Ben-DutkaI won’t say Dragon Age II was a bad game, because that wouldn’t be true. However, despite its quality, there’s no doubt that it left the beaten path, and not in a good way. Hardcore role-playing fans, to whom this franchise is geared, wondered at the disappearance of key RPG elements, such as the full outfitting of all playable characters and those wide open spaces from Origins . Well, BioWare has listened to the feedback and the result is Dragon Age: Inquisition , which should be the biggest and most robust series entry yet.
We’ll still have the dialogue trees and player choice that has been a staple of the franchise, but we’ll also receive several important upgrades. Driving the game forward will be the Frostbite 3 engine, which has already been on display with Battlefield 4 . This will reduce loading times and allow for a more seamless, dynamic experience. The new engine – and the new next-generation hardware – also allow for true-blue exploration: Gone are the cramped little maps from DAII; in Inquisition , we can wander wherever we like, which is why the game is being compared to Bethesda’s vaunted Elder Scrolls IP. Nothin' wrong with that, right?
Yes, a horse is included, which may be necessary given the gargantuan map. But before you begin your enjoyable exploration, you’ll have to create and customize your character. Again, we’re going back to the good ol’ RPG roots; no more pre-set terms for the main character, as you can select your race, gender, class, etc. Once you’ve made your difficult choice (it’s always tough for me, anyway), you can begin questing, and you’ll find a fantastic world that encourages curiosity. And it’s not just about grabbing quests and going to complete them, as you’ll want to indulge in every aspect of the expansive landscape. A new level of immersion awaits…
For instance, there are Keeps that can be invaded and taken over, which are similar to the forts you had to conquer in the recent Assassin’s Creed titles. If you can successfully take the Keep, you can then control them and choose your style— political, military, or espionage. If you go for the latter, you’ll see lookout towers and camouflage. If you’re the military type, the Keep will develop stone turrets and guard posts, and if you opt for political, a capitol building will appear. Each option not only changes how your enemies react, each style also opens up a series of different quests. This adds a never-before-seen level of depth to Dragon Age .
As for the combat, it should be a similar mechanic to what we’ve seen before, but the developers are implementing a new tactical camera. This allows you pause the action and scan the battlefield, which will allow you to assess any predicament. Battle is a fluid situation, so this feature should prove extremely useful to those who wish to be more strategic and thoughtful in their approach. In terms of foes, they’ll range from human opponents and dark little creatures to the franchise’s staple, dragons. These nasty suckers are always on the hunt but you’ll have to avoid them until you’re ready. Your party will have to be buffed big-time to handle a dragon.
I particularly like that environmental destruction will play a role – again, for the first time – in combat. This is also thanks to the new engine, so if you see a wooden support holding enemy archers, take out the damn support! Enemies can do the same, though, so be careful. All in all, I think we’re looking at a rebirth and a fitting progression for this series, so the RPG faithful should be excited. My only concern is that it tries to be too much like Skyrim and doesn’t retain its former distinct charm. But I can’t not have faith in the guys at BioWare. That just seems…wrong.
I will make a hot diminutive redhead elf chick that kicks severe ass and is a total bitch.
Id hang out with that…
My thoughts exactly!
Wish BioWare could implement coop play – and do so without spoiling a fragment of narrative. It's a party anyway.
🙂 oh yeah, and she will romance all the ladies. She will still do the right moral thing though as per my hero code
I didnt finish Dragon Age: Origins but that game was excellent. Never played Dragon Age 2 but watched a friend play through the good parts. DA was big enough I iust couldnt get through it all before other games came out. And 2 certainly left a bitter taste when I found out of all the changes. So im really anxious for this game! I think theyll pay good tribute to DA:O.
SO excited for this title. The changes all seem positive, and I love that Casandra and Varric are party members.
I am reading Asunder right now in preparation.
Last edited by Feryx on 9/27/2013 2:45:22 AM
It looks like they are really focused this time. I love every single thing I hear about this game.
yeah i'd like to say i haven't played a dragon age game before but this looks like a gud place to start and it's this time next year looking forward to it.
happy gaming =)
Please give me back the tons of narrative options!
If it's still like in DA2 where you only have 3 responses: Good/Bad/Funny… I am not buying this. They think were so stupid we can't even read a few sentences to know what we are about to say to someone?
If it's back like in the original I'm all in. I hope that this is what you meant when you said we will have the Dialogue Trees. Loved the first one but the second one destroyed my opinion of it 🙁
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 9/27/2013 10:20:08 AM
I'm betting on a mix, they probably won't go back to the silent hero with tons of dialogue trees but hopefully we can have more than those 3 and get a voice to our character.
Not going to believe a word EA or Bioware says until the game has been played by fans of Dragon age origins, and Baldurs gate.
Sorry I just can't trust these guys anymore. I'm not saying DA3 will be a bad game or anything, just that ME3 and DA2 left bad tastes in my mouth and I'll have to see if they made a game that I actually want to play.
If the hype and PR is 100% true and its basically like a next gen Origins then that would be a game I would dive into.
Also I need to see more on the combat. I didn't really like DA2 I liked the originals slower more tactical combat.