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
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  1. hazsch
    Jan 6, 2021
    9
    Note: if your game keeps crashing, try turning your texture/graphic settings down to medium instead of high! DA:O was designed for older hardware so treat it that way.

    I played Dragon Age: Origins for the first time this year as a big fan of BioWare's other works in Mass Effect and Baldur's Gate. I put off playing it for a long time, but I'm pleased to say that - no surprises here - the    Note: if your game keeps crashing, try turning your texture/graphic settings down to medium instead of high! DA:O was designed for older hardware so treat it that way.

    I played Dragon Age: Origins for the first time this year as a big fan of BioWare's other works in Mass Effect and Baldur's Gate. I put off playing it for a long time, but I'm pleased to say that - no surprises here - the game is fantastic, and holds up well. The combat system is fun and tactical and it'll make you feel incredibly powerful when you get the hang of it. The characters are engaging and deep, and have established friendship or romance paths.

    DA:O shares a lot of similarities with Neverwinter Nights, also developed by BioWare. Especially when you go into the tactical isometric view. I found myself switching to isometric view in just about every battle while I explored in the third person view.

    My first run was with a female city elf warrior, and I've got to say - this origin story has aged incredibly poorly. If it released today then it would most likely get slammed for being insensitive and pointless. Luckily, the beginning area is over quickly enough and then its on to the main adventure. Here is when my game started breaking from all the quality of life mods I had installed at the behest of a friend of mine. In the end I ended up just using some cosmetic mods, extra dog slot, some restoration mods as well as "equal love" so I could, naturally, see what the romance for the game's poster child, Morrigan. This led to some amusing scenes where I was occasionally referred to as both a man and a woman in just about the same breath.

    I beat the game and then started playing again as the female human noble, this time on the hardest difficulty. "How hard could it be?" I had asked. Turns out, extremely hard. I actually enjoyed it more than normal difficulty, but maybe I'm just a masochist.

    I found that the friendship with Morrigan was much more rewarding than the romance, and once I convinced Alistair to stop being such a pushover, he was better in the romance. Speaking of Alistair, though... he's definitely the best character in this game. BioWare games have tended to have this thing where you say one mean thing and the NPC will hate you forever, but with Alistair you can actually joke around and make fun of each other. I think his character is just endearing in a lot of ways.

    I then went on to play Leliana's Song (on normal!) which I really enjoyed. It's a fun adventure, and the writing is excellent.    … Expand
  2. GraysonUA
    Mar 31, 2020
    8
    Класний епічний сюжет, класні персонажі компаньйони, цікава рольова система, битви з тактичною паузою мені сподобались.
  3. kabskannar12
    Apr 19, 2020
    10
    "The world's greatest role-playing game"

    There is no need for too many words or a deep examination. This game is the best role game in the world.

      Bioware is the most perfect game ever made. It is even more wonderful than the Mass Effect series.
  4. VincentValen
    May 17, 2021
    10
    Not a Perfect game but it's close, one of the best games I've ever played. If you love RPGs you have to play this game. I've replayed it many times over the years and I still love it. great story, great characters, good combat system, a lot of content to play. One of the very few games i'd consider a Masterpiece
  5. shadow326
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    My first RPG) still playing it in 2020) Best story and characters) grey warden is forever in our hearts, it's a pity that he was not in the next games in the series
  6. AntiqueOne
    Sep 20, 2020
    10
    Exciting story with great lore. Having alternative routes nearly every quest and seeing their consequences reminds me that I'm a part of this world and my choices are matter. Even your background changes nearly everthing. While the story tends to be cliche these RGP elements make it compelling, so the atmosphere quickly draws you in. Probably the best part of this game is companions andExciting story with great lore. Having alternative routes nearly every quest and seeing their consequences reminds me that I'm a part of this world and my choices are matter. Even your background changes nearly everthing. While the story tends to be cliche these RGP elements make it compelling, so the atmosphere quickly draws you in. Probably the best part of this game is companions and their conversations with you and each other. They all have great stories and hillarious dialogs. One of the best RPGs ever.… Expand
  7. TudorPopescu
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    I genuinely consider Dragon Age: Origins the best RPG ever made. It's a masterpiece. I know people can be hyperbolic at times, but I truly mean what I say.

    The writing and the story, the pacing, the diverse settings, the choices you can make, the consequences, the companions, your relationship with them and the way they change and evolve over time, their banter, their reactions to your    I genuinely consider Dragon Age: Origins the best RPG ever made. It's a masterpiece. I know people can be hyperbolic at times, but I truly mean what I say.

    The writing and the story, the pacing, the diverse settings, the choices you can make, the consequences, the companions, your relationship with them and the way they change and evolve over time, their banter, their reactions to your love interest, the tactical combat, the way you can customize what and how your companions use abilities, the voice actors, the soundtrack, even the graphics have aged well and still hold up in 2020.

    If you like RPGs, then you MUST play this game. Get the Ultimate Edition, it's worth every penny.    … Expand
  8. Jakard
    Sep 20, 2020
    9
    Baldurs gate on 3d. Nothing else to say if you know anything about gaming. A classic legenrady that we all come back to play again and again. Bioware should slap themselves and realize that to make an rpg it has to be more hardcore. Bring back the ai tactics and the myriad spells and maybe you cab redeem yourselves from the abysmal 10 year failures under EA
  9. NNNPavelB
    Feb 12, 2021
    10
    Best RPG game - The Witcher 3? No. Skyrim ? No. DAO ? YES.

    For me personally, this game is one of the best games of all time, the only game to which it is inferior is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
  10. Pentakill
    Sep 13, 2020
    9
    My introduction to RPGs with real time pause and it was a great experience. The amount of options you can pick when talking with someone and the repercussions of the things you choose when answering to someone are truly impressive. it couldn't be a 10 for me just because I began to get bored of the same Darkspwan enemies over and over again though out my 100 hour playthrough.
  11. GVB
    Oct 30, 2020
    10
    Interesting and very well written characters, original stories, very fun to play, moral dilemmas... 10/10
  12. Dom007
    Mar 13, 2021
    9
    The best out of the dragon age games. Origins has an amazing story that I still remember to this day and the characters are just fantastic.
    As for the gameplay. I had the occasional issue with the AI and I also had some trouble getting use to the combat, however once I got use to it it was very good.
    The level design however is hit and miss. There are some great levels and some bad ones.    The best out of the dragon age games. Origins has an amazing story that I still remember to this day and the characters are just fantastic.
    As for the gameplay. I had the occasional issue with the AI and I also had some trouble getting use to the combat, however once I got use to it it was very good.
    The level design however is hit and miss. There are some great levels and some bad ones. The fade for example is one of the worst areas I've ever experienced in gaming, it was literally a 3hr slog with frustrating puzzles and enemies. I also hated the deep roads for similar reasons.
    And that's why it's not a 10/10 for me although I can definitely see why it is for so many.    … Expand
  13. snootchie
    Jan 8, 2021
    10
    One of the greatest RPG’s of all time. Up there with Witcher 3, Dragon Quest 11, and the rest of em. If you haven’t played this one yet, go out and pick it up. You won’t regret it.
  14. Torgall
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    For me it's one of THE BEST game of it's kind. The plot, memorable characters, meaningful decisions combined into perfect game experience that I remember fondly.
  15. Dudowski
    May 10, 2021
    10
    My all time favourite of all games I've ever played the last 30 years. Damn good character writing and improvement. good implemented story into the scenery and nice RPG elements. You feel mighty and more important the further the story goes on. High Fantasy without to many misshapen creatures, political issues connected to the real world and the typical Bioware romancing system. Thanks toMy all time favourite of all games I've ever played the last 30 years. Damn good character writing and improvement. good implemented story into the scenery and nice RPG elements. You feel mighty and more important the further the story goes on. High Fantasy without to many misshapen creatures, political issues connected to the real world and the typical Bioware romancing system. Thanks to many different background stories for characters i could easily do 14 playthroughs and always had a feeling of another experience.… Expand
  16. TastieToasty
    Mar 8, 2023
    10
    One of the best cRPG games of all time, maybe even the best.
    it is still very hard so if you are new to these games try the Easy difficulty.
    - Amazing Characters - Good Combat / kinda like WoW - Really cool armor and weapons - Great dialogue - Really cool for roleplaying - 6 movie worthy starts with three races (each of them could be its own game) The Awakening DLC was really    One of the best cRPG games of all time, maybe even the best.
    it is still very hard so if you are new to these games try the Easy difficulty.

    - Amazing Characters
    - Good Combat / kinda like WoW
    - Really cool armor and weapons
    - Great dialogue
    - Really cool for roleplaying
    - 6 movie worthy starts with three races (each of them could be its own game)

    The Awakening DLC was really relaxing at the beginning but became pretty rough at the end.
    the characters of the dlc were amazing but it was way too short. (and the epilogue for most companions were really really bad)

