+ 0 likes

Dragon Age: Origins

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The Dwarven architecture is rocky and blocky. The Elven items are finely crafted and heavily inspired by nature. The Human castles are regal and the slums are depressing. Medieval Fantasy Fans will appreciate the look of the game, but the graphics snobs will be disappointed in the quality of the art. World 7/10 One of the most highly detailed worlds in a Single Player RPG. It's HEAVILY based on Lord of the Rings, but there is a darker twist. Elves have been enslaved, Magic is under the strict rule of the government, Human Kingdoms backstab each other to expand their borders... All of the different races have their own beliefs, religions, cultures, trade, customs, governments, and opinions. Hardcore fans will love this! However, Dragon Age violates the "Show Don't Tell Rule" as much as possible. Instead of having interesting missions in unique levels to depict the cultures of the races, the game stops all of the action and simply explains the cultures to you through the NPC's and Text via Codexes. Just about every NPC will gladly have a 5 minute conversation with you about their homeland. Unfortunately, the NPC just stands there with a blank expression on their face and simply talks at you. It is like someone is reading a fictional encyclopedia to you... and they keep going... and going... and going... The game would have been much better if YOU learned about the culture through the action and the quests, rather than dialogue and text. Characters 8/10 The Character Creation system of Dragon Age is great. You can make just about any type of character that you can imagine. The NPC's that join the party are also very well thought out and have their moments. In Bioware fashion, they also bicker with each other when they join your party. Some of this is pretty funny. Unfortunately, because the world is dark, there is more arguing and pessimism than interesting or funny moments. The game picks up at the end, but throughout the middle, it's pretty dry. Interface 2/10 The good news... there is a "Party Inventory" that is accessible by your current party. No more micromanaging items and trying to see who has space in their bag for this extra belt of frost resistance that you may need later. Any party member with you can give or take from this inventory at any time. The bad news... buying and equipping items is fairly broken. Final Fantasy has been doing this correctly since the late 1980's and it's shocking to see a new game drop the ball like this. Items that you sell must be unequipped first. So, shopping goes a little something like this: > Talk to shopkeeper. > Get the "I want to buy something option" > He says something witty. > He opens his store > You see a cool sword that Alistair could use. > You buy it and put it in your party inventory. > You exit the shop inventory. > You unequip Alistair's old sword and equip his new one. > You talk to the shopkeeper. > Get the "I want to buy something option." > He opens his store. > You sell Alistair's old sword to the shop's inventory. You should be able to easily swap items in and out of NPC's inventories and shopping could be streamlined 90%. It gets worse if you see an item for a party member that is back at your camp. > Talk to shopkeeper. > Get the "I want to buy something option" > He says something witty. > He opens his store > You see a cool bow that Leliana could use. > You try to "Compare" it to her bow. > But she has her sword equipped. > You end the conversation. > You exit the store... Load Screen > You exit the town... Load Screen > You access the World Map... and select your Camp... Load Screen > You walk over to Leliana and toggle her weapons. > You exit camp... Load Screen > You access the World Map and select the Town... Load Screen. > You walk to the shop and enter it... Load Screen. > You do everything that you did when Alistair bought his sword. This process could take 10-15 minutes and it may be a deal breaker for players who like their games streamlined. Gameplay 7/10 There is no exploring because the game is linear. Levels load and there is a linear path through them with a few side areas where you can find treasure chests. Unfortunately, 95% of the loot that you find is worthless and you end up selling it. The combat is tactical. You control 4 party members and you can give preset commands like in Final Fantasy XII's Gambit System. Examples: "Alistair - If an enemy is using magic - Attack him with Shield Bash." "If my Health is

+ 0 likes

Dragon Age: Origins

...

