This game takes the RPG genre to a whole new level, and it's by far, the most stunning open-world game in a long time.
If you played Oblivion, and you like those types of RPG games, this would be a whole new experience for you, the one that you MUST try. While the Oblivion for example points towards pure hack and slash action with First Person Camera, Dragon Age turns to a more tactical and at some point, strategic type of action, but not leaving behind the pure action.
This game is special in every aspect. Though the graphics would seem a bit of splotchy to some, unlike other games, it has an amazing story, voice acting and characters that are very carefully made, so the graphics are kinda on the last place you want to think about while playing this game.
Dragon Age is, could be said, a perfect jewel, crafted from the bits of Neverwinter nights, bits of World Of Warcraft, and a larger bits of Mass Effect.
Moral decisions are not an exception in this game. Though relatively new concept of story telling, those "player decisions" have now become a regular thing.
But level and deepness of choices in Dragon Age are almost unlimited. While in most games, the choices that player makes are
The Good, Not So Good, and The Bad, Dragon Age has a variety of those choices, meaning that you really can have a thousands of possibilities to finish a scene, and a game at the end.
If you are a hardcore gamer, you could finish this game in maybe 20-30 hours, if you really just play the game to pass it.
But if you take your time and try different things, search for items, do a lots of side-quests, talk to people, craft and search for gear, hunt rare beasts and specialities, you will finish it in over 70 hours certainly.
And that's only with one campaign.
At the start of the game you get to choose from 3 types of races: Humans, Elves, and Dwarfs. But if that's not enough for you, you can try picking from a variety of social statuses. For example: Human noble, human commoner etc..
Meaning that, if you want, you can finish the game in over a 9 times. And if you need apx. 70 hours to complete it once, you get a lot of hours of playing.
And seriously, if you want to experience the game totally, you should finish it at least 3 times, because it's that humongous.
Talking about the open world. I'll take Oblivion for example again. If you hope for an open world of that kind, you would be disappointed.
In Dragon Age you have enough open world to satisfy your curiosity(If not, the choices and quests you do can make this open world even bigger)
but still in some limits and without "empty steps". Meaning that you won't be bored crossing the big mountain on foot and loose your time.
The problems at these big games, are that the loading takes too long. Not too long, but long for you to notice.
Regarding the fight and action in the game. The fight is fluid, and very similar to the one from NWN, so basically depending on your gear and specialities, you have your characters strength. But that would be stupid in a sort of way, so, to forget that, and put your own skills and brains in the game, you get to lead 3 companions with you, and place tactic slots for each one of them. And wherever you want you can jump from another character to another. Meaning that you can lead and use your character, and your companions. This comes pretty good when there are some situations with a lot of opponents. So picking and planning carefully will mean a lot in the fight.
There are many side-quests, very good written dialogues, storytelling is very innovative and cool, and yeah, you can have sex here also. I mean, why not?
And for the end. Whether you are a hardcore hack and slash gamer or a tactical and patient one, you would get your satisfaction in this game.
If you are a gamer that really enjoys playing games and don't mind playing for weeks, this is the MUST HAVE.
Now let's put another dragon on the barbie and sharpen our blades. Ahoy!