So I purchased the Xbox 360 version of Dragon Age: Origins yesterday and have spent WAY too many hours in Ferelden when I should be doing far more constructive things.

Is it too much of a stretch to think that someone who names their blog after semi-mystical airships might enjoy a roleplaying game or two?

The game is not perfect. The graphics are decidedly sub-par, audio glitches occur far too frequently, and on a regular basis I notice tiny white specs, which are the "seams" showing between some images that display environmental graphics. Screen tearing, I think it's called. The latter wouldn't be so bad, if I didn't also have to look for a similarly white-ish graphic that indicates a chest or box or crate or body requires ransacking for the requisite reward. I'm always rotating the camera back for a quick second to be sure I'm not missing out on some loot.

But so what?

The game is deep, the voice-acting well done over all, and this may be the best WRITTEN roleplaying game of the current generation, even if the story itself seems safely (perhaps too safely) rooted in standard RPG conventions. Not even Mass Effect has dialogue options that are as "realistic" and rewarding to hear as what can be found in Dragon Age.

But, just to meet my "geek" and "nerd" quota for the day, I read some reviews. I've never seen so many one-star "reviews" based on just one or two aspects of what is otherwise a fantastic game -- one-star bashing based on (you guessed it) the graphics or the heavy (oh so time-consuming) dialogue.

My take is that this phenomenon exposes a fundamental shortcoming of this particular generation of games -- there simply aren't enough good RPGs that elevate story and dialogue as THE fundamental pillar of the game's success.

In just one short decade, gamers have forgotten how story-heavy games like Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, KOTOR, and other RPGS really were.

In just one short decade, everything is about graphics.

What a tragedy.

Gaming has gone from a hobby filled with gaming enthusiasts with imagination and open-mindedness (in terms of what can be considered a successful kind of game), to a hobby filled with mindless addicts seeking the nearest, the quickest possible thumb-twitch to get their needed dose of adrenaline.

And the internet is such a "perfect" forum for them to express their distaste. Twitchers with short attention spans "write" quick, twitch-like reviews that say GRAPHICS SUCK and FAIL and give one star reviews, as if that's all that matters in a game.

Hardly.

Rather than pay attention to either the mostly positive or mostly negative reviews, rather than pay attention to the polarization that can occur in the review sections of buy-sites, be sure to check out Metacritic or GameStats or other sites that organize and collate reviews from ACTUAL CRITICS.

There's a concept.

Dragon Age is a fantastic game. Deep characterization and playing fundamentals/strategy (on higher difficulty levels), lots of looting and blood and gore, romance with a pretty guy or girl, long-term support from Bioware (hopefully) as evidenced by the downloadable content available on the day of release, and huge "bang for your buck."

Even at 60 dollars retail, that averages to at the very least a dollar an hour in terms of value, for anyone who completes the game. And this isn't 60 dollars of sandbox. Dragon Age doesn't appear to be as much of a "sandbox" game as Morrowind or Oblivion. While great games themselves, they left some players feeling a little left out in the cold, wandering around without enough of story-driven momentum to sustain interest. One can only loot so many caves, kill so many monsters, close so many gates, that don't have significant impact on finishing the game.

And did I say dragons, arch demons, and dark fantasy elements?

Anyone who enjoys RPGs should buy this game. Now.

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First game I played in a long time were I know for a fact the end is far away. Still playing but I feel the graphics are lacking but overall its great. I really got the bang for my buck on this one

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The game play graphics is just amazing. You can do so much with this game.

It is a must for any RPG fan or Bioware software fan.

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I have started a few different characters in an attempt to see different origin stories. I really think this is alot of fun as it begins to reveal more of the story as you know more about the different stories. I think there are alot of things in this game that people are blowing out of proportion so hopefully i can keep this simple and useful.

The Good:

Contrary to what others are saying i think that the graphics are really good.

The origin story's are a pretty good way to introduce you to the game play before sending you out to a major battle as well as reveal different plot points.

Character customization is pretty in depth or pretty simple with the ability to randomly generate your characters appearance.

Gameplay is set to a pretty good pace and i feel like my actions actually affect the battle. Meaning I have been in battles where i slacked off and things turned for the worst very quickly and on the other side when i was on my toes we were able to make quick work of the same group.

Neutral:

One or more of the AI characters is bi-sexual allowing for homosexual relationships. I'm not big on this but it doesn't bother me either.

