Graphics

Whilst lacking the polish and design of the PC versions graphics, the console version of Dragon Age suffers a little, not so much in frame-rate and slow-down but in the overall appeal. If you care a damn about graphics and you aren’t at all interested in the quality of the storytelling and the design behind the game, then you’re going to be put off by Dragon Age’s washed out lack-lustre console port graphics. There are some bad shadow effects, jagged textures and at times the character designs look plastic and lifeless.

The same can be said for some of the environments with lack lustre textures and sloppy effects.

On the other hand the architecture and overall design of the world, buildings and so on, are great so some of the graphical troubles can be forgiven when you throw the whole thing together. The game also has a lot of blood, though it tends to appear in the same patterns over the characters as they engage in battle.

Animations

There were a couple of hilarious glitches during my playthrough, the main character got stuck in a combat stance that made them look constipated and a child npc ended up being locked in a front-running animation that made them appear as if they were about to shout: Up up and away, to soar off into the sky all Superman like. For the rest of the time though the animations are good, the combat is especially visceral and the death animations are great. There are certain key finishing moves that happen from time to time, resulting in a slow-motion camera scene that looks downright awesome.


Physics

There is a physics engine there, doing various things like keeping track of forces used in spells and so on.

AI

The AI for Dragon Age is actually fairly good, path-finding works properly and the enemy AI provides a decent challenge. Your party AI when combined with the behavioural settings, tactics and custom commands provides a very good backup and when properly setup the mage is an awesome power for destruction/healing.

Sound

Good quality sound design with the chink of armour, the clash of swords and the screams and wails of demonic entities as some of the highlights. Ambient sounds have always been a way to bring atmosphere to a game level or area, and Dragon Age has all of this in spades. However, some of the sounds did cut out now and then on the 360 version.

Music

A nice fantasy score with some suitably epic music. The one song at camp by our resident party bard made everyone cringe though, so that was definitely not a good thing. All in all, it has the right feel to the main score.

Dialogue

Dragon Age has some generic fantasy dialogue but its good stuff, especially the interaction between party members as you explore the world. There are some true gems hidden in there and make sure you have colourful characters like Morrigan and Alistair in your group because they needle each other constantly and it’s great.

Voice

Morrigan is our firm favourite, voiced by Claudia Black. This game has an epic voice cast; Simon Templeman, Tim Curry and even Kate ‘Janeway’ Mulgrew join other excellent voice actors to give the game a great sense of character. Superb voice work all round.

Multiplayer

You’re out of luck, this is a single player experience only and it’s a great one.

For the Grey Wardens!

It’s about time that Bioware made a fantasy game like this and regardless of the issues mentioned above with the console port, this is an excellent game in terms of gameplay and story that deserves more than a second look. It has a wealth of things to do, a highly developed world and more. Play it once and you’ve only just scratched the surface of the game.