Summary
WithVeilguard’s releasebringing fans back to the incredible world of Thedas for another fantastic adventure, BioWare is officially back in the spotlight. Many fans are doing a victory lap of everyDragon Agegame that has come before this latest one, or even other monolithic BioWare titles likeMass Effectto create an entirely new canon of their own. BioWare is hardly a company that needs to remind players of why it’s practically a household name - but it’s been refreshing to see praise for the company’s peak performances become current again.
While the best BioWare games excel in almost every area, from character designto satisfying combat, the draw that has kept people playing for so long is the immersive, reactive storytelling that the company is known for. BioWare’s particular brand of high-quality storytelling would be impossible without good dialogue, and these games have surpassed some stiff competition to have the best in the company’s library.
An incrediblyunique wuxia RPG, even years after its release,Jade Empirewas one of those foundational titles that helped cement BioWare’s place as an RPG pioneer in the next generation of graphics and consoles.
The unique philosophies of open hand and closed fist, whichtechnicallyaren’t good and evil, but essentially are, both get an incredible amount of screen time in this title, with many proponents of either path getting to say some fairly iconic lines regarding whether benevolence or cruelty is the true path to power.
The climactic conclusion to theMass Effecttrilogy made some heavy concessions to gaming trends at the time of its release, and some questionable design choices as well as anincredibly divisive endingtend to make the series' conclusion - while still hailed as a classic - one that stirs some heavy debate among fans.
But the stakes have never been higher than they have in this game, and that’s reflected in the gravity and tone that comes with almost all the dialogue inMass Effect 3. A rewarding end to a great series with some great dialogue to boot.
Dragon Ageseemsto reinvent itselfwith every iteration, withInquisitionfunctionally looking like an entirely different game toOrigins, which in itself was made the black sheep of the series following the sequel’s departure into ARPG territory.
If there’s one thread that runs through all these games, however, it’s the incredible dialogue that distinguishes them as BioWare titles.Inquisition, similar to ME3, sets the stakes higher than ever in the series (beforeVeilguardups the ante further) and that’s reflected in grim, villainous monologues and ominous portents of doom throughout Thedas. WhatInquisitionalso manages to do well, however, is include some excellent comedic banter between companions - a staple among this series.
The firstMass Effectgame gave rise to a beloved universe that players would adore for years to come - and how players articulated this world through dialogue only intensified how iconic this game’s setting would become.
With Paragon Shepherd’s heroism, and Renegade Shepherd’s gruff, ‘badass’ retorts, the player was able to give their character so much depth and fluidity, and it was only enhanced by the reaction of the nuanced companions this game brought with it.
Mass Effect 2is often hailed as the peak of the series, synthesizing the more graceful and fluid combat many would come to expect from an ARPG with interesting characters, a fleshed-out universe, and a deeply compelling plot that culminates in anutterly unique mission.
Beyond Shepherd having some of the best lines in the entire series within this game, their companions are similarly filled with occasionally profound, occasionally hilarious remarks about theMass Effectuniverse that greatly shift how players see them.
The highly underratedsequel to the monolithicDragon Age Originshas some of the best companion banter in any BioWare game. Companions are all, in their own way, witty and observant while still having their own unique personalities, goals, and ambitions.
This smaller-scale story brings light to Thedas like never before, and players are able to experience it with some incredibly well-written characters that all have some fantastic dialogue. The protagonist, especially for those going for ‘sarcastic’ runs, has a great number of lines as well.
Dragon Age Originsis one of the best RPGs of all time, period. How this game manages to take some relatively standard RPG tropes, like druidic elves, industrious dwarves and a group of evil creatures literally named ‘Dark Spawn’ and turn them all on their heads to make one of the best fantasy storylines to come out of gaming continues to amaze to this day.
Part of what’s so compelling about this title is the dialogue. This game’s depth and its reputation as an RPG classic owes a great deal to Alistair and Morrigan’s snide comments to one another, to Shale’s unhinged sarcasm and sociopathy, Sten’s gruff stoicism, and Leliana’s general adorableness.
