When it comes to epic role-playing games, nobody does it better than BioWare. With a resume that includes such classics as "Baldur's Gate," "Knights of the Old Republic," "Jade Empire" and "Mass Effect,"  the developer's track record speaks for itself.

So it should come as no surprise that BioWare's latest effort, the fantasy RPG "Dragon Age: Origins," is every bit as engrossing and entertaining as those aforementioned titles. In fact, "Dragon Age: Origins" may just be the developer's best work yet.

For "Origins," hailed by many as the spiritual successor to "Baldur's Gate," BioWare has returned to its fantasy roots after spending recent years crafting epic space adventures. Set in the Tolkien-esque land of Ferelden, "Origins" tells the tale of mankind's fight against the Darkspawn, orc-like creatures bent on destroying everything in their path. You take up the mantle of the Grey Wardens, a group that has vowed to battle the Darkspawn at all costs, but only after playing through one of six unique origin stories that provide you with insight into your character.

Speaking of your character, there are three races and three classes (these determine which origin story you experience) to chose from when creating your hero, and the choices you make have a far-reaching effect on your adventure. Others may refuse to join your party or quests may become unavailable depending on your character's traits and the decisions you make early on.

BioWare has created an amazingly in-depth dialogue tree to let you interact with others in the game world. Unlike many other RPGs, there are no clear-cut "right" answers in "Origins," and even a seemingly innocent answer can take a conversation down a completely different road than what was expected. All dialogue is spoken and the voice acting is superb, which helps create a bond between the player and those in the game world.

BioWare has always had an ability to make me care about the characters in its games, but "Dragon Age: Origins" takes this to a whole new level. The origin stories, which last about an hour each, are dialogue-heavy, character-driven moments that invoke a deep emotional response. After experiencing my human noble warrior's origin story, I didn't just want to keep playing, I HAD to keep playing -- it went from being merely a video game to something more personal.  Very few games can succeed in making me care this much, but like a good book, "Dragon Age: Origins" just stayed with me.

While the storytelling in "Origins" is top-notch, the combat is equally impressive. The action here is slow and methodical, with tactics and pause-and-play strategizing being keys to survival. This isn't an action RPG in the vein of "Oblivion" or "Fallout 3." Not coincedentally, the combat in "Origins" shares more in common with BioWare's previous efforts, especially "Knights of the Old Republic." You can plot out the attacks for each member in your party or stick to controlling only one character and leave your AI teammates to follow the tactics you set. The AI is rock solid and I chose to let my party members fend for themselves. "Origins" can be brutally challenging on higher difficulty settings, and using tactics becomes more vital during big boss battles.

Graphically, "Origins" isn't the most impressive game on the market, but it's far from ugly. Character models are highly detailed and the visual effects that accompany spells are sweet. But the environments are rather bland and there's little variety amongst specific groups of enemies. Still, those complaints are minor and don't detract from the overall experience. The soundtrack is fantastic and I've already praised the voice work. And be sure to pay attention to the banter between party members while your traveling through Ferelden. It's exceptional and really helps pass the time between quests.

When it comes to epic role-playing games, nobody does it better than BioWare. With a resume that includes such classics as "Baldur's Gate," "Knights of the Old Republic," "Jade Empire" and "Mass Effect,"  the developer's track record speaks for itself.

So it should come as no surprise that BioWare's latest effort, the fantasy RPG "Dragon Age: Origins," is every bit as engrossing and entertaining as those aforementioned titles. In fact, "Dragon Age: Origins" may just be the developer's best work yet.

For "Origins," hailed by many as the spiritual successor to "Baldur's Gate," BioWare has returned to its fantasy roots after spending recent years crafting epic space adventures. Set in the Tolkien-esque land of Ferelden, "Origins" tells the tale of mankind's fight against the Darkspawn, orc-like creatures bent on destroying everything in their path. You take up the mantle of the Grey Wardens, a group that has vowed to battle the Darkspawn at all costs, but only after playing through one of six unique origin stories that provide you with insight into your character.

Speaking of your character, there are three races and three classes (these determine which origin story you experience) to chose from when creating your hero, and the choices you make have a far-reaching effect on your adventure. Others may refuse to join your party or quests may become unavailable depending on your character's traits and the decisions you make early on.

BioWare has created an amazingly in-depth dialogue tree to let you interact with others in the game world. Unlike many other RPGs, there are no clear-cut "right" answers in "Origins," and even a seemingly innocent answer can take a conversation down a completely different road than what was expected. All dialogue is spoken and the voice acting is superb, which helps create a bond between the player and those in the game world.

BioWare has always had an ability to make me care about the characters in its games, but "Dragon Age: Origins" takes this to a whole new level. The origin stories, which last about an hour each, are dialogue-heavy, character-driven moments that invoke a deep emotional response. After experiencing my human noble warrior's origin story, I didn't just want to keep playing, I HAD to keep playing -- it went from being merely a video game to something more personal.  Very few games can succeed in making me care this much, but like a good book, "Dragon Age: Origins" just stayed with me.

While the storytelling in "Origins" is top-notch, the combat is equally impressive. The action here is slow and methodical, with tactics and pause-and-play strategizing being keys to survival. This isn't an action RPG in the vein of "Oblivion" or "Fallout 3." Not coincedentally, the combat in "Origins" shares more in common with BioWare's previous efforts, especially "Knights of the Old Republic." You can plot out the attacks for each member in your party or stick to controlling only one character and leave your AI teammates to follow the tactics you set. The AI is rock solid and I chose to let my party members fend for themselves. "Origins" can be brutally challenging on higher difficulty settings, and using tactics becomes more vital during big boss battles.

Graphically, "Origins" isn't the most impressive game on the market, but it's far from ugly. Character models are highly detailed and the visual effects that accompany spells are sweet. But the environments are rather bland and there's little variety amongst specific groups of enemies. Still, those complaints are minor and don't detract from the overall experience. The soundtrack is fantastic and I've already praised the voice work. And be sure to pay attention to the banter between party members while your traveling through Ferelden. It's exceptional and really helps pass the time between quests.

Completing the main adventure will run you upward of 60 hours, and that's not counting the numerous optional side quests that you'll encounter. Couple that with the six different origin stories and character-specific missions and you've got a game that could keep you busy well into next year.

"Dragon Age: Origins" is one of the most amazing RPGs I've ever played. With it's captivating plot and characters that leap off the screen, this is the kind of game that grabs you and doesn't let go, the kind of game that you think about even when you're not playing it. BioWare has indeed crafted another classic masterpiece. Don't miss it.

"Dragon Age: Origins"

Developer: BioWare

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Available for: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 ($59.99); PC ($49.99)

Rating: M for mature

Score: 9.7/10