Selecting the game I like most is no easy task, given the numerous excellent games I’ve played over the years. However, there’s one title that stands above the rest for the impact it made: Dragon Age Origins.
Published in 2009 by Bioware and with a 92% positive score on Steam Origins is a game that occupies a special place in my heart for two reasons: Its story and the characters in that story.
The Story
A tale of betrayal, honour and impossible odds, it’s easy to view Origins as just another fantasy epic. However, despite the grandiose setting, the story never fails to focus upon the little moments.
The small stories of helping a boy find his lost family or persuading a merchant to lower his prices for desperate refugees (or taking a bribe to do the opposite).
The diversity of these quests and the visible heart that went into their writing make Origins’ story and choices engaging and memorable.
You and a companion look out at the woods.
The Characters
A story is only as interesting as its heroes and villains. Perhaps even more so than the story, the characters you meet and travel with have the most significant impact upon the games’ memorability.
Whether it’s the seemingly cold and sharp Morrigan who, with effort, eventually warms to you or the lovable and steadfast Allistair whose story hides grand secrets, all the characters of Origins feel wonderfully real.
Between a breathtaking story that draws you in and forces you to make hard choices and a cast of characters that feel as living and breathing as real friends, Dragon Age Origins is the game I like most.
Summary of what I loved:
- Sweeping but nuanced stories and quests.
- Vast array of choices.
- Memorable and lovable (detestable) characters.
- Unforgettable moments with these characters.
Read: The video game I like the most
