Dragon Age: Origins

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 863 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 666 out of 863
  2. Mixed: 100 out of 863
  3. Negative: 97 out of 863
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  1. GommbawaJ
    Jan 3, 2010
    10
    The most compelling, engaging and emotional storyline of any RPG to date. Make that any game, actually. This was a near perfect game imo, the only improvements I'd make is in the loot and tactics system. But that can be improved in the next release. Really, really want to congratulate the team. Amazing game.
  2. JoseM
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    A brilliant RPG with combat which is a mixture of Mass Effect and KOTOR. As such, combined with an engaging story and interesting characters, all the elements of this game bond together to make arguably the best RPG on this generation of consoles.
  3. Killacure
    Dec 2, 2009
    10
    This game is so rich in story and the pay off for time spent in its lavish world is untouchable.
  4. TRoberts
    Jan 21, 2010
    10
    This is the best RPG-game i played i hope mass effect2 will be better but this game is also great
  5. PatJ
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    Got it yesterday and haven't been able to put it down. The sun came up before I realized how many hours had gone by and all I can think about at work is getting home to play it some more.
  6. VincentM
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    Fantastic game. No one can make RPG like Bioware. The dialogues are... just amazing. My vote for game of the year.
  7. PanchoV.
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    Even though it's visuals might not be state of the art - the story is totally engrossing and the world ha sucked me in. For the record, I actually prefer playing on the console to the PC, but that's probably just my taste in games these days.
  8. ChrisP.
    Nov 8, 2009
    10
    K first off roger r. could not be more wrong in his analysis of the game. It's not turn based, so please play the game before you start giving it horrible reviews. Second this game is not for twelve year olds. If you are twelve years old i would stick with Halo 3 where you'll fit in with all the other mic screamers. Lastly this game is actually very good, if you like the RPG K first off roger r. could not be more wrong in his analysis of the game. It's not turn based, so please play the game before you start giving it horrible reviews. Second this game is not for twelve year olds. If you are twelve years old i would stick with Halo 3 where you'll fit in with all the other mic screamers. Lastly this game is actually very good, if you like the RPG elements of Oblivion you WILL like this game. Nothing is wrong with The Lord of the Rings references they were great movies. So please rent this game if you like RPG's or Bioware I promise you won't be disappointed.… Expand
  9. hun09081209
    Feb 18, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is what you call an rpg. the story like is really good and keeps you drawn to the game. you find your self needing to complete with all the races and classes that are available to play . the game play can be a bit similar to other stuff on the market but you dont really notice it while you are playing. Dragon Age: origins i do recommend to rpg players.… Expand
  10. roachtbp
    Nov 29, 2010
    10
    This game is amazing. The graphics are not great for a 360 game, but everything else is way above average. Great story, great characters, great voice acting, great music, and very challenging gameplay (at least if you play it on Nightmare). The gameplay is very strategic, and it is very rewarding to finally win a difficult battle after many tries. Also, the characters are so wellThis game is amazing. The graphics are not great for a 360 game, but everything else is way above average. Great story, great characters, great voice acting, great music, and very challenging gameplay (at least if you play it on Nightmare). The gameplay is very strategic, and it is very rewarding to finally win a difficult battle after many tries. Also, the characters are so well developed that they truly come to life on screen. This is my favorite RPG for the Xbox 360.… Expand
  11. VermillionHaze
    May 11, 2012
    10
    Dragon Age is above and beyond better then any non open world fantasy RPG on the 360. Which sounds less impressive then the game really is. It has superb voice acting, great visuals, a memorable plot and loads of content. The combat is also a treat as it incorperates strategy elements that make you think fast and use your team as a cohesive unit. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for aDragon Age is above and beyond better then any non open world fantasy RPG on the 360. Which sounds less impressive then the game really is. It has superb voice acting, great visuals, a memorable plot and loads of content. The combat is also a treat as it incorperates strategy elements that make you think fast and use your team as a cohesive unit. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a new franchise to put faith in.… Expand
  12. Nosidda89
    Feb 28, 2011
    10
    I was never a big fan of Bioware at all. In fact, when I first put this game in my 360, I was already having doubts on if this game will be good, because I tried Mass Effect, which is considered to be Biowares best game, and didn't like it. I admit that the game looked good when I first saw it. A friend of mine decided to let me borrow his copy of Dragon Age, which he later said I couldI was never a big fan of Bioware at all. In fact, when I first put this game in my 360, I was already having doubts on if this game will be good, because I tried Mass Effect, which is considered to be Biowares best game, and didn't like it. I admit that the game looked good when I first saw it. A friend of mine decided to let me borrow his copy of Dragon Age, which he later said I could keep with no charge. Thanks Josh. So, why am I thanking my friend for a game by Bioware, a company I never liked? I'll tell you why. Because this game IS AMAZING!!!!! I'll be perfectly honest, Oblivion is one of my favorite RPG's ever, but I think Dragon Age actually beats it. I'm already looking forward to Dragon Age II, it has become one of my most anticipated games on 2011. So since I only have 5000 characters per review, let's get to the game. The most important aspect in any game is, of course, the gameplay. So, how is the gameplay in Dragon Age? Outstanding! It's like a very fast paced version of the Final Fantasy XI battle system, except much more active. You're not hacking and slashing, but it's still a very active system. Don't you worry Turn-Based Haters, this game is not turn based at all. They basically took the turn-based battle system from FFXI, and removed the turn-based part of it. Absolute genius! You can also set techniques to your quick cast buttons, much like setting your items to the C-buttons in Zelda. This makes it easier, because anything that's not set to your quick cast buttons, you can only cast by opening up the ability menu, and selecting it. However, this is quick, and is a great way to pause the game if you need to observe the battle and decide a change in strategy. Of course like any other advanced RPG, you can create your character to your liking. You can choose between 3 races. Human, Elf, and Dwarf. I decided to be an elf. After that, you choose your job. You can choose one of 3 jobs. Warrior, Rogue, and Mage. I decided to be a rogue, because I like sneaking around and being quick. Each job has 4 specializations that you choose from after unlocking them through quests in the game. The rogue specialization I chose first was Duelist, which is a person who can deal very good damage, and is very good at dodging attacks, and is best with dual wielding daggers. I later made Archer as my 2nd specialization, that one should be obvious. But in case you don't get it, it means you use a bow and arrow. Each time you level up, you get points to spend on character attributes to make him stronger. You do the same with your party members. By the way, you don't travel alone, you have a party with you. So obviously, this means you have to keep a well organized party. As far as the story goes, the story starts off differently for every race, but it all leads down to the same story. You become a Grey Warden, a special warrior meant to protect the people from the darkspawn. Of course that's up to you. The game has the same choice system as Mass Effect, so the choices you make will affect you later on, and you can choose to be a good guy or a bad guy. Not only will your decisions affect you later in this game, but they will also affect you in Dragon Age II, so choose your path wisely. In either case though, you have to gather allies from around the world by either helping them solve their problems so they can aid you, or by forcing them to aid you. The only problem with this game is it's difficulty. Casual mode is too easy, but Normal mode is way too freakin hard. It's like the game completely skipped Normal mode and decided to make Normal mode hard mode. Even the hardcore RPG players are usually playing the game on casual mode, because Normal mode is way too hard, it's nearly impossible. One can only imagine how difficult Hard and Nightmare modes are. I have yet to hear of anyone who can play the game all the way through on Nightmare mode. All and all, fantastic game, and it deserves every penny you pay for it. It has to be one of the best RPG's of all time, so if you love RPG's, pick this game up. Mass Effect ain't got **** on Dragon Age! 10/10.… Expand
  13. norse
    Mar 8, 2011
    10
    Best game I have ever played. I realize this much more so, given how much I hated the sequel... I loved the dialogue, the environments, the story and the variety. Oh DA:O, you'll be missed.
