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 videocard 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!

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This game is great. Maybe I am getting old or something so I am more into story and stuff which is what the RPG genre is for. I saw alot of people complaining about graphics and stuff, for an RPG game this is pretty much as good as it gets with this gen consoles. The dialogues are long but interesting. Well if you are playing an RPG game you want engaging dialogues. Not some shallow push over dialogue that seemed like a waste of time. I know halo and stuff was fun, but shooting seemed kinda boring after a while. You can only get so much joy out of pwning people so many times online. But if you want something more in depth, more thought provoking, dragon age is the stuff. I think I enjoyed Dragon Age more than oblivion to be honest. For an epic RPG, name another game with this level of graphics and detail to plot and character dialogue. Mass effect may have better graphics but look around and you see there are less things in the environment to render. Overall, Dragon Age's environment doesn't feel as empty. Besides, the graphics looks plenty smooth to me, most things are not made of sharp edges. If there are breaks in the frames and what not that's the hardware problem. I am surprised that the next gen consoles aren't out yet seeing as the game developers are pretty much pushing what the hardware can do. Its like you can program so much but the console can't render all the details, you get breaks and things don't look as smooth. So seriously people don't complain about the graphics blindly. And never compare to first person shooters. Because if you must know, first person shooter graphics don't need to render as much stuff. At any one point you are looking in one direction, so with the same hardware you will always get superior graphics. For RPG the hardware has to render the entire world constantly. So, don't blindly complain. I just don't like people who don't know games and complain. I clocked like 300 hundred hours on oblivion and close to a hundred on Dragon Age. I matchmaked like four thousand games on Halo 3 multiplayer so I know what makes a good game.

Believe it or not, to be good at FPS, its not just about aiming correctly and reacting to the situation. You need to figure out opponent behavior and adapt to your team's behavior as well. At high levels everyone can aim well and categorize the levels of threat and react accordingly. But what gives you an edge is figuring out what the opponent is gonna do. If I can figure out which side to flank, the skill level of the guy covering the weak side, and the routes the weaker players on the opposing team takes, I will have a huge advantage. Humans are creatures of habit.

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Wow. I had this game on my radar for awhile now and have finally had some time to sit down and get some extended play sessions. It does not disappoint. I only have the 360 version so this review only applies to the Xbox.

I'll get the bad stuff out of the way first. To anyone that heard the graphics are less-than-desireable, it's true. I mention this first because I know there are a lot of people that are concerned about it. Don't be. Yes there is some screen tearing and once in awhile the camera will jitter during a cutscene, but if these are the sole reasons for your choice to NOT play this game then you are depriving yourself of the total experience. The controls have been modified for the consoles and work well. There are a few instances where it's tough to tell who you are targeting in large-scale battles, but it's not that often.

Speaking of battles, the combat system is fantastic. A strong combination of action, strategy, and quick decision making. The battles range from small, 2 or 3 enemies, to massive, 20 enemies or more. For the first time in as long as I can remember this is an RPG that makes every battle feel important and you could die at any moment. The battles are not easy and you cannot simply hit "Attack" and sit back and expect to win. You have to be a tactician managing health, mana, stamina, elemental, and environmental effects. The game picks up magnificently once you get a few party members and see all the elemental effects, magic effects, and bloody goodness on the battlefield. Every victory feels like an accomplishment, and that's rare in RPGs these days. The ability to pause the action and make decisions without worrying about that demon barreling towards you will come in handy often, and you will need to master the radial menus to be successful.

The interaction with NPCs is done extremely well. The converstaion mechanic is back and forth dialogue and a list of choices for what your character can say. It seems simplistic if not "traditional" but you won't feel that way once you start making some tough decisions. I want to keep this spoiler free but suffice it to say the interaction with NPCs is very rewarding, and when you get the conversation to go your way, you feel like you had a strong influence on its outcome and can result in some interesting story changes.

Your actions determine how you party members feel about you, and how NPCs will treat you. The game is adult themed, and they were not kidding when they said "Dark" fantasy. It is a grim story, and has a feeling of despair and lost hope that brings consitency to the background of the world and also adds to the severity of your quest. Moral decisions will not be made simply. I found myself staring at my choices for minutes sometimes trying to decide what the right thing to do would be. This then will be reflected in your relationship with your party memebers, whether they agree with your actions or not will detemrmine how long they wil stay with you or if they will join you at all. Balancing this when you have drastically different personalities in your party becomes fun, especially when you hear your party members arguing amongst themselves. The detail that goes into defining their personalities is unparalleled, as when you hear them say certain things you will think, "Of course he would say that. That meshes with what he said in the first town 4 quests ago."

