Despite being several months behind schedule, I recently took the time to play through Dragon Age: Origins on the Xbox 360, and upon completion, I realized what most attracts me to a game: meaningful storytelling.

Several months away from RPGs spent playing pick-up-and-play FPSs online with my friends left me staring ponderingly at my pal’s extensive game collection, pining over which game would best satiate my need for substance. The last great RPG I had played was Lost Odyssey, and, despite the fact that it was not the most groundbreaking game, I was enthralled by its unique narrative and compelling characters.

Upon my suggestion, my pal put Dragon Age into his Xbox to give me a quick rundown of the game and to introduce me to the mechanics. From the opening cinema, I knew this was the one. While the story itself is more generic than store-brand pants, the backstories for each character hooked me instantly. The protagonist is immediately thrown into detail-rich surroundings and tasked with making weighty decisions that ultimately altered the remainder of the game.

I have always been a sucker for a good story, and games like Dragon Age provide a unique medium in which story-buffs like myself can engage with  familiar environments and character archetypes in new ways through adaptive dialogue and meaningful decision making. I truly felt as if I were crafting a story that most accurately reflected my desires as a gamer and as an appreciator of good fiction. I tip my hat to BioWare for pioneering first class storytelling in modern gaming. I truly appreciate that I find actual authors’ names in the post-game credits. (Here’s looking at you, Drew Karpyshyn!)

Can we find art in games? Like all subjective questions, we must ultimately find our own answer to this question. For me, the answer is a resounding yes. I see art in the unique craftsmanship of storytelling within BioWare games, particularly this one. I always have been and always will be a lover of literature and fiction. It does my heart good to see my second favorite entertainment medium, video games, developing along this line.

Cheers!