Dragon Age Exposed In The Launch Issue Of Gam...

Dragon Age Exposed In The Launch Issue Of Games for Windows

I thought this day would never come! BioWare are finally starting to reveal a thing or two about Dragon Age - their first PC game in a really long time (not counting the Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire ports from the Xbox). The magazine honored with the first glimpse at Dragon Age is none other than Games for Windows: The Official Magazine, also known as Computer Gaming World for the past 25 (!) years. This is quite a cover story for their inaugural issue, and they were kind enough to offer a few teasers from their article, via 1UP:

- The story is dark-much darker than the usual BioWare fare-and influenced by "realistic" modern fantasy like George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.

- The game uses an evolved "tactical real-time combat" style of Baldur's Gate, only in 3D-you queue up orders for multiple party members, pause the game when you need to think, and your party members will be able to execute coordinated attacks.

- Large-scale creature combat will have your characters doing stuff like ducking between legs and jumping on backs of monsters (dare we say dragons?).

- Even though Dragon Age isn't a D&D game, per se, BioWare is sticking close to those roots with the class and rules systems.

- The game uses a "modified" version of the Mass Effect conversation system we're all so keen on.

- Depending on the type of character you choose, the game offers multiple different "origin stories"-meaning the first few hours of the game will be totally different depending on which character archetype you choose.

- The game's actually coming out in late 2007 or early 2008.

- Bono makes a surprisingly good mentor.

On top of that, they are also sharing a new screenshot that looks completely different from the ones issued by BioWare at E3 2004. Now, don't shoot me for saying this, but the image they're showing looks more like Gothic 3 and Oblivion, and less like the kind of perspective I (for one) was expecting from Dragon Age.

But I'd hate making a wrong impression from one screenshot alone, so let's wait for some more before jumping to conclusions. I certainly wouldn't mind a few images depicting a "large-scale creature combat"... but if not, even a lousy gameplay trailer will do. I'm not asking for much, am I?

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)