Dragon Age: Origins

 PC
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4891 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,221 out of 4891
  2. Mixed: 414 out of 4891
  3. Negative: 256 out of 4891
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Birdb00t
    Oct 21, 2010
    10
    The best. Ever. Sure, game preference is entirely subjective, but I cant help but feel that the negative review scores this game received were provided by people who never actually played the game. From the start, it's clear that the world of Thedas is an epic place, with conflict, nuances, and thousands of years of history. Likely you disagree, but don't believe the gamers giving thisThe best. Ever. Sure, game preference is entirely subjective, but I cant help but feel that the negative review scores this game received were provided by people who never actually played the game. From the start, it's clear that the world of Thedas is an epic place, with conflict, nuances, and thousands of years of history. Likely you disagree, but don't believe the gamers giving this game a poor score. Beyond being a sublime game, dragon age origins pushes the boundaries of emotion, choice, and freedom within gaming. DAO doesn't simply faithfully receive Baldur's Gate II's mantle of best game out there, it rips that mante from BG2's cold, dead hands, then uses it as a weapon to single handedly enslave every other game in existence.… Expand
  2. JohnG
    Nov 26, 2009
    10
    I usually don't stop to rate games on review websites like this, but seeing the lousy 8.6 score gave me a bit of pause. I believe that this is far and away the most immersive RPG I've ever played. It is also the first RPG that actually made me feel that the choices I made had real consequences. The dialogue options have a lot of variety and at times I find myself wondering what I usually don't stop to rate games on review websites like this, but seeing the lousy 8.6 score gave me a bit of pause. I believe that this is far and away the most immersive RPG I've ever played. It is also the first RPG that actually made me feel that the choices I made had real consequences. The dialogue options have a lot of variety and at times I find myself wondering what would have happened in response had I chosen something else. The combat system is wonderful, I love the tactics involved. Although the system of pausing and issuing orders makes combat seem almost turn based in complicated situations it also feels more rewarding to me personally after having out matched my opponents on a strategic level. The only real critism I have is that outside of specialization, character customization is a bit limited, there aren't really many important talent trade offs. Any time I make a Tank character it's pretty much going to be the same build or if I make a rogue or archer or healer or mage. I would have liked it more had I been forced to choose talents that would make a more magic oriented tank or more single target oriented damage dealer etc. Maybe I was just looking for a more fleshed out specialization system. Anyway back to how awesome the game is; Dragon Age Origins is definitely a game that I recommend buying even just as a salute to the developers for great game making. Even though I haven't finished the game I already see myself spending hours and hours repeatedly playing it through with different classes and on different difficulties; and even now I feel a bit anxieous that I might finish it too soon and have to dread waiting for a new expansion or sequel.… Expand
  3. andrzejr
    Nov 23, 2009
    10
    Love it. I'm enjoying this way more than Baldur's Gate, and I was very happy with that one. This is definitely a successor to that in every way that matters and then some. Too bad all the console gamers won't get to enjoy the visual beauty that the pc version offers.
  4. Mark
    Dec 10, 2009
    10
    Dragon Age Origins is not a perfect game, but I can't rate it at an even 9. The game takes you into a fantasy world that you don't want to leave. It is a single player experience that I haven't had since I played Oblivion. While the gameplay is not exactly like that of the Elder Scrolls series, it is close in its theme. I had never played an RPG like this before, because I Dragon Age Origins is not a perfect game, but I can't rate it at an even 9. The game takes you into a fantasy world that you don't want to leave. It is a single player experience that I haven't had since I played Oblivion. While the gameplay is not exactly like that of the Elder Scrolls series, it is close in its theme. I had never played an RPG like this before, because I found the whole concept rather tedious. After my friend saying that he was pretty jazzed about getting this game, I vowed to give it an honest try. By the time I'd finished the origin portion of the game, I was completely hooked. The voice acting is excellent for the most part, and the graphics are pretty good, although the PC version requirements seem to be considerably high for the graphics quality. My son has no trouble with playing it with his dual core AMD CPU, but he has a pretty good graphics card. I guess the best thing I could say about the game, is that I don't want it to end. After playing for more than 50 hours I still have a way to go before finishing my first play through. I will play it through again after giving it a break for a couple of months, and try my hand at a different class of character. That must tell you something.… Expand
  5. KennethR
    Jan 10, 2010
    10
    Out of dozens and dozens, this is one of the few 100 hour games I played to the end, and the only one I played twice in a row to the end. I had to say something...the criticisms are mostly wildly off target. I'm a professional writer, and this is the only game where I played long scenes just to hear the dialog and get the backstory. Micromanagement? Yeah, but you can still win just Out of dozens and dozens, this is one of the few 100 hour games I played to the end, and the only one I played twice in a row to the end. I had to say something...the criticisms are mostly wildly off target. I'm a professional writer, and this is the only game where I played long scenes just to hear the dialog and get the backstory. Micromanagement? Yeah, but you can still win just by making quick guesses. No graphic sex? Duh, read the label it reads "Partial Nudity". It's obviously a PC game? You Xbox and PS don't know what a relief it is not to have some dumbed-down version of a game made to suit those who don't have a mouse. One day, we'll actually be able to type letters in. (Again) The biggest con is the load times...I have RAID, without it, there's occasionally enough time to make a quick sandwich. Small potatos.… Expand
  6. Necrotaur
    Oct 8, 2011
    5
    Bland and boring is the best way I can describe it. From the contrived storyline, to the setting which borrows heavily from other works of fantasy and real life, I felt like I was thrust into a world that was a boiled down, flavorless version of every fantasy story ever told. I do give them credit for not making D&D: Sword Coast vol. XXVI, and the Origin system was a great idea. TheBland and boring is the best way I can describe it. From the contrived storyline, to the setting which borrows heavily from other works of fantasy and real life, I felt like I was thrust into a world that was a boiled down, flavorless version of every fantasy story ever told. I do give them credit for not making D&D: Sword Coast vol. XXVI, and the Origin system was a great idea. The characters are pretty good as is the interaction between them. Mechanics-wise DA:O is good - combat is tactical and fun, though I still can't figure out how, in 2009 (2011 as of this writing), Bioware STILL hasn't been able to come up with a decent inventory system. Probably the worst aspect of this game were the uberdungeons of the Fade and Orzammar, which single handedly dissuaded me from doing another playthrough. Bottom line, it's not the spiritual successor to BG it was billed as, but you may find some elements you enjoy.… Expand
  7. LeahR
    Dec 26, 2009
    3
    Most overrated RPG of the year. The AI is terrible. Left alone, it will either sit around doing nothing, which means you go nowhere if you've chosen to play a ranged or back-line support class--or else it will rush blindly into enemies, leaving you to perform damage control and clean up behind as it continues to charge forward without pause. If you play on anything above casual Most overrated RPG of the year. The AI is terrible. Left alone, it will either sit around doing nothing, which means you go nowhere if you've chosen to play a ranged or back-line support class--or else it will rush blindly into enemies, leaving you to perform damage control and clean up behind as it continues to charge forward without pause. If you play on anything above casual difficulty, you'll fight the AI every step of the way and end up having to constantly micromanage your party. The game offers "tactics" slots which you can use to assign conditional behavior patterns to NPC teammates, e.g. "Heal yourself if your health gets below X%," yet for some insane reason, you have to spend skill points to unlock these tactics slots. Essentially, you must spend skill points to make the AI slightly less stupid. The tactics also need far more flexibility and generality, e.g. "Use any debuff skill not on cooldown" instead of "Use specific skill X." Because of this, the tactics end up being mostly useless on harder difficulty levels and require you to micromanage the team anyway. On top of these gameplay issues, DAO has a ridiculous amount of dialogue, even by Bioware's verbose standards. It's well-written dialogue, for the most part--but it's still redundant jawing. Too much of the narrative is talked about rather than shown in action. This tendency to tell rather than show has been creeping deeper into each successive Bioware game for years, but it feels like DAO finally crossed the line into self-indulgent writing. Ultimately, the game is simply formulaic: it's the same linear, on-rails RPG with the same linear, on-rails dialogue "choices" which are supposed to give us the illusion of making moral decisions in tense, finely-shaded conflicts. Bioware has been making this same well- (if over-) written, painstakingly-realized, yet ultimately stultifying and narratively-funneled game for years. While playing, I kept thinking how cinematic the game felt, and how much more I would have enjoyed it as an animated film, or a novel. Dragon Age: Origins is a throwback RPG addled by last-gen gameplay and self-indulgent, tedious writing.… Expand
  8. DmanG
    Feb 14, 2010
    8
    An Incredibly deep story driven game. It will probably not appeal to 2 hardcore RPG audiences. The first are the Diablo/Korean-RPG, grind-fest, fans, as this game has no grinding, enemies never re-spawn, and once you clear an area, that's that. This adds a HUGE additional challenge, as XP points are as valuable as rare items, and leveling must be taken with great care. I hate An Incredibly deep story driven game. It will probably not appeal to 2 hardcore RPG audiences. The first are the Diablo/Korean-RPG, grind-fest, fans, as this game has no grinding, enemies never re-spawn, and once you clear an area, that's that. This adds a HUGE additional challenge, as XP points are as valuable as rare items, and leveling must be taken with great care. I hate grinding more than anything in the world, so I loved this "feature". The other people who will probably not like this game are the hardcore D&D fans. Much of the nuances of D&D are not in this game, and for me that is welcome. I don't think walking empty fields in games like Oblivion and Fallout 3 is fun, granted that every once and awhile you find a "cool" hidden area or side quest, its not worth the time, for some mundane quest with little to nothing to do with the storyline. Every quest in Dragon Age, down to the leveling "Request Board" quests, are expertly crafted into the main plot and often branching. No, there are no find the +16 mace in the randomly generated dungeon with the same enemies you have been fighting for the last 120 hours...and I'm fine, no I'm ecstatic, about that. I play a game to enjoy it, but to complete it in a "timely" fashion, so I can move on to the next game. For me, games like Diablo and Neverwinter nights cheaply increased there length with pointless side-quests or by including equally mundane multiplayer, and I don't understand how they can be fun other then by the mind trick they employ, of using a gauged-reward system (similar to what you find with slot machines in a Casino). Dragon Age trims the fat, and while there is plenty to explore, a after-work gamer will still be able to beat it (for the first time) in a month or 2 and probably a month if you want a second go...which for me, is perfect. But don't get me wrong, this isn't halo were you can beat the game with your eyes closed, on the normal difficulty the game is challenging and will require you to think, which I really enjoyed. I logged 45 satisfied hours at my first run, and after beating some of the new games that are out. I will most surely give it another go. 3 major problems though. 1. the DLC sucks, i got all 3 and they were all a waste of money, they are also integrated into the main game so much that you feel almost as if you "have" to do them...they are all skip-able. 2. To many pointless NPC interactions, half the time you can give 2 different responses and get the exact same answer, I'm not a real "role-player" maybe if you are one, this makes the game more "realistic" but for me, it was just annoying. 3. The game has memory leaks, if you sit for a long session the loading times get longer and longer and longer, this is fixed by a restart of the game, but an annoying problem never-the-less Highly Recommend for any normal gamer like me, who enjoys a well thought out, well put together game for (I can't after reading the other reviews on here emphasize this enough) NORMAL people.… Expand
  9. N.V.
    Nov 21, 2009
    10
    Huge game, tons of replay value. Interesting story. No need to follow a specific line through the game, but you can decide more freely where to go and when to go there (granted you need to do major plot quests to advance, but the order you do it in is up to you). Overall, it is a highly recommended RPG game for anyone that love the genre. Personally I have spent well over 300 hours in Huge game, tons of replay value. Interesting story. No need to follow a specific line through the game, but you can decide more freely where to go and when to go there (granted you need to do major plot quests to advance, but the order you do it in is up to you). Overall, it is a highly recommended RPG game for anyone that love the genre. Personally I have spent well over 300 hours in this game now, wich results in nearly 100 hours a week.… Expand
  10. ChuckS
    Nov 9, 2009
    10
    Others here have done a great job at describing game mechanics. I started with a female wizard. After only the introductory scenario I was blown away by the scripted events that follow. Dark fantasy indeed. Then soon afterward I was treated to another video interlude that was the most spectacular, soul stirring two minutes I have experienced in my long gaming life. I restored the game so Others here have done a great job at describing game mechanics. I started with a female wizard. After only the introductory scenario I was blown away by the scripted events that follow. Dark fantasy indeed. Then soon afterward I was treated to another video interlude that was the most spectacular, soul stirring two minutes I have experienced in my long gaming life. I restored the game so I could save and replay that moment again. If this is what I get in the first day of play, I lick my chops at the prospect of what follows.… Expand
  11. TomB.
    Nov 13, 2009
    10
    An incredible game. At the end of the third decade of PC gaming, a near perfect role playing game was delivered to us gamers. Superb and intuitive game controls (on the PC) combined with a way to tell the stories that I am surprised again and again.
  12. JanX
    Nov 14, 2009
    10
    I was a bit sceptical when I learned that they weren't getting a license for the D&D universe this time, but what BioWare has provided us with here simply blows my mind. I've played every BioWare rpg from Planescape Torment on and the experience of Dragon Age surpasses even Baldur's Gate 2 for me. Yes, it is pretty linear and sometimes I thought to myself "okay, this would I was a bit sceptical when I learned that they weren't getting a license for the D&D universe this time, but what BioWare has provided us with here simply blows my mind. I've played every BioWare rpg from Planescape Torment on and the experience of Dragon Age surpasses even Baldur's Gate 2 for me. Yes, it is pretty linear and sometimes I thought to myself "okay, this would have worked differently without EA" - but the world they created is so vivid and believable you instantly become immersed in it and want to play it again several times with different characters, because it will be a whole different experience depending on your race, class and good/evil alignment.… Expand
  13. TobiasB
    Nov 5, 2009
    10
    If you enjoy classic RPG gameplay, then you will love this fabulous game. Great story telling, combat, graphics and more. The only complaint is that the interface could be slightly improved, but outside of that it's near perfection. If you are an ADD twitch FPS type gamer, this is not for you.
  14. CerealLover
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    Do NOT buy/play this game if you do NOT have a lot of time on your hands. This game is highly addictive and can make you completely lose track of time passage. I regret buying this game so soon because I spent too much time on it and too little time studying for my midterm... The game's story is pretty much all inter-connected so it's very difficult to "finish this part and Do NOT buy/play this game if you do NOT have a lot of time on your hands. This game is highly addictive and can make you completely lose track of time passage. I regret buying this game so soon because I spent too much time on it and too little time studying for my midterm... The game's story is pretty much all inter-connected so it's very difficult to "finish this part and stop". If you DO have lots of time on your hands though, totally go for the game. The story will suck you in.… Expand
  15. Zac
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    Incredible RPG experience, they story is compelling and the decisions you make effect the outcomes making for a very satisfying experience. Party interactions are very amusing at times, and add to the overall atmosphere of the game, really making it come alive.
  16. Tom01255
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    Traditional RPGs seem to have fallen out of favour of late. Whilst turn based games have almost certainly seen their demise on main stream consoles and PCs; replaced with their action-RPG counterparts, there seem to have been even fewer Baldur
  17. AustinM
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    This is an epic fantasy RPG like we have come to expect from Bio-ware. The combat is fast paced, and depending on the level of difficulty, very tactical. The voice acting is amazing, better then any I have ever heard. The writing is as good as any New York Times bestseller, keeping you at the edge of your swivel chair the whole way through. The only complaints are almost irrelevant, long This is an epic fantasy RPG like we have come to expect from Bio-ware. The combat is fast paced, and depending on the level of difficulty, very tactical. The voice acting is amazing, better then any I have ever heard. The writing is as good as any New York Times bestseller, keeping you at the edge of your swivel chair the whole way through. The only complaints are almost irrelevant, long loading times and somewhat subpar graphics. But honestly, those will matter so little to you as soon as you hear your characters exchange a few pieces of witty dialog (mix and match your party members for some absolutely hilarious exchanges, Alistar and Morigran and Lelina and Sten have particularly funny bits) that they do not impact the game at all. A 9.5 at the least.… Expand
  18. ironmike
    Nov 13, 2009
    10
    A game that doesn't "go with the flow": it's very long, difficult and with a story and characters well made...casual players please stay away.
  19. Jet
    Nov 17, 2009
    10
    Just stopping by to say that DA rocks! If you love old BG series and the witcher, you'll bathe in sunlight in this latest title from Bioware.
  20. DonManias
    Oct 25, 2017
    9
    To cut a long story short, this is a game worthy of the western RPG legacy. I had never thought of creating an account to review games, but the outrage and propaganda around Dragon Age prompted me to do it. The rating for this game is 9.1.
    This is a correct rating, as this game plays in the tradition of the Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series. It includes all features expected in    To cut a long story short, this is a game worthy of the western RPG legacy. I had never thought of creating an account to review games, but the outrage and propaganda around Dragon Age prompted me to do it. The rating for this game is 9.1.
    This is a correct rating, as this game plays in the tradition of the Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series. It includes all features expected in an RPG of this sort, most notably in terms of gameplay.
    BUY IT. BUY THE EXPANSIONS.
    DO NOT BUY ITS DISGRACEFUL SEQUEL that managed to humiliate Bioware, alienate the fan base of RPG games and ultimately destroy the best thing in RPGs since Baldur's Gate II.
    There is one lesson to be learned from the Dragon Age game series: If there is a fan base, there is something that people love. If people love something, sell it to them. Do not try to make it common, so that more people will buy it. Not everything needs to be sold to everyone.
    You can destroy customer satisfaction, as long as you do not destroy customer loyalty: everyone would settle with a DA2 that would be very similar, if not identical with the first, as long as it gave to people those things that made them loyal to the franchise and the legacy it represents.
    Change these things, and you lose your customers' loyalty. It no longer matters if your end product is good or bad, because it has become IRRELEVANT.    … Expand
  21. DickTracy
    May 9, 2016
    10
    Capturing that old Baldur’s Gate feel was goal number one for Dragon Age, and it comes pretty close. Ferelden evokes much of the Forgotten Realms without feeling like a rehash, and your relationship with your team has that old BioWare magic. The darkspawn feel like the kind of world-consuming threat that demands our attention, even if most of them are faceless hunks of evil for us to cutCapturing that old Baldur’s Gate feel was goal number one for Dragon Age, and it comes pretty close. Ferelden evokes much of the Forgotten Realms without feeling like a rehash, and your relationship with your team has that old BioWare magic. The darkspawn feel like the kind of world-consuming threat that demands our attention, even if most of them are faceless hunks of evil for us to cut down. I love how Dragon Age treats magic in its world, in particular the quests that force you to choose how to best handle abominations, the result of a renegade mage succombing to demonic possession.

