Dragon Age: Origins is a dark fantasy with a great sense of humor, and it's bursting with replayability potential. BioWare is famous for creating fleshed-out companions and big moral decisions, and this game is a prime example of what this developer can do. But that only scratches the surface of what makes Dragon Age: Origins so fun.
The six protagonist origin stories are temptation enough because the Warden's origins matters all the way to the end credits. This game also rewards completionism in the best ways. There are few other games that place such a heavy emphasis on world-building that also manage to combine it with diverse mechanics. Origins is one such gem, a game that truly never gets old for anyone who falls in love with the franchise.
12 A Unique Spin On Fantasy
Dragon Age departs from Tolkienesque fantasy conventions when it comes to races, classes, and social mechanics. Any RPG lover diving into Origins will immediately realize that this world is not at all what one might expect from a game in this genre.
Elves aren't ethereal, immortal beings. Dwarves are viciously political. Then along comes the Qunari, the Mages and the Templars, the church, the king, and demons from the Fade, not in any particular order. Whatever assumptions players might have going in, Origins will redirect their focus to an absorbingly broken world that defies expectations.
11 An Abundance Of Skills Will Keep It Interesting
The Warden's companions all have teachable specializations, and a few more can be picked up from NPCs throughout the game. The learnable skill sets are designed to complement certain classes, meaning players will always have access to some and miss out on others.
The tactics system is not the most popular feature of Origins, but it can be a lot of fun once the player is familiar enough with the unique way skills and timing synergize in the game. It’s less useful early on but gets more useful with every replay.
10 The Loot Lust Is Savage
There are a lot of unique weapons, armor sets, and skill and equipment combinations to try in Origins. This makes it easy to deck out all the Warden's companions with the best pieces not in use by them, but it also offers plenty of temptation to try other classes.
Whether the party discovered the armor belonging to a legend from Ferelden history or an ancient relic that bestows magical powers, there's always a list of things to covet. Though this may not be every player's priority, gamers who love loot and other rewards will adore Origins.
9 The Challenge Isn't Just In The Difficulty Setting
The plot can be quite challenging for insensitive or outright churlish Wardens. The Warden's personality and decisions sometimes open doors, and sometimes removes opportunities. The semi-open world approach to Origins' main plot points alone can radically change a player's experience.
First-time players can make their playthrough a lot harder without realizing it for the same reason. Anyone who goes straight to Orzammar after Lothering is signing up for grueling gameplay! But a lot more than that can change just because the Warden chose a different route or supported a different NPC.
8 Companions, Not Henchpeople
A lot of RPGs have party members whose sole purpose in life soon becomes following the main character around. Not so in Dragon Age, a franchise famous for companions who have lives and relationships that don't involve the Warden.
There is enough scripted party banter that it will take a few playthroughs to trigger them all. The Warden's companions have their own opinions about nearly everything, and this reflects as much in their conversations with each other as in their reactions to quest events.
7 There's No Pleasing Some People
Origins will make it hard to go against the wishes of favorite characters. There is diversity in opinions, faiths, and motivations of both companions and NPCs, so the Warden's loyalties and priorities are constantly in question. But it's worth experiencing the range of their reactions!
It's not impossible to game the system and gain full approval from all companions, especially with the Feastday Gifts and Pranks DLCs! But an RPG connoisseur would be remiss not to sample the dark side of Origins and challenge themselves by making enemies of all.
6 Learn The Dogma, Then Question Everything
The story starts in the part of Ferelden where the main character grew up. As the events of Origins unfold though, everything the Warden was taught is challenged by other myths and dogmas. It's impossible to know anything for sure, but this makes it easy to roleplay steadfast or changing beliefs.
There are many mysteries that intersect all Thedasian cultures, ones only an outsider would notice. Things get only get more interesting after the main character's induction into the Order of the Grey Wardens, and they are pledged to safeguard against the biggest mystery of them all: the Blight.
5 The Relevant Lore Keeps Coming
There are as many versions of accepted history as there are races in Thedas. Each of them has an in-depth lore to discover. This has the effect of personalizing crucial plot points for every main character's background.
All major decisions affect the main character as a Grey Warden, but Origins doesn't neglect the Warden's ancestry. Not every culture or region is familiar to a character of a given background. Still, there will be a unique understanding of what that Warden experiences through the lens of their society and beliefs.
4 Player Foresight Unlocks A New World
There are obvious advantages to choosing a different class with access to new abilities. Yet, Origins offers so much more with player agency within the plot. Foreknowledge of events and choices allows players to tailor their Origins experience to great effect.
It's inevitable that not all choices can be explored in a single playthrough. In the meantime, there are plenty of tantalizing hints about what a different choice, background, or personality could change.
3 The Warden Is The Perfect Role To Play
There are few groups in Thedas who have more flexibility and fewer resources than the Grey Wardens do. This ensures the Warden's life is itinerant, barely acknowledged, and yet not without influence, all by design.
The Grey Wardens are just one thread in a tapestry of Thedas' history and cultures. The premise is a good one: the Warden is a hero who is both an outsider and someone who has power if they reach for it. Refusing the task is not an option, but how the Warden gains that influence is up to the player.
2 The Warden's Legacy Is A Slow Burn
Origins features a lot of choices that affect the outcome of the game. Although players aren't necessarily locked out of the most important endgame decisions, there are play styles that will make one ending appeal more for the player's current version of the Warden over the other options.
There are no bad endings in Origins. Yet, some of the options will pair better with the way the Warden was played until the endgame compared to others. The outcomes are also different enough from each other to warrant more playthroughs.
1 The Continuity Of Dragon Age
All Dragon Age games are tightly woven together when it comes to the choices having consequences in the franchise, but each of them is also a standalone new story. Later heroes know — and feel the effects — of the previous heroes and their choices.
Playing any new Dragon Age game is a great reason to go back to Origins, precisely because so many decisions carry over to its sequels. Origins is exactly what its title promises: the epic foundation of a wonderful franchise with endless potential.
Dragon Age: Origins is available on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Mac OS X.