Dragon Age: Origins Preview

RPGamer has wrangled up a new preview of Dragon Age: Origins, which looks to be based on the build we were invited to check out up in Edmonton.

Mages are extremely dangerous in the world of Dragon Age. They’re cloistered in a tower until each is determined to be ready to leave. If they never reach that point, their powers must be wiped from their bodies. In the process, their minds basically get wiped as well. So my goal was to complete my final test being sent into The Fade and coming out alive rather than being magically lobotomized. Whilst in The Fade, I got my first taste of Dragon Age’s combat. It’s feels very much like Baldur’s Gate mixed with World of Warcraft. Players can pause, queue up skills, and then unpause, but unlike Baldur’s Gate characters have a World of Warcraft-style ability bar at the bottom of the screen. Abilities are used by clicking on the icons in this bar, and must recharge once used. It’s very fun, intuitive, and strategic. I actually died upon fighting what could be considered the first “boss,” which made me happy because I want a challenging game. I was playing on hard, actually.

 

Another level of fun I had with Dragon Age: Origins came from all of the dialogue options. There is a ton of dialogue in the game, with plenty of people to talk to and different choices to make. In The Fade, I encountered a tough looking spirit from which I required a bit of aid. I could have been receptive to its advice to gain this aid, but I was also able to be a complete jerk, piss it off, and acquire its help after a fight instead. Needless to say, I had quite a bit of fun angering this spirit and watching its eyes flare up as it reprimanded me for my disrespect.