From BioWare, the makers of Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur's Gate comes Dragon Age: Origins. An epic tale of violence, lust, and betrayal, Dragon Age: Origins is a single player role-playing game (RPG) set in a fantasy game environment, and featuring three playable character classes, accessible in the form of three races. In addition, the game features extreme character customization, a new game engine, party-based gameplay utilizing non-player characters and a built-in personal history system for each hero character rooted in a variety of possible origin stories. 
6 possible hero Origin Stories.
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3 classes and 3 races to play as.
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Stunning 3D environments.
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Spell combining abilities.
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Party-based combat using NPCs.
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In Dragon Age: Origins the survival of humanity rests in the hands of those chosen by fate. You are a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians who have defended the lands on the continent of Thedas throughout the centuries. Betrayed by a trusted general in a critical battle, you must hunt down the traitor and bring him to justice. As you fight your way towards the final confrontation with an evil nemesis, you will face monstrous foes and engage in epic quests to unite the disparate peoples of a world at war. A romance with a seductive shapeshifter may hold the key to victory, or she may be a dangerous diversion from the heart of your mission. To be a leader, you must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice your friends and loved ones for the greater good. Gameplay
Dragon Age: Origins is a 3D oriented RPG based in a dark, heroic, fantasy realm where moral choices have a lasting impression on the people you meet, the members of your own party and the world around you. The inclusion of subtitle "Origins" in the game's title refers to the six unique origin stories available to new heroes as a new game begins. Each of these has an impact on the player's motivations and his or her experience, and renders a unique prelude, path, and possible ending(s) to the game. There are many different endings to the game based on the origin story of the character and the choices you make as you play through the game. The game features three character classes--warrior, mage, and rogue--and three races of being--Human, Elf or Dwarf--that can assume these classes. Although most game elements, such as weapons, magic, etc., are available to any character, each class and race has different strengths, abilities and affinities which lend themselves to better utilizing different elements. Dragon Age: Origins is a single player game based on party-based gameplay and combat where the player can join, control and quest with up to three non-player characters (NPCs). Players can also quest alone if they so choose, but with the chance of survival are slim. Convincing NPCs to join you, and treating them well may be necessary depending on the varying sentiments between the player and the NPC, or between the NPC's in the party based on the chosen history written into the origin story accepted at the beginning of the game. This uncertainty allows for a variety of possible dynamics within the party ranging from open hostility, all the way to romance. The game progresses in real-time via a pause-and-play tactical combat system that allows the player to check inventory levels, equip a character, etc. in a slight vacuum. Additional features found in the game include: a combination of a standard loot system and a currency system based on gold silver and copper; advanced character customization functionality; the use of poison, traps and herbalism; dual-wielding skills; and "spell combos," which allow players to chain together different spells to create a unique effects. Key Game Features - BioWare’s deepest universe to date with over 80 hours of gameplay and more than double the size and scope of Mass Effect.
- Travel throughout dozens of environments and fully immerse yourself in a shattered world that is on the brink of utter annihilation.
- An epic story that is completely shaped and reactive to your play style.
- Complex moral dilemmas offering no easy choices.
- Tailor your Dragon Age: Origins experience from the very beginning by choose from six different origin stories.
- Decide how to handle complex issues like murder, genocide, betrayal, and the possession/sacrificing of children without the security of a good/bad slider to tell you what to do.
- Full character customization allowing the player to sculpt a hero in your own image or fantasy.
- Elaborate character creator allows you to create your own hero unique from anyone else.
- Shape your character’s personality and morality based on the choices you make throughout the game.
- Engage in bone-crushing, visceral combat engaging in battle against massive and terrifying creatures.
- Unleash legendary powers and choose from over 100 different magical spells and skills.
- Experience the adrenaline rush of brutal combat, beheading your foes or casting spells that make enemies explode from within.
Bonus Items Included with Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition for Xbox 360: - Tin case.
- Bonus DVD including:
- A making of documentary
- Soundtrack
- Trailers
- Wallpaper
- Concept art video
- Strategy tips
- Cloth map.
- 3 pieces of exclusive in-game content:
- Bergen’s Honor: A massive helmet made out of dragonbone (+2 to armor, +25 physical resistance, +6 to attack).
- Grimoire of the Frozen Wates: A special book that adds +3 to all attributes when read.
- Final Reason: A magical staff of immense power (adds to damage, spell power, and fire damage).
- "The Stone Prisoner" unlockable bonus quest and unlockable character, Shale.
- Exclusive in-game item for use in the upcoming title Mass Effect 2.
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 Great Game and Collectors Edition! |
| Review Date: February 26, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Dominic Owen, |
This is a fantastic game! One of EA and Biowares finest, a must have for any RPG fan.
The game has increadable dialog, a heart felt and intense story. A game with well over 70hrs worth of play. |
Just as good as the PC version!
