Review: Dragon Age: Origins (PS3)

BioWare have a strong tradition developing rich RPG titles complete with memorable characters and settings. These are the core strengths of their design template, whether its Mass Effect or Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic or Baldur’s Gate; a BioWare title often stands apart from its rivals. Dragon Age: Origins is no different with a memorable experience overshadowing the all too common BioWare limitations such as the battle system, which they’ve never managed to really master after all these years. And how can we forget those little glitches such as missing speech dialogue or slow reactions? They all become part of BioWare’s charm as arguably their epic ambition outstrips their technical ability.

Dragon Age: Origins is evidently inspired by the Lord of the Rings series and other heavyweight genre books. Frankly there is nothing original about fighting dragons, running around in woods with elves or trying to unite a fractured land against a common foe. What may sound mundane and repetitive is transformed by the sheer level of detail and options available as you cross a panoramic landscape harbouring a multitude of characters. A skilled and experienced storyteller can bring new levels of interest to what may seem a stale, generic offering and that’s clearly the case here. While you control a group of four onscreen and can interact with others who join your ranks, you fill the shoes of one character. He or she is your own creation and you can select his or her own ethnic background from six options whether it’s a mage, warrior or another creed. Sadly while banter exists between the members (often humorous) as you explore environments, switching from the main character does not allow you to engage in new path discussions. When it comes to dialogue and exploring the storyline you’re limited to your initial choice for each campaign.

BioWare have included different scenarios for each option that are distinctive enough to warrant experiencing. For instance as a human you may will only become aware of the Dwarf class structure and zealous regard for genealogy when you enter their lands, but as a dwarf this will form the main basis of your initial storyline. The threads do merge at various points and as ever BioWare has included a morality option so you can be nice or pursue the dark side with various temptations available for each route. However the boundaries between good and evil are blurred and whatever decisions you make have more impact on future events and conservations rather than being perceived as a good or bad guy.

The essence of the fantasy tale is that the Darkspawn blight has returned to threaten the prosperity and peace of Ferelden. Previously banished by the combined armies of the various factions and the leadership of the Grey Wardens, they have returned and are spreading slowly throughout the land. This is partially assisted by political divisions and the decline of the strong empires. What remains of the Grey Wardens is intent on trying to bridge divides and winning support for the fight ahead. BioWare have littered the huge world with typical subplots and character specific diversions that are often not relevant to the main storyline. You are granted the freedom to explore not only the lands but also the characters who fight by your side in your own time.

The main criticism that Gamestyle can level at Dragon Ages: Origins is that it takes us back to 2003 with the release of Star Wars: Knights Of the Old Republic. This in itself is not a bad thing, as that release captivated and enthralled us for many hours despite our dislike of the George Lucas cash cow. A new format has allowed the team to expand their ideas and this translates into larger environments, detailed characters and options that makes this our most played game of 2009 and with downloadable content arriving, a strong contender for the 2010 crown as well. However bigger certainly doesn’t necessarily mean better.

There is too much reliance on tried and tested methods with a strong sense of familiarity prevalent at all times; in fact the whole thing feels like a cleverly orchestrated copy of a masterpiece. Pieced together to fool critics and receive an inflated price at auction. BioWare have created an epic title with their customary skill but in Dragon Ages: Origins they’ve ultimately played it far too safe. Perhaps developing this release alongside Mass Effect 2 has lead to a dilution of the original grand plan. We cannot help but feel that if BioWare took some risks and really forged this title with an identity of its own then we’d be happily offering the rarely seen Gamestyle ten out of ten score.

On the whole Dragon Ages: Origins is magnificent and will continue to evolve as BioWare promise new quests and missions, with some already being made available for purchase. There is plenty to enjoy in the retail version but we can only hope that the good work is built upon with expansions and new adventures for us to discover. Despite our criticism this still remains the best RPG of 2009 and one of the best we’ve played in several years.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Jason Julier