    But it’s the combat that feels most familiar, and most fun: the satisfying tactical depth of pausing your combat, issuing orders, and reacting to the results works like a modern Infinity Engine game should. It’s sad that BioWare will never make an RPG like this again-Dragon Age 2 was too streamlined, and Inquisition’s moving toward a more open world- so in many ways, this is the last hurrah for the old BioWare, and a fitting end for its classic design.    … Expand
  22. Macca
    Jan 24, 2010
    9
    I tend to review games I play once I've played about 50% the way through. I reserved my judgement on DAO until I completed it. The first thing i'd say is that this game is definately the best RPG on release at this moment. With a few more games coming out here in 2010, fans of this genre are in for some good times, and if you haven't yet played this game then you really I tend to review games I play once I've played about 50% the way through. I reserved my judgement on DAO until I completed it. The first thing i'd say is that this game is definately the best RPG on release at this moment. With a few more games coming out here in 2010, fans of this genre are in for some good times, and if you haven't yet played this game then you really should. Graphically, if you have a high end card and a halfway decent CPU then you are in for a visual treat. I played 50% of this game on an 8800gtx and the last 50% on an ATI 5870. The difference between the two allowed me to max out my screen at 1920x1200 and also max out all the settings in-game and whack on some AA. The game looked amazing. Not to say the ageing 8800 couldn't handle it, because it could, but I had to play it in 1680x1050 and lower some of the settings. The game has a main storyline which is a bit Lord of the Rings, but without the rings, and the mass of orcs replaced by Darkspawn, which in essence are the same kind of thing, basically marauding humanoids hellbent on wiping out humanity, which is kind of ironic. To achieve your goals you will have to take part in a series of subplots, which in themselves are rather epic in scale. Tie this in with a large dose of sidequests and you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with quests in your log. So, where does DAO drop from a 10 to a 9? Well, as i'm sure others have mentioned, sometimes the sidequests are very "chorelike" and you can find yourself quickly being taken away from the main objectives you want to achieve for large chunks of time. If you become addicted to the game and play for 5-6 hours solid per session, you could end up sporadically feeling that you haven't achieved much in the session. I myself, played some days like that, and other days I would play for an hour or two, and some days I'd leave it alone completely. When coming back to it, I would feel refreshed and ready to plough on. As for difficulty, playing the game on it's default level is a real challenge for many players i'm sure. Being an old timer myself, and having played too many RPG's to list, I found the challenge on the default setting just right. I died in places I expected to once stepping into a fight I knew were going to require a learning curve to beat, and once beat, I felt a real sense of achievement. Fortunately the combat mechanics in DAO are very well implemented. The tactics you can give to your team are in depth, and the game provides easy to use setups should you not want to spend time mastering your own tactics for each character. The game comes with DLC that you can purchase for a reasonable cost, and if you didn't get the deluxe version that comes with most of it, then buying it is definately something you want to do, especially Soldier's Peak which provides you with a chest for storage. From start to finish, Dragon Age Origins is a masterpiece on the PC. It has very few technical issues (at least on my machine), and plays smoothly. A definate recommendation.… Expand
  23. MarkS
    Nov 11, 2009
    9
    Actually I'd like to rate this at a 9.5, but I can't give it a 10. This, from what I've read is old school type of RPG. This is different from Oblivion, which for newcomers to the RPG type game, was very easy to pick up. Dragon Age: Origins (DAO) has a different mechanic than that of Oblivion and Fallout 3. At first I found it intimidating, but now with more than just a few Actually I'd like to rate this at a 9.5, but I can't give it a 10. This, from what I've read is old school type of RPG. This is different from Oblivion, which for newcomers to the RPG type game, was very easy to pick up. Dragon Age: Origins (DAO) has a different mechanic than that of Oblivion and Fallout 3. At first I found it intimidating, but now with more than just a few hours under my belt, I'm really into this game. The quests come in fast and furious and the main story line and voice acting are excellent. The combat is fun as well, once you get a handle on the controls, and setting up your party. I guess you could blow through the campaign just to get to the end as fast as you can, but I'm enjoying the atmosphere of the game. The dialoge between your party members while you walk adds to the community feeling within a single player game. A tutorial would have been nice, but thankfully both my sons are old pros at these games and I now no longer need their help (errr. . .for the basics. . .) A really good game and I highly recommend it to even non-RPG players. Put an effort into learning the game mechanics, and you may enjoy it more than Oblivion… Expand
  24. MK
    Nov 15, 2009
    9
    Ok, I ve been playing the game for 8-9 hours straight. The first impression is that it is a solid, well thought out, with good graphics and a very (very) interesting story with many turns in the plot old school RPG. I haven't been this exhilarated with an RPG since BGII almost a decade ago. Some say about the graphics that are dated, in my opinion there is no such issue. I find them Ok, I ve been playing the game for 8-9 hours straight. The first impression is that it is a solid, well thought out, with good graphics and a very (very) interesting story with many turns in the plot old school RPG. I haven't been this exhilarated with an RPG since BGII almost a decade ago. Some say about the graphics that are dated, in my opinion there is no such issue. I find them way better than most recent RPGs out there. Innovations, there are a couple (one is the use of tactics and tactic slots) but not many to make the game a breakthrough in the genre. The gameplay is one of the bes with, old Bioware-Activision top notch dialogues, a very helpful and immersive CODEX (a kind of encyclopedia), almost real characters and a very helpful UI and intuitive interaction menus. All in all, for me, a great and classic game.… Expand
  25. RutgerV
    Nov 10, 2009
    9
    Been playing this for a few days now and I got the same rare captivating magic feeling as I did with The Witcher, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout3. What an excellently detailed game in every aspect. This game breathes developer's dedication. Nice work EA/Bioware. Worth every cent.
  26. AlexR
    Dec 10, 2009
    9
    No matter the frustrations one might feel with the game's flaws (ie. the over-hyped choice-and-consequence factor, the sometimes creepy "uncanny-valley" problems with NPCs, the familiar "hero vs.a- threat-everyone-else-is-not-taking seriously" plot, the cut-scene graphical issues like characters' hands going through bodies and facial hair floating away from the face or No matter the frustrations one might feel with the game's flaws (ie. the over-hyped choice-and-consequence factor, the sometimes creepy "uncanny-valley" problems with NPCs, the familiar "hero vs.a- threat-everyone-else-is-not-taking seriously" plot, the cut-scene graphical issues like characters' hands going through bodies and facial hair floating away from the face or disappearing through fabric, etc.), the game is still the best RPG of 2009. What technical glitches or loading screens that annoy the player is more than compensated for by the characters the PC encounters and the emotions they can draw from him/her. These emotions are what Molyneaux, of the Fable franchise, tried to coax out of the players, but failed to do so. Dragon Age makes you care for your companions, who get mad at you for doing something stupid and who may develop change-of-hearts due to you nourishing your relationships with. This is what role-playing should be able to do: make you care for the people you meet and the world you are in. Of course, you can also choose not care. You can frustrate your companions, anger them until some are forced to draw their weapons against you. You can damn the world by electing poor leaders, or massacring groups of people, or dooming souls for your benefit. That is something this game does well, the element of role-playing. In the end, as far as the year has gone, no other game executes the same element as well as Dragon Age does. That's why there is no denying it is the best 2009 has to offer in RPGs, even the naysayers and flamers have no coherent argument to the contrary.… Expand
  27. BradG
    Dec 29, 2009
    9
    I think its important to put the game into the proper context. To contest some of the negative user reviews and forewarn potential buyers, you're not buying something akin to Diablo or The Elder Scrolls here. Dragon Age follows the tradition of relatively linear, but well told role playing adventures like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, etc. Be prepared for a complex story I think its important to put the game into the proper context. To contest some of the negative user reviews and forewarn potential buyers, you're not buying something akin to Diablo or The Elder Scrolls here. Dragon Age follows the tradition of relatively linear, but well told role playing adventures like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, etc. Be prepared for a complex story and great character development (in terms of loot, stats, and stories), not a big free-roaming world or endless waves of monsters to click on. There are plenty of side quests and places to wander off the beaten path, but the game generally keeps you focused on the central plot. With that in mind, Dragon Age is a truly epic game. Bioware have gone from developing excellent games in other people's universes to producing equally excellent titles with completely new worlds to support them. If you can stomach some serious micromanaging and almost as much dialogue as gameplay, don't pass this title up. Its the best RPG I've played since... well... the last Bioware title.… Expand
  28. MikeH
    Jan 18, 2010
    8
