Dragon Age: Origins Review (PC)
Dragon Age: Origins is the latest game from RPG wizards Bioware (excluding Mass Effect 2), set in the newly created fantasy continent Thedas. More specifically, the land of Ferelden, an Anglo-Saxon inspired feudal state governed by arls and banns. This being a fantasy RPG the player has to, naturally, save this nation from impending doom. The threat in Dragon comes from the darkspawn, hideous creatures that have, repeatedly, attacked Ferelden but always been repelled by the alliance of men, elves, dwarves, mages and the elite group of soldiers known as the Grey Wardens. A new attack, known as a blight, is suspected to be on the rise, and you are the only one who can defeat it. Sounds familiar? That?s because it is. That is in no way a bad thing, but don?t expect it to be very long, as large parts of the game feel so tedious that the gaps in the story-telling become way larger than necessary.
The real interesting parts of the game are the many companions that accompany you on your hazardous adventure, as is custom in Bioware games. I don?t think any game since Baldur?s Gate has given me this many interesting and memorable characters (if you don?t receive Shale with your copy of Dragon Age, consider purchasing the brilliant, bird-loathing golem. Too bad ?The Stone Prisoner costs 15$).
The world of Thedas is a great new ?invention? from Bioware, and, hopefully and likely, more games will be set in this world. However, much of the lore regarding Thedas is explained through the Codex (as seen in Mass Effect), but it just felt too ?dry? most of the time, for me to give it any interest. Perhaps that is just because I am of the belief that the story should be told through the actual game, not through some encyclopedia thedasia. One minor criticism I have, is the dialogue system. For someone who loved the dialogue system in Mass Effect, the one in Dragon Age just doesn?t reach the same level. It is always quite easy to see exactly ?what you are supposed to say? (i. e., the action that will get you the most points with your companion.
Of course, no review of Dragon Age would be complete without mentioning the origins stories. This is without a doubt the most original additions to the RPG genre, and you?ll be surprised at just how much your origins affect your experience of the game. The origins stories give you the opportunity to play as either Human Noble, Dwarf Noble or Commoner, City or Dalish Elf or Mage.
Another point where Bioware has always been great, is music. Most people who have played Bioware games will recognize the many great musical compositions from Baldur?s Gate, Neverwinter Nights and Mass Effect (see links below. Also included music from, although not a Bioware game, Icewind Dale). Dragon Age doesn?t quite reach the same level of grandeur, but there are a number of memorable tracks.
From a graphical point of view, Dragon Age doesn?t stand out. Like Neverwinter Nights before it, it is based on a toolset, thus creating quite generic looking environments. It does give the player an opportunity to create his own adventures. I haven?t yet had the chance to try out any mods for Dragon Age, but some of my fondest memories of Neverwinter Nights came from its toolset. There is some spectacular scenery (Redcliff, to name an example), but it?s a rare pleasure. However, the visuals aren?t ?bad?, but you won?t be blown away (that sounds painful, anyway). The facial animations generally convey the moods of your companions and other NPCs accurately, but there are some peculiar jerking in their expressions from time to time.
One central point in any review of Dragon Age, would be the combat. Dragon Age has sometimes been said to be the spiritual successor to Baldur?s Gate, and while this is true for the brilliant parts in terms of companions and general setting, it is not for the combat. What I loved in Baldur?s Gate was that you had complete control of your companions. While this, for the most part, is the same in Dragon Age, combat sometimes feels clunky and hard to maneuver around in. The command you?ve given won?t be executed, the other members of the party begin following the currently selected character when you?ve explicitly told them not to (this can be avoided by the simple press of a button, though). These are just two examples of minor irritations that occur quite often. However, the real breaker in the combat for me, is that there is too much of it. Some parts feel more like a hack-&-slash-fest than an RPG, and, especially in the Deep Roads, you?ll be wading through waves of enemies to have a single conversation. From my point of view, it just seems like the writers hadn?t got enough ideas to fill in the blanks up until the conversation, and then the designers just decided to throw in a ton of enemies instead?just for fun?except it?s not.
Conclusion
Overall, Dragon Age: Origins is a solid, but not very innovative RPG. It does what it is supposed to do, and nothing more. That being said, its lack of originality shouldn?t discourage you from enjoying all the wonderful things I have gracefully decided to omit from the review.
Recommendation
Buy it, especially if you want to play several of the origins story. However, if you only plan on playing it once, or you despised NWN or Baldur?s Gate, you might only want to rent.
Pros
- Thedas an excellent new fantasy setting
- Memorable, fleshed-out companions
- Origins stories are surprisingly important
- Although the dialogue system is flawed, your actions seem to have impact
Cons
- Too long, with too few nice bits in between
- Combat can get tedious
- Main story is quite banal
Notes regarding the review: The review was based on one play-through as City Elf/Warrior, and I completed the game in about 45 hours including side quests and other deviations.
Music links:
Baldur's Gate 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88zyFLzIXQ
NWN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb133m_AEnY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFoaFw0MqMY&feature=related
Mass Effect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVm_ljDSdwA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-19bl4_SDfI&feature=related
Icewind Dale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6WhjqYst4s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y96Y2JE5F8&feature=related
Dragon Age: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em_asfslbow
I highly encourage you to seek out more.