    I love this game    … Expand
  17. Muzketin
    May 24, 2023
    10
    This game is extremely EPIC, one of the best RPGs you can play, the story is just wonderful and the characters are well written and fun aswell. Also the world is very beautiful too. One other wonderful thing about this game is the level up system, as you can unlock epic abilities, you can even become a giant spider or bear and maul the enemies. It also offers the possibility of having aThis game is extremely EPIC, one of the best RPGs you can play, the story is just wonderful and the characters are well written and fun aswell. Also the world is very beautiful too. One other wonderful thing about this game is the level up system, as you can unlock epic abilities, you can even become a giant spider or bear and maul the enemies. It also offers the possibility of having a love story with Leliana, which is perfect aswell.… Expand
  18. MrMurdock69
    Dec 11, 2022
    10
    The best RPG game ever created. Top Story, Top universe, Top multi choices, Top Characters, Top combat. No other game will ever be as great as this game.
  19. woohoosims
    Jan 30, 2023
    10
    In my opinion this game is still one of the best western RPG's around and deserves the same remaster treatment given to the Mass Effect trilogy. Combat and Graphics have definitely aged but the engrossing story and endearing characters you can help becoming attached to more than make up for it. Hoping BioWare can being back some of the magic for Dreadwolf.
  20. nejnej55
    Feb 3, 2023
    8
    I really like the characters and main story, but the combat and level design is just not good in my opinion. There were times where I just wanted to finish as fast as possible because I got so impatient of fighting 50 of the same enemies with really boring combat. Because of this I finished the game pretty fast, but the amount of choices you can make in this game is simply astonishing andI really like the characters and main story, but the combat and level design is just not good in my opinion. There were times where I just wanted to finish as fast as possible because I got so impatient of fighting 50 of the same enemies with really boring combat. Because of this I finished the game pretty fast, but the amount of choices you can make in this game is simply astonishing and removes all the bad and makes it more positive.… Expand
  21. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    10
    I still have great childhood memories of this game and i wish i could go back in time and play it for the first time, that is how good it is. From the background story to the decisions you make, each playthrough can be very unique. The story, the maps, everything is gorgeous and make you feel immersed. This is one of the greatest, most immersive RPG of all times. The best thing about theI still have great childhood memories of this game and i wish i could go back in time and play it for the first time, that is how good it is. From the background story to the decisions you make, each playthrough can be very unique. The story, the maps, everything is gorgeous and make you feel immersed. This is one of the greatest, most immersive RPG of all times. The best thing about the game is the interaction with your party members, the way their relationship with you can be affected by lines of dialogue, the fact you can romance some of them or piss them off until they leave our party.. This was completely new to me and made me want more games like this.… Expand
  22. PavelHr
    Mar 31, 2023
    10
    One of Bioware's top 4 games I've played - ME Trilogy and DA: Origins. Everything after that is not bad but they haven't been able to get the same great writers for their games.
  23. RobinBooze
    May 4, 2023
    9
    My favourite RGP of all time. Worth playing in 2023 still. If you like classic RPG where you control and micro manage a party of fantasy heroes this game is a must play
  24. Shaitan87
    Nov 2, 2010
    10
    This is one of my favorite games. Extremely interesting story, with a lot of replayability. I ripped through it, and then instantly started again, one of the only times I have done that on any game.
  25. DanielF
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    Having played many RPG games over the last 20 years or so (yes I know... dating myself :)) I have to admit this game threw me a little askew at first. Very little concentration on traditional magic in a fantasy game.. hmm... A bit odd there... but then I remember stories like George R.R. Martin and some of the later works by Raymond Feist and I remember the most intriguing parts of any Having played many RPG games over the last 20 years or so (yes I know... dating myself :)) I have to admit this game threw me a little askew at first. Very little concentration on traditional magic in a fantasy game.. hmm... A bit odd there... but then I remember stories like George R.R. Martin and some of the later works by Raymond Feist and I remember the most intriguing parts of any story isn't the powerful magic, but all the plots and subplots.. the twists and turns behind every quest and subquest. Delving a bit deeper into the storyline I really had a difficult time remembering that I was playing a game and not witnessing a rich story unfold from a fictional text. The story is immense, the combat challenging, and the replayablility makes me wonder why more games can't be like this. Kudos go to the Bioware team that developed this game and Kudos to anyone who takes the time to pick up this fantastic game. I can't wait to see all the additional content that will be developed for this game by the community.… Expand
  26. anonymous
    Dec 3, 2009
    10
    best RPG i played in years, even better than never winter nights and Buldur's gate (both by Bioware).
  27. IsaacK.
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing. I don't even care for the style of combat, but not only did I enjoy it I loved it. It really is depressing that a game of this caliber is outdone by a weak game like Modern Warfare 2. Playing through this game felt like being in a more brutal LotR universe, and this is not a bad thing as you get that great epic feeling. My only issue with the game is This game is absolutely amazing. I don't even care for the style of combat, but not only did I enjoy it I loved it. It really is depressing that a game of this caliber is outdone by a weak game like Modern Warfare 2. Playing through this game felt like being in a more brutal LotR universe, and this is not a bad thing as you get that great epic feeling. My only issue with the game is the lack of items, and with the game running up to 60 hours the lack of items is very noticeable. This single hole will be filled quickly by user mods I imagine, so it doesn't effect my overall score much (I'd give this a 9.5 if I could).… Expand
  28. DanD
    Jan 13, 2010
    8
    I fully enjoyed the playthrough of this and felt more like I was taking part in a movie than playing a game. The cinematics were pretty amazing and the storylines were fun and entertaining. The skill trees for the different classes were where the game was weak. The Mage class certainly had a good number of choices to customise the style of mage you wanted, but the warrior and rogue were I fully enjoyed the playthrough of this and felt more like I was taking part in a movie than playing a game. The cinematics were pretty amazing and the storylines were fun and entertaining. The skill trees for the different classes were where the game was weak. The Mage class certainly had a good number of choices to customise the style of mage you wanted, but the warrior and rogue were very limited. I found that about half of my skillpoints were useless and wished there was something better I could have put the points into. The general skills were mostly useless and disappointing. Trapmaking takes too much effort and buying all of the recipes is too expensive, then collecting all of the ingredients... Poison is even worse because if you don't have poison skill you can't apply poison - ie: can't have 1 person in the group that makes the poison and hands it out. Even then, the poisons do so little damage and last such a short time that they aren't worth it. If I had to rate just the skills, I'd give a very low score, but the graphics and storyline were quite entertaining. Oh specialisations... Also half of them are useless, but I liked how once you unlock them, you can use them in new games without re-discovering them.… Expand
  29. GregC
    Nov 20, 2009
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins is simply the most outstanding RPG in a LONG while. The combat is great, the movement is great, the story is excellent, and the freedom you have in the game is AMAZING. You are the one to decide how the story goes. You'll be finding yourself playing the game more and more! There are barely to none downsides to it!
  30. BryanR.
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    I have found this game to be phenomenal on PC so far, it is easily the match of its predecessors, Baldur's Gate I and II as well as Neverwinter Nights I and II. It is everything a fan of single-player western RPGS could ever hope for. What it lacks in originality (and it does try to inject some here and there) it makes up for in quality and presentation. Definitely give this game your time.
  31. BobbyD
    Dec 2, 2009
    10
    This has to be the best single player RPG I have played since Final Fantasy 7. If you enjoy Bioware games, or played and liked "The Witcher" this is a must buy. It was challenging and had about 70 hours of gameplay first time through on Normal mode with over 75% of the optional quests completed. A must have for any RPG enthusiast. Very nice to have a traditional and original RPG with This has to be the best single player RPG I have played since Final Fantasy 7. If you enjoy Bioware games, or played and liked "The Witcher" this is a must buy. It was challenging and had about 70 hours of gameplay first time through on Normal mode with over 75% of the optional quests completed. A must have for any RPG enthusiast. Very nice to have a traditional and original RPG with depth and so epic to boot.… Expand
  32. RodrigoQ
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    Though it feels like the gamecould have easily been MUCH better on the originality side, this is easily the best RPG I have played since BG2 and Planescape:Torment. Although not incredibly polished (yes I´m looking at you, armor-penetrating dwarf beard) I think thegraphics are sometimes just stunning, and beautiful. A truly immersive RPG experience!
  33. RM
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    I knew I would enjoy Dragon Age Origins, but after playing for about 40 hours, I realized that I wanted to marry this game and make sweet love to it by the campfire while my Mabari War Dog watches. It simply is the best CRPG I've played since Baldur's Gate 2, and in some ways, is even better. The story is engrossing, the characters are wonderful and well fleshed out, and the I knew I would enjoy Dragon Age Origins, but after playing for about 40 hours, I realized that I wanted to marry this game and make sweet love to it by the campfire while my Mabari War Dog watches. It simply is the best CRPG I've played since Baldur's Gate 2, and in some ways, is even better. The story is engrossing, the characters are wonderful and well fleshed out, and the gameplay is challenging and fun. It's been a long time since I've played a game that felt so rewarding and made me jump on for "just a few minutes" before work, or made me skip going out on a Friday night so I could keep playing. Yes, there are slight glitches, and I'm not crazy about the inventory system or the lack or a permanent inventory container, but my overall score is much closer to 10 than 9. Replayability is also not an issue, I can't wait to make my next character and see how different things can be with them.… Expand
  34. PeterC
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    I am a old school rpg fan. Games like Baldur's Gate 2 (BG2) and Planescape: Torment still sit proudly on my desk waiting to be loaded and played. Sure, other good rpg came and went, like Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion or Mass Effect, but for a rpg junkie like me, nothing really took the edge off till Dragon Age: Origins came along. Initially, I was not overly impressed. Starting as a I am a old school rpg fan. Games like Baldur's Gate 2 (BG2) and Planescape: Torment still sit proudly on my desk waiting to be loaded and played. Sure, other good rpg came and went, like Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion or Mass Effect, but for a rpg junkie like me, nothing really took the edge off till Dragon Age: Origins came along. Initially, I was not overly impressed. Starting as a mage, I felt that the origin introduction could be more fleshed out. The game seems to be rushing to chase me out of the tower. Some conversation tree options do not really make sense and there was an elven mage in the corner who appears to be seated on thin air. Nevertheless I persevered, and by the time I was 10 hours into the game, I was hooked. Combat is challenging, in hard mode, I found myself loading the same battles again and again trying different tactics, trying to prevent my characters from dying. The new combat tactics menu required some time getting used to and a little programming knowledge to master. However, once set up properly, fights will become much easier. Naturally, there are minor flaws that marr the game - the hands are too big, fingers appear as if there was an extra joint; there are no bowstrings on bows - but all in all, I found myself being slowoly absorbed into this rich new gameworld of Thedas through a magical osmosis.… Expand
  35. Jargo
    Jan 6, 2010
    10
    Hands down the best game I've played in a good deal of years. The writing is great and the voice talent that went with the writing is not only appropriate but well picked. It challenges the player's intellect and beliefs in a way similar to how Mask of the Betrayer did. It really makes you think about what you're doing if you take the game seriously and read the text. Hands down the best game I've played in a good deal of years. The writing is great and the voice talent that went with the writing is not only appropriate but well picked. It challenges the player's intellect and beliefs in a way similar to how Mask of the Betrayer did. It really makes you think about what you're doing if you take the game seriously and read the text. It's one of those games that when you're done you are sad it is over because you feel attached to the world and feel you could do so much more for the world in that setting.… Expand
  36. CanonY
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    I've played games most of my life, and of all genres I'm a big fan of role playing games. I remember the joy of playing final fantasy 5 for the first time. This is the pinnacle of all RPGs - a lot of work has gone into the game, and the depth shows. Dialogue appears to be endless. Literally, you could spend all day listening to the rumours in the tavern. It's much like I've played games most of my life, and of all genres I'm a big fan of role playing games. I remember the joy of playing final fantasy 5 for the first time. This is the pinnacle of all RPGs - a lot of work has gone into the game, and the depth shows. Dialogue appears to be endless. Literally, you could spend all day listening to the rumours in the tavern. It's much like reading a novel, but more involving. The action is fast and bloody. You learn to care about the characters in your party and each has their own past and personalities. I feel privileged having played such a game, it brings a big smile to my face. If you're more into button bashing or have a short attention span, then this game may not be for you but for everyone else - this is about as good as it gets. A classic in every respect.… Expand
  37. Craden
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    This may be the best game I have ever played. At first, the controls were frustrating. I'm not used to a click to move set up. But since I've grown accustomed to that, I've found very little wrong with this game. If there is a defining characteristic of this game, it is depth. The characters have depth, the combat system has depth and the world at large has depth. The fact This may be the best game I have ever played. At first, the controls were frustrating. I'm not used to a click to move set up. But since I've grown accustomed to that, I've found very little wrong with this game. If there is a defining characteristic of this game, it is depth. The characters have depth, the combat system has depth and the world at large has depth. The fact that there is always something going on between the characters, be it banter or a more expanded dialogue, really brings this game to life. Some game worlds (Oblivion) feel lonely, like the world is scarcely populated and only by cutouts but in place to further your goals, this game is not one of them. The characters seem to have opinions and motivations independent of the player. It is true that the game incorporates a number of cliches and that the game world isn't exactly original. It is also true that the romantic interaction is a bit juvenile. But the first of these criticisms is true in general for video games. Nearly all game settings are genre based and generic to some degree (with certain exception). And as far as I'm aware, there have been few, 0 in fact, game plots that are of Pulitzer caliber. And more generally, all video games suffer from a juvenile male disposition. These things noted, this game takes small steps forward toward making video games a narrative art rather than simply a form of entertainment. This game is very much like what Borges described in his short story "The Garden of Forking Paths." It is a small glimpse at the future of interactive narrative. And for all it's flaws, it is the forebearer of the types of games that will gain video games respect in an artistic community and this, in itself, is no small accomplishment.… Expand
  38. SamP
    Dec 3, 2009
    10
    This is quite possibly the best game ever made. Disregard any review that says it is a bad game. In fact, disregard most reviews that describe any faults in the game. If any review says anything less than that Dragon Age is the best RPG ever, then they are wrong.
  39. livviem
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    Absolutely the pinnacle of everything Bioware's ever done. Without a doubt the best western RPG I've ever played and I loved that you finally get a proper ending for all your companions as well. Thank you Bioware, for never forgetting about the girl gamers and the romance storylines, they never fail to amaze me and you're really getting so close to perfect on that score. Absolutely the pinnacle of everything Bioware's ever done. Without a doubt the best western RPG I've ever played and I loved that you finally get a proper ending for all your companions as well. Thank you Bioware, for never forgetting about the girl gamers and the romance storylines, they never fail to amaze me and you're really getting so close to perfect on that score. Starting on my next playthrough right...now!… Expand
  40. Togan77
    Aug 16, 2014
    10
    A classic that is still the benchmark today for true RPG. Everything comes together in such magical ways that words cannot describe. It is an enchanting,enthralling,epic adventure that you'll never forget.

