You are a Grey Warden tasked with stopping the Blight. Will you die trying? Or rise as the Hero of Ferelden?
The first time I completed the game I thought to myself: "Well, that was a let down." A couple of weeks later I decided to have another play-through just to see if I messed something up, and I did! Replaying this game offers so many more choices that you can make, so many more people you can meet, and so many more issues you can use to your advantage.
The graphics that BioWare have implemented into the game are fantastic (not as good as games like Mass Effect, but it is still a delight to play), and you can see the world coming to life in your head thanks to the fantastic writers that made a game so deep, that it can seem real in its own sense. We can truly picture the Maker who was shamed when his children destroyed the Golden City by entering the Fade, we can see why magic is frowned upon, we can see how the Darkspawn are a real threat - and how you are needed to stop the Blight.
What really does make this game interesting, is the little bits of information that you pick up on the way about the history of different lands, cities, races, cultures... the game is so well thought out that it all fits together nicely and perfectly, making it a true pleasure to play.
Even after my twelfth play-through I find myself not knowing all there is to know about the world of Thedas, and isn't that a good thing? The replay value of this game is so great that it is easy just to press the "New Game" button and start to customise a brand new character. Instead of being a Rogue, you might be a Mage that has deep ties to The Circle of Magi set up by the Chantry. It is not physically possible to write about all of the different paths you can possibly take!
What I also love about the game is all the relationships you can create between you and your companions: Will you fall for Morrigan's dark wit, or Leliana's pure kindred soul? Will you find the lure of Alistair irresistable, or the fiendish nature of Zevran alluring? Will Sten really annoy you with his constant criticisms of your battle tactics? All of your companions will react to many choices you make, and that is what Dragon Age focuses on: Your choices. Every time you play the game you can have a different ending... I haven't done every one possible to me.
So, what would I say makes this game brilliant?
The Brilliant Points:
- Fantastic characters
- Beautiful world
- Immersive story
- Wide variety in weapons
- Deep history
- Enjoyable battles
- Witty voice acting
- Tactical layout
- Dozens more...
The Not-So-Good Points:
- No voice acting for the main character