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Dragon Age review: "RPG of the decade"

PC Gamer heaps praise on new BioWare RPG
The first Dragon Age: Origins review has arrived via PC Gamer magazine, which brands the BioWare game "RPG of the decade" in its 94% review.

UPDATE: Read the Dragon Age review online now.

"Thus begins Dragon Age, one of the most enormous and astonishing of games," it says. "Were the difficulty levels not so enormously silly, it would require sheer pickiness to find a major fault with this game."

PC Gamer calls Origins' gigantic environment "the most enormously detailed game world I've experienced, its history stretching back thousands of years, its cultures vivid, beautiful and flawed, the battles enormous, the humour superb.

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"I've not only been to huge cities, but I've learned their past, their present, and been involved in shaping their future," it says. "This hasn't felt like passing through a series of checkpoints, but having experienced a world.

"Roleplaying games now have a great deal to live up to," it concludes.

You can read the full review in PC Gamer UK issue 207, which is on sale now. Buy your copy and have it delivered to your door, why don't you?

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Read all 34 commentsPost a Comment
"Were the difficulty levels not so enormously silly, it would require sheer pickiness to find a major fault with this game."

Does that mean that its rock hard or weak as a kitten?
Osiris25 on 26 Oct '09
Ahhh Bioware Very Happy .

The best RPG of the Decade? Strong claims certainly, the more ive been reading up on Dragons Age the more its becoming a Game I think im going to buy.

It would be a good transition to go from the RPG of yore to the RPG of the future, could Mass Effect be the RPG of the MillenniaLaughing ?

Its good to be a Gamer right now.
StonecoldMC on 26 Oct '09
Apparently it's rock hard...
but what is one man's ninja gaiden is another's harry potter.
jazzy_p on 26 Oct '09
This game was touted as the spiritual successor to BGII which is my favourite RPG to date. Mighty big shoes to fill indeed, but it sounds like the folks at BioWare may just have pulled it off. I've been anticipating this game for months on end and my pre-order awaits! Very Happy
The_KFD_Case on 26 Oct '09
"Were the difficulty levels not so enormously silly, it would require sheer pickiness to find a major fault with this game."

Does that mean that its rock hard or weak as a kitten?

I took that to mean it will be hard; possibly absurdly hard.
The_KFD_Case on 26 Oct '09
Looking forward to this one (plus all the other excellent games across the formats grrrr too many games too little money) wonder if it's like Demons souls(another title I want but would rather get a UK version of this because of the online functions) with its difficulty.
lonewolf2002 on 26 Oct '09
Looks much more interesting than I had previously thought, but the combat doesn't sound too great.
gothchild on 26 Oct '09
"Were the difficulty levels not so enormously silly, it would require sheer pickiness to find a major fault with this game."

Does that mean that its rock hard or weak as a kitten?

I took that to mean it will be hard; possibly absurdly hard.

From what the PCZone review this month said its both rock hard and weak as a kitten, in that one room can be a breeze then the next absolutely hard as nails.
Big_Bad_Bassist on 26 Oct '09
Have to say from what I've see of the game, it looked like a stocking filler until Mass Effect 2 comes out.
Saying that, my interest has been peaked after these claims. If they hold true or not is another matter.
Guess we have to wait and see when more reviews start coming in...
vulcanraven01 on 26 Oct '09
Having just read the PCG review I can confirm the were on about he difficulty settings. The way it was described was that it is only really possibly to play the fights in real time on easy due to normal and hard being too complex therefore requiring you to constantly pause and choose your actions.

Hope this helps guys!
AJB123644 on 26 Oct '09
Having just read the PCG review I can confirm the were on about he difficulty settings. The way it was described was that it is only really possibly to play the fights in real time on easy due to normal and hard being too complex therefore requiring you to constantly pause and choose your actions.

Hope this helps guys!

Cheers AJ! Smile
The_KFD_Case on 26 Oct '09
The combat is meant to be slightly different in the console versions. Does anyone know if this will make the console versions harder/easier or better/worse.
CrispyLog on 26 Oct '09
A challenge it shall be then, one i will thoroughly (and probably frustratingly) enjoy.
I just hope there's no major problems on the PS3 version. Confused
budge on 26 Oct '09
The combat is meant to be slightly different in the console versions. Does anyone know if this will make the console versions harder/easier or better/worse.

Not sure, Crispy. BioWare has stated that "Dragon Age: Origins" leads on the PC. From that I garner that control-wise the PC setup will offer finer controls.
The_KFD_Case on 26 Oct '09
Having just read the PCG review I can confirm the were on about he difficulty settings. The way it was described was that it is only really possibly to play the fights in real time on easy due to normal and hard being too complex therefore requiring you to constantly pause and choose your actions.

Hope this helps guys!

Cheers AJ! Smile

No worries mate!
AJB123644 on 26 Oct '09
The combat is meant to be slightly different in the console versions. Does anyone know if this will make the console versions harder/easier or better/worse.

Not sure, Crispy. BioWare has stated that "Dragon Age: Origins" leads on the PC. From that I garner that control-wise the PC setup will offer finer controls.

That doesn't surprise me to be honest. The combat will probably be rather complex I should imagine and as with any in depth rpg things can get overwhelming on some systems...
AJB123644 on 26 Oct '09
The combat is meant to be slightly different in the console versions. Does anyone know if this will make the console versions harder/easier or better/worse.

The example I've heard is that where PC would have 10 baddies on screen to fight, consoles will split them into two groups of 5 tougher enemies.
syphilis on 26 Oct '09
Have to say from what I've see of the game, it looked like a stocking filler until Mass Effect 2 comes out.

You must have had your eyes closed.
DancingOmelette on 27 Oct '09
Groovy.