The sound in the game is great. The music ramps up in battles and is reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies, which is a good thing. The voice acting is superb, blows away games like Oblivion, but at times when talking to an unimportant character will seem rushed.

All in all, if you like RPGs, ANY type of RPG, this game is for you. It's expansive, well written, well voice-acted, dark, and gives you enough content to keep you entertained for weeks and months. Add in the amount of support we're getting via DLC and this game could last you through 2010. It combines Lord of the Rings style with Mass Effect execution wrapped in its own unique package. Own this game, for it will Own you.

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I rarely write reviews for video games, but I felt the need to stand up for this game and bump its average rating up. Dragon Age: Origins (DA:O) is an incredible traditional Western Role Playing Game (WRPG). In the spirit of Bioware/Black Isle's classic WRPGs, there are lots of tactics, customization, dialogue choices, and a great story to boot. Here are my thoughts piece by piece.

Graphics:

I can't believe people are seriously complaining about the graphics in this game. They aren't perfect, but they are still of the quality of this generation of consoles. Also, there are very few frame rate "hiccups" and glitches when compared to games like Mass Effect and Fallout 3 (though I did love both of those games). For such a huge game, they would need multiple discs to make the graphics better.

Sound:

The music is superb and epic. You feel as if you are playing a Lord of the Rings Movie. The voice acting is also better than most games. I'd say its on par with Mass Effect and WAY better than in Oblivion.

Gameplay:

This is a turn-based RPG that has a similar pause and play mechanic to Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, or Planescape:Torment. With that said, if you want to play on a difficulty level higher than casual (the easy difficulty), be ready to plan ahead on tactics, and pause a lot in combat to queue up special moves, potions and spells. I found myself bumping back to Casual on occasions where I just wanted to kick back and dungeon crawl. This is a great game, just don't think you can get away with not thinking in combat. This isn't like a JRPG where you can have your fighter fight and black mage cast fire repeatedly until the enemies die. This also isn't a hack n' slash where you can button mash to victory. Also, this added complexity of combat makes you think twice before recklessly running into any situation. You have to plan ahead, and sometimes come up with a solution to a situation which either avoids combat, or reduces the severity of it. Thats how it is in pen and paper RPGs, thats how it was in the classic WRPGs, and thats how it is in DA:O.

Story/Role-Playing:

The story is fantastic. The characters are all interesting, their vastly different personalities play off each other, and your decisions you make effect how your party members think of you. Some actions will please certain party members, and upset others. There are no good/evil meters, however, and sometimes you will be forced to make decisions where there is no perfect outcome. This makes you feel more involved in the already spectacular story.

Over-All, I have very few complaints about this game. The only wish I had was that they let you zoom out to tactical view in the Xbox 360 version. Sometimes combat gets a bit hectic and it would be nice if there was an easier way to position your party members like you can in the PC version.

Great game.

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Truly I had much to look forward to when news of a "Dark Fantasy Epic" under the wing of Bioware had graced my ears. 'Cause hell, who else gave me such convincing characters and dialogues to enrich such vast stories already? Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect were no small feets of organization and voice acting, thus I would be occupied for long sessions, ones that perhaps weren't spaced apart by any 'healthy' standard.

Then I grasped this game before even the slightest price drop. And so today, having seen a $20 plummet since my purchase two weeks ago, do I feel cheated? Not one bit, I don't.

As many positive reviewers would dispel any meaningless libel based solely on visuals, I will too. Surely I feel tricked into thinking I'm playing on a previous generation console (I still own a PS2, after all), but if you were to tell me Bioware had intentionally taken a step back in graphical power, I'd likely believe it. Remembering nearly a decade ago as I played Dark Sun: Shattered Lands in a similar quest to unite a scattered land for war, playing Dragon Age: Origins gave me a heaping dose of nostalgia through both plot and visuals. I'd nearly say this game makes me feel young again, but it'd be a sad proclamation coming from a 23-year-old. Point being, this game is still a beauty, and at least no detail in environment and architecture was spared.