  14. carlhume
    Mar 11, 2011
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins gripped me from the very beginning. I have fully played through the game with three separate characters, and had a partial play through with a fourth. I've easily invested several hundred hours playing, and loved every minute. Out of everything I like about the game, there are two components that stand out:
    1) I had to make difficult decisions with no obvious right    Dragon Age: Origins gripped me from the very beginning. I have fully played through the game with three separate characters, and had a partial play through with a fourth. I've easily invested several hundred hours playing, and loved every minute. Out of everything I like about the game, there are two components that stand out:
    1) I had to make difficult decisions with no obvious right answer, and my decisions had impact.
    2) The character interactions were outstanding. I loved learning about what made each of my party members tick.

    The game was outstanding, and made it easy for me to decide to pre-order the sequel (something I have never done before).    … Expand
  15. Trucidar
    Apr 6, 2011
    10
    Great game, great story, great RPG. In my opinion this is one of the greatest games I've ever played and including DLC was an amazingly fun 80 hours. Wish it didn't have to end, and thanks to the re-playability, it really doesn't!
  16. CursedKnight187
    Jul 22, 2012
    10
    Bioware pride themselves on being able to create amazing storylines that make you feel as if you are actually in the world of the game. Origins is no exception. This game has a challenging yet interesting combat engine, accompanied by very personal and well designed characters, a huge amount of gameplay time and a brilliantly written plot. My one complaint would be graphics, but theyBioware pride themselves on being able to create amazing storylines that make you feel as if you are actually in the world of the game. Origins is no exception. This game has a challenging yet interesting combat engine, accompanied by very personal and well designed characters, a huge amount of gameplay time and a brilliantly written plot. My one complaint would be graphics, but they aren't particularly bad, just not amazingly good. Besides that, this game is almost perfect.… Expand
  17. twizbuck
    May 9, 2011
    10
    One of my absolute favorite games of all time. The story and interaction elements are fantastic. Yes the graphics aren't the greatest and the combat can get frustrating, but it was nothing that kept me from logging many, many hours on several playthroughs. You have to give this game a try if you enjoy an incredible, deep story that will keep you entertained for more time than you'reOne of my absolute favorite games of all time. The story and interaction elements are fantastic. Yes the graphics aren't the greatest and the combat can get frustrating, but it was nothing that kept me from logging many, many hours on several playthroughs. You have to give this game a try if you enjoy an incredible, deep story that will keep you entertained for more time than you're willing to wager.… Expand
  18. Redfordsto
    Jul 26, 2011
    10
    I played through this game in its entirety 11 times. So many times, I had to remove characters to a flashdrive because you're only allowed to create 8 characters. It's that good.
  19. SpunkyMonkey
    Oct 15, 2012
    10
    I've had to re-review this as, after a 3rd full play-through, it just gets better and better. Again, you can't hide a few flaws, but something I never mentioned in my old review is that how little those flaws actually affect the game or the experience itself. The weight behind some of the decisions, especially those towards the end of the game, just feels massive and it's phenomenal that aI've had to re-review this as, after a 3rd full play-through, it just gets better and better. Again, you can't hide a few flaws, but something I never mentioned in my old review is that how little those flaws actually affect the game or the experience itself. The weight behind some of the decisions, especially those towards the end of the game, just feels massive and it's phenomenal that a computer game can provoke such an emotional response. The tactical side of things is something which gets overlooked too - the way enemy ambushes operate and are setup is quite simply stunning - the amount of time they must have put into the game to make every battle feel so great must be staggering. An upgrade from a 9/10 to a 10/10 for me - a true classic.… Expand
  20. Aldrich
    Dec 19, 2011
    10
    Upon getting this game and putting it in my Xbox, I didn't know what to think.
    This was like no other RPG I've ever played, at first I had doubts but I just said "What the hell, why not enjoy something different from Final Fantasy", even to this day, I'm glad I trusted my gut because this was one of the best RPGs I've ever play.
    With 100s of different character creation combinations,    Upon getting this game and putting it in my Xbox, I didn't know what to think.
    This was like no other RPG I've ever played, at first I had doubts but I just said "What the hell, why not enjoy something different from Final Fantasy", even to this day, I'm glad I trusted my gut because this was one of the best RPGs I've ever play.

    With 100s of different character creation combinations, races, classes, and origin stories, add to such interactive gameplay, with a cast a great characters I could relate.

    For me, a game that allows me to have my personality in the game will always be a 10/10    … Expand
  21. AFuzzyWuzzyBear
    Dec 30, 2011
    10
    This game is great. At times it may be slow but the story absolutely blows you away. Each new area that you visit is fun and entertaining and is full of different types of quests. The character progression allows you to mold your character to fit your playing style. The graphics may be sub-par but it makes up for it with a lush environment. I was so excited to see the next place i wasThis game is great. At times it may be slow but the story absolutely blows you away. Each new area that you visit is fun and entertaining and is full of different types of quests. The character progression allows you to mold your character to fit your playing style. The graphics may be sub-par but it makes up for it with a lush environment. I was so excited to see the next place i was going i never even cared about leveling my character up. There was never any need to grind to be able to continue the story. (Besides on nightmare mode) While i loved RPGs like mass effect, oblivion, and KOTOR, i think this was my favorite. The replayability of this game is extremely high because of the multiple origin stories you start off with. (Mage was my favorite) Overall this game is great and i never got tired of being a Grey Warden.… Expand
  22. skinny_mean_man
    Mar 26, 2012
    10
    one of the best RPG's i've ever played...that being said its a game only ment for rpg fans. i would not recommend this to anyone who is looking for a hack and slash kind of experience. skyrim may be better suited for that type of game play.
  23. ZacOfTheZombies
    Apr 13, 2012
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins presents fast paced RPG battles with wide cast of lovable, and loathable, companions. Gameplay is built on automated attacks while you the player stratagizes and make use of you and your companions many unique abilities. DA:O offers a nice selection of races and upbringing for your character, combined with the possible skill trees makes each character special. TheDragon Age: Origins presents fast paced RPG battles with wide cast of lovable, and loathable, companions. Gameplay is built on automated attacks while you the player stratagizes and make use of you and your companions many unique abilities. DA:O offers a nice selection of races and upbringing for your character, combined with the possible skill trees makes each character special. The gameplay can be tedious and sometimes even difficult to pick up. People who play for a long time will find a solid battle engine that rewards strategy and quick thinking. Other than that, the story is gripping and presents a wonderful fantasy story that is filled to the brim with fantasy worthy of any epic.… Expand
  24. classicaldon
    Jul 9, 2012
    10
    Dragon Age is simply one of the best RPGs there is. Fantastic storyline, awesome characters and gameplay. Lost many nights of sleep because of this game :)
  25. 1voiceoreason
    May 15, 2012
    10
    WHY did i wait so long to finally play and beat this gem. I love the D&D western RPG and the characters really pulled me in. While i could see the argument this game was built for PC being valid, im much more of a console gamer and really enjoy having this experience on my Xbox. Can't wait to finish up all the DLC and then move on to Dragon Age II.
  26. Welterweight426
    Jun 8, 2012
    10
    Another Fantastic Bioware game. The story is excellent. The combat is satisfying. This is one of my favorite games. However, the voice acting can be rather bad at times and the graphics are meh.Still, I would Highly recommend this game.
  27. Kgreen
    Jan 11, 2013
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins is an action packed RPG where the protagonist of your design is joined by a party of no more then four people fight to save the world. The protagonist can be male or female. The protagonist can be a human, elf, or dwarf. The character creator allows you to make your character completely original. Depending on the character you create you will experience one out of theDragon Age: Origins is an action packed RPG where the protagonist of your design is joined by a party of no more then four people fight to save the world. The protagonist can be male or female. The protagonist can be a human, elf, or dwarf. The character creator allows you to make your character completely original. Depending on the character you create you will experience one out of the six opening scenes which allow you to have an original gaming experience. Dragon Age: Origins has a very engaging story line that never bores you. You can be exploring the lands of Ferelden killing dark spawn, gathering allies, or pursuing possible romances. I would recommend this game for any gamer! This game is perfect for gamers who want to get into RPGs and for pro RPG players who want a test of their skills and an interesting story line.… Expand
  28. EmbberSH
    Mar 18, 2013
    10
    Hands down my favorite game of all time. It had everything I look for in a good RPG; The plotline, which may seem overused at first, was detailed and engaging. The characters were unique and memorable, with distinct personalities and deep back stories, on top of which they have a wide range of skills to match a party to any style of play. Not to mention all the choices; Every major plotHands down my favorite game of all time. It had everything I look for in a good RPG; The plotline, which may seem overused at first, was detailed and engaging. The characters were unique and memorable, with distinct personalities and deep back stories, on top of which they have a wide range of skills to match a party to any style of play. Not to mention all the choices; Every major plot point has at least one major decision that affects the end of the game, and most have many smaller choices too. To go back to your companions; rather than being passive place holders they actually respond to the situation around you; Approving or disapproving of your choices, and giving their own input when they feel strongly about something. (Plus there are few things as amusing as listening to the conversations your party occasionally starts up while you're exploring.)

