Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition Review – CRPG Masterclass

Almost 15 years after its release, Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition still stands as a shining example of what an actual fantasy role-playing game should be.

Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition can easily claim to still stand as a shining gem in gaming. It is a game that still effortlessly captivates players with its immersive storytelling, intricate character development, strategic combat system, and vast world-building.

In this article, we will delve into the variety of reasons why we believe that Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition is widely regarded as a brilliant game, showcasing its captivating narrative, memorable characters, deep gameplay mechanics, and the enduring legacy that it has left in the role-playing videogame genre.

Captivating narrative and excellent World-Building

Dragon Age: Origins presents players with a captivating narrative that effortlessly and smoothly unfolds within the richly and well-realized world of Thedas. The game’s story is a grand tapestry of political intrigue, epic conflicts, and personal journeys. Players can’t help but feel drawn into a dark fantasy world that is teetering on the brink of chaos, where they assume the role of a Grey Warden (an elite warrior) who is tasked with saving Ferelden from the threat of the ever-encroaching Blight.

The game’s lore is meticulously crafted, with detailed histories, mythologies, and diverse cultures that help players immerse themselves in a vibrant and believable world. When paired with the player’s ability to shape the narrative through their choices, the intricate storytelling on display creates a sense of agency and personal investment that is rarely seen in other games.

From the towering city of Denerim to the mysterious forests of the Brecilian Forest, each location is painstakingly designed, with attention to detail that brings the world to life. The level of world-building in Dragon Age: Origins is second to none and possesses a level of depth that genuinely rewards exploration and provides a sense of realism. Impressively, the game’s environments are not merely backdrops but serve as integral components of the narrative, which offers insights into the cultures and histories of the various regions that make up the world of Thedas.

Deep Gameplay Mechanics and Tactical Combat

One of the most impressive features of Dragon Age: Origins is its deep and immersive gameplay mechanics. The game offers players a complex and strategic combat system that combines real-time action with the ability to pause the game and issue specific commands to party members.

This tactical approach, if chosen, allows players to plan and execute battles with precision, considering factors such as positioning, abilities, and enemy weaknesses. The customization options for character classes, skills, and equipment further enhance the depth of this gameplay, providing players with a vast array of choices and playstyles.

In Dragon Age: Origins, combat encounters do not boil down to simple button-mashing affairs but require strategic thinking and decision-making. Players must carefully consider their party composition and be sure to utilize the strengths and weaknesses of each companion to overcome the many challenging encounters they will inevitably face. The game rewards those players who approach battles with thoughtfulness and adaptability, which leads to a profoundly satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Beyond combat, the game offers a wide variety of gameplay mechanics that also contribute to its brilliance. Exploring the world encourages players to delve into every nook and cranny, uncovering hidden treasures, engaging in many side quests, and unravelling additional layers of the ever-evolving narrative. The game also features intricate character progression systems, allowing players to customize their character’s abilities, attributes, and specialization. This level of depth and customization ensures that each playthrough can be a genuinely unique experience tailored to the player’s preferences and playstyle.

Immersive Sound Design and Visuals

Dragon Age: Origins immersive sound design and visuals contribute significantly to its brilliance. One cannot accurately review the game without referencing its atmospheric soundtrack. Composed by Inon Zur, the game’s soundtrack enhances the narrative’s emotional impact, intensifying moments of triumph, tragedy, and suspense. The music seamlessly blends with the gameplay, underscoring the crucial events and heightening the player’s connection to the world and its characters.

The voice acting in Dragon Age: Origins is also quite exemplary, with talented actors bringing the characters to life and infusing them with their own unique blend of personality and depth. The performances are nuanced and emotive, capturing the essence of each character and elevating the dialogue and interactions. This high level of voice acting, combined with the well-written dialogue, creates a sense of authenticity and believability, further immersing players in the game’s world.

Visually, for a game that is almost fifteen years old, the game still presents players with a beautifully crafted world. From the sweeping vistas of the Frostback Mountains in the West to the hauntingly atmospheric Deep Roads, each location is meticulously designed with attention to detail.

The fact that the game is not purely open world perhaps actually aids it in some ways as while it’s more linear focused, the areas, in particular, are highly detailed and well thought out; there is virtually no wasted space whatsoever or location that does not at least offer the player something in return for the explorative efforts.

The art direction used showcases a range of styles, from the grandeur of Ferelden’s cities to the eerie beauty of the Elven ruins. The game’s graphical fidelity, while certainly not on par with modern AAA titles, still holds surprisingly well.

Memorable Characters and Character Development

Another string in Dragon Age: Origins bow is that it boasts a remarkable ensemble of characters, each with their own defined and distinct personalities, motivations, and fascinating backstories. From the enigmatic and cunning Witch Morrigan to the noble and comedic Alistair, the companions in the game are not simply there to be sidekicks but genuinely feel like actual, fully fleshed-out characters with their own inner conflicts and personal motivations. This forces the player to put some real thought and effort into interacting with their fellow companions, leading to meaningful relationships and emotional connections.

The game’s exceptional writing and voice acting bring these characters to life, making them truly memorable and which will leave a lasting impact on players long after the credits roll. The dialogue options are well thought out and provide opportunities for in-depth conversations, allowing players to delve into the backgrounds and beliefs of their companions. These interactions not only deepen the player’s connection with the characters but also shape their relationships and even help to influence the overall outcome of the narrative in surprising ways.

Additionally, Dragon Age: Origins also presents players with choices that can affect the fate of their companions. The game can indeed not be described as black and white as it explores complex moral dilemmas and conflicting ideologies, forcing players to think long and hard before having to make tough decisions that inevitably have enormous consequences.

The character development throughout the game is masterfully executed, with companions evolving and growing based on the player’s choices and interactions with them. This adds layers of depth and realism to the characters, making them feel like genuine individuals with their own agency and growth and not just static NPCs.

Expansive and Replayable Content

Dragon Age: Origins offers extensive content, ensuring every player will have countless hours of gameplay and replayability to enjoy. While the game features a main storyline that provides a satisfying narrative arc, it is also complemented by numerous side quests, companion storylines, and exploration opportunities. These additional quests and interactions add a tremendous amount of depth to the world and allow players to further immerse themselves in the lore and characters of Thedas.

Including all the expansions and DLC in the Ultimate Edition provides even more content, expanding the game’s scope and offering new adventures for players. This is the version you want to get as you get so much bang for your book!

From the epic questlines of the “Awakening” expansion to the character-focused narratives of the DLCs like “The Golems of Amgarrak” and particularly “Witch Hunt,” the additional content enriches the overall experience while also offering fresh challenges and stories to discover.

Furthermore, the game’s replay value is enhanced by the different origin stories available for the player character. Each origin provides a unique perspective on the world and introduces distinct characters and storylines, which will affect each playthrough. This branching narrative approach encourages players to replay the game, exploring different origins and witnessing the impact of their choices from various perspectives—something not many other games can claim to offer.

Enduring Legacy and Impact

Dragon Age: Origins has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the role-playing genre, influencing subsequent games and becoming a defining benchmark for narrative-driven RPGs in the modern era. Its success paved the way for the further expansion of the Dragon Age franchise and helped to solidify BioWare’s reputation as a master of storytelling in the gaming industry. The game’s compelling narrative, memorable characters, and deep gameplay mechanics have garnered a dedicated and passionate fanbase that continues to celebrate and engage with the game years after its release to this very day, with many still hailing it as the best game in the current trilogy.

Furthermore, the impact of Dragon Age: Origins can be seen in the influence it has had on other games in the genre, inspiring developers to prioritize immersive storytelling, nuanced characters, and player agency. The game’s emphasis on consequence and player choice has become a hallmark of modern RPGs, and its success has shown that players do indeed crave meaningful decision-making and the ability to shape their own narratives. Dragon Age: Origins stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in games and has helped to elevate the medium as a form of interactive narrative art.

In conclusion, Dragon Age: Origins, particularly Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition, is undoubtedly worth your time and money if you haven’t experienced it before. It can be purchased cheaply, considering how many hours of content you will experience and enjoy. If you can look past some dated graphics and gameplay mechanics, you will be rewarded with a deeply compelling story full of characters you will soon forget. If you haven’t experienced this classic RPG before, now is the time!

Screenshot(s) via MobyGames