Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

The main pros of the game

• Continuation of Story: Awakening provides a chance to continue the narrative of Dragon Age: Origins, allowing players to either import their characters or create new ones, which adds depth to the experience for fans of the original.
• New Characters and Companions: The game introduces new companions, with some, like Anders, standing out as memorable characters that contribute to the story and gameplay.
• Expanded Gameplay Mechanics: The level cap is raised to 30, and new skills (such as rune-crafting) and specializations for each class add variety to character builds and combat strategies.
• Engaging Main Storyline: The main storyline regarding the Darkspawn retains Bioware's high-quality narrative, exploring intriguing moral dilemmas and world-building elements.
• New Areas and Content: The game features a new world map with sizable areas to explore, offering around 15-20 hours of gameplay, which is typical for an expansion.

The main cons of the game

• Limited Impact of Choices: Players who import characters from the original game may find that their previous choices have little to no impact on the new storyline, leading to disappointment.
• Underdeveloped Characters and Storylines: While some new characters are interesting, many are considered forgettable, and the overall story may feel rushed or lacking in depth compared to the original.
• Bugs and Technical Issues: The game suffers from various bugs, including crashes and issues with character equipment, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
• Perceived Lack of Value: Some reviews suggest that the expansion feels like more of the same without significant innovations, leading to questions about its worth, especially given its price compared to the original game.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Romance Options: Players noted the absence of new romance options, which were a highlight in the original game, leading to a less engaging character interaction experience.
• Visual Improvements: Many users expressed disappointment that there were no significant graphical upgrades or enhancements compared to Dragon Age: Origins.
• More Complex Moral Choices: While the game presents moral dilemmas, some players felt that the complexity of choices was diminished compared to the original, leading to a more black-and-white narrative rather than nuanced storytelling.
• Expanded Content and Quests: Users desired more fleshed-out side quests and character development, feeling that the expansion could have benefited from additional content and deeper exploration of its themes.

Summary

• Overall, Dragon Age: Origins Awakening is viewed as a solid, if imperfect, expansion that adds to the lore and gameplay of the original, but it may not fully satisfy all players, especially those looking for significant new content or improvements.

Summary generated on: October 28, 2025