    No, the graphics aren't up to the standard of Bethesda's 'Skyrim', and the loading screens can be a bit of a drag, but beyond that it's very hard to find fault with the game. (And let's face it; The graphics in Skyrim were exceptional, very few games can even come close.
    The graphics are still good enough to make the game engaging, with a few truly beautiful scenes if you take a look around. (Try looking off the cliff by Redcliffe.) And the music is incredible. And for those interested in such things there's a wealth of history and culture in the codex, an unbelievable amount really, without reading even a quarter of it you can fully immerse yourself in the world's politics and racial relations. Nothing is left unexplained to those who want to know.

    All in all a simply amazing gaming experience, rife with adventure and humour. A must-have for any gamer.    … Expand
  29. scarletellis
    Jun 2, 2013
    10
    If you like solid RPG's with decent gameplay you will enjoy this game. If you want pretty scenery go to an art gallery and call it a day. That said the graphics are fine if you aren't some nit picky brat that cares more about things being pretty than being good. Engaging storyline with a good amount of personal choice and atmosphere.
  30. Steyraus
    Feb 8, 2021
    10
    This game sit at the top, along side the greats like Baldurs gate, Kotor, Mass Effect and Fallout. Its a shame the series list its way, but we wilk always have origons.
  31. curlzncrush
    Aug 5, 2013
    10
    A nearly perfect game, yet so unique in its own nostalgia, so charming in its characters, so tactical and past-gen in its combat, so humorous in its dialogue and so open in its narrative that it gets a 10 from me.
  32. Dared2Sin
    Aug 30, 2015
    10
    From the Simple but, satisfying combat to the intriguing story, this one will keep you going for hours.
    The only trouble in this game is trying to please everyone.
  33. 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
  34. keiski72
    Feb 12, 2017
    10
    Another amazing game from Bioware. Great RPG experience, very deep gameplay, great writing, fun and challenging hybrid combat, and mostly impressive graphics for its time. All of these plus more makes this one of the best RPGs i've played IMO.
  35. WeenyDrake
    Nov 17, 2017
    10
    This is one of the best games I've ever played. The characters and story are unforgettable. The playable origin stories really connect you to your character, which makes the story feel that much more important. The only areas where I felt like the game was lacking was in its outdated graphics (for the time it was released) and the lackluster combat. I know that some will argue that theThis is one of the best games I've ever played. The characters and story are unforgettable. The playable origin stories really connect you to your character, which makes the story feel that much more important. The only areas where I felt like the game was lacking was in its outdated graphics (for the time it was released) and the lackluster combat. I know that some will argue that the combat was more tactical and is fitting of an RPG, but I really wasn't impressed with the auto-attack. All in all, I recommend this game 100%… Expand
  36. cableguy3333
    Apr 3, 2021
    10
    Review 2021 first ever playthrough. So I've played the trilogy in the reverse order and after playing the 2nd one I wasn't expecting much from this but how wrong was I. It's not only the best dragon age game, its one of the best games I've ever played and I've played alot. This is a rare epic game and cant believe I missed out on this when it first came out but what a treat for 2021. AReview 2021 first ever playthrough. So I've played the trilogy in the reverse order and after playing the 2nd one I wasn't expecting much from this but how wrong was I. It's not only the best dragon age game, its one of the best games I've ever played and I've played alot. This is a rare epic game and cant believe I missed out on this when it first came out but what a treat for 2021. A better story that witcher 3 and better told which is hard to believe. On normal difficulty combat is certainly a challenge and if you ramp the level up you have a game that is so much harder than anything dark souls can throw at you. The game itself is massive, so much voice dialogue and the chats between your companions are genuinely funny to the point you want to take out different groups together just to hear what they have to say to each other. Combat I played as a mage and nearly always 3 out of 4 of my team were mages just because I found using a melee character terrible, I'm sure they are ok if you play with them but my sum total was about 10 minutes out of 50+hours. Graphics maybe a bit dated but still nicer to look at than cyberpunk2077 and the cutscene battles epic should be made into a film. If you have not played this dont be like me get it now, choices you make really do have a major impact and the decisions are sometimes a very hard choice, its a game that makes you feel sad its all over at the end… Expand
  37. gqmasters3
    May 11, 2019
    10
    It is the finest RPG of its generation. The gameplay is fun and challenging. The plot is captivating and it is one of the few RPGs that actually successfully climaxes at the final battle or sequence of events.
  38. Dsims37
    Jun 16, 2019
    10
    This is easily the best RPG on the 360. The game play, graphics, and story are all amazing. Even tweaking the programming of your team mates is a whole tactical mini game in itself. The sequels never measured up. It seems they had to listen to all the butt hurt crybabies who didn’t like that it wasn’t an action game.
  39. TazzTheron
    Feb 1, 2020
    10
    Love to see a remake of the game with all the new tech we have available with current gen or even next gen :)
  40. AccurateRatings
    Mar 22, 2023
    10
    This game is an absolute masterpiece worth playing over and over again. One of my favorite games of all time.

    The combat isn’t great, but the story and character customization more than makes up for it. 10/10 play it if you can.
  41. zprestridge
    Aug 17, 2023
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time. Brought a unique combat style mainstream. If you enjoyed Inquisition or Greedfall and can get over the 2009 graphics then this game is definitely still holds up well today
  42. DexterP.
    Nov 9, 2009
    9
    An Excellent adventure, If you're a fan of the Knights of the Old Republic series then you will feel right at home with BioWare's latest RPG. The Story line is magnificent, the character development and the combat can only be described as old school. The only reason it misses a 10 is because of some hit and miss voice acting and Graphics that can at times feel a little dated, An Excellent adventure, If you're a fan of the Knights of the Old Republic series then you will feel right at home with BioWare's latest RPG. The Story line is magnificent, the character development and the combat can only be described as old school. The only reason it misses a 10 is because of some hit and miss voice acting and Graphics that can at times feel a little dated, never the less, this is a game that BioWare fans, simply have to own.… Expand
  43. Vikings#1
    Nov 22, 2009
    9
    Beside the character models, this game's graphics are xbox or ps2 type. Still, the story is good and very long. I like the fact that the combat can either be hack-and-slash type or very tactical-strategy type. The only reasons this game is not a 10 are because of graphics and that it's not an true open-world rpg like Oblivion.
  44. Griffen
    Nov 3, 2009
    9
    I can't believe all the companies saying that DA:O is out dated gameplay wise. It even says in the description that the game is returning to its roots. Mass Effect was a fun game, but why are all these guys comparing the two. One's a straight up RPG and the other is a Shooter-RPG. It's like comparing Baldaur's Gate and Borderlands.
  45. JoshC.
    Nov 4, 2009
    9
    I own the 360 version, and even with its presentational shortcomings (several other RPG's one-up it graphically - Specifically Oblivion and Bioware's own 2007 game Mass Effect just to name a couple), you'll love the story, design, and gameplay excellence for what it is: The true successor to the Baldur's Gate series.
  46. nKayu
    Nov 9, 2009
    9
    Ok, this is not a graphic killer game, ok, the PC version is (maybe) superior than the consoles version... but it's an amazing game who locks me in front of my TV for hours... And for that I give it a 9 !
