[Warning: Spoilers for Dragon Age: Origins, Awakening, and Dragon Age II]
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the upcoming RPG from the creative minds at Bioware and published by Electronic Arts. After an eleven month delay to add polish, the third title in the beloved series is due out on October 7th in North America and October 10th in Europe.
Chances are you have played Dragon Age: Origins, its absolutely massive DLC “Awakening,” and all the other story DLC which closed with the fitting Witch Hunt. The chances also are you either never finished Dragon Age II or you did, then kind of pushed it to that dark place in your mind. Maybe you are the kind of fan who oozes DA and can’t go to the store without equipping a set of Elf ears?
Number One: Dem Characters
The main thing that got me through Dragon Age II were the characters. I could not have gotten through Kirkwall without characters such as Varric, Isabela, and Justice. The way that Varric brings the player into the story from minute one, it was the biggest lie that Bioware told the player… and we enjoyed it. Though an appearance of Flemeth is a very close second.
In Dragon Age: Inquisition Varric returns, as does his interrogator, Cassandra. Other notable returns are Leliana, companion of the player in Origins, Alistair now a king (in my play-through), and Morrigan, arguably the best character in Origins, and the worst part of DAII as she was not there.
Number Two: Actions With Consequences
Causality. Living with my choices, realising that even in this fictional world I hold the fate of millions in the palm of my hands. In Origins this was recruiting Werewolves over Dalish Elves, slaying the Archdemon myself and followed Morrigan through the Eluvian mirror.
Within DAII I did feel like choices were unexpected. For example, if you take your sibling with you into the deep roads instead of Anders, they die. Nothing you can do about it, you didn’t take Anders. Game over for your sibling. This came out of nowhere, not once was it hinted at that you would not come back a family member down. I was not angry at this, I was taken aback by the boldness of Bioware. Sadly that boldness wasn’t present much more during my time with DAII.
How will all that tie-in with Dragon Age: Inquisition? How will I know that what I spent tens of hours sculpting, pacing my carpet, confering with friends, won’t just go to waste because it’s not considered canon now? Simple. Dragon Age Keep. This will be the way for us, as players, to sculpt our perfect introduction into Inquisition. Did Alistair become King? Did the Architect live or die? Werewolves or Dalish? Mages or Templars? Male or female Champion of Kirkwall? It can all be added there when it is released, sign up now for beta!
Number Three: A Rich World
Thedas. What a gorgeous world, one that we got to explore a small part of in Origins and Awakening, and even less of in DAII. Bioware have assured us that what we get to see and play in Inquisition will be four to five larger than Ferelden in Origins!
The game will be set in Thedas, covering parts of Orlais and Ferelden. The game will cover more geographic territory than its predecessors, with one map being described as four to five times the size of Ferelden, the setting of the first game in the series.
[DragonAgeWiki]
More Ferelden, Kirkwall and the chance to visit the Tevinter Empire is a huge plus for me! For the world to be altered due to my actions during Origins and Dragon Age II would be even better. Redcliffe, anyone?
How about you? Are you going to jump back into Thedas feet first? Or will you be waiting for the reviews and your friends to get their hands on Dragon Age: Inquisition first to give you the information: Is it any good?
