Differences Between "Dragon Age" For the PC and For the Console
"Dragon Age: Origins" is a game released for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2009. This game was the first in a new series for developer BioWare. Though the game wasn't as popular as BioWare's other series, it nonetheless spawned a sequel in 2011. However, the first one was sharply criticized at release for the poor quality of the console port when compared to the PC title. There were plenty of noticeable differences between the two versions, and if you are on the fence about which version to get, consider them before purchasing one version over the other.
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Visuals
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One of the most immediately noticeable differences between the console and PC versions of "Dragon Age: Origins" is the visuals. Because the PC was the lead development platform, developers were able to optimize it based on processing power for standard gaming PC rigs. Because of the limitations on processing power in both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, these platforms were not able to produce the texture-rich environments common in the PC version. Though pre-rendered content looks identical on both PC and console platforms, actual gameplay visuals look significantly different.
Game Interface
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Though you can play with an action RPG interface in both the console and PC versions of "Dragon Age: Origins," the interface in the console version heavily favors an action RPG style of gameplay. There is no tactical HUD, and to reach the menu-based battle area, the user needs to press pause and then select commands individually. In the PC version, the tactical HUD is present by default and the point-and-click interface translates well to turn-based tactical gameplay.
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Social Features
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Though there aren't any multiplayer aspects to "Dragon Age: Origins," the PC version does allow you to connect with the BioWare community via an in-game application. This is useful if you want to record your stats, take screenshots or ask for help from the community. The console versions do not have this social interactivity feature at all. Players on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 are only able to access the BioWare network from a PC and cannot connect directly to other players through the game.
Inventory System
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The only real edge the console version of "Dragon Age: Origins" has is that it has a much more intuitive inventory system. While the PC version just lists items and weapons in a large index, the console version has a sortable, selectable list of items that can be easily organized so the user can find what they need without a lot of searching.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
