dragon age origins dragon age origins role playing video game developed published game dragon age franchise released microsoft windows playstation xbox november december edge reality developed game console versions set fictional kingdom period civil strife game puts player role warrior rogue coming human background unite kingdom fight impending invasion demonic forces known player character recruited tasked defeat soul old god body powerful dragon commands end known game played person perspective shifted perspective game players encounter companions play major roles game plot gameplay accompany player game described dragon age origins dark heroic fantasy set unique world spiritual successor previous gate franchises setting inspired lord rings described mix high fantasy low fantasy development game began lasted years employed voice actors hired compose game music origins received critical acclaim release praise directed story setting characters music combat system sold million copies million pieces downloadable content multiple year end accolades included game year best role playing awards gaming publications released instances downloadable content game initial launch expansion pack game titled awakening march sequels dragon age dragon age released respectively gameplay dragon age origins action role playing game player order elite fighters task defeat save world disastrous event called players create character gender appearance choosing race class available classes warriors perform strong physical attacks carry stealth attacks steal items characters cast spells enemies create combo spells support party members choices race human dwarf combination class race determines different origin stories player experiences human noble affects way game characters perceive player character instance receive hatred discrimination classes follow plot completion origin story gameplay player encounters variety enemies including giant spiders ghosts walking trees dragons recruit companions accompany provide assistance battle companions normally controlled artificial intelligence behavior player adjust tactic menu player option switch characters able issue orders real time pause game queue actions utilizing person perspective combat origins largely similar previous star wars knights old republic player companions engage combat weapons equipped player targets noticed hostile enemy players swap weapons perform special attacks combat attacks time point view shifted person view friendly hostile units labelled different colors distinguish end battle characters health stamina powers character skills automatically enemy defeated player collects items corpse player level warden character earning experience points completing quests defeating enemies time player levels receive points spend character attributes strength damage helps evade attacks increases stamina magic increases spell damage magic defense improves combat tactics constitution helps withstand attacks special skills divided different aspects class options offer class specific skills unlocked players accompanied maximum companions companions player active party stay base camp hub player talk party members purchase new weapons armor gear addition main story player learn world collecting scattered game game dialogue engine mass effect player talk interact party members non playable characters dialogue tree offers dialogue options player select conversation player unlock unique quests dialogue revealing lore dragon age persuade characters player choose morally ambiguous options result consequences affect game world progression lead death potential companion companions react player choices approval system dislike object player decisions approval drops result companion leaving party attacking warden approval points influenced gifts improve companion approval intended specific companion gifts given right character start unlock quest high approval rating improves companion morale gives bonuses combat abilities significant approval rating makes possible warden pursue romantic relationship certain companions game interaction system means way player treats companion affects approval rating companions synopsis setting game set countries mythical continent demonic creatures called underground highway system created long ago deep beneath surface years surface world movement known relied legendary order warriors known grey drive dragon age origins begins eve fifth world race class combine determine social class viewed second class citizens humans human nobles treated respect hand access fade unconscious realm home spirits single lapse cause possessed demons live outside control considered extremely dangerous militant wing seek subdue means necessary characters chief protagonist dragon age origins player controlled character biography combat determined race class chosen start game player choose avatar character usually referred warden characters game narration game non player characters companion characters appear game volunteer services companions include reluctantly heroic sarcastic wit sultry cynical dark little regard authority social member optimistic demeanor espionage combat proud warrior people questions human ways brutal warrior love alcohol matched penchant violence loyalty friends elder circle maternal figure party powerful assassin fond treasures sex loyal player use scouting combat sarcastic mild female dwarf prior life available called secret companion recruited cause leave warden secret companion outside companion characters significant origins plot include duncan recruits player naive courageous leader son legendary politically wife youth beauty matched commanding personality somewhat offset ambition mother appears harmless old woman public truth infamous dark witch legend led supposedly old gods form powerful corrupted dragon total control game main antagonists mac father respected war hero gone mad ambition paranoia corrupt allies ambitions plot depending player chosen race class begin game origin stories origin story player introduced duncan commander trying find recruits join order end origin story player character selected potential leaves duncan player duncan journey fortress southern called join king father law legendary general leaders plan stand new duncan senses influence god like hosted body powerful dragon commands makes true years duncan