Dragon Age: Origins: Role-playing. Developer: BioWare. Publisher: Electronic Arts. $49.99 for PC; $59.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3. ESRB rating: M for Mature.

A lifetime ago, BioWare developed Dungeons and Dragons PC games such as Baldur's Gate, praised for its tactical combat and indulgent dialogue. BioWare of late is lauded for space operas, Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect, where it tightened storytelling and simplified gameplay for the console generation. Inspired by George R.R. Martin's Games of Throne, Dragon Age: Origins sees BioWare's return to high fantasy with a grand entrance for both platforms, combining its high-caliber epic storytelling with fun tactical combat filled with spell-casting mayhem.

DA:O starts in Ferelden, a politically unstable kingdom where humans have indentured elves and cast out dwarves. You're recruited into the Grey Walden, warrior watchers of the demonic Darkspawn. With six "origins," defined through character creation as a noble human, Dalish wild elf or dwarf commoner, you experience the game through their eyes while seeking companions to deal with the growing threat. Your acts and dialogue through your own or supporting characters have a ripple affect - beneficial or harmful.

And the dialogue shouldn't go unnoticed. DA:O's writing comes to life with top-notch voice-acting. The off-camera bantering between party members creates a sense of camaraderie.

Combat delivers plenty of nerve-racking action. You can obsessively pause combat, directing your party like a micro-managing general looking over the battlefield. Or let the AI handle other party members through customizable scripts or tactical slots, which direct them to use potions, perform melee attacks or cast spells.

Gameplay is vastly different between the PC and console. If you ever played Baldur's Gate, which DA:O considers its predecessor in spirit, the PC version feels natural. The ability to use hot keys, zoom and direct combat positions greatly enhances the experience. The console strips and simplifies the interface through an action wheel, and combat relies heavily on smartly created tactical slots. The console's controller limitations don't hinder immersion into the game.

After innumerable long nights of playing, I dreamed about wielding bread and paring knives while chasing bandits who invaded my home.

BioWare and its latest opus have deeply changed the way I think about today's role-playing games. Recent RPGs disguise themselves with other genres for the sake of action and gore, which takes away from the fantasy. Kind of like Arnold Schwarzenegger shouting "Hasta la vista, baby!" and machine-gunning orcs in "The Lord of the Rings."

A game shouldn't sacrifice or dumb-down any part of itself because the story or gameplay are too lengthy or too complex. Dragon Age: Origin never does.