Dragon Age™: Origins - Ultimate Edition

I've owned this game a long time. I even had the original when it came out on DVD back in '09. My review will be solely about the GOG version of the game, not the original nor the versions for sale elsewhere. Thankfully, GOG's stance on DRM means you no longer need to sign in to EA/Bioware's servers to play this game fully. That's a major plus. The game is fully functional and needs no such online activation- something the original game often flubbed. This in itself is a UX improvement worth a couple of dollars, IMO. The game play is the same flawed experience as it ever was. By flawed, I mean the combat system and crafting system was never the best - and this is no exception as it's exactly the same game otherwise. The same annoyances exist in the GOG version as the Steam, DVD, or EA online versions. What saves this game is that it's an immersive story to be told with slight differences depending on the player's race and class. It's more of an issue in the beginning rather than the main story, but it will crop up from time to time later on as well. That said, the story does run on rails just like any other Bioware title new and old. Ultimately, you've got a choice, but the choices are going to be the same each time you play the game. If this bothers you, don't buy it, but keep in mind that nearly every single game from this era has the same kind of linear story. Some are just a little better of covering it up. Any computer made in the past few years most likely has the resources to play this game. If there are issues, it's probably hardware reliability related and not the game that's at fault (insufficient power/bad PSU, bad RAM, and failing storage devices are most common hardware failures people mistake for game bugs but in reality are hardware failures).

Origins has the best story and most tactical combat in the series as well as in my opinion better facial animations than any of the games that have come since. I've played through Origins and 2 many times over and Inquisition twice so I say this as a fan of the series.

The 1st installment in an amazing series! Worth going back to replay; customized characters, chioces matter, stellar voice acting and engrossing story.

a true classssic "Return to form"

The best Dragon Age and the best Bioware's game in my opinion. You have your classic high fantasy settings with elves, dwarves, magic and so on with a twist. Yes, the main plot is about stopping the ultimate evil, but this doesn't make the world black and white. The "good" guys aren't romanticised heroes. Elves are locked in ghettos and they are treated as second class citizens. Dwarves have a strict caste system that forces the poor to turn to criminality. Mages have to live with a constant threat that their gift might turn them into abominations. And Grey Wardens... They really won the lottery. What I mean, this is not your classic tale about good vs. evil. Bioware finally abandoned their binary moral system and they present you with interesting morally grey choices. You don't get to choose between "light and dark" side anymore. Add interesting flashed out companions, tactical fighting system, awesome soundtrack, several origins for the main character (depending on the race and background), solid presentation and you're in for the treat. Just emerge yourselves in this bleak experience and become Grey Warden - a hero nobody wants to be.