Dragon Age: Origins has been a long time coming, and many Bioware loyalists have been patiently waiting for it. The game was initially announced in 2004, at a time when fans of the company's Baldur's Gate games were itching to play another great role-playing game. Years have passed, and the company has released other stellar games in that timeframe, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the outstanding Mass Effect. Finally, after the long wait, Bioware has finished up Origins, and you can now pick it up for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The only question that remains is, was the wait worth it?

The answer is a resounding yes. Like other works that Bioware has released over the years, Dragon Age: Origins is a compelling RPG that will stir even your strongest emotions, even if it's over the smallest of choices. In the game, you guide the destiny of one of six distinct warriors in the land of Ferelden. Each one is different, be it a City Elf, a Dwarf Commoner or a simple (or maybe not-so-simple) Human Noble. From there, your storyline unfolds, with your decisions and how you react with others guiding you to your eventual destiny. You can turn into an all-out evil character in it strictly for profit and looting, or stand for the last shred of nobility your homeland was once known for. No matter which path you choose, the journey that lies ahead is a bumpy one. A dreaded race of creatures known as the Darkspawn has begun taking over the land, and it's up to you to try to set things right, one way or another. Along the way, you'll also run into your fair share of human treachery, including royalty that want to milk every last ounce of prosperity they can from loyal followers before they perish.

It's neat how you can mold your character's attitude and moral stance over the course of Dragon Age: Origins. You may unexpectedly turn royalty on its head, as they expect someone of noble blood and instead find someone even snobbier than they are (if that's possible). Your kinship with fellow party members also changes over the course of your journey, to the point that romance might even be involved. For instance, take the young witch, Morrigan. When she first joins your party (reluctantly), you'll find she's snide and cocky, an interesting combination that goes along with her sexy looks. However, over the course of the game, she'll either warm up to you (leading to a fun little romantic encounter, especially if you're a female) or distance herself further. Most of your other characters in your party can be the same way, too. Even small conversations leave ripples that change the course of your relationships. It's awesome, but nothing new if you've played previous Bioware stuff like Mass Effect.

Morrigan is one of the more alluring characters in the game (and for good reason). Click to see more images from the game...

Then there's the actual battling, which is classic action role-playing at its best. You'll be able to select between members of your party, although it's best to stay with the lead since you can power them up in a number of ways. Each encounter gives you the power to level up, increasing your techniques and other skills, including smaller things like thievery and learning how to build traps. The encounters are slightly monotonous at first, but as you run into stronger creatures and add to your battle party, they become bigger and better.

A comprehensive yet user-friendly control scheme works great here. You'll modify two item wheels using triggers on your control pad, enabling magic spells, healing potions, weapons and other gear, switching to six of them on the fly using both the D-pad and triggers. Some of the spells are more intricate than others, and you won't be able to rapidly mash your stronger attacks. (You need momentum to pull them off.) However, it's right in tune with previous Bioware games of this nature, and it works incredibly well on a controller. Still, there are some PC fans that may stick with the preferred combination of keyboard and mouse. Hey, more power to them. But this still works all the same.

Prepare to spill a lot of blood. We're talking gallons. Click to see more images from the game...

Unfortunately, Dragon Age: Origins doesn't feature an interactive online universe. Not that you need it, mind you. The game has several hours' worth of play packed into each adventure, and more depending how often you interact with townsfolk and other characters. Furthermore, download content through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network (depending on which version you buy) expands the game, with one piece of content, the Fury of Shale, available right in the package. More is available over the course of the game, but it's optional. You don't really need it to get through the game.

If Dragon Age: Origins disappoints in a certain area, it would have to be presentation. We're not saying Bioware did a sloppy job with the game, though. Not by any means. Most of Ferelden's world is a great-looking one, with characters constantly collapsing in battle, explosions breaking away solid rock in a matter of seconds, and some beastly-looking creatures just itching to cut you down to size. (We also like how blood stays on your characters after a battle.) There's a lot to see and do here, and a helpful heads-up display (HUD) gives you an idea of where to go next, while you keep an eye on your health and attack energy.

That said, not everything is perfect. Some of the character models in the game are downright sloppy, especially when compared to members of your own party. We'll bring up Morrigan again. This is a captivatingly beautiful character, despite her evil nature. She has a small, skimpy outfit (we're surprised her blouse doesn't break free), and she animates very well, especially in combat. Some of the other characters are flat by comparison, especially the dwarves. They look so fake that they could easily be confused as rejects from the Lord of the Rings universe. A few of the environments are also too muddy for their own good, namely the smaller villages. These townsfolk could stand to build a few more brick walls...

The audio comes up mildly short as well. The soundtrack is fantastic, with little orchestrated cues here and there that keep you motivated to fight through each battle. Most of the dialogue is rock solid too, with top-notch work from a number of cast members, including Claudia Black, fresh off her stint as Chloe in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. (She voices Morrigan here, to excellent effect.) Still, there are those occasional bits of dialogue, both how they're written and how they're delivered, that feel slightly out of place. For example, we saved two dwarves from a group of Darkspawn soldiers, and yet, seconds after the battle, they're as calm as cucumbers. Not out of breath, not panicked, just back to normal and...trying to sell us goods. It doesn't throw off the tempo of the game entirely, but it's awkward.

However, just because there are a few blemishes doesn't mean you'll be disappointed. (Think of it as a few scratches on your dream car.) The bottom line is Dragon Age: Origins is a fulfilling, involving adventure that is worth picking up. The choices you make for your character, along with the twists and turns that follow, will keep you engaged. Furthermore, the controls are well done, even without the standard PC and mouse combination. This is one adventure you'll keep coming back to for months to come, even as you patiently wait for Bioware to button up the latest chapter in its Mass Effect saga.

It's great to have choices, isn't it?

Related Links

Dragon Age: Origins Game Guide

Electronic Arts