Dragon Age Origins: Review
Reviewed by: SalDragon Age: Origins is a dark heroic fantasy set in a unique world. As the spiritual successor of BioWare’s popular Baldur’s Gate series of games, it uses a pause-and-play tactical combat system. Play in over-the-shoulder mode, or the more tactical top-down view. Dragon Age: Origins features a stunning amount of cinematic dialog. Players will be able to acquire unique party members. These party members will have their own motivations for accompanying the player.
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This section provides a comprehensive review of everything that you need to know about each video game we have reviewed. We’ve thought about everything a gamer needs to know before making a purchase: Is the game too difficult? Does it have good graphics and sound? A solid story-line? Can you play it with your buddies and are the controls so hard that a cyborg would struggle with them? We all know how tough it is to find an awesome game and we hope that this review will help.
Challenge
As far the difficulty goes in this game, it’s great. There are several levels of difficulty the game can be played on. The higher difficulty levels of the game allow there to be friendly fire during game play. During the game you have to manage which characters you want to use in your party and how to level them up. This gives game a final fantasy sort of feel even though the action isn’t turn based like in the FF series. It actually reminds me more of Baulder’s Gate. Also, each class has its own distinct feel and can be modified to fit your play style. DAO also offers an extremely high level of character customization and background.
Graphics
The graphics for this game were ok. Maybe if I were playing on a HD-TV with the HDMI cable they would have been better. They are probably much better on PC than they would be on a console game due to the fact that consoles use older technology. Overall, they do a decent job of displaying your character in the environment. I did enjoy the cut scenes and intro graphics to the game.
Replay Value
Due to the fact that there are several different class options to play as and different backgrounds for each character, I would say this game has a very high replay value. In addition, they keep coming out with more content that can be downloaded via Xbox Live for you to experience and explain the ever evolving story in more depth. This includes new weapons, characters to add to your party, and class updates.
Narrative
This game has a great and constantly evolving narrative based on the actions you perform in the game. You start off picking what race you play, then whether you want, then what class you want to play. After you select your class, you further select your characters background. For example, for a dwarf you can pick either to be a noble or a peasant. Each has a vastly different background that takes the story to a different place and changes how you view the game. Also, during the game, how you interact with the characters determines whether they join your party or if they decided to leave. Also, your decision affects the overall outcome of the game. For example, you can decide which characters eventually live and die and how the end of the game turns out. DAO also gives you the options to create some homemade content, which is pretty cool.
Ease of Controls
At first the controls seemed a little bit on the confusing side, but after playing the game for 15-20 minutes you get used to them pretty easily. On PC the controller layout is like most MMO games. On Xbox you’re limited to the Xbox controller, so you have to pick what spells you’re going to have hot keyed more wisely. I really love the combat system in the game especially with the Xbox controller it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Overall Grade: A-
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Parents, we understand the problems you have with video games. Some are violent, inappropriate, and most just cost a lot of money. Fortunately, we understand that these are legitimate concerns and have therefore included in our review a few things that parents need to know about a video game: the amount of violence it has, sexually suggestive material, gender stereotyping, bad language, addictiveness and replay value. We have included all the criteria for a money-worthy and appropriate purchase for your children. We hope you find our evaluations helpful.
Social Playability
This game is a one player fantasy game, so really there isn’t too much social about it. You can download updates via Xbox Live. Your child can even create new content in the game other than that don’t expect this game to entertain several kids at once. But, they all can talk about on how to defeat bosses and what decision should be made in the game to reach the best outcome.
Objectionable Content
There is strong fantasy violence in this game as well as some sexual content, mild language, and blood. On the movie scale it would be an R- rated movie. The sexual content is brief but everything else occurs during the entire duration of the game.
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In our dealings with video games, we have also explored the academic research on the topic. We understand the roles that presence, narrative, and even aggression have and we also understand that certain video games might influence learning, gamers’ social interaction, stereotyping and sexual messaging. We have included in our review this section for those interested on the academic perspective of video games and how certain game characteristics can affect video game players.
Academic Perspective
In Dragon Age Origins, there is mild physiological arousal (i.e., increases in heart rate or galvanic skin response) while there is a strong immersion (feelings of actually being IN the game) and presence (perceptions of nonmediation) within the game. As a result of this, there is a very strong sense of flow (total psychological absorption to the point of loss of sense of time, etc.) while playing this game.
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Available for:Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360