Its very bloody and gory. I like this aspect but not something i absolutely need to enjoy a game.

Hearing my dog bark continuously while i'm in dialogue can get annoying.

Bad:

I think my biggest peave is that the AI does very questionable things at times.

For some reason in my party Alistar is very easy to kill. no matter what i upgrade or change it seems like hes wearing a wet paper sack for armor.

Finally i just want to say that if your looking to buy this for someone look at the rating. I'm tired of seeing low ratings on games for someone didn't read the rating and bought a Mature rated game for their 10 year old.

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Bioware leaves the world of sci-fi and, well, cheesy Chinese stereotypes behind and returns to the roots of their first big hit, pure fantasy. Baldur's Gate was a truly landmark game and this is as close to a spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate titles as is likely possible in today's gaming market.

You are a member of the Grey Wardens, a warrior group trained to sacrifice themselves to dispatch the Darkspawn, who are invading the land of Ferelden due to the Blight powered by the Archdemon. True, the story SOUNDS patently lame, but it really is enjoyable and deep. You have a party of four (out of a group of a dozen or so) that are interchangeable, and unlike many games, actually fairly self-sufficient. In fact. in some cases, they can help you immensely and almost win fights for you.

All of your characters have interests and they are not all complimentary. Do something to please one member and you could easily alienate another one. You can even possibly cause party members to leave due to your actions. The motivations of everybody, however, are actually logical. You don't have to wonder WHY they believe certain things.

The combat is pretty easy to pick up, but has more depth than most RPG titles. You can mix and match battle arts, use poisons, etc. You can also eventually lead armies, which is quite beneficial.

All in all, the game is great. Visually, it is unadultered crap, but you won't notice it after a short bit of time. I dislike the lack of humor --- the story tries so hard to be heavy --- but the story itself is engrossing and, again, that everybody is a believable person makes the story so much easier to tolerate.

A great classic RPG and one of the best examples of Western RPG.

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This game is awesome. Great story, customization, characters, weaponry, dialouge... The combat kinda reminds me of Final Fantasy XII, but with a larger scale of enemies. The dialouge is great to anyone who played Mass Effect, but it can sometimes drag on and on. Overall, this is an awesome game.

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If you buy one RPG this year make sure it's Dragon Age: Origins.

I spent about 25 to 35 hours for a full playthrough. It was time well spent. I bought the game for 34.99 at Amazon.com on black Friday 2009 so I did get a great deal because the game MSRP is 59.99. If you like RPG's and like Dungeons and Dragons this game is a must buy. If you're unsure about the genre wait for a price drop to about 39.99.

STORY. 8/10. Well thought out campaign and mildly interesting plot.

GRAPHICS 6/10 The graphics are inspired yet ultimately average.

GAMEPLAY 9/10 The core game mechanics are rock solid and the level design and controls are spot on.

VALUE 9/10 Six separate campaigns, an average 25 hour playthrough equals about 200 hours of game. My measure of a good buy is that a purchase should net about a 1.00 per hour of game. I got a 1.00 per hour on my first playthrough. :] Downloadable content is sure to happen and some is included with DA:O if you purchase before June 2010.

OVERALL 8/10 It is a niche genre and is not for everyone. If your an RPG aficianado then give it a 9/10. If you pick it up under 29.99 it's a 9.5. If you can find it under 19.99 it's a perfect 10.

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I bought this for my 13 year-old son for Christmas and he has not stopped playing it since! The graphics are fantastic and the gameplay is first rate.

The learning curve might be a bit steep for younger players due to controlling multiple characters simultaneously (hence the 4-star rating).

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entertaining and the graphics are good. Has good saving capabilities so if you die, you don't lose all of what you gained. Takes a bit to get the hang of, but hey, you want games to be challenging, right? (this was a gift for my husband, these were his comments and he seems to like it)

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We've all heard the saying "This isn't your father's __________." Well, this actually IS your father's RPG. Dragon Age: Origins is a classic RPG. It is heavily story driven, you can interact with almost every NPC you come in contact with. The combat is turn-based so this isn't a button masher. You set your strategies and the party will follow that unless you interrupt it with a special ability/spell or something which is simple to do with a pull of the trigger and a press of a button. I will say to ignore the trailers and commercials with regards to the graphics of this game as they are average at best. The game is completely emersive and you will find you've played for 3+ hours without even realizing it. If you're looking for action this might not be the game for you. This isn't Fable or Fallout 3 where you are going to encounter danger around every corner. Think Knights of the Old Republic, or Final Fantasy VII. The game is hugely replayable with 6 unique origin stories, and different endings based on your decisions during the game. One more piece of advice that fits for all classic RPGs - SAVE OFTEN.