The Dwarven architecture is rocky and blocky. The Elven items are finely crafted and heavily inspired by nature. The Human castles are regal and the slums are depressing. Medieval Fantasy Fans will appreciate the look of the game, but the graphics snobs will be disappointed in the quality of the art. World 7/10 One of the most highly detailed worlds in a Single Player RPG. It's HEAVILY based on Lord of the Rings, but there is a darker twist. Elves have been enslaved, Magic is under the strict rule of the government, Human Kingdoms backstab each other to expand their borders... All of the different races have their own beliefs, religions, cultures, trade, customs, governments, and opinions. Hardcore fans will love this! However, Dragon Age violates the "Show Don't Tell Rule" as much as possible. Instead of having interesting missions in unique levels to depict the cultures of the races, the game stops all of the action and simply explains the cultures to you through the NPC's and Text via Codexes. Just about every NPC will gladly have a 5 minute conversation with you about their homeland. Unfortunately, the NPC just stands there with a blank expression on their face and simply talks at you. It is like someone is reading a fictional encyclopedia to you... and they keep going... and going... and going... The game would have been much better if YOU learned about the culture through the action and the quests, rather than dialogue and text. Characters 8/10 The Character Creation system of Dragon Age is great. You can make just about any type of character that you can imagine. The NPC's that join the party are also very well thought out and have their moments. In Bioware fashion, they also bicker with each other when they join your party. Some of this is pretty funny. Unfortunately, because the world is dark, there is more arguing and pessimism than interesting or funny moments. The game picks up at the end, but throughout the middle, it's pretty dry. Interface 2/10 The good news... there is a "Party Inventory" that is accessible by your current party. No more micromanaging items and trying to see who has space in their bag for this extra belt of frost resistance that you may need later. Any party member with you can give or take from this inventory at any time. The bad news... buying and equipping items is fairly broken. Final Fantasy has been doing this correctly since the late 1980's and it's shocking to see a new game drop the ball like this. Items that you sell must be unequipped first. So, shopping goes a little something like this: > Talk to shopkeeper. > Get the "I want to buy something option" > He says something witty. > He opens his store > You see a cool sword that Alistair could use. > You buy it and put it in your party inventory. > You exit the shop inventory. > You unequip Alistair's old sword and equip his new one. > You talk to the shopkeeper. > Get the "I want to buy something option." > He opens his store. > You sell Alistair's old sword to the shop's inventory. You should be able to easily swap items in and out of NPC's inventories and shopping could be streamlined 90%. It gets worse if you see an item for a party member that is back at your camp. > Talk to shopkeeper. > Get the "I want to buy something option" > He says something witty. > He opens his store > You see a cool bow that Leliana could use. > You try to "Compare" it to her bow. > But she has her sword equipped. > You end the conversation. > You exit the store... Load Screen > You exit the town... Load Screen > You access the World Map... and select your Camp... Load Screen > You walk over to Leliana and toggle her weapons. > You exit camp... Load Screen > You access the World Map and select the Town... Load Screen. > You walk to the shop and enter it... Load Screen. > You do everything that you did when Alistair bought his sword. This process could take 10-15 minutes and it may be a deal breaker for players who like their games streamlined. Gameplay 7/10 There is no exploring because the game is linear. Levels load and there is a linear path through them with a few side areas where you can find treasure chests. Unfortunately, 95% of the loot that you find is worthless and you end up selling it. The combat is tactical. You control 4 party members and you can give preset commands like in Final Fantasy XII's Gambit System. Examples: "Alistair - If an enemy is using magic - Attack him with Shield Bash." "If my Health is

+ 0 likes

Dragon Age: Origins

...

around Ferelden wrangling nugs and helping start new chantries? A lot of people laud the 'conversation' and 'character interaction' aspects of the game, but they're a little annoying to me. All the conversation options boil down to is a little difference in XP / items gained and maybe a party member gained or not gained. Another thing there is the inability to explore. Everything is basically 'on rails'. You can't venture over hills or through trees or in ponds, but are locked into a set area... no matter how they decorate them, environments are a straight path to the 'boss' or the 'treasure' with a few side paths thrown in for extra items / XP. The thing is, in trying to make the game seem more 'free', the developers actually make it more cramped. Games like Fallout (the original one and its sequel), Arcanum... these games truly gave the user a sense of 'open-ended' play, yet kept a coherent and fixed plot drive. This lower-budget games had inferior graphics but combat, dialogue, and overall storyline seemed so much more fulfilling than Dragon Age. I guess you could say that Dragon Age is the equivalent of the 'safe' hollywood blockbuster: huge special effects budget, all-star cast, mediocre story and direction. Fanboys and apologists get mad when they hear the word 'cliche', but seriously... the Dwarves pray to The Stone. The deity of the Chantry (the Chantry of Light... how creative) is called 'The Maker'. The universal enemies, the 'Darkspawn', look like orcs, have no identifiable motives other than being 'evil', and were created by the corruption of mages. I'll stop there and say, regardless of what fanboys claim, cliches abound in this game. Don't look for any innovation in the way of fantasy plot elements. A final pet peeve is the frequent downloadable content. What the hell? The game is expensive enough. I watch a guy get stabbed in the woods, run over to him, and "DOWNLOAD CONTENT to save him and find out the secret!" Seriously? He's going to lie there in the woods with a knife-wound to the gut and somehow stay alive indefinitely, waiting for me to buy an overpriced expansion module? Give me a break. Suspension of disbelief just ceased being suspended. Eh... hm. Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty fun game with pretty graphics, but it's a clear indicator of the WRONG direction games are taking. Big budget, eye candy, and check-box plot elements for an ultimately forgettable, 'vanilla' RPG.