Still I had felt only slightly let down as I spent my first three or four hours in game. The pieces were scattered about, so much to collect and learn (and holy bejeepers, what a ton of lore it has!) that it felt overwhelming to a point of 'mocking' me. It wasn't until collecting my more permanent party members and stepping into the shoes of a true "(Wo)Man on a Mission" that the utter fascination wouldn't stay out of my dreams, much less allow me to retire by my usual bedtime.

Aside from your character's choice in personal relations with collected party members, you have the joy of listening in on the lovely scuffles and sarcasms between the rest of them whilst exploring. Dialogue is very well-done and convincing, and I daresay it's largely the abundance of humor and likable characters that keep me from considering this the "dark" fantasy Bioware would have me believe - besides some warm/hopeful music and lack of permanent 'gloom, doom and despair' psychology. Sure, the story isn't sunshine and rainbows, by any means, and the choices made within could certainly plummet the mood more. But in the long run you still have a cast of people ready and willing to laugh and love, coupled with the drive toward a triumphant victory at its end.

But don't count me as a Negative Nancy. Even with the obvious technical bunks I've found and some mishaps in presentation (as far as my last paragraph is concerned), Dragon Age: Origins is a wonderful experience, one that rather often gave me a sense of accomplishment - and even pride! - with my ability to dramatically change elements in the plot. Oh, the 6 'Origin' stories won't even give you a minor glimpse of the whole expansive nature, trust me. And when it's all said and done, I picked up a new race, gender and Origin story the very same night of my first completion. Eight cumulative hours later, the variations haven't left me bored yet.

Yes, this is a great game, perhaps even 'Awesome' in its most literal sense (awe-inspiring), and I wouldn't dare take back the $20 price-cut if the Bioware senior directors themselves offered it to me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a female dwarf ex-noble warrior to nurture...

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If you liked Mass Effect and like old fantasy this game is perfect for you!!!

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I have to start with a rant against those that have been bashing this game for the graphics:

As mentioned in other posts, we veteran gamers seem to know what goes in to making a game and what makes a great game. I began playing games on an Atari and graduated to the original Nintendo and have upgraded every Nintendo console over the years, before adding the xbox 360 to my collection when my game library left me hungry for more than Nintendo offered. I have enjoyed Pong damnit,Kid Icarus, Super Mario Bros, and appreciated great games as they grew in their graphic ability over the years. But graphics are not much more than a technological bonus to a game and certainly does not determine if a game sucks.

Aside from the fact that graphics do not make a game, for god's sakes, the graphics are above average in Dragon Age; what the hell are some people thinking when they say the graphics suck?! If all you know is Resident Evil 5, Mass Effect, Modern Warfare 2, and such, maybe I can try to understand that you are spoiled by excellent and almost flawless graphics. But even those games known for their graphic luster do not surpass the graphics of this game to the extent that people should bash it. These gaming newbs poor reviews are frustrating to read because it is obvious they have not been playing games for very long, and their opinions are biased and unbelievably inaccurate.

This game is a one-of-a-kind and mature medieval RPG that will grip you and whisk you into to the world of Dragon Age. Hours will pass like minutes and you will enjoy yourself immensely, however, that is assuming a few things:

-You have to appreciate role playing games that emphasize a deep storyline and at times put the action on hold. If you know what it is to have played a game that left you feeling like a different person (Final Fantasy series, other Bioware titles, etc) you will immediately appreciate the storyline in this game. At times it feels as though there is too much dialogue and you might find yourself getting impatient, but you will realize that you are the game, you make moral decisions and form the character that you become. If you like run-and-gun action flicks for games, this is not your choice. If you like deep, thought-provoking games that invoke feeling and emotion, this is your huckleberry.

-You have to be open-minded to adapt to Bioware-style games from final fantasy style and other traditional RPG's, if you haven't already experienced what Bioware games feel like.

There are some occasional audio gliches in this game, like when the character you are talking to speaks a previous statement, even though his lips and the optional subtitles are saying different things. But it has corrected itself in a couple of statements whenever it happened.

The battle can seem repetitive if you don't learn the party commands and get a feel for the controls and menu options for presetting your computer controlled party members.

Other than that, I cannot find any negatives with this game although I am not picky when I begin to enjoy a work of art. Bioware has made a masterpiece with this one.

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There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Xbox 360 version of Dragon Age Origins, especially concerning it sub-par graphics and less than ideal control system. Reviewers say that the PC version has better textures, a better interface, and faster load times, but let me tell you, it really does not matter. If you give this game your time and effort (it can be complicated and slow at times), you will most definitely find yourself absolutely addicted and immersed. I begin a play session, and am hardly aware as hours breeze by. Xbox players that come to the table with a fair understanding of RPG elements and an unquenchable desire to be consumed by a fantasy world will not be disappointed.

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okay so ive been thinking about getting this game since it came out, and i finaly broke down this weekend and bought it. The only thing i can say about it is WOW. its insane, fun, and brutal. The graphics leave a little to be desired, but the whole scale of the game makes up for it trust me. The action is intense, and the battles are epic to say the least, plus sometimes youll be treated to a brutal finishing move (in particular the takedown of the ogre, that was sick!) menues are easy to work through and stats etc are easy to manage. All the old school Dungeon crawlers like me should note that I havent crunched hours into a game like this since Diablo II, so buy it and love it. My only complaint with the game is that when moving from area to area, you use a map mode instead of traveling yourself, which is kind of a let down, but youll get used to it.

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I spent about 65 hours playing through Dragon Age as a Dalish Elven Rogue during my first play-through, and now I'm playing again as a Human Mage. Since I've only played through the game once, I obviously haven't experienced everything this game has to offer. That being said, I've really enjoyed it so far. It doesn't have the most amazing graphics ever, the voice-acting isn't any more remarkable than past Bioware RPGs, and the weapon options lack something in the way of variety, but Dragon Age is a well-written, enjoyable, and engrossing experience well worth the price tag. For me, no part of this game was so horrendous that I found myself thinking "I don't want to play this anymore". The graphics aren't awful, they just aren't awe-inspiring; the voice acting is fairly well done, but more than once I've noticed that lines were given as subtitles but they weren't actually spoken. The story is really quite enthralling. I get sucked in and transported to Ferelden just about every time I play, and there have been plenty of times while I was playing after work or on a weekend where I completely forgot to eat all day or I stayed up way too late. That's what I look for in a game. I want to be taken in by the story, and I want the gameplay, graphics, music, voice acting, and every other part of the experience to contribute to the story. Bioware did a fine job accomplishing that goal with Dragon Age.

Some will complain that the fighting is either boring and slow-paced or too complicated, or that the Rogue and Mage classes can't stand toe to toe against any foe in the game. This is not a hack-and-slash action game. It's a story-driven, party-based RPG. To keep your party members alive, you have to have some strategy. You can't just go in guns-blazing and slice everyone's heads off. I loved Dragon Age during my first play-through, and I'm about 12 hours into my second play-through, and I'm enjoying it just as much this time around. The only major complaint I have with this game is the lack of open exploration. I would have preferred to walk on my own volition between the various target areas, and I expect I would find the game more enjoyable if I had the ability to step out and get some "open-air" action, but this game still isn't strictly linear; there's still plenty of wiggle-room.

All in all, Dragon Age has some room for improvement, but it's a great game nonetheless.

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First off this game is amazing, but it isn't perfect. I wanted this game so I bought it and when I was waiting for it and looking at screenshots i kind of lost interest. The graphics isn't really that great. Gameplay looked wierd. But when I got it I was amazed at how truly incredible this game is. It's so massive and you soon forget about the graphics because of the amazing battles. Personally i like warriors, but mages are really the most powerful. Buy this game if you love a good RPG.

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Bioware has sucked me in yet again ... as happened with Mass Effect, my husband got this game, and we ended up battling for the Xbox! I'm not a huge gamer, but I do enjoy good RPGs, and Bioware games ("Mass Effect" and the "Neverwinter Nights" PC games) have been my favorites.

The graphics were good (though I'm not uber-picky), though not near the level of "Mass Effect." The voice acting was top-notch, and the dialogue was excellent, as well. (I did miss the "Mass Effect" type of dialogue, though, where you'd pick a general option and then your PC would say something hilarious that reflected your choice.) Especially funny was the banter between various members of your party.