    Graphics=9
    Music=10
    Gameplay=9
    Story=10
  41. KennyO
    Dec 8, 2009
    9
    I just finished my first time through on a PC version of the game playing it on the hard difficulty - it took a little over 100 hours. [I'm going to guess that it's unplayable on XBOX (as was Oblivion) - but that's the platform and not the game's fault.] The relationship dynamics and choosing story line is engaging. This is easily the best video game I've ever I just finished my first time through on a PC version of the game playing it on the hard difficulty - it took a little over 100 hours. [I'm going to guess that it's unplayable on XBOX (as was Oblivion) - but that's the platform and not the game's fault.] The relationship dynamics and choosing story line is engaging. This is easily the best video game I've ever played, regardless of genre, because the storyline requires thinking in terms of relationships, past conversations, and future outcomes. Hard difficulty means having to pause during battle often to micromanage, unless you find some good tactics and have programmed the individual character tactics effectively. Early in the game the incessant conversations can be tedious, and late in the game the incessant battles become a little tedious too - but overall this is a stunning and beautiful experience.… Expand
  42. RyanB
    Jan 11, 2010
    10
    Dragon Age Origins is one of those kinds of games that when you look at it, you go "Oh hey, Bioware makes great RPGs". But DAO surpasses the expectations that many gamers have, with its gritty realism in difficult sequences, it's lack of moral compass, amazingly well thought out combat system, and its superb RPG elements. It leaves near nothing to be desired, and Bioware is Dragon Age Origins is one of those kinds of games that when you look at it, you go "Oh hey, Bioware makes great RPGs". But DAO surpasses the expectations that many gamers have, with its gritty realism in difficult sequences, it's lack of moral compass, amazingly well thought out combat system, and its superb RPG elements. It leaves near nothing to be desired, and Bioware is determined to make it even more of a hit with the new expansion pack on its way later this year. The almost constant flow of addons produced by Bioware is also a big plus for many of us gamers, as well as the many player-made mods. Overall, it is an amazing game, and will be the epitome of RPGs for years to come...unless Bioware releases something better :P… Expand
  43. IvanG
    Jan 14, 2010
    10
    This is one of the BEST RPGs out there. And i need to say again that this is not a game like fallout, world of warcraft that you rush in and kill all NPC's in a room, this is a TACTICAL game you need to use tactics to survive. The best feature is to pause the game and plan the tactics of every character. A MUST HAVE
  44. CaseyD.
    Jan 29, 2010
    9
    It took some time to start enjoying this game. Once I got the hang of it, I couldn't stop playing it. The story is solid, the graphics are great, and best of all I feel like I got my money's worth. Good job BioWare. Looking forward to the expansions!
  45. PaulS.
    Feb 6, 2010
    10
    An incredible game. The combat is perfectly balanced and requires tactical thinking, and the multitude of skills you can choose for your characters combined with the easy swap-out of party members creates a huge variety of options in how you approach each battle. The plot, writing of the characters, voice acting, and presentation are among the best of any game I've ever played - only An incredible game. The combat is perfectly balanced and requires tactical thinking, and the multitude of skills you can choose for your characters combined with the easy swap-out of party members creates a huge variety of options in how you approach each battle. The plot, writing of the characters, voice acting, and presentation are among the best of any game I've ever played - only other Bioware games are in the same league. Best of all, unlike many role-playing games, in this game you actually play a role - your choices have a believable impact on every encounter, and though you aren't free to enter every house or visit every hilltop, you ARE free to play exactly the kind of character you would want to be. It's a thought-provoking and memorable artistic experience, as well as a polished and challenging tactical game. Top-notch.… Expand
  46. SquareBear
    Nov 5, 2009
    9
    Dragon Age Origins is 80% Baldur's Gate, 10% World of Warcraft and 10% Neverwinter Nights. Yes Baldur's Gate II fanatics, rejoice. You have waited 10 years... suffered through endless pathetic dark alliance clones, shed tears over the blandness of NWN, and endured the countless mockery of the console crowd as you continued to replay your dusty copies of BG2 like some old timer Dragon Age Origins is 80% Baldur's Gate, 10% World of Warcraft and 10% Neverwinter Nights. Yes Baldur's Gate II fanatics, rejoice. You have waited 10 years... suffered through endless pathetic dark alliance clones, shed tears over the blandness of NWN, and endured the countless mockery of the console crowd as you continued to replay your dusty copies of BG2 like some old timer in front of a drugstore with nothing better to do than talk about the good ol' days. Well now the good ol' days are back. Dragon Age Origins is the real deal. It has a very worthy and thoughtful story, non-linear progression, sidequests, dialogue, character interaction, challenging tactical battles and all the other features that will make you rejoice at the return of the classic Pc Rpg. First off the graphics are amazing. Beautiful even. Its very obvious that the game was designed to bring the vivid backgrounds of BG2 to life on the screen in 3d. You will see for yourself when you get into the game how each screen looks as if it could become a still portrait and have little avatars plod along it. Character animation and combat animation are also superb. The character closeups even your detailed main character, whom you can fine tune nearly every feature of, is shown live in the cutscenes which appear to be movie quality. The combat animations are also forceful and realistic. Fireballs especially, as they explode into jets of rolling flame and blast their targeted pack down and outward from the point of impact. The combat system revolves around abilities and talent trees in a way that you can compare closely to World of Warcraft. Each character class has several mini talent trees to choose from depending on how you wish to play and specialize. For instance, warriors can choose 2 handers, dual wielding or sword and shield and their talents will all enhance that style of play. And there really are a lot of talents available for each of the classes. The story is probably the game's strongest element. It's grizzly and entrancing, truly living up to its title as a "Dark Fantasy Epic". Bioware has created a world of their own and fleshed it out with countless details and history. You also have many moral directions to take the story to, and the gameplay progression branches off from its linear path to half a dozen different ones right after the first chapter. There are also 6 different ways to start the game and you will be assigned a background story depending on which class and race you choose. This background will stay with you throughout the game and has an impact on many of your interactions. As far as the characters go, I'm very happy to say that they are up to the standard that you would expect from a spiritual sequel to BG2. All are well written, well acted and have frequent interjections, outbursts, arguments and discussions that really immerse you in the game. You can converse with any of them at any given time to pry stories from them or learn special skills. Characters can be given gifts that suit their personalities and will gain bonuses when their approval rating of you increases. There's even a bit of romance possible and a female bard that's a dead ringer for Imoen (Knock yourselves out fellas). My only complaints about the game come from an obsessive fanaticism for the ancient (10 year old) Baldur's Gate 2. And they are as follows... I don't like that you cannot zoom the camera out far enough to see the battlefield as it is somewhat leashed to your character. The top down tactical view seems to be the 7th deadly sin in the console world, but I'm pretty sure it can be implemented completely for us old fashioned PC users who miss their classic gaming. The second thing is the 4 character limitation to your active party. I'm sure there was some technical or balance reason for this, but again, we infinity gamers liked our 6 character parties and really hoped to not have any kind of silly limitation. The good news is that your characters that you "Collect" always remain in your party, just not in your active party. When you are in camp you get to interact with them all at once. And unless your in a dungeon you can swap between them in what is pretty much the character select screen from Diablo 2. An ironic testament to the blatant copycatting between Blizzard and Bioware in the olden days. (Maybe this is a signal to blizzard that their old nemesis is back). The last thing that I don't especially approve of is the instant healing between battles and automatic revivals after battle. This is somewhat of a realism killer and removes the need to have a cleric around. But the game does such a good job of making the actual battles challenging enough to where you will definitely want a healer. It also penalizes you for dying by giving you stacks of injuries that lower stats and cannot be cured too easily. Overall, if your a fan of the old Infinity Engine Rpg's your going to love this, plain and simple. It blends the very best of the old and the new in a way that should make all but the most brain dead of console cretin cutscene skippers or the most fanatical infinity engine junkies happy. Now someone needs to put Minsc in there pronto.… Expand
  47. HenkR
    Jan 7, 2010
    10
    This game has urged me to make my first post on this website. The reason behind this: I had to up the number on this game! This game is the first game in about 10 years that finally gave me the same feeling as the Baldur's Gate series of Planescape Torment gave me: of sheer and utter pleasure. Now i admit to the fact that this game is in fact not for everybody. Moreover, it's This game has urged me to make my first post on this website. The reason behind this: I had to up the number on this game! This game is the first game in about 10 years that finally gave me the same feeling as the Baldur's Gate series of Planescape Torment gave me: of sheer and utter pleasure. Now i admit to the fact that this game is in fact not for everybody. Moreover, it's very likely that most of u won't even like this game. I mean, read the ra(n)tings of some people below me. The reason for this is that Dragon Age was defeloped as a (semi) hardcore squad-based rpg that closely resembles D&D. The fact that the game is rather hardcore shows in the way u have to use a variety of tactics, pause a lot, personally command your companions and actually think about the actions u make in this world. U can't expect to stomp through this game, u have to take your time, let it grow and make sure u spend a shitload of time tinkering your squad and gear (especially on higher difficulties) Because seriously: the AI ain't bad, you're just supposed to do it yourself. Just pause, reposition your squad, pick the abilities they need to use and just do it yourself. This is no diablo, this is baldur's gate revisited! The game doesn't do shit if you don't do it yourself and some people (like me) love the fact that you are truly in controll. Heck, it's either command or die and i love it.… Expand
  48. OliverS
    Jan 7, 2010
    10
    This is a positively engaging, beautiful and epic game. While unashamedly retro, you can make it as deep as you want. If you want to pause between every fight and manage your team's AI, you can. But if you want the computer to deal with AI and play in real-time, you can also do that. But the real shine in this game is from the dialogue, depth, amount of choices and just purely how This is a positively engaging, beautiful and epic game. While unashamedly retro, you can make it as deep as you want. If you want to pause between every fight and manage your team's AI, you can. But if you want the computer to deal with AI and play in real-time, you can also do that. But the real shine in this game is from the dialogue, depth, amount of choices and just purely how engaging it is. If you want to play a game purely for fun, maybe not so much for you. But this is like reading a fully interactive novel where you can explore every facet in any amount of detail. I realise many find this boring simply because story and dialogue are not so important to them. But that is really where this shines :D.… Expand
  49. MichaelJ
    Nov 6, 2009
    10
    To put it simply: Awesome game! Bioware really lived up to their reputation as one of the best RPG developers on the PC and DAO surpasses classic RPG´s like "Baldurs Gate" and Neverwinter nights" in my humble opinion. I gave it a 10 because i couldnt give it 9.7, the reason for that is that it still has some very minor flaws, but those are not gamebreaking flaws but simply a matter To put it simply: Awesome game! Bioware really lived up to their reputation as one of the best RPG developers on the PC and DAO surpasses classic RPG´s like "Baldurs Gate" and Neverwinter nights" in my humble opinion. I gave it a 10 because i couldnt give it 9.7, the reason for that is that it still has some very minor flaws, but those are not gamebreaking flaws but simply a matter of my personal opinion that some things could have been done better, for example i feel like the areas are too small and its not possible to go exploring like in NWN. But this is on of the only games i ever played so much without getting tired of the game, it is one of those games any RPG gamer just HAS to have in his or her collection.… Expand
  50. JimH
    Feb 14, 2010
    9
    I had been disappointed by the last couple rpg's put out by Bioware. Neverwinter Nights 1 was so bland, NWN2 was a little better with the return of party based play. The combat in Mass Effect was so terrible I was disgusted I spent even 15 bucks on it. Dragon Age blows them out of the water. The combat is terrific and demands careful thinking and different tactics battle to battle. I had been disappointed by the last couple rpg's put out by Bioware. Neverwinter Nights 1 was so bland, NWN2 was a little better with the return of party based play. The combat in Mass Effect was so terrible I was disgusted I spent even 15 bucks on it. Dragon Age blows them out of the water. The combat is terrific and demands careful thinking and different tactics battle to battle. If you're hoping to control only your main character and let the AI handle the others ala kotor or nwn1 FORGET ABOUT IT! If you love the care needed in BG2 and managing every character carefully this is the game for you. I couldn't get enough of the constant challenge. Furthermore I was very impressed that every single piece of dialogue in the entire game is spoken and voice acted very well. Several NPC interactions had me laughing out loud. Yes, many of the conversations are long but you won't hear me complaining about more game. My only complaint is that the rogue class seemed useless, although that is only after my first play through. In fact I would never use them at all, instead using a mage, mage, tank, tank line up and ignoring locked chests. Overall, the quests were well varied, the plot was great, the combat was near perfect, the graphics were terrific and my expectations were exceeded. Bravo to Bioware for a return to form.… Expand
  51. CaptainChaos
    Jul 20, 2011
    10
    This is the ultimate D&D experience and successor to Baldurs Gate; the game IMHO is flawless. The element that impressed me the most is the LOVE and disproportionate time that went into the design of this game, which includes the artwork, conversations and choice trees along the plot. Even the monster battle tactics and animations were varied, rich and awesome.

