231 réponses à ce sujet

[Revan Reborn]

Dragon Age Inquisition is BioWare's epic third installment in the Dragon Age franchise. It is also likely BioWare's most successful Dragon Age title because of fan service rather than any actual, original substance. Why? Do you ask? This is primarily a story about companions, side characters, and advisors, not the Inquisitor.

 

I'd just like to preface this isn't an attack of BioWare's method with respect to DAI, but rather an analysis of why so many fans, especially those who played DAO and DAII, enjoyed DAI. It was after over 120 hours of play time that I realized why DAI was so entertaining to me. It wasn't because of the Inquisitor, the Inquisition, or anything remotely tied to the main story, but primarily reasons I had experienced previously in the Dragon Age franchise.

 

Leliana. Hawke. Cassandra. Morrigan. Flemeth. Varric. Dagna. It was familiar characters such as these, due to my playthroughs in DAO and DAII that brought credence and legitimacy to my world in Dragon Age Inquisition. They made the game entertaining, memorable, engaging, and kept my attention.

 

Corypheus, who was also familiar, and the Mark had little impact on my actual experience. It was hearing about how my Warden was fairing. How Hawke had been continuing the fight behind the lines and what Isabela was up to. There were so many characters of the past that made a return that were integral to the story that I felt I was playing DAO and DAII more than I ever was playing DAI.

 

Is this wrong? Should BioWare give so much attention to fan service? Maybe. Maybe not. However, DAI is largely a creation based on the writing team paying homage to what we had done more so than what was happening in the game. Obviously, we made new friends as well, and I particularly enjoyed characters such as Sera and Vivienne, who kept things wild and unpredictable.

 

However, what made me truly enjoy this game was seeing the parallels of what connected it to DAO and DAII, not necessarily because the story was so strong on its own. Is this an approach BioWare should do more of? Do you believe DAI had too much fan service and little attention for original thought? What is the perfect balance? Discuss and decide.

[ElementalFury106]

Kinda hard to base an entire game on companions when the majority of them are optional. And those who aren't optional, have completely optional quests/storylines.

 

You don't have to do a single thing with any advisor or companion to progress the story.

 

Take all that away, there is still a story out there.

[thats1evildude]

I actually liked the companions in DA2 more, but I still enjoyed DAI.

[Dai Grepher]

Tell that to my solo rogue.

[Revan Reborn]

Kinda hard to base an entire game on companions when the majority of them are optional. And those who aren't optional, have completely optional quests/storylines.

 

You don't have to do a single thing with any advisor or companion to progress the story.

 

Take all that away, there is still a story out there.

I posted prematurely before the OP was finished. While this is largely true, you'd be missing a lot of context and why DAI is so compelling, in my opinion. Leliana is not optional. Cassandra is not optional. Hawke is not optional. Varric is not optional. They all have a crucial role to play in the game one way or another and are more so tied to the past than anything in the present.

 

I actually liked the companions in DA2 more, but I still enjoyed DAI.

As I described to the person above, I posed prematurely. I'd argue, overall, DAII had the best set of companions out of any of the Dragon Age. I felt they were the strongest group and offered the most potential for storytelling. Again, it's not necessarily a bad idea to rely on the past, but how much should it impact what is happening versus new events and characters? Even Corypheus was a DLC boss in DAII.

[leaguer of one]

Seriously...learn to roleplay your character.

[Lethaya]

It's a sequel. Of course there's going to be prior investment. XD

 

And personally? I found plenty of the new stuff interesting. The additions to the lore especially so. But is it that surprising or unexpected that the third game in the series would borrow a heavy foundation from previous installments...?

[Cyonan]

BioWare games have always been big on companions, and I would argue that is their strongest point so it makes sense to focus on it.

 

I haven't found their main stories to be any amazingly special. They get the job done and are above the average video game story, but their real strength is definitely in the characters.

[Revan Reborn]

It's a sequel. Of course there's going to be prior investment. XD

 

And personally? I found plenty of the new stuff interesting. The additions to the lore especially so. But is it that surprising or unexpected that the third game in the series would borrow a heavy foundation from previous installments...?

That's not my point. DAII had choices imported from DAO, yet those were largely minor in the larger story of the game. In many respects, what happened in DAO and DAII vastly outweighed and changed what was experienced in DAI, even the main antagonist is from DAII DLC. Again, I enjoyed the game but not because of DAI specifically. I enjoyed learning about how the world of Thedas had been impacted by my Warden, Hawke, and everybody they knew.

[Revan Reborn]

Seriously...learn to roleplay your character.

You can ignore various aspects of BioWare titles. I'd rather discuss them directly and determine whether they are a positive or not instead of "headcanon" and "imagine" what is happening in the game when it's not.

 

BioWare games have always been big on companions, and I would argue that is their strongest point so it makes sense to focus on it.

 

I haven't found their main stories to be any amazingly special. They get the job done and are above the average video game story, but their real strength is definitely in the characters.

