is already so high. It is a masterpiece, there is really no other way to describe it.

Dragon Age: Origins is a single-player game, with a nice online presence, but it does not offer multiplayer or cooperative gaming. Does that matter? Maybe to some. But for the true RPG gamer, this game is of a level that has never been seen before. It is the new benchmark. The story is rich and engaging, the characters are memorable, and the journey is one that pulls you in, captivates you and compels you to move forward toward the conclusion. You can replay the game and make different choices, altering your path and creating a different experience. The game can be emotionally draining, but it is the type of game that begs you to immerse yourself in the character you create and live the fantasy. This is indeed a game for the '˜ages.'

For all its bluster, Dragon Age: Origins comes off as a game that's afraid to take risks. Everything about it, from the combat to the story line, stays very safely within established bounds. In some ways, this is a good thing because it assures Bioware faithful that they'll probably find something to enjoy here. After Mass Effect, though, Origins feels like a bit of a step backward. Bioware previously took sci-fi conventions and made them their own, but here, they cling so closely to archetypes that you'll wonder when Gandalf will show up. Fortunately, the plot is bolstered by some very strong character writing and a very well-structured ending. The combat mechanics are solid and overall well-designed, and you never feel like enemies have become a joke. However, it really does feel like a game made for the PC, and getting things done can be awkward. Dragon Age's biggest problem is that it doesn't do anything to stand out. It's a very conservative and cautious game, which is something odd to say about a title that mentions "rape" at every possible opportunity. For those expecting something at the same as Bioware's previous titles, this game may be a bit of a disappointment. However, those who are simply looking for a solid, if unexceptional, fantasy-RPG will find a lot to like in Dragon Age: Origins.

Instead, expect hundreds of hours of fan service condensed into a familiar experience. With Dragon Age: Origins BioWare is giving something back to lovers of Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate. Its role-playing is superb, but not revolutionary. It is a fantasy RPG so obviously crafted for the PC that it seems pointless to consider playing it on an alternative platform. It is an experience as compelling as it is archaic. This trip back in time to the glory days of the PC is welcome, but it makes you appreciate the advances made by modern day RPGs Mass Effect and Fallout 3. They don't make them like they used to, grumpy 30-something PC gamers claim. BioWare does, and you should be grateful.

Dragon Age: Origins is a game about love and hatred, betrayal and redemption, greed and necessity. It's a game that is tailored to your personal experience, and right the way through to the ending that explains the impact your actions had on each region in the game, it never stops reminding you that your decisions matter, and that they have consequences for the entire country. In return for the game making me feel like I matter, I'd like to tell you that this game very much matters. Despite the utterly pointless marketing campaign focusing on the sex (a very minor part) and the violence (something you won't see much of from the strategic battle view), this is at its heart a classic, hardcore RPG with BioWare's flair for characters and storytelling. Dragon Age: Origins is utterly, utterly brilliant, and the best RPG I've seen in a long time. Go and buy it.

If you can overlook the relatively minor annoyances, Dragon Age: Origins offers plenty to love for fans of fantasy RPG, with enough flourishes on the traditional formula to keep it interesting even if you've "already been there, done that" a thousand times. This is computer/console RPG at its finest and you'll swear there's a GM behind the game somewhere directing the play, even if he is a bit of a jerk.

There's still more than a month left in the holiday gaming rush, which means I probably won't be able to find the time to finish this epic RPG until closer to Christmas. But when the season settles and I have a chance to go back to the games released this fall that I enjoyed the most, this one will be near the top of my pile.

Dragon Age is a spectacular experience from beginning to end, and with an enormous amount of choices to make, cities to visit, dungeons to crawl, NPCs to interact with, treasure to find, quests to complete and crafts to master, I feel pretty confident in saying that Dragon Age: Origins is, without a doubt, one of the most enjoyable and immersive RPG experiences I've had since my Infinity Engine days. BioWare has crafted a spectacular journey with Dragon Age, and an unforgettable fantasy realm that's sure to resonate with fantasy and adventure fans the world over.

Expanding on the excellent character work established in titles like Knights of the Old Republic and Baldur's Gate, BioWare once again provides an amazing cast of characters to fight by your side as you travel the twisted paths of Dragon Age: Origins. Each of your NPC companions has a distinct personality, and while they may seem rather cookie-cutter at first glance, exploring their origins and motivations reveals a truly complex collection of individuals. You'll Travel with them on their own personal quests as you progress through the game, establishing bonds and perhaps even falling in love with one of them. You'll grow attached, and should any of them part ways with you, you'll feel it acutely.

"Dragon Age: Origins" is BioWare's best effort since "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic." It's not a great leap forward in the evolution of video game RPGs, but it is a compelling, well-crafted experience. The warts are there to be sure, but they are easily overlooked in light of the insane amount of game on offer. BioWare probably won't win many new fans with this one and they'll probably lose a few who enjoyed the more active entertainment offered by the likes of "Mass Effect," but old school RPG junkies will get a kick out of exploring the rich, if initially difficult to breach, new world that the developer has crafted.

You should definitely play this game if you love RPGs, and for BioWare nuts, this is an easy buy. However, its status as a classic is questionable, and I wouldn't expect this to replace anybody's favorite RPG anytime soon.

Dragon Age: Origins is a great piece of work one that will take over 50 hours to complete, while keeping you entertained the whole way through. The story is rich and dynamic, the graphics are lovely for the most part, the controls are great, and the music is fitting. I recommend this game to anyone who has the time to play and enjoy it you won't be disappointed.

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