Excuse me, but are you one of the Grey Wardens?

A while ago I watched a video of a recent advertisement for a game called Dragon Age: The Awakening, which was meant to be one of the best sequels this year. I was confused, since I had not seen any game called Dragon Age. So I went into my nearest Gamestation and asked about the previous game. The cashier told me that it was called Dragon Age: Origins, she told me that it is a worthwhile game to buy, since it uses an all new game engine named Eclipse, for which a toolset for creation of fan-made content is available to owners of the PC version.

Once I had got home, I opened the box and a card fell out. On one side there was a code for a extra quest and a valuable character, who is a Golem, and on the other side there was a code for some extra special armour, which could be used in Dragon Age: Origins and in the up-coming game; Mass Effect 2. I thought that this was a really good idea for marketing, since if people cannot buy any of the DLC for a while this gives them a real boost, since they start off with a really good one. (And you would have to pay 1200 Microsoft points for it otherwise!)

In the beginning of the game, you get to choose one of six origins stories to start off. There are three races, Human, Elf and Dwarf; and each of these can choose a type, which includes: Warrior, Rouge and Mage. (However a Dwarf cannot be a mage.) The order of Race, Type and Story includes: A Human Warrior or a Human Rouge will start as a Human Noble, A Elvin Warrior or an Elven Rouge will start as either a Dalish Elf or a City Elf, A Dwarven Warrior or a Dwarven Rouge will start as either a Noble Dwarf or a City Dwarf. Last but not least either a Human Mage or an Elven Mage will become one of the Magi.

As you progress through the game you can recruit some characters, they will interject into the main story line, for instance a Dwarf called Oghren, and a Warrior called Alistair. However most of the characters will have to find yourselves such as, a Warrior called Sten and a Rouge called Leliana. One problem that I find annoying is the fact that you cannot change your party in an area where a battle will take place.

However this is a game that you cannot only play once, since at crucial points in the game, you can choose sides. So for instance you can either side with the Elves or the Werewolves in the Quest “The Nature of the Beast”. Each choice will have its own achievement, so unless you are an avid gamer and saves before the choice, so you can go back and get the other achievements.

A Kingdom for Keflings

Help! Help! My Keflings need a Kingdom!

Quite a while ago I bought a game called “A Kingdom for Keflings”. The plot of the game is you come across a collection of tiny people called “Keflings”. (A sort of Lilliput Moment) You have to help them rebuild their kingdom so they can live happily again.

You start off by choosing a giant to use, you can either use a pre-made giant or you can use your Avatar, of course it is better to use your avatar because anything that your Avatar wears, your game character will wear.

At the beginning, you start off with no resources, and few Keflings. You can put a Kefling on to a point of resource, Rock, Forest, Crystal and Wool, and they will automatically start to collect it. Also if you put a Kefling onto a pile of resources and take them to wherever you need them, they will instantly begin to carry the specific pile of resources to wherever you told them to go.

To increase the number of Keflings you have to build Houses. For each house you earn two Keflings. The House is one of the only buildings that you can upgrade, so for instance, you can turn the House into a Cottage. Later on instead of a House or a Cottage, you can build a Manor House. They are nothing really special except that they look really good in a posh area of your land. However you cannot just build Houses as you please, to complete the building you need an item called Love. Every house needs love; otherwise no-one would live there. (My little joke)

At about half-way through the game you have to make a choice on which is more important, Logs and Gems or Rocks and Wool, if for instance you think that Logs and Gems are more important, then you would do the mission “Curios of Fortune” after building the necessary components needed, your Keflings will collect Logs and Gems quicker.

There are also two map packs for it. I believe that they are worthwhile!

I also believe that this is a must buy!