The Dragon Age: Inquisition Thread

[Nahel]

There are enough blue whales to maintain them in business sadly.
Even if they are just a shell nowadays.

 

[pippin]

Oh no, Bioware needs to survive. That way, EA will think they have the RPG market "covered".
If not, they will look for another company to fulfill this work. And they will go for Obsidian next.

 

[cvv]

I'd love to see the DLC sales numbers. Can't prove it but the minimal attention in the media and the LP scene, compared with the commotion Bioware DLCs usually stirred, tells me nobody really gives a shit about Dragon Age anymore. Gaider completely razed this IP, raked it smooth and sowed with salt. Nothing marginally decent will grow on this patch of land ever again.

A bit of a shame really, I kindda liked DAO and I extracted some fun even from DA2. But DAI was just a complete fiasco.

 

[stray]

Oh no, Bioware needs to survive. That way, EA will think they have the RPG market "covered".
If not, they will look for another company to fulfill this work. And they will go for Obsidian next.

It's sad that I trust EA more than a dev studio.

I just think they're a miscalculating behemoth that doesn't know better. That they have no agenda in their own right. Other than making money.

 

[pippin]

EA was always like that, it's just that 20 years ago devs were better.
They want safety in their numbers, so they won't be betting on weird projects or niche games. Oddly enough, Ubisoft does that sometimes, but then again, they are french. They have a reputation to uphold.

 

[Roguey]

To paraphrase Volourn, people have been claiming Bioware's demise is inevitable for over a decade now and yet they're still here.

 

[stray]

EA was always like that, it's just that 20 years ago devs were better.
They want safety in their numbers, so they won't be betting on weird projects or niche games. Oddly enough, Ubisoft does that sometimes, but then again, they are french. They have a reputation to uphold.

Well, the problem is easy to solve if they want safety.

I think they're just blinded by a false SJW narrative that "gamers are dead".

But they are not dead. The gamers are a huge crowd of typical guys who want to roleplay warriors for the most part, and enacting typical boyhood dreams. Kick ass, get the girl, swing a big ass sword around. The Safety in Numbers is right in their fucking face. That, and girls like the Alistair and Cullen fans. Mostly chicks who like playing humans and romancing honorable/pretty boy human types. Probably housewives who read harlequin romances. That's their biggest crowd.

It might sound "boring", but that's safety in numbers. They're smart enough to at least market this way. But the writers themselves go against the grain... not believing they need to build around this. That somehow they can make up for the loss with the fags, Solas/Twilight types, midget, and bestiality fans.

 

[pippin]

AAA devs don't give a fuck about Gamergate, because it simply does not affect them. They cater to audiences which probably don't even know what Gamergate is in the first place. Bioware is more of a PR machine for them, since footage from Mass Effect was practically half of that Hate Is Not A Game video they did years ago (before GG). The other half was The Sims. And they did that because some good PR was desperately needed after being outed as the Worst American Company for a number of years in a row.

I don't think EA is too worried about Bioware right now, though. They still make most of their money out of FIFA and the eternal Sims expansions, and they already have the "boys" and "girls" markets covered with those franchises. ME3 was probably the most dangerous PR scandal Bioware has ever faced in their EA period, and they still managed to survive that, so I don't think they have too many problems other than having their old members becoming too bored and old for a competitive AAA environment.

 

[stray]

AAA devs don't give a fuck about Gamergate, because it simply does not affect them. They cater to audiences which probably don't even know what Gamergate is in the first place. Bioware is more of a PR machine for them, since footage from Mass Effect was practically half of that Hate Is Not A Game video they did years ago (before GG). The other half was The Sims. And they did that because some good PR was desperately needed after being outed as the Worst American Company for a number of years in a row.

I don't think EA is too worried about Bioware right now, though. They still make most of their money out of FIFA and the eternal Sims expansions, and they already have the "boys" and "girls" markets covered with those franchises. ME3 was probably the most dangerous PR scandal Bioware has ever faced in their EA period, and they still managed to survive that, so I don't think they have too many problems other than having their old members becoming too bored and old for a competitive AAA environment.

In any case, they lost a customer (namely, me) who was willingly to ignore the bullshit before. Somehow this game finally set me off. And when I look at other "dudebro" types, it's the same thing. They were willing to give this a chance even after ME3, but got annoyed just as much.

Here's hoping that's an actual pattern, and not isolated. That they're now losing the male fans that were willing to give the benefit of the doubt (when places like this with more hardcore rpg'ers abandoned them long before).

 

[Atlantico]

To paraphrase Volourn, people have been claiming Bioware's demise is inevitable for over a decade now and yet they're still here.

