Dragon Age Origins

Dragon Age: Origins is a role-playing game for the PC, [[Xbox 360] and Playstation 3,] developed by BioWare, the makers of Mass Effect and the Baldur's Gate series. BioWare have billed Dragon Age as the so-called spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate games, a claim which shows in the battle system, which can be played in both real-time and paused for planning out tactics and attacks. The game takes place in a BioWare-created dark fantasy universe and has a story designed for mature audiences.IGN: Dragon Age: Origins Preview (July 15, 2008)

About Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins takes place in a dark fantasy world where an elite group of warriors known as the Grey Warden battle a race of demons called the Blight. From what is known about the game's story, it seems you control a party of soldiers from the Grey Warden as they attempt to defeat the Blight, though BioWare has suggested that the story is much more complicated than it may initially seem, hinging strongly on player choice and unique plot paths.1up.com: Dragon Age: Origins Interview (January 22, 2009)

One of the game's central features are the Origins of its title. Origins are playable story sequences that introduce you to a character and provide a specific perspective on the Dragon Age universe. A noble's Origin section will begin in the upper echelons of society, while a peasant's Origin takes place in the slums of city. Choices you make during the Origins will reverberate through the storyline, and effect later events in the game even.

The battle system uses a mix of real-time and turn-based action. You can play battles from a third-person over-the-shoulder view like Mass Effect, but also switch to an isometric, top-down view and pause the game to queue up commands and spells, like in Baldur's Gate. There are three confirmed classes for the game: Warrior, Rogue and Mage.