Before I get into the review I should say that I have the 360 version. I've heard the PS3 and the PC versions are superior. So this review is going to be based off the version I own.
Dragon Age is another of Bioware's Action/RPGs. and let me tell you, it shows. The characters are fleshed out, the story is amazing, and the world is pretty expansive. If you haven't had a chance to get your hands on one of their other Action/RPGs, then this is a good starting introduction.
The game get's a proper start when you create your character. You can pick your race, sex, class, and background all in one go. There is some options to make your character unique, but it's not much. If you compare it to Oblivion's character generator, it really doesn't hold a candle, but that's not to say that it doesn't get the job done.
You start off in one of eight opening sequences, depending on the race, and background you chose. Elf, Human, Dwarf for your race, each has their own backgrounds. While this does make the game feel like you're starting a new storyline each time you make a character, eventually all of them come to the same place. Each of the starting stories are well told, and gives you insight on the various backgrounds you can choose, and the races themselves. It's also a nice jump off point easing you into the action of the game.
We seek the grail!
After your different opening sequence is over, you're whisked away to fight with a group called The Grey Wardens, so you can help defend the land from a blight of foul undead creatures called Darkspawn. You're set out to find some blood of the creatures for a cerimony called "The Joining", along the way you meet some of your party members. After said cerimony is over, you're given your first assignment. Soon there after you realize that the assignment is going about as well as an unneeded hole in the head.
After a short cut scene, you find yourself in a new location. You're told the battle was a loss, and that you and one of your party members were the only one's that could be saved. After some dialouge, you're set loose to roam the world in search of people to join you in your cause to fight the Darkspawn, and kill the Archdemon that controlls them. Your journey will take you all over the continent nation of Ferelden. You'll enlist the help of Mages, Dwarfs, Warriors, Elves, Hobbits.....wait...not Hobbits......where was I?
At this point....Solona contimplated letting the Ogre have a snack
The story is well told, you're given plenty of background information as to the past of Ferelden, and the lore of the land. It's given to you in the form of texts that are kept in your log book. It's not nessicary to read it all, but it's worth a read. The main quest is pretty predominate, but along the way to complete it you'll be given small side quests. While this isn't a major inconvienence, it can get a little tedious if you're just wanting to get through the game.
The combat is pretty fluent. Weapon hits feel solid and natural and spells work well for mages, Warriors and Rouges get tallents that work in much the same way. As you kill things you'll gain experience which goes to making your character better. More spells, more tallents, and various other things are gained. After a while you'll find that you've run out of hot key space (again this is the console version) and have to rely on the radial menu to get to the rest of your skills and spells.
We're from the Jehovah's Witness.....
The only things that really bog the game down are the visuals. On the 360 characters seem stiff and some of the area's look down right ugly when compared to another game. They're not the worst I've seen, but they're not the best either. It almost looks like they took a back seat to the story. Not that there's any problem with it, the story and combat make up for this short comming, making this game one of the best.
Not the prettiest, but not bad either
This is a must for any RPG fan, if you can get it on the PC then do so, it's the best of the three versions, but if you've just got a 360 then you're good to go. If you're not an RPG fan, then you should either rent it, or just give it a pass. While this is a great game, it can take a while to actually finish. It took me 30+ hours to beat on my first go....grant it, I was doing absolutly everything that I could.
Untill next time,
Vangle
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