  47. MatthewH
    Nov 11, 2009
    9
    I would have preferred spoken dialog from the protagonist, and the graphics suffer from the occasional hiccup now and again. If we had been given a USB keyboard / mouse option, I'd be completely in love, but having spent time with Mass Effect, the controller commands were not particularly difficult to migrate to. Make no mistake, the content here is enormous and the execution with I would have preferred spoken dialog from the protagonist, and the graphics suffer from the occasional hiccup now and again. If we had been given a USB keyboard / mouse option, I'd be completely in love, but having spent time with Mass Effect, the controller commands were not particularly difficult to migrate to. Make no mistake, the content here is enormous and the execution with which it was made is nigh flawless. This is a game that oozes with the love and care of it's remarkably talented creators.… Expand
  48. JonathanW
    Nov 17, 2009
    9
    I can't give it a ten because of the graphics, yet a 9.4 to 9.7 seems fair enough to me. Some elements of the storyline are predictable, but the maturity level ,presentation, and quality of the story telling makes up for it. Political and social issuses in the game draw out real emotions from within making the game experience more personal. Futhermore, I enjoy the fact that you I can't give it a ten because of the graphics, yet a 9.4 to 9.7 seems fair enough to me. Some elements of the storyline are predictable, but the maturity level ,presentation, and quality of the story telling makes up for it. Political and social issuses in the game draw out real emotions from within making the game experience more personal. Futhermore, I enjoy the fact that you actually have to set your AI character tatics in some parts of the game in order to pprevent your party from wipping.… Expand
  49. SamC.
    Nov 24, 2009
    9
    Graphics are decent, story and world are incredible, combat is, in my opinion, extremely fun. Sometimes, and this isn't always the case, it seems like the dialogues can drag on (when you're in the mood to kick some ass, I mean) and it would've been cool to give the main character a voice. Also, Roger R and Zac whatever, are idiots.
  50. BarryD.Great
    Nov 27, 2009
    9
    Playing this game as a Mage characters seems to be the way to go. I initially started out with a warrior and the combat seems a little wonky-kind of just alot going on and somewhat difficult to determine how much impact your character is contributing to the fight. I think the mage combat is really good generally because you can stand back away from the action and allow your player to do Playing this game as a Mage characters seems to be the way to go. I initially started out with a warrior and the combat seems a little wonky-kind of just alot going on and somewhat difficult to determine how much impact your character is contributing to the fight. I think the mage combat is really good generally because you can stand back away from the action and allow your player to do damage and heal. Its much easier to grasp your impact on the game. I find the graphics to be fine with no real issues and the story line is as good as I seen in any game this year. You have to be a fan of this genre in order to fully enjoy this game. I can easily see people either love it or hate it.… Expand
  51. PhilC
    Nov 29, 2009
    9
    This game is easily one of the best RPGs ever produced. While the system is a bit difficult to get used to because one is not able to micromanage like the old school games, I still think it was awesome. After three playthroughs I'm still digging through my options and I can play the game through differently every time. The choices here are not black and white... very shades of gray, This game is easily one of the best RPGs ever produced. While the system is a bit difficult to get used to because one is not able to micromanage like the old school games, I still think it was awesome. After three playthroughs I'm still digging through my options and I can play the game through differently every time. The choices here are not black and white... very shades of gray, which is exactly how it should be. I don't get the complaints about the graphics. My only complaint is that I wish it were more seamless like Oblivion.. but that's not what Bioware does.… Expand
  52. JimsumB
    Nov 29, 2009
    9
    Best game from them since KOTOR - this game is KOTOR but with swords and shields instead of lightsabres. When i was originally waiting for Mass Effect i was hoping for more of a Jade Empire/KOTOR experience but was let down but overjoyed that a different direction still hooked me,now im overjoyed as i have a game that reminds me of KOTOR and Jade Empire,and love a new direction with Mass Best game from them since KOTOR - this game is KOTOR but with swords and shields instead of lightsabres. When i was originally waiting for Mass Effect i was hoping for more of a Jade Empire/KOTOR experience but was let down but overjoyed that a different direction still hooked me,now im overjoyed as i have a game that reminds me of KOTOR and Jade Empire,and love a new direction with Mass Effect that has a sequel on the way and being a big fan of all of Bioware games i can only hope they continue the good work.Who knows where their emotional engine they use within their games will be in many years time.The only game where the the dialogue and choices you make actually makie a difference and shaping the world around you its a win win situation for me. 9 out of 10 although it would have got a 9.5 if they had ironed out all the bugs and made the graphics just a tad better.… Expand
  53. mh
    Nov 8, 2009
    9
    Almost positive the guy that gave the score of 1 on the first page hasn't even played this game since he described this game as "turn-based" when it is definitely not a turn-based rpg. But anyways, the graphics are average. Fabulous story, very entertaining world and characters, and one of the most addicting games I've played all year. Thought that the rogues were nerfed in the Almost positive the guy that gave the score of 1 on the first page hasn't even played this game since he described this game as "turn-based" when it is definitely not a turn-based rpg. But anyways, the graphics are average. Fabulous story, very entertaining world and characters, and one of the most addicting games I've played all year. Thought that the rogues were nerfed in the early character levels, but they get much better as they lvl up fortunately.… Expand
  54. BrentE
    Nov 8, 2009
    9
    I personally love the return to party based rpg. I loved Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and NWN. Many people who never played those prefer their rpg's light - like Mass Effect - too short, too basic. I am enjoying DA:O and am still hoping for BG3 to come out one day. I don't see the big deal with the graphics myself. I prefer gameplay and story over them in my rpg's anyway.
  55. MikeK
    Dec 13, 2009
    9
    This has to be one of the best RPGs i have played in a very long time, if you like Knights of the old republic, baldurs gate, never winter knights, you will love this game its one of my personal favorites don't let other people tell you other wise!
  56. D.E.
    Nov 25, 2009
    9
    + Addicting. Hours can be spent outfitting your party. Visuals, you grow accustomed to them. Feel like a major BA while laying waste to large groups of enemies. After playing for several quests it gets much easier to switch between party members and use all their amazing abilities. Must buy. - Poor looting system
  57. JeremyM
    Dec 13, 2009
    9
    The story of this game is extremely well written. I love the fact that you have so many different starting options. The control scheme takes about 10 minutes to get used to, but once you start playing,,, hours pass before you realize that you've been engrossed for so long!
  58. DeVr33z
    Mar 11, 2011
    9
    It's much more linear than a game like Oblivion, but that's okay because all of paths you are able to go on are awesome. Dragon Age Origins feels like an old-school RPG in the best way possible. The combat is paced so that you can strategize effectively and still feel the excitement of battle, and the story and characters are excellent. My highest recommendations for any RPG fan.
