Dear Bioware,
I'm sorry for ever doubting you. You see, it's been far too long since I last played one of your titles (the original Mass Effect in 2007) and unfortunately, I had lost faith. I forgot just how good you guys (and gals) are at making amazing role-playing games. Sure, I've been looking forward to Mass Effect 2 for some time, as I loved the first all those years ago, but it was an unexpected title that reminded me why you guys are the best in the biz at making these types of games. That game: Dragon Age: Origins.
Never have I played a more epic fantasy title than Dragon Age: Origins. It's almost like living through the Lord of the Rings saga. Except, instead of little bisexual hobbits, you get hot dwarven sex, instantly making for a more enjoyable, and burly experience. But what really caught my attention is just how cinematic you guys made everything in Dragon Age, even conversations with NPCs. The camera angles chosen are fantastic and really help emerge the player into the game, as if we were simply watching a movie but getting to decide what our characters said. A choose-your-own-adventure film, if you will.
And you know you've hit the nail right on the head when conversing with village folk, or party members, is just as exciting as partaking in an epic battle to ward off invading Darkspawn. And the decisions you make matter. Like really, for once, they do. There have probably been a number of NPC characters I've talked to and condemned through my actions that could have otherwise become party members. Or, on the flip side of the coin, party members I pushed away with my choices that could have been faithful allies if I had gone another direction with my decisions. Dragon Age: Origins makes me morally question every decision, just as if it were real life, with real consequences. Except, in Dragon Age I can visit a brothel, get a medieval prostitute, and not worry about my piss burning the next morning. Although, why am I always in blood stained underwear after sex?
It's been a long time since I played a game where even twelve hours in I still can't wait to get home and fire up the 360 to play more. In fact, I've avoided a lot of RPGs because finding the time to invest in them just wasn't there. However, with Dragon Age I make the time. Family, friends, real world potential mates, they matter not. All that matters are the adventures of McConaughey and his dog, Tuggernuts.
This renewed love for the products you push has also made me start feverishly anticipating your massive Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic. I'm a lover of Star Wars and your previous ventures into the realm of the Star Wars universe with the Knights of the Old Republic series were amazing. Now we get that, but on an even more massive scale. While I've tried hard, really hard, to avoid MMOs for the rest of my life as World of Warcraft literally sucked the life force right out of me, I don't think I'm going to be able to avoid this one. It's Star Wars. It's Bioware. It's going to be awesome, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It's now just a matter of waiting till some time in Spring 2011 before I can get my hands on it.
But that is all. I just needed to get my love for you guys on paper, err, internet space. It's been a long time since I was this sex-nuts for a video game, an RPG at that. This is a pretty monumentus occasion that deserves some sort of record keeping. Perhaps I will print this out and stick it in a time capable to be buried in my backyard. Then if I ever lose faith again I know what to dig up to reassure myself of your awesomeness. Either way, I'm going to go and slay some dragons while I wait for even more Bioware goodness in the form of Mass Effect 2 and the eventual Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Love,
Erik
P.S. Please accept this sexy photo of myself as a gift of gratitude.