Pros

+ emersive story

+ outstanding party members

+ morally ambiguous conversation options

+ replayability

+ combat

Cons

- graphics are dated

- minor glitches

So overall I'd give 4.5 stars and say if you like classic RPGs I highly recommend this. If you are not sure rent it first.

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wow...

there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said, are the graphics the greatest? no- i've seen better, your character kinda runs like those football players on NFL FEVER games a long time ago.

There are some tearing issues, and the water for a 360 game is not as beautiful as I come to expect.

The story is awesome, I only have two characters started, a noble dwarven rogue, and a elven warrior, but the story is well told and fun to play. The gameplay is easy to pick up, but also deep if you're into all that... I usually like to play the first run on normal and then ratchet up the difficulty to hard. The hard is difficult though, you're going to be constantly pausing the game, giving directions, and using the tatics screen for each upcoming battle a little too much for my choosing...

The game is fun even if you're not a hardcore dungeoner b/c the story is fun and engaging. You end up actually caring about your cute little dwarf, or your angry elf. But if you are a hardcore dungeon type, this gameplay is ridiculously deep, the replay ability is high, especially having six different story arcs, and being able to play differently with different characters, along with the combat system.

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Let's start with the basics:

When I first saw this trailer I was, like many of you, in awe. The bloody fighting, the excellent voice-overs, the rock and roll music coupled with swords and sorcery. It seemed to be pure ambrosia. I lost track of how many times I watched the various trailers with anticipation.

Initially, however, I was also skeptical. I remembered many great trailers that were followed by purely mediocre or downright poor games. Lineage 2, anyone?

However, I put my faith in Bioware, as I have so many times. Obviously you are all unfamiliar with me, so let me tell you that I have played/beaten Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 2, Neverwinter Nights, Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale, The Witcher, Knights of the Old Republic both I & II, and Mass Effect. Suffice to say that while not all of Bioware's games have been amazing, their engine (R.I.P. Bioware Infinity) and their games have on average consistently been a cut above the rest.

I went to Gamestop and pre-ordered a copy, and picked it up the day after it was released.

Now, let's talk about the game:

At first glance, from the character customization feature to the very basic layout and even a little bit of the intro, I had this feeling of "I've Played This Before." Customization reminded me of Oblivion, the intro reminded me of Fable I & II, and movement and combat reminded me of both Mass Effect and KotOR. Party interaction felt like the chatter that goes on in Baldur's Gate 2. Heck, I even have a dog just like Fallout (and Fallout 2, and Fallout 3).

After playing it even further, I can tell you: I HAVE played this before! However, not quite this good.

What do I mean? I mean that Dragon Age: Origins incorporates various things that you have seen before. Combat feels like KotOR (select target, press A to auto attack), but with the abilities wheel of Mass Effect (select Shield Bash from your wheel or map it to the B button). Character interaction is in-depth, and I often find myself pausing to listen to what NPCs (both within the party and outside of it) are saying to one-another, much like Baldur's Gate 2, Mass Effect, and Oblivion. Many magical items have long stories behind them that will appear in your codex to be read, again very much like both Baldur's Gate and Mass Effect.

The soundtrack is good, and smacks of everything that you remember from many of the aforementioned games. Background noise is appropriate to the environment, music swells and speeds up in response to enemies and combat, and important events are heralded by an increased insistence of sound. Voice acting is absolutely superb, and not ONE character has made me want to bust out laughing from the ridiculousness of their acting (unlike some other RPGs out there today....).

The graphics are slightly above average. They do not have the smooth, polished looks of many current RPGs (Lost Odyssey, and even Mass Effect for example). I have seen some state that the graphics look as if they were made for the original Xbox -- I disagree. While they are perhaps not as rendered and beautiful as they COULD have been, they are too advanced for what the original Xbox could have managed. Animations of characters can be a bit stiff or quirky, and occasionally you will see some jutter.

However, most of the time the "fun factor," the excellent voice acting, and the in-depth story and world around you are enough to make you forget the mediocre graphics.

I call this game the game for the "Oldschool RPG Player" because those of us that have been playing RPGs for a few years remember a time of unpolished graphics, that still created some of the finest RPGs today. Even in most recent memory, go back and look at Baldur's Gate for PC. The graphics were, to say the least, unimpressive. However, that never detracted (for some of us) from the FUN of the game. When in-world immersion, love of the characters you are presented with, and interest in every single facet of the world you "exist" in matters, this game has it in droves.

In Summary:

If you are looking for flashy graphics, supernova-like fireballs, and Oblivion-esque beauty environments, look elsewhere.

If you are looking for a great RPG that will bring you back to a time where you spent hours upon hours on your favorite RPGs with no concern for "uber grafix," this game is for you. This will remind you of all the good times you had playing those games, and still present you with graphics that are approximately the equal of The Witcher.

Approach this game for what it is, you and I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

I give this game 4 stars out of 5, because I could not entirely look past the sometimes shaky animation or average-quality graphics.

However, if I took graphics totally out of consideration, this game has in my mind earned 5 stars, and you will find it RIDICULOUSLY easy to get lost in.

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I have played this game for 100 hours (not counting breaks) and I have not lost one bit of interest in this game.

-best story I have ever played

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Not only is this game highly addictive, it's the best story line I have played because it's gripping and full of secrets (don't get me? play the game and you will.)

-awesome gameplay

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This is extra cool gameplay, but if your looking for not looking a long game you should forget ever buying this game, but even if your not, you'll probably end up liking a lot. If you don't like this game just play some more and you might start LOVING this game.

This is one those games you should go out and buy.

very VERY recommended.

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A Bioware production through and through, Dragon Age conjures nostalgic memories of Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. It also shares some similarities with Lord of the Rings, a somwhat derivative fantastical plot about a dark evil threatening the land. But we fantasy lovers do not mind playing the same story over and over again, nor do we mind always choosing between Dwarf and Elf, Rogue and Warrior. These themes are the bread and butter of roleplaying games, video or otherwise. I will state that I am a huge fan of CRPGS and have played most of the major rpgs on the Xbox 360 and on other platforms. I prefer western rpgs over japanese rpgs. So, for me, Dragon Age was a long anticipated game and I'm really enjoying it so far!

The game allows the player to customize their character, choosing from three races and three classes. Each combination has a limited choice of backgrounds, the first chapter of your story (taking about 2 hours to play through) - that changes the rest of the game. This introduction also changes how you interact with others throughout the game. So far I have seen the intro for female human warrior as a noble, and for elf mage - and they were very different, without giving anything away. As the human warrior, I have gotten further into the main game and the fact that I am female has come up numerous times. Although the game claims that men and women are pretty much equal, it does not go unnoticed that I'm a woman warrior, not resigning myself to embroidery. It isn't such a big deal to be female for the Elf Mage so far.

The interface is fairly complex, more typical of a PC game. I prefer the simplicity of Jade Empire. Perhaps this is why some reviewers have said that the game is better for PC. It is still enjoyable on XBOX, but has a learning curve. Mass Effect and Fallout 3both had a more "fun" combat interface.

Combat is not difficult, on the Normal setting. So far I have been playing mainly in real time, not really using strategy or tactics yet. I would have to spend some time reading the manual to further understand tactics, but the difficulty is not such that it has been required as yet.

The world is complex. Magic must be contained and is controlled by a religious authority, the Chantry. One king rules over a freedom-loving and sometimes fractious nobles and landowners, and the society reminds me much of medieval Iceland. In the south, wild, untamed lands contain barbarians - and the dark horde of the Blight, which now threatens to invade the civilized lands to the north. The dialogue, as in all Bioware games, is excellent, with a sense of humor. The conversation is clever, and contains adult themes (not to say it's inappropriate for children).

The graphics are pretty good. They are somewhat better than The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition, but have a similar "feel". The font choices, the layout of the detail screens, are all very similar to Oblivion. It doesn't come close to the beauty of award-winning Assassin's Creed. One of my friends who has poor eyesight complained that the fonts were too small to read, and on some screens, like Options - they are extremely small. However, ALL of the dialogue is voiced, so that helps. The graphics are the only reason I didn't give this the full five stars.

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I purchased this game for my 18 year old son. He has been really impressed with the game. I have watch him play the game and find it to be a game that I will most likely play when he gets through it. Money well spent.

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