Poll of the Day > Should I play Dragon Age: Origins?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm looking through all my old 360 games that I never got around to playing and Dragon Age is sticking out to me. I think I got through the beginning section for a couple of different races but it never really clicked for me and I ended up putting it down.
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I'm iffy on it. I wasn't interested in it at first, but during a week without internet, I managed to get myself through it, and it was decent enough. If you can push past the boring stuff at the start, you might get some enjoyment out of it as well.

Shame you missed the free DLCs though, they are no longer accessible on 360 / PS3. :(
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Absolutely as it was a fantastic game. Just note that the graphics were rough on console back then and will most likely look horrible now.

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I enjoyed Origins but the 360 is probably not going to be the best way to experience it.

DeltaBladeX posted...

I'm iffy on it. I wasn't interested in it at first, but during a week without internet, I managed to get myself through it, and it was decent enough. If you can push past the boring stuff at the start, you might get some enjoyment out of it as well.

Shame you missed the free DLCs though, they are no longer accessible on 360 / PS3. :(

Not accessible as in not free or not available at all? It's probably not too big of a deal since I don't even know if I can commit to the main game anyway.

Auron772 posted...

Absolutely as it was a fantastic game. Just note that the graphics were rough on console back then and will most likely look horrible now.

rjsilverthorn posted...

I enjoyed Origins but the 360 is probably not going to be the best way to experience it.

Would the Steam version be better to try it out on? I'm normally not too picky about the graphics but if PC is better overall or there's something to make it look better then it wouldn't hurt.
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If you don't care about graphics? Hell yes! It's a great game with fun characters and a good story, but it realllly shows its age now.
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yes, but note like most bioware games the opening hours are slow.

and yes the pc version is the one to play if you have that option. the pc interface suits this type of game substantially better to the point that the console versions actually gimp the combat (and by extension the tactics) by limiting the amount of enemies you fight.

OrangeDawn posted...

Not accessible as in not free or not available at all? It's probably not too big of a deal since I don't even know if I can commit to the main game anyway.

No longer accessible. The paid DLCs were on Live, the free ones were linked to some other account you log into in the game. That doesn't work on 360 and PS3 now. It was all minor stuff anyway.
https://dragonage.fandom.com/wiki/Downloadable_content_(Origins)#Exclusive
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OrangeDawn posted...

I enjoyed Origins but the 360 is probably not going to be the best way to experience it.

Would the Steam version be better to try it out on? I'm normally not too picky about the graphics but if PC is better overall or there's something to make it look better then it wouldn't hurt.

If you have the option I would definitely go with the steam version. It isn't just a matter of the graphics, as someone else mentioned the UI was really designed for keyboard and mouse rather than a controller.

Now I played the PC version before the 360 version, maybe if I'd only played the 360 version the UI stuff wouldn't have been as noticeable.

The other advantage of the PC version is mod support, since people have done a number of overhaul mods in the years since the game came out.

One of the most overrated games in the history of time.

Doing some reading and it sounds like the ultimate edition on PC is the way to go. $30 on steam, maybe a drop during the next sale so I think I'll look into it.
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Visually I wished it didn't look like you raided the kitchen for your armour but overall it is a fantastic RPG game with some elements of strategy involved.
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It's the only good Dragon Age, so you might as well.
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I have the ultimate edition but never got into it.
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Krow_Incarnate posted...

It's the only good Dragon Age, so you might as well.

There are parts of DA2 that I like, I love banter between Isabela, Varric and Aveline and honestly I didn't really dislike the story up until Act 3.

OrangeDawn posted...

Doing some reading and it sounds like the ultimate edition on PC is the way to go. $30 on steam, maybe a drop during the next sale so I think I'll look into it.

The game goes on sale regularly for $10 or less. Playing the pc version is definitely worth it, but I'd wait for a discount.
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IMO, DA:O is one of the best WRPGs of the last 15 years. I'd definitely play it if I were you. Just try to ignore the older graphics and it can be really fun.



InfestedAdam posted...

Visually I wished it didn't look like you raided the kitchen for your armour

Far better than DA:I in that respect.

Then again, "DA:I is worse" applies to nearly every facet of the DA games. Almost everything DA:O or DA2 manages to well, DA:I manages to fuck up.



rjsilverthorn posted...

