Dragon Age: Origins - Gamefreaks Review

I won't play with words here. I bloody well love this game! No bandying about, it's my personal game of the year, RPG obsessed nutter that I am. BioWare with their history of Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic and more recently Mass Effect were already kings of Western role playing games…I'm not sure where to promote them from here – gods maybe??

With Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare has crafted a massive and deep world in which to travel. Eschewing the complete open world elements of say, Oblivion; Dragon Age instead delivers an absorbing story, challenge, replayabilty and character.

After getting through the inevitable character creation (loosely providing Rogue, Warrior and Mage classes), Dragon Age sets you up in an Origin story. Far from being a blob of writing in a status screen these are long, fully playable unique missions which help establish your character, his place in the world and the way in which others will interact with you in your journeys.

Eventually recruited by the legendary Grey Wardens, an order dedicated to battling the Darkspawn, you find yourself embroiled in the beginning of a Blight while at the same time trying to unite the races who are each divided in their own civil wars, betrayals and terrors. There's a great selection of quests to get through including plenty of optional side missions. Controversial (yet fun) downloadable content also offers yet more areas to explore as well as a new character who melds seamlessly into the overall game.

To oppose the Darkspawn you must make the 3 primary races join forces. But there's trouble, the young human king was betrayed in battle and a once trusted usurper has seized the throne. The Elves, a pathetic remnant of their once glorious selves are an ill-treated underclass; while the embattled Dwarves are constantly weakening themselves with politicking and internal house warfare.

In terms of the story and RPG game play, Dragon Age is polished. Leveling up opens new skill branches and specializations. Your party will grow with companions who based on your actions and the way you treat them will grow to love or hate you (and each other, listening to their interactions can be downright funny at times). You can even enter into a romantic relationship with one…or in my case two of them – you should have heard the cat fights that came out of that arrangement!

Originality however might not be the strongest point of Dragon Age mind you – it's setting and plot seems heavily influenced or just plain ripped from any of a good dozen or so major fantasy novels. The core gameplay is your standard Dungeons and Dragons fare right down to the attributes such as strength and dexterity. This isn't a huge surprise mind you; Bioware was more than open about that fact that they consider Dragon Age to be a spiritual successor to the D&D ruled Baldur's Gate games.

But enough. I'm about to create another character and start on an all new epic 80 hour game marathon. Yes I love it that much and I pity the poor game that tries to take my attention away!

Synopsis: If you like role playing games then Dragon Age: Origins is a game you ‘must' play. Hands down it's the best we've seen in years and oh boy I can't wait for more of it.