Is Dragon Age Origins Still WORTH PLAYING? (2024 Review)
Gaming
Introduction
It's been 15 years since Dragon Age: Origins took the RPG world by storm. The fact that it's been that long might feel a bit depressing for those of us feeling the weight of the years. At the time of its release, Origins was a massive critical and commercial success for BioWare. However, the studio later opted to shift away from this formula with Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition in pursuit of a broader audience. Given the recent gameplay reveals for The Veilguard, it appears they are drifting even further from the Origins model. So, with its somewhat outdated aspects, does Dragon Age: Origins hold up today?
The short answer: yes, it does. This article dives into the combat, role-playing options, companions, romance, and more to give you an overview of what Dragon Age: Origins is all about. We’ll keep this spoiler-free, but expect a deeper critique coming later this year. Let's dive into the world of Thedas in Dragon Age: Origins.
Running the Game on PC
The first big hurdle is getting Dragon Age: Origins running on a modern PC. Given its age, trying to run the game right out of the box can lead to frequent crashes. Fortunately, there's an easy solution. A patched version on Steam can fix memory leak and crashing issues. Additionally, installing Qwinn's DAO Fixpack from Nexus mods can resolve bugged dialogue options and quests. Links and instructions are provided for these fixes.
Character Creation
At first glance, Dragon Age: Origins' character creator might look basic and outdated with limited options for appearance, race (humans, elves, or dwarves), and class (Warrior, Rogue, or Mage). However, the most critical decision is the choice of origin story, setting this game apart from others. Depending on your background and class, you'll go through one of six distinct prologues: Mage, Human Noble, Dwarf Commoner, Dwarf Noble, City Elf, or Dalish Elf.
Unlike the brief life paths in Cyberpunk 2077, the origin stories in Dragon Age: Origins provide deeply unique storylines and can lead to exclusive choices and dialogues within the main story.
The Combat
Admittedly, I don't really like the combat in Dragon Age: Origins. Despite loving party-based real-time with pause strategy combat, something about this game's system feels clunky compared to the original Baldur’s Gate games or Pathfinder: Kingmaker. One significant issue is enemy design, where most encounters feel repetitive, allowing similar strategies for different enemy types.
Comparatively, games like Pathfinder: Kingmaker require varied strategies for different enemy abilities and resistances. Additionally, combat animations in Dragon Age: Origins feel slow, contributing to a sluggish experience. While customizable AI tactics and a variety of spells and abilities do add some depth, the combat isn't a strong point for me.
Role-Playing and Choices
Despite the combat, the rest of the game is truly compelling. If you enjoy games with meaningful choices and consequences, Dragon Age: Origins is perfect. Main quests and side quests offer various choices in resolving conflicts, and dialogue options are broad, catering to multiple personalities and origins. Skill checks and persuasion options further deepen the experience.
Companions and Romance
BioWare's reputation for well-written companion characters holds true in Origins. Characters like Morrigan and Alistair have become iconic. Favorites also include Leliana and Zevran. Although the companion approval system is heavily gamified, the romance and friendship arcs are well-written and endearing.
DLC and Expansions
Dragon Age: Origins had several DLC expansions. Awakening stands out, adding 20 hours of new content post-main story, new regions, and companions, notably introducing Anders. While The Witch Hunt DLC is also recommended due to its importance to Morrigan's storyline, it's not mandatory before moving to the next game.
Conclusion
Is Dragon Age: Origins still worth playing today? Absolutely. Despite some rough edges, outdated tech, and sluggish combat, this game offers a robust role-playing experience. The depth of origin stories, dialogue options, and story choices make it a timeless classic, unlike any other even after 15 years.
Keywords
- Dragon Age: Origins
- BioWare
- RPG
- Origin stories
- Combat
- Companions
- Romance
- DLC
FAQs
Q: Is Dragon Age: Origins hard to run on modern PCs? A: Yes, but fixes like the patched Steam version and Qwinn's DAO Fixpack can resolve most issues.
Q: What makes the origin stories important in Dragon Age: Origins? A: They provide distinct prologues and exclusive choices, deeply affecting the main story and dialogue.
Q: How does combat in Dragon Age: Origins compare to other RPGs? A: The combat feels clunkier and less strategic than games like Baldur’s Gate or Pathfinder: Kingmaker.
Q: Are the characters in Dragon Age: Origins well-written? A: Yes, characters like Morrigan, Alistair, and Leliana are standout companions with engaging arcs.
Q: Is the DLC for Dragon Age: Origins necessary? A: While not mandatory, DLCs like Awakening and Witch Hunt add valuable content and context to the story.