Somehow this game did not get on my radar until a few months ago, but I had been looking forward to it since I heard about it. I picked it up yesterday and it does not disappoint.
From BioWare, makers of Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect, this is an action RPG with gore and sex galore. You get to choose from 4 classes (humans, elves, forest elves, and dwarves) and 6 origins (nobleman among others) and of course different classes (warrior, mage, rogue, etc.) each with their own unique story that accounts for 6 ways to open the game and affect the story. In addition, like Mass Effect, your dialogue choices affect how people react to your character.
Battles play out in a Diablo/Baldurs gate style with heavy RPG elements. You can assign strategies to your allies (offense, defense, etc.) and each battle leaves you with a sense of accomplishment if done well. You enter each fight, even with basic enemies, constantly strategizing the best way to dispatch everyone. Archers will attack your flank as warriors attack your mages. Do you take out the archers or save your mages who can not attack well while getting hammered? And when you come across new enemies that dwarf your biggest fighter (including dragons later in the game), you actually get a little nervous.
After each battle, the blood you spill stays with you (literally) as it stains your skin and armor/weapons. After a good dungeon crawl, you look like you worked the midnight shift at the slaughter house.
Good graphics, an amazing score, and fantastic voice acting round out the package. The initial disc comes with a Blood Dragon armor download (which is armor that can also be used in the upcoming Mass Effect 2) and a full expansion which includes a quest to recruit a powerful golem that becomes a permanent party member.
I'm only about 5 hours in and I can tell this is gonna be good. Its one of those games you think about until you can play it again. And going through the game 5 more times (each a 40-50 hour play through at least) is something I'm actually looking forward to just to try different races/classes and see how the story branches.
9/10.