Call of the Dragon: "Dragon Age: Origins"

Year : 2009
Publisher: EA Games, Bioware
Consoles : PC(Windows and Mac), Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Rated "M"

From the creators of "Mass Effect 2", "Sims", and "Baldur's Gate", these two publishers have once again awed us with their new game. As the Best RPG of 2009, "Dragon Age: Origins" offers you a deep storyline that could captivates gamers.

"Dragon Age: Origins" main story plot begins with your main character being recruited by the Grey Warden Duncan from their respective places. He explained that a Blight is happening once more and the country need the Grey Warden once more. In the game, you will have control over your character, forge his/her path through quests and conversations, meet and befriend with new party members, and destroy the Archdemon leading the darkspawn Blight.

Like any other games, "Dragon Age: Origins" has a uniqueness of its own. The game will adapt to the choices you have made in your progress and has a variety of endings that you could see. This game also adapts its concept from other games such as "Baldur's Gate"'s area map, level up, and skill systems, "Sims"' character creation as well as party relationships, and "Final Fantasy 12"'s gambit system. Playing this game might require some strategical thinking due to the fact that frontal assaults aren't always the best options. Placing your characters in the right positions in the right time is crucial to create your own ambush or activate certain skills, like rouge class' backstabbing, which can cause more damage than normal frontal striking. Setting up traps and using poisonous vials also help you conquer your foes easily. These, however, might need certain skill such as trap making, poison making, or herbalism, which could be learned and improved as your character levels up.

Dragon Age party banters also add contributions to the game's uniqueness. These special dialogues can be heard during exploration mode and may give out clues of the party's favourite gifts. Some banters are just hilariously funny that can make you ROTF and LOL. Some conversation and action during the game will effect your party members varily. Some may approve your actions, while others dislike them and may leave the party for good. Romance between your character and your party member could be initiated with the right choices.

Equipments in the game not only give your characters status points, they also have variations depending on what you equip them. The style and design could vary between races. Each member could utilize two different sets of weapons which can help you during certain battle situations.

The game graphics, thanks to EA Games, are remarkable. Characters and sceneries are very lifelike, similar to Sims. Battle stances, actions, and conversation gestures are used with such precision that we can really feel like talking to the person. The orchastrated music suits its theme of Medieval adventure.

For those of you searching epicness and amazing gameplay, "Dragon Age: Origins" is definitely a good game to enjoy.