    One thing is pretty clear to me after reading most of the user reviews in which the score given was 4 or under; the person doing the reviewing in most cases wanted a simple MMO, or a hack-n-slash no brainer, and has no idea what goes into making an RPG deep and meaningful. Nor do they have any idea of what it means to be objective as a reviewer, which really has nothing to do with whether One thing is pretty clear to me after reading most of the user reviews in which the score given was 4 or under; the person doing the reviewing in most cases wanted a simple MMO, or a hack-n-slash no brainer, and has no idea what goes into making an RPG deep and meaningful. Nor do they have any idea of what it means to be objective as a reviewer, which really has nothing to do with whether or not the game suits your personal tastes, yet none of these mmo and/or console generation fanboys seem to understand that simple concept. The fact is that Dragon Age is a very well made game, with a few minor bugs and glitches that would be expected in a release of this size. The combat system resembles a Baldur's Gate/NWN hybrid, but puts a simpler spin on the more complex DnD rules that were used by DA's aforementioned predecessors. This is not to say that combat doesn't require some micromanagement, because it does, and combat throughout is not meant to be rushed into mindlessly, guns blazing. This isn't God of War, it's an actual RPG, tactical thought will be required. Anyone turned off by that notion shouldn't be playing the game to begin with. Bioware does a great job in getting back to what made the genre itself so powerful with past titles, and created an RPG that is a ROLE playing game, not a ROLL playing game. This game features less min/maxing and damage meter watching, and focuses more on story and deep meaningful character development. Whether you like that or not depends on your own tastes as a gamer, but if the past is any indicator of success, the deep and ongoing story will be what truly continues to drive the franchise, beyond just this opening act. One thing that continued to surprise me during my time with this title was the codex, as simple a concept as it is, the depth of the lore and backstory is unparalleled in any recent undertaking, even by Bioware. Anyone who has played video games in the last decade has most likely heard of Bioware, and anyone familiar with their previous titles knows that dialogue will be a focal point of the game. Traditional multiple choice response interface follows, but the game does begin to make you feel as though your responses, as well as your actions will ultimately have an effect somewhere down the line in the story. This may not always be the case, but even the fact that this is a possibility makes the experience a much more conscious and relevant one. The game is not perfectly realized however, as level design does see a bit of staleness, and graphics feel very dated. These things do not detract from the experience as much as they would with smaller caliber titles however, and the scope of story and development still shine through the dull exterior colors. It would have been nice to see a bit more item variation within the game as well. Crafting becomes dependent on a very few important reagents, rather than having the more complex and powerful craftables require more work. There is too much in this game to go over at once, but these were just a few of the more relevant points of note. Overall, if you truly enjoy a story driven RPG, and you aren't put off by a lot of dialogue or combat micromanagement, this game is absolutely worth your time, and despite it's long playtime with all the side quests, will keep you coming back to get your money's worth for multiple plays through and future DLC and expansions. In a very thin and watered down gaming market, this was an actual bright spot, a shining beacon of hope for a genre that is being killed by the disposable MMO and the typical console gamer. One of the best new titles of 2009.… Expand
  29. JohnL
    Nov 18, 2009
    9
    Dragon Age is a serious update to the old-skool Bauldur's Gate style of play and while it definitely follows in the footsteps of BG and takes its story cues from the likes of Lord Of The Rings, it also manages to have its own identity via little touches in the back story as well as gameplay enhancements. It's not perfect, but it is very very good.
  30. ToddR
    Nov 23, 2009
    9
    Awesome story, decisions come back to bite you in the rear end. Diverse back stories. Endings are totally flexible depending on choices made during game play. Engaging plot and characters. Would have given a 10, but AI, even with the scripting tool, was clunky and not exactly trustworthy.
  31. JonD
    Nov 26, 2009
    9
    This is a very big and elaborate game. There are a lot of cutscenes, quantity enough to be imbalanced at first, but once you get deep enough into it--hours into the game--the actual gameplay finally balances out. I never played Baldur's Gate 2 so I can't compare to that, but the game does remind me a lot of Oblivion in some ways, at least as far as NPC interactions go, outside This is a very big and elaborate game. There are a lot of cutscenes, quantity enough to be imbalanced at first, but once you get deep enough into it--hours into the game--the actual gameplay finally balances out. I never played Baldur's Gate 2 so I can't compare to that, but the game does remind me a lot of Oblivion in some ways, at least as far as NPC interactions go, outside of party interactions. You might call it a cross between Mass Effect in interactions+exploring+fighting gameplay style, Oblivion in setting style, and some 2D RPGs like Neverwinter Nights in party-forming and DA's optional overhead isometric viewing (perhaps this is where Balders Gate 2 comes in? .. I wouldn't know). I do have a complaint about some of the textures, some of them look and feel awfully low-res, but they're at least made up for with lots of hi-res ones. The actual gameplay is fun, but the time it takes to level my main character up enough to have more than three or so special attacks is arduous. Overall, it's a great game. I only play AAA top-notch games anymore these days--too little time to play the merely "good" games--so the fact that I'm still playing Dragon Age should say a lot.… Expand
  32. Duncan
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    Been playing this all night and now it's 7 in the morning. Probably not very wise, but very enjoyable. One of the most epic, funny, moving, fun, intelligent games I have had the pleasure of playing. I love Bioware's stuff, loved KOTOR, Mass Effect, but this, I think, is something else. They've captured something truly epic here. I'll just say the word epic again, but Been playing this all night and now it's 7 in the morning. Probably not very wise, but very enjoyable. One of the most epic, funny, moving, fun, intelligent games I have had the pleasure of playing. I love Bioware's stuff, loved KOTOR, Mass Effect, but this, I think, is something else. They've captured something truly epic here. I'll just say the word epic again, but in caps: EPIC. It's like being in the lord of the rings.… Expand
  33. AlexG.
    Nov 9, 2009
    10
    Though I do not believe this game to be flawless, I hold it's score much nearer 10 than 9. Engaging storyline, captivating characters, fantastic moral decisions, etc etc. Put simply, everyone who loves, or even just likes RPGs should play Dragon Age: Origins.
  34. MikeK
    Nov 20, 2009
    10
    Despite a few minor annoyances, this is by far the best fantasy RPG to come out in the last 10 years. Anyone looking for a story driven RPG should play this game. Within the first couple hours you will already be plotting your second playthough.
  35. MohJ
    Nov 24, 2009
    10
    This game is on the top list of my favorites games ever. Listen to what I'm going to say next, and listen carefully .... I'm 20+ hours into the game and I've only completed 14% of it! 20 Bloody hours and only 14% completion and 25% world explored! Hooowaa... The only bad thing is that I have too many exams and this game isn't giving me the chance to study for them.
  36. BlaiseJ
    Nov 27, 2009
    10
    I've been a long time Role Player and I must say this game boasts some of the best story telling I've ever seen in a game. Coupled with excellent character development and great game play this is not a title you want to pass up.
  37. TimJ.
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    The RPG ive been waiting for since I saw the end-credits roll on Baldurs Gate 2. Although only about 8 hours in, Its an incredible experience. A few minor glitches, but nothing that detracts from it being the best game from Bioware in a long time. Heres to more adventures into the amazing world of Dragon Age! Cheers!
  38. NathanT
    Nov 4, 2009
    10
    Wow this game just keeps getting better and better as I play it and am only 10+ hours in. The combat is a challenge but that is a good thing. And I find as I play it more I understand the way my party is set up to fight and how to approach groups of enemies without having to waste all my pots to stay up. The combat is something that will take many many hours to get really good at and Wow this game just keeps getting better and better as I play it and am only 10+ hours in. The combat is a challenge but that is a good thing. And I find as I play it more I understand the way my party is set up to fight and how to approach groups of enemies without having to waste all my pots to stay up. The combat is something that will take many many hours to get really good at and almost impossible to completely master. Like some reviews say, this is the best RPG of the decade. GOTY contender along with borderlands and UC2.… Expand
  39. JamesC
    Nov 4, 2009
    9
    Dragon Age is an amazing game. That is no doubt. The voice-work is top notch and the story is immersive and very well written. Every character you encounter, from the lowly guard to the players in your party, has a unique attitude. Interacting with these characters can be a challenge if you're trying to be the 'good guy' because a lot of the choices are unclear as to being Dragon Age is an amazing game. That is no doubt. The voice-work is top notch and the story is immersive and very well written. Every character you encounter, from the lowly guard to the players in your party, has a unique attitude. Interacting with these characters can be a challenge if you're trying to be the 'good guy' because a lot of the choices are unclear as to being right or wrong. Do you kill the child and slay the demon with it or do you sacrifice his mother to save the boy? To make matters more confusing are the extremely different perspectives of your party and how they think of you for doing certain things. Trying to balance a happy party is tough work but with a little help from gifts you acquire along the way, it is feesable to make most of your party pleased with you. Combat is challenging to say the least. Managing your partys actions in combat can be a chore at times. You have very limited combat tactics slots to start with and even as you gain more, you get more and more skills along the way to fill up those few slots. Leaving your team to do their own thing works for the most part using this system but to kill harder foes, you'll more than likely need to take control of them manually in order to access all of their abilities. And trust me, you'll need to use all of the tricks up their sleaves. The mosters of DA:O are no push overs. These aren't your run-of-the-mill RPG trash monsters you crush for XP and money; every battle counts. Even early on you'll find yourself running low on health potions and such. I recommend rolling a healer to start, honestly. I started off as a 2-handed sword swinging brute and later regretted it as combat became more and more difficult without a healer to back me up in the early parts of the game. I could go on for a while about DA:O but I won't delve too much deeper on a Metacritic review. Overall the game is fantastic. Rich lore, great story, exciting (and bloody) combat, amazing sound effects (the combat sounds real), a variety of armor and weapons, skills and items, and downloadable content already out with more to come, I'm sure, make this game definately worth the price tag and then some. $50 bucks for 100 hours of gameplay with numerous endings and extremely high replayability. Can't beat that anyway you look at it.… Expand
  40. sakij
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    As of this post i have been playing for 12 hours, and every minute of the game (the part where you decide just how bushie your characters eyebrows are going to be does not count) had me screaming "BWEST GAME EVAR!", the combat is smart and requires tactic and the story, even the stupid side quests that rpg's are famous for, are incredibly well written and the voice acting is superb, As of this post i have been playing for 12 hours, and every minute of the game (the part where you decide just how bushie your characters eyebrows are going to be does not count) had me screaming "BWEST GAME EVAR!", the combat is smart and requires tactic and the story, even the stupid side quests that rpg's are famous for, are incredibly well written and the voice acting is superb, even if this game removed the combat i would still give it a 9, definitely a must buy for every rpg fan out there, but if your in to straight forward action then you can do better than Dragon Age : Origins. a perfect score from me.… Expand
  41. ShawnB
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    Very well done. I don't have any complaints at all. Epic in scope, epic in execution. George RR Martin fans are in for a treat.. and everyone else will soon be GRRM fans... you've managed to capture what he created and expand.... bravo Bioware! Standing ovation!
  42. DaleF
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    I worked on this game, playing it as a job for the past year. Once it was released I took it home and played it as a GAME, and it's like I'm playing it for the first time, and I'm completely addicted!
  43. PeterW
    Nov 9, 2009
    10
