Bioware are well known in gaming circles for creating titles that are truly excellent, and it seems that the newest RPG game added to their impressive list, Dragon Age, is no exception. With a story sure to captivate you as you explore the vast land of Ferelden, and actions that actually affect the outcome of certain sequences of events, this is a game that will happily hold your attention for many hours.
As you allow yourself to be transported to the fantasy world of Ferelden, you will encounter an intricate plot centred on the deadly Darkspawn Blight that has yet again struck this fair land. This blight comes in the form of a vast array of demonic creatures held at bay only by the valiant efforts of the Grey Wardens. The plotline, while compelling and captivating, does not shine as brightly as the incredible character development that you will encounter. Excellent voice acting combines with a variety of different races and convincing back stories to create a diverse world of interest. There’s even a romance or two that you might find flourishing with a few scenes that could even be described as steamy.
Don’t expect love at first sight in Dragon Age: Origins though. Unlike most RPG games in which character relationships are out of your control, in this title it will take effort to build trust. You’ll be able to give gifts to your party and even alter the methods that you use to complete a quest to please and placate them. That means that the course of action that you decide upon can change your relationships, you may find pleasing everyone to be a difficult balancing act.
It isn’t just relationship building that will require a degree of decision making however, even from the very first moments of the game you’ll be choosing options that will affect your gameplay. Take character creation as an example, the race and class that you decide to play will actually affect how the first few hours of gameplay will proceed. The different stories will eventually interweave but it means that even replaying the game opens the door to different quests.
The gameplay itself opens new facets of interest. Members added to your party will fight of their own accord unless you decide to take control of them which you can do at any moment. Your different characters will boast different skills and abilities, making this ability to easily switch between them priceless in difficult battles. However, even without taking complete control you can still affect the way that the AI will behave through a tactics menu.
Dragon Age isn’t the most attractive game to hit the PC in recent years but it’s certainly not unappealing, unlike the console equivalents that struggle with texturing. Also a few bugs and glitches might irritate for a matter of moments such as the dropping of an audio file or minor malfunctions within quests, however none are so disruptive as to destroy your experience.
If you have been waiting for an RPG game that will stay with you long after you’ve completed it, Dragon Age: Origins could be the answer you’ve been seeking. An incredible universe, an intricate plotline and a cause to believe in as you fight your way through the land will have you coming back to your PC time and time again.