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Games Coming Soon - Dragon Age : Origins - Game Info

Release Date: 12/11/2009

Certificate: 18+ (PEGI)

Genre: None

Synopsis

As the spiritual successor to BioWare‘s Baldur‘s Gate, one of the most successful role–playing games in the industry, Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare‘s return to its roots, delivering a fusion of the best elements of existing fantasy works with stunning visuals, emotionally–driven narrative, heart–pounding combat, powerful magic abilities and credible digital actors. The spirit of classic RPGs comes of age, as Dragon Age: Origins features a dark and mature story and gameplay.

"Dragon Age : Origins" Trailers (3)

"Dragon Age : Origins" Reviews (1)

Dragon Age: Origins (text) - Games2c - 10/11/2009

EA is not known for its love of depth–filled RPGs. But then the company didn‘t always own BioWare, one of the most critically acclaimed developers in the games business and the creative force behind such classics as (deep breath) NeverWinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect 1 & 2, Jade Empire and the game that started it all, Baldur‘s Gate II.

Dragon Age: Origins is considered a spiritual successor to Baldur‘s Gate, with players choosing one of six characters to play through in this surprisingly dark tale of heroism and vengeance. The player‘s choice of Origin Story lays the foundation for a journey. There‘s six different Stories character classes to choose from, whilst action based on the character‘s past experiences, establishes how they perceive the world and how the world perceives them. The choices you made during an Origin Story will influence the way the game unfolds, including different story elements, dialogue options and even plot branches, providing a wealth of replayability for an RPG.

BioWare games are always story–driven and there‘s no change with Dragon Age. The narrative itself is unremarkable but the relationships and ‘genuine‘ feelings you forge with your in–game characters is almost magical. BioWare pulls this sort of trick from their development sleeves like it‘s natural – it‘s not; they are the only team to do this and it‘s what they do best. They are able to achieve such compulsive involvement through scripting, pacing and dialogue worthy of Hollywood. Fans of fantasy RPGS will lose themselves in this game such is the freedom of exploration in a sandbox world, combined with characters you care about.

Typically, you don‘t quest alone and will meet many travellers along the way including
Morrigan, the cynical mage bound to your cause for reasons that become clear only late in the journey; Sten, the strong, silent type and Zevran, a darkly mischievous would–be assassin who views the law as nothing more than an obstacle.

Combat is typically polished BioWare theatrics with much of the action involving managing your party, managing your abilities and managing whatever spell combos can be unleashed with devastating effect. You get the idea – it‘s real time, of a fashion, but this isn‘t a simple button basher – more a strategic assault – and guess what – this too works a treat.

So you‘re got an absorbing game filled with freeform gameplay and highly entertaining combat interwoven inside a fantastical plot populated by characters you actually care about. What‘s not to like? Not a lot – except perhaps the visuals that don‘t really do the kind of grand standing justice that an epic game like this demands – plenty of blood and guts though for fans of the wet stuff.

For fans of fantasy RPGs cooked almost to perfection, step right up and ring fence a few weekends – this dragon‘s den is one you‘ll be glad to be invited to.

Games2c rating: 9/10