Dragon Age: Origins, console versions

[Luca-Pellegrinelli]

I was considering getting Dragon Age, my PC isn't anywhere near as powerful as it needs to be to run the PC version so I was wondering about the console versions, more specifically how the combat worked. I did some light googlin to find this out but most of the results were either gameplay videos which help me not or articles tangentially related to what I wanted to know at best.

So I thought I'd ask people who actually have played the console version, what is the combat like?

 

[RantCasey]

It is a lot like Knights of the Old Republic was. Some changes such as characters pulling aggro and the rouge backstabbing when placed behind a character but still very similar.

 

[sidereal_day]

It was alright, but sometimes needlessly clunky. The PC combat was a lot better imo.

 

[Alarien]

I played it on PC and it was great. I have heard nothing good about the console versions.

Except that consoles were tweaked WAY down in difficulty.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

The people I know who played it on the PC adored it. The people I know who played it on a console disliked it. Review scores seem to reinforce this divide. I played on the PC myself, and it is my understanding that there is something...off...about the console versions.

Shame about the difficulty, as well. The game was punitively difficult on the PC, which was part of its charm.

 

[Altorin]

if you've played KOTOR and FF12, then you've played DAO

learn to use Tactics early and often

 

[Ridonculous_Ninja]

I played it on PC and it was great. I have heard nothing good about the console versions.

Except that consoles were tweaked WAY down in difficulty.

They doubled regen too, which means Mages can get over 20 mana regen which turns them into infinite mana machines, and you can easily get enough health regen to survive the odd blow as a a rogue or a warrior.

Of course health and mana pot ingredients are cheap in both versions, but hey...

 

[StriderShinryu]

Was in the same situation as you, and picked up the 360 version. Love it tons. It's not the prettiest game, but it's not as bad as some people say, and it's very playable.

My only real complaint is the lack of "hotbar" space. You can access the abilities you don't have hot keyed by bring up a time stopping radial menu and it works well enough, but I tended to forget all of the abilities I had access to and keeping tabs on their cooldown timers was rough for the ones not hot keyed.

Tactics settings for your AI companions are very important
- They're kind of a pain to set up given the menu system and not always completely clear skill descriptions and tactic limitations, but they are absolutely necessary particularly if you use any mage characters (and you will).

Having at least a working knowledge of how combat in an MMO works helps
- DA:O combat is very MMOish, right down to tanking and party class compatibility. You don't really need it going in, but the game will kick you butt pretty quickly if you don't at least pick it up along the way

If you have any specific questions, ask away. Don't be afraid to pick the game up on a console though, it's well worth it and doesn't suffer anywhere near as badly from the transition as some people say.