Dragon Age: Origins

 PlayStation 3
Dragon Age: Origins Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 691 Ratings

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  • Summary: As the spiritual successor to BioWare's "Baldur's Gate", one of the most successful role-playing games in the industry, Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare's return to its roots, delivering a fusion of the best elements of existing fantasy works with stunning visuals, emotionally-drivenAs the spiritual successor to BioWare's "Baldur's Gate", one of the most successful role-playing games in the industry, Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare's return to its roots, delivering a fusion of the best elements of existing fantasy works with stunning visuals, emotionally-driven narrative, heart-pounding combat, powerful magic abilities and credible digital actors. The spirit of classic RPGs comes of age, as Dragon Age: Origins features a dark and mature story and gameplay. Epic Party-Based Combat – Dragon Age: Origins introduces an innovative, scalable combat system, as players face large-scale battles and use their party’s special abilities to destroy hoardes of enemies and massive creatures. Powerful Magic – Raining down awesome destruction on enemies is even more compelling as players apply "spell combos," a way of combining together different spells to create emergent unique effects. Players develop their characters and gain powerful special abilities (spells, talents and skills) and discover ever-increasing weapons of destruction. With its emotionally compelling story, players choose with whom they wish to forge alliances or crush under their mighty fist, redefining the world with the choices they make and how they wield their power. Players select and play a unique prelude that provides the lens through which the player sees the world and how the world sees the player. The player's choice of Origin determines who they are and where they begin the adventure, as they play through a customized story opening that profoundly impacts the course of every adventure. [BioWare]… Expand
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Dragon Age: Origins - Golems of Amgarrak - Official Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. Giant Bomb
    100
    This is definitely not the game for those frightened of the idea of micromanaging a game to the point where a large portion of it will be spent in a pause screen. However, as the sort of guy that has lovingly played an Infinity Engine game at least once every year for the past decade, I can think of no higher praise for this throwback than to say that Dragon Age: Origins leaves me feeling fairly confident I won't need to dig out the classics for this ritual next year.
  2. Extreme Gamer
    95
    If you like the thought of Megan Fox on your lap hating A.D.D. kids with you, if you are in touch with your inner nerd, if you are intelligent and can actually pay attention to a story, and if you love awesome things that are truly full of awesomness that last for a million hours, then get Dragon Age: Origins.
  3. Gaming Nexus
    91
    Dragon Age: Origins is an excellent RPG with a great story, an awesome combat experience and definite replayability points.
  4. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    90
    The thinking-man's RPG is remarkable for many reasons, but its overbearing scale and variety are the parts that stand out from the get-go. [Jan 2010, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Pelit (Finland)
    88
    A well made traditional fantasy RPG, even though the marketing department in Bioware would have you think otherwise. The world is well fleshed out and the story is traditional, but still interesting. The game lacks the truly epic atmosphere and realistic looking actors of Mass Effect, but it still manages to be great fun. Big plus for surprisingly challenging combat, which you don't see that much nowadays. [Nov 2010]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. IGN AU
    84
    It's a delight to give into a fantasy setting with such a dense back story, even if the gameplay still rarely breaks away from conventions established a decade ago.
  7. Gamers' Temple
    57
    The graphics are dated, the battles are like pulling teeth and while there is a lot to accomplish, none of it ever actually borders on being fun.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 121
  3. Negative: 15 out of 121
  1. JonSmon
    Nov 26, 2009
    10
    Amazing game. So much gameplay. Great story and dialogue. Though my only complaint is my wife loves it so much I hardly get to play it! I Amazing game. So much gameplay. Great story and dialogue. Though my only complaint is my wife loves it so much I hardly get to play it! I hope they put out a ton of expansions for this one! Best RPG ever!!… Expand
  2. Job41
    Jan 17, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game fulfilled my needs of high fantasy epic for the last months of 2009 and, with the DLC, most of the 2010. A great experience fueled by a great script with astounding companions.… Expand
  4. AriseAndBe
    Aug 5, 2015
    9
    The only problem I have with this game is that the frame rate sometimes dipped dramatically during intense battles. Other than that though,The only problem I have with this game is that the frame rate sometimes dipped dramatically during intense battles. Other than that though, Dragon Age Origins is my favourite PS3 game so far.
    The story is AMAZING, and the fact that the choices you make can significantly alter the events of the game really make it a gem. The characters are interesting and the presentation is great for what it is.    … Expand
  5. AlphaLlama
    Aug 31, 2011
    9
    The story, the setting, the characters and the gameplay are fantastic i actually couldnt stop playing it. Its like a book you cant put downThe story, the setting, the characters and the gameplay are fantastic i actually couldnt stop playing it. Its like a book you cant put down until you know what happens next… Expand
  6. ArkonBlade
    Sep 19, 2010
    8
    think star wars KOTR meets lord of the rings here. its a pretty solid RPG with a few flaws . one the graphics almost look like a launch gamethink star wars KOTR meets lord of the rings here. its a pretty solid RPG with a few flaws . one the graphics almost look like a launch game instead of a game that belongs on this system 3 years later. the combat system isnt bad but if you didnt like star wars KOTR's combat system you will not like this ones . i didnt mind it but there wasnt alot of control to the combat . you basically hit the attack button and wach your charicter beat the crap out of people while occasionly tossing ina specialattack . where the game shines at is the choices you can make and how you interact with your party members. you can be kind and friendly and understanding or a evil prick. some of the comments you can make gave me a good laugh. not as funny as KOTR's comments which really had me laughing. you also cap your lvl too low i think its lvl 20-30 which should not be . the lowest lvl cap they should have is 50 . perfably 99 . the voice acting is well done the diolouge isnt bad. the story is intresting . i wish there where more side quests but bioware is adding alot with DLC. if you like RPG's and are a big fan of bioware then you should check this out.… Expand
  7. TylerH.
    Nov 5, 2009
    7
    Game suffers from many issues, not limited to but including ps2 style graphics engine and almost no surround or stereo sound. Obviously a Game suffers from many issues, not limited to but including ps2 style graphics engine and almost no surround or stereo sound. Obviously a port from the 360, an overall disappointing outing from Bioware, I expected more from them after playing Mass Effect for PC, obviously should have gotten this for that and not ps3. Some backgrounds are clipping into each other and appear 2D, while other sections of the game look like cardboard. If you get past all the games faults, this has proven so far to be an enjoyable game. Renting first would be wise. It seems companies are getting better and better at making great previews, while the game suffers or lacks major quality. Still a good game, have not beaten it obviously as it just came out, and worth while to play... just be cautioned that it has many errors and flaws and may make you cringe graphically... go with the PC version if your able, Im sure you'll be happier with the choice.… Expand
  8. ja
    Nov 16, 2009
    0
    This game sucks! Graphics are terrible, combat is boring, and all the dialogue is tedious. Demon's Souls is 1000 times better.

See all 121 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best PS3 Game of 2009
9
#9 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009
3
#3 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2009