For $5, Return to Ostagar is a pretty poor value. BioWare's launch DLC offered important features that you could enjoy throughout the entire game. The Stone Prisoner gives you Shale, arguably the most entertaining companion in the game, as well as a versatile warrior to boot. Warden's Keep gives you an amazingly useful storage chest and access to the best sword in the game. Return to Ostagar has its share of goodies, but nothing nearly as useful or entertaining.
Much like Mass Effect 2, BioWare has released a generous helping of downloadable content for Dragon Age: Origins. Add-on packs, in particular, have achieved great success, as players enjoy new quests, characters and areas. If you need to experience these adventures, use this check list to keep yourself up to speed in the land of Ferelden.
John Artest (RunDLC)
GameZone writes: "Return to Ostagar has players taking a trip back to the first area of the original where Duncan and the King Cailan died during the battle. What we see in this DLC content is no real strong story elements; instead players should be on the lookout for loot. And why not; this DLC has some of the strongest loot in the game.
But is this DLC worth your purchase and time?"
The Electronic Farmyard writes:
Return to Ostagar this is not… this is BioWares own personal Awakening!
Moving swiftly on from Return to Ostagar (which was one of the biggest disappointments to come out of the BioWare HQ in my honest opinion), Awakening is a brand new campaign with 5 new party members, new level cap, abilities, items and a storyline deserving of the Dragon Age title.
So let's quickly go over what is new; 6 new specializations for you and your party. That's 2 new for each class. Mages get up to 24 new spells including 2 new high level spell chains and a choice of 2 new specializations. If you prefer to play as a Rogue or Warrior you haven't been forgotten about, you are treated to a total of 32 new talents! Oh and don't forget the 3 new skills available; Runecrafting, Vitality and Clarity. There are 5 new characters to pick your party from in Awakening and the return of my favourite Origins character; Oghren. That's right Oghren is back to amuse you with his stories of drinking, whoring and general debauchery… but this time you get to make him a Grey Warden.
