I love dragon age, though it is a bit geeky and so I do have to hide it from all my friends and pretend I'm playing Modern Warfare 2 like real manly men grrrr. Still I thought this was a nice review.
Zero Punctuation: Dragon Age: Origins
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
- Start date
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Well first just let me say, "well done" to the winners of the game contest, now on with the post.
Now for the Same answer I always give. Great work Yahtzee as usual. Although since RPG games aren't really my style I think I'll be skipping out on this game.
Now for the Same answer I always give. Great work Yahtzee as usual. Although since RPG games aren't really my style I think I'll be skipping out on this game.
My girlfriend actually PLAYS Dragon Age. And THEN we make sweet, nerdy love. So, take that, Yahtzee.
I can't call Dragon Age: Origins a dark fantasy with a straight face, either. The characters are all just too funny and lovable for me to ever think about anything much other than how gorgeous the voice acting is. "'Eees not mangy!"
I like the moral choices they give you though, in that there actually isn't a good or evil choice; all the choices make sense in context and you don't get graded at the end, aside from the fact that some of your characters will or won't approve.
Perhaps it's because of the humour in the game, but I kind of got the sense that it was ticking off all the fantasy cliches deliberately, and then playing with them dungeons and dragons style, either as an homage, or as self-aware satire. Who knows? Maybe it's just the fact that it earns so many points for having such a well-rounded and unbelievably likable cast of characters that I'm completely oblivious to its flaws. Honestly, a game hasn't made me laugh this hard in this entire console generation. I could listen to Alistair and Morrigan bicker all day.
I like the moral choices they give you though, in that there actually isn't a good or evil choice; all the choices make sense in context and you don't get graded at the end, aside from the fact that some of your characters will or won't approve.
Perhaps it's because of the humour in the game, but I kind of got the sense that it was ticking off all the fantasy cliches deliberately, and then playing with them dungeons and dragons style, either as an homage, or as self-aware satire. Who knows? Maybe it's just the fact that it earns so many points for having such a well-rounded and unbelievably likable cast of characters that I'm completely oblivious to its flaws. Honestly, a game hasn't made me laugh this hard in this entire console generation. I could listen to Alistair and Morrigan bicker all day.
Oh god, yes, that. It is why I avoided it most of the time. Though with how intense the Juggernaut armor acquisition was at around level 12, I really wanted to read that codex to see what the big deal was about. However, you are definitely correct. It is a pain in the ass to thumb through that codex but at least you get exp.TheAmazingTGIF said:
As for calling this game a renter... Um no, it has successfully slacked my Fantasy thirst that was created when I stopped wanting to play Oblivion but still wanted to cast some kind of doom on people. I'm on my second playthrough and already have at least three more characters planned out.
Wow, 2 for 1 day at Yahtzee's! Got two game reviews, and I may just check out Yahtzee's Last Stand. Cool review.
See, the problem with 'We need new fantasy races RAWR!' is that when a game does a totally different fantasy... let's say Paladin's Quest for SNES as an example...
You have one of two reactions. Either 'Them's elves but different!' or 'JESUS THIS AIN'T FANTASY THIS IS SCIENCE FICTION WITH ALL THE ALIENS!'
Why do we have elves and dwarves? Cause people -like- elves and dwarves.
Instead of asking 'Why can't people come up with different things?' instead ask 'Why did they choose to go with the same races?'
The answer, straight out of BioWare, is that they wanted to give the setting a familiar feel, while adding in differences to make these races and ideas and concepts fresh and interesting. This was part of their design goal.
YOU CANNOT MAKE THINGS TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND HAVE THINGS BE FAMILIAR.
Instead, look at what they -did that was different- about dwarves and elves, and if you scratch the surface then you'll clue in that they -are- different. The Dalish elves aren't tree huggers, they're civilization-avoiding human hating gypsies. Why? Humans have a tendancy to either enslave them or ghettoise them.
Yes. Elves who hate the race that enslaved them and often kill on sight. Which Tolkein book was that from?
Given the number of people who actually took one of the two strict-elven origins, you'd -think- they'd clue in on that. How could one play the city-elf intro and claim 'Same old Same old'?
I'm thinking that a lot of these complaints are from people who played the Magi intro and haven't bothered to step into Orzammar yet.
You have one of two reactions. Either 'Them's elves but different!' or 'JESUS THIS AIN'T FANTASY THIS IS SCIENCE FICTION WITH ALL THE ALIENS!'
Why do we have elves and dwarves? Cause people -like- elves and dwarves.
Instead of asking 'Why can't people come up with different things?' instead ask 'Why did they choose to go with the same races?'
The answer, straight out of BioWare, is that they wanted to give the setting a familiar feel, while adding in differences to make these races and ideas and concepts fresh and interesting. This was part of their design goal.
YOU CANNOT MAKE THINGS TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND HAVE THINGS BE FAMILIAR.
Instead, look at what they -did that was different- about dwarves and elves, and if you scratch the surface then you'll clue in that they -are- different. The Dalish elves aren't tree huggers, they're civilization-avoiding human hating gypsies. Why? Humans have a tendancy to either enslave them or ghettoise them.