    The designers did not    This is the ultimate D&D experience and successor to Baldurs Gate; the game IMHO is flawless. The element that impressed me the most is the LOVE and disproportionate time that went into the design of this game, which includes the artwork, conversations and choice trees along the plot. Even the monster battle tactics and animations were varied, rich and awesome.

    The designers did not simply place cookie cutter dungeon walls that all look the same here and there, or cheap out on voice acting. No, the did the exact opposite. Every room looks lovingly designed to be slightly different. In a warehouse? Each room, has a different seemingly real world appearance that is different from one another. Ditto with the Dwarven caverns, and human castles, etc. Each character has a distinct personality. Does the thief use a different sword animation when she backstabs? you bet! And it looks pointy and deadly! Does the golem rock the ground simply by walking alongside you? Yes, nice touch. When a spider overwhelms your character and feasts on your prone body does it look disgusting and horrifying. Yup. Characters have different conversations with each other depending on who is in your party AND what you have accomplished in the plot and your choices. Your choices have a real impact on your game. You can even KILL some of the people that would have joined your party otherwise. It is truly mind boggling how many different plot twists there are depending on your started with (hence the origins) and what you do, and how you choose to do it. And, I know many of you are not big fans of cinematic sequences here, but the acting is really good - one scene, in a human castle, potentially was brutally heart wrenching, depending on how you chose to solve the issue.

    Others here, no doubt covered the controls, the plot, etc. I liked it all, honestly, But the real point is that at a time when designers push products out the door that all look the same and bang for the buck, you KNOW they spent far far more time than they had to, to make a good game here.    … Expand
  52. thunderbug
    Dec 23, 2010
    10
    Firstly this is the best fantasy RPG ever released, it has its problems but none of them take away from its epicness.

    Gameplay The gameplay, which is instantly familiar to anyone who has played Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic which itself it another Bioware wonder, is based around a team of 4 controlled in a semi real time manner, meaning the game is based of a background clock    Firstly this is the best fantasy RPG ever released, it has its problems but none of them take away from its epicness.

    Gameplay
    The gameplay, which is instantly familiar to anyone who has played Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic which itself it another Bioware wonder, is based around a team of 4 controlled in a semi real time manner, meaning the game is based of a background clock which is sometimes refered to as ticks, so for instance your character may swing there weapon every 4 ticks. you choose one of 3 classes which each have the own starting story to expllain how they got the start of the game. the biggest complaint i have seen is that your ai partners are sometimes a bit slow, however there is a option to give them custom tactics and set parameters for activating moves, changing targets, when to use items etc. Some people who clearly missed the point say that bioware just couldnt be bothered to script the ai itself, where as i say that they have given the ai the ability to the basics of there build such as a healer healing but they have also constructed a command input system that will allow you to set up a custom team just as you like. if u cant be bothered with this ai is perfectly capable. The gameplay is smooth and easy to maintain control of with a zoom feature from over the shoulder to a battlefield view, which is this kind of game is possible the most useful feature ever i cannot praise the zoom featue enough. But should the combat get out of hand u can just hit space and pause the game give your team the commands to help tip the balance and then unpause as you watch your actions lead your team to victory ( lol i sound like a roman general/nerd). When your not fighting you will be talking to NPC's or exploring, your repsonce is not spoken instead you select it from a list of responses, but all major and some non major characters have full diologue in other words the only things you have to read are a few lines at most. The characters are voiced beautifully and the actors give some amazing performances worthy of any voice over movie. Should be the reading type then you can hunt for entries to the codex which is basically a history of dragon age book, and will tell u all about the extensive backstory and lore of the game.

    Graphics Well what can i say but WOW, i have a high end gaming machine hooked up to a 32 inch Hd-TV and the game looks absolutly amazing, to anyone with a good pc ignore the console versions of this game its much better on with added depth from the modding community but more on that later. The characters both major and non major look stunning., with great facial animations and movement. In combat all enemies look stunning and without spoiling anything some of the early cinematics are just jaw droppingly good. The animations in general are top notch with anything from swing a sword to waving goodbuy looking awesom. My personal faveorite part though are called death animations and these are basically random when fighting most enemies with a few exeptions and your character will kill the target in some sort of cool way, especially on the bigger monsters/creatures you fight they are a joy to watch. Linear Vs non linear This game is not fully open ended, such as fallout 3 or the eldar scrolls oblivion, but i have never had a problem with scripted games. This game gives the impression of a go any where do anything which is my opinion is harder to do than a big game world full of trees. All it means is that the bits that you see are beautiful to behold the dwarven cities being right up my street. At the game time though the game is no so linear as to force a player down a path and there are many to choose from esepcially when choosing to help/kill weather to be good/evil etc.