emphasizes importance defeating gain momentum threaten rest duncan player grey dangerous ritual called joining joining involves blood kill person powerful essence known granting ability sense rudimentary connection mind surviving joining player given task lighting beacon fortress signal men charge flank seeing signal battlefield army reinforcements duncan overwhelmed slain massacre army seize control begin advancing southern player warden saved powerful witch lives daughter apprentice player decide order stop destroying possibly need gather new army ancient treaties player warden travel enlist aid circle soldiers loyal addition reveals son king father putting contention recently vacated throne returns capital city inform daughter king death grey defeat accusing order demands deaths surviving husband authority quickly declares regent effectively control kingdom swiftly brutal ruler willing retain power civil war nobility refuse acknowledge authority sides battle inconclusive stalemate advantage chaos advance unopposed player successfully assistance primary factions called nobles player confronts ultimately executing making grey warden case joins party replacing player lead rallies support rest kingdom face point player learns present body killing releases demonic essence drawn grey warden effectively kills warden essence survives finds new host nearest making monster effectively immortal night final battle offers player warden way sacrificing believes player succeeds child child carry dies demonic essence drawn away safely merge child instead resulting child born plans raise player accept offer convince instead refuse witch proposal cause leave party day player newly assembled army fight way city overrun fighting way final battle atop highest tower player given chance deliver killing blow let choice killed army marking end fifth ritual performed story ends ceremony attended people player companions honored saving kingdom game presents epilogue text pictures details player game choices future lives companions development design dragon age origins created studio developer development game demo began november officially revealed simply dragon age revealed dragon age origins july alongside new trailer game according kept information game hidden public game design technology people worked game scale production began years game initial development subtitle origins chosen represent origins storyline return role playing games beginning new franchise origins spiritual successor gate nights attempt build similar fantasy rpg licensing restrictions issues similarities present gameplay elements real time tactical combat game share dungeons dragons setting gate series instead set period resembling stone age dragons prevalent tactic menu inspired system lead writer origins built game world writing plot team chose fantasy setting game director thought best fantasy genre draft allowed use magic cities different origin stories including origin scrapped ridiculous leading stories finalized character created nicknamed human medium armor enemies designed concepts created play largest role game plot creation took far longer characters originally conceived similar speaking satisfied decided completely rewrite personality result designed blunt person mother finding suitable voice actor took time character game final version features lines dialogue quality assurance game enabled cheat automatically skip cutscenes dialogues test runs founder said team wanted try new familiar players hoped origins genre lord rings video game franchises founder described fantasy dragon age high fantasy works low fantasy works goal dark heroic fantasy suit taste fan genre game typical races human dwarf slightly altered usual nature races new like race called introduced alterations included certain races like treated fictional worlds described race high prestige fiction dragon age origins presents slaves humans labelled second class citizens human race extended gameplay player choose races experience discrimination based choices recognized non linear choices element unique video games entertainment industry called sheer number choices game big team designed emotional create personal experience player intentionally avoided adding system choices designed ambiguous player judge good bad according goal players events characters connecting feel true emotions vision challenged team balance key aspects dialogue animation create believable scenario players team hoped handle romance mature complicated way true reflection human relationships reactions adolescent game sex scenes nudity added artistic choice decision team publisher electronic arts origins single player game described social experience considering narrative variety paths integral gameplay characters player meets items collect quests receive complete different leading completely different experience considered ways player explores world discovers new areas exploration narrative player different experience hoped players collaborate expand knowledge world effect team built community site online social environment players communicate players share stats automatically generated community sound game features orchestral soundtrack choir game cutscenes soundtrack recorded performance piece orchestra recorded twice merged sound like piece orchestra composed performed according intentionally soundtrack feel dark combining low brass bass string instruments ancient drums express feeling heroic demonic tracks song composed hours soundtrack presented panel performed september night concert sydney australia origins contains large voice acting recorded actors include total voice actors worked game large recordings ambient dialogue takes place non player characters party adding lending credibility characters executive producer described cast characters largest games time hoped celebrities add layer depth complexity characters main protagonist voice acted team hoped players reflect inner voice making decisions release game originally intended console version announced gaming magazine game informer prior announcement suggested entire franchise console future decision bring game consoles introduce wider audience game lead designer considered creating console versions interface challenge convert long complex version streamlined interface use actions button presses end team decided map different actions allow