    This is my first on metacritic, but I have found this game to be so entirely amazing, I felt compelled. I am a huge rpg fan, finding them to be multiple times more stimulating than any fps. And this is the best Game I have played for a long time! The characters are diverse and intriguing, the combat is exciting and keeps it from becoming tedious due to having to think about tactics- each This is my first on metacritic, but I have found this game to be so entirely amazing, I felt compelled. I am a huge rpg fan, finding them to be multiple times more stimulating than any fps. And this is the best Game I have played for a long time! The characters are diverse and intriguing, the combat is exciting and keeps it from becoming tedious due to having to think about tactics- each fight is a real push! I haven't been this addicted to a game for a very long time! It seems that peoples only trouble is the extent to which it is an original game? My argument is that the fantasy genre has been done so many times that its hard to innovate. There is the danger of being so bogged down in doing something new that it ruins the game, the storyline becoming too convulated and weak. The game play becomes complicated in its innovation, and it becomes tedious to play. The only problem with a lack of originality is that because you have seen it all before it doesn't stimulate you. However dragon age origins doesn't have this probowm beauase it is the top pf the genre. All in all get this game you won't regret it!… Expand
  44. GeoffreyG
    Dec 9, 2009
    10
    Amazing. It's the same formula that made the Baldur's Gate series popular brought to a whole new level. The world is remarkable largely for it's amazing depth, and the true three dimensionality of the characters and relationships between them. Easily the best RPG of the year, and a good contender for the RPG of the decade.
  45. ChrisB
    Nov 11, 2009
    10
    This game is astounding in every fashion. If you find one things wrong, there are 20 very RIGHT things to counter it. Get this game, and don't listen to the nay-sayers.
  46. AppleOrange
    Nov 12, 2009
    10
    First on metacritic, but I have to point out some of these reviews are being completely unfair. This game held me attention from beggining to end, it wasn't a game where I EVER felt tired to play. From the gameplay to graphics to story, the game Bioware created is top notch, and will join the league of great games that were created by them. It is definately a must buy. Fans of RPGs First on metacritic, but I have to point out some of these reviews are being completely unfair. This game held me attention from beggining to end, it wasn't a game where I EVER felt tired to play. From the gameplay to graphics to story, the game Bioware created is top notch, and will join the league of great games that were created by them. It is definately a must buy. Fans of RPGs and strategy will extremely enjoy this game.… Expand
  47. DanielB
    Nov 12, 2009
    10
    This is a real return to form for Bioware. It's hugely reminiscent of Baldur's Gate in gameplay, although I could see it being confusing for people who weren't fans of the genre back then. It's not a simple game, by any means. I really don't understand what people are talking about when they say it's like last gen's graphics; i've got the settings This is a real return to form for Bioware. It's hugely reminiscent of Baldur's Gate in gameplay, although I could see it being confusing for people who weren't fans of the genre back then. It's not a simple game, by any means. I really don't understand what people are talking about when they say it's like last gen's graphics; i've got the settings maxed out on my pc and honestly, it's pretty stunning. Voice acting is really well done, and party members bounce off one another superbly. There have been some lines that made me laugh out loud while playing. Keeping everybody happy is proving to be quite a challenge too, much more so than Mass Effect of KOTOR were. I welcome the challenge; it makes you really consider everything you do much more carefully. Speaking of which, I've been moaning for years the polarity of 'morality choices' in these games. I applauded the initiative to make choices matter, but found the execution lacking. Everything was always 'be good' or 'be evil', with no interesting choices. Bioware have really nailed it in this game. So far, at around 30 hours into the game, I've encountered situations where there is no good or bad choice; rather I've found myself confronted by agonising decisions where there are no right answers, and every choice could conceivably have disasterous outcomes for all involved. The major decisions in this game carry a lot of weight, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they play out through the rest of the campaign. This is the most engaging RPG i've played in nearly a decade, and although it's not perfect, and definitely not for everyone, it's a comfortable 10 from me.… Expand
  48. sdOK
    Nov 14, 2009
    10
    Simply spectacular. I get very easily bored of tolkienesque generic fantasy settings. And this game is very much in that genre. But Dragon Age is just so superbly executed any minor quibbles are rendered irrelevant. If you like epic fantasy; this is it. Mature, intelligent and exciting. I dont think I have ever been moved by the characters in a game so much. And I would also say as an Simply spectacular. I get very easily bored of tolkienesque generic fantasy settings. And this game is very much in that genre. But Dragon Age is just so superbly executed any minor quibbles are rendered irrelevant. If you like epic fantasy; this is it. Mature, intelligent and exciting. I dont think I have ever been moved by the characters in a game so much. And I would also say as an avid and voracious reader of scifi/fantasy fiction this is the first time that I would say a game could rival a decent fantasy novel. Plus after playing the game to the conclusion with some very long sessions the game ran like a dream. Absolutely no bugs or crashes. 10/10… Expand
  49. AndiM
    Nov 17, 2009
    10
    Finally, an RPG without the "action" moniker stuck in front. Though there's plenty of action to be had, it's in the tactical combat and amazing story, not how fast i can press a button on my mouse.
  50. JenniferC
    Nov 28, 2009
    10
    This is my kind of RPG. I love the interactive fiction/movie aspect of it. It has a very well written story, a well fleshed out world, and is a lot of fun to go through and see what other options will do for the story.
  51. ScottW
    Dec 17, 2009
    8
    An epicly long campain. Be prepared to micromanage. If you're prepared to give this game a good run, don't give up early. It took me about 12 hours of gameplay to get to the point where it was no longer terrible. 40 hours in, I was really enjoying myself. By 80 hours, I was addicted. Reminiscent of a single-player World of Warcraft with more strategy involved.
  52. JamesW
    Nov 10, 2009
    9
    Delightfully addictive, even for the most jaded gamer, despite a few minor flaws. I confess that recently I've been thinking about DA:O tactics and adventure when I should have been listening to my wife. . . apparently.
  53. AndyP.
    Nov 9, 2009
    10
    I've spent 36 hours on this game in the last three days. (And, by the way, I think I'm only about a third of the way through the story). If that simple fact is not recommendation enough, allow me to expand on that... although the world of Dragon Age is hardly revolutionary in its setting, it is consistent, believable and convincing. The plot and story are engrossing, the I've spent 36 hours on this game in the last three days. (And, by the way, I think I'm only about a third of the way through the story). If that simple fact is not recommendation enough, allow me to expand on that... although the world of Dragon Age is hardly revolutionary in its setting, it is consistent, believable and convincing. The plot and story are engrossing, the background is interesting, the characters (some likeable, some not) are all, well, characterful and the battle system is excellent. The interface is extremely well polished and so far I've only encountered two minor bugs. This game is polished to the nth degree. I am loving playing it and expect to be spending time on it for a while to come. I cannot recommend this game enough.… Expand
  54. RansakB
    Nov 23, 2009
    10
    It's been a long time since a RPG has actually came out that wasn't completely devoid of any real plot. I've been playing this game since release and I'm still floored by how well the story is done. RPGs used to be about telling a story with you as the hero/villain. Diablo sadly took this and threw it out the window leaving us with the 'action RPG' genre It's been a long time since a RPG has actually came out that wasn't completely devoid of any real plot. I've been playing this game since release and I'm still floored by how well the story is done. RPGs used to be about telling a story with you as the hero/villain. Diablo sadly took this and threw it out the window leaving us with the 'action RPG' genre taking over. I loved the original Baldur's Gate trilogy as well and so far this game ranks amongst them.… Expand
  55. adpirtle
    Dec 5, 2016
    10
    I almost never give anything a 10, but DA:O deserves every point. Seven years after it first hit the virtual shelves, it remains the pinnacle of the story-driven fantasy rpg. It's also the spiritual sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Fans of that game will find a lot of similarities here, starting with the fact that the characters and their stories are terrific. It's hardI almost never give anything a 10, but DA:O deserves every point. Seven years after it first hit the virtual shelves, it remains the pinnacle of the story-driven fantasy rpg. It's also the spiritual sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Fans of that game will find a lot of similarities here, starting with the fact that the characters and their stories are terrific. It's hard not to get attached to them, even if you occasionally want to backhand Morrigan or knock some sense into Alistair. The game play hearkens right back to the PC classics of the previous decade, which may be a plus or a minus, depending on your preference. Definitely a plus for me.… Expand
  56. Calasade
    Jan 10, 2017
    9
    Funny. First time I played Origins I wasn't that impressed, yet it is the game I keep playing. Fact is I have played it four times and each time I come away liking it more and gaining new appreciation for the characters and its story. That says all which needs to be said, I think. Replayability, after all, is among the best testaments for any RPG. It's flat out fun.
  57. TheSerenity
    Jul 19, 2017
    10
    This game is Bioware at its finest. The characters were fantastic. They were complex and very intriguing and I absolutely loved the dialogue. So many games limit when you are able to talk to to your companions and I love that you are able to talk to your party members whenever you would like even if your dialogue options have mostly already been explored. The banter between party membersThis game is Bioware at its finest. The characters were fantastic. They were complex and very intriguing and I absolutely loved the dialogue. So many games limit when you are able to talk to to your companions and I love that you are able to talk to your party members whenever you would like even if your dialogue options have mostly already been explored. The banter between party members was also immensely enjoyable and really add to the experience and help you immerse yourself into your character. Companion quests are probably my favourite thing to have in a role playing game and Dragon Age Origins companion quests were very enjoyable. Also the romance in this game was handled better than any role playing game I have ever played except maybe the Witcher 3 although I personally preferred the Dragon Age Origins romance.
    The story was a little cliche and bland at times, but I don't always consider this to be a significant issue, especially in such a large RPG like Dragon Age Origins where an excessively complex and convoluted storyline may confuse players, and detract from the role playing experience. I absolutely adore the origin quests, where you are able to play out the origins of your character and give your character a unique backstory that you are able to experience firsthand. Also, how your character interacts with both your party members and when you return to your place of origin as a result of what race you choose to be really adds incredible value to the game. The final battle was incredible for me. Not only did the stakes feel high, but that was reinforced by the large scale of it and you really feel that what you are doing is important which is something which many modern roleplaying games fail to grasp.
