Dragon Age: Inquisitionwas released a decade ago in 2014. It involved a lot of firsts for BioWare, including its first entry developed on EA’s Frostbite Engine. This resulted in aDragon Agegame that brought incredible highs with some awkward spots, such as thenow infamous Hinterlands problem. One of the areas it excelled in, however, was how it made Thedas a more unique fantasy setting, with a strong and consistent narrative thread that could be traced back through its timeline.
Dragon Agereveals its lore in a way that goes beyond a simple presentation, such as in letters, books, and notes that show the different and diverse perspectives of those living in Thedas. Rather than simply expanding on the lore,Dragon Age: Inquisitionbegan to deconstruct some of the known truths in Thedas, particularly the religions of the elves, dwarves, and the Chantry.
Expanding the World of Dragon Age with Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisitionwas a game that brought to the fore deconstructions of several themes, including that of the “chosen one” narrative. The way its main story addresses religion and legends, from their often humble origins and how they’re perpetuated into grandeur, was a massive departure fromDragon Age 2’s smaller, contained story, and not as much a return toDragon Age Origins' tone as some players wanted. This helped establish the pattern ofDragon Age’s pattern of creating new experiences in each game in the series on several levels, including gameplay and narrative themes.
One of the biggest legacies thatDragon Age: Inquisitionleft behind was the mark it made onDragon Age’s lore. WhereDragon Age OriginsandDragon Age 2established and created the foundations of the world of Thedas,Dragon Age: Inquisition’s revelations deconstructed swathes of it. Rather than contradicting established lore, however, the deconstruction ofDragon Age’s lore was consistent with the themes ofDragon Age: Inquisition’s narrative of the origin of religious figures. With a literal religious figure as a party member masquerading as himself in his purest form before the weight of legend was attached to him,Dragon Age: Inquisition’s themes are difficult to forget.
Making the World of Dragon Age More Complex
Theaddition ofDragon Age: Inquisition’s final DLC, Trespasser, further exemplified this theme, particularly as it grappled with the Inquisition’s legacy and if the Inquisition should be disbanded or be continued as a powerful force in Thedas. This all came to a climax in the final conversation with Solas, where the Inquisitor had the opportunity to question him about his role in his rebellion, the figure he came to be remembered as by the people he saved, and by those who remained.
Dragon Age: Inquisitioncomes under fire even today for its massive open worlds filled with side quests that amount to little more than busywork. Another point of contention was its Power system, which would sometimes drive its story pacing to a crawl, so those who wished to sidestep the fetch quests were unable to progress through the main questline. These criticisms were heard loud and clear by BioWare, and although they were present inMass Effect: Andromeda,Dragon Age: The Veilguardlaunched free of these concerns. Despite these drawbacks,Dragon Age: Inquisitionstill holds up today as a strong RPG with a narrative identity that held theDragon Ageseries up for an entire decade.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
WHERE TO PLAY
You are the only one who can stop demons flooding into the land of Thedas.A cataclysmic event plunges the land of Thedas into turmoil. Dragons darken the sky, casting a shadow of terror over a once-peaceful kingdom. Mages break into all-out war against the oppressive Templars. Nations rise against one another. It falls to you and your party of legendary heroes to restore order as you lead the Inquisition, hunting down the agents of chaos. Bonds will form - and some will break - as the campaign for truth takes its toll.BioWare’s latest action-adventure delivers an unparalleled story set in a vast, changeable landscape. Explore hidden caves, defeat truly monumental creatures, and shape the world around you based on your unique play style. Explore, lead, and battle: tough choices define your experience, and even one decision can change the course of what’s to come.