    The modding community
    2 words "amazingly epic", so many well done mods out and a great community to ask for help should you need it. The modders on sites like dragon age nexus are masters of the craft and should be hired this second by a company such as bioware. Bioware themselves are pretty clever giving an easy way to install/remove mods from your game. Conclusion
    Going into this game i was not sure as i am not the biggest fan or these kinds of combat systems but i have eaten my words with my foot in my mouth, it blew me away. Not once during this game have i ever felt stressed. I have enjoyed every minuite of playing this game, and being a game with 50 hours+ in one play though and having completed the game around 9 times (yes im sad but it should tell u how good it is lol ), it is alot of time. I know i said at the start of this review there are bad points and well erm i suppose i should mention one, erm............ errrrrrrrr..................hmmmmm well i cant think of any :P oh yeah it consumed a lot of my time lol. i would have mentioned the story in detail but no enough words, so i will simply say that which ever way you take the story its epic.    … Expand
  53. oldthymegamer
    Jan 11, 2011
    10
    Absolutely the finest single-player RPG in the history of the genre from the groundbreaking combat to the intense and richly detailed storyline. Every instant of the game is skillfully voice acted by professional actors, with several characters voiced by major celebrities.Although the combatants in your party are already skillfully scripted with advanced AI, you can dip into their tacticsAbsolutely the finest single-player RPG in the history of the genre from the groundbreaking combat to the intense and richly detailed storyline. Every instant of the game is skillfully voice acted by professional actors, with several characters voiced by major celebrities.Although the combatants in your party are already skillfully scripted with advanced AI, you can dip into their tactics and lay out in very fine detail what you wish them do in a variety of situations, allowing you to fully customize their behavior. It was sleek, streamlined, good looking, hyper-detailed and a thoroughly enjoyable romp through over 100 hours of gameplay per playthrough. a big 10 from me.… Expand
  54. polluxcastor
    Mar 10, 2011
    9
    It's not Baldur's Gate, but it is a very good game. Although slightly long-winded in places (by which I don't mean 'long' but 'lacking in variety') the negatives are far outweighed by the positive. Highly recommended.
  55. steevm
    Mar 30, 2012
    10
    Easily the best RPG I've played for at least a decade, if not ever. It's like Baldur's Gate all over again without all the glaring deficiencies of the old D&D ruleset. Great story, great characters, good voice acting, and it's a party-based RPG! The biggest downside to the game is that it has to end at some point. Oh, and the AI is a bit daft if left to its own devices. If you're evenEasily the best RPG I've played for at least a decade, if not ever. It's like Baldur's Gate all over again without all the glaring deficiencies of the old D&D ruleset. Great story, great characters, good voice acting, and it's a party-based RPG! The biggest downside to the game is that it has to end at some point. Oh, and the AI is a bit daft if left to its own devices. If you're even mildly interested in the premise of the game, you really should play Dragon Age: Origins. I want more of the same please!… Expand
  56. Shechu
    Apr 2, 2012
    10
    One of the best games that I have played in all my live. It is one of the few ones that you will be able to remember some years later as one exclusive experience. Original, entertaining, long and the most important, exciting. Only a few games will leave you this way.
  57. JoshT
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    I've played Oblivion, both Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Fallout 3, Crysis, and many other games (as my basis of comparison). This Dragon Age Origins far exceeded my expectations of what i though the game would be like. All the crappy Youtube and internet videos i watched of the actual gameplay matched nothing towards how nice the graphics were in-game play. Of course, I've played Oblivion, both Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Fallout 3, Crysis, and many other games (as my basis of comparison). This Dragon Age Origins far exceeded my expectations of what i though the game would be like. All the crappy Youtube and internet videos i watched of the actual gameplay matched nothing towards how nice the graphics were in-game play. Of course, we're not looking at Crysis type graphics (which i consider to be the best of any game i played in graphics quality) but i would say the graphics are right around Oblivion graphics quality. I heard that the console versions of the game got the brunt-end version of the game, but its awesome on PC. I love how the combat system is set up. You can pick a class that is suitable as a tank, dps, or healer(mages heal) and play the game since other party members can do the other roles that you don't have on your main character. What makes this game different than any other game that i have played is the seemingly flawless storytelling involved with the NPC characters you interact with. The characters make eye contact, fold their arms, look angry, happy, or sad very realistically when you talk to them. I've played perhaps 20 hours into the game and am hooked for going on for a lot more. This is the most unique game that i have gotten in a while for sure.… Expand
  58. EdwardC
    Dec 13, 2009
    10
    I am 50 years old and have been playing PC or video games since the release of pong in the 1970's. I have played all kinds of Genre
  59. HowardJ
    Dec 27, 2009
    10
    The Best Bioware game produced to date. A deep storyline and interesting environments combine to create the best RPG in a long time. Good to see that game developers are willing to put this much effort into game which is not intended to leech money off its players every month (MMOs).
  60. JonasH
    Dec 27, 2009
    10
    This game made me believe in Role-Playing Games again.
  61. biggie321hp
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dragon Age: Origin thrusts you into a brand new fantasy world, on that borrows from some of the greatest series the fantasy genre has to offer, and blends them into a perfect game. You are a Grey Warden, warriors from all corners of the world, from all races, and all talents, to fight the blight, where thousands of Darkspawn and other horrid monsters serve the Archdemon, and the only ones that can kill an Archdemon; are the Grey Wardens.

    Incredible characters and story, make this game personal. All the characters are well thought out, and unique, and all have special abilities. The story is engrossing, and you choose from one of six origin stories: Human Noble, Circle Mage, Dwarven noble, Dwarven commoner, City Elf, and Dalish Elf. All origin stories are different, and effect the way characters treat you.

    Gameplay, is for the most part, great. You can choose to be a Warrior, Rogue, or Mage, and all are very different and fun to play.

    The graphics, aren't very good. There are mods that make it look better, and it looks fine without mods, but it's not Battlefield 3.

    Overall, the story, characters, gameplay, and world make this game a must have. And through multiple playthroughs, the mainquest, sidequests, and deeds, you will spend hundreds of hours on this game.    … Expand
  62. andraip
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    Awesome game is awesome, the combat was a bit slow and your characterr beeing mute is a bit awkward from time to time, but the story and companions is well written.
  63. Bossk-Office
    Mar 28, 2012
    10
    A perfect ten for me -- Dragon Age: Origins is probably the best game I have ever played, at least since the 1980s; at least as good as Neverwinter Nights if not even better. I don't know a way to put it other than an enormous RPGasm of truly epic proportions that virtually never ends: when you feel you must be reaching the end of the humongous game, you're not even a third into it.

    There    A perfect ten for me -- Dragon Age: Origins is probably the best game I have ever played, at least since the 1980s; at least as good as Neverwinter Nights if not even better. I don't know a way to put it other than an enormous RPGasm of truly epic proportions that virtually never ends: when you feel you must be reaching the end of the humongous game, you're not even a third into it.

    There is all the flexibility you expect from an RPG and replay value that is simply ridiculous: you can play the game several times and get truly different stories. The bang for the buck you get from Dragon Age: Origins is simply unheard of in an RPG. By the standards of contemporary games, the graphics are far from impressive. The game is so good it doesn't matter.    … Expand
  64. Legionator
    Apr 2, 2012
    10
    The last RPG made by Bioware. This game truly worth for "Baldur's Gate's spiritual successor" title. It is hard to understand how Bioware could make a disaster like Dragon Age 2 after this piece of art. Dragon Age: Origins addresses both RPG veterans and newbies. I strongly recommend this game to all gamers.
  65. Antart
    Nov 19, 2014
    10
    This game is probably the last of the Bioware’s RPG legacy slowly corrode by Mass Effect saga and finally lost in Dragon Age 2, I hope Inquisition would return to that legacy but meanwhile Origins is the last "Canon-RPG". Unlike ARPGs as The Witcher, Skyrim, Divinity II and above (great games but in other category), in Origins you use your stats to fight, not your ability withThis game is probably the last of the Bioware’s RPG legacy slowly corrode by Mass Effect saga and finally lost in Dragon Age 2, I hope Inquisition would return to that legacy but meanwhile Origins is the last "Canon-RPG". Unlike ARPGs as The Witcher, Skyrim, Divinity II and above (great games but in other category), in Origins you use your stats to fight, not your ability with keyboard/mouse, you can like or hate this, but is only the system, and Origins is the best in this system. So, we already have dozens of good ARPGs to play, Origins is the last of its kind.… Expand
  66. Ghost_Scope
    Jul 22, 2012
    10
    Best thing about Dragon Age is the Neverwinter/Baldurs feel and gameplay but with its own unique style. Love the story and the characters i agree with some of the other users that their criticsims are off target!!! Would recommend and is among my top 10
  67. Juicymarmalade
    Aug 22, 2012
    10
    Quite simply one of my favourite games of all time. The characters are memorable, the combat is challenging and reminiscent of Baldur's Gate and the game is very lengthy and full of content, especially if you got the Ultimate Edition like I did that has all the DLC and the expansion pack. The graphics are a little muddy looking but it gave the game a darker tone which is desperately neededQuite simply one of my favourite games of all time. The characters are memorable, the combat is challenging and reminiscent of Baldur's Gate and the game is very lengthy and full of content, especially if you got the Ultimate Edition like I did that has all the DLC and the expansion pack. The graphics are a little muddy looking but it gave the game a darker tone which is desperately needed in the fantasy game genre *coughcoughFinalFantasycough*. The story can be a little generic with the whole save the world thing but it has many multiple paths and choices to be made. Speaking of choices, the game has TONS of them, even more than Mass Effect I dare say. Your main character not being voiced also allows for role playing. Overall, amazing game and the best Western RPG I've ever played.… Expand
  68. Socratease
    Jan 31, 2013
    10
    The last dying gasp of the bioware that made KOTOR and Baldurs Gate. Dragon age: origins is the perhaps the best RPG of the decade (and this coming from a mass effect 1 fan). This game once again proves that next to story quality: graphics mean nothing. And damn the story delivers! I haven`t seen writing this superb since KOTORs 1 and 2.

    Here`s my recomendation: If you like story    The last dying gasp of the bioware that made KOTOR and Baldurs Gate. Dragon age: origins is the perhaps the best RPG of the decade (and this coming from a mass effect 1 fan). This game once again proves that next to story quality: graphics mean nothing. And damn the story delivers! I haven`t seen writing this superb since KOTORs 1 and 2.

    Here`s my recomendation: If you like story oriented, well written RPGs that require a little of your patience: Dragon age origins is the game for you.    … Expand
  69. drakenseng
    Feb 24, 2013
    10
    A Masterpiece game, that is made by a great company in Bioware. Story is always interesting, allowing you to pick your own character race and each one has their own back story. Like playing as a Human Noble, City Elf, Circle Mage, etc. Gameplay is great, with great use of a tactical system and dialogue in-game provides great fun. Graphics are great, with blood and gore. Presentation isA Masterpiece game, that is made by a great company in Bioware. Story is always interesting, allowing you to pick your own character race and each one has their own back story. Like playing as a Human Noble, City Elf, Circle Mage, etc. Gameplay is great, with great use of a tactical system and dialogue in-game provides great fun. Graphics are great, with blood and gore. Presentation is like a story book style, and everything is easy to use. Sound in the game is great with amazing atmospheric music, and voice overs are well done. Although, it can be a bit on the low volume, so you might have to crank your volume up more than usual to hear. Also, some DLCs have come out for it to enhance the story even more. Overall, a masterpiece game. I don't remember another RPG like it, maybe except Neverwinter Nights 1.… Expand
  70. Jaz
    Feb 23, 2013
    10
    A great game. Very immersing story, believable world, interesting NPCs, fun and demanding combat. You could replay it with a new class (as i did) and still game was great. Highly recommended.
  71. GreenAvoro
    Apr 27, 2013
    10
    Wow, Just wow. This game is quite simply a masterpiece, and i made an account here just to praise it. The story is absolutely riveting. The characters are complex, deep and quite often you may even feel like you're talking to a real person. And for some reason the negative comments have lead me to believe that those people have never actually played the game.
    If you're a fan of RPG's then    Wow, Just wow. This game is quite simply a masterpiece, and i made an account here just to praise it. The story is absolutely riveting. The characters are complex, deep and quite often you may even feel like you're talking to a real person. And for some reason the negative comments have lead me to believe that those people have never actually played the game.
    If you're a fan of RPG's then i could not recommend this game enough!    … Expand
  72. Atomsk
    Apr 27, 2013
    10
    Definitely one of my all-time favourite games. It is worth playing for the story alone but the gameplay is flawless and the graphics are first rate. It's a game I've come back to several times over the last few years and I'll no doubt keep playing it for years to come, there's not many other games I can say that about.
  73. MouzoneDefense
    Aug 14, 2013
    10
    The problem with Dragon Age is that it ruins any future RPG experience. Once you finish it, every new RPG you play will be held up to DA:O in comparison and likely won't come close. This vast, immersive and fantastical world is full of everything you want from an RPG experience. One of the things I liked the most was the party-based combat system. You really have to think through eachThe problem with Dragon Age is that it ruins any future RPG experience. Once you finish it, every new RPG you play will be held up to DA:O in comparison and likely won't come close. This vast, immersive and fantastical world is full of everything you want from an RPG experience. One of the things I liked the most was the party-based combat system. You really have to think through each battle carefully and approach them tactically, not just picking your favourite weapon and hacking through as fast as you can. I really hope DA:Inquisition is similar in interface/style, because I'm worried I'll never get to play a game like this again.… Expand
  74. ErnieGMB
    Sep 24, 2013
    10
    There is no better RPG than this one. The graphics are superb and the dialogue is immensely entertaining. What I can't understand is how the creators of the game could have abandoned this tremendous game in favor of the direction they took with the sequel. The is a must-have game for this genre.
  75. DAOuser
    Sep 24, 2013
    10
    Sencillamente, sublime. Llevo jugándolo desde 2009 (y lo que me queda) y no me canso en absoluto. Totalmente recomendado para los amantes de los rpg's.
  76. xagon
    Oct 6, 2013
    10
    I'm a huge fan of games such as Baldur's Gate 2, Fallout 1+2, etc. I like RPGs with well-written characters, good story, and challenging, tactical combat. Dragon Age: Origins delivers on all these fronts and gave me one of the if not the greatest gaming experience I had in the last 10 years. No, it is not a perfect game and yes, there will be people who don't enjoy the combat, but if youI'm a huge fan of games such as Baldur's Gate 2, Fallout 1+2, etc. I like RPGs with well-written characters, good story, and challenging, tactical combat. Dragon Age: Origins delivers on all these fronts and gave me one of the if not the greatest gaming experience I had in the last 10 years. No, it is not a perfect game and yes, there will be people who don't enjoy the combat, but if you like challenging RPG combat and are not opposed to a mixture of turn based and real time, do yourself a favor and give this game a shot. In my humble opinion it is a game worthy of being considered one of the true all-time great RPGs. I played it on nightmare dificulty, and it's been a very long time since beating bosses was so satisfying. Add the great dialogue, awesome characters, detailed fantasy world with a lot of interesting and immersive lore, and you get a RPG masterpiece. A review like this is never fully objecitve, but for me as an RPG fan, it was an absolutely excellent game and I can't not give this one a 10 out of 10.… Expand
  77. gjmoss1
    Dec 14, 2013
    10
    This game is like the old school Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 games, nowadays games focus too much on graphics and not gameplay and atmosphere. This game is a welcome reminder of the great games of past and itself is truly a masterpiece if you like the old school D&D games. I only say one thing more about this game GREAT!
  78. tofa19933
    Mar 29, 2014
    10
    Truly masterpiece.Amazing game with epic storyline and great tactics system. Just simply love it.Finished this game 20 times including dlc. Great dialogs and great atmosphere. The feeling that you are transfered into this fantasy world and take the role of grey warden. Companiens are truly amazing with their own origin. You start from simple grey warden and in the end hailed as the hero.Truly masterpiece.Amazing game with epic storyline and great tactics system. Just simply love it.Finished this game 20 times including dlc. Great dialogs and great atmosphere. The feeling that you are transfered into this fantasy world and take the role of grey warden. Companiens are truly amazing with their own origin. You start from simple grey warden and in the end hailed as the hero. Rich choices in a dialog. Amazing abilities. And different endings and choices that will change the world. Even if dragon age 2 was not that good i cant wait for dragon age inquisition. This is gonna be Epic. I would give this game 10 out of 10. Sound music storyline tactics gameplay missions and all other aspects are truly amazing.One of the best games i have ever played… Expand
  79. JacobCleveland
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    One of the greatest RPG's I've ever played. I don't need to say much, and frankly I don't want to. The game is an experience you can either experience for yourself, or continue to play those crap franchise that just copy and paste every year.
  80. northernlad
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    fantastic game need i say more hundreds of hours of joyfantastic game need i say more hundreds of hours of joy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Expand
  81. whitepawn
    Jun 19, 2014
    10
    I've spoken with one of the bad reviewers of this game in an MMO I play. According to him, Skyrim is the definition of an RPG and this game doesn't qualify...too much story, talking, companion play, and lack of OP snipe instakill your enemies from afar. Anything less than those graphics or that level of openended play is just a disgrace. Quite frankly, I get bored with Skyrim afterI've spoken with one of the bad reviewers of this game in an MMO I play. According to him, Skyrim is the definition of an RPG and this game doesn't qualify...too much story, talking, companion play, and lack of OP snipe instakill your enemies from afar. Anything less than those graphics or that level of openended play is just a disgrace. Quite frankly, I get bored with Skyrim after about L40...too easy and too repetitive, and the story is kind of meh. I've yet to finish it. If you like a good story, lore, Bioware, and witty banter, then play this game.

    TACTICS REQUIRED. For anyone who has ever played an MMORPG and just /facepalmed in a raid because folks are asleep at the helm, you'll love the combat here. You can pause at your whim and tell everyone exactly what to do and when to do it. It's refreshing. Being Bioware with their Baldur/Neverwinter background, friendly fire is a thing. You can't just easy mode spam stack AoE on the party and steamroll. You can't fireball the entire group because you will blow up your companions too unless you put some planning into it. Boo hoo. I don't play on anything less than nightmare and it's good. Just difficult enough to keep it interesting...if you're not a steamroll fanatic.

    If you can only have fun in combat when you can faceroll through every fight, then you will hate this game.

    COMPANIONS: Great voice acting. The bickering. The camaraderie. The romance. This piece makes the game so much more enjoyable than something like Skyrim which is a kind of quiet and lonely place. Much thought went into the dialogue here, well beyond taking an arrow to the knee. Want new dialogue? Mix and match your party members. Each combination queues different dialogues. And no, they're not on repeat.

    THE LORE: I usually get bored here. I usually skip this part, spam through text and get to the fighting. DA did it right, built a world on some very simple ideas and went deep with those simple ideas. Mages and their power inspired an entire religion and legal system and not to their advantage which saturates the landscape of Thedas, as one example. Your companions reactions to one another add more nuance to the perceptions of this world.

    THE GRAPHICS: Yes, there's some clunkiness. If you've played NWN2 or any other Bioware game you'll recognize the circles around the feet of your companions and such. Combat is similar to these older games when it comes to stabbing something with a dagger. Spells...fast and easy. If story and game immersion > graphics for you, you just won't care. I still play Neverwinter Nights 1 on occasion, so, meh. The polish of this game isn't in the graphics, it's in the gameplay, story, and characters, which is as it should be. Quality over mere visual distraction.

    REPLAYABILITY: Yes. And then some.    … Expand
  82. nomoremicrochip
    Jul 12, 2014
    10
    My number one favorite game of all time! I am one who loves RPG fantasy games, and this one takes the cake for one of the best RPG games I've ever played. Sure, the plot isn't exactly something new, but somehow, all the elements of the game work together to make an epic, well-rounded game.
  83. Bluespell1
    Aug 16, 2014
    8
    One of the best games I ever played.T he game give you lots of choice. Some of the best voice acting i ever heard. The conversations between characters wile you go places is so much fun to listen too. So if your a medieval fan this game you will not want to miss. It has all the swords, mythical beasts, and armor you could want.
  84. MarcMrine
    Dec 5, 2014
    10
    I had to replay Origins after the disappointment of Dragon Age 2, now I'm returning again after the disappointment of Inquisition... This was the last Bioware's child after being acquired by EA a 100% Bioware's RPG in the natural evolution from Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

    By playing this game you feel the same deep RPG immersion when everything is in its placed and you are    I had to replay Origins after the disappointment of Dragon Age 2, now I'm returning again after the disappointment of Inquisition... This was the last Bioware's child after being acquired by EA a 100% Bioware's RPG in the natural evolution from Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

    By playing this game you feel the same deep RPG immersion when everything is in its placed and you are guided through a deep fantasy world, you get immersed in the story since the character creation, all dialogues makes you feel in an epic adventure and the gameplay is the same as Baldur's Gate but modernized with the isometric camera with an optional close point of view (unlike DA2 and Inquisition in which the isometric is an uncomfortable optional...).

    The toolset is also in line with previous Neverwinter Nights tradition and it incredibly expanded this jewel of game (another feature lost by its successors). I've lost all hope in Bioware, they are in the ARPG way (which is not bad if is part of their soul like Bethesda's sagas, but coming from deep RPGs makers is a tragedy), now we have real RPGs like Divinity Original Sin or Torment: Tides of Numenera, and this last jewel of the original Bioware's soul to replay and mod time to time.    … Expand
  85. alanmacd
    Nov 18, 2014
    10
    Masterful. Epic in scope. Wonderful, wonderful characters. This is the RPG I was dreaming about. I did three complete play-throughs with different characters before I was satisfied and had a goofy grin on my face each time!
  86. Zarzunabas
    Nov 23, 2014
    10
    This is my personal opinion, so you should be aware, that your view of the game could differ.

    + Best story i have ever seen. + Good Character Development. + Immersion. + Tactical Combat. + Good Voice Acting. + High Replayability. + Unique Origins. +/- The Graphics arent the best. (But i dont really care about graphic) +/- AI is a bit..... well lets call it strange, but it    This is my personal opinion, so you should be aware, that your view of the game could differ.

    + Best story i have ever seen.
    + Good Character Development.
    + Immersion.
    + Tactical Combat.
    + Good Voice Acting.
    + High Replayability.
    + Unique Origins.

    +/- The Graphics arent the best. (But i dont really care about graphic)
    +/- AI is a bit..... well lets call it strange, but it doesn`t make the game unplayable.
    +/- Some parts of the story are a bit cliche.

    - Combat is difficult to master (in the beginning.)
    - Your Char is a staring mute.... kinda scary.....    … Expand
  87. dowddash
    Nov 25, 2014
    10
    With Dragon Age 2 being so horrendous, and Dragon Age Inquisition a dumbed down console piece of garbage I decided to come back to my favorite game ever back before EA ruined it.

    I signed up just to give Origins a 10/10 and Inquisition a 0/10.
  88. Athansor
    Nov 30, 2014
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins is exactly what I want from an RPG, or for that matter, any video game. It is constantly engaging. I never felt for a minute like there wasn't something to do. The crisis was just critical enough that I always felt like it needed to be attended to, but it wasn't so critical that doing a sidequest felt like a bad decision. The sidequests, always had at least a smallDragon Age: Origins is exactly what I want from an RPG, or for that matter, any video game. It is constantly engaging. I never felt for a minute like there wasn't something to do. The crisis was just critical enough that I always felt like it needed to be attended to, but it wasn't so critical that doing a sidequest felt like a bad decision. The sidequests, always had at least a small amount of their own story. I might be helping a mother missing her child, I might be saving the sacred animals of a tribe, or I might be helping the sheriff stop crime in the capital. Even if the execution of the quest was typical, the effort was there to make it seem like part of a real world. And that's what I want from a video game, a cohesive place that feels real. Asking me to kill 10 boars when the boars respawn infinitely feels stupid and breaks me out of a game. This game never feels that way. Once you kill enemies, they're dead. Characters have real wants and needs, and if you satisfy them, they'll be greatful, if you don't, they'll be mad. If I could ever play another game with this breadth and depth again I'd be happy, but I don't see it coming.… Expand
  89. Darkly_Tranquil
    Mar 15, 2015
    10
    In my 30 years of gaming, Dragon Age Origins is my favourite game of all time. No other game has pulled me in and immersed me in the way this game did. With a brilliantly crafted game world, a cast of fascinating and likeable characters, multiple intersecting storylines, and well designed tactical party based combat Origins hits all the gameplay marks. If the game can be said to have anyIn my 30 years of gaming, Dragon Age Origins is my favourite game of all time. No other game has pulled me in and immersed me in the way this game did. With a brilliantly crafted game world, a cast of fascinating and likeable characters, multiple intersecting storylines, and well designed tactical party based combat Origins hits all the gameplay marks. If the game can be said to have any weakness, its that its graphics and animations are not particularly impressive, but they never detract from the enjoyment of the story and the characters.

    I've completed it 17 times and I expect that I will play it a few more, I can't say much more to recommend it than that.    … Expand
  90. JamesG.
    Feb 1, 2010
    10
    This game is amazing! i think it should be said that it matters if one has played this masterpiece on a console or pc. i've tried both the ps3 and the 360 versions. the ps3 framerate was horrid. the 360 textures were non existant so the emersion factor important to rpgs fell short. and in both console versions the combat felt awkward if not slightly impaired be lack of options. i This game is amazing! i think it should be said that it matters if one has played this masterpiece on a console or pc. i've tried both the ps3 and the 360 versions. the ps3 framerate was horrid. the 360 textures were non existant so the emersion factor important to rpgs fell short. and in both console versions the combat felt awkward if not slightly impaired be lack of options. i played for a while then grew bored and traded it at gamestop. then i got my computer. it feels like im playing a completely different game! Graphics: wonderful story: deep and engrossing and the combat !? WOW! deep strategic challenging but rewarding. pc owner, must buy! console gamer, rent it or wait for a price drop.… Expand
  91. AllenC.
    Dec 6, 2009
    10
    This is hands down the best RPG game of all time. I've played all the bioware games except for Mass Effect and Oblivion, and Morrowind and I have to say this one just stands like a god among the rest of the RPG's i've played. You go through and just don't want the game to end, This is the only game that has had me sitting in front of the computer playing for over 12 This is hands down the best RPG game of all time. I've played all the bioware games except for Mass Effect and Oblivion, and Morrowind and I have to say this one just stands like a god among the rest of the RPG's i've played. You go through and just don't want the game to end, This is the only game that has had me sitting in front of the computer playing for over 12 hours straight, once it grips you, it just doesn't let go.… Expand
  92. thekaas
    Apr 2, 2011
    10
    This is probably one of the best RPG's i've played. The Origins stories and multiple endings really add to the replayability, as if you don't get enough entertainment and playtime in one playthrough. The combat system is exciting, and i like the tactical element.
    Overall a fantastic game.
  93. LordKinoda
    Sep 21, 2010
    9
    Dragon Age is definitely one of the best games I've ever played. But I'm a huge fan of lore for a universe. As long as it has tons of great backstory, you'll have grabbed my attention right off the bat. The lore is amazing, as is the story. Sure it's kind of a "hero's journey" type of story, but that's not a bad thing. There are plenty of origin stories to partake in, each one lasting atDragon Age is definitely one of the best games I've ever played. But I'm a huge fan of lore for a universe. As long as it has tons of great backstory, you'll have grabbed my attention right off the bat. The lore is amazing, as is the story. Sure it's kind of a "hero's journey" type of story, but that's not a bad thing. There are plenty of origin stories to partake in, each one lasting at least a few hours. If you're not a fan of cut scenes, and dialog, and story, then this game is NOT for you. And by extension I'd say no RPG out there is, because they all have tons of dialog and character interaction. RPG's are more about story and the characters in them, than about combat mechanics. I love the characters in the game, they truly come alive with their voice actors. Morrigan (Claudia Black) in particular is the jewel of the bunch. The combat is sort of like the gambit system from FFXII. If you haven't played that game you won't know what I mean. You basically get lines of "tactics" for your characters to follow during combat. (E.G. 1.Cast this spell. 2. Perform this action 3. Target this specific enemy first.) This system makes it so you don't have to micromanage every single character during combat, which can be tedious IMO, although some do enjoy doing so. Is the system perfect ? No. But it CAN and will work if you give it a chance, on any difficulty. What some people don't realize is that you must change the tactics for certain battles, because they no longer apply to that specific challenge. You really only need to do some major tactics swapping for boss battles though. A good solid tactics base will work for almost all the regular enemy types. One also has to take into account that you must have a tank, healer, and damage dealers in the party. It's basically like an MMO. One character has to hold most of the damage, another heals everybody, and the rest dish out the punishment. There are plenty of combinations to choose, and no you are not limited to being the healer or the tank with the main character. The graphics are pretty good, but not cutting edge. They are certainly better than older games, but also not as good as others that came out around the same time. Hopefully this will be addressed in a big way for the sequel. My biggest gripe about the game is the silent main character. This part of the game is seriously old school, especially for BioWare who created the conversation system in Mass Effect years before this game even came out. It's great that they are switching this for the sequel, but that doesn't help the original. However, this could, and may still be fixed with the mods for the game. This aspect is easily the saving grace for the game, and what propels it above the console versions by miles. The modding community is certainly active, and the mods plentiful. Everyday new ones are created. They enhance the game in a multitude of ways. Visual effects, new armor and weapons, new characters, items, and even quests. They're not all top notch stuff, but there are more than enough that are. The official DLC is also great. It's nice to see that BioWare is finally sticking to it's guns in regards to DLC. They've released a good amount for this game, and most of it is awesome. A few of them aren't all that, but they're decent. Good thing is, you don't have to own them all in order for them to work. They're each separate on their own. So in closing, would I recommend this game ? Most definitely. If you're into story, character interaction, and tons of amazing lore you will love this game as much as I do. The combat mechanics are passable and can be plenty fun. But if you want an action centric, balls to the wall, in your face type of gameplay you are seriously mistaken on your choice of genres. RPG's are not for those types of players. Hope I wasn't too longwinded, and that this helps somebody else decide to pick up and enjoy this amazing game… Expand
  94. guipow
    Jan 2, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great and fabulous game! I have played it at least 3 times, doing all possible quests, always as a mage... i love being a mage. But now i'm playing as a human noble, and it is fantastic!!! i have all dls'c and awakaning has sucha nostalgic feeling, makes em get deeply evolved and missing the original game!!! i realy got evolved and touched by the game story and gameplay is marvelous!!! nice graphics... the only problem is that the main character should speak like in mass effect!! well, have fun, it's realy worth the try!!… Expand
  95. lagendofdoom
    Mar 16, 2012
    10
    Dragon Age Origins is the best Rpg game that i have ever played, and i have played many rpgs like : gothic,diablo,elder scrolls,dungeon siege,mass effect,fallout and many more, but none of them made me lose track of time or being so fascinated by the world which they delivered like Dragon Age Origins. This game is my most favorite game and i can't even explain of how amazing this game is.Dragon Age Origins is the best Rpg game that i have ever played, and i have played many rpgs like : gothic,diablo,elder scrolls,dungeon siege,mass effect,fallout and many more, but none of them made me lose track of time or being so fascinated by the world which they delivered like Dragon Age Origins. This game is my most favorite game and i can't even explain of how amazing this game is. The story is amazing one of the best which i experienced, the gameplay is very unique and i guess some will not like the gameplay but for me the gameplay was perfect, character are funny,amusing,interesting and very easy to like, the graphic for me is very beautiful and i didn't encounter any bugs or any kind of technical issue. All the rpg elements like customization,dialogue,exploration,side missions,items and inventory,skills,abilities,experience and levels all of that is executed perfectly. In the end the only thing i can say about Dragon Age Origins that this is the best game i have ever played in my life… Expand
  96. Noesis
    Jun 11, 2011
    10
    With Dragon Age Origins Bioware showed quite well that when it comes to telling a story and putting you at the head of it, their are still the best around. Someone could complain that the interface is not perfect, the graphics now always top level, the battles somewhat repetitive after a while. But in the end what makes the game great is that you have a run through a wonderful story whileWith Dragon Age Origins Bioware showed quite well that when it comes to telling a story and putting you at the head of it, their are still the best around. Someone could complain that the interface is not perfect, the graphics now always top level, the battles somewhat repetitive after a while. But in the end what makes the game great is that you have a run through a wonderful story while meeting truly memorable characters which will hold a place in your heart all along those from your favourite movies and books. And this is something which largely compensate for every minor flaw, making it rather irrelevant...… Expand
  97. tzedan
    Jun 20, 2011
    10
    Player through this game 6 times and found something new each time. Read both books, The Stolen Thrown and The Calling. Great story telling and attention to detail; truly epic.
  98. rhoenix84
    Dec 11, 2011
    9
    Played through to about three-quarters of the PC version of the game so far, so I would say I'm not being too quick to give my rating. Engaging storyline, fun mechanics, natural and well paced leveling up (unlike most leveling systems - makes you feel stronger but not overpowered, and fun even playing warriors, unlike traditional hack and slash, there are actually fun clickable abilitiesPlayed through to about three-quarters of the PC version of the game so far, so I would say I'm not being too quick to give my rating. Engaging storyline, fun mechanics, natural and well paced leveling up (unlike most leveling systems - makes you feel stronger but not overpowered, and fun even playing warriors, unlike traditional hack and slash, there are actually fun clickable abilities for them). Their stats system is quite enjoyable - there are no "wasted" stats - even Magic (something like intelligence in classical DnD) is specifically useful for a warrior. Be warned though, battles are challenging - in some cases, you'll need several reloads trying out different tactics or just hoping for the best (along the lines of: COME ON! DANG MAGE, JUST LET YOURSELF BE STUNNED ALREADY and don't unleash that damn lightning storm... ), especially if you refuse to lower the difficulty to easy mode (which I insisted on) (also please heed the advice by the game: don't always expect a full frontal assault of your party of four versus twenty enemies to work - please... you're powerful, but not godlike powerful...). You'll also need to master the pause button (IT"S NOT MEANT TO BE A REAL-TIME BATTLE SYSTEM), much like the Baldur's Gate series, which may be a bit confusing for some players, but once you get the hang of it, it is actually very enjoyable - e.g. it lets you tell the character to cast the high level blizzard storm, and you can watch the effects only when you are ready, and prepare combo spells to follow up without it being a confusing click-fest. As for the critics, who seem to be mainly the Oblivion converts (I payed to play it too, and it is fun in its own way), but this is a different type of RPG - one where the focus is on a strong story line, and less on things like getting lost in a maze or spending eight hours doing something mundane like fishing and perhaps never managing to get on with the story (as per Oblivion). The most impressive facet of this game to me is the amount of detail put into it - every SINGLE line is actor-voiced, and you can actually feel the emotions. The back story is also rich, including mini-treatises and actual wordings on plot items, but the game mechanics give you the option to read them only if you feel like it (warning: if English isn't one of your language, you may not be able to enjoy it much, some side quests require you to do "reading comprehension" to get it right; and you may also not appreciate the often interesting and amusing banter between companions). The developers also make sure to include snippets in the game that flatter the player, which actually succeed in making you feel smug about yourself when they do happen. Note: you're not doing justice to the game if you aren't playing in maximum graphics capability. Anyway, after I first played it for like five hours, and it was only starting to dawn on me that the attention to details were actually going to persist throughout the game, I was going like - "OMG! I can't believe I payed only thirty (Singapore) dollars (~20 USD) to play this game. How in the world are the developers going to recoup their losses from hiring all these graphic designers and voice actors? They must have spent a gazillion hours making the game. Please don't go bust anytime soon, I really want more of these priceless pieces of art...". Apparently, there are also different back stories depending on which class and race you choose to play (no, I'm not going to spoil them by wiki-ing them up), so there's going to be replayability. You can also pick different companions for next time, or just rotate them as you like - backbenchers will level up together with your main party, so you don't have to farm for xp (there's actually not much mindless farming you can do in this game). All in all, you won't regret buying this game UNLESS 1. you want to live in an alternate world literally and maybe never get on with the story (get Oblivion instead, it's a great game too), 2. you want a five minute learning curve ("why can't i just click UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT and make the enemy drop dead instantly?"), 3. you want to play ONLY a single player ("Can dang Morrigan and Alistair just do your own thingies without me needing to tell you what to do? I don't care if you two can make wonderful sophisticated combos out of the range of the capacity of any computer AI, I'm only interested in controlling ME AND ONLY ME!!!"), 4. you don't actually want a DnD-ish RPG title and got to this page by mistake, 5. you are a disgruntled EA employee fired for scolding your boss's mum a whore or something like that, 6. I can't think of a 6...… Expand
  99. Soren3034
    Dec 18, 2012
    9
    At first I was not attracted by the tactical gameplay approach that Bioware had chosen. However, Dragon Age: Origins quickly changed my mind with its compelling storyline and perfect balance between action and dialogue.

    In the character selection you can select between different races, origins and classes, which will influence your game experience. This results in extremely customizable    At first I was not attracted by the tactical gameplay approach that Bioware had chosen. However, Dragon Age: Origins quickly changed my mind with its compelling storyline and perfect balance between action and dialogue.

    In the character selection you can select between different races, origins and classes, which will influence your game experience. This results in extremely customizable characters. You will need to choose one of six unique origin stories, which will determine how the different races of Ferelden will treat you throughout the game.

    With blood, gore, and dragons you will experience scary cutscenes that introduces you to the life as a Grey Warden. You travel through Ferelden trying to free the country from the darkspawn and the arch demon. Murder, treason and politics; all interfering with your epic quest. It is now up to you and your comrades to liberate this country. The experience was a perfect balance between beautiful outdoor areas and the frightening depths of the Deep Roads lurking with darkspawn.

    The innovating gameplay implemented by Bioware does work brilliantly and instead of the usual hack-n-slash RPG you get a more strategic and at times more challenging adventure. At any time, you will have the opportunity to pause and consider the situation. This gives you a chance to regroup and plan the perfect way to get rid of your foes. Another twist compared to the Elder Scrolls and The Witcher series is that you do not only control your protagonist, but you control a band of heroes fighting your way through hordes of darkspawn, bandits and dragons! Bioware has truly created a game with an epic storyline. The personalities you will meet throughout the game are creative and original because of the intelligent voice acting that brings the characters to life. Even when you walk through town they will chat about numerous things, such as their pasts, races and classes.

    As player you should expect gorgeous graphics, but also a challenging game with difficulties that can get even the most hardcore players on their toes! The game mechanics are easy accessible and very fast to learn. Dragon Age: Origins is definitely a must buy for all RPG fans!

    Dragon Age: Origins is one of the best roleplaying games of this decade all up there with the Elder Scrolls and Fallout.    … Expand
  100. nemo3590
    Jan 4, 2013
    9
    Some of the negative reviews of this game accuse the positive reviewers of only liking it because it is a Bioware game. Well, when I started playing, I hadn't played any Bioware games and didn't know their reputation. Actually, going in to this game, I was fairly skeptical. I had never played Baldur's Gate or anything similar before.

    This may be my favorite game of all time. It is    Some of the negative reviews of this game accuse the positive reviewers of only liking it because it is a Bioware game. Well, when I started playing, I hadn't played any Bioware games and didn't know their reputation. Actually, going in to this game, I was fairly skeptical. I had never played Baldur's Gate or anything similar before.

    This may be my favorite game of all time.

    It is not a perfect game, as most people are willing to admit. Its propensity to crash and some of the wonky camera angles force me to drop my rating down to a 9. But I still love this game. The dialogue options you choose do have an effect on the game, even if it is only subtle and in the background. Some accuse it of being cliche'd and unoriginal, which baffles me. I've played many fantasy games and read thousands of fantasy books, and I find this original enough to be fresh while familiar enough to not turn me away.

    The only thing that gave me pause at first was the combat system, but after I got around the fairly easy learning curve, I came to love it--the strategy and planning involved.

    The story is great. The combat is great. The music is great. The graphics are...okay. Not Skyrim-level, but serviceable. I would recommend this game to anyone with even a passing interest in fantasy RPGs.

    One caveat. This review is for the PC version. I watched someone play the Xbox version and was dismayed at the UI and how it affected combat. I'm certain it's still a great game, but not nearly as good as the PC version.    … Expand
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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.
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  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!
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