Emil
The fact that Bioware was behind the making of Dragon Age, it was automatically a game that I was waiting for, and knew would be a very, very awesome experience. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t disappointed. Dragon Age has indeed been an amazing experience.Typical to an RPG, there’s more than just mashing buttons and rushing head on into enemies. Tactics and quick thinking play a pivotal role in your survival against the deadly Darkspawns, tainted creatures living in the Deep Roads. These creatures usually don’t venture out into the surface, but when they do, it spells a Blight, a supermassive attack against the world headed by an Archdemon, an Old God transformed by the dark taint. The last time a Blight came to be, the Grey Wardens stepped into the fray. Elite warriors and mages from all across the world. They drove the Darkspawn back into the Deep. The Wardens are all but forgotten, though they themselves remain ever watchful for signs of the Darkspawn returning to the surface. And centuries later, that’s precisely what happened.
I was slightly disappointed when I found that the main character is not voiced-casted like all other NPCs, as Commander Shepard was in Mass Effect. That disappointment however, did not last long as I got lost in the amazing storyline. Besides, you hardly notice these things- Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Star Wars KotOR were all the same anyway.
And though it was not exactly a very overwhelming soundtrack, it’s still decent enough. To be honest, I’ve not paid much attention to it- it becomes a sort of background blur thanks to the story/combat heavy orientation of the game. But a good background blur. Some of the most exceedingly talented voice actors were used in DA: O, and combined with a well-written script, the dialogue, cutscene and story were epic gold.
The graphics are a doozy. Really good details and textures really, and spiffy distance loading is really endearing and helps in the immersion. However, it pains to me say that the in-game animations are lackluster though not to any point of intolerable. In fact, like the voice-actorless protagonist (and I’m sure I’m probably the only one who was bugged by this initially), you get used to it and it ceases to matter.
Combat and conversation are two things that play big roles in the game. Combat for obvious reasons. And conversation for the numerous choices you will have to make throughout the game. Choices that will eventually decide on the outcome. Depending on what you did throughout the game, you will have a different ending.
Combat is turn-based (and very strategic, otherwise you’re walking into suicide at most battles) derived off the Dungeons and Dragons rules. If you’re the kind that really likes to rapidly click your mouse buttons in attack, I’m sorry to say this is not such a game. Pop-up tutorials at the beginning help you understand the mechanics soon enough, though all of it might seem a tad bit confusing at first. However, the amount of time you will be spending on this game, by the time you’re barely a quarter of the way into the game, you’ll probably have learned the ins and outs.
According to (near) official sources, gameplay time amounts up to over a staggering 120 hours, if you do every side quest and mercenary quests. A doozy, no? I like.
There are so many aspects of this game, like the Codex, where all your information is stored, be it quests or notes, dynamics with your companions, skills and talent points, and what have you not. Most of it is best found out on your own, though. So, better not dally around, eh?
Bioware’s Dragon Age is worth the buy, the play, and the re-play. On a similar note, you might want to be on the lookout for yet another epic RPG by Bioware- Mass Effect 2, a sequel to the first one from 2007. January 26th will be a good day.