    The combat was also immensely enjoyable for me. I love the tactical and strategic aspect to the fighting although it did get a little repetitive, especially if you are planning to do multiple play throughs.
    The gothic atmosphere accompanied by the gorgeous soundtrack also make this game an incredible experience. The music in this game is really underappreciated in my opinion, as the melancholic sound is hauntingly beautiful and really sets the mood of the game
    Overall, this is probably my favourite game I have ever played. This game really feels like an RPG thanks in no small part because of the amazing characterisation.    … Expand
  58. JamesH.
    Dec 5, 2009
    8
    There is a lot not to like about this game, but even more to like. I agree with much of what other reviewers have said regarding negatives, but I can't stop playing this title. Onto the pros and cons: GRAPHICS: The graphics are good over all, but it' clear that they were designed for the overhead "classic" RPG view, because when you zoom into explore mode, the graphics look very There is a lot not to like about this game, but even more to like. I agree with much of what other reviewers have said regarding negatives, but I can't stop playing this title. Onto the pros and cons: GRAPHICS: The graphics are good over all, but it' clear that they were designed for the overhead "classic" RPG view, because when you zoom into explore mode, the graphics look very old-school. Low quality textures even at the highest setting. The graphics don't compare to say, Oblivion, but then again, this isn't Oblivion. The artistry of the graphics is fantastic and the facial modeling is actually light years better than Oblivion; every person actually looks like a different individual as opposed to other games where it's the 5 male and female faces every time. The towns and forests are well done and really suggest their environments well. In short, more polygons and higher quality textures are needed, but for what it is, it's great and doesn't detract from the fun. SOUND: Can't say enough about it, the soundtrack is phenomenal. I'm glad to see such effort put into a game soundtrack. GAMEPLAY: Definitely different from older BioWare games. Most battles aren't evenly matched in terms of numbers. It's not uncommon to fight your four adventurers to say, 12 bandits or undead at a time. However, when in tight spaces, it's easy to draw out enemies a few at a time into an ambush, but for the plot battles, it's always in a giant room and four versus 15. So often it's the old shtick of how-many-health-potions-can-you-use-to-get-through-a-battle. And these enemy numbers aren't fodder. Enemy archers are absolutely lethal and rogues appear out of thin air and back stab, and the fighters always seem better equipped. Enemy mages are usually weak oddly enough. In fact, mundane bandit battles are much harder than major plot battles. The AI is fair at best. Enemies mindlessly target your mages, even when being battered by your fighters. Large groups of enemies are easily duped into ambushes, and won't attack until you until you're very close to them. Enemies have no fear and won't attempt to flee, nor will they use health poultices. It's clearly a leveled system, but there are always battles/enemies that are beyond the groups level which serve to conceal this fact (Revenants and High Dragons anyone?) The combat system is classic BioWare and well done. If you liked KotoR and NWN then you will like DAO. The tactics menu is a little to complex in my opinion. You can assign a behavior to an NPC for nearly any scenario imaginable. The skills and spells are well thought out and classes are very customizable with the specialization slots. Weapons and equipment are very well done. No longer do you pine for powerful magic weapons, because regular weapons are also capable due to the interesting variety of fantastical materials they can be made from (veridium, ironbark, etc.) and their crafter (dwarven, Elvish, etc.). Yes, it's the same thing as magic weapons, but it's nice to use a simple dwarven silverite sword instead of Unholy Blood Sword of Wrath a la Diablo. STORY: The story is very creative, although it mimics real politics and religion a bit too much. There's a bit of a departure from the Tolkien standard of the races (dwarves, elves, humans) in the role of the elves, but I have to admit, it's very interesting. The plot flows well and the game constantly reminds you of it in the mundane encounters. When you run into a battle while traveling, sometimes it will be a group of mercenaries sent by Loghain to hunt you, or darkspawn fighting an ally that you won over recently. The main quest is very well integrated into the game and is never "forgotten" as in Oblivion. CONCLUSION: A must-have title for a BioWare fan, but this may disappoint if you're expecting a game like Oblivion or the Witcher. It's old school and that's what makes it great. In regards to the other reviewers gripes about unbalanced foes and poor party members, it's simply a matter of using tactics. If you find that are losing battles a lot and getting overwhelmed, change your tactics. Use different party members. Use the tactics menu. A BioWare game means having to pause constantly during a battle and reevaluate tactics. And if you still are losing, then leave it be and wait until you advance. Many battles aren't meant to be winnable under a certain level. All the plot battles are balanced though, even with large numbers. The game is meant to be playable straight through the main quest, but much of the challenge lies in the side quests.… Expand
  59. NotImportant......
    Nov 13, 2009
    10
    WoW. i gotta say this game is one of its kind. I have actually never tried an RPG before so this is my first and i gotta say its freaking AWSOM. Iv always Liked Fps games much more than the boring RPG games like Kotor. Iv played it for 5 days almost and Iv only gotten 25% of the game and i usally play 2 hours or something like that. I Recomend this game to everyone even the Fps players :D
  60. AnonynousX
    Nov 19, 2009
    10
    A great game, with great innovation and a lot of freedom. Although the story might not be the most original when looked far apart, but the specific detail into each action to solve the conflict are quite intriguing. I wont say everything I liked about the game, since everyone has pretty much already said it 50 times :P but I do have to mention sound, character interaction, graphics A great game, with great innovation and a lot of freedom. Although the story might not be the most original when looked far apart, but the specific detail into each action to solve the conflict are quite intriguing. I wont say everything I liked about the game, since everyone has pretty much already said it 50 times :P but I do have to mention sound, character interaction, graphics (Maximum on PC) , and the tactical combat system overrule any small flaws. And I wanted a hard game, and I got a hard game, and so I was alright with multiple retries and attempts. One tip: quick-save OFTEN (after every battle is a nice choice)… Expand
  61. JCV
    Nov 20, 2009
    10
    Short review: Amazing. The voice acting is the best I've heard in a game which really helps get you into the story. The gameplay is superb, and the overall experience is breathtaking.
  62. TarenceK.
    Nov 3, 2009
    9
    A worthy RPG and absolute delight. Strong flow and direction, still allowing the explorers to do their thing. Easy control and guidance of multiple character. Simple recognizable interface and archetypes. Much nicer voice overs and flow of story. Its only pitfall would be its generic fantasy plot and setting. Not a bad thing, but Bioware could do good breaking away and providing us with A worthy RPG and absolute delight. Strong flow and direction, still allowing the explorers to do their thing. Easy control and guidance of multiple character. Simple recognizable interface and archetypes. Much nicer voice overs and flow of story. Its only pitfall would be its generic fantasy plot and setting. Not a bad thing, but Bioware could do good breaking away and providing us with something new. I hope to see it in extra content.… Expand
  63. RickA.
    Nov 9, 2009
    9
    Not very innovative but the essence of old school rpg gaming; not to be missed but bring some tolerance for failing and retry.
  64. Baked
    Dec 6, 2009
    10
    Amazing game, bottom line. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into both the plot/graphics and game play. This game gets an A+ for re-playability because of all the different characters and classes you can be. There is a bit of a learning curve, but don't let it get you down. As soon as you master the pause and strategize method, you will become addicted quickly.
  65. TommM
    Jan 14, 2010
    9
    Terrific RPG. Great writing, story-telling, voice-overs. More than enough to keep you busy for nearly 100 hours. For the people whining that you have to "create your own combat," these are the same people who cry when they don't have enough control. I love being able to macro my player and characters to fight exactly the way I want them to. I guess it's just too complicated for Terrific RPG. Great writing, story-telling, voice-overs. More than enough to keep you busy for nearly 100 hours. For the people whining that you have to "create your own combat," these are the same people who cry when they don't have enough control. I love being able to macro my player and characters to fight exactly the way I want them to. I guess it's just too complicated for some people. Very highly recommended for true D&D type RPG fans.… Expand
  66. RyanC
    Nov 14, 2009
    9
    It certainly sucks you in and never lets go, but I personally never felt the strong attachment to the characters like I did while playing Mass Effect. It's still a fantastic game, and in terms of the actual RPG elements, very likely the best of its kind ever created. It's nothing we haven't seen before, but it's everything that we're used to injected with a new It certainly sucks you in and never lets go, but I personally never felt the strong attachment to the characters like I did while playing Mass Effect. It's still a fantastic game, and in terms of the actual RPG elements, very likely the best of its kind ever created. It's nothing we haven't seen before, but it's everything that we're used to injected with a new life. What could have been a drab, outdated fantasy setting was turned into a fully new and realized world and should absolutely not be missed by any fans of RPGs or good games in general. In a world where Call of Duty and Madden steal the spotlight, it's a breath of fresh air to see a finely-crafted and well-tuned epic appeal to so many.… Expand
  67. NoahL
    Nov 9, 2009
    10
    An awe-inspiring adventure game that truely tests the player's tactical skills and sets forth a new standard for RPGs, and the story reaches new bounds.
  68. John
    Dec 26, 2009
    9
    Awesome story and combat, The graphics arent that great but still better than average. Totally worth spending your money on.
  69. kennethl
    Nov 17, 2009
    10
    awesome storyline!! have been waiting for such an immersive title for what seems like forever. finally charecters you can actually relate to and care about!!!
  70. LordoftheDance
    Aug 23, 2016
    10
    This may be one of the most perfect RPG's I have played. Amazing atmosphere, amazing gameplay, fun customization, cool items, and very immersive. Story is good too, having multiple villains and heroes.
    My advice is to play this game, maybe play Dragon Age 2, but never play Dragon Age: Inquisition. Inquisition is so bad that it makes me almost never want to play Origins again.
    Pros:    This may be one of the most perfect RPG's I have played. Amazing atmosphere, amazing gameplay, fun customization, cool items, and very immersive. Story is good too, having multiple villains and heroes.
    My advice is to play this game, maybe play Dragon Age 2, but never play Dragon Age: Inquisition. Inquisition is so bad that it makes me almost never want to play Origins again.