  59. TheFloydster
    Aug 14, 2010
    9
    An epic immersive storyline, some fantastically humorous and emotionally engaging characters (Oghren and Alistair for myself). A somewhat clunky and combat system to begin with, but definitely one of the better ones for its genre. A huge campaign quest line and side quests that can take from 40 -100 hours depending on your own speed and interest. Each of my play throughs has taken ~60An epic immersive storyline, some fantastically humorous and emotionally engaging characters (Oghren and Alistair for myself). A somewhat clunky and combat system to begin with, but definitely one of the better ones for its genre. A huge campaign quest line and side quests that can take from 40 -100 hours depending on your own speed and interest. Each of my play throughs has taken ~60 hours, considering few games last longer than 10 hours of gameplay this is a great investment.… Expand
  60. Samtheman25
    Dec 13, 2010
    9
    Very, very satisfying game. The customization ability in the game is superb. So many choices in creating your character physically as well as classes and special abilities. The game also has a great storyline and history to it. I'm sure if you took the time to read everything that you pick up along the way, it would read much like a fantastical story. The game can be difficult at a fewVery, very satisfying game. The customization ability in the game is superb. So many choices in creating your character physically as well as classes and special abilities. The game also has a great storyline and history to it. I'm sure if you took the time to read everything that you pick up along the way, it would read much like a fantastical story. The game can be difficult at a few points but for a beginning gamer, it should be a simple task on the easiest difficulty. There is tons of replay ability in the game. It will make you want to change characters and play a whole new storyline. It took me around 25 hours to complete and i didn't do too many side quests. The DLC will add a pretty substanial amount of time as well. The audio is great and a few characters really stand out in their voice acting. The one complaint I have with the game is the graphics and bugs along the way. There are many blotched settings and bugged conversations, which can get annoying. However, the game was tremendous and i recommend it to somebody who loves RPG's. Overall: 8.7/10.… Expand
  61. Snipestrifer
    Sep 5, 2012
    9
    This game was.... a pleasent surprise actually. A bloody good story that's quite dark and mature (And is mature in the way it handles these darker elements) with a wide cast of lovable characters and an antagonist that you just love to hate. Yes, the style of story is nothing new but it certainly is the best of the formula. The combat is not really my thing but I found it fun anyway, and IThis game was.... a pleasent surprise actually. A bloody good story that's quite dark and mature (And is mature in the way it handles these darker elements) with a wide cast of lovable characters and an antagonist that you just love to hate. Yes, the style of story is nothing new but it certainly is the best of the formula. The combat is not really my thing but I found it fun anyway, and I actually had to reduce the difficulty because this game is HARD. You can still play this game as a casual if you lower the difficulty but even on normal you WILL need to gear up, choose your party wisely and go in with a plan if you want to win most fights, even with trash mobs. It was a little frustrating at first, but there's the option to lower the difficulty if you wish, and it's nice to see a game that isn't super-easy or super-cheap, considering the abundance of those games nowadays. The best characters in the game by far are both Alistair (You always want to hug him :3) and Morrigan (She's a **** but you love her for it :D). Both are polar opposites but are both played masterfully and their interactions are some of the funniest in the game. Of course Zevran is great, but his backstory and seeming lack of character development puts him at third unfortunately. He's still great though. In conclusion, if you love a good hero story or old-style RPG's then you will LOVE this game, as it is basically the perfection of the formula.… Expand
  62. TheQuietGamer
    Jun 30, 2011
    9
    This has to be one of if not the best games I have ever played, the story is fantastic and that alone will have you glued to your controller for many hours, it's emotional, intense, and epic, and the characters are the best of any Bioware game so far, only a few characters from the Mass Effect series are this enjoyable, but you still do have some lame followers like Sten and Zevran, butThis has to be one of if not the best games I have ever played, the story is fantastic and that alone will have you glued to your controller for many hours, it's emotional, intense, and epic, and the characters are the best of any Bioware game so far, only a few characters from the Mass Effect series are this enjoyable, but you still do have some lame followers like Sten and Zevran, but for the most part they are awesome, and they are genuinely hilarious, I found myself often laughing until I couldn't breath at some of the conversations between the characters (Alistair and Morrigans bickering is a laugh riot!) and the combat system works well for the game, and feels every bit like a classic RPG which is a good thing, and it has HIGH replayability do to do to multiple character creation options and different choices to make, that and it's just so much fun, and for all these good things I was originally going to give this a perfect 10/10, but there is one flaw, during the end of the game there is a HUGE difficulty spike, don't get me wrong the game was always challenging, but it was the rewarding kind of challenging, but at the end it's just frustrating, before that combat is nicely paced and you have just enough enemies to feel challenged, but in the final moments your constantly swarmed with enemies at all sides, and this also happens during the final boss battle, I mean the boss itself is tough, but just tough enough to be fun, what makes this encounter so frustrating is that when you get its health to 50% he sends in swarms of enemies, which once again overwhelm you, I eventually made it past this boss battle, but only after a lot of cheap deaths, I mean nothing i the game prepares you for that, no warning or anything to how frustrating it will be in its final moments, but even with those flaws I still loved this game and it has earned itself a special place in my heart, and it's an experience I will never forget, it's just a shame that the final moments are so frustrating, but this is a near perfect game, and I highly recommend it to any and all gamers, this is definitely one of the greatest games of all time.… Expand
  63. Vicissitude
    Jan 14, 2011
    9
    This is good RPG with some good characters, intriguing options, and a decent story. I disagree that it's the "spiritual successor" of Baldur's Gate (though even DA's creators don't claim that), but I'm not really sure that DA tries to be anything other than a new fantasy RP IP and a good one at that. It's much more focused on action and character development than Baldur's Gate, whileThis is good RPG with some good characters, intriguing options, and a decent story. I disagree that it's the "spiritual successor" of Baldur's Gate (though even DA's creators don't claim that), but I'm not really sure that DA tries to be anything other than a new fantasy RP IP and a good one at that. It's much more focused on action and character development than Baldur's Gate, while lacking the depth and richness of the environment and narrative of the BG series. Combat can be a bit wonky. I recommend being a mage for the greatest flexibility and tactical strength. Anyway, this is a fine RPG, but it's clear that Mass Effect is Bioware's flagship RPG series. Maybe Dragon Age 2 will prove me wrong, but ME2 set the bar pretty high. Unless you greatly prefer fantasy to sci-fi, choose to play Mass Effect before this.… Expand
  64. Devil_Man_X
    Jul 5, 2011
    9
    Just as good as Origins except where it counts, the end. The ending and even the later parts of the game just serve to ruin the story from Origins. I would love to erase this from my memory and from the canon of Dragon Age as a whole.
  65. Diogenes4evr
    Mar 14, 2011
    9
    I have completed this game 14 times so far and still want to play it. The characters are genuinely funny and charming. The story is epic and the choices I made seem to really affect the world. Gameplay is a tad on the slow side but allows for some tactical manouvering. Graphics are not great but the immersion more than makes up for that. Amazing experience from BioWare a must get game.
  66. Se7en
    Mar 15, 2011
    9
    By no measure an awful game, it manages to deliver exactly what it claims to. Containing many loved classic RPG elements and the tried and true formula for all recent Bioware games (Mainly Mass Effect and KOTOR) this game is surely to keep you occupied for hours on end. Being an FPS gamer myself (ArmA 2, Halo, Oblivion if that counts, being a hybrid game and all), I found myself boredBy no measure an awful game, it manages to deliver exactly what it claims to. Containing many loved classic RPG elements and the tried and true formula for all recent Bioware games (Mainly Mass Effect and KOTOR) this game is surely to keep you occupied for hours on end. Being an FPS gamer myself (ArmA 2, Halo, Oblivion if that counts, being a hybrid game and all), I found myself bored nearly 36 hours in, especially during the deep roads quest arch, however, loving a good story and good characters, I found the motivation to push through to the end and even enjoyed it enough to purchase the expansion pack, Awakening. All in all, I give it a 9, and hope to enjoy Dragon Age 2 just as much.… Expand
  67. Drakan
    Apr 7, 2011
    9
    Poor graphics for 2009, no doubt, but an undeniably wickedly good RPG through and through. From the immersive storyline (a bit of a LOTR rip-off, mind you), to the great voice-acting, the endless fun banter between the companions (Alistair & dog! Morrigan -sigh-), the camp, the 7 different origin stories (what a treat), travelling and exploring Ferelden, finishing moves, the codex, thePoor graphics for 2009, no doubt, but an undeniably wickedly good RPG through and through. From the immersive storyline (a bit of a LOTR rip-off, mind you), to the great voice-acting, the endless fun banter between the companions (Alistair & dog! Morrigan -sigh-), the camp, the 7 different origin stories (what a treat), travelling and exploring Ferelden, finishing moves, the codex, the beautiful songs (Leliana!!), the artstyle, the romance, the combat tactics etc it all sucks you in. You are genuinely interested in what people, specially companions, have to say. In one word, you have to own it, period. Buy the Ultimate edition which includes the expansion (Awakening) and all 7 DLC. This RPG is as good as the genre gets. Bioware, thanks for making yet another game.… Expand
  68. dottowiggle
    Mar 16, 2011
    9
    Origins is an example of how games can be brilliant and immersive without amazing visuals.Alot of dlc and and expansion some better than others.Its one of those games that grows and grows on you,and thats quality.The combat in this version clunky but still fun when you go trhough the class upgrades.All in all well worth checking out if you havent already.
  69. Drakenian
    Mar 18, 2011
    9
    Dragon Age: Origins is a shining example of what made RPG's like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Knights of the Old Republic such engaging and entertaining games. Everything from the combat system to the story to the dialogue feels old school and, while this may turn off many gamers, for those wishing to experience old school tactical fantasy, Dragon Age: Origins is the perfect game.
  70. CarsonRGB
    Oct 8, 2011
    9
    Story: 10
    Characters: 10
    Graphics: 9
    Setting: 10
    Multiplayer: N/A
    Technical: 5
    Audio: 10
    Gameplay: 6
    Re-Playability Value: 10
    Fun Factor: 9

    Score: 8.7/10 = A
  71. stevev45
    Oct 14, 2011
    9
    Fantastic game. Combat is not fast passed, which is usually a bad thing, but in DAO it does a good job of forcing the player to focus on strategy and team composition. The dialog is very well written and voice acting is effective. Hearing inflection and understanding sarcasm is sometimes required to make the correct dialog choice. Making the wrong choice can have serious repercussions,Fantastic game. Combat is not fast passed, which is usually a bad thing, but in DAO it does a good job of forcing the player to focus on strategy and team composition. The dialog is very well written and voice acting is effective. Hearing inflection and understanding sarcasm is sometimes required to make the correct dialog choice. Making the wrong choice can have serious repercussions, which for me deepened the rpg experience a lot.… Expand
  72. StevenEvans0
    Nov 3, 2011
    9
    What an extremely epic game. Hours and hours of limitless gameplay that almost, at times, was too much for my schedule to handle! Epic story and fantastic character-relations with intense customization factors. Definitely one of my favorite Xbox 360 games.
  73. bowflexman
    Jan 31, 2012
    9
    I am sick and tired of reading negative reviews about this game when the reviews are all ignorant. Dragon Age is a shout out to the RPGs of yesterday. It is deep, complex, emotionally driven and, most importantly, very challenging and fun. People who claim the battle system is boring, or that this is KOTOR 7 years later with no improvements, really have no idea what they are talking about.I am sick and tired of reading negative reviews about this game when the reviews are all ignorant. Dragon Age is a shout out to the RPGs of yesterday. It is deep, complex, emotionally driven and, most importantly, very challenging and fun. People who claim the battle system is boring, or that this is KOTOR 7 years later with no improvements, really have no idea what they are talking about. I loved KOTOR, but this game is far, far more complex. Just take a look at the skill trees and you will agree. And you will be managing each one of those trees for each character. Battles are very D and Dish. It uses an auto attack style much like modern MMOs, with various skills available depending on which you choose, and each skill has a cooldown. This game is not for the faint of heart. Most battles require the utmost care in order to keep your party alive. You cannot just charge into battle and expect to win. I guess that for some of you, that's a bad thing. You shouldn't be playing video games if you are in that boat. Have some patience and try using your brain for once.

    As I have come to expect from Bioware, the story is brilliant and as complex as the gameplay, and the effect your character has on the world can definitely be felt. This truly is an incredible game. My only gripe are a few bugs here and there, most being graphical. They are not game breaking by any means, however, so they only take this amazing, instant classic, to a 9 out of 10.    … Expand
  74. moonman1994
    Jul 16, 2012
    9
    Dragon Age: Origins has a really interesting story and it has many interesting characters. The best thing about this game is how it allows you to interact with your party members and how your interactions with them make then like you or hate you. Also due to the fact that you can choose several different origins for your character it allows for the game to change in cool ways. Also theDragon Age: Origins has a really interesting story and it has many interesting characters. The best thing about this game is how it allows you to interact with your party members and how your interactions with them make then like you or hate you. Also due to the fact that you can choose several different origins for your character it allows for the game to change in cool ways. Also the decisions that you make in the game impact the entire story which is really cool as well. The only down side to the game is the battle system. It's ok but it really needs some work because except for special attacks the battles work very automatically.… Expand
  75. demonmind
    Nov 13, 2012
    9
    Dragon age origins was the best RPG game story I have played. I just loved how the characters over time kinda grow on you especially morrgian who was my favorite character. Just playing it was a blast. the gameplay/ combat was blast to play all the leveling up and customizing what your character can do and all that was fun and immersive each character had there own story's to tell andDragon age origins was the best RPG game story I have played. I just loved how the characters over time kinda grow on you especially morrgian who was my favorite character. Just playing it was a blast. the gameplay/ combat was blast to play all the leveling up and customizing what your character can do and all that was fun and immersive each character had there own story's to tell and Ioved just talking and getting to know each and every character. Also this game had one the best endings and with a good twist at the end which just blew my socks off haha. Some minor bugs here and there and some graphical glitches appear sometimes which didn't affect the game that much if at all cause its so good and long which left me feeling like I got my moneys worth.… Expand
  76. Rox22
    Dec 11, 2012
    9
    Absolutely fantastic game. Combat is perhaps a little slow and a bit clumsy, but it is not the action that is the star of the game but the adventure. The excellent narrative, wonderful voice acting and deep character development of your side characters just take you deep into the world's lore. This has got to be one of my favorite games of all time.
  77. sJagstang
    Mar 15, 2013
    9
    Dragon Age: Origins is a fantastic RPG by BioWare with some great characters, a deep and interesting world and a great story, It's a long game which will give you anywhere from 20-40 hours in a playthrough depending on your speed and how much side content you do, But if you buy the DLC or the Ultimate Edition that number increases drastically with tons of great extra content. The graphicsDragon Age: Origins is a fantastic RPG by BioWare with some great characters, a deep and interesting world and a great story, It's a long game which will give you anywhere from 20-40 hours in a playthrough depending on your speed and how much side content you do, But if you buy the DLC or the Ultimate Edition that number increases drastically with tons of great extra content. The graphics are one of the weaker points of the game on consoles but they don't detract from the game enough to be very noticeable apart from a few exceptions in some area's, the combat is quite slow paced with you controlling a party of 4 and switching between them, I think this game is much better then Dragon Age II and is a must for any RPG fan.… Expand
  78. SuperFloorMat
    Apr 28, 2013
    9
    One of the best RPGs I've ever played. Amazing Combat with its stop and pause combat systems, It feels powerful when you pull off risky moves with your team of very awesome characters. The story is one of the best and they pulled it off. Even though some side quest are plain they feel rushed just to keep hours going with barely any story but the minor of them are very good side quest. ThisOne of the best RPGs I've ever played. Amazing Combat with its stop and pause combat systems, It feels powerful when you pull off risky moves with your team of very awesome characters. The story is one of the best and they pulled it off. Even though some side quest are plain they feel rushed just to keep hours going with barely any story but the minor of them are very good side quest. This Game is amazing, I played it for hours and it was very well developed. This game will forever be in my arsenal of video games. Unlike Dragon age 2 and 3. .hehe.… Expand
  79. GamingSoldier
    Jul 29, 2013
    9
    Ok to sum up dragon age origins in won word. Awesome! This is my second greatest RPG of all time right behind mass effect and one of the best games I've played of any genre. Pros: one of the best story's in a game ever, party members are interesting with some of the most memorable back story's, you will be a bit annoyedOk to sum up dragon age origins in won word. Awesome! This is my second greatest RPG of all time right behind mass effect and one of the best games I've played of any genre. Pros: one of the best story's in a game ever, party members are interesting with some of the most memorable back story's, you will be a bit annoyed by the auto attack combat but is really more strategic then about doing mass damage to enemy's, hours of content, deep customization for yourself and your team, interesting choices, great epilogue where your choices come together and either change the world in a good way, messed up and blew up and your face, or devastate the world Cons: it may be a bit too hard I played through on easy just so I would not end up taking a hammer to my Xbox, fade quest, an extremely annoying bug I got where I was unable to have any conversation with leliana and get her quest and backstory, morrigans spell near the end I won't spoil it but it makes no sense on how it works or why that's the choice since chances are if you played as a girl it may end up killing you So listen to me and play this awesome game you will never feel like you are not getting every penny of the purchase price… Expand
  80. doggystyle
    Aug 15, 2013
    9
    A very good RPG. I don't like how Bioware makes its games for teen boys when it comes to women, sex and the dialogue in general. In DAO that stuff is sufficiently out of the way so that it doesn't get in the way of gaming. I'd rather have a world like that in Witcher instead of Bioware's classic good vs evil with large breasted women and huge spiky armors. Nevertheless, DAO was good.A very good RPG. I don't like how Bioware makes its games for teen boys when it comes to women, sex and the dialogue in general. In DAO that stuff is sufficiently out of the way so that it doesn't get in the way of gaming. I'd rather have a world like that in Witcher instead of Bioware's classic good vs evil with large breasted women and huge spiky armors. Nevertheless, DAO was good. Definitely the best game Bioware has ever produced and looking at the horror that was Dragon's Age 2 and how they "developed" Mass Effect downhill through the series it is safe to say that DAO will be their best game ever.… Expand
  81. Prizrak232
    Oct 4, 2013
    9
    This game is amazing anyone that enjoys RPG's should own this game, the story and writing is wonderful, there is so much to experience. I finished the game in 49 hours with only 61% Exploration so even though the world is linear there are a lot of areas to explore, the armor design and leveling system are extremely well thought out, you can make an extremely in depth character withThis game is amazing anyone that enjoys RPG's should own this game, the story and writing is wonderful, there is so much to experience. I finished the game in 49 hours with only 61% Exploration so even though the world is linear there are a lot of areas to explore, the armor design and leveling system are extremely well thought out, you can make an extremely in depth character with branching skills and specialization's. The only down sides to this game is the combat system is not very in depth, and the graphics won't impress you but they have aged well. So all in all fans of the RPG genre will fall in love with this game, and any gamer worthy of the title must own this game.… Expand
  82. Samanosuke0
    Jan 17, 2016
    9
    Story: 10
    Characters: 10
    Graphics: 9
    Setting: 10
    Multiplayer: N/A
    Technical: 5
    Audio: 10
    Gameplay: 7
    Re-Playability Value: 10
    Fun Factor: 9
    Innovation: 8

    Total: 9
  83. jrubensco
    Oct 18, 2017
    9
    Great story with very interesting and captivating characters - I just couldn't stop playing. Graphics not amazing, but alright. Very interactive game, one of the best I've ever played.
  84. ZXSth
    Feb 25, 2023
    9
    An incredible game that set a new precedent for what role-playing games could be. Despite (arguably) dated MMORPG-style combat and primitive graphical quality (on the 360, at least), Origins' quality is uplifted tremendously by its incredible worldbuilding, enthralling story and some of the most compelling characters ever inserted into a video game. An absolutely mandatory experience forAn incredible game that set a new precedent for what role-playing games could be. Despite (arguably) dated MMORPG-style combat and primitive graphical quality (on the 360, at least), Origins' quality is uplifted tremendously by its incredible worldbuilding, enthralling story and some of the most compelling characters ever inserted into a video game. An absolutely mandatory experience for fans of 2000s CRPGs, and a highly recommended one for fans of RPGs in general.… Expand
  85. irai16
    Mar 31, 2023
    9
    As a big fan of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Origins was a game I had long wanted to play, and thankfully, Gamepass provided me with the perfect opportunity. Origins has more than lived up to my lofty expectations, with the excellent story, characters, and quests I've come to expect from BioWare. I even grew to enjoy the combat, though its more tactical style is definitely not for everyone.As a big fan of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Origins was a game I had long wanted to play, and thankfully, Gamepass provided me with the perfect opportunity. Origins has more than lived up to my lofty expectations, with the excellent story, characters, and quests I've come to expect from BioWare. I even grew to enjoy the combat, though its more tactical style is definitely not for everyone. The game has aged poorly in certain aspects (no fast travel, for instance), and the difficulty is a bit annoying at times, but overall, this is an easy recommend and one of the best RPGs I've played. Now I just have to decide if I really want to try Dragon Age 2....… Expand
  86. CloudStrife05
    Aug 20, 2021
    9
    The main thing about this game is the fact that what ever choices you make, it can be carried over for the remainder of the series.
  87. HollyC
    Jan 4, 2010
    8
    This is the first time I've gone for a Bioware RPG on Xbox, rather than my PC-- and I'm kinda wishing I had gotten DragonAge for the PC. A couple reasons-- the graphics I've seen for the PC version are remarkably better also the pause factor standard with all Bioware stuff is still much better on a PC--along with combat control/micromanaging. However, even with the This is the first time I've gone for a Bioware RPG on Xbox, rather than my PC-- and I'm kinda wishing I had gotten DragonAge for the PC. A couple reasons-- the graphics I've seen for the PC version are remarkably better also the pause factor standard with all Bioware stuff is still much better on a PC--along with combat control/micromanaging. However, even with the lackluster porting from PC to Xbox, DragonAge Origins is one stellar RPG--more akin to Baldur's Gate than Oblivion (yay for NPC party). The characters, relationships and story arc you create are completely immersive and soon you forget all about the console issues--which is a massive compliment to the story of the game. My few gameplay issues: Vast amount of quests--and sometimes they aren't real clear (or mapped) --making it a chore to rifle through them--much easier to do on PC, not so much on the XBox. A couple environments were difficult to figure out b/c of this--and sometimes the payoff was so little that the whole quest felt kind of like a job rather than fun. Same with some dialog choices--decisions--subtle responses can change your entire game if you're not careful, and unless you want to replay the game a bajillion times to get different outcomes, you find yourself reloading to get the outcome that feels best instead--which I don't think was the intention. However, the main story arc was so solid and epic that it's worth it all. As others said, the story is pretty much ripped wholesale from others (LotR especially)--but it doesn't matter--it's still epic and totally fun.… Expand
  88. JohanA
    Jan 4, 2010
    8
    Good story, interesting world and characters with lots of fun action. The graphics are not great and the GUI for reading codex entries is horrible.
  89. RockyB
    Jan 5, 2010
    8
    phics suck for a modern game but the story is awesome. I also like how the origins thing worked.. Game is fun but controls in some of the battles having to pause to direct your teammates was a litte tricky. Once again the story made up for everything
  90. zach
    Nov 8, 2009
    8
    This is a good game. Although this game is decent the company was just tricking themselves into thinking this would be a ground-breaking game. I like the RPG elements but they actually are uminspired. Baulders Gate was much better and this is a lot better than Mass Effect. Overall I would say SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR MODERN WARFARE 2!!
  91. SysyphusT
    Nov 9, 2009
    8
    1up's score is not a 100. Their maximum score is A+ and they gave Dragon Age an A. So their score should be a 90 or so.
  92. peterD
    Jan 12, 2010
    8
    this game is one of the better. the storyline is definately its best quality, managing to keep you drawn into the universe of origins at all times. You get a great feel for the Characters, and you start to learn their ways, ideal and principles quickly, andd you learn to predict what their choices would be in the situation. impressive and rarely seen if you ask me. gameplaywise, it doesnt this game is one of the better. the storyline is definately its best quality, managing to keep you drawn into the universe of origins at all times. You get a great feel for the Characters, and you start to learn their ways, ideal and principles quickly, andd you learn to predict what their choices would be in the situation. impressive and rarely seen if you ask me. gameplaywise, it doesnt manage to do anything specificly new, other than the tactical element. but i get the general feeling, that the difficulty curve is very deform. some things appear very easy, but some things, like random encounters, are absolutely punishing. there were a lot of thing s that were absurdly difficult, and that drew the game away from me. and, before you start pointing fingers, i did spend a lot of time in pause… Expand
  93. PoiterA
    Dec 12, 2009
    8
    Awesome game initial graphics are a let down but u soon become acustomed to that. Mad story even if it feels like its been taken from movies and other games. Combat system is fun. It is hard sometimes in pause combat to direct everyone. Quests can be mapped poorly or confusing. The origin idea is fantastic and all in all a solid game...