If you don't enjoy "talky" RPGs, then "Dragon Age" may not be for you. There's a LOT of chatter, and some of it is crucial to how your game turns out. I personally like it, but if you don't, then you might be bored.

The fighting was ... well, fighting. I don't play RPGs primarily for the action, and I don't have a lot of finesse in this area anyway. I generally run in, whale away on the baddies with my sword and hope for the best! If I don't get anywhere after a few tries, I turn the difficulty down or hand the controller to my husband. So I probably don't have a lot to say on this topic that is of interest to most serious gamers :) (If you're a non-serious gamer, then I'd keep the difficulty at "casual" or "normal.)

Like other Bioware RPGs, "Dragon Age" has romance storylines -- something frankly, I love. I think it adds a lot of human interest to the game. Alistair was an insanely swoon-worthy hero -- cute and goofy and funny and innocent, with a wonderful British accent to boot! Women also have their choice to romance Zevran, the elven assassin/Lothario, or Leliana, a red-haired bisexual rogue/bard. Guys can choose Leliana or Morrigan, a hot but very sharp-tongued mage. (Warning to others who have their hearts set on a certain ending: A LOT depends on some of the choices you make earlier in the game. If you really really want your game to end a certain way, you may want to check out online spoilers to ensure you make the "right" decisions, or else you may end up replaying a lot of your game!)

My complaints are very minor. I would have liked to see better hair for the characters -- I thought that was one area that was poorly done. And the epilogues were rather buggy; some of the ones I got reflected things that didn't happen in my game.

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This a great game I got through the main campaign in under 40 hours. Great cinematics and overall game play.

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The heart of the RPG is not combat, it is adventure. I think many people miss this when they rag on an RPG for taking too long. Wandering around in Halo can be a little fun, but we all know the real point of Halo is shooting things and watching them go boom and splat. It needs to have incredible graphics to promote that, and it needs to move fast to keep the adrenaline going. Adventure, or purposeful exploration, doesn't need the fast pacing. Story and depth of world are the most important elements. An RPG is supposed to be something you can wander around in for hours. It's supposed to have long dialogues with believable characters. It is SUPPOSED to approximate life to some degree. Most people you'll meet in life CAN talk for hours under the right circumstances. They ALL have stories. The RPG tries to capture this fact so that you can, basically, travel into a fantastic, imaginary land and feel like you went on an actual vacation there. Graphics are good to have, as always, but story and depth are most important.

Dragon Age has the story and depth, with much more story than Oblivion and arguably as much depth of world. It has believable characters everywhere you look, and more than enough graphics to allow the world to become real to the player. For the adventurer it is a perfect game. If all you want is a constant stream of combat supported by amazing special effects, then Dragon Age is not the game for you. It is not meant to be. With that in mind, please don't review it on what it's not intended to be. It is an incredible RPG.

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Dragon Age: Origins had a lot to live up to. Bioware is known for making some of the greatest RPGs ever, and thankfully this game is no exception. The people complaining about the graphics are insane. They're better than average, and more than adequate for a game where the emphasis is on the gameplay instead of the glitz.

Highlights:

- PC-style RPG from the comfort of your own couch.

- Likable characters. Not only are you given plenty of interaction with them, but while you're walking around, they'll talk to each other, often having very amusing conversations.

- Hard choices. The decisions you make in Dragon Age aren't black or white like they are in most RPGs. Often, you're put into a position where there are no good options, where you can sympathize with both sides. It's very refreshing to play an RPG where the choices don't boil down to I AM A GOOD CHARACTER or I AM AN EVIL CHARACTER.

- Story. The execution was incredible and it kept me interested for the entire 40+ hours.

- Setting. There was a huge amount of detail in the world, and an extremely rich backstory that you could explore through various items you find strewn about.

- Voice acting. Almost everyone was very, very solid. Quite impressive.

- Customization. There's a set of skills for however you want to play the game. I ended up with a lightning-slinging, shapeshifting mage wearing plate armor.

Lowlights:

- Bugs. The graphical glitches I could stand (every once in a while one of my characters would become a floating head), but some were horrible. At one point I had to revert to a save from almost two hours previous due to a bugged quest that wouldn't let me finish the mission or exit it, and autosave had conveniently saved halfway through that quest.

- Some meaningless sidequests. Yes, I know they're sidequests, but a few of them seemed very generic.

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