It’s been practically a decade since I first skilled the cliffhanger of Dragon Age: Inquisition’s Trespasser DLC. The anticipation for Dragon Age: Veilguard has been simmering in my thoughts ever since. Watching the current trailers and gameplay reveals has reignited my pleasure, but in addition my concern.
BioWare must make the stakes excessive sufficient in Dragon Age: Veilguard to actually have interaction me and different followers. With out high-risk penalties, the narrative might fall flat. My love for the collection stems from its skill to immerse me in a world the place each determination feels monumental, and I hope Veilguard will carry again that depth.
Excessive Stakes, Excessive Rewards
BioWare’s earlier video games, significantly Dragon Age: Origins, set a excessive bar for storytelling. Beginning the collection with a world-threatening occasion just like the Blight meant that you simply have been instantly thrown right into a high-stakes surroundings. Each determination felt vital, and the load of these selections stored me deeply invested within the sport.
Dragon Age 2 had its personal challenges. The sport usually felt prefer it was pushing us into an artificially heightened mages versus the world state of affairs. It was baffling to see practically each mage, besides my Hawke, resort to blood magic. Regardless of the contrived nature of the battle, I nonetheless recognize the builders’ effort to create an intense, high-stakes narrative that led us into Inquisition.
Elevating the Stakes
Inquisition started with a bang, making the world really feel genuinely apocalyptic. The Breach, the destruction of the Chantry, Orlais in civil struggle, and Ferelden nonetheless recovering from the Blight—all contributed to a way of impending doom. Nevertheless, as the sport progressed, the risk posed by Corypheus diminished. His repeated losses made him really feel much less menacing, and the ultimate battle was disappointingly anticlimactic.
The setup for Dreadwolf suggests even increased stakes. Solas’s plan to tear down the Veil may unleash unimaginable chaos. Whereas we will solely theorize in regards to the precise penalties, they have to convincingly painting the hazard. The writers must keep away from making it really feel toothless, as occurred with Corypheus. Inquisition’s opening was sturdy, however the decision felt underwhelming.
Furthermore, the principle character typically appeared disconnected from the central dilemma. As an illustration, a Qunari Inquisitor confirmed no response to the dying of their whole mercenary band on the Conclave. The Mage-Templar struggle, a big occasion in DA2, was resolved too shortly and with little fanfare in Inquisition.
Inquisition did have moments of excessive stakes, resembling deciding whether or not to sacrifice Hawke or Stroud within the Fade. Nevertheless, it usually lacked the gut-wrenching selections seen in Mass Impact. Veilguard must reintroduce these intense choices to maintain you on edge and make the story extra participating.
Loss of life and Reward
When watching Veilguard’s gameplay reveal, I questioned in regards to the destiny of Varric, a staple character all through the collection. Within the footage, Rook, the brand new customizable hero, brings down a statue, probably ruining Solas’s plans. Varric’s trusty bow, Bianca, is shattered, elevating the query: is Varric on the chopping block? As a lot as I’d hate that, such excessive stakes will drive me ahead in Veilguard. It’s these dangers that make subsequent playthroughs thrilling and worthwhile.
The video games, for my part, have grow to be a bit safer. Inquisition and Mass Impact Andromeda, BioWare’s final two single-player video games, didn’t push the envelope sufficient. Whereas Inquisition had some dangers, like characters doubtlessly leaving your social gathering, they weren’t as impactful. Andromeda’s stakes felt much less vital, with crew disagreements resolved too simply.
Dragon Age: Veilguard should return to high-risk penalties to recapture the magic of earlier BioWare titles. The anticipation and concern of what would possibly occur to beloved characters and the world of Thedas ought to hold us all on the sting of our seats. In spite of everything, it’s the excessive stakes that make the journey memorable and the victories actually satisfying.