Dragon Age: Origins is the latest game from RPG wizards Bioware (excluding Mass Effect 2), set in the newly created fantasy continent Thedas. More specifically, the land of Ferelden, an Anglo-Saxon inspired feudal state governed by arls and banns. This being a fantasy RPG the player has to, naturally, save this nation from impending doom. The threat in Dragon comes from the darkspawn, hideous creatures that have, repeatedly, attacked Ferelden but always been repelled by the alliance of men, elves, dwarves, mages and the elite group of soldiers known as the Grey Wardens. A new attack, known as a blight, is suspected to be on the rise, and you are the only one who can defeat it. Sounds familiar? That?s because it is. That is in no way a bad thing, but don?t expect it to be very long, as large parts of the game feel so tedious that the gaps in the story-telling become way larger than necessary.
The real interesting parts of the game are the many companions that accompany you on your hazardous adventure, as is custom in Bioware games. I don?t think any game since Baldur?s Gate has given me this many interesting and memorable characters (if you don?t receive Shale with your copy of Dragon Age, consider purchasing the brilliant, bird-loathing golem. Too bad ?The Stone Prisoner costs 15$).
The world of Thedas is a great new ?invention? from Bioware, and, hopefully and likely, more games will be set in this world. However, much of the lore regarding Thedas is explained through the Codex (as seen in Mass Effect), but it just felt too ?dry? most of the time, for me to give it any interest. Perhaps that is just because I am of the belief that the story should be told through the actual game, not through some encyclopedia thedasia. One minor criticism I have, is the dialogue system. For someone who loved the dialogue system in Mass Effect, the one in Dragon Age just doesn?t reach the same level. It is always quite easy to see exactly ?what you are supposed to say? (i. e., the action that will get you the most points with your companion.
Of course, no review of Dragon Age would be complete without mentioning the origins stories. This is without a doubt the most original additions to the RPG genre, and you?ll be surprised at just how much your origins affect your experience of the game. The origins stories give you the opportunity to play as either Human Noble, Dwarf Noble or Commoner, City or Dalish Elf or Mage.
Another point where Bioware has always been great, is music. Most people who have played Bioware games will recognize the many great musical compositions from Baldur?s Gate, Neverwinter Nights and Mass Effect (see links below. Also included music from, although not a Bioware game, Icewind Dale). Dragon Age doesn?t quite reach the same level of grandeur, but there are a number of memorable tracks.
From a graphical point of view, Dragon Age doesn?t stand out. Like Neverwinter Nights before it, it is based on a toolset, thus creating quite generic looking environments. It does give the player an opportunity to create his own adventures. I haven?t yet had the chance to try out any mods for Dragon Age, but some of my fondest memories of Neverwinter Nights came from its toolset. There is some spectacular scenery (Redcliff, to name an example), but it?s a rare pleasure. However, the visuals aren?t ?bad?, but you won?t be blown away (that sounds painful, anyway). The facial animations generally convey the moods of your companions and other NPCs accurately, but there are some peculiar jerking in their expressions from time to time.
One central point in any review of Dragon Age, would be the combat. Dragon Age has sometimes been said to be the spiritual successor to Baldur?s Gate, and while this is true for the brilliant parts in terms of companions and general setting, it is not for the combat. What I loved in Baldur?s Gate was that you had complete control of your companions. While this, for the most part, is the same in Dragon Age, combat sometimes feels clunky and hard to maneuver around in. The command you?ve given won?t be executed, the other members of the party begin following the currently selected character when you?ve explicitly told them not to (this can be avoided by the simple press of a button, though). These are just two examples of minor irritations that occur quite often. However, the real breaker in the combat for me, is that there is too much of it. Some parts feel more like a hack-&-slash-fest than an RPG, and, especially in the Deep Roads, you?ll be wading through waves of enemies to have a single conversation. From my point of view, it just seems like the writers hadn?t got enough ideas to fill in the blanks up until the conversation, and then the designers just decided to throw in a ton of enemies instead?just for fun?except it?s not.
Conclusion
Overall, Dragon Age: Origins is a solid, but not very innovative RPG. It does what it is supposed to do, and nothing more. That being said, its lack of originality shouldn?t discourage you from enjoying all the wonderful things I have gracefully decided to omit from the review.
Recommendation
Buy it, especially if you want to play several of the origins story. However, if you only plan on playing it once, or you despised NWN or Baldur?s Gate, you might only want to rent.
Pros
- Thedas an excellent new fantasy setting
- Memorable, fleshed-out companions
- Origins stories are surprisingly important
- Although the dialogue system is flawed, your actions seem to have impact
Cons
- Too long, with too few nice bits in between
- Combat can get tedious
- Main story is quite banal
Notes regarding the review: The review was based on one play-through as City Elf/Warrior, and I completed the game in about 45 hours including side quests and other deviations.
Music links:
Baldur's Gate 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88zyFLzIXQ
NWN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb133m_AEnY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFoaFw0MqMY&feature=related
Mass Effect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVm_ljDSdwA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-19bl4_SDfI&feature=related
Icewind Dale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6WhjqYst4s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y96Y2JE5F8&feature=related
Dragon Age: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em_asfslbow
I highly encourage you to seek out more.
