The combat system is different depending on whether you play the PC or one of the console versions (Xbox360, PS3). The game is more fluid on the PC but I played it on the PS3. There is a steep learning curve involved in learning the battle mechanics, however once mastered, it becomes second nature. There are three ways to battle: you can program tactics for each of your characters and let the AI take over, you can pause the battle action and toggle between each party member controlling their next attack, or you can fight in real-time. When encountering an elite or boss-ranked opponent, you’ll most likely want to use the second method. Trust me, pausing the battle action and rotating the camera at the height of the melee, never gets old. Ever. It’s also worth noting, you have 4 difficulty levels to choose from: casual, normal, hard, and nightmare.
The music and voice acting are both top-notch. The game developers used 144 unique voice actors in the game and includes such stars as Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show), Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager), Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager), Steve Valentine (Crossing Jordan) and Claudia Black (Stargate: SG1). There are also tons of in-game dialogue that add to the humor and lovability of some of your companions without taking away from the action.
As far as graphics go, they appear best on the PC from what I’ve seen. However, they are decent on the PS3 and Xbox 360 as well. Some of the more annoying issues I encountered were frame rate lagging, random pauses before or after dialogue scenes, and dialogue audio fading in and out on a couple occasions. These issues, while annoying, aren’t enough to impact the game’s overall experience.
My first play through lasted 47 hours and I barely completed any side quests. However, not long after I was done I was itching to get back into the world of Ferelden and started my second play through. It’s just as addicting as the first time I played it and can even foresee myself playing it a couple more times. Crazy, I know! You really do get your money’s worth it with DA:O. Despite some technical nuances, this game really delivers an amazing experience. If you’re a fan of RPGs, you should run out and buy this title. Um, like, right now. It will be the only game you need for the next couple months and I’m serious when I say that. Yes, it’s that good.
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
