Game Title: Dragon Age: Origins
Game Genre: Third person RPG
Console(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: BioWare Edmonton, Edge of Reality (console versions)
Date Released: November 3rd, 2009 – December 21st, 2009
Retail Price: $18.40 USD
Age Rating:: BBFC: 18 - ESRB: M - OFLC: MA15+ - PEGI: 18 - USK: 18
Players: Single Player
Co-Op: No
Achievements: 76 known achievements (including all DLC)
Xbox Live Compatable: Yes
Online Multiplayer: No
Xbox System Link: No
HDTV Support: Yes
Previous Edition: None
Visuals & Graphics..For a game that was released a few years ago, it pales in comparison to other games like The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, but for a BioWare work, the graphics do somewhat pale when compared to games released a little while after like Mass Effect II.
The scenes are nicely rendered and for a 2009 game, it isn’t too bad. But, there’s some quite stiff foliage and I do quite miss making foliage move when I walk through it. As for the harvestable plants, even after harvesting them, you’re not available to walk through it because apparently all harvestable plants have “special invisible barriers” which keeps them from harm.
The graphics aren’t too bad and everyone does get well rendered faces and animations. Which is one thing I love about Bioware. Their attention to detail in characters is quite elegant.
Visuals & Graphics Rating: 8/10Achievement Difficulty..Many of the original game’s achievements can be achieved through one playthrough and the others can be unlocked through other playthroughs with a different race. This does prompt you to play the game over and over again to experience in order to experience the game fully. Most other achievements aren’t hard to get as most just require good attention to detail and a nice detailed walkthrough at your side would be nice also.
Achievement Difficulty Rating: 8/10Story Mode / Campaign Difficulty..The campaign is quite lengthy, I’ll admit with most of the main quests just filled with optional side quests as well as the main quests. Some of the dungeons in the game span on for what would be a good solid few hours at least which means that the game isn’t really one for a one day walkthrough. Even if you happen to cut down on running to the kitchen for food to consume and water to wash it all down after, this game is still most likely going to drag out to about a little more over 48 hours. A nicely balanced toilet break during loading screens (and believe me. They’re everywhere…) or lengthy cutscenes would only still have the game running over 48 hours. It really is just not a game you can power through in a day.
However, the game is seasoned generally with good natured humour and with the right characters at your side; you could have your sides splitting from the laughter. And the right combination is never too hard. It merely comes down to character preference. Morrigan and Alistair are a grand couple of party additions and you soon grow to love their sarcastic wit as you’re pretty much stuck with their bickering till you march through about three-quarters of the first town of the main game.
Overall, the enemies aren’t too hard to defeat on a casual and normal difficulty. And I find its mainly the mage’s area of effect spells that do me in on the harder and nightmare difficulties. The spamming of health items is an essential if you’re not the core mage in the party. And mages are quite essential when it comes to romping though the story. In one mission they’re practically the most key character in the game. Which annoyed me since I only ever played as the warriors or rouges.
Story Mode / Campaign Difficulty Rating: 7.5/10Game Depth & Navigation Details..The story is relatively easy to figure out and the main twist being pretty obvious in the early stages in the game. It gets developed as you complete the main quests of the game. Some decisions on what your actions are during those quests impact on what events occur in the game which does have you think somewhat critically about your actions. While some will change the outcome entirely, some seem to impact on the storyline at all. It’s not a very deep game, but you do learn to feel for the characters.
Navigation menus aren’t too complex and the only thing bad about the navigation is that little problem mentioned in earlier. You can’t walk through certain foliage. Oh and you can’t also jump off small metre high cliffs. For a player controlled hero, they certainly do hate heights. Bioware’s famous Invisible Wall makes a triumphant return again and this time it’s more annoying than normal.
Usually, I wouldn’t have a problem with walled off areas but when you have about 4 enemies behind an indestructible barrier and an invisible wall who can incapacitate all of my ranged party members, I could swear somewhere in the Bioware offices there’s a game designer secretly snickering in his small office. Elsewise, the game is pretty average for a RPG game. There is the odd pathway difficulty with party members, but that is to be expected.
Storyline Depth & Navigation Details Rating: 6.8/10Value For Money..It certainly does have a replay value for it but you can get discouraged due to the fact that the storyline is the same and the NPC’s will all treat you like dirt unless you’re a human noble. Then they’ll treat you like less dirt. Sorta. Well, some will anyway.
Value For Money Rating: 8.5/10Ratings Round-Up..Visuals & Graphics: 8/10Achievement Difficulty: 8/10Story Mode / Campaign Difficulty: 7.5/10Game Depth & Navigation Details: 6.8/10Value For Money: 8.5/10Overall Rating: 38.8/50
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I would say it isnt a bad RPG, would be great for beginners eh? :)
