Dragon Age: Origins - A Masterpiece? (For me, Yes, You?)

[FallenStar]

Considering that Dragon Age has went a bit mainstream with the new release of " The Veilguard" - many people have returned to Origins.

What would your justification be for DA:O being one of the greatest games?

Here's my version (my opinion):

Origins is what made "Dragon Age" a title that most people can acknowledge in gaming.
No, it wasn't 2 and no, it wasn't Inquisition - It was Origins.

When I first purchased Origins on PS3, I didn't think much of it - just a game that was on sale and wanted to give it a try. And oh boy, did it capture my attention within the very first hours of gameplay and then I knew, this was something special.

As such, Origins is still a masterpiece with its RPG elements, the other DA games can't match the quality, the tone, scenes and the atmospheric soundtrack and scenes DA:O had set.
Some people say that the gameplay is outdated, okay, sure - but then again, it's an RPG, not necessarily and actiony type game. We were playing this for the choices we made, the world we were exploring, we were getting this game to be immersed and the combat was enough to suffice that experience.

A mature, dark fantasy story with some dark humour and mature characters in a grim world you get the chance to explore and save if possible.
You were a nobody in Origins that worked the entire game to be somebody.

2 and Inquisition and now The Veilguard, you're not a nobody.
You already are somebody or quickly become a recognised name (as it happened in 2)

-----------
All games past 2 just lived off what Origins had built and pretty much no one would've even acknowledge The Veilguard if it weren't for the name "Dragon Age" established by people that have nothing to do with this new "style"

Just a few reasons why Origins is one of the best.

[Deroldsen]

By far, deviation from origins has turned the entire series into a pandering fake smile factory. Giving EA money and keeping your mouth shut is the only goal.

[darts259]

The dark setting and the hopelessness of this game sell it. Add top tier characters, gore, and its one of the best games ever.

[Doggy Friend]

For DAO Bioware had a specific vision and created a game according to that vision. This was the work of art.
For DA2 and DAI that vision got tainted with the desire to appeal to a broader audience. These were mere products for sell.

[Bullpup]

Originally posted by FallenStar:

Some people say that the gameplay is outdated, okay, sure

Nah, that's like saying chess or poker is outdated simply because time has elapsed since the rules were made. It was also a disingenuous excuse to dumb the thinking parts of the combat down to appeal to a wider audience in sequels.

On topic - Origins was a masterpiece for almost too many reasons to list. If I had go with just a few, I'd say - encounter design, companions, storytelling (but maybe not plot).

[FallenStar]

Originally posted by Bullpup:

Originally posted by FallenStar:

Some people say that the gameplay is outdated, okay, sure

Nah, that's like saying chess or poker is outdated simply because time has elapsed since the rules were made. It was also a disingenuous excuse to dumb the thinking parts of the combat down to appeal to a wider audience in sequels.

On topic - Origins was a masterpiece for almost too many reasons to list. If I had go with just a few, I'd say - encounter design, companions, storytelling (but maybe not plot).

You are very correct and I totally agree with you.
Nicely said with the chess and poker references.

[worm_master]

I have no issue with Inquisition actually, i find my self wishing sometimes, that DA:I, had some of the aspects of DA:O, for instance, on DA:O the skill bar, went right across the screen, allowing a good 15 spells, in DA:I your much more limited.

They give u a ton of abilitys and let u use 5.

[bayomaycry]

Originally posted by FallenStar:

Considering that Dragon Age has went a bit mainstream with the new release of " The Veilguard" - many people have returned to Origins.

What would your justification be for DA:O being one of the greatest games?

Here's my version (my opinion):

Origins is what made "Dragon Age" a title that most people can acknowledge in gaming.
No, it wasn't 2 and no, it wasn't Inquisition - It was Origins.

When I first purchased Origins on PS3, I didn't think much of it - just a game that was on sale and wanted to give it a try. And oh boy, did it capture my attention within the very first hours of gameplay and then I knew, this was something special.

As such, Origins is still a masterpiece with its RPG elements, the other DA games can't match the quality, the tone, scenes and the atmospheric soundtrack and scenes DA:O had set.
Some people say that the gameplay is outdated, okay, sure - but then again, it's an RPG, not necessarily and actiony type game. We were playing this for the choices we made, the world we were exploring, we were getting this game to be immersed and the combat was enough to suffice that experience.

A mature, dark fantasy story with some dark humour and mature characters in a grim world you get the chance to explore and save if possible.
You were a nobody in Origins that worked the entire game to be somebody.

2 and Inquisition and now The Veilguard, you're not a nobody.
You already are somebody or quickly become a recognised name (as it happened in 2)

-----------
All games past 2 just lived off what Origins had built and pretty much no one would've even acknowledge The Veilguard if it weren't for the name "Dragon Age" established by people that have nothing to do with this new "style"

Just a few reasons why Origins is one of the best.

No. It's not the worst game, nor is it a BAD game, it's just not DAII.

[worm_master]

I really didn't like DA:II, not only coz u had to raise 50 G to start the game in the first place, the characters an story felt "superficial" at best.

BTW hey copied the graphic style of DA:II in DA:I

[Nymra]

I haven't played Veilguard yet but imo the series got worse with every game release. I doubt this is an exception to that rule. I kinda feel like they started to pander more to console gamers. So everything got simplified and cut down with every release. Origins was a masterpiece though.

[Team Triss]

I have forgotten how brutally, ♥♥♥♥-punchingly hard the game is. After Lothering (where I thought I did everything, maybe not), I went right to Denerim, and the hidden blood mages quest is kicking my ass.

[FallenStar]

Originally posted by worm_master:

I really didn't like DA:II, not only coz u had to raise 50 G to start the game in the first place, the characters an story felt "superficial" at best.

BTW hey copied the graphic style of DA:II in DA:I

That is true, DA:II compared to Origins came out as a disappointment but it still captured a few elements of DA:O - plus, they changed the setting to Kirkwall so to an excitement it was somewhat understanding. But, DA:II felt more or less like a buildup to III.
What I disliked about II was the storyline with Anders and how they made him a whiny depressed emo wizard as opposed to the cat-loving, witty and mischievous personality he had in Awakening.

[bayomaycry]

Originally posted by FallenStar:

Originally posted by worm_master:

I really didn't like DA:II, not only coz u had to raise 50 G to start the game in the first place, the characters an story felt "superficial" at best.

BTW hey copied the graphic style of DA:II in DA:I

That is true, DA:II compared to Origins came out as a disappointment but it still captured a few elements of DA:O - plus, they changed the setting to Kirkwall so to an excitement it was somewhat understanding. But, DA:II felt more or less like a buildup to III.
What I disliked about II was the storyline with Anders and how they made him a whiny depressed emo wizard as opposed to the cat-loving, witty and mischievous personality he had in Awakening.

Given who his VA was in awakening, i'm glad he got a change. Sucks he also was Cullen.

[FallenStar]

Originally posted by Nymra:

I haven't played Veilguard yet but imo the series got worse with every game release. I doubt this is an exception to that rule. I kinda feel like they started to pander more to console gamers. So everything got simplified and cut down with every release. Origins was a masterpiece though.

I agree. The vision of Origins and that dark atmosphere it had, was lost in time sadly...
The broodmothers were especially horrific...

But the biggest loss for me was the soundtrack....The main menu soundtrack for DA:O is probably in my top 10 soundtracks of all time...so much emotion, sadness, yet courage lies in it.

[FallenStar]

Originally posted by bayomaycry:

Originally posted by FallenStar:

That is true, DA:II compared to Origins came out as a disappointment but it still captured a few elements of DA:O - plus, they changed the setting to Kirkwall so to an excitement it was somewhat understanding. But, DA:II felt more or less like a buildup to III.
What I disliked about II was the storyline with Anders and how they made him a whiny depressed emo wizard as opposed to the cat-loving, witty and mischievous personality he had in Awakening.

Given who his VA was in awakening, i'm glad he got a change. Sucks he also was Cullen.

Elaborate?
Who was his VA and why was the change good?

[bayomaycry]

Originally posted by FallenStar:

Originally posted by bayomaycry:

Given who his VA was in awakening, i'm glad he got a change. Sucks he also was Cullen.

Elaborate?
Who was his VA and why was the change good?

His VA, Greg Ellis, is an advocate for a certain german group.
As for why the change was good, not just the voice, but because anders in awakening, somehow, made oghren likeable in comparison. Yeah, he was mischievous, and fun. but he was also a bit of a creep imo.