Dragon Age: Origins

[John Crichton]

So any way to turn full friendly fire on without making enemies harder? For the 360 version specifically.

I've heard that feature is numero uno on Bioware's to-do list.

 

[Someone]

I may come late to this thread, but I got (and finished) the game recently. I wasn't so impressed with it, to be frank; while the voice acting was superb and the relationship between characters excellent I found nearly everything else contrived, exhausting, boring, repetitive, plainly unbalanced and frustrating. I'll elaborate.

Graphics, textures and effects were meh, and the palette of brown, rust brown and bits of red was jarring after the first few hours. There are way too many combats, each one long, with little variation to the rest. Usually the best way to deal with them is the old fashioned, time consuming mmo way of pulling-CC-tank and focus fire spank. Mages are hilariously overpowered: can neutralize huge numbers of enemies and kill them with impunity, have effective unlimited mana (since mana potions are quite easy to come by and have a ridiculous short cooldown) and it even becomes worse with advanced classes. The priority list for autopiloting your group has some merit, but since the character you have selected has to be manually directed, and the AI is quite an idiot (you can't trust them with area effects, they never try to flank, etc) you have to stop the game every 2 seconds anyway.

Some story subarcs are incredibly long and tiring; I didn't find the quests to get the help of the elves too long, but the wizard tower and the dwarves ones certainly were. Not to mention that wherever you go they have a huge crisis that you must solve. Not even Mass Effect 2 loyalty missions ("Sorry commander, I suddendly have a problem that can only be solved with copious amounts of flying lead") felt so much IN YOUR FACE like these.

Even then I was entertained while it lasted. Even then I'm glad I picked this one from the discount bin instead of buying it when it came out. I'll probably do the same with the second part.

 

[Remus Lupin]

Witch Hunt, the final downloadable campaign for Origins, is being released today, also new DLC for Mass Effect 2.

 

[Remus Lupin]

Finished it up last night. A bit disappointing in all honesty. It felt a bit under-inspired, and could have used a few more encounter areas. Oh well. Now to go back and replay some of the stuff I liked until DA2 comes out!

 

[stonegod]

Finished it up last night. A bit disappointing in all honesty. It felt a bit under-inspired, and could have used a few more encounter areas. Oh well. Now to go back and replay some of the stuff I liked until DA2 comes out!

This. A lot of build up, no payout. The mass Effect DLC, which had some similar themes (reconciling with past loves/friends) was much more satisfying.

 

[Remus Lupin]

I'll probably start playing the ME2 add on tonight.

 

[fba827]

i haven't played any of the DA:O DLCs (I don't do DLC as a general thing), but it doesn't sound like i've been missing too much from the DLCs in general.
Still anxiously awaiting DA2... and it's half a year away!

 

[Blackrat]

I just got this game. Going to start playing today evening. I'm thinking of running through all the origin stories first and then decide which to play. Although I heard they can take up to few hours each to play so I'm not sure yet.

If I don't bother, I think I'll go with Dwarven Noble Warrior. Any tips for beginner who doesn't bother to read the whole thread?

 

[John Crichton]

I just got this game. Going to start playing today evening. I'm thinking of running through all the origin stories first and then decide which to play. Although I heard they can take up to few hours each to play so I'm not sure yet.

If I don't bother, I think I'll go with Dwarven Noble Warrior. Any tips for beginner who doesn't bother to read the whole thread?

Pick your fave. Have fun!

Seriously, the game is fantastic.

 

[amerigoV]

If I don't bother, I think I'll go with Dwarven Noble Warrior. Any tips for beginner who doesn't bother to read the whole thread?

I finished my first playthrough with that and it was fun. I then did all the opening stories. The one that has me intrigued enough to run though the game again is the elven alienage one. I picked a female elf for the heck of it. At the end of that, I was hopping mad at the humans. After I get through some Mass Effect, I plan to go back and run that character with the "screw you, humans - you brought it on yourself" answers. I have a feeling she and Morrigan will get along just fine.