Dragon Age: Origins

This is an additional review specifically for the Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition.

I've just opened the game and installed it, and discovered the extra content, which is advertised heavily on the pack and the product description, expires in July 2011. This product therefore doesn't contain the extra content packs which it advertises any more. At the time of writing, the original and expansion pack were, collectively cheaper than this version, so I'd recommend that other people don't make the mistake I did and buy this version at a higher price, only to be disappointed.

Dragon Age is one of the best if not the best attempt at bringing the old school RPG into modern times. There are many good reviews of the original and the expansion on Amazon, so instead of going through heavily trodden ground I will try to review the collection.

The Original Dragon Age tried a different tactic to games I have seen before for protecting its profits. Around 5-10% of the development time for the game went into creating DLC in parallel with creating the game. This DLC was intentionally released with every copy of the full game. The full game required a basic disk check to run. The DLC required an online login check every time the game was played.

The DLC plus game combination was an attempt to enforce a strong anti-piracy measure and strong anti-second hand game measure without creating a large upset. The attempt greyed the area between a strong and a weak check. The DLC could be viewed as an extra 5-10% free to people who would put up with strong checks and new game prices or 5-10% stolen from those who wouldn't put up with strong checks and new game prices.

The huge problem with the strong DLC check system is that it is bugged. Firstly the servers can have problems and not let you get to your DLC in a timely manner. Secondly the download was corruptible and the DLC would then refuse to download unless the user looked up cache clearing fixes online. Thirdly some people had registration problems. Fourthly the DLC system has a rare authentication bug which would give no error but would strip your save game of the DLC which may not be noticed until back at camp. Hours of saves can be wasted. All of these problems could and have wasted hours upon days of some gamer's lives whilst not affecting others at all.

The main problem with the Ultimate Edition is that the included DLC is still setup as DLC and not included on disc as an install. So sadly all the possible DLC problems still exist and I would avoid buying it second hand unless you are sure you can get the authentication login details. A minor problem with the Ultimate Edition is that although it contains all the major paid for official DLC and the blood armour, it does not contain the other minor official DLC that gamers earned through purchasing from specific stores, purchasing the collector's edition or earned through a Dragon Age flash game and website tasks. A further annoyance is that the game still has room for more patching which appears to be being brushed under the carpet rather than addressed. If you are new to the game this is definitely the version to get but I think it fails to match the "ultimate" tag by some way.

So what do you get along with your main game?
The two best DLCs
*The Stone Prisoner. The DLC available with every version of Dragon Age Origins that was developed alongside the main game. The only DLC that adds to your character roster and litters the game with related items within the main game. This DLC increases the game size and feels naturally like it is part of the original game (probably because it is). 5 stars.
*Warden's Keep. The DLC available with collector's editions of Dragon Age Origins that was developed alongside the main game. Warden's Keep is the only DLC that adds to your characters abilities and adds a useful chest to store items within the main game. This DLC increases the game size and feels naturally like it is part of the original game (probably because it is). 5 stars.

Two world and story expanding DLCs
*Return to Ostagar
Like the original DLCs this one adds to the main map increasing the world size and it fleshes out a thread of the story. Unlike the originals DLCs it doesn't add any game features, skills or characters. 4 stars.

The five spin offs:
*Witch Hunt
*Leliana's Song
*The Darkspawn Chronicles
*The Golems of Amgarrak
*Dragon Age Awakening
All are playable from importing a character on the main menu. There can be a weak connection between a save game, if you wish to use one a handful of your choices are carried over and discussed. The shorter ones are nothing more than curiosities into seeing Dragon Age from different perspectives. Awakening is larger but gets way too easy as the difficulty balance disappears the further on you get from level 20. 3 stars.

Minor items:
*Feastday Combo Pack
Pretty much a cheat for altering the way your companions see you. Meh.
*Blood Armour
Originally great armour that was rebalanced to average armour a month after the game came out. Meh.

What you don't get:
*The Grimoire Of Frozen Wastes, Bergen's Honor & Final Reason items from the collector's edition.
*The Lucky Stone, Embri's Many Pockets, Amulet of the War Mage, Helm of the Deep & Mark of Vigilance items available for completing dragon age related tasks and download links now available through Dragon Age wikia.
*Memory Band, Lion's Paw, Feral Wolf Charm, The Wicked Oath, Band of Fire, Dalish Promise Ring, Guildmaster's Belt, The Edge, Bulwark of the True King, Pearl of the Anointed & Bregan's Bow items available from purchasing the original game through different stores and now available through Dragon Age wikia.

In short Dragon Age Origins is one of the best RPGs of modern times and Dragon Age Ultimate contains the most additional items and as such should be the Dragon Age to choose. Read the original reviews of the game for a good idea of how positive the reception of the game was. So I am sorry that my review has turned into a giant negative moan. However the contents of Dragon Age Ultimate are neither complete, bug fixed nor disk based and the DLC after release was never upto the level of the release DLC.

In the past I have chastised EA a number of times for its release of cookie-cutter games, crippled with atrocious DRM schemes. So, in all fairness, I now have to say this: the original DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS WAS A GAMER's DREAM! This, on the other hand, is an excellent game collection which (unfortunately...) does not come free of DRM madness. The original game and its expansion had only a simple disk-check; however, for some unfathomable reason, the DLCs/Packs in this edition have to be...downloaded (and activated) from EA's site. So, thank you EA for trying to listen to your customers but too bad you missed the cigar for not been able to hold it together to the end.

This is one of those games that are easy to control, a joy to roam through and fun to play at no end.
I am a huge cRPG fan and cannot remember such a great companion/squad cRPG ever since the Baldur's Gate Saga. And to tell you the truth, this is the game I was dreaming of being able to play one day while playing BG (yeah, by now we all know that NEVERWINTER NIGHTS never delivered).

There are about a dozen gender/race/class/background choices and a great many combinations in forming your party. The armor and the weapons are exceptionally made and everything shows on your characters. And the graphics are truly beautiful! You have to see the rendering of flames to believe them.
Nevertheless, what really stands out is the gameplay. Every battle is a puzzle to be solved, pausing ever so often to reallocate enemies to the best suited party members (a feature I loved in BG!). Of course one can always turn off the autopause feature and let the AI take over the rest of your party and turn the game into an hack&slash action RPG (not exactly my cup of tea but, hey, it's still nice to know it's there).

Finally, this is a game made just like the classics in many ways, including duration. I have been playing the game for hours at no end and I feel the urge to start over the moment I reach the epilogue. Now DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS is one satisfying RPG!

My only gripe is this: I did not appreciate such short dialogue options. Most fit a single line and more often than not they consist of a couple of words. I like my RPGs to be wordy and challenging to my verbal imagination as well - and I want my characters to participate in the humor, not just provoke it or react to it. Remember the long dialogue options in BG? Well, expect to find DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS much more laconic.
I guess 10 years of fast-paced FPS and blitzkrieging RTS do take their toll...

This ULTIMATE EDITION not only contains both the original game and its AWAKENINGS expansion but also all nine Content Packs (and not just the seven mentioned in the product description above). For such an epic game to be sold at this price, this is a bargain not to be missed!

The blood sprays, the swords clang and the spells explode. The animations are beautifully made and add a lot to both enjoyment and immersion. There is a verse in Homer's Iliad I love: "the warrior fell, his armor echoing around him" - and I was reminded of it many a times throughout the game.

The game is now complete and it will stay with you for a very long time.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!