Summary
- Dragon Age: Dreadwolf will supposedly present a refreshing take on the fantasy genre with its normal protagonist, steering away from chosen one tropes seen in past games.
- BioWare must stay true to its promise of a normal protagonist in Dreadwolf to maintain a unique and creative storytelling approach, as it already changed one normal character into a chosen one with Hawke.
- The potential David vs Goliath narrative in Dreadwolf against Solas and the Evanuris could be hindered by resorting to conventional tropes.
There hasn't been much information revealed for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf as yet. However, in all the trailers and other content for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf that has been released, one thing that BioWare has driven home every time is that the protagonist of the story is going to be someone normal and unremarkable, aka someone who isn't "the chosen one". This is a 180-degree turn from Dragon Age: Inquisition, but Dragon Age has seen a protagonist like this before with Hawke in Dragon Age 2.
Hawke was also marketed as a normal person who was shaped into someone greater by the events around them, but this was redacted in Dragon Age 2: Legacy with the revelation that Hawke's blood was special. With the stakes being so high in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, there is a chance that the protagonist could go the same way, but it's essential that this doesn't happen.
A Normal Protagonist in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
The Warden and Hawke
Normal protagonists are something of a rarity in video games, particularly in RPGs. Many narratives center on a protagonist who stands apart from the crowd, usually with a special ability, bloodline, prophecy, or is tied to the narrative in some way. This was the case in Dragon Age: Origins, where the player character was one of the last two Grey Wardens in Ferelden and one of two people who could defeat the Blight. Dragon Age: Inquisition also had a player character who was singled out as special thanks to the mark on their hand, while many of the people around them thought of them as the Herald of Andraste. It's these special features that place the player character into the story and give them a reason for being involved in world-changing events.
Dragon Age 2 was different in that it was the story of a refugee in a foreign and hostile city. The noble status of Hawke's family no longer mattered, and they had to work from the bottom of the social chain to attain security for their family. They only gained fame thanks to their actions and the connections they had made in their endeavors to improve their life. Unlike the other Dragon Age protagonists, Hawke was completely unremarkable, until it's revealed that Hawke's blood was the key to releasing Corypheus, one of the magisters who entered the Golden City and started the First Blight.
BioWare Needs to Stick to its Promises for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
Hawke's Special Blood
Dragon Age 2: Legacy begins with a cartel of dwarves attempting to kidnap Hawke so that they may take their blood. Tracking the carta leads Hawke and their friends to the Vimmark Mountains outside of Kirkwall. It soon becomes clear that they want to use Hawke's blood to unlock the prison of Corypheus, the ancient darkspawn who eventually becomes the primary antagonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition. This goes completely against the idea of Hawke being a normal person with no special bloodline, and sets them apart simply because they're the child of Malcolm Hawke. It's because of this special bloodline that Corypheus is released, triggering the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Why a Normal Protagonist Matters
With all the emphasis on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's protagonist being normal with no special bloodline, magic hand, or abilities to place them in the story, BioWare has to follow through all the way. This places limitations on the player character in terms of writing opportunities, but such limitations are great for creativity, and the solution BioWare comes up with could be amazing if it remains committed to their promise. With Solas and the Evanuris being such mighty foes, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf could be setting up a David and Goliath-style narrative, and it would be a pity if that is walked back because conventional tropes are easier to write and more appealing to mass audiences.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Frostbite
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is the fourth game in the franchise, serving as a direct sequel to the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Players will attempt to stop Solas from tearing down the Veil, among other possibly major plot points. Its events see players travel to Tevinter, the Anderfels, Rivain, and Antiva.