    Pros: Very fun gameplay, story, and generally amazing RPG.

    Cons: Dragon Age Inquisition is terrible and a slap in the face to all Origins fans. EA should be ashamed, but sadly they are incapable of feeling shame.    … Expand
  71. RagingPoet
    Dec 11, 2017
    9
    9.5 out of 10
    Dragon Age: Origins has the best implementation of varying backstories for main character in RPG. And the rest of the game is awesome too. Bioware took all the best parts from their Neverwinter Nights and KotOR series to make this one.
  72. ScottN
    Jan 9, 2010
    9
    This is, without a doubt, one of the greatest games i have ever played. That being said, it is not without fault. The tactics system, while incredibly customizable, is rather clunky; even with tactics in place, sometimes i will see a warrior off in a corner twiddling his thumbs. There are so many glitches that are exploitable to break gameplay as well: you can be level 20 before even This is, without a doubt, one of the greatest games i have ever played. That being said, it is not without fault. The tactics system, while incredibly customizable, is rather clunky; even with tactics in place, sometimes i will see a warrior off in a corner twiddling his thumbs. There are so many glitches that are exploitable to break gameplay as well: you can be level 20 before even leaving Ostagar with a min/max build where you take points from other stats and pump them all into one choice stat. The difficulty level is also a bit odd...it spikes. You can smash your way through a dungeon with no issues, try to leave, and get annihilated by a random encounter with a small band of Darkspawn within 3 seconds flat. The overall difficulty is not an issue, it's the spiking up and down and up and down incessantly. But all of this can really be dealt with and ignored, and the captivating storytelling and tactical combat merge to create one of the greatest fantasy epics in video games in recent years.… Expand
  73. F.D
    Feb 18, 2010
    7
    It has been a while since I could appreciate a good game and all the depth it offers. I can honestly say that I've played this game 4x times now, a very fun experience. The storyline is captivating and I felt like doing every side mission also. There are a few downsides to the game also - Graphics seem a bit outdated in comparison to Mass Effect ( feels rushed ), but this can be It has been a while since I could appreciate a good game and all the depth it offers. I can honestly say that I've played this game 4x times now, a very fun experience. The storyline is captivating and I felt like doing every side mission also. There are a few downsides to the game also - Graphics seem a bit outdated in comparison to Mass Effect ( feels rushed ), but this can be remedied by downloading player mods which tweak out most of the graphical downturns. Also your own character does not give a voice reply in conversations, which takes away from the game a bit more and the dialogue in general is not as cool as it is was in Mass Effect but these are just minor faults that I'm hoping that Bioware will tweak out in their next release of the Dragon Age series. Overall it is a very fun game for people who enjoy rpg games with a nice storyline.… Expand
  74. HannahT
    Feb 9, 2010
    10
    Beautiful, from the individual personalities scripted to each important NPC and party member to the highly varied backdrops of each area this game and all it's aspects were given love and care by it's devs. Game of the year in my opinion 'cause I doubt it will be topped!
  75. JaysonL
    Nov 10, 2009
    9
    Although the character/races/backgrounds are not really trying anything new the story is excellent and feels very real. The game is addictive because you are always left wondering what could happen next. You are also called upon to make very difficult decisions. Ive put in over 40 hours thus far and i feel i have about 40 more to go.
  76. JonL
    Nov 9, 2009
    8
    The plot is one big cliche and the characters are paper thin and inconsistently written, but who cares? Merely competent writing is actually a pretty decent achievement given the terrible dialogue and plotting that dominate gaming. In terms of mechanics the game is nothing new but it doesn't have to be--it's old school gaming at its best. The bottom line is that despite the The plot is one big cliche and the characters are paper thin and inconsistently written, but who cares? Merely competent writing is actually a pretty decent achievement given the terrible dialogue and plotting that dominate gaming. In terms of mechanics the game is nothing new but it doesn't have to be--it's old school gaming at its best. The bottom line is that despite the game's flaws and shortcomings I'm having fun playing it.… Expand
  77. JeffS
    Nov 27, 2009
    10
    A classic in the spirit of Baldur's Gate and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Just modern, refined, far deeper in every way, and more engrossing and immersive. It's not terribly innovative in any way, but everything it strives for it pulls off perfectly.
  78. BTDRocketScience
    Nov 5, 2009
    10
    I'm not a person who is into single player games much, but after I played a few minutes of this game I was fascinated by its graphics, has rich story content and lets you choose what to say and decide, combat needs a bit of strategy. An excellent game that leaves you addicted for hours an days to come.
  79. SIckTired72
    Mar 28, 2016
    9
    Score : 9.5 - not perfect and giving it a 9 because its too low.

