Dragon Age

Did You Know?

• David Gaider came up with most of the background lore for the franchise's setting and served as its lead writer until 2015.
• The Qunari's role within the setting is comparable to that of the historical Viking expansion.

Premise

The Dragon Age games take place on Thedas, the only known continent, whose name is short for "The Dragon Age Setting." Most of the main storylines occur in the southern part of this world, which is home to many different humanoid peoples, clans, and nations. The calendar counts years from the founding of the Chantry, the main religion, and each century is called an Age. Three human countries are especially important. Ferelden, in the southeast, has a political system like England's peerage. The Orlesian Empire, west of Ferelden, has nobles who constantly scheme against each other to win favor from its absolute ruler. The Tevinter Imperium, in the north, is ruled by powerful mages called magisters, led by an Imperial Archon, and once conquered the south long ago. Other notable places include the Free Marches, a group of independent human territories north of Ferelden, and Orzammar, one of the last dwarven city-states, found along the Deep Roads, an ancient underground highway network built by dwarves.

Media

Dragon Age: Origins, the first game in the series, was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in November 2009, and for Mac OS X in December 2009. Set in Ferelden during a period of civil unrest, the player character is recruited into the Grey Wardens to defeat the Archdemon commanding the Darkspawn. BioWare described Origins as a spiritual successor to their Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights franchises. Its expansion, Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, adds a new campaign set after the events of Origins and was released in March 2010, later bundled as Dragon Age: Origins – Ultimate Edition in October 2010. Dragon Age II, the sequel, was released in March 2011 for the same platforms. Development began during production of Origins – Awakening. The player controls Hawke, a human mage, rogue, or warrior who arrives in Kirkwall as a refugee and becomes the Champion of Kirkