Dragon Age: Origins

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 732 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 570 out of 732
  2. Mixed: 82 out of 732
  3. Negative: 80 out of 732
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  1. bigboss1964
    Oct 18, 2014
    9
    Dragon Age: Origins

    Game-play:Lets start with the combat it is nothing special and complicated it is a auto-attack and you can also use skills and buffs you have 6 at fast select and all of them in the wheel but the game does this prefectly and that very good.I would like if the combat was interactive.Also you have to choose from 3 classes and for every class you have 3 sub-classes.    Dragon Age: Origins

    Game-play:Lets start with the combat it is nothing special and complicated it is a auto-attack and you can also use skills and buffs you have 6 at fast select and all of them in the wheel but the game does this prefectly and that very good.I would like if the combat was interactive.Also you have to choose from 3 classes and for every class you have 3 sub-classes.

    Story:At the start you have to create your character depending of what character you create you get an origin there are 6 origins that is a small story before the real story.Now the story is the most complete story in the gaming world and all your choices matters.

    Graphics : I really like the graphics in this game it looks great.

    Notes: I recommend this game to everyone this is a masterpiece that every gamer should have and especially RPG fans.It worth full price.    … Expand
  2. nilsy
    Sep 29, 2017
    10
    Very few RPG's actually have that good story or interesting characters, this has the traditional tactical combat + the good story and characters.

    Only drawback see to this game is that if you only want the story and not the combat, then its hard to stick with it as these type of games require bit of time since combat takes awhile. So this game is hard to play in 20-30min bits you    Very few RPG's actually have that good story or interesting characters, this has the traditional tactical combat + the good story and characters.

    Only drawback see to this game is that if you only want the story and not the combat, then its hard to stick with it as these type of games require bit of time since combat takes awhile.
    So this game is hard to play in 20-30min bits you generally need to take a weekend and sink into it and boy are you rewarded if you do.

    Cant actually think of a single game that does the same thing as this as good this is the absolute best at what it does, just be aware this is a time consuming game.
    If you dont have enough time there might be better games to play in short 20min bits

    Slightly better on the PC but i mean this is not a twitch game so controls being just a little bit clunkier isnt as important as say a action game or racing game this is turnbased.    … Expand
  3. crishy
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    In my opinion the best western style RPG I have ever played. Great graphics, amazing and very indepth storyline (and dialogue) and characters, plenty of equip and spell options, decent soundtrack and effects that fits well with the game.

    The only two drawbacks of any sort is no modding in the console, and that it is fairly easy even on nightmare (you can even solo the game if you want    In my opinion the best western style RPG I have ever played. Great graphics, amazing and very indepth storyline (and dialogue) and characters, plenty of equip and spell options, decent soundtrack and effects that fits well with the game.

    The only two drawbacks of any sort is no modding in the console, and that it is fairly easy even on nightmare (you can even solo the game if you want to).

    It has a few bugs that can be exploited (not saying they are good) but this is a very minor problem that can be avoided through the old and tested honor system.    … Expand
  4. MetaRogue
    Oct 14, 2015
    8
    Dragon Age: Origins feels like a good RPG, but is ultimately let down by it's map traversal and graphics. Too much time is spent on dialogue and sifting through the shop and item menus. The plotline is well structured and the ability to play as one of your 4 member squad is unique, but the problems of the game start to show after 5 hours.

    Combat is merely targeting an enemy, pushing a    Dragon Age: Origins feels like a good RPG, but is ultimately let down by it's map traversal and graphics. Too much time is spent on dialogue and sifting through the shop and item menus. The plotline is well structured and the ability to play as one of your 4 member squad is unique, but the problems of the game start to show after 5 hours.

    Combat is merely targeting an enemy, pushing a button and listening to your characters respond with "It will be done". This soon boils down to mashing different buttons and selectively targeting an enemy with all your characters to accumulate damage points to overwhelm them. The level of satisfaction surrounding this begins to eventually wane as you progress.

    Dialogue with NPC's is another point of criticism. Your character is a consummate mute when speaking with NPC's, but in combat says "It will be done" which creates a jarring element to communication in the game.The story while lengthy and interesting, is made dull by it's characters whose emotional reactions are sometimes questionable or pathetic.

    Overall, Dragon Age: Origins is more of a character driven game that should mainly appeal to RPG fans who don't mind divulging in strategic button pressing than full-fledged action.    … Expand
  5. ElectroSoul
    Jan 21, 2016
    8
    It's a great RPG! Great soundtrack, good story, good gameplay, great characters and the graphics that aren't that bad. I totally recommend this game. It's, indeed, one of the best RPGs of the millennium. 8/10
  6. CynicalSandlin
    Feb 9, 2015
    3
    Normally when I play a video game where I think less of it than the general consensus, I'll at least be understanding of why others enjoy the game. In this case, I fail to see the appeal that it has on people. I don't mean to come across as insulting to those who enjoy the game, I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I'm just not seeing it. I really tried to like this game too, I'm a big fanNormally when I play a video game where I think less of it than the general consensus, I'll at least be understanding of why others enjoy the game. In this case, I fail to see the appeal that it has on people. I don't mean to come across as insulting to those who enjoy the game, I'm glad you were able to enjoy it. I'm just not seeing it. I really tried to like this game too, I'm a big fan of the Mass Effect series and enjoy RPG's as well. It had a pretty promising start that had you thrown into 1 of 6 possible origin missions for your character that not only all give a different story on how you get thrown into the main plot, but can take involvement in some of the later story missions as well.
    Now what I enjoyed about the game is that there is noticeable more variety in dialogue and character interaction than you would find in the Mass Effect series. Not having your character fully VA'd is a bit of a downer, but that is quickly shaken off as time passes. The characters are also pretty interesting as none of them are 1-dimensional and all have moments of (for lack of a better metaphor) Paragon and Renegade. The story at 1st seems to be a blatant rip-off of Lord of the Rings with the 3 main races being Humans, Elves, and Dwarfs trying to unite to face this massive army of evil called "The Darkspawn" being led by the so called "ArchDemon". It doesn't help that the Darkspawn look like Orcs either. However as you learn more about the world (whether through character interaction or via codex like in Mass Effect) it does grow into it's own thing.
    Now the gameplay itself however... is a complete mess. Where to begin, well I guess for starters, the hit detection in this game is completely out of whack. Your character can be several yards away from someone when they swing their dagger and there is still a good chance that you will take damage. And of course there will be plenty of times where a character you are controlling will be swinging their melee weapon at point-blank range and it will miss. This may normal for MMO's but since it isin't an MMO, it shouldn't act like one, especially if it's only gonna be similar to one in negative ways. One other main problem I have with this game is that it doesn't manage your quest log well. Even when you mark a sidequest in your menu as active, most (if not all) of the time their still won't be any indicator of where you are supposed to go. I'm not asking for the Skyrim level of simplicity where you follow a white arrow until you arrive, but I'd like at least a general area to pinpoint my task.Your companions don't handle themselves well when it come to fighting in groups, despite being able to switch between them at the press of a button. Switching between them using the Radical (I think that's what it was called) menu to select specific attacks works well when focusing on one or two enemies but in groups it becomes clustered and will usually end with your allies dropping like flies, regardless of how well-leveled and equipped they are.
    I'm a sucker for a game with a good story. I can usually look past arguably major gameplay flaws if I'm intrigued by the narrative. The sad thing is even though I am intrigued by the story and did want to get to know some of the characters better, I couldn't bring myself to finish the game. I stopped playing when I clocked 23 hours and finally decided that an interesting plot wasn't enough to stick it out. Some people will say that my opinion isin't valid since I didn't complete the game, however if you can honestly tell me that the first 23, 15, or 10 hours of a game isin't giving it a chance and not having a fair assessment of what the game contains, then I'd like you to name a game that does drastically change after that length of time as passed (in terms of gameplay, not plot). So not only did I not enjoy this game, but it left me feeling so let-down, that I can't bring myself to even glance at the other titles in this series. Keep in mind everyone that this is my first time reviewing a game and I hope to do this a career so please reply both negative and positive things either about the quality of the review, or your opinion of the review itself. Thank you for reading.    … Expand
  7. leighbutler1980
    Nov 13, 2020
    9
    Dusted off my ps3 to buy this on the playstation store for 10 quid.

    Great game. Graphics are dated and facial features look pretty bad at some points but other than that its such a great game and still holds up today in terms of story and mechanics.
  8. AriseAndBe
    Aug 5, 2015
    9
    The only problem I have with this game is that the frame rate sometimes dipped dramatically during intense battles. Other than that though, Dragon Age Origins is my favourite PS3 game so far.
    The story is AMAZING, and the fact that the choices you make can significantly alter the events of the game really make it a gem. The characters are interesting and the presentation is great for    The only problem I have with this game is that the frame rate sometimes dipped dramatically during intense battles. Other than that though, Dragon Age Origins is my favourite PS3 game so far.
    The story is AMAZING, and the fact that the choices you make can significantly alter the events of the game really make it a gem. The characters are interesting and the presentation is great for what it is.    … Expand
  9. BornBeforeAtari
    Oct 11, 2015
    2
    Like a poorly written children's fantasy novel, Dragon Age: Origins could not keep my attention. This game tries to do everything but accomplishes very little...unless lulling you to sleep is what it seeks. LOTS of irrelevant dialog litter the trite story. Maybe I'll give it a fourth chance in a couple of months. 2/10 ~ BornBeforeAtari
  10. bearcats13
    Dec 8, 2015
    10
    I love this game. I have played it 9 times now, and each time i discover something new (even if its only a new conversation line with party members). The graphics are great, and the world has a rich and detailed history. I also love the origin stories. It is nice to have more input into who your character was, before the 'Epic' events. I hope bioware makes another 'Origins' style game. II love this game. I have played it 9 times now, and each time i discover something new (even if its only a new conversation line with party members). The graphics are great, and the world has a rich and detailed history. I also love the origin stories. It is nice to have more input into who your character was, before the 'Epic' events. I hope bioware makes another 'Origins' style game. I would definitely buy it! It is my favourite RPG. And i have had no problems with glitches. A truely beautiful game. I admit to shedding tears at times during interactions with party members (don't laugh: the story line is that good.)… Expand
  11. EmperorSultan
    Jan 5, 2016
    10
    When I finished my first play-through in this I immediately started another play-through, now that's replayability done right in video games. I love the writing and the characters in this game.
  12. SrPepe
    Jun 27, 2018
    9
    Mi juego favorito de la vida, es algo fantástico de principio a fin. La versión de PS3 es un poco incómoda comparada a la magistral edición de PC, pero es un juegazo.
  13. Empyrea
    Apr 12, 2020
    9
    I first played Dragon Age Inquisition and I think Origins is as good as Inquisition or even better. Although, obviously, the graphics are worse it's still a great game with many dialogues and good voices, gameplay and soundtrack. In my opinion, the worse of this game is that you have to wait a bit everytime you go inside or go out of some buildings and areas. It took me 50 hours to beatI first played Dragon Age Inquisition and I think Origins is as good as Inquisition or even better. Although, obviously, the graphics are worse it's still a great game with many dialogues and good voices, gameplay and soundtrack. In my opinion, the worse of this game is that you have to wait a bit everytime you go inside or go out of some buildings and areas. It took me 50 hours to beat exploring everything and doing as many sidequests I could although I left lots of them as well; so if you go straight to the main plot you can beat it in about 10 hours less.… Expand
  14. KayVen17
    Jan 4, 2017
    8
    Deutsche Review - Kritik

    Der folgende Test ist in 5 Kategorien zusammengefasst. Diese 5 Kartegorien ergeben die Gesamtpunktzahl von 0 - 100 Punkten. Um einen passenden Userscore zu geben wird auf oder abgerundet. Bei 84 Punkten ergibt das einen User Score von 8. Bei 86 einen von Userscore von 9. Falls eine 85 kommt entscheide ich ob ich es eher positiv oder negativ nehme. Regeln    Deutsche Review - Kritik

    Der folgende Test ist in 5 Kategorien zusammengefasst. Diese 5 Kartegorien ergeben die Gesamtpunktzahl von 0 - 100 Punkten. Um einen passenden Userscore zu geben wird auf oder abgerundet. Bei 84 Punkten ergibt das einen User Score von 8. Bei 86 einen von Userscore von 9. Falls eine 85 kommt entscheide ich ob ich es eher positiv oder negativ nehme. Regeln verstanden?
    Dann sind hier meine Punkte.