There are parts of DA2 that I like, I love banter between Isabela, Varric and Aveline and honestly I didn't really dislike the story up until Act 3.

People always bitch about DA2, but most of the complaints are things that apply to ME1 (overly reused environments and maps) and ME2 (turning an RPG into an action game), and no one ever seems to act like those things make ME terrible. So it feels like a bit of a double standard there.

As someone who views story and characterization the most important element in most games, I kind of love DA2. I feel like most of your companions are easily on par with DA:O, and in some cases better (and they're certainly far better than almost anyone in DA:I). Inter-party dynamics feel more interesting, and I kind of like the idea of operating in a hub city where your party members have established hang-outs when you're not traveling with them. And I like the idea of seeing these people change and evolve over time, both with their own narrative arcs, but also just in terms of how they react to you based on your Influence meter (and making it so you can gain benefits from having someone as a rival who dislikes you as much as having them worship the ground you walk on, not just the love/leave mechanic the first game had). And I really liked the Diplomatic/Sarcastic/Aggressive split on dialogue as an expansion on ME's Paragon/Renegade.

I understand that some people didn't like it because it - combined with a voiced protagonist - can limit flexibility of response to some degree, and limits player agency more than DA:O did, but again, ME had already done things the exact same way and everyone loved it.

The only real things I see as being somewhat of a problem in DA2 is how Act 1 can feel a bit aimless (because you have the "Earn X amount of gold" objective but can do whatever you want in whatever order you want, and can blatantly miss certain things), and how the overall story feels like nothing Hawke does actually matters (the major events feel like they would have happened even without you, and you're more of an observer watching major world events happen rather than causing them yourself). I actually kind of like the latter perspective, but I understand why people would dislike going from the extremely proactive and dynamic Warden who basically saves the world to a character who feels less like a legendary hero and more like someone who's just trying to make their fortune and live their own life but who accidentally gets pulled into more significant things (then again, overcompensating for that and making the Inquisitor the mostest important person EVAR is a large part of what made the narrative of DA:I so terrible). Or how you're constantly forced into tragedies you literally cannot prevent.

I also think that DA2 has some of the best music in the entire series (and I really like the music in DA:O).

I feel like if people go into DA2 with an open mind and don't let all the hate color their perception, it's easy to really enjoy it. Certainly more than DA:I (which feels like 1/3rd a really good DA game, 1/3rd lame or bad ideas, and 1/3rd nothing but dull filler).
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I voted yes but from experience, if you didn't like it the first time there is very little chance you'll like it now.

it's like a fantasy mass effect game with surprisingly good group-based tactical combat

similar to mass effect where what it's doing (combat/gameplay-wise) is definitely good and interesting and unique, but also feels slightly rough around the edges
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Like others said play it on PC, so much better there. Also I recommend "Skip the Fade" mod and the "Gift Guide" or whatever it's called.

By all means you should. On the PC anyways.

I was really drawn into the world of Origins at first, but quickly lost interest. I was playing on PS3 though. Maybe PC version would be better.
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If you're going to play Origins, you should do it on PC. It's the superior experience by all accounts. Ironically, DA2 was developed as a console game, so pretty much the opposite of Origins.
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Yeah great game from what I hear
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Cruddy_horse posted...

Like others said play it on PC, so much better there. Also I recommend "Skip the Fade" mod and the "Gift Guide" or whatever it's called.

I'd say hard no on skipping the Fade.

It's fine if you've played before and don't want to repeat it, but I think for someone's first time through they should experience it the way it's supposed to be and not just half-ass their way through it with tons of mods or bypassing.
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The Fade gives you stat boosts you know. If I had a skip mod, it would be for the longest part of the game, the fucking Deep Roads.
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Sahuagin posted...

it's like a fantasy mass effect game with surprisingly good group-based tactical combat

similar to mass effect where what it's doing (combat/gameplay-wise) is definitely good and interesting and unique, but also feels slightly rough around the edges

There were some parts about ME1 that were a little rough but it generally didn't feel like those things pulled my opinion of the game down.

The combat definitely is something different compared to what I normally play but I don't think I gave it a fair shot or got too deep into it since I never played for very long
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