Dragon Age™: Origins - Ultimate Edition

I tried playing this now (december 2024) for the first time since 2012, but it freezes constantly and has to be terminated with the task manager and relaunched constantly. I made it through a fair bit before giving up, but when I entered the Fade in the Circle of Magi, it froze almost every time I zoned to a new area, so I gave up. It's a damn shame, because the game is still fun to play when it works. There are certain things one can do that supposedly makes it more stable, but I tried all of them without getting it to work. It did become more stable, but the freezing got worse and worse and eventually it got so bad I simply gave up. In short, the game itself is 5/5, but the technical problems makes it unplayable.

So much to see and so much to do. Semi open game play, NPCs are chatty and most have good voiceacting. The combat is realtime that may be paused. The The Abilties to choose from when leveling up is big and setting rules for how your party should act in combat makes it a game you can over and over. Still my fovourite RPG (though Baldurs gate 3 comes close).

Hands down best RPG or adventure game you'll ever play.

Quite simply one of the best RPGs of all time, possibly THE best. DAO does an amazing job of blending old-school true RPG mechanics with modern voice-acting and graphics that stand up a decade plus after release. The focus on story, chracter and aesthetics over button-mashing action really sets this title apart. DA2 and DAI are both "good" games - but they sacraficed their soul in the conversion to "action RPGs". Not that DAO doesn't have action, it does, but it's action with programmed and complex full-party tactics instead of "can I hit the "X" button in time???" DAO's story is absolutely epic, think Lord of the Rings epic, but with completely within-lore humor and romance added into them mix (no idiotic immersion-breaking humor like Skyrim's NY cabbie dog). Frankly, it's almost too good a game to aptly review. If you like RGPs of any kind give it a try. If you haven't liked RPGs in the past, this might be the game to change your mind.

Even years after its release, this game stands out as one of the best RPGs ever developed. And one of the top 3 I have ever played. The story, the writing, the music, the acting, the graphics, the adventure, the excitement -- I am currently about 30 hours into the game and it is THE thing I look forward to doing at the end of every day. Will likely be devastated when its over. Then again, with six possible storylines to follow, I may just turn around and start it all over again. A brilliant game. And a must buy if you love deep RPGs with engrossing stories.