Dragon Age: Origins

8.6 / 10

Release Date

3 November 2009

Platforms

PlayStation 3 • PC • Mac • Xbox 360

Publisher

Electronic Arts

Developer

BioWare Edmonton

Store Pages

01Overview

Dragon Age: Origins is a third-person role-playing game and a spiritual successor to BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate series. Players create a character by choosing a race, class, appearance, and one of six Origin stories that establish their background before the main campaign. After joining the Grey Wardens, the player becomes involved in a struggle to unite the kingdom of Ferelden against a Blight led by an Archdemon. The main storyline follows the same broad path for every character, but dialogue, relationships, and some quest options change according to the chosen Origin and decisions made throughout the game. Combat takes place in real time but can be paused at any moment to issue commands, change targets, use abilities, or reposition party members. Players can directly control each member of a four-character party and configure tactical behaviors for companions when they are controlled by AI. Character progression is built around attributes, skills, talents, spells, equipment, and class specializations. Conversations and quests frequently present choices that affect companions, factions, and later events, while approval determines how party members respond to the player and can unlock personal quests or romance options.