Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening
Dragon Age:
Origins – Awakening
22.01.2023
Müdes Erwachen
With Awakening, it went back to the world of Dragon Age a year after the main game's release. The add-on (yes, they still existed back then) picks up right after the events of Origins and once again allows us to assemble a party of Grey Wardens to fight against the evil in the world. So, in terms of content, everything remains the same, but musically, composer Inon Zur is exploring new paths.
While Dragon Age: Origins ' score is generally very dark and melancholic, the main theme for Awakening immediately introduces more positive notes. The threat seems to be lifted, and the healing process can begin. This sounds much more like the typical high-fantasy tropes and doesn't quite fit for me.
The rest of the gamerip also differs significantly from the main game and unfortunately never reaches its level. While Vigil’s Keep, Vigil’s Keep Combat, and Varel could still be from Origins' OST, Lair is horror in the style of Dead Space. Here, the violins scratch uncomfortably over the imaginary board, keeping us in suspense.
The Mother and The Architect , on the other hand, are more melodramatic and reminiscent of the grand encounters in a game like Dark Souls. Unfortunately, these tracks are not particularly gripping, even though one should appreciate Zur's departure from the soundscape of a vast world to a smaller, more confined space.
Nostalgia warning
The rating of the individual tracks is purely subjective and clearly colored by my own experience with the game. You can find out more in the article About Nostalgia.





