Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

100 or More Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

To me, this is the best game I've ever played. Almost. It would be difficult to compare it to a game that is 15 years old, on another platform with, by today's standards, primitive graphics. However, as time goes by, the memories grow fonder and that is why Chrono Trigger for the SNES remains my favourite to this day.

Dragon Age:Origins matches that classic bit for bit. It contains an immersing story, colorful characters, witty dialogue, varied levels of combat, multiple story lines/endings, great voice acting, a great deal of DLC and plenty of action, excitement and drama.

You get to choose the central character from a variety of backgrounds, each with their own introductory story, all of which eventually tie in to the main plot. You can customize their looks and make various dialogue choices which may hinder/help the story and quests.

The world this game is set in (Thedas) is rich, with many cultures, places, politics, religions, and history. You have the freedom to choose how you wish to carry yourself through the main story and often you get to see the consequences of your decisions.

The combat is sharp, without a lot of button mashing. You can set tactics for each of the members of your party( a total of 4 characters at a time) which determine how they approach combat, which enemies they choose to face, and any contingencies that may occur during a brawl.

There are a good deal of quests to occupy your time, some can be undertaken for money, and some are the result of gaining friendship with members of your party. There is also a friendship scale with each character that changes based upon actions you make while they are in the party, which can open new quests or affect the actions some of your party may take in a given situation.

In all, the game was captivating enough to merit 6-7 playthroughs for somewhere near 350 hours of playtime, which no game has enticed me to do, ever. Worth every penny.