Yes. Elves who hate the race that enslaved them and often kill on sight. Which Tolkein book was that from?
Given the number of people who actually took one of the two strict-elven origins, you'd -think- they'd clue in on that. How could one play the city-elf intro and claim 'Same old Same old'?
I'm thinking that a lot of these complaints are from people who played the Magi intro and haven't bothered to step into Orzammar yet.
All the conversations are hilarious and endlessly quotable. One of my favourites is when Leliana talks to Morrigan about how she should start dressing up and showing off her assets, at which point Morrigan has to tell her, "Stop staring at my breasts!"DeathWyrmNexus said:
She may be a priestess, but she's got a little devil in her.
Good review overall. I do agree that the "Standard Fantasy Setting" has become rather cliche and whatnot. However, I really don't mind, any more than I mind FPSs with weapons that include a pistol, shotgun, assault rifle, or sniper rifle (ie all of them), or an adventure game where you have to click on bits of the environment, or racing games that have you driving a car. Sure, it's bog-standard, but it is what is expected and what people are comfortable with, a sort of cultural bookmark that people can instantly identify with, so that when you are playing a sci-fi FPS and get a bizzare-looking weapon that zooms in, you can go "Aha! Sniper Rifle!"
In the same sense, most people who play RPGs expect certain things, so when they go to the mountains they expect to see dwarves, in the forest elves, and dragons at some climactic point or another. Cliche? Absolutely. Still works though.
Speaking of DA:O- it is one of the least original games I've seen in a long time. The setting is Tolkein, the story is similar to A Song of Fire and Ice, the (PC) interface is similar to most MMORPGs, the tactics system is lifted out of FFXII, even the names of spells and such are lifted straight from DnD. And you know what?
I don't care. I love this game. It may be unoriginal, but it is done so well that you enjoy every twist and turn, even the ones you see coming a while away. The story is grand, the writing and voice acting are superb, the combat system works perfectly for this sort of game, the characters are fleshed out, the classes are interesting, the origin stories kick ass, etc.
So I guess what I'm saying is I love this game. I've logged close to 50 hours right now, and I probably could log another 50 (I haven't come close to finishing all the side quests), and while the game is terribly unoriginal, it's so well crafted that it more than makes up for it.
Oh, and congratulations to the winners of the contest.
In the same sense, most people who play RPGs expect certain things, so when they go to the mountains they expect to see dwarves, in the forest elves, and dragons at some climactic point or another. Cliche? Absolutely. Still works though.
Speaking of DA:O- it is one of the least original games I've seen in a long time. The setting is Tolkein, the story is similar to A Song of Fire and Ice, the (PC) interface is similar to most MMORPGs, the tactics system is lifted out of FFXII, even the names of spells and such are lifted straight from DnD. And you know what?
I don't care. I love this game. It may be unoriginal, but it is done so well that you enjoy every twist and turn, even the ones you see coming a while away. The story is grand, the writing and voice acting are superb, the combat system works perfectly for this sort of game, the characters are fleshed out, the classes are interesting, the origin stories kick ass, etc.
So I guess what I'm saying is I love this game. I've logged close to 50 hours right now, and I probably could log another 50 (I haven't come close to finishing all the side quests), and while the game is terribly unoriginal, it's so well crafted that it more than makes up for it.
Oh, and congratulations to the winners of the contest.
He's right. playing 25 hours for a western RPG is averaged. they usually end around that time so i dunno how long this game is, I've just started. The battle system isn't anything different from that of Kotor or FF12 for that mater. the graphics are pretty (that's a given) the voice acting is great. so far the story seems to be more involved which is something that has been missing from WRPGs.
back to the battle system. yes, they let you pause it to issue commands. kind of like in Kotor...actually exactly like in Kotor. but you can still tell there's some kind of turn base there. plus they have "tactic slots". if you've played the game and played FF12 they will seem oddly familiar. so basically this is the FF12 ATB system with the option to pause the game just in case your brain can't move that fast. but for what it is. it's a good game. Can't complain to much. wasn't expecting anything new and innovative. wasn't expecting it to change the way a view the world. it has though progressed bioware's story telling progression. this game has actually drawn me in with the story so far. i don't feel like i'm watching a movie like i did in mass effect or Kotor or....any of the other WRPGs. so that was a nice surprise. it's a good game though.
for those of you who wish to flame, you can flame now.
back to the battle system. yes, they let you pause it to issue commands. kind of like in Kotor...actually exactly like in Kotor. but you can still tell there's some kind of turn base there. plus they have "tactic slots". if you've played the game and played FF12 they will seem oddly familiar. so basically this is the FF12 ATB system with the option to pause the game just in case your brain can't move that fast. but for what it is. it's a good game. Can't complain to much. wasn't expecting anything new and innovative. wasn't expecting it to change the way a view the world. it has though progressed bioware's story telling progression. this game has actually drawn me in with the story so far. i don't feel like i'm watching a movie like i did in mass effect or Kotor or....any of the other WRPGs. so that was a nice surprise. it's a good game though.
for those of you who wish to flame, you can flame now.
What burns me is that I missed getting Leliana twice now. I have to make sure to get her in my next playthrough...badgersprite said:
