Dragon Age Origins review

The hardest part about this game isn't what one would normally expect. It isn't the tough boss fights that sap up your mental energy and resources. It isn't the sudden ambushes that randomly happen when you're looking for leaves. It isn't the strenuous thinking to devise smart, precise strategies in order to effectively combat enemies and use the combat system to its fullest. 

It's making decisions. 

This is my review of Dragon Age Origins. I've devoted a massive number of hours to this game, and each hour has been an hour well spent.This will be divided into a few sections: gameplay, graphics, and plot. 

Gameplay

Most RPGs nowadays adopt a fast-paced playstyle that puts you directly into the thick of battle, e.g Witcher 3, Skyrim, and Kingdom Come Deliverance. DAO however, does not do that. Instead, you're a strategist, not a combatant. You won't be pushing your reflexes to their limits by spamming quick movements. You'll have to think your moves through, and to fully exploit this you'll need to think ahead of your opponents. 

It's a great combat system that takes after predecessors (Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights), but it's not one that's extremely popular nowadays. I appreciated the combat system as it's just so different. The best way for you to test it out would be to play the game, as Let's Play videos don't capture the exact feel behind skill usage and other mechanics. 

Although I enjoyed the combat, there were plenty of times where I almost broke my keyboard because of irritating enemy waves. Sometimes it gets TOO MUCH. There was a point where I had to turn down the difficulty because the enemy waves were too overwhelming, and if you find it so, don't hesitate to turn down the difficulty. It was annoying, yes but I still had a lot of fun. (Tip: Play as a mage) 

Graphics/Art

First thing you must know: this game was made in 2009. Thus, expectations need to be tempered. Do not go into this game expecting a graphical masterpiece and you should be fine. Many textures could use a lot more detail, but they aren't usually focal points that demand your attention. That being said, I found the graphics to be decent, even stunningly beautiful at times. It's not vibrant and bright color-wise because of intention. Dragon Age Origins isn't a happy story with bright spots everywhere. It's quite the opposite actually, and I'll get into that later. Since it's dark fantasy, the art style needs to be dimmer and bleaker to create a fitting atmosphere that reflects Thedas' grim nature. And DAO succeeds in doing that. 

Writing

Plot

What Bioware was best known for during their golden age. It's sad how we can't expect exceptional games from Bioware anymore. DAO released two years after the first Mass Effect game, and the year after DAO, Mass Effect 2 released. All three of them are games that deserve their own tier because of how good they are. 

DAO's plot can feel cliched at first, but it's executed well. Essentially, you're a new recruit of the Grey Wardens, an organization that aims to defeat the darkspawn, and subsequently, the Blight (basically an apocalypse). However, once the tutorial is over, you find that the stakes are impossibly high; if my warden failed, Ferelden would be screwed. And it would be my fault. But it made every victory feel earned and deserved, as each and every one brought my Warden closer to stopping the Blight. There are games that have tried to create zero-to-hero stories, but in many cases it doesn't feel like it because everything is handed to you. Dragon Age Origins does not do that. You need to fight with every fibre of your being in order to accomplish your goals, and no victory will feel undeserved. In addition, DAO's choices are excellent. Every choice you make, you'll have to pay for : even the smallest of choices can bring you big trouble. 

Characters

As good as it's plot execution was, it wasn't the highlight. The highlight belongs to the characters. Every character feels real, with their own struggles and triumphs. 

In 10 days, I have played DAO for a total of 60 hours. A substantial amount of that was spent on character interactions. Each character you meet feels real, and it's easy to forget that they're written people. Party Camp is arguably the best part of this game as it allows you to relax and spend time with your party companions. In fact, i found myself stuck in the Party Camp on many occasions throughout this game because I couldn't resist talking to my companions and learning more about them. Everyone will definitely have a character that they'll love. Want witty sarcasm? There's Alistair. Miss your grandmother's irritating advice that sadly, rings true? Wynne will happily oblige (even if you don't want it). Like dogs? You'll get one too!

Verdict

My enjoyment of this game was heavily boosted by my low expectations. Since I was used to quick fights and breathtaking landscapes, I was concerned about how Dragon Age Origins would hold up. And hold up well, it did.

Despite some of it's aspects that haven't aged too well, Dragon Age Origins is a must play if you're a fan of high fantasy. 

If you do decide to try it but soon after starting you find that you dislike the combat, please consider dropping it. Battles are only going to increase in scale and difficulty, and it wont get easier. Eventually it just becomes an exhaustive slog through the slow, strenuous burn of Dragon Age Origins