Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Expansion announced
Yesterday, 360 and PC owners of Dragon Age expected to be able to download the new “Return to Ostagar” DLC for the low price of five dollars, but that was delayed. Instead, we got a glorious announcement of soon-to-be enjoyed DA:O riches. March 16 of this year, Bioware will release the first expansion to this wildly awesome game, entitled “Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.”
Now, when I say “first expansion,” I refer to this tweet by BioWare noting specifically that it is the first expansion to the game. It’s true, there haven’t been any other expansions, so it is the first one, and it’s not a real confirmation, either. However, why would a developer say it’s the first if there isn't going to be a second? Hoho.
I will only speak in general terms for now, but you can see more details (full of spoilers) after the jump. This expansion pack will be sold for all relevant platforms at $40, and features a new villain, five new companion characters, and the option to start a new character at the point in the game where the content begins. It is indeed a continuation of the story from the first game, and it seems that many of the choices you made in your play-through will be carried over to the expansion content. A copy of Dragon Age will be required to play, so if this is something that sings to you, it might be a good time to get a hold of one of those.
Dragon Age: Origins is clear evidence of how exactly BioWare rose to prestige. They started out with basic enough concepts, adapting D&D campaigns into video games well enough that they started branching out into other franchises like Star Wars. Upon proving their chops with these games, they used their resources to develop an original franchise in Mass Effect, known for the kind of choice-based play that defines BioWare games. Then, in Dragon Age, they’ve gone back to their fantasy “roots,” defining a brand new universe apart from D&D entirely, populated by a vast history and cultural heritage. They know better than most that a player’s enjoyment of a game relies heavily upon story and characters.
So here we have the first of hopefully many installments of the Dragon Age universe, BioWare's return to the fantasy setting, free of the complicated D&D tropes used in Baldur’s Gate. Suffice it to say, I liked the game. I’m just about to start my second play-through, which is likely to be followed by a third, just for the achievements. This expansion just makes me more excited to see the various ways the game can end. Click “read more,” to see a spoiler-packed analysis and a trailer!
Seriously, don’t click this is you don’t want spoilers.
“I rather miss the whole Darkspawn killing thing.” Personally, I like my ending best, since it’s the one to which my choices led me. In it, Alistair is king, Morrigan is pregnant with an Old God/my baby, Loghain is dead, his daughter locked up, and Leliana and I ride off into the sunset hoping to rebuild the Wardens from Arl Howe’s former territory, Amaranthine.
That trailer shows many of these things in continuation, suggesting that you survive, that Alistair becomes king, etc. But then the expansion also allows you to create a new character, an Orlesian warden come to Ferelden to help rebuild. This suggests it’s prepared for the possibility that your character died, and thus it’s prepared to carry on all the choices of your gameplay. And then Alistair says that one awesome line, “I rather miss the whole Darkspawn killin thing,” and I become certain that you will be able to invite the king of the land back to your party.
The expansion introduces a new territory, the Amaranthine, where the Grey Wardens are rebuilding, as well as new creatures to face and new villains. The level cap will be raised, new spells and items will be introduced, and you can re-spec (change the way you spent your points leveling up) your character.
That “Return to Ostagar” DLC was supposed to be available when this announcement was made. I wonder if the announcement was made to appease fans while they delayed the DLC, or if they were originally planned to happen at the same time. I wonder about this because it’s possible the Return to Ostagar content may set up the expansion story in some way, perhaps introducing that smart Darkspawn character through his actions. It’s just a passing thought, anyway.
OMFG DO WANT <3
Some 3 pages of an interview update on the expansion:
http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/105/1058656p1.html
hohohoho
Good news here!
You can dl return to ostagar right now btw
http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon/rto