So far the reviews for the game have been excellent. Which both made me interested, but also cautious. Either this was fantastic or there was just way too much hype. Though the commercials were great, and add to the curiosity. But that's just marketing and not gameplay.
The big questions about the game are
Let me answer all of that in the word, Yes. To be specific, I can say having cleared 10% of the game so far that it is addictive. It keeps you involved whether you are a hardcore gamer or just play casually in your spare time.
In terms of the looks, right off the bat you will be impressed. The images are very nearly the quality seen in the commercials. It moves smooth and is almost like a film as opposed to a game. The fluidity of motion of all the characters is very good. And scenes with background characters have high detail, many with character all having original faces and individuality that normally is just cloned. Even scenes of mass numbers of characters, all interacting at once flow and are visually rewarding.
At this point I should mention that you will notice quickly that the theme of the game is in many respects a take on Lord of the Rings. In fact in many ways it is a rip-off of that storyline. But when you get to see the first upclose image of a screaming Hurlock, you just won't care that it just as easily could have been called an Orc. The theme of the game many not be the most original, but then again this is a fantasy RPG afterall.
Another key factor in the game is the question of openendedness. It's something that has become more of a driving force in the industry, and something I always recommend. It adds to the replayability of the game and keeps things fresh.
Dragon Age is not quite open ended. It's more akin to Fable and Neverwinter in that it is open to your choices. By that I mean that most all conversations will provide a tree of choices that you can make in response. Depending on how you answer, and what you did in the past, the response of any character speaking with you can change. Adding to that is the class, race, and other factors found in the game. It's a nice touch and adds to the intrigue of the game.
My character is a Dwarven Noble, or at least he was. And already I can see how a couple of early choices that seemed somewhat neutral at the time, are going to kick me in the butt later on. Such is the nature of the entire game. So no single choice is generally horrible, but they all add up as the game mocves forward. But it does help to create a character that is truely what you wish to embody at the time.
I will further digress to another point of the game. As I mentioned I chose a Dwarven Noble. But there are several choices of race (Human, Dwarf, and Elf), either sex, and a choice of class (Noble or common). This adds a nice bit of diversity. Of course certain classes are restricted from certain races, but that's part of your choice. As you go further in the game it becomes clear that many of the base abilities are open to any class, but the bonuses and specializations are restricted.
Also, the game does a great job of covering the backstory of your character. The start of the game introduces who you are, early choices you make, and how you come to be in the main plotline. This gives you ample time to get familiar with various classes and the game mechanics. Its a simple device that has been used before, but in Dragon Age it works well and really gets you engaged in what is going on.
I've already discussed how smooth the game runs. No major glitches or skips. Moving from zone to zone will require a load screen, but that is relatively quick and otherwise smooth. As for the sounds, well they are spot on. Not too loud and never too mechanical, the sounds work well for what is going on. The voiceovers are a match to the characters, the background sounds make sense and are in the background, The sounds of battle are crisp and mean. Even the fire sounds nice and toasty.
A key point in a RPG, especially in fantasy realms, is the plot. As stated before this took generous helpings from Lord of the Rings (the books and movie not the online game). But the thought behind tying together the various aspects of this game shows through.
Your character makes sense in how they fit into this world. It makes sense the questions and answers they make with conversations. Answers are given that fit the personality and theme of the character and overall story. There is enough not said right away to make you want to know more. And you want to take the time to figure it all out.
From the outset the final battle, which I have not yet seen, is pretty obvious. The television commercial makes it clear that it will be a battle with a Dragon. The question of how you will get there, how powerful you will be, and who will be there with you are not nearly as clear. Plus there are all those pesky consequences of all the things you have said and done earlier to keep in mind.
So to combine the question of fun and whether it's worth $50, I think so. The game will suck up hours of time if you let it. While this is not a game like Oblivion that took months to finish (I think the fastest time was 6 months) it is hardly a game that anyone will finish in 5 hours. Thus in that alone you know you are getting your money's worth. You can see 2 movies in a theater for about the same price as this game. The game will have better acting, better visuals, be more engaging, and last longer than 10 movies, maybe more. Which says a lot of positives about the game and the designers.
And as aforementioned there is the fact that the game is replayable. So if you want to see how a mage, or a female, or an elf, excetra play through you can do so, and still get a unique experience though new eyes. Plus there is downloadable content available for the game already, so the experience can be added onto beyond the in box game (and I believe more will be arriving shortly).
If you are a gamer, Dragon Age: Origins is a game for you. If you love the look and feel of Lord of the Rings and that fantasy theme, this is your game. if you want to make choices and see unique outcomes as opposed to being a pacman, well you get the point.
I recommend this game to all my readers. It's just that simple.
1 comment:
Like the review. Very crisp and clear. But one point to make is that there were plenty of LOTR stories/films games before Lord of the Rings appeared! You know what they say in entertainment: Nothing is original.
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