This is true. Relationships and friendships are one of the major aspects of any BioWare game. This certainly has been the case for as long as KotOR. Although, I'd argue DAI is the least original thus far in terms of story. The entire plot is really just a continuation of left over elements from DAO and DAII in particular. Yes, I know this is largely because DAII DLC was never finished and thus incorporated into DAI, but it significantly impacts how independent DAI actually is. It's interesting to determine whether this level of fan service is a blessing for fans or an actual detriment to the game as a whole. How much throwback should we really have when new ideas and stories could be told?

[leaguer of one]

You can ignore various aspects of BioWare titles. I'd rather discuss them directly and determine whether they are a positive or not instead of "headcanon" and "imagine" what is happening in the game when it's not.

 

 

or you can just make a character that has feelings and reactions to the events of the story.

[Cyonan]

This is true. Relationships and friendships are one of the major aspects of any BioWare game. This certainly has been the case for as long as KotOR. Although, I'd argue DAI is the least original thus far in terms of story. The entire plot is really just a continuation of left over elements from DAO and DAII in particular. Yes, I know this is largely because DAII DLC was never finished and thus incorporated into DAI, but it significantly impacts how independent DAI actually is. It's interesting to determine whether this level of fan service is a blessing for fans or an actual detriment to the game as a whole. How much throwback should we really have when new ideas and stories could be told?

 

I think it's another one of the downsides of the save state import, you start feeling obligated to tailor a lot of your story to acknowledge previous choices which determines more and more of it with every iteration.

 

I almost feel like they should do a Mass Effect and put the next Dragon Age far removed from the events of Origins, DA2, or Inquisition.

 

Origins wasn't terribly original in the actual story either, but it did introduce us to the world and the lore.

[Majestic Jazz]

Seriously...learn to roleplay your character.

How about Bioware not include a soundtrack in DA4 so that we can just head cannon the sounds.

How about they dont include dialog to progress the story, so we can just head cannon what they are saying.

How about they dont have visual worlds. Instead, the enviornment would be this massive white space (like the Rakkata prision) and we just head cannon what the world looks like.

[Cyonan]

How about Bioware not include a soundtrack in DA4 so that we can just head cannon the sounds.

How about they dont include dialog to progress the story, so we can just head cannon what they are saying.

How about they dont have visual worlds. Instead, the enviornment would be this massive white space (like the Rakkata prision) and we just head cannon what the world looks like.

 

Probably because those things don't require an insane number of variations to do decently well.

[Revan Reborn]

I think it's another one of the downsides of the save state import, you start feeling obligated to tailor a lot of your story to acknowledge previous choices which determines more and more of it with every iteration.

 

I almost feel like they should do a Mass Effect and put the next Dragon Age far removed from the events of Origins, DA2, or Inquisition.

 

Origins wasn't terribly original in the actual story either, but it did introduce us to the world and the lore.

I agree. It's interesting because I never really thought of the detriments the save import could have. Why having too much fan service could actually override what should otherwise be a fresh and new experience.

 

Origins may not be terribly original in its actual story. However, it is what introduced us to the Dragon Age Universe and set the tone for future titles. I just wonder if this actual reliance to this degree is wise? Should our previous decisions affect the future so immensely in a variety of ways. Or should past choices be more so codex and background? How much of the past should be represented? Presumably, the more games that are developed, the more fan service can be generated for future titles.

[FeliciaM]

My favorite characters in Bioware games are never the protagonists. And their stories are rather cliche. I like Bioware games because they can tell a cliched story, and have the characters tie it all together. They're always the most memorable part for me.

 

I think Revan will always be my favorite protagonist in any Bioware game, and not because of the characters that surrounded him/her. I mean... Carth, Canderous, and HK-47 were awesome! And I have many other characters I absolutely adore.

 

Hawke actually can stand on their own rather well. But Commander Shepard... without Garrus Vakarian... or Tali? Or Liara? Or the warden without Morrigan, Alistair, and Dog!

[leaguer of one]

How about Bioware not include a soundtrack in DA4 so that we can just head cannon the sounds.

How about they dont include dialog to progress the story, so we can just head cannon what they are saying.

How about they dont have visual worlds. Instead, the enviornment would be this massive white space (like the Rakkata prision) and we just head cannon what the world looks like.

head cannon not needed.

 

You just  a character that has feelings and reactions to the events of the story.

 

how do you make a character that has no feelings or reaction to the event going on.

[Lethaya]

That's not my point. DAII had choices imported from DAO, yet those were largely minor in the larger story of the game. In many respects, what happened in DAO and DAII vastly outweighed and changed what was experienced in DAI, even the main antagonist is from DAII DLC. Again, I enjoyed the game but not because of DAI specifically. I enjoyed learning about how the world of Thedas had been impacted by my Warden, Hawke, and everybody they knew.

 

I could point out the numerous cameo appearances in side quests, the fact that Hawke (a potential relative of the Warden) winds up in Kirkwall after escaping Ostagar, Lothering and the Blight, and then joins up with Anders, a character from a DA:O expansion that plays a very central role to the plotline, plus Merrill, who originally showed up in the DA:O Dalish origin, and Isabela, who the Warden encountered in Denerim.

 

The weight of what has previosuly occurred in a created world gets heavier with each installment, and is bound to have more of an effect, especially considering previous installments give them opportunities to foreshadow or set up later plotlines. I would think we'll probably see a similar effect in DA4, since there will not only be callbacks and references to DA:O and DA2, but the Inquisition as well. And so on and so forth.

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, really. I just don't see.... I guess it just seems like an obvious observation? I would think most series follow a similar pattern. XD

[Mihura]

Hum that kinda makes sense, since I did not love any particular character because I though they lack development. I fond DA:I the weakest of the 3 games and boring at times.

[leaguer of one]

Hum that kinda makes sense, since I did not love any particular character because I though they lack development. I fond DA:I the weakest of the 3 games and boring at times.

How do you go through dai and not notice any character development. The only static characters in the story is Josy,Sera and Vivianne.

[Revan Reborn]

I could point out the numerous cameo appearances in side quests, the fact that Hawke (a potential relative of the Warden) winds up in Kirkwall after escaping Ostagar, Lothering and the Blight, and then joins up with Anders, a character from a DA:O expansion that plays a very central role to the plotline, plus Merrill, who originally showed up in the DA:O Dalish origin, and Isabela, who the Warden encountered in Denerim.

 

The weight of what has previosuly occurred in a created world gets heavier with each installment, and is bound to have more of an effect, especially considering previous installments give them opportunities to foreshadow or set up later plotlines. I would think we'll probably see a similar effect in DA4, since there will not only be callbacks and references to DA:O and DA2, but the Inquisition as well. And so on and so forth.

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, really. I just don't see.... I guess it just seems like an obvious observation? I would think most series follow a similar pattern. XD

Hawke is only related if you happened to have a human mage origin Warden if I remember correctly. The fact the Fifth Blight was a backdrop to DAII is hardly meaningful as it did not actually have a major impact on the main story. Even Flemeth, who you interestingly left out, was rather minor when she is the reason Hawke is even alive. Anders had been associated with the Warden, but he played a relatively minor role in DA:A (I only kept him around because he was a mage). Anders was actually much more relevant to DAII. Merill and Isabela were NPCs with little to no value in DAO. BioWare just happened to turn them into companions in DAII as a way of showing continuity and further explaining their unique perspectives.

 

I think you are conflating two entirely different things. There is nothing wrong with continuity and having a save import/keep to make past events relevant to the present. My concern is to what degree should that have on future games. Again, the more installments you have, the more fan service that is actually possible. Where should the line be drawn? How much fan service should you have compared to new, original content? Should BioWare be cognizant of that? I think it's a valid concern that many, and perhaps even BioWare, haven't thoroughly considered.

[Hanako Ikezawa]

I have a friend whose first Dragon Age game is Inquisition and they love it, so no I don't think fanservice was a big reason for it doing so well. 

[Revan Reborn]

I have a friend whose first Dragon Age game is Inquisition and they love it, so no I don't think fanservice was a big reason for it doing so well. 

On the contrary, your friend's ignorance of half the cast being from DAO and DAII does not make that fan service any less relevant. This was never a discussion of whether someone new to enjoy DAI. My point is that DAO and DAII largely define DAI almost to the point where the story of DAI doesn't matter. A newcomer wouldn't notice this. For those of us who have played since DAO, we know just how important DAO and DAII is for the actual story of DAI. Again, without DAO and DAII, there really isn't actually much left to the story of DAI. My concern is whether this is a good thing or not. Should BioWare rely so heavily on fan service?

[Andraste_Reborn]

I have a friend whose first Dragon Age game is Inquisition and they love it, so no I don't think fanservice was a big reason for it doing so well. 

 

Same - I've managed to get two friends who didn't play the previous instalments into Inquisition, and they both loved it.

 

It's true that the fanservice appeals to me, but if it was the only good thing about the game it wouldn't be making as many new fans as it is.

[Mihura]

How do you go through dai and not notice any character development. The only static characters in the story is Josy,Sera and Vivianne.

 

Oh are you a mind reader? that was so on point.

The ones I expect more off ("Josy,Sera and Vivianne"), were really disappointing. That is why I founded the game boring, the rest of the cast aside from Dorian just was not that great to me. The reason I played DA2 almost 7 times was because I loved the characters, well maybe not Anders but even his romance was a nice challenge.

Since bioware is not that great when it comes to the main story, the characters happen to be their strong side and when they are not, it is just boring. I mean I played the game 3 times full and I am not planning to do more than 4 PTs, my last one is being a problem even.