DLC Review: Dragon Age Origins Awakening
Game: Dragon Age Origins Awakenings
Format: Xbox 360
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: Electronic Arts
So, the blight of the Darkspawn has been dealt with and the Archdemon slain in one of a variety of ways. Yet, no more than six months after the Darkspawn army dispersed from Ferelden, another threat arises to challenge the Grey Wardens. This comes in the form of the Dragon Age: Origins Awakenings DLC/Expansion pack.
You have the choice of either importing your beloved hero from a previous save on Dragon Age: Origins, or creating a new character in the form of an Orlesian Warden. Of course, should you import a character the content fits around this, your character being renowned and respected for near single-handedly saving Ferelden. Taking the new character route offers different challenges, the Orlesian Warden being treated with distain at first, what with the history of conflict between the two nations. You also get the option of a few more classes for your characters and three new skills.
Vigil's Keep serves as a rather impressive new base of operations.
What is important to note at this stage is that Awakenings isn’t your average DLC. It is on average a 15-20 hour expansion on the original game. For me, this feels rather odd. It certainly isn’t Dragon Age 2, but at the same time it is far lengthier and detailed than most DLC available on the market. Although, you’d probably expect that considering the £20 plus price tag (Or alternatively, 3200 of your Microsoft points) you’d have to lay down.
The content is on the whole a brilliant expansion on the previous game, adding new depths to an already established character or giving you a break to explore a new one. Whatever beginning you choose, you are placed in charge of Vigil’s Keep, which was awarded to the Grey Wardens at the end of Origins. This serves as your new base of operations; a drier, swishier looking base camp if you will. From here you not only get to know the new characters you meet in this pack, but rule the land of Ameranthine as part of the keep as their new Arl.
Anders, the wise-cracking escapee mage is just one of the new companions you'll meet.
The new characters on the whole are a good bunch. Particular favourites being the cat-loving Anders, a mage escaped from The Circle numerous times and Nathaniel Howe; the son of Arl Rendon Howe, who players from the Origins may remember killing not too long ago.
Whilst they may not be your old, beloved characters from Origins, they each add a new personality to the game that you’ll hopefully grow to love. If not, there’s always Oghren, who returns as… well, Oghren.
On the whole the new storyline, now featuring Darkspawn with the gift of speech, are both interesting and motivating. Awakenings offers just as many optional side-quests and companion based missions as you’re willing to take. For me, the moments when I’d return to Vigil’s Keep only to be asked to make decisions as the Arl were especially poignant. To decide whether to cosy up to the loyal nobles of the previous Arl or to aid the more common folk each had pros and cons and neither felt like I’d be particularly safe on my ‘throne’.
What would Dragon Age be without a dragon, eh?
The only dampener for me was just what was Awakenings? It was too expansive to be DLC and yet it certainly wasn’t a full blown sequel. Upon completing it I was left wondering whether I’d bother going back with my other characters from Dragon Age: Origins just to see an extra 15 or so hours of gameplay. It felt like, say, expecting someone to propose to you. You have a wonderful date, a nice dinner and the stars are shining in the sky… then they inform you they’ve called for a taxi home. Brilliant.
Review Round-Up
Graphics: 5/5 The graphics look just as good as Origins, as would be expected for something released so soon after. The new areas to explore range from lush woodland expanses, to the awe of clearing out Vigil’s Keep of Darkspawn in the opening moments.
Sound: 3/5 This gets an extra point added because of the voice acting. I’ve never had too much of a problem with the voice acting in Origins, and the characters in Awakenings are still well voiced; with a special mention to Anders for his dialogue with ‘Sir Pounce-a-lot’. The music however, is quite forgettable on the whole.
Gameplay: 4/5 The gameplay is still as brilliant as Origins. If you loved it before, you’ll love it again. Especially with the new classes allowing for that extra depth in combat.
Longevity: 2/5 This is where it slips a bit. The strange straddling of DLC and full on expansion can lead to confusion over the worth of playing this more than once. Still, if you liked creating new characters in Origins this may not be a problem.
Overall: 3 dragon pups out of 5. If you loved Origins, but can’t be bothered to fork out that much for just an expansion I’d recommend waiting for the price to drop a little. It makes for a brilliant and quite lengthy add-on to the original story, however its identity crisis could be a negative point. It is worth it, however, if you’re a fan; it’s all just dependent on how much expendable cash you’re ok to part with.
Dragon Age Origins Awakening is available to buy in stores and online from prices ranging from £20 upwards for Xbox only. It’s also available for download on Xbox Live for 3200 Microsoft points (£25-ish) or on the Playstation Network for £31
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