Game News Dragon Age is awesome but with delayed toolset

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: BioWare; Dragon Age

First off, BioWare's Greg Zeschuk <a href="http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/26980">talks about it</a> in a <a href="http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/26981">two part</a> video interview with 1UP.
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Then <a href="http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-reviews/308.html">PSX Extreme</a>, <a href="http://cheatcc.com/ps3/rev/dragonageoriginsreview.html">Cheat Code Central</a>, <a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/dragon-age-origins/details">Common Sense Media</a>, <a href="http://www.cheathappens.com/reviews/dragonageorigins.asp">Cheat Happens</a> and <a href="http://kotaku.com/5397283/dragon-age-origins-+-playstation-3-versus-pc">Kotaku</a> all go gaga:
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<blockquote>And that's what's so great about Dragon Age; the freedom. [...] There is so much more to Dragon Age: Origins I just don't have room to explain here. [...] Five years in the making, this RPG shows its age. [...] As you’d expect, this all requires a significant emotional investment, and that’s where Origins excels the most. [...] Overall the game is an amazing piece of art. [...] The PC version is also superior</blockquote>
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All sites scoring highly, one even going 10/10.
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There's also some complaints about the DLC (downloadable content) <a href="http://fidgit.com/archives/2009/11/dragon_age_the_hidden_seven_do.php">that BioWare respond to</a>.
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And finally, <a href="http://gamebanshee.com/news/95674-dragon-age-origins-toolset-delayed.html">the toolset has been delayed</a>.
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Spotted @ <a href="http://www.gamebanshee.com">GameBanshee</a>

 

[bonch]

Calling it a piece of art is a bit much.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y_M_O_U_S_E]

Well all the characters are certainly a lot more chatty than in BG. A couple of hours worth of dialogue between the origin and the walking dead of Redcliffe straight after finding Morrigan.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

Personally I think it's the best Bioware game since BG2. To me it feels like BG3, which was the company's stated aim, and the characters seem a lot more interesting than in previous games.

I haven't skipped any dialogue or VO yet, which is a genuine first for me in a Bioware game. Pleasantly surprised.

 

[bonch]

I just wish the quests had as much freedom as the dialogue. Maybe I don't want to follow the weird lady to her mother to retrieve the treaties. Maybe I want to kill them both, or send a rogue in to steal them, or hold the daughter hostage until the mother hands them over, or go back to Duncan empty-handed and play the main storyline without the help of any armies that would have been given by the treaties. I'm getting tired of feeling like I'm spending most of the game watching cutscenes that are ultimately meaningless.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

True enough, there's still the trademark Bioware linearity. But on the other hand, there appears to be some genuinely substantial C&C, with quests being sealed off and opened or completed in different ways depending on your background and choices and other factors. The Hungry Deserter is an early example of this, as is the merchant in the same camp who won't offer his quest to my char as he doesn't want to bother a nobleman.

And more importantly to me, the writing quality has improved quite dramatically since Mass Effect, IMO - dialogue is snappy and personable and characters are much more than talking thesauruses. Morrigan and Alaistar are pretty fun to be with, so far. In fact, I'd call it the best-written RPG I've played for some years.

Oh, and finally, I love that they've done away with any kind of morality slider. It's all based on reputation and relationships.

 

[SerratedBiz]

Dialogue in DA is ME dialogue without the wheel.

 

[Phelot]

This game should have at least a few points taken off for being one of the ugliest modern games to come out.

 

[Syraxis]

Toolset's out.

edit: you have to log into that social site.

 

[oldmanpaco]

T-Minus 8 hours until the first nude mod.

 

[Berekän]

Any mirrors for the download? I found one but ppl say it's broken and I don't know if I should trust Filefront for the same reason.