The general consensus of Dragon Age II was disappointment. BioWare can’t miss the mark with the next entry in the franchise…right?
Out of all the games we’ve previewed thus far, Dragon Age III is one we know the least about. We do, however, know that it will probably be more of an open world type of game, have multiplayer, and and all new protagonist. But most importantly, the game won’t be rushed. There was a mere 16 month gap between the first two Dragon Age games, something that showed as you played through Dragon Age II, not to mention that the game felt less RPG and more like an action title. Sure, you could say the same about the Mass Effect franchise as it progressed, but the heart of the universe was in effect; I felt like I was playing an entirely different game with Dragon Age II.
BioWare has a chance to make up for their faults, and if I was a betting man, I’d say that they will rise to the challenge. The tease of a title that features more of an open world gives us hope to enjoy the exploring that went on in Dragon Age: Origins. Sadly, with the return of our hero being fully voiced, I doubt we’ll return to the original’s set up of various races/genders to choose for your character, but one from hope.
Being the third entry into a franchise, Dragon Age III has a common desire from me: find what works from the first two games and combine them. It sounds so easy on paper, yet it’s something that doesn’t always happen. Yet, if BioWare can deliver an action experience with deep RPG roots, fans will undoubtedly be pleased.
Here’s what I’m expecting:
– The traditional BioWare dialogue set up and deep character development.
– A bloody, gruesome, action experience with plenty of tactical scenarios during combat, catering to both the strategy and hack n’ slash crowd.
– A linear story in a non-linear world; BioWare wants to tell their story, but they’ll want you to explore their world in any manner of your choosing.
If all three of these components come together, it’ll be a job well done. We’ll see how the game is shaping up soon enough.
