Dragon Age: Origins is a masterpiece in every way and I'm thankful I finally got to enjoy it for the first time this year! As a fan of BioWare since Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, I was incredibly looking forward to playing this game. It astounded me from the very beginning, delivering a complex, compleling narrative with true consequences, heart wrenching moments, and the best written companions in any RPG I've ever played (including BioWare's other amazing games). Lelianna is my absolute favourite 💖 Every companion is well thought out, with hilarious and interesting banter throughout the game. The characters feel alive, the world feels alive, the lore is meticulously crafted and refreshing in a genre that relies on tropes so much. I enjoyed the fun and strategic combat, especially when you can specialize your character with different builds. There's tons of replay value! After applying the GOG patches, I followed a modlist to update the graphics and further fix some bugs, plus integrate the DLC better into the base game. The game runs flawlessly with zero crashes and still looks wonderful all these years later, so anyone worried about performance or aesthetic can have peace of mind. This game will leave you in awe so many times, whether that's laughing or crying or having so much fun you really feel like you're part of the world. When the journey is all said and done, it culminates into an experience you will carry with you always...and then return to like the haunting, angelic notes of Leliana strumming her harp and singing her song to remind us that life, while perilous, will always be full of love no matter what.
Wow, The Companion s magical! Playing it left me with a feeling of wonder. I was mesmerized by the gorgeous soundtrack, unique and colourful environments, and the relaxing gameplay. The controls are smooth and easy, there's a sense of momentum and discovery, and everything shines when it lets you explore your own way forward. This game feels very cozy, literally like stumbling into a tranqil spot in the woods. Away from the rush of daily life, The Companion offers a glimpse into a cosmic realm where you can discover spirits and destiny and what it means to be part of the cycle of life. Honestly, the greatest compliment I can give is that this game belongs right up there with amazing greats such as Okami and Journey. One of the best expereinces I've had gaming!!
As a huge fan of Age of Decadence, I knew I had to get this game and support the amazing developers for crafting yet another masterpiece! Everything that was already great in their previous game, from the character creation, writing, lore, setting, combat, and music, has been lifted to the next level with Colony Ship. There's a distinct result of refined polish in everythingthis game does, thanks to attention being paid to every little detail including the UI, the environmental design, and consequences unfolding from every player interaction. I'm having the time of my life playing as a diplomatic/stealth character, focused on persuasion and streetwise skills, yet adept at combat enough to survive. Having an intersting party helps make the gameplay more fun. It's definitely addictive, because you'll want to keep exploring the vivid, distinct areas to their fullest as the haunting story unfolds. And wow, the story is amazing. Perfectly balancing three opposing factions that, the closer you look, all seem to be after the very same thing. The atmosphere in this game keeps me hooked; it's all at once mysterious, bleak, hopeful, and dark. There's a pervasive sense of dread from the first moment, punctured by curiosity in discovering your role in it all. You'll want to keep replaying! Of course, the combat is unforgiving and so requires you to be strategic, using gadgets, grenades, and forethought. Save a lot. Try again. The rush of excitment when you win is amazing, fueling a sense of accomplishment and agency few games can deliver (espeically nowadays). This game is a diamond in the rough for sure. A shining example of a passionate game studio that cares about fun, thoughtful, memorable experiences that it offers to dedicated fans par excellance. Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing soundtrack. Have an existensial crisis from the story. Have fun, and enjoy a true dystopian sci-fi masterpiece CRPG that values your time, intelligence, and emotions.
Age Of Decadence is one of the greatest turn-based RPGs I've ever enjoyed! I'm a huge ancient history nerd and particularly like Ancient Rome as a setting, so this game's low-fantasy take on that period was the first thing that intruiged me. I knew I'd instantly like this game from the start due to the varied classes and character customization possibilities. It's all clearly well thought out, with an exquisite attention to detail. From stats, to dialogue options, to branching questlines with real consequences that actually give you agency and impact. The music is enchanting. The atmosphere is mysterious and compelling, with every major city unique and changing as you progress through the game. I adore the rich lore. It's presented entirely text-based, which means engaged and thoughtful reading. My current playthrough is for an Assassin. The way this game handles the guilds and the approach for this parcitular class is refreshing. You have plenty of oppurtunity to strengthen your loyalty or to change sides dynamically. It's an amazing feeling! Combat is definitely punishing...if you're not strategic and misspend your skill/combat points. I actually had to restart the game completely once to get the hang of it. Then the game opened up to the point that my reputation actually deterred further needless combat, offering different dialogue options based on my body count. This is an example of how eery single aspect of this game is interconnected, building up until it pays off beautifully. The writing is just top knotch. A focused narrative with plenty of twists that demand multiple playthroughs with different characters to undertand the full extent. Addictive gameplay that's fun precisely because it's challenging. This game is unique not only for it's old-school mechanics in an age where everyhting is dumbed down, but because it truly has soul and passion. I'm so happy I took a chance on Age of Decadence!! I'll be enjoying it for a long time to come.
