Dreaming is one of the most important things we can do as humans. Dreaming allows for an escape, to become something otherworldly, or to learn and grow. With an overarching plotline of being the one who has to restore order to the world and effectively close the rift between Thedas and the Fade, Dragon Age: Inquisition takes an intriguing look into multiple worlds colliding where you as the player can take on the role of the cocky hero, or the humble romantic. With several ways to play this game, a philosophical story, and many people capable of joining your party/the Inquisition, the game takes on a new life. Each time it is played, a new experience is had. The connection to Veilguard, Dragon Age’s most recent installment is tied effectively and effortlessly into inquisition, making loose ends and a painful romance complete and satisfactory. Veilguard also ties back to Inquisition regarding the characters, discussion of texts, and the Elvin gods that sought power and become our main antagonists in Veilguard. Narrative design is so important when crafting a meaningful and impactful world for the player to get lost in. Dragon Age: Inquisition not only approached the story with fervor and excitement, but executed it in a way that, much like a song had variance in tone, feeling, and pacing.
It all makes sense:
The story of Inquisition is incredibly well written; normally I have some critiques of the narrative design but with this title, everything from the story and gears that make it work are so well done. From the characters, to how the story was paced, the locations that were traveled to created, all made this effortless ebb and flow. There were moments in the game, for example where you had to behave a certain way when the inquisitor travels to Orlais. Gaining the favor of the court was the most important part of that area of the game. That section was where I saw things switch up but done so in a way that was cohesive with the story and made sense in regards to the overarching plot of the game. The connection back to Veilguard made me so happy, Varric and his story make so much more sense now, as well as Morrigan, and even Harding. I feel as if I would have had an even better experience had I played Inquisition before playing Veilguard. Veilguard was my first Dragon Age experience, and I enjoyed it so much, but now I see things in it that make how I view the game better because I played Inquisition. The story then was accentuated with a stunning score, one of the most beautiful I’ve ever had in a game. Getting to Skyhold brought me to tears, evoking emotions for a game I never knew I possessed. The clarity that Trevor Morris composed in this section is a masterful execution, bringing emotion and excitement to an incredibly pivotal point in the game.
The saddest romance:
I thought romancing another elf would be a good idea, worst heartbreak in a game I have ever experienced. At first, it was about gaining approval, much like Baldurs Gate 3, but then went into pure emotional devastation; romancing Solas proceeded to teach me a new meaning and emotional layer to feel abandoned. If you’re looking to romance Solas know that he is straight, so he only dates female elves, can come off as a prick sometimes, but is also a very complex character who would rather spend more time in the fade (essentially a lucid dream) than be enveloped in reality.
The Solas romance is continued in Veilguard where you can choose to redeem Solas to a degree. It’s the best ending to get in my view, and it’s one that directly ties to Inquisition. I mentioned it in my previous review where I think that Soals’s character was heavily underutilized in Veilguard, and while I still think that I also now think that he substantially grew as a character in Veilguard. Not in the way we knew him in Inquisition, but as the Dread Wolf, cunning, manipulative, and wanting everything all at once no matter how he behaves.
The mechanics gave me whiplash:
I played the entirety of Dragon Age: Inquisition on PS5, and part of it on PC. The mechanics, graphics, and the way the game ran on both was a night and day experience. The PS5 version had its issues, the occasional crashing, slow spell-casting times, as well as the running being iffy at points. Veilguard spoiled me with amazing mechanics and smooth spellcasting. Playing Inquisition immediately after Veilguard showed me just how far we’ve come technologically in ten years. The PC had more crashes than the PS5, but the PS5 had better-looking graphics than the PC version. The PC version's graphics looked shinier, (See picture below).
The mechanics during bosses especially the Red Lyrium Dragon were a tad annoying, but nothing terrible. Keep in mind that this game is almost eleven years old, so if you’re looking for high-performing mechanics you won't get that here in the same way that Veilguard is. What you will get is a high-performing story and adventuring experience. Even when you heal characters they will still say they require help, which is odd, there are all these little bits and pieces throughout the game that just didn’t make sense. If I’m closing a rift, and its almost closed why have an enemy pop out right underneath me? I get it the game keeps you on your feet but it became a nascence. When it comes to the final mission of the game you will need to level up, I went in the final fight at a level 14, but then soon realized how bad of an idea that was and went around the game and leveled myself up to a 16. Cause and effect: Dragon Age inquisition is undoubtedly one of the best games I’ve ever played, it’s like I got stuck in the fade, a beautiful whimsical world capable of anything. Much like a lot of RPG’s you can be anyone you choose, Dragon Age: Inquisition, while pushing you towards the nobler path, understands that humans of all creeds and walks of life play their games, so you have the chance to be good, to be a jerk, to be morally grey, all while closing the rift between Thedas and the Fade. This game captures beautifully a character lying to themselves and everyone around them, Solas was spending so much of his life in the fade, that the person he is portraying to the inquisitor was a lie built on hope. There is so much to this game, so many choices that are incredibly meaningful to the story, and so many points of interest that I firmly believe it would take several playthroughs to see all of it. Whether it’s traveling into the fade, closing rifts, hearing Varrics witty one-liners, or experiencing a moral dilemma, Dragon Age: Inquisition teaches us that reality is much better than living in the fade.
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