That's true. Final Fantasy still exists more than a decade after Squeenix ran that IP to the ground. Though in a sense, Bioware is dead and has been for a decade, there's just something wearing its name that's alive.

 

[Roguey]

Though in a sense, Bioware is dead and has been for a decade, there's just something wearing its name that's alive.

I doubt you ever saw eye to eye with Bioware if BG was the only series you liked.

 

[stray]

I only want them to be dead. I doubt they are close yet though.

I don't expect people at Reddit (at least the ones I can see) or BSN to hate them, but the response of some gamers is a good start at least. These DLCs aren't making much of an impression either.

 

[Infinitron]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-11-dragon-age-inquisition-trespasser-review

Dragon Age Inquisition: Trespasser review

Trespasser is a fitting finale for this chapter of the Dragon Age series and an enticing prologue for what may come next.

Endings are difficult - but then, BioWare already knows this. After the mess of Mass Effect 3, the developer played things safe with the finale of Dragon Age Inquisition. That guy you were trying to stop for pretty much the whole game? Well, you stopped him. There was a boss fight, you won, you got cheered home. Everything was tied up pretty neatly - except, of course, for that post-credits stinger.

It's worth noting that while this review will avoid spoiling the major story beats of Trespasser itself, it would be impossible to talk about the add-on without discussing the main game's ending. Trespasser is a proper epilogue to Inquisition's story, BioWare's final send off to this chapter of the series' narrative, and you are required to have finished the main game's campaign in order to even begin the DLC.

Trespasser picks up the story some two years after the main game's end. This gap in time allows for your followers to have found new places in Dragon Age's post-Corypheus world, and many of their roles will depend on the choices you made during Inquisition itself. Who takes on the role of the Pope-like Divine, for example, and who makes an appearance at all depends upon the characters that you chose to keep around in your own playthrough.

The fact that Trespasser is separated from the main game time-wise (you have to agree to leave Skyhold behind and abandon any open quests when you are ready to start) allows BioWare to tell a story exploring the aftermath of its traditional 'save the world' ending trope, and to do so with plenty of narrative freedom. The final fate of many characters - as well as the Inquisition itself - is decided by your actions. And, in some cases, characters can get very definitive endings.

That green thing on your arm? You should probably get that checked out.

BioWare has made no secret of the fact that Trespasser also - finally - includes the return of Solas, your strangely knowledgeable elf companion who left your party at the end of Inquisition. The game's post-credits scene revealed Solas' true identity to be the feared ancient god Fen'Harel, otherwise known as the Dread Wolf, who had been actually been following a secret and altogether fairly questionable agenda behind your back for the entire game. Fans have been waiting for more answers ever since, and their absence in previous add-ons (set during the main game) has been something of bugbear.

Solas' presence in Trespasser is largely that of the agent behind its events, which see the Inquisition dealing with a surprise invasion by the horned Qunari. At the same time, the Inquisition must also attend a political summit designed to neuter or disband the organisation now it has served its original world-saving purpose. Two years is enough time that the gratitude of Dragon Age's world powers has now waned, to be replaced instead by suspicion and distrust. And while the Inquisition you founded was built on noble intentions, Trespasser forces you to consider the consequences of having an all-powerful organisation hanging around that could become manipulated and used for other means.

Trespasser's final plot thread centres on the Inquisitor themselves, who has now lived with the magical power they were accidentally granted for some time. Sadly for them, it turns out that having huge amounts of magical energy implanted in your hand does not boost your life expectancy. This, and all of the other story threads, are woven together into a satisfying story seeped in Dragon Age lore. And, before it's all over, BioWare even manages to set up where the series could continue in the future.

Ah, Cassandra. From cold-hearted commander to a close companion. Sniff.

Moving the Inquisitor away from Skyhold means that you now have a temporary base of operations in the grounds of Orlais' Winter Palace, the site of the aforementioned political summit. It is here that you will return between story missions, and where all of your followers will be too so you can go catch up. Just like in Citadel, Mass Effect 3's final DLC, Trespasser treats fans to many new moments with the characters they have grown fond of. Each of your followers and advisors have new scenes with the Inquisitor, several fan-favourite minor characters return and - of course - you can continue to progress your Inquisitor's romance plotline, if that is your thing.

The missions themselves see the Inquisitor negotiating the Escher-like world of the Crossroads, a mix of broken worlds first glimpsed in the main game through the mysterious Eluvian mirror. There are plenty of Qunari to fight, several tough boss challenges to beat and a new armoury of weapons and gear to acquire. And, whether you buy Trespasser or not, BioWare has added a wardrobe of new clothes for wearing while off-duty, along with a handy method of saving gear for use in a fresh Inquisition playthrough - essentially unlocking a New Game Plus.