+ 0 likes

Dragon Age: Origins

...

around Ferelden wrangling nugs and helping start new chantries? A lot of people laud the 'conversation' and 'character interaction' aspects of the game, but they're a little annoying to me. All the conversation options boil down to is a little difference in XP / items gained and maybe a party member gained or not gained. Another thing there is the inability to explore. Everything is basically 'on rails'. You can't venture over hills or through trees or in ponds, but are locked into a set area... no matter how they decorate them, environments are a straight path to the 'boss' or the 'treasure' with a few side paths thrown in for extra items / XP. The thing is, in trying to make the game seem more 'free', the developers actually make it more cramped. Games like Fallout (the original one and its sequel), Arcanum... these games truly gave the user a sense of 'open-ended' play, yet kept a coherent and fixed plot drive. This lower-budget games had inferior graphics but combat, dialogue, and overall storyline seemed so much more fulfilling than Dragon Age. I guess you could say that Dragon Age is the equivalent of the 'safe' hollywood blockbuster: huge special effects budget, all-star cast, mediocre story and direction. Fanboys and apologists get mad when they hear the word 'cliche', but seriously... the Dwarves pray to The Stone. The deity of the Chantry (the Chantry of Light... how creative) is called 'The Maker'. The universal enemies, the 'Darkspawn', look like orcs, have no identifiable motives other than being 'evil', and were created by the corruption of mages. I'll stop there and say, regardless of what fanboys claim, cliches abound in this game. Don't look for any innovation in the way of fantasy plot elements. A final pet peeve is the frequent downloadable content. What the hell? The game is expensive enough. I watch a guy get stabbed in the woods, run over to him, and "DOWNLOAD CONTENT to save him and find out the secret!" Seriously? He's going to lie there in the woods with a knife-wound to the gut and somehow stay alive indefinitely, waiting for me to buy an overpriced expansion module? Give me a break. Suspension of disbelief just ceased being suspended. Eh... hm. Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty fun game with pretty graphics, but it's a clear indicator of the WRONG direction games are taking. Big budget, eye candy, and check-box plot elements for an ultimately forgettable, 'vanilla' RPG.

+ 0 likes

Dragon Age: Origins

...

around Ferelden wrangling nugs and helping start new chantries? A lot of people laud the 'conversation' and 'character interaction' aspects of the game, but they're a little annoying to me. All the conversation options boil down to is a little difference in XP / items gained and maybe a party member gained or not gained. Another thing there is the inability to explore. Everything is basically 'on rails'. You can't venture over hills or through trees or in ponds, but are locked into a set area... no matter how they decorate them, environments are a straight path to the 'boss' or the 'treasure' with a few side paths thrown in for extra items / XP. The thing is, in trying to make the game seem more 'free', the developers actually make it more cramped. Games like Fallout (the original one and its sequel), Arcanum... these games truly gave the user a sense of 'open-ended' play, yet kept a coherent and fixed plot drive. This lower-budget games had inferior graphics but combat, dialogue, and overall storyline seemed so much more fulfilling than Dragon Age. I guess you could say that Dragon Age is the equivalent of the 'safe' hollywood blockbuster: huge special effects budget, all-star cast, mediocre story and direction. Fanboys and apologists get mad when they hear the word 'cliche', but seriously... the Dwarves pray to The Stone. The deity of the Chantry (the Chantry of Light... how creative) is called 'The Maker'. The universal enemies, the 'Darkspawn', look like orcs, have no identifiable motives other than being 'evil', and were created by the corruption of mages. I'll stop there and say, regardless of what fanboys claim, cliches abound in this game. Don't look for any innovation in the way of fantasy plot elements. A final pet peeve is the frequent downloadable content. What the hell? The game is expensive enough. I watch a guy get stabbed in the woods, run over to him, and "DOWNLOAD CONTENT to save him and find out the secret!" Seriously? He's going to lie there in the woods with a knife-wound to the gut and somehow stay alive indefinitely, waiting for me to buy an overpriced expansion module? Give me a break. Suspension of disbelief just ceased being suspended. Eh... hm. Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty fun game with pretty graphics, but it's a clear indicator of the WRONG direction games are taking. Big budget, eye candy, and check-box plot elements for an ultimately forgettable, 'vanilla' RPG.