    An epic modernized version of Baldur's Gate 2 tactical combat systems (but in 3D) and better than Game of Thrones narrative, the story and choice system with consequences. The first and last Dragon Age before Bioware taken over by Electronic Farts, don't bother with the DA2 and DA:I sequels. This game is buy far the    Score : 9.5 - not perfect and giving it a 9 because its too low.

    An epic modernized version of Baldur's Gate 2 tactical combat systems (but in 3D) and better than Game of Thrones narrative, the story and choice system with consequences. The first and last Dragon Age before Bioware taken over by Electronic Farts, don't bother with the DA2 and DA:I sequels.

    This game is buy far the BEST RPG since Planescape Torment until The Witcher 3 came along. While DA:O is not open world, the game is more than big enough with phenomenal content, both quality and quantity. Don't know how Bioware pulled it off in the mid 2000s during development but six unique origin stories and NPCs react differently to your origin! no other developer has since pulled this off.

    Lots of twists and very well written intriguing side quests keeps you captivated. I remember playing uptil 4 to 5am every morning just to find out what happens next, this game is that immersive. Companions are the best written and reactive and puts all the others to shame i.e. Fallout 4, Pillars of Eternity. If you want one dimensional companions, go play Skyrim.

    Everything about this game is just epic beyond description in words, the music, battles, alternative endings, funning dialogues choices, the adventure. So sad to see what Bioware have become.    … Expand
  80. theirrelephants
    Feb 12, 2018
    9
    Great RPG. The mechanics for combat are a little unpolished and easily exploitable, which is the only thing aside from the writing (which could be a little bit better) that keeps it from being a ten.

    I beat this game over six times, and still managed to find a line or interesting thing I missed on each previous playthrough. Highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys rpgs. It's not as    Great RPG. The mechanics for combat are a little unpolished and easily exploitable, which is the only thing aside from the writing (which could be a little bit better) that keeps it from being a ten.

    I beat this game over six times, and still managed to find a line or interesting thing I missed on each previous playthrough. Highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys rpgs. It's not as good as Baldur's Gate 1 or 2, but it's a great example of how Bioware used to be a good company pre-DA2.

    Very high on comedy, the writing does have its serious moments - though they are far between one another. Pretty much every party member adds something to the group, even the DLC one. There are no boring main characters in this game. It has a cohesive if somewhat generic fantasy plot, but being generic is fine because it's so excellently well written, with very good background supporting lore - though you have to dig to find it.

    This is one of those games that helped define the "choices matter" RPG genre. Don't miss out on it.    … Expand
  81. Steyraus
    Feb 8, 2021
    10
    If there is one game that is good enough to be cosidered a spiritual sucsesor to Baldurs gate it this game, Dragon Age Origons.. The second game was more like an expansion and the third game was pure woke trash , but Origons is a masterpeice for the ages, just like the origional Baldurs Gate (not the HD remakes, they were censored tampered with)..
    There is so many amazing stories and    If there is one game that is good enough to be cosidered a spiritual sucsesor to Baldurs gate it this game, Dragon Age Origons.. The second game was more like an expansion and the third game was pure woke trash , but Origons is a masterpeice for the ages, just like the origional Baldurs Gate (not the HD remakes, they were censored tampered with)..
    There is so many amazing stories and chatacter in Origons you could play it a dozen time and find new things. Combat is perfect, true OG video game pause combat, an enjoyable and satfying combat, that should be used more.. TForget the woke trash offucal BG3 and play DA Origons, it one of tbe greatest RPGs ever.    … Expand
  82. tomasz009
    Feb 3, 2017
    9
    I really enjoyed it, and I definitely want more. Great story-telling, ok combat, weird pacing towards the end. All this makes for the last true Bioware game :)
  83. NinjaSushi2
    Sep 12, 2020
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. This is a true classic-RPG and feels like a modern Neverwinter Nights. It's brilliant and I can't recommend it enough.
  84. valgov291
    Jul 30, 2015
    10
    9.5/10. Wonderfully immersive story combined with a great replayability due to the numerous strategy combinations you can set your party up to. My favorite is the mage that can beome an arcane warrior.
  85. night4
    Oct 17, 2016
    5
    Slow and unresponsive AI, party member collision, boring "side quests," no combat log / advanced stats screen, and wildly unbalanced classes and abilities bring this down from what could have been a 9.

    The voice acting and banter is great, and I really loved the dog. Everything else was "meh."
  86. Gor1945
    Apr 8, 2017
    9
    Лебединая песня Биовар - показывающая что они когда то умели делать игры, увы толерастия и эту серию загубила.
  87. Diegochocho
    Aug 6, 2018
    9
    Me parece abismal la cantidad de contenido que trae este juego, pero yo soy malísimo con los juegos de estrategias y por eso mismo en dificultad normal se me hizo difícil pasar por algunas partes del juego, pero reconozco que el juego tiene múltiples finales y te hace dar ganas de re jugarlo, lo único que le critico es el combate, pero por lo demás me parece un digno juego de RPG.
  88. LordDecky
    Nov 22, 2019
    10
    This game is one of the best RPGs ever, with an emotional story, complex and detailed world, memorable and interesting characters9
  89. OwlCloud
    Nov 2, 2017
    10
    Upon revisiting the first installment of this hit or miss franchise, I was reminded of just how perfect it genuinely is. Never before has a game struck such a brilliant balance of storytelling, presentation and gameplay. It is truly magical.

    The rich characters bring the equally rich world to life in a way aken only, in my opinion, to that of the Witcher and Mass Effect. Perhaps it's    Upon revisiting the first installment of this hit or miss franchise, I was reminded of just how perfect it genuinely is. Never before has a game struck such a brilliant balance of storytelling, presentation and gameplay. It is truly magical.

    The rich characters bring the equally rich world to life in a way aken only, in my opinion, to that of the Witcher and Mass Effect.

    Perhaps it's the world of Thedas itself that we are presented with, but it seems to do so even better than the aforementioned. The music is both brazen and hauntingly beautiful. The graphics have oddly yet pleasantly gone from looking outdated to looking more like an intended art style. Textures can be downright awful at times, however.

    It's rare a game can reduce me to literal tears, but the closing hours of Dragon Age: Origins did exactly that. I'd happily continue to compliment this game until I max out the character count, but what I will conclude with is this; if you want to jump into a world that fills so with childlike wonder, makes you laugh and cry and gives you nail biting choices to make; this masterpiece is for you.    … Expand
  90. Trenos
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    This game is amazing. Plot is very good, combat system will give you a lot of fun, soundtrack is very climatic and all of this things are good, but the best park of Dragon Age:Origins is your crew, the best companions in all video games ever(I'm seriously). The worst part of the game are side quests, there are some interesting quests but most of them are pretty bad. Must play for every RPG fan.
  91. joe_g7
    Oct 30, 2018
    9
    Although the graphics and the combat might be a bit dated at this point, DA: Origins is still a fantastic game that every RPG fan should give a try.
  92. Don_Perepihon
    May 31, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dragon Age является для меня одной из самых любимых серий игр, если не самой любимой. Нигде больше я не встречала такой ролевой составляющей. Там действительно выбор что-то значит. Когда ты приходишь в Орзаммар, Дагна просит тебя помочь отправится ей обучаться в Круг, обычный, казалось бы, сторонний квест, но, когда ты встречаешь девушку в Скайхолде в DAI и она рассказывает, как десять лет назад Серый Страж осуществил ее мечту, на душе становится теплее. И из таких мелочей состоит вся серия DA. Например, если ты устроил тройничок с Алистером и Изабеллой, он стал королем и на встречу в DA2 ты берешь девушку, они не воздерживаются от комментарием о той ночи. Зачастую в игре нет выбора между плохим и хорошим, как пример, выбор короля Орзаммара. Казалось бы, Харроумонт добрый и справедливый, но правитель из него никакой и дела пойдут ко дну, на другой чаше весов - Белен - тиран, убийца своих братьев и отца, но при этом всем он оказался достойным наследником.

