by Luke Miller
Dragon Age: Inquisition, the latest game in Bioware's epic fantasy franchise, has its work cut out for it. After the lukewarm response to Dragon Age II from fans and critics, Bioware has decided to once again change the direction of the franchise. The result is a fantastic, ambitious game that takes the series in a new direction. Inquisition blends elements of the first two games, along with new ideas, to create the strongest entry in the series.
One of the first things you'll notice is its gorgeous new art style and incredible sound design. The locales are varied and beautifully rendered, from the lush forests of the Hinterlands to the arid cliffs of the Forbidden Oasis. The character models are full of detail and highly expressive, lending a sense of immersion to the interactions with them. Sound design is top-notch, featuring an invigorating soundtrack and quality voice acting that are present throughout your entire journey. The game is a feast for the senses, but it's not perfect.
I noticed a few instances of texture pop-ins, and some major clipping issues in the cut scenes. There were also times when the audio cut out almost completely, leaving combat encounters feeling empty and dissatisfying. Despite these few hiccups, the visuals and sound design ensure that the game is a delight to play.
From a story perspective, Inquisition is a bit of a mixed bag. The main storyline is interesting enough, but it is not executed as well as it could be. You become the leader of the Inquisition and must amass allies to stop an ancient enemy and save the world. The premise is interesting and the story is engaging, but I was disappointed to find that the choices I made in the story missions didn't seem to affect the events of the story at all.
For example, all of the allies you are supposedly recruiting throughout the game never reappear. I was lead to believe that I was amassing powerful allies, but I didn’t see the results of my efforts on any definitive scale. In a franchise based around player choice, I would expect to see the choices I make matter. Apart from a couple instances, I didn't feel like anything I did affected the events of the story in any significant way, which is a shame. I am definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next, but I wish the choices I made had more meaning within the context of the game, and not simply dangling threads meant to be addressed in a future installment. The story falters, but the characters are interesting and well-written. They are colorful and varied, and the banter between them as you explore the world is hilarious. I loved interacting with them, and I definitely grew attached to them during the course of the game.
Despite a lackluster main storyline, Inquisition is still a blast to play. One of its best features is the new “open world.” The world isn't truly open, but is instead a collection of very large, open zones that you travel to via the world map. These new zones provide the backbone of Inquisition's engaging gameplay loop. They’re filled with a huge amount of side quests, collectibles, and crafting materials to find. There is plenty to do in every zone, and there are many zones to unlock and explore. Everything you do in the game, from exploring to questing, has tangible benefits for your character and the Inquisition itself. This ensures that you are never wasting your time in the game, whether you have a lot of time to play, or just a little. Bioware does a great job of connecting gameplay and story within the world as well. You are able to unlock new zones, quests, and rewards by sending Inquisition agents on missions. The missions would take more or less time depending on which agent you choose to send, and the duration ticks down in real time. This is a really neat mechanic and an ingenious way to make the game feel more immersive. I would have liked to see this mechanic utilized more in the game though. Its combat mechanics are incredibly fun and satisfying as well since you have access to a lot of impressive abilities, and it is satisfying to lay waste to your enemies.
The combat this time around is a blend of the more action-oriented combat of Dragon Age II and the tactical pause-and-play system that was in Dragon Age: Origins. Bioware has included a tactical camera that pauses the action so you can plan your moves, then speed the game up and watch the action unfold. This gives players precise control of the battlefield during tougher battles, and it definitely helped me in some fights. The tactical camera does have some issues, however, such as being hard to maneuver at times. Overall, though, the tactical camera is a nice compromise for people who want the tactical feel of Origins while still maintaining the action of Dragon Age II's combat mechanics.
Inquisition also includes a multiplayer mode this time around, which is completely separate from the single-player campaign. These multiplayer matches are fairly quick runs through short dungeons with you and up to three other players. You pick from a selection of pre-made classes, and you have the opportunity to unlock more class options as you progress. There are also optional microtransactions to buy to help unlock things more quickly. The multiplayer was enjoyable, but I strongly preferred the single-player content. The in-game banter between the generic characters got old quickly, and I heard the same lines repeated multiple times throughout each mission. The multiplayer component lacked the personality of the campaign, which made it less engaging. Overall, the multiplayer doesn't detract from the experience at all, but it doesn't offer anything more than a simple diversion from the campaign.
Bioware has succeeded in reinvigorating the franchise, and I am excited to see where they take future entries. Dragon Age: Inquisition is an incredibly massive and fun game to play. It is gorgeous to look at, and is packed to the brim with fun content that had me playing for hours on end as I tried to complete every objective and snag all the collectibles. Though the story was a bit disappointing, I am excited to see how my choices will carry over into the next installment. It is a fantastic experience that will keep you playing long after the credits have rolled, and should not be missed by any fan of RPGs.