  94. MikelH
    Dec 25, 2009
    8
    Dragon Age: Origins... what a game, really! In all the reviews I read before purchasing my own copy, the main complaint about this game was most definitely the graphics. Myself, I still found them really nice, but that's because I am accustomed to Wii and last generation consoles. I just got my 360 recently. Still, as I became acquainted with the 360 graphics, I did find myself Dragon Age: Origins... what a game, really! In all the reviews I read before purchasing my own copy, the main complaint about this game was most definitely the graphics. Myself, I still found them really nice, but that's because I am accustomed to Wii and last generation consoles. I just got my 360 recently. Still, as I became acquainted with the 360 graphics, I did find myself grimacing at the horrid lack of sharpness. Some things are downright ugly, which is strange because the exact same areas, like facial hair for example, are so well done in Mass Effect. Strange... graphics are my only real complaint though. The story is incredible. Most fantasy novels, and there are countless ones out there, could not hope to compete with the storyline of DA. DA is like an incredibly epic 6 novel series, beloved and classic, adored for generations for its detail, imagination, and majesty. If you ever wanted to play a game that felt as epic as watching or reading Lord of the Rings, but still felt totally original and not as a Tolkien rip off. You've got it here. Granted, there are huge homages to Tolkein, but the approach to generally stereotyped species like elves, dwarves, even orcs (who are renamed "darkspawn" in this game). These species are reimagined in ways I had never thought of before and was incredibly drawn in and fascinated to see. The world is so real, so immersive (The codex is so huge, so well thought out, that you'll fancy yourself a Ferelden scholar by the time it's over). The darkspawn are generally much more evil and chilling than even Peter Jackson's orcs, and I found them an incredibly chilling foe to face, but abominations are pretty horrifying too. Character development: top notch. You'll love these characters, and some you'll be irritated by, not because of their voice or looks, but because of their actual character. There are multiple gut-wrenching moral decisions that are genuinely difficult to make, that you must think deeply about. Very few companies can make you care about the characters in a game like Bioware do. Great game. Incredible story, characters, imagination, and atmosphere. Absolutely nauseating graphics. I'd say it's worth it.… Expand
  95. Shockwave
    Sep 9, 2010
    8
    Dragon Age for the XBOX lives under the shadow of its PC counterpart. Many of the criticisms that can be tossed at the console version such as its graphic, GUI and companion control issues are non issues on the PC. But if you don't have a PC that can play DA don't let that persuade you to pass on this game though. After losing its license for Dungeons and Dragons, Bioware did a fine jobDragon Age for the XBOX lives under the shadow of its PC counterpart. Many of the criticisms that can be tossed at the console version such as its graphic, GUI and companion control issues are non issues on the PC. But if you don't have a PC that can play DA don't let that persuade you to pass on this game though. After losing its license for Dungeons and Dragons, Bioware did a fine job of constructing their own in depth world although admittedly not nearly as vast as Forgotten Realms. Those that enjoy reading about the world via codex entry will be in heaven here. I personally missed quite a bit of information because I didn't follow-up and read all the entries (and there are LOTS of them) as I came across them. Sometimes I would complete missions I didn't even know I was on. I think that the tsunami wave of back story you find in the world is an attempt to quickly build the history and mythology of Ferelden to be as immersive as the world of Baldur's Gate. As overwhelming a task as it may seem, they've done an awesome job (let us give a toast). I also appreciate the mature content in this game. I find that game studios are becoming more prudish when it comes to sexual content and gender roles but more liberal with graphic violence and death. Not that this game overly objectifies a particular gender but at the same time I didn't feel like I was in an after school special. My fear is that this game is among a dying bread of adult games and that game studios in the future will create nothing but PG and PG 13 like games. Support Mature games and buy Dragon Age!… Expand
  96. samtheham56
    Oct 27, 2010
    8
    The main story is very good and has a lot of great quests. Unfortunately it is not helped by the poor graphics and the fact the main quest is very very hard.
  97. JON_RYO
    Apr 28, 2011
    8
    Ok, so being a fan of bioware and their previous games such as baldurs gate, KOTOR, mass effect etc I knew what to expect from an RPG from them, this game being very similar to Knights of the old republic in many respects I was at home with the way the mechanics of the game worked such as interactive dialogue etc. They storyline is very consuming and characters very believable, i even feltOk, so being a fan of bioware and their previous games such as baldurs gate, KOTOR, mass effect etc I knew what to expect from an RPG from them, this game being very similar to Knights of the old republic in many respects I was at home with the way the mechanics of the game worked such as interactive dialogue etc. They storyline is very consuming and characters very believable, i even felt myself feeling for them at some points of the game. The combat is not real time and when leveling up your characters and others you have to constantly change their 'quick' set of moves from the menu to the more powerful moves etc so they dont keep the old less powerful ones, the menus are full of statistics and the codex contains interesting info about each important character in the quest, which helps to build an understanding of their relationship to you and the game world. Each main character is voice acted superbly and the story is absolutely convincing and draws you in in a way only bioware RPGs do. This is the best part of the game and will keep you playing as the gameplay gets a bit repetive after a while. Now the main problem with the game is the difficulty, I started out on the highest difficulty (nightmare) which of course was extremely difficult but to the point where i found myself stuck in the wilds at the beginning of the game unable to progress because i could not defeat the enemies, after many failed attempts I changed the difficulty and after a little more put it down to casual, the problem was sorted out for the most part. However the difficulty level still seemed to jump in places from being very easy to being very tough, which was frustrating. Other than that I'd say the lack of the 'light' and 'dark' side meter took away from the experience as there was no consequence to being evil and your character leaning toward a darker more sinister person. Or doing good deeds becoming a 'lighter' type of character who helps those in need. I also would have preferred the game touse real time combat like in mass effect, except of course with swords etc. Overall I'd recommend this game to any RPG fan but not over mass effect 1 or 2, which I believe along with KOTOR are the best bioware have to offer.… Expand
  98. scorpius952
    Mar 24, 2011
    8
    I really love this game. I feel like this game was made specifically for me. Being able to choose from different origin stories for your character is an excellent idea that guarantees replay value. The story is well written, deep and enjoyable. I don't feel the graphics are that bad, although I don't feel they're that good either. I do love the art style though. The realisticI really love this game. I feel like this game was made specifically for me. Being able to choose from different origin stories for your character is an excellent idea that guarantees replay value. The story is well written, deep and enjoyable. I don't feel the graphics are that bad, although I don't feel they're that good either. I do love the art style though. The realistic character animations really help with the immersion of this game. I felt like I was in this world and I cared about every choice I made and everything that took place in the game. This is definitely one of the best rpg's out to date. Highly Recommended!… Expand
  99. Saeta
    Mar 13, 2011
    8
    ¡Por los Guardas grises!

    Bastante tarde, aunque ya saben el dicho... Llega el analisis de uno de los mejores videojuegos que nos ha deparado la generación con caracteristicas bastante peculiares y con el respaldo de un estudio ya acostumbrado a crear obras maestras, como lo es BioWare.

    â
  100. Ozymandias23
    Nov 14, 2011
    8
    This is a game that takes a little while to get into. For the first few hours I wasn't that impressed and thought the graphics were very poor. Then I found myself warming to it and at the time of writing I've played though it about 5 times. Story has always been Bioware's strong point (at least everything prior to Mass Effect 2) and this is no exception. Decent game, worth a play thoughThis is a game that takes a little while to get into. For the first few hours I wasn't that impressed and thought the graphics were very poor. Then I found myself warming to it and at the time of writing I've played though it about 5 times. Story has always been Bioware's strong point (at least everything prior to Mass Effect 2) and this is no exception. Decent game, worth a play though if you're an RPG fan.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2009
7
#7 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2009
6
#6 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 68
  3. Negative: 0 out of 68
  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.
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  2. 3DJuegos
    87
    Despite its lack of innovation Dragon Age: Origins is the best RPG in 2009. Its great value and addictive gameplay are among its main highlights.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpot
    85
    Incredible storytelling, great characters, and exciting battles are just a few of the things that make this fantasy role-playing game so great.
    Read full review
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