Someone sell me on Dragon Age

[prophet]

Because I've heard nothing but good things yet know nothing about it. Will I like it? I loved Skyrim if that helps?

[SortaCreative]

The first Dragon Age is probably one of the best RPG's made in the last 10 years. It's got really well written main story, lore and political back story with in depth combat, customisation, choices - all the typical things you'd expect from Bioware games. It's a little janky round the edges but it's still perfectly playable. The style is dark high fantasy. It's pretty hardcore when it comes to fantasy but it eases you in. There's a lot of religion and mythology and different races and tension between the races to explore. For example Elves in this world are kept as slaves and certain mages are seen as unstable and are virtually terrorists.

The game take place on a large world map with each little mission hub being quite large, but it's not open world per say. Combat can be a little slow though, it's more weighted to stats and spell combos and tactics rather than fast visceral gameplay. It features the ability to pause time and give your AI companions orders. The characters in DA1 are probably the best in the series.

Dragon Age 2 moved the story and world building forward but lacked in actual world to explore and areas for the game to take place in. Essentially it's about the politics of one city - Kirkwall - and how those politics shape the rest of the world. Because of that setting most of the game takes place in that one city over the span of around thirty years. It introduces new characters and retools the combat. Moving away from the slower paced Dragon Age One combat, DA2 favours a quicker action RPG style with combat being a lot more faster paced. You can still give you companions orders but the system was stripped down a little and wasn't really needed.

Character and class customisation takes a small hit in favour of the action RPG style. The party customisation and depth also takes a hit with you not being able to customise the look of your AI companions with gear you've picked up. It's probably the weaker of all three games but if you really get into the lore it's worth playing especially since the events in both games influence and inform (although not critically) Dragon Age: Inquisition.

DA:I is the third game and it's a blend of the first two games. Combat is quicker than the first game but still has the depth of a more fleshed out tactical mode. The game hubs are much, much larger than both DA1 and 2. Area's you go to are massive and have a shit ton of quests to do and things to find. The gameplay features a central fortress and army management aspect where you acquire power and send your advisors and companions onto missions to further increase the influence of the Inquisition - your new political faction in Dragon Age. For example a noble family may want to join forces with the Inquisition but they're being a little coy about it, you have the option to send diplomats, spies or templar forces to deal with them.

Traditionally DA:I plays well, feels good, looks great and is a solid RPG well worth playing. If you get into Dragon Age enough to play the series DA:I is the culmination both storyline and gameplay wise of all three games and it is suitably epic.

I fucking love Dragon Age and it's ten times the game Mass Effect is. It's just a shame Mass Effect - for some reason - hit massive despite being a shallow RPG, a woeful action game and the story jumping the shark in the last game.

[War Daddy]

Everything Taj said.

[prophet]

Would I have to play the first two in order to play Inquisition or could I just jump right in with the most recent?

[SlightlyJames]

Would I have to play the first two in order to play Inquisition or could I just jump right in with the most recent?

Origins is the best one, don't skip it!

[SortaCreative]

Would I have to play the first two in order to play Inquisition or could I just jump right in with the most recent?

You can jump in straight into Inquisition if you want. It'll recount all the back story and catch you up at the start.

But Dragon Age Origins is good fun.

[SortaCreative]

Did you ever get it @prophet?

I'll be honest i'm still play DAI and I can't stop.

[prophet]

Did you ever get it @prophet?

I'll be honest i'm still play DAI and I can't stop.

Not yet. I had wanted to jump right in with DAI but didn't think I'd be able to just start on a sequel and expect to know what was happening. I might just have to do a Wiki search and catch myself up that way

[Chewy]

Did you ever get it @prophet?

I'll be honest i'm still play DAI and I can't stop.

Not yet. I had wanted to jump right in with DAI but didn't think I'd be able to just start on a sequel and expect to know what was happening. I might just have to do a Wiki search and catch myself up that way

Just play Origins, otherwise you miss out on the awesome that is Duncan and the chance to tell Morrigan that she has a stinky vagina.

[Everlong]

I just started a play through on Origins this week as an elf. Never played the game before, so looking forward to seeing what the hype is all about!

[SortaCreative]

Did you ever get it @prophet?

I'll be honest i'm still play DAI and I can't stop.

Not yet. I had wanted to jump right in with DAI but didn't think I'd be able to just start on a sequel and expect to know what was happening. I might just have to do a Wiki search and catch myself up that way

Just play Origins, otherwise you miss out on the awesome that is Duncan and the chance to tell Morrigan that she has a stinky vagina.