Netflix's Dragon Age: Absolution debuted its first trailer, so fans of the series are sure to be excited for the animated television adaptation. After years of relative silence, Dragon Age is coming back with a vengeance, with Absolution fast approaching and the highly anticipated fourth entry into the series, Dreadwolf set to arrive in 2024.
Fans eager for these two projects might feel compelled to revisit the extant games. However, replaying them means facing some harsh truths. After all, Origins is more than a decade old. From issues with plotting and pacing to characterizations, not everything about Dragon Age will feel as good as they did the first time around.
Dragon Age Has Tons Of Unnecessary Content
RPG games need to fill tons of hours of content, so it makes sense that they create sprawling worlds full of side quests, characters, and locations. However, there comes a point when so much content overwhelms, taking away from the overall gaming experience.
Dragon Age faces this issue, especially in Inquisition. Missions and character-specific quests are incredible, but when every new location has a quest about taking flowers to a woman's grave or scattering a dead man's ashes over a cliff, things become unnecessarily annoying.
Dragon Age II Is Mediocre
It's not uncommon for the first game in a series to be the best. Indeed, Dragon Age: Origins is full of important choices, compelling characters, and an engrossing story, making it one of the all-time best RPGs. It set the bar unbelievably high, and Dragon Age II didn't live up to its predecessor.
It's not a bad game by any measure. However, it is full of misguided storytelling choices and features a confining setting that traps the player in an incredibly uninteresting city. Dragon Age II is more mediocre than outright bad, but the many missed opportunities make it a frustrating game to replay.
Solas Is Obviously A Bad Guy
Dragon Age: Inquisition's big twist comes at the end. Solas, who's been there since the Inquisition's inception, is actually Fen'Harel, an ancient trickster elven god with a dubious reputation. He plans to tear down the Veil and uses the Inquisition as a tool to fix his mistakes and set his plan in motion.
The reveal took many by surprise. However, replaying the game means realizing that all the signs were there from the start. From his unclear background to his many cryptic comments at crucial points in the game, Solas is basically a walking red flag. Still, Solas isn't as bad as video game fans think, making him a fascinating antagonist for the upcoming Dragon Age: Dradwolf.
Corypheus Is Not A Good Villain
Although Solas is the mastermind behind Inquisition's events, the fallen magister Corypheus acts as the game's primary villain. He has a great design, wonderful dialog enhanced by a perfect performance from David Sterne, and an interesting motive for his villainy.
However, Corypheus' plans fall apart in the game's third act. Inquisition's ending is flawed and rushed, and Corypheus pays the ultimate price for the game's shortcomings. His boss battle is among the worst in modern gaming, and his inevitable demise feels shockingly anti-climactic. Corypheus is great for the first two-thirds of the game, but an unearned and mediocre ending tarnishes his reputation considerably.
The Mage-Templar War Is The More Interesting Conflict
Some of the best video games aren't afraid to discuss social issues. The Dragon Age series is the perfect example, exploring themes of intolerance, bigotry, religious fanatism, duty, systemic oppression, and class divide within a fantasy world.
The conflict between the mages and templars frames the action in Dragon Age ii and serves as the starting point for Inquisition. It is a compelling and interesting clash that involves everyone in Thedas and provides more context into this fascinating world. It's arguably far more intriguing than Corypheus and Solas' plans to tear down the Veil, and the series could've explored it more. Instead, it gets unceremoniously resolved during Inquisition, allowing the usual fantasy fare to take over.
The Inquisitor Is Bland
The Warden from Dragon Age: Origins is one of the all-time best video game protagonists. They have an interesting backstory, and their relationships with their companions are complex and engaging. For all its flaws, Dragon Age II also excels in the protagonist department, thanks to the instantly likable Hawke.
However, the Inquisitor from Inquisition falls a tad short of their predecessors. It's not like the Inquisitor is a bad protagonist, but they're not as layered as the Warden and Hawke. The Inquisitor's main issue is their blandness and lack of memorability. Everyone in the game shines more than them, which becomes more apparent with each new replay.
The Grey Wardens Really Are Corrupt
The Grey Wardens are Thedas' unlikely heroes. They protect the continent from the Blight and its dangers, fighting against demons and abominations and acting as the sole defense against Archdemons. They are necessary for Thedas' survival, and the continent owes them an unpayable debt.
Even so, they are far from perfect. Inquisition proves how corruptible they are and how far they're willing to go to fulfill their duty. Their ultimate fate is in the Inquisitor's hands, and it's one of the most important choices in Dragon Age: Inquisition. As hard as it is to admit, the Wardens are corrupt, and vanishing them might not be the worst idea. They are blinded by their vows and would willingly set the world on fire if it meant stopping the Blight.
Dragon Age's Romance Is Not That Great
Romance is a huge part of the Dragon Age series and does an incredible job overall. Some of gaming's most memorable relationships happen in Thedas, whether the Warden's romances with Morrigan and Alistair or the Inquisitor's partnerships with Dorian and Iron Bull.
Not everything is perfect, though, and some stories get the short end of the writing stick. The relationships with Sebastian, Merril, Josephine, and Sera feel rushed and almost incomplete like the writers didn't care enough about them to make them as compelling as the other options. It's a shame because these are all interesting characters but are let down by the underwhelming writing.
Dragon Age's Characters Are Full Of Prejudices
The Dragon Age series ranks among BioWare's all-time best video games because of its many riveting and complicated characters. They exist in a tough world, meaning they must develop certain skills to survive. Most are unremorseful killers, but they work within Thedas' context.
Their circumstances also impact their mindset, explaining why so many are absurdly prejudiced. Characters like Sera, Vivienne, Anders, and Morrigan all have horribly distorted views of the world and aren't afraid to show them. However, nearly every companion has at least one controversial opinion about another race or class in Thedas. Not everyone is a bigot, but no one sees eye to eye, explaining why the continent is such a mess.
Dragon Age Is Quite Brutal
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The world of Dragon Age is ruthless and unrelenting. People die every day, demons roam the earth, and bandits and looters terrorize the roads. The strong prey on the weak, making Thedas a volatile and unsafe place for anyone who doesn't know how to wield a sword.
The heroes in the games are no better. The Warden, Hawke, and the Inquisitor are cold-blooded killers who use and manipulate people. Dragon Age's RPG system means players can indulge in their worst behaviors and shape Thedas for the worst, making it even worse than it initially was, and that's saying something.
Source:gamerant.com