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| Review Date: February 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Aaron Dusenberry, San Diego, CA |
| After reading reviews i purchased the collectors PC version. I beat the game once and went on to play other things. When I purchased my xbox and found that there weren't many RPGS out for it I picked up the collectors edition (if only for the cool case and bonus items) for XBOX 360. Boy was I surprised. All the reviews said how substandard the graphics were compared to the PC version. Yes, the textures are a bit better, and yes, if you have a great video card you can pump the resolution up. But where this game shines are the controls. I would get so tired sitting up at my PC clicking constantly. The Xbox controller lends itself extremely well to the game, and in many ways better. Considering this is a game I have already put 60+ hours in on my PC...it's so much better to kick back on my couch and play. I also think the controls are very well thought out. After getting used to them this game plays better with a controller...especially as a Melee class, since it feels more like an action/rpg hybrid, whereas the PC version is a lot more clicking and strategy, which really is not needed. A definite plus, and pick it up if u like RPGS! |
Excellent Game from Bioware
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| Review Date: February 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Private First Class Daily(Iraq), Deployed to Iraq |
| This game is pure amazing. I have not played the download content yet because I am in Iraq and can't download it but even the normal game content is great. I can't wait to get the DL from Xbox Live and the expansion disk that is coming out soon. I expect great things from Bioware/EA in the future this and Mass Effect are great games. Hope Mass Effect 2 holds the standard. |
Bioware does it again
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| Review Date: January 19, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Paul D. Ray, |
| Once again, Bioware has created another wonderful game with a huge world to emerse yourself into. I do however agree with some of the negatives from previous reviews. However, I found a way to bypass 2 of the negatives; that being the lack of money and skill points, both of which can be solved by the same cheat. There is a glitch you can use at the market to multiply items that you have more than one of, and using that trick you can multiply tomes and money by an infinite amount, or at least to hearts desire. Anyway, I've truly enjoyed the game and am looking forward to the expansion coming out in March. |
One of the longest and best rpgs ever.
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| Review Date: January 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: F. Jury, usa |
Bioware seems incapable of making a bad rpg. They have produced almost all my favorite rpgs and this one is no exception. This is very long game. My first playthrough went over 110 hours! Of course if you skip through allot of the dialogue and skip a number of side quests you can probably get the the game done in about half that time. Even at half the time it would still make it a long game. Bioware rpgs traditionally have top notch voice acting and this game is no exception. Some of the best and funniest parts of the game are talking to your party characters or npcs. The personalities are diverse and entertaining. The random banter between your party characters can be hilarious. If your party characters are talking, stop and let them finish, as their dialogues can be some of the funniest parts of the game.
A strong story driven game, is a another element Bioware games are known for, and this game delivers there as well. Dragon Age had allot of story lines, some that span the game and many more that are side quests. From a pure rpg standpoint, Dragon Age is the best game I've ever played. The number of choices and solutions to quests often goes beyond the standard good or bad choice. In fact sometimes there are 3, 4, or 5 different ways to handle something. and many times your choice opens up more choices. These aren't always standard black or white choices either. If you are wanting to play through as purely good or purely evil, it can pretty tough to do. As in real life many choices are clouded with moral shades of gray.
Dragon Age is easily a 5 star game, and a tremendously entertaining rpg. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the game is that it has 6 different origins stories. Thus, there are 6 completely different beginnings to the game, each that span 2 to 3 hours, a video game first.
Despite, all its strengths Dragon Age is not without its faults. Graphics are good, but actually seem a step below Bioware's Mass Effect, an rpg 2 years older. Mass Effect seemed to have better more realistic graphics and expecially better facial expressions. Also dragon age has a number of graphical glitches, some that make me think the game was rushed to get it out for Christmas rather then take the time to correct them. Most are minor, like fingers or even hands disappearing into forearms when somebody crosses their arms, or armor plates disappearing into each other, etc, but one of the worst was a half naked man floating above a bed while a half naked woman crawled through him to blow out a candle. And Maybe it was just me, but a number of the characters in the game seemed to have hands that were slightly too big for their bodies.
Music and sound effects were good, though the music, didn't quite seem as spot on for the game, as the music did for Mass Effect.
Likewise the stories overall were pretty good, but IMO they didn't feel as engaging as the stories in the original Knights of the old republic or Mass Effect.
Honestly the biggest let down for me, was that the game in a few ways felt like a step back from Mass Effect. The biggest was that your main character doesn't speak his/her dialogue. I really enjoyed this aspect in ME. Also in ME your main character, not only spoke, but never really said the exact dialogue on the screen, but something along the lines of it. That worked really well and allowed for some fun surprises.
The major step back, is that ME effect also successfully blended a first person shooter aspect into the game. You actually fought your battles, and that really drew you into the game and missions much more then the automatic fighting Dragon Returns too. Even Jade Empire, a Bioware rpg, from 5 or more years ago , allowed some button mashing type fighting that went beyond what Dragon Age allowed. Granted, you can pick skills to use during fights and direct your character or characters who to attack, and with what, etc. It does manage to keep you involved quite well, and using your skills, abilities, and spells, really does make a difference in battles. In fairness, DA couldn't have been a first person shooter since you are using mostly melee weapons, but I did miss that more direct involvement from the battles,
None of the short comings in this game are major, and its pluses, far out weigh any flaws. DA is a top notch rpg that will provide many hours of entertainment and its multitude of choices necessitates multiple play throughs to see everything.
The collectors edition is a bit of a dissapointment however. It comes in a tin case, with a cloth map, and supposedly some extra in game features. Would have been nice if they had actually included them on the disc, instead of giving you codes for free downloads from xbox 360 live. You have to pay for 360 live, which I don't have. Which means the extras aren't really free or included in the collectors edition. If you already have a xbox 360 live account, then great, get your free downloads. But if not, don't bother buying the collectors edition cause you aren't getting anything worth the extra 15 bucks. Also on top of that, there is some other downloadable game content, that you are not given codes for and is not free. All of this should have just been included on the collectors edition disk, or better yet on the regular edition disk. |
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