Dragon Age: Origins Previews

The web coverage for BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins seems to have ramped up considerably, with three more previews surfacing earlier today.

The first is at GameZone, with included commentary from lead designer Mike Laidlaw:

(Think about this as Choice 2.0,) Laidlaw began, and that was when the demo started up.

(We try to hit choices that have impact and deeper meaning,) he said. To illustrate that point a pivotal moment was shown in the game. The lead player had a choice to make destroy an artifact so that no one could use it, or leave it alone. In the first run-through of the scenario, Laidlaw’s character destroyed the artifact, which outraged two of his party members those characters with deep and distinctive personalities that had been part of his group for some time. But what he did was morally offensive to those characters and they attacked him and the fourth member of the party. Using a little developer magic, Laidlaw’s protagonist killed those members (which were then lost to him for the remainder of the game), and then proceeded to kill the guards and guide who were responsible for him being at this point. The idea was that the artifact was too powerful to wind up in the wrong hands and it was better to not let anyone else get hold of it.

The second is at GamesRadar, which covers the game’s companions at length:

Morrigan is the first spell caster to join your party. She is a Shapeshifter and can learn how to transform into various woodland beasts with special skills. For example, while in her spider shape, she can snare enemies with her webs and inflict poison damage. Investing points in her Shapeshifter skills will unlock other forms and make her more powerful. But since Morrigan also has access to all the general mage skills, we recommend teaching her Heal, so that you don’t have to depend so heavily on healing potions to survive long battles.

Morrigan generally frowns upon decisions that distract you from your main quest to unite the world’s factions against the incoming Blight. In addition to being a skilled spell caster, Morrigan is has a ton of zingers up her sleeve and is highly skilled at putting down your fellow party members during background dialogue moments. Be sure to bring her along if you’d like to hear some entertaining arguments between her and the rest of your group.

And the third is at Giant Bomb, though I can’t offer a quote since it’s presented in video format. It’s a hefty 20+ minute preview, though, so make sure you check it out if you have the time.