The best behind-the-scenes stories in Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins did a great job of diversifying character creation with one idea: plot. Each main character, depending on the archetype, before starting the main storyline, went through a unique prologue to smoothly introduce the player into the world. A noble dwarf from an underground city and an elf living in the slums have a completely different perspective on this scene. PC Gamer portal tells us why all the openings are good and where they succeed.

Noble man

Some fans like this choice because it has the most impact on later events in the story. The noble's backstory sets up the villain the player will meet later and makes their encounter much more personal. The only pity is that the plot is not very interesting: even training on combat mechanics takes place on several rats.

Additionally, the plot of the nobleman is quite linear. The main character is one of the middle sons of a noble family, with an older brother who doesn't look very old and an armored, silver-haired mother who looks like Wonder Woman. If you create a middle-aged or older character, which is pretty easy to do in the editor, the scenes where the father calls the main character “puppy” look weird. Other details also imply that the player character is quite young but they perform less clumsily.

The main problem with this plot, however, is the fact that it gallops through a predictable story clearly inspired by the work of JRR Martin. It wants to be like Game of Thrones, but it's more like a student production of Shakespeare.

A commoner dwarf

In terms of atmosphere, the dwarven commoner's storyline is a big step up from the nobleman's. In the underground city of Orzammar, there is a huge gap between the poor and the rich, so telling the story from the perspective of a poor man forced to work for bandits provides an unusual perspective. From conflicts with his alcoholic mother to dirty work, without which it is impossible to protect the family, life in Orzammar is difficult no matter where you look.

But the story disappoints because of the way it ties the main character to the Gray Wardens. Luckily, the player ends up in a gladiator tournament where every opponent is a surprise and not worth a dime. In other words, the hero is classified as a guard simply because he has undergone the easiest training in the world.

Dalish elves

While other backstories set up important events that happen later in the story and remind you of decisions made, Dalish Elf's backstory is more separate from the overall story. bridge. The main character is part of a nomadic tribe of forest elves, who change camps every time they are found by humans.

However, the modest opening sequence does a great job of introducing the entire Dragon Age setting. The Dalish become an important faction in later games, and the encounter with the magic mirror turns out to be an important part of the lore. Players are also introduced for the first time to Merrill, an elven mage who will become an official companion in Dragon Age 2. Not to mention, this storyline also introduces the main character into the ranks of the Gray Wardens and giving a good reason to hate the dark creatures.

City elf

But the backstory of the city goblin shows life from a completely different perspective. The main character lives in a fenced area of ​​a human city, where people keep elves until they need cheap servants or whipped boys and girls. Although the reservation itself also gives a feeling of solidarity: people help each other, and the plot begins on the main character's wedding day, and certainly nothing bad will happen on the holiday This.

The tragedy of the city goblins sets the perfect stage for a long-term revenge. If the main character is a girl, the player essentially takes on the role of the Bride in Kill Bill. And his character will be the elf Uma Thurman, who has a sharp blade and a long list of goals.

mage

The Mage is the choice for those who want to immerse themselves in the nuances of the Dragon Age universe. Much of the series focuses on the conflict between oppressed magicians and paranoid knights. Therefore, playing as a mage in any part of the series automatically gives players reason to worry about this confrontation.

Mages of the Circle spend most of their lives in a constantly guarded tower, where they are regularly checked for signs of demonic possession and experimented on. All Templars guarantee that sooner or later their accusers will want to escape or fight for their rights – even if that means having to deal with demons and forbidden magic. This is what the opening paragraph is about. The main character-magician is ready to do anything to escape. Even having to enter a hopeless war.

Noble dwarf

Many fantasy games portray wealthy elves as honest and honorable people. But in Dragon Age they are still degenerate. And to emphasize the privilege of the aristocracy, the game gives the main character a loyal servant, voiced by Steve Bloom, as a partner. He assists the player in everything and will not hesitate to kill someone if he is implicated.

However, the aristocracy was not completely corrupt. After a party that can end in a duel to the death, the game shows the other side of life in Orzammar. The dwarves were the main victims of the monster invasion and they continued to fight the dark creatures. The prologue even has its own dungeon that showcases this plot.

By the end of the plot, the player receives a self-contained story and an ending that flows into a global war against the forces of darkness on the surface. The opening sequence of the noble dwarf is carried out through a full script program – at the same time there is no time for boredom.