Good choice If you like Bioware RPG, it's not the best story, but Bioware wrote it good enough to make you enjoy it, the best things in this game for me, it's your main character and his relationship with other characters, you will like them or hate them but you will miss them all once you will finish the game, and the choice you have to finish the quests.

An advice if you haven't start yet, put the game on nightmare difficulty as other difficulties are too easy.

I had an absolute blast playing Dragon Age Origins for the first time recently, with all the expansions. I got Dragon's Dogma a few weeks ago, actually need to find some time to play it. Always heard good things about it.

Thank you really much TerriblePurpose, I came home from work and find your amazing gift!!! I'm going to try Dragon's Dogma first!!! Thank you again!!!

Racist isn't a "lol" joke term dude. JRPGs are so not my thing that an RPG from a Japanese company makes me hesitate to try it out. It's a very simple statement and you throwing racist at it... joke or not, it doesn't read like one... is irritating. All forgive though, let's move on.

Yes indeed, that's why I always choose GOG over other stores, I like the community, I like the customers support and all the DRM Free!

I've played Dragon's Dogma multiple times across multiple platforms...

... and with 300+ hours...

... I have found it the most engaging game I have ever played (and fantasy is not my favorite genre)...

... and keep finding systems that I didn't know were at play in the game!

The storytelling is interesting, but not overly compelling. If you play for storyline alone, you will probably be disappointed. But IMO what DD gives up in story, it makes up in atmosphere, a couple key plot twists, and gameplay (some would claim the early game and Bitterblack Isle to be "hardcore"). And while not dealing in dialogue trees or skill checks, DD deals heavily in party and equipment management (alongside crafting)... and has very good (IMO) AI companions.

But, not matter how much I love this game (and still play it)... it doesn't connect with everyone.

Provided you can train them.

Which you can...

You can decide the basic behaviors / inclinations of your pawn... with ancillary behaviors determined over time by player activity.

You can't change enlisted pawns' behaviors. Those you have to find through pawn management.

I know you *can* train pawns, but that doesn't mean everyone manages to do it. I was half successful at it. Luckily, I played overpowered classes to compensate it.

Honestly, if RPGs is your thing, I'd get both. They are very cheap for what they offer...

...unless, if you have an insane backlog, then:

-DD, if you want a more action-oriented gameplay.
-DAO. if you prefer classic cRPG combat and great plot.

In my subjective opinion: DD is more fun.