Dragon Age Origins Expands In March With Awakening
When Bioware closes a door they open a window, as the saying goes. Coinciding with the Return to Ostagar DLC delay Bioware has announced the first full expansion for Dragon Age adding yet another subtite to the already subtitled game. Officially titled Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening (or Dragon Age Origins: Awakening for the sake of sanity and grammar), the expansion will take place in the land of Amaranthine after the events of the main game with your job to rebuild the Grey Wardens to their former glory. There's more to it than just a nice little epilogue though, as you'll also need to discover why the darkspawn are still milling about after the Archdemon's demise. I'll let Bioware spill the details.
Players will face a range of horrific and terrifying creatures including an evolved, intelligent breed of darkspawn and other menacing creatures such as the Inferno Golem and Spectral Dragon. Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening provides exciting new ways for players to customize their heroes and party, including the ability to re-spec their character attributes, allowing even greater customization and replayability. Featuring an increased level cap, new spells, abilities, specializations and items, plus five all-new party members, players can continue their adventures from Dragon Age: Origins, or begin with a brand new character.
New enemies, new spells and abilities, five new party members, and the option to begin the expansion as a whole new character? Awakening is starting to sound more like a full sequel than just an expansion. And there had better be loads of content given the asking price. GameStop already has the expansion listed for pre-order with the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions selling for $39.99 and the PC version for $29.99. That's right, when Dragon Age Origins: Awakening releases on March 16 it will be getting the retail treatement, with no word on a DLC option (though you can bet that Steam will get hold of it too).
I know everyone already loves Dragon Age, but this expansion worries me. If it takes place after the main game with new characters then that can only mean one thing: no Alistair. What good is an RPG without a sarcastic hunk tagging along?
NaviFairy
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 5 January 2010
· Comments (18)
Other stuff like this: Alistair and I are soulmates and cannot be separated by some mere game expansion, bioware, dragon age origins: awakening, dragon age: origins, expansion, pc, ps3, xbox 360
It also raises questions about what happens if you choose to sacrifice yourself?
One at least has the option of saving Alistair through machinations with Morrigan.
I can't imagine they entered this territory with ret-conning any of these endings, however.
@VorpalBunny: And this is why I can't click on any blog or forum post with the phrase 'Dragon Age' in it. Thanks for the spoiler, honey.
@MuddBstrd: Apologies. I had assumed as the post itself was full of spoilers, that anyone clicking to the comments would be well aware of these facts.
Sorry, I tried to keep it fairy spoiler free, which I figured would be easy since I haven't finished the game yet myself.
Haha, "fairly spoiler free" is what I meant. Gotta love those gay Freudian slips.
So does it mean my male Dalish elf rogue gets to roll around in the hay more with Zevran?
Hopefully those 5 extra party members will include more romance options.
Given that they made straight-only and bi options. Maybe these new ones can be gay-only.
And even better, hopefully they learned from all the comments and make a male-romancable party member that is more like a gay version of Alistair.
I agree with Nexus. I would not expect Alistair back, but I would expect twin Ukrainian gymnasts.
I like the way you think, Mittens.
I wonder if your old party members will stay with you or not?
I suppose we can count on Dog following you. It'd be stupid if Dog left your party to open a pub or something.
"Orlais Encounter five all-new party members and an old favorite from Dragon Age: Origin"
So I would guess the party is Dog + 5 new characters.
It's going to be weird trying to resolve this with the possibility of your character being permanently married or partnered with Lel, Alistar, or Zevran at the end of Origins.
I just saw the official trailer and Alistair is in quite a few moments so I'm guessing he will be there. Though I'm curious about how they will handle all the possible endings that you could have in Origins...
Maybe there will be different "origin" stories/prologues depending on which ending you chose, if you choose to import your character?
$39.99 seems a little pricey for something that isn't a completely separate game. As much as I loved the first chapter, I'm going to wait until some others can give me some feedback on how much content there actually is, before deciding to buy it.
@NaviFairy:
I had this weird image in my head of you making words on a piece of paper disappear by sprinkling glittery dust on them, after reading "fairy spoiler free". Freudian slips are, indeed, fun for all. ;)
BEST TAG EVER:
Alistair and I are soulmates and cannot be separated by some mere game expansion
That comment about Alistair really should have come with a spoiler warning.
Seeing as I am on a neverending quest to get the "Alistair Gay Romance Option" patch for Xbox360, I can now live in hope that this will be available in the latest Dragon Age expansion pack...I hope Bioware have paid attention to my unrelenting emails...
Like a previously poster said, Alistair is indeed in the expansion. The trailer features him prominently.
I am pretty excited for this expansion packl; I plan on pre-ordering it fairly soon. And, I love that Alistair is featured in the trailer for it!
I am in the process of replaying the game for the umpteenth time with the sole intention of transferring my character to the expansion.
Here's hoping it is ~20 hours for that price.