Endings are difficult, but Trespasser shows that BioWare can get them right. The DLC is allowed to tell its own tale while better rounding off Inquisition's own, and at the same time set up story threads for the future. It acts as a fitting farewell to its cast of characters but also a prologue to where the Dragon Age world may head next. Following something as assured as Trespasser, the next Dragon Age game is now a much more enticing prospect.

 

[stray]

Anytime I see a DAI review, I just end up thinking of the writer of it more than the game itself.

It's written for a specific type of person. While I think the game is insulting my intelligence at it's most fundamental levels. Like watching a Dane Cook stand up routine or something. Or listening to Nickelback. I'm so out of place.

 

[AetherVagrant]

Its just Kingdom of Amalur: Inquisition.

lost the spirit and mechanics that made the first one of the best console rpgs ever.

and the second one of the best console action-adventures ever.

but the third kept all the shit of both, but neither of what made them great (or just acceptable). it does plenty of things right, but they arent important things. just like Amalur looked and sounded and even played great at first....but it came from a shit studio and a shit writer.

how i thought the faggot who came up with Drizzt as his magnum opus could even contribute positively to a good game is beyond me. I was hoping his skill had developed over the years. but still RL stine for fantasyfags.

 

[Xor]

lost the spirit and mechanics that made the first one of the best console rpgs ever.

and the second one of the best console action-adventures ever.

 

[AetherVagrant]

im sorry. but there's been plenty rpg goodness for pc. not for consoles. da:O was the best console rpg to come out in a long time. DA2 was "good for what it was" if you werent expecting more Pcmasterrace-goodness. but it was more like a 3d adventure game with limited rpg elements. it still told a good story like any adventure game should.

inquisition was the worst of both worlds, and no amount of updated txt will take away my love of the first two and hatred of the third.

 

[eremita]

Looks like Arcane Warrior (melee mage) is back. Yep, Jedis confirmed. I guess it's kind of cool they're still diversing the gameplay post realase in form of patches... There are rumors of Warrior-Rogue hybrid...


Also, more impressions from continuous playing of this controversial (for me) game: The combat gets better on higher levels, because player has more options (more skills and cross class skills). But in the end, it's never gonna be anything other than rolling few cooldowns and reducing GIGANTIC (on nightmare difficulty) HP bloat. There are some strategical elemets, like positioning (which is bad, because the movement and reactions are clunky as fuck - DA2 did this right, it was dynamic and responsive, DAI feels like DAO in this regard) and using abilities at the right time (dispelling enemy mages, using your guard-effective abilities for heavily protected targets, using shield wall for attacks that would throw you away etc., of course, people used to hard counters and bg-esque diversity and complexity will laugh at this), but it's miles away from being considered "good"...

 

[Infinitron]

Hey, looks like Bioware is making GOTY Editions again:



Coming October 6.

 

[pippin]

That was quick. I guess they don't want anything interrupting the momentum for Andromeda.

 

[Roguey]

Depending on the cost I may end up playing this before Pillars.

Also this confirms that DAI was more of a success than DA2 (which had no retailer interest in a DLC-collecting edition)

Edit:


Haha yeah, I'm waiting.

 

[Infinitron]

Also this confirms that DAI was more of a success than DA2

Not exactly a revelation.

Question is, why didn't the MEs get one.

 

[Roguey]

Not exactly a revelation.

Sure are a lot of Bioware antifans who totally swear that each release is more of a failure than the last and just you wait, the next one will kill the company.

Question is, why didn't the MEs get one.

My likely-correct guess is that selling the DLC individually is lucrative, and a cheap bundle would put an end to that.

They included all three games in a trilogy pack for cheap, but not a single piece of post-ME DLC on 'em.

 

[pippin]

Well according to the prices I see in Origin right now, buying the base game, the item DLCs and the story DLCs should cost you 66 dollars. Not that much of a difference to be truly relevant.
ME games never got GOTY editions because they follow the Bioware Points bullshit for PC. They said they were going to drop that "in the future", but that's apparently not going to happen. Also, the Points never go on sale... or at least they did once, but never again. It's infuriating, but luckly you can buy DLCs with regular money, like it should be.

 

[Infinitron]

Well according to the prices I see in Origin right now, buying the base game, the item DLCs and the story DLCs should cost you 66 dollars. Not that much of a difference to be truly relevant.
ME games never got GOTY editions because they follow the Bioware Points bullshit for PC. They said they were going to drop that "in the future", but that's apparently not going to happen. Also, the Points never go on sale... or at least they did once, but never again. It's infuriating, but luckly you can buy DLCs with regular money, like it should be.

They have dropped them already with this game...