Dragon Age: Origins Preview

The guys at Hooked Gamers have rounded up what we know about BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins thus far in a new two-page preview.

More akin to BG than to NWN, this game focuses on the single player approach, where the player can control up to four NPCs as well as his own character. Multi-player capability must wait for a sequel or an expansion (of which I would say the probability is near 100%).

One particularly intriguing new feature is that you will be able to “tag” more than one spellcaster in your party to work together in combat situations. The result is that when they cast in conjunction with one another, the results are often singular, possibly spectacular, and frequently unpredictable. It’s definitely not like ordering from a restaurant menu.

Of course, so many years later, the graphics have substantially improved. From the clips that I’ve seen of game action, the spell effects are simply awesome. Like, a Fireball isn’t just an exploding ball of flame and then it’s over. Rather, the aftereffects will show singed and flaming grass and shrubs that slowly burn out. A Magic Missile isn’t just an arrow or streak of light; it’s an actual arrow streaming pixie dust. A Flame Lance bores through the air, but tends to singe the grass on the way, as well as brush branches out of the way. (I have to admit that I’m guessing at the spell names involved.)