players arrangement console version allow view possible version game originally set released early microsoft windows later playstation xbox team partnered edge reality develop console versions game release date pushed half year order simultaneous launch announced game released october pushed november team wanted additional time minute decisions playstation version point delayed november end launching alongside versions mac version game developed released december addition standard version editions origins available purchase collector edition came different artwork like standard edition collector edition included redemption code obtain stone prisoner free added additional exclusive game items bonus disc containing making documentary concept art trailers game original soundtrack cloth map ultimate edition released october includes base game awakening expansion pack packs dragon age character creator released october allowing players create character advance import game release released developer grade allow extensive modification game version players use tools craft new campaigns quests lip november announced competition called dragon age warden quest contestants formed groups people competed adventure game world winning group receiving representatives hungary won contest followed group called canada group poland march announced players pre ordered receive free copy origins celebrate year anniversary digital distribution software origin game free download alongside battlefield bad company spore limited time october free download limited time origin house program downloadable content announced support game downloadable content years packs story based content based added elements cut base game stone based companion gets stuck doors causes trouble camera system crossover mass effect item called blood dragon armor available purchase reception critical reception dragon age origins received critical acclaim major video game critics release game considered virtually identical platforms differences user interface graphical performance online content delivery led version reviewed favorably playstation xbox versions metacritic ranks playstation xbox versions game scores respectively game setting received critics thought setting felt traditional presence world beautifully executed appreciated small touches added world noting french tinged accent empire humans added origin stories unique dialogue referencing game world feel cohesive gamespot similar comments stating new ideas added familiar world feel original new ign said origin stories inconsistent world rich vivid feel believable game informer wrote world realized deep history makes game players sense warden importance world game story characters received praise said story driven characters choices presented game difficult making regret choices weeks completing game added game main quest written quality boosted excellent voice acting called performance best game commended game story saying memorable crafted care successfully making players care game world characters added deep character development choice gamesradar thought story warden appearance felt generic story progressed game revolution liked companions humorous change pace game gamespy praised exclusion moral system making characters feel complex wrote story good predictable far standard fantasy stories called story memorable saying leaves mind attracted players return game like seeking hit relief game combat called streamlined said players want use pause mechanic able appreciate game combat requires patience strategy liked game person view view saying able view sky environments feel complicated praised high difficulty boss battles task players manage stamina carefully conclusion origins feels like real throwback good old days role playing said combat system easily recognizable players played developed added players lot fun switching characters agreed game created thrilling boss battles praised choice health stamina immediately battles sped combat pace flow tan commended combat finding better system disliked fact characters step water praised space players experiment new skills abilities adding required focus attention combat satisfying game graphics received mixed reviews impressed stating environments look good viewed perspective praised art style game eye catching landmarks tan liked environments varied unique saying level felt vast filled details found visual quality lacking compared mass effect adding facial animation feel wooden times found combat animation rewarding satisfying criticized sex sequences putting said game graphics boring generic called sex scenes anti climatic poorly executed felt year development time long considering game mediocre graphics gamesradar estimated hours content available game called world engaging replay value high players play story different origin agreed added way companions react player decisions origin stories significantly expand game longevity sales dragon age origins topped steam sales chart november version game ranked place standard edition ranked second xbox version game ninth best selling game according selling approximately copies according ceo company satisfied sales origins million packs game sold end february announced million copies game sold accolades origins gained recognition gaming publications achievements named role playing massively multiplayer game year dragon age origins received best game best rpg awards chosen game year best xbox rpg year best story year best year ign game received best game award game year rpg year awards gamer game included titles book video games play die franchise origins hinted game beginning new franchise team expect game successful planned sequels success game spawned dragon age franchise consisting video games comics novels game sequel dragon age announced july goal bringing improved graphics combat franchise dragon age set year period features new protagonist new dragon age world city players able transfer save data dragon age origins sequel decisions player course dragon age origins referenced playing installment series titled dragon age announced september players role unite defeat ancient called game released november addition original gaming platforms brought dragon age franchise eighth generation video game consoles playstation xbox free play mobile game heroes dragon age released
Dragon Age: Origins