    Mein persönlicher Score = 82/100
    Mein User Score = 8/10    … Expand
  15. BigEvilSquirrel
    Aug 12, 2018
    10
    5 out of 5.
    Dragon Age: Origins is an excellent RPG from Bioware. The character you design decides your opening chapter (or “origin”), once complete will lead to the normal story. There are six origins to play through, my favorite was the Human Noble (as a Rogue). There is a lot of replay if you want to see everything, as you must pick a side for each quest. Combat is typical for a    5 out of 5.
    Dragon Age: Origins is an excellent RPG from Bioware. The character you design decides your opening chapter (or “origin”), once complete will lead to the normal story. There are six origins to play through, my favorite was the Human Noble (as a Rogue). There is a lot of replay if you want to see everything, as you must pick a side for each quest. Combat is typical for a Bioware game, which is not a bad thing. A recommend if you liked Knight of the Old Republic.    … Expand
  16. Alvokun
    Mar 24, 2017
    6
    I do not really know why, but I did not enjoy this game at all. In fact, I left it unfinished in the very final battle.

    I feel there are much better RPG games than this slow-pace superficial bore. It does have some good qualities (that is why I give it a 6), but overall it is just exasperating and uninteresting. It is highly unlikely that I play another Dragon Age game in a foreseeable future.
  17. MatikTheSeventh
    Oct 10, 2020
    2
    The PS3 version is very bugged and really does not play very well. I'm sure the game would be great otherwise, but I'm not glad about my current experience with it.
  18. mxnu54
    Aug 12, 2021
    10
    This is literally the best Western Fantasy Game after World of Warcraft. Better then Elder Scrolls, 100%.
  19. Onionbeave
    Sep 1, 2019
    9
    Perfect on PC, with some very minor port issues on this platform. Fantastic characters, fantastic choices and conversations can be brilliant. A fantastic RPG which will not overwhelm in its scope but rather pull you in to do as much or as little as you wish.

    Each area big enough to keep you interested but small enough to not bore you. Responses tailored to the race of your choosing. You    Perfect on PC, with some very minor port issues on this platform. Fantastic characters, fantastic choices and conversations can be brilliant. A fantastic RPG which will not overwhelm in its scope but rather pull you in to do as much or as little as you wish.

    Each area big enough to keep you interested but small enough to not bore you. Responses tailored to the race of your choosing. You will feel your charachter is one of you've truly developed.

    This would be a 10 but for the port issues which can cause occasional slowdown and the odd timely load screen    … Expand
  20. FidelGastro
    Feb 7, 2021
    8
    I know many people rate this game as excellent or must play game, bot for me its quite chaotic and in the end also boring.
    Campaign is too long, you can play its for 60 hours and this game will be still unfinished.
    The journal does not distinguish which quest is the main and which the side. So if you accept big amount of quest it will become very fast chaotic. I missed more actions,    I know many people rate this game as excellent or must play game, bot for me its quite chaotic and in the end also boring.
    Campaign is too long, you can play its for 60 hours and this game will be still unfinished.
    The journal does not distinguish which quest is the main and which the side. So if you accept big amount of quest it will become very fast chaotic. I missed more actions, cutscenes and etc.

    DA:Origins is lagging behind today's standards, but its 2009 game so we cant compare it to modern RPGs, however back in the day, this game had to be a big deal. It contains lot of lore, decent story, lot of races and factions. Enormous amount of achievements to unlock.

    In the end im going to give it 8/10.    … Expand
  21. Jessicaw
    Jun 22, 2020
    9
    One of my favorite RPGs. Your decisions were truly impactful and the story was very good, the characters were all compelling and the gameplay and world was overall very fun.
  22. Tuhkakasa
    Jul 18, 2022
    9
    Quite entertaing dark fantasy game. Good worldbulding, interesting story, great characters. I did have fun and enjoyed this game.
  23. NxtDoc
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    While Dragon Age Origins even for a game released in 2009 looked average at best, it is undoubtedly one of the best RPG's ever made. Several branching paths, alongside several character classes and builds. And a great supporting cast of characters. Dragon Age Origins is n incredible journey.
  24. folmas
    Aug 14, 2023
    10
    my favorite dnd game; various endings, memorable characters, interesting combat system
  25. Prink34320
    Dec 19, 2020
    8
    Dragon Age: Origins is an example of how to do an RPG right. From its great focus on highlighting player choice, to the amazing world-building used to construct the world of Thedas.

    You have the ability to choose your own origin story, which not only makes the first few hours of the game unique, but different origins have different relationships to the overarching narrative and    Dragon Age: Origins is an example of how to do an RPG right. From its great focus on highlighting player choice, to the amazing world-building used to construct the world of Thedas.

    You have the ability to choose your own origin story, which not only makes the first few hours of the game unique, but different origins have different relationships to the overarching narrative and sub-plots, and furthermore, every decision you make truly feels like it has an impact - you can secure the best ending for a minor NPC, kill everyone in your path, and even have an orgy with your companions.

    Speaking of companions, Dragon Age: Origins has a great cast of characters, many of which are entirely optional for you to recruit, and many of which can also die by your own hand. The best thing about these companions is that they are their own characters, if you make a decision that goes against their beliefs, they will turn on you.

    Another thing Origins does well, which its successors fail to do, is to create an immersive world full of live. The game features many destinations from the underground kingdom of the Dwarves, to the forests the Elves reside in. The world is large but is not simply littered by empty space, it is filled with unique enemies, narratives, characters and lore to explore.

    One of the less praiseworthy elements of Origins is that it follows the cliche "chosen one" trope, yet still achieves to make it an enjoyable experience, even if you have seen it time and again. The darker aspects of Origin's narrative is what sets it apart from its successors, highlighting themes of sexism, racism, and classism that many modern games shy away from portraying, and as your own protagonist can be at the receiving end of these issues, it makes for a more personable experience that helps you gain empathy for the people who suffer from such injustices in reality.

    The reason I did not give Origins a 10, or even a 9 is for two reasons:

    1) The combat, while adored by many, is not the immersive experience in this game, especially so on a PlayStation 3 where you are more limited with what abilities you can quickly use. Overall the combat feels sluggish and lacks depth in some areas, though makes up for it with depth in other areas.

    2) The primary reason i cannot give the PlayStation 3 version of Origins a higher score is because the game is filled with a plethora of bugs - from crashing, graphical glitches and quest progression bugs, to conflict with DLC to the point where some characters do not appear where they should.

    Overall, I highly recommend anyone who can, to play Dragon Age: Origins at least once fully, but if you can, I highly suggest playing on a PC over a PS3.    … Expand
  26. DanielGG91
    Nov 14, 2022
    8
    Al principio me ha costado acostumbrarme a las dinámicas de juego, mapa y demás, pero al final le pillé el truco y me ha encantado. Muy recomendado.
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best PS3 Game of 2009
10
#10 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009
3
#3 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. IGN AU
    84
    It's a delight to give into a fantasy setting with such a dense back story, even if the gameplay still rarely breaks away from conventions established a decade ago.
    Read full review
  2. GameSpot
    90
    Incredible storytelling, great characters, and exciting battles are just a few of the things that make this fantasy role-playing game so extraordinary.
    Read full review
  3. Giant Bomb
    100
    This is definitely not the game for those frightened of the idea of micromanaging a game to the point where a large portion of it will be spent in a pause screen. However, as the sort of guy that has lovingly played an Infinity Engine game at least once every year for the past decade, I can think of no higher praise for this throwback than to say that Dragon Age: Origins leaves me feeling fairly confident I won't need to dig out the classics for this ritual next year.
    Read full review
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