Bioware’s “Dragon Age”

Nov. 5, 2009

post by Karen Cotton, kcotton@wyomingnews.com

story by Kevin Wingert, kwingert@wyomingnews.com

In yesterday’s ToDo section the video game review for Bioware’s “Dragon Age” ran. From time to time we will run video game reviews, on our blog.

Wingert is the assistant managing editor of features for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

Here is the “Dragon Age” review …..

By Kevin Wingert

kwingert@wyomingnews.com

 

Five hours in and I’ve barely become a Grey Warden.

I’ve not recruited my first party member, much less had a chance to dally with a fair maiden.

And I’ve not even faced my first dragon.

If nothing else, Bioware’s “Dragon Age: Origins” is huge. It’s a role-playing game that has not only created a new fantasy world but given it depth and substance. One could spend hours just wading through all the background that the game provides.

Of course, this is no new feat for Bioware. It did the same with “Mass Effect.” But in that world, developers drew much of the information from our existing world, particularly where astronomy is concerned.

Here, the feat is on an entirely different scale. Aside from borrowing a skeletal structure of different race archetypes found in most fantasy settings from Tolkien to Gary Gygax, the bulk of the mythology is fresh.

The world itself has a Dark Ages feel to it – fitting, since the game is billed as a dark fantasy. And, yes, it earns its mature rating in blood alone.

But everywhere you go in the game, there are hints of previous civilizations and structures. Everything that is current is built upon or amid ruin. As one wanders about the large landscape, one gets an immense sense of history.

And that’s even true for your character.

“Dragon Age” eschews many popular fantasy tales that give curt focus to how you came about. Some games, notably the “Fable” series, do build you up from a young pup, but play that game twice if not two dozen times and you’ll still end up with essentially the same hero by the time the main game starts.

With “Dragon Age” you spend time developing your character and a different background and even motive for the game. Coupled with the multiple endings that are possible, you could play through several times and have a unique experience with each go.

You also have a significant set of skill trees and characteristics to work from as you build your character. And developing certain skills across different sets can lead to the development of even more powerful combined effects.

As for the game play, it is a unique mishmash of the interface from “Neverwinter Nights” and “Mass Effect.” Indeed, the structure of the play feels much like “Neverwinter Nights” – hardly surprising since the game initially was developed using the editor for that game.

The biggest shift – aside from far greater graphic capability – from that game to this is a greater emphasis on party members, who can be fully operated by, or be independent of, your character.

That’s also where some of the difficulty comes in. It is hard to master squad tactics and set up a comprehensive battle plan like what one might have done with “Baldur’s Gate” – another Bioware franchise and arguably the greatest role-playing computer game ever developed.

It should be noted that while this is a truly great game that belongs in every RPG fan’s library, it is not “Baldur’s Gate” nor even its second coming.

Part of the reason lies with the attempt to mix real time with the teamwork elements so prescient in role-playing classics.

“Mass Effect” did an admirable job in pulling that off. But this game feels more like a compromise between “Neverwinter Nights” and “Mass Effect.” In some ways, this game feels like what originally was promised to players with “Neverwinter Nights.”

It should also be noted that this review is of the Xbox 360 version. I suspect that the PC version with the greater availability of keys and shortcuts allows for more fluid team play.

One of the exciting aspects of “Dragon Age” is its expandability. Already, two expansion packs have been released – on the same day the game dropped – with many more possible.

A special note should be given to the soundtrack and voice acting.

With the advent of “Oblivion,” serious role-playing games have beefed up their sound, music and atmosphere.

This is certainly true with “Dragon Age.” You might even be surprised by a few of the voices you find within. The music is moody, and the battle sequences are pitched with a layering of sounds that create an immersive effect.

Although the clock has not been turned back to 1998, when “Baldur’s Gate” was released, “Dragon Age” is certainly the closest Bioware – or any other company for that matter – has come to recreating the magic of that legendary title.