    Игра не ведет игрока по протоптанной дорожке, вы можете вообще большую часть отряда не взять с собой или убить. Персонажи - это отдельный плюс. Зевран, Огрен, Морриган надолго запали в душу, хорошо прописанные герои со своими принципами, характерами и историями. Конечно, у каждого свои предпочтения, и лично я до глубины души ненавидела Алистера... но прочитав Украденный трон и Призыв, стало понятно, что все дело в наследственности...
    Вообще это можно вынести в отдельный минус. Не прочитав книги, страницы кодекса, тебе очень многое не понятно. Мотивы Логейна, история появления Алистера, откуда взялся Архитектор в DA: Awakening, влияние Флемет и так далее. Это все в игре не раскрывается, из-за чего в голове путаница. После прочтения книг Гейдера, Логейн уже не кажется тираном, что готов пожертвовать всем, даже дочерью, ради власти, начинаешь видеть человека с тяжелым прошлым, что на все готов ради своей страны, что боится повторения страшной войны с Орлеем прошлых лет...

    Также к минусам можно отнести сам геймплей. Уже на момент выхода, игра отставала технически, та же история, что и с первым Ведьмаком. Лично я прошла игру полностью пять раз, каждое прохождение было по 30-40 часов. Игру хочется перепроходить из-за вариативности выборов, но физически это делать крайне трудно. Пять раз проходить Остагар, Глубинные тропы, Бресилиан... Это просто пытка.

    Подводя итоги, хочется сказать, что несмотря на минусы, игра обязательна к ознакомлению, ибо, для меня, это эталон ролевых игр с персонажами, диалогами, прописанным миром и историей, игра, которую ты захочешь и будешь перепроходить.    … Expand
  93. Alexsiy
    Jun 29, 2020
    10
    Simply my favorite computer game, what may be questioned only by existence of Witcher 3.
  94. Xerathar
    Dec 3, 2018
    10
    This is what i would like to call the definition of an RPG. The amount of play-time to be had in this game is equal to all EA single player campaigns in the last 2 years combined . The characters are all interesting and unique , the only game i can think of that rivals Dragon Age Origins in this regard would be the Mass Effect trilogy. The game-play is exciting , complex , and completelyThis is what i would like to call the definition of an RPG. The amount of play-time to be had in this game is equal to all EA single player campaigns in the last 2 years combined . The characters are all interesting and unique , the only game i can think of that rivals Dragon Age Origins in this regard would be the Mass Effect trilogy. The game-play is exciting , complex , and completely shames the other button mashing RPGs out there .The sense of adventure and accomplishment in this game is unrivaled. Simply put , this game , at least for me , is what every RPG in this genre should aspire to be.… Expand
  95. Flex1988
    Mar 17, 2019
    10
    Hands down one of the best RPG`s I have ever played. The characters are well written and relatable. The story is gripping and emotional from beginning to end, however the beginning (1st hour) can be considered slow. Seeing how you can get the full game for very little money nowadays the value here is stunning. The base game is a solid 10/10 and warrens many playthroughs, exploringHands down one of the best RPG`s I have ever played. The characters are well written and relatable. The story is gripping and emotional from beginning to end, however the beginning (1st hour) can be considered slow. Seeing how you can get the full game for very little money nowadays the value here is stunning. The base game is a solid 10/10 and warrens many playthroughs, exploring different paths. The story and soundtrack are still present in my memory years later. The expansions however are a mixed bag.… Expand
  96. Cocaine
    Sep 10, 2019
    10
    Perfect RPG for me. This game don't need any words. if you like rpg you must play it.
  97. LaDix
    Nov 12, 2019
    9
    Amazing game, this was not the first dragon age game I played, I stated with DA:I, and now I can kinda of see why people say this is the best of them all.

    Good things: - The Story, **** amazing, there is so much things you can say and do to make a in-pact on the game. - Talent tree, big and thought out, and the specializations is cool. - The world is so DEEP - The characters is    Amazing game, this was not the first dragon age game I played, I stated with DA:I, and now I can kinda of see why people say this is the best of them all.

    Good things:
    - The Story, **** amazing, there is so much things you can say and do to make a in-pact on the game.
    - Talent tree, big and thought out, and the specializations is cool.
    - The world is so DEEP
    - The characters is actually interesting
    - What you chose to say in the convention, is actually is what you say, sins your C is stum.

    Bad ****
    - Orzammar and Deeps road, hate that place, way to big and boring IMO.
    - To few romance options.
    - My game crashed alot with was kinda annoying.
    - The armor is **** boring but realistic, but I do wish there was more cool/sexy/special looking armor.

    But all the bad things, is just small personal things I have about the game.    … Expand
  98. Daermon
    Dec 19, 2018
    10
    Best game in the Dragon Age trilogy, and one of the best RPG in the world.
    Awesome and epic story, very great gameplay.
  99. LoLerScholar
    Aug 19, 2020
    10
    Dragon Age Origins is one out of three western RPGs that I've played that deserves a '10' rating in my book (the other ones are Witcher 3 and Neverwinter Nights). I think it's the last great Bioware masterpiece that takes place in a fantasy setting.

    This game is so interesting to me because it's a great example of how good game design and execution is more important than original    Dragon Age Origins is one out of three western RPGs that I've played that deserves a '10' rating in my book (the other ones are Witcher 3 and Neverwinter Nights). I think it's the last great Bioware masterpiece that takes place in a fantasy setting.

    This game is so interesting to me because it's a great example of how good game design and execution is more important than original ideas. You can describe the story of this game in one sentence: Every x number of years, hero warriors called Grey Wardens are called to push back an incoming enemy invasion of evil beings called Darkspawn. That's it. It's laughable how simple and rehashed this story is. But oh my God did Bioware absolutely NAIL about every other aspect of this game.

    First off, the world-building was done so well. In addition to how generic the plot is, many aspects of this fantasy world are too. There are humans, elves, dwarves, sorcerers, etc... How many times have we seen this before? But damn all of the various locations are so memorable and wonderful to explore. I can't exactly articulate why this is so, but I think it has to do with how well designed and cohesive this high-fantasy world was designed. It feels like a real, living, breathing place. I played this game in 2018, about 9 years after it came out. However, I was very impressed with the graphics and I feel they hold up really well.

    The biggest strength of this game (in addition to the combat) is the character development. I'd say the characters in this game are the best written characters in any western RPG I've played, and it's the reason why this game is so good despite the generic plot. My party throughout the game was myself (male rogue), Morrigan, Alistair, and Sten. We've seen the **** witch' archtype and taciturn giant before in games, but Morrigan and Sten were written and executed so well that they're the gold standard for these archtypes in my opinion. Alistair was more unique and fantastic because he is so goofy and clumsy, yet sensitive and insecure. I had an absolute ball getting to know and developing relationships with these characters.

    I loved the combat system and found it to be so much fun. Keep in mind I'm biased because I love 'real-time with pause' type of games such as Baldur's Gate 2 and Pillars of Eternity, but I felt Dragon Age Origins was the best executed real-time with pause system out of all of them. I think this is because the game controls as well as any other real-time with pause game, but lets you zoom and in out of the combat so you can see characters close up in addition to an isometric angle. This makes it less boring than just seeing the isometric perspective that you get from a game like Baldur's Gate.

    The controls were also top-notch, intuitive, and well done. The interface of the game is kind of similar to Neverwinter Nights and all of your special skills can be assigned to the F1-F9 keys. It's easy and simple to get your characters to do what you want them to do. And the relationship system in which you gain relationship points with your companions is easy to understand and streamlined so well.

    No game is without its flaws. I honestly can't think of too many for Dragon Age Origins, but one pretty significant issue I had with the game is the difficulty. I played it on 'normal' difficulty but damn was the game hard, especially towards the beginning. This was partly due to me not figuring out how potions worked, but I almost was considering putting the game down towards the start because of the difficulty curve. Bandit parties and enemy spellcasters were slaughtering my party with regularity towards the start. And I'm somewhat of a veteran with real-time with pause games. If it was this tough for me, it might be near impossible for a new player to handle. I somehow made it through the start by taking a very slow and steady approach to the combat, but I think the difficulty was too harsh overall.

    So with that all said, I'd fully stamp this game with the '10' rating as it really doesn't get much better than this when it comes to western RPGs!    … Expand
  100. Edco0328
    Oct 17, 2020
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins | October 12, 2020 | [★★★★★]

    This game just sealed Bioware as one of my favorite Developers. The story structure has a lot of similarity to Mass Effect, which is a very good thing specially how they manage to shape the world and introduced you to it. A satisfying journey where every player could have a different road ahead accompanied by a lot of choices that    Dragon Age: Origins | October 12, 2020 | [★★★★★]

    This game just sealed Bioware as one of my favorite Developers. The story structure has a lot of similarity to Mass Effect, which is a very good thing specially how they manage to shape the world and introduced you to it.

    A satisfying journey where every player could have a different road ahead accompanied by a lot of choices that wasn't just cheap and actually matters 20 hours ahead of the campaign.

    The last game I've played with this kind of mechanics are Warcraft III where's battle management is very important. I'm actually not a fan of it at the beginning until it just grown on me till the end.

    I don't have a lot of experience on RPG's and its genre as a whole, but I'm very proud to call this game a Masterpiece - significantly how I played this decade behind.    … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2009
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 67 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 67
  3. Negative: 0 out of 67
  1. Gameplayer Sweden
    100
    If you're into rpgs, or rather if you love roleplaying in general, there's really no need to waste time reading any reviews of this game. The same goes if you regard games like Planescape: Torment, Fallout 2 and the Baldurs Gate-series among the best computer games ever made. Because this game is everything a person like you look for in a game, and so much more. Be aware though, Dragon Age: Origins is not a revolution of the genre, rather it is an evolution, where Bioware has refined everything that made them into a formula as close to perfection as possible. Without a doubt one of the strongest Game of the year-candidates so far this year and a game we will remember with warm feelings many years to come.
    Read full review
  2. PC Gamer
    92
    An outstanding story-driven RPG with fantastic writing, RPG depth and tough tactical combat. It's BioWare's best RPG since Baldur's Gate 2. [Holiday 2009, p.38]
  3. GamingXP
    92
    Dragon Age Origins will keep you in front of your computer for hours! Graphics, sounds and the controls couldn’t be much better!
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »