Dragon Age: Origins
Candice Jones
Bioware’s latest contribution to fantasy gaming can be considered a graphical masterpiece and a wonder of epic story-telling. Better yet, if you have played a Bioware game before, you will pretty much have a handle on the controls of Dragon Age.

Be prepared to spend a very long time behind the PC screen. This game took us a whopping 36 hours to finish, but finish it we did. While the game has very sturdy controls, it does take a little getting used to, especially the fight scenes.

Each fight is different and you have several characters to choose from when forming a group to take into battle. Sometimes it’s best to have a quick save point just before you enter battle; that way you can play around with the composition of the group, and the different tactics you can use in each battle encounter.
The story is exceptionally engaging, and following your chosen character’s life through the beautifully crafted world of Ferelden makes for a wonderful release from the real world. The story does get a little cumbersome, though. More often than not, we felt like we were spending more time talking to NPCs (choosing the dialogue carefully from the menu) than actually playing the game.

Both these issues are minor when you consider the game as a whole, and gamers will not be disappointed with what is being called the “RPG epic of the decade”. Even better news is that Bioware has announced the expansion pack for Dragon Age will be released soon.