Summary
A good fantasy game is defined by both a compelling story and intricate world-building, and it’s these things that always made theDragon Agefranchise stand out among RPGs. It also stands out among fantasy series for a more unusual reason: although there is plot continuity, the hero, the companions, the setting, and the main problem are different in each title. The choice to disassociate from each predecessor presents some obvious pitfalls, like the absence of some familiar faces or subplots. That said, this approach also allowed for unparalleled creative freedom. The Thedas fans know and love showcases a far richer tapestry of cultures, people, and metaphysics than it otherwise could have if every story had to end with a formulaic Blight to defeat or Breach to seal.
There are decided creative and narrative benefits that work well for cRPGs, sidestepping the inevitable problem roleplaying games with enough tenure face in having to weave together too many narrative branches. Four games in,Dragon Ageheld to a pattern where the importance of the preceding game’s choices outweighed older ones by putting time and distance between the plots. More importantly for a unique epic fantasy with a lot of immediate potential, the scope of Thedas can be much larger and farther-reaching by letting the main problem of each game flourish independently. It’s as though the events of each title were organically part of the same world by happenstance, building on one another but thriving independently of each other, and only loosely related chronologically.
7The Untold Stories That Are Told
Disconnected Plots Of An Endless Story
Dragon Agedoesn’t leave plot holes, it weaves mysteries and legends. Any subplots or characters that didn’t go anywhere become unique features of a title, and the possibility and hope always remain that they will resurface. By allowing the setting of each title to live and breathe without explaining itself, players never know what’s important because everything could be.Veilguardpacks a lot of detail into one game, and like its predecessors, it stilldidn’t address many beloved details. But this only makes the case for a newDragon Age.
Not expecting immediate answers to questions posed early in the franchise allowed the world of Thedas to expand and grow more colorful with each game, the most memorable events and discoveries of one game becoming the background world events for the next game’s main plot.Veilguardutilizes the heaviest of these narrative trimmings from the previous games, but it is a tool its predecessors also used in more localized ways. However, this is the first time inDragon Agethat a title goes back to the beginning and takes stock ofthe most world-shaking lorethe franchise has.
6Unbound By Chronological Structure
The Plot Doesn’t Have To Conform To Achieve Continuity
This might not seem like an advantage at first, but breaking away from the monumental events of each previous game means that choices made in them have a narrative distance to account for different paths taken. Circling back to major plot points is still part ofthe creative ethos of the series, as first seen in how the fallout of the Blight and the intriguing Mage-Templar conflict first revealed inOriginsbecomes central toDragon Age 2’splot. Those events lead to the Conclave, launchingInquisition’sstory. Meanwhile, the segue intoVeilguardtakesInquisition’sdramatic ending as the foundation of the game’s focus on unraveling every ancient mystery the franchise has.
Naturally, this detached structure has its downsides, as noted by many fans who hoped for a return to the Dragon Age Keep, where a myriad of player choices are recorded from three games. Still, moving the story to a new location with a new ensemble circumvents the need to retcon those choices, and the major outcomes are generally remembered and remarked upon. Meanwhile, the precise details of how those heroes saved Thedas remain confined to the title telling their story. This makes eachDragon Agegame aunique experience similar to but unlike the rest.
5The Never Before Seen
Each Game Shows A New Corner Of Thedas
Without being forced to live up to specific events established by previous heroes, every corner of Thedas could have a game of its own to explore its diverse cultures without overshadowing each other. Sten is an intriguingfirst iteration of Qunari, and the mystery of his character fueled a huge arc ofDragon Age 2’splot. ByInquisition, the Qunari are a playable race. Zevran’s Antiva is a distant place with wonders and darkness to contend with by description, and various Crow interactions become classic moments in the franchise. Meanwhile, a Crow Rook shows a different experience while recognizing the Antiva of players’ imaginations.
Aside from exploring new cultures through a new hero’s personal story, the culturesDragon Agesequels explore are all familiar to varying degrees because of established lore. Fans have had plenty of reasons to feel curious about what life is like in the homeland of unforgettable characters like Leliana, Zevran, Fenris, Isabela, Dorian, and so many others, and everyDragon Agereveals more of Thedas to players to satisfy this curiosity. Not to mention that each new game introduces new favorite places and cultures fans will want to explore.
4The Power Is In The Details
The Answers Were Winking At Players All Along
In a setting as rich as Thedas, it’s at times hard to see just how intertwined the games truly are until players take into account a wealth of details. Ferelden had a distinct charm to it, and Kirkwall was a fascinating contrast.InquisitionandVeilguardboth build on everything known but not yet seen. The more players learn about Thedas, the moreDragon Agelore and cultures evolve into solid settings. Meanwhile, fascinating and deepening secrets are hinted at along the way, and figuring out the relevance of seemingly innocuous background details is a big part of what brings Thedas alive for its fans.
One of the best reasons for a fresh slate in the story is the ability to lift out those settings, from Orlais and Tevinter,fan-favorite characters like Varricor Sandal, and other Thedas-specific fascinations, and run with them in the nextDragon Age. Granted,InquisitionandVeilguardstand apart in this respect, having a symphony of a plot to complete between them. Still,Veilguardgoes to places players have heard about sinceOrigins, such as the legendary Arlathan, Antiva, and Weisshaupt, to name a few.
3Many Heroes With Many Origins
It’s Time To Be Someone From Somewhere Else
Grey Wardens began the story inOrigins, and they have a unique perspective on Thedas and within that Ferelden, a rich setting in a larger world full of secrets.Dragon Age 2is set in the Free Marches, and although Hawke is from Lothering, this time the emphasis is onmaking a life and fixing a placethat was determined to be broken in Kirkwall. ByInquisition, players had whetted an appetite to move beyond the confines of a single location, and it delivered a War Table full of places to explore.
Dragon Agealways played on themysterious heritage of playable heroes, and what skills they bring to the table has always mattered in a traditional sense.Veilguardexplores Thedas through factions known and new, allowing players to explore an aspect of Thedas that is more rooted in the institutions and societies fans are already acquainted with, while players can mix and match Rook’s heritage and profession in new ways. Meanwhile, new backgrounds, societal norms, and identities continue to enhance the experience along the way by giving fans a taste of cultures so far only represented by a handful of excellent characters.
2The Unspeakable That Was Spoken
Exploring Diversity In Thedas Nets A Conversation About Diversity
Dragon Ageis no stranger to pioneering representation, and each title widens the field of view a few characters at a time. The positive effects of Thedas’ diversity are undeniable. Many fans fell in love with the franchise because these were among the few games of their respective times that made it easier to see themselves. That said, and arguably at the risk of tokenism, there were limits on what kind of representation each title explored. The context of each game’s respective era also plays a part in which identities were represented and how. As with eachDragon Agebefore it, the identitiesVeilguardshines a light on are relevant to the times.
This doesn’t mean that the one-time option to transition and/orlearn about non-binary identitiesand overtly neurodivergent companions is at the expense of the gripping overarching story. Where these themes are present, the exploration ofgender identity is autonomously about the given character.Dragon Agestill could explore more, butVeilguardmakes its unique contribution to the franchise’s existing pattern of evolving forms of solidarity, and it’s made possible by the ample narrative space a clean slate represents.
1Every Dragon Age Is Unique
Thedas Is Both A Dark & Colorful Place
Despite being installments of one franchise, the unifying traits ofDragon Agegames have never been pigeonholed or turned into a blueprint. Instead, the lore, the monumental events, and the work of each unique hero facing many difficult choices are woven into a larger pattern of lost history that is so emblematic of the franchise. The Hero of Ferelden, the Champion of Kirkwall, and the Inquisitoreach have plenty to deal withwithout having to steal the thunder from the hero following their footsteps.
ByVeilguard, some of the deepest mysteries of the lore converge into Rook’s task, but the story builds on every previous hero’s broader actions. That’s not to say thatVeilguarddidn’t give fans any closure, and it’snot just Solas fans. That said, although the cameos of the game are among its highlights, many beloved characters didn’t appear, and many subplots were left behind in Southern Thedas. In part, this can be attributed to the overt continuity of picking up roughly whereInquisitionleft off. Still, in the finestDragon Agetradition,Veilguarddoesn’t aim to be anything but its unique slice of Thedas history.
