The first hint that BioWare’s “Dragon Age: Origins” would be my favorite game of 2009 came just a couple of hours in, when one of the world’s inhabitants refused to believe that my character, a woman, could possibly belong to the Grey Wardens, a group of legendary warriors devoted to ridding the world of evil. As I progressed, it became a common thread: characters in the game world reacting to the seemingly inconsequential choices I’d made back in the character creation menu.
Like past BioWare efforts, such as “Mass Effect,” “Dragon Age: Origins” (rated M, $60 on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, $50 on PC) is a single-player role-playing game that takes dozens of hours to complete. It’s set in the kingdom of Ferelden, in the larger game world of Thedas, a setting Electronic Arts-owned BioWare clearly intends to revisit.
Though its swords-and-sorcery setting won’t win points for originality, differing scripts for male and female characters make it the first game in which I’ve experienced a “sisters are doing it for themselves” camaraderie with another female character.
The customizable script extends to the game’s racial dynamics, as well. The treatment of elves by the game’s humans casts a light on the ugliness of racism without being preachy or controversial. I’m looking forward to replaying “Dragon Age” as an elf, in part to see how being the subject of persistent racism affects my attitude toward Ferelden and its people.
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