I'm stocked up the rafters at the moment with Borderlands (so much better than it has any right to be) and Uncharted 2 (so much better than almost anything else ever made), but this is now edging itself onto the playlist. When am I going to find time for MW2, though? Not to mention Mass Effect...
BeauBeau on 27 Oct '09
That comment about the difficulty has set alarm bells ringing with me. Seeing as I don't own a PC, I'm forced to buy the console version (why no Mac love, Bioware?!).

And, from the comments above, it sounds like I have to play it on the easy setting or get my bottom handed to me on a plate constantly. I'm definitely going to hold out and see what people who have bought the console version have to say before I buy this.
splitter on 27 Oct '09
Well, I was interested before this review - but, it's truly piqued my interest.

At the end of the day, it's BioWare - you always knew it'd be good.

RPG of the Decade? - that's too tough to call, but I'll be keeping an eye on the reviews that follow....definitely need to see some console reviews, my PC wouldn't be able to handle this one.

Smile
ParmaViolet on 27 Oct '09
Glad it's turned out good. Bioware keep bringing the goods no doubt. Very Happy
Black Mantis on 27 Oct '09
I simply can't wait for this one to come out. I have been somewhat patiently waiting for this game for... a year or more now and it sounds better and better the closer it gets to release day. I see you decided to pre order the game KFD, what changed your mind?
voad on 27 Oct '09
I simply can't wait for this one to come out. I have been somewhat patiently waiting for this game for... a year or more now and it sounds better and better the closer it gets to release day. I see you decided to pre order the game KFD, what changed your mind?

Hi Voad,

I still remain wary of the DRM that EA/BioWare will be using, but since I am very much a fan of BioWare's work I'm willing to give them this one chance based upon their (and EA's) statement that the DRM used this time around will be different from the crap used in "Spore" and "Mass Effect". Let's just say that for the continued well-being of the business relationship we share, I hope they are true to their word when they stated that this time it would be a more customer friendly system.

P.S. I reserve the right to change my mind at any time leading up to the actual launch. Wink
The_KFD_Case on 27 Oct '09
why is it that all the remaining games that didn't get pushed back are bloody huge. I mean its always great to get more bang for your buck. but between dragon age, borderlands and uncharted 2 i don't think i'll have time to play anything else untill the end of march at the earliest.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 27 Oct '09
I simply can't wait for this one to come out. I have been somewhat patiently waiting for this game for... a year or more now and it sounds better and better the closer it gets to release day. I see you decided to pre order the game KFD, what changed your mind?

Hi Voad,

I still remain wary of the DRM that EA/BioWare will be using, but since I am very much a fan of BioWare's work I'm willing to give them this one chance based upon their (and EA's) statement that the DRM used this time around will be different from the crap used in "Spore" and "Mass Effect". Let's just say that for the continued well-being of the business relationship we share, I hope they are true to their word when they stated that this time it would be a more customer friendly system.

P.S. I reserve the right to change my mind at any time leading up to the actual launch. Wink

I may have got the wrong end of the stick from what I've read about this, but my understanding of the situation is that any DRM (such as SecuROM), will remain on the disc.
Pretty much like how it was with Fallout 3.
Tricky_Rich on 27 Oct '09
lets hope their not lying about the hours of gameplay contained within. lets face it mass effect was painfully short and far too easy.
evileyecheese on 27 Oct '09
I simply can't wait for this one to come out. I have been somewhat patiently waiting for this game for... a year or more now and it sounds better and better the closer it gets to release day. I see you decided to pre order the game KFD, what changed your mind?

Hi Voad,

I still remain wary of the DRM that EA/BioWare will be using, but since I am very much a fan of BioWare's work I'm willing to give them this one chance based upon their (and EA's) statement that the DRM used this time around will be different from the crap used in "Spore" and "Mass Effect". Let's just say that for the continued well-being of the business relationship we share, I hope they are true to their word when they stated that this time it would be a more customer friendly system.

P.S. I reserve the right to change my mind at any time leading up to the actual launch. Wink

I may have got the wrong end of the stick from what I've read about this, but my understanding of the situation is that any DRM (such as SecuROM), will remain on the disc.
Pretty much like how it was with Fallout 3.

Then we're good to go. I bought "Fallout 3" and was initially extremely concerned, but since the SecuROM it came with stayed on the game disc and didn't install anything on my hard drive behind my back (as far as I know!), then I could live with it. That is currently about the only version of SecuROM I will accept.
The_KFD_Case on 27 Oct '09
lets hope their not lying about the hours of gameplay contained within. lets face it mass effect was painfully short and far too easy.

I disagree, but then again I completed at least 95% of all the missions and side-missions in the game. Would I like more? Yes please! Do I think "ME1" is short and too easy? Nope.
The_KFD_Case on 27 Oct '09
Rock hard difficulty = wasted opportunity and reduced sales.

The minority will love it, the majority will be trading it in within 2 weeks.

What a waste for PC owners, let's hope they improve the game for console gamers.
petrolhead on 29 Oct '09
If anyone is interested, there are videos of the game being played over at giantbomb.com. Both versions. PC definitely needs to be paused all the time..console, not so much.
jazzy_p on 2 Nov '09
Ummm... Shadows of Amn was released this decade. Also Throne of Bhall expansion.

Are they sure its better? People like Eurogamer have written pretty damning reviews citing stiffness and cliche (although they still ended up giving it 8/10!)
Moribundman on 3 Nov '09
People like Eurogamer have written pretty damning reviews citing stiffness and cliche (although they still ended up giving it 8/10!)

Not that damning then.
DancingOmelette on 3 Nov '09
Eurogamer damed them because of the Xbox 360 massacre of the combat system.
2_D on 11 Nov '09
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