I started Darksiders last night. So far it’s brilliant. Very “Zelda-esque”.
Expected Finish Date: January 10th
When was the last time you completely lost yourself in an extensive RPG? For me, it was when I played Dark Stone for the PlayStation. Dragon Age: Origins transports your mind into a world of war and magic. The game starts of with a character creation page, which could only be provided in all it’s detail by EA games. The creation of your character is very much like creating a Sim. You can customize the face of your character to the extent of decided the width of the tip of your character’s nose.
After customizing your character, you get to choose your race and class. Each combination has a variety of different backgrounds from which you character can emerge from. With each different background/class/race combination, there is a different opening, and a different hour long adventure which leads up to the joining of the Grey Wardens.
From that point, you’re unleashed into a world in which you can do as you choose. Far larger than the world of Fable II, you’ve got much to explore, and a excruciatingly large number of side quests to choose from, most of which are very entertaining, but there’s always one or two that get difficult.
The option to engage in various romances throughout the game is also very entertaining. To “get with” certain people you’ll need to change the answers to questions that your character is asked. Be more angry for some, and shy for others. This of course applies to many other portions of the game. Bargaining with people, avoiding difficult tasks, learning new abilities/specializations. The works.
The game all in all is quite amazing. The graphics are about as good as those of Devil May Cry 3, or God of War 2, mainly focusing on the story line, or game play instead, unless there’s a story line involved cut scene. It also features a large variety of voice actors, who all, for the most part, have done justice to their characters.
The actual game play is very basic. There aren’t many complex button combinations, not many puzzles, everything is pretty straight forward. This leaves me wishing for something a bit more Zelda-like. With everything being so straight forward, there isn’t much challenge.
Here’s where I’ll break down it’s strengths and weaknesses for you.
The Good: Dragon Age: Origins offers a large selection of customization for your characters from facial features, to higher level abilities. The world is very large, and leaves little room for you to get bored on your quest.
The Bad:Yes, I realize the game is an RPG, but in my opinion, took too much liberty with talking. Every 2 minutes-ish, you’re sent to talk to “so-and-so” and after a while it gets tiresome. There wasn’t much time in the game to just kill badies. Don’t get me wrong. There’s plenty of game play, but it’s tainted with the amount of talking you have to do.
The Ugly: The game, though fun, has terribly long loading times, often lags, and has muddy scene transitions. If you cast too many spells at once, or there is a large number of darkspawn attacking you, you’ll have a hard time getting through it without a bit of a lag.
Over all score:7.5/10
Bonnie’s Record Time (all available side quests): 76 hours, 27 minutes, and 12 seconds.
I started the game a couple days ago, and if I had unlimited time, I would definitely have beaten it by now, but I don’t so, I haven’t. I’m still working on it. Recently having become a level 14 mage (specialization in blood magic), I’m hoping to complete the main story line in about 3 days.
New expected finish date: January 6th.
I’ve been playing mostly non-stop. Just got my first specialization as a mage. Had to find good old Connor to become a blood mage. What’s your class/specialization?So far it seems amazing. The character creation is fantastic, and each background has a different beginning point that lasts about an hour or so. I know this, because I’ve started over with a different class about five times now.
Expected Finish Date:January 1st.I got it for Christmas. I LOOOOVE it.
So far it seems amazing. The character creation is fantastic, and each background has a different beginning point that lasts about an hour or so. I know this, because I’ve started over with a different class about five times now.
Expected Finish Date:January 1st.
Hi everyone. My name’s Bonnie. I’m a 17 year old college student.
This is me:
(You’ll have to excuse the face. You know, genetics and all)
I enjoy many things like, music, tea, books, money, oh, and video games, which, unless you’re a friend who I forced to read this, is probably why you’re here.
Bonnie, what exactly is this all about?
Oh, that’s a good question actually. It all started in December of 1998. My older cousin received a Nintendo 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from a large man with a beard who seemingly liked the color red. Even since that faithful day, I’ve been a slave to video games, so to speak. Starting with watching my cousin play the first Zelda game I’d ever seen, I was entranced by the story, the action, it all seemed thrilling. Now, over 10 years later, I feel the same way. So, what’s this all about, you ask? Well, this is about me, and video games. My opinion, essentially.
So…you’re…reviewing games?
That’s pretty much the bottom line, yes. Each time I do a review, I’ll give you my opinion on it. A rating out of 10, and “the good”, “the bad”, and “the ugly”. I think it’s pretty obvious what will be written under those three little topic-ys. But, before I give you the GBU. (good bad ugly) I’ll write up how I feel about the game. Talk about the graphics, you know, the usual review stuff.
Is there anything special about your reviews as opposed to others?
Not really. Actually, not at all. I’m just a girl, who plays video games. I’ll tell you what I like, and what I don’t. Occasionally I’ll post an MP3 with an underscore piece for you to listen to while you read, but that’s about all you get other than the review.
Are you hoping to break into the industry?
Well sure! What video game lover isn’t, right? That being said, it’s really hard to get into, and well, let’s just say that at this point, my luck isn’t that great. But, you never know what the future holds, and blahblahblah.
So…just reviews?
No silly. Mainly, but not only. I’ll post a link to my formspring account, and people can ask me their questions about games that I’m playing, or have played. I’ll usually give an update to what I’m starting, or replaying so people have a heads up. I’ll try to do a review every week-ish, but keep in mind, I’m a student, so…sometimes you may go a week or two without. I’ll also post news about games, and links to articles, other reviews, and trailers.
Are you done talking yet?
Just about! I’ve got to tie it all together with some kind of conclusion, right?
So, basically, I’m just some stupid teenager spending her paychecks buying games, and writing about them. I’m happy to take game suggestions, just submit them to my formspring, which I’ll post in just a bit. I currently in possess the following systems: Wii, 360, PS3 (kind of), and the DS. So, those are what you can suggest games for.
Thanks for reading, and here’s my formspring account.
Suggest away!
