Summary
- Dragon Age: Dreadwolf will feature Antiva, Rivain, Tevinter, and the Anderfels, expanding the game's world and showcasing diverse cultures and people.
- The threat in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, whether from Solas or someone else, will be on a larger scale that requires the different nations to come together.
- BioWare needs to ensure that the open world in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is filled with meaningful content and side quests to create a fully immersive and engaging experience.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf was long-bound for Tevinter. Since the end of Trespasser, the map of Thedas with the zoom-in on Tevinter, and the Inquisitor's declaration that they needed to "find people that he (Solas) doesn't know", it'd been a given for a long time that Tevinter would be the next destination for Dragon Age. And, while many were excited to see Tevinter at last, many other nations in Thedas have yet to be featured in a Dragon Age game. The Dragon Age Day trailer, Thedas Calls, changed everything for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.
The trailer was just 48 seconds long and featured a combination of in-game footage and cinematics. The trailer moved away from Tevinter entirely, instead featuring Antiva, Rivain, and Weisshaupt in the Anderfels. The move to these nations was not entirely unexpected, but the confirmation of a variety of several anticipated locations has changed Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's potential.
New Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Trailer Teases Possible Companions
BioWare releases a new trailer for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf that focuses on locations and people fans have not met, likely hinting at a companion or two.
Thedas as a Living World in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
The Real-World Inspiration for The Dragon Age Setting
While the first three games in the Dragon Age series had settings that were interesting thanks to their political, magic, and religious systems and cultures, they were still inspired by Northern and Western European countries such as England and France, and typical of the fantasy genre. Ferelden and Orlais, the two countries depicted in Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition, in particular, were heavily drawn from English and French history and tradition, with any cultural diversity coming from visitors to the respective countries. Dragon Age 2 featured Kirkwall, which was a departure from these two nations but was still heavily influenced by Northern Europe.
A New World for Dragon Age
The expansion into other nations and cultures will make Thedas feel like a living continent, with different cultures and people. This is especially important for a narrative that's about saving the new world that Solas inadvertently created when he created the Veil. With different climates and cultures, Antiva, Rivain, the Anderfels, and Tevinter will be more effective at showcasing a diverse world with places to discover and characters to meet around every corner.
Establishing the Threat in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
A Parallel to The Warden's Quest
Expanding the world in this way makes Thedas more exciting, but it also makes the threat of the Veil's collapse, or the rise of the Evanuris, more dire. While the threat of the Breach in Dragon Age: Inquisition threatened all of Thedas, it largely felt contained to a small corner of Ferelden and Orlais rather than an entire continent. As all the different factions in Dragon Age: Origins came together against the Fifth Blight, so the different nations may come together in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to stand against whatever threat arises, whether that be Solas or the being behind the mysterious voice in the trailer. The scale of the response needs to match the scale of the threat, and including a multitude of nations is exactly what Dragon Age: Dreadwolf may need to drive it home.
BioWare Needs to Get Their Open Worlds Right
In order to not be shallow, Thedas needs to be big, but the gameplay areas open for exploration cannot be empty, which became a common criticism for some of the areas in Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect: Andromeda. These areas need to be filled with meaningful side quests that bring life to the world, merchants, NPCs that players will care about, and stories that will be remembered. With a focused approach that emphasizes storytelling and worldbuilding, expanding Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to include four nations could be one of the best decisions yet.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.
Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- RPG
