Reviews

Before we start fawning over Dragon Age: Origins (and there will be much, much fawning) let's look at some of the problems that hitherto haven't really been mentioned by other reviewers. First off the cut scenes suffer from dropped frames while the player often finishes a discussion with a third party only for the scene to randomly decide to repeat itself (and if you're really unlucky - particularly on the PS3 rather than the 360 - it'll do this with the other bloke rendered invisible). There are no multi-player options (online or otherwise) and the only real extra is a trailer. Okay, now that's over with let's get down to some serious fawning!

Every new RPG claims to have the largest world to explore or the most potions to mix and though Origins automatically falls into that category (double the scope of Mass Effect!), it succeeds where other RPGs like Sacred 2 or Rise of the Argonauts fail by having great characters and an engaging story...or 6. Yes, it's called Origins for a reason and that reason is you have six starting points from which to build your character up anyway you see fit - you can be a real jackass to people or show them courtesy and earn their respect. Or you can do both - that's the beauty of the game. It never forces you down a set path of good or evil, rendering your character deeply, well...human. But be warned, if you're too trigger-happy (sword-happy?) your team may turn on you.

Aww, I'd just cleaned that shield!

Once you've chosen your sex and altered his/her numerous facial features (sadly you can't alter body type or clothes) there's the question of class; Warrior (good on the front line, strong fighter), Mage (skilled at creating/deflecting spells) and Rogue (sneaky, good with traps and stealthy assassination). You can also choose to be a human, an Elf or a Dwarf and whether they be commoners or of noble blood (sniff). Dirty commoners will begin the game under some form of oppressive rule (the elves are practically slaves in this universe) whereas a noble will probably be a prince/princess who willingly or unwillingly is sent by the king to join fighters of darkness, the Grey Wardens, led by Duncan, your guide. Should you choose to be a female Dalish Elf, for example, you begin the game about to be deflowered Braveheart-style by soldiers and upon fighting back you impress Duncan enough that he recruits you into his army. If this makes you think of the standard myth of the 'chosen one' then you won't be surprised to see the party system is a lot like that of another Bioware title, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic from 2003 - namely that you have control over the three other people in your group.

There's no visual indication of good/bad choices when one is engaged in polite conversation (sniff), so it's entirely up to the player how they respond to orders or questions put to them. There are generally four choices of reply and these range from "Nice to see you're okay" to "I'm really going to kill you now!" These exchanges are so well thought out by designers Bioware that sometimes a rude proclamation will actually endear you to an enemy ("I like your honesty, my dear!") while pandering might cause a spooked servant to abandon you in a castle under siege rather than stay and fight. There is no right/wrong answer, but you do sense the choices you make aren't quite as much your own as the game leads you to believe. Nevertheless, overall the frequent character confrontations feel suitably threatening or genial depending on the circumstances. Humour is also present and accounted for, which helps immeasurably in softening the stodgy Dungeons & Dragons-style setup. ("You're some kind of...witch...thief person," stammers a cowardly soldier upon meeting a Mage in the forest).

You're not going out dressed like that young lady!