The popular fantasy RPG from BioWare may be getting its latest installment sometime soon, but while players wait for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, they may be looking back at older games in the franchise like Dragon Age: Origins to pass the time. First released in 2009, Dragon Age: Origins introduced gamers to the world of Ferelden, filled with heroic Grey Wardens, terrifying Darkspawn, and diverse communities. The single-player RPG was a huge hit with players thanks to its narrative complexity, beautifully designed world, and entertaining gameplay. But with almost fifteen years passing since it was launched, some might wonder if Dragon Age: Origins is still worth playing.
It can be hard for some players to experience older games after they've been treated to modern graphics and gameplay, but for others, it's a welcome hit of nostalgia. Fans new to the franchise who are thinking of playing the earlier entries in the Dragon Age series before Dragon Age: Dreadwolf certainly have many hours of gaming to enjoy, but they might be holding back in favor of more recent releases. Despite the general improvements in gaming since it first launched, many still see Dragon Age: Origins as the pinnacle of the series, and well worth a look in 2023.
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Why Dragon Age: Origins Deserves A Playthrough
After almost fifteen years, it might be hard for gamers to remember what the industry was like in 2009 when Dragon Age: Origins burst onto the scene. While there were some examples of amazing RPGs, there hadn't been a really solid story-driven fantasy RPG in a good while, and many of the mechanics that now feel commonplace hadn't truly been explored yet either. When Dragon Age: Origins was first released, there were so many aspects that felt new and fresh, and the intricacy of its character customization and the depth of individual race and class backgrounds was something really exciting.
Dragon Age: Origins was met with critical acclaim, and with good reason. The world that BioWare introduced felt like a living, breathing continent full of political intrigue, complicated cultural histories, and deep lore for players to uncover. With plenty of traditional fantasy elements like certain races, magic users, and enemy types like dragons, Dragon Age: Origins still managed to provide its own take on these tried and tested ingredients. In addition to the richness of the world players were placed in, there was an impressive dialogue system that let gamers dig into the lore and get to know companions on a deeper level, and a multitude of morally difficult decisions that shaped the story in palpable ways.
Playing Dragon Age: Origins In 2023
Gaming has evolved a lot since 2009, not just with regard to the technical landscape but also culturally. Dragon Age: Origins was released in a very different world from the ones that players will be familiar with today, and that means that inevitably there are some aspects that are at best dated and at worst unpalatable. Some of the gender politics, character representations, and dialogue can make gamers wince, and it's important to see these aspects as the outmoded attitudes that they are. In particular, the way female characters were sexualized is a widespread issue that is prominent in older games and still persists in modern titles. However, that doesn't mean that Dragon Age: Origins isn't still worth experiencing today.
Players may also have to contend with some technical issues and bugs that inevitably accompany older games, but that's just part of Dragon Age: Origins' charm. Gamers can also make use of mods if they want to ensure that they have a more optimal experience, and this can help combat some of the legacy issues with the older title. Mods can improve the way Dragon Age: Origins looks and plays as well as restore some of the cut content like additional dialogue with fan-favorite Morrigan, and it can also make the game more fun and chaotic as well.
Each title may have its own unique protagonist, new settings, and an original storyline, but there are still lots of callbacks, Easter eggs, and important contextual elements that gamers will miss if they haven't played the earlier titles. Recurring characters like Cullen, Alistair, and Morrigan gain more emotional weight and narrative significance after players have seen their stories evolve from Dragon Age: Origins all the way to Dragon Age: Inquisition, and for that reason alone it can be worth revisiting the older entries for fans that are invested in the world.
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How Dragon Age: Origins Can Influence Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
Dragon Age: Origins is undoubtedly still a beloved game among BioWare's many releases. Subsequent Dragon Age titles have made significant improvements, like a more dynamic and fluid combat system or the inclusion of more beautifully-realized environments. However, some fans still feel like Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition failed to capture some of the magic and dedication embedded in Dragon Age: Origins, despite the other refinements. The world that was first introduced in Dragon Age: Origins is one of the key aspects that keeps fans coming back again and again, and it's something that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf really needs to recapture.
There are some other aspects that encapsulate why Dragon Age: Origins still holds up today and why fans should go back and play it if they haven't already, and one of them is the way it introduces its main character. Players can decide what race and class they play as, but the fact that this affects how they start the game in completely different ways was one of the highlights of Dragon Age: Origins. While Dragon Age: Inquisition gave gamers more options when it came to the playable race, none of the subsequent games have managed to match Dragon Age: Origins' starting stories.
Many hope Dragon Age: Dreadwolf builds on this element, in addition to other aspects from previous games. Dragon Age: Origins' satisfying mix of high and low fantasy with its setting, characters, and humor are all things that would be great to see in the next installment as it continues to add layers to the world of Thedas and expand the stories players have already experienced. Expectations are high for the next entry, and with the chance to explore the Tevinter Imperium for the first time ever, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has the potential to be as magical as Dragon Age: Origins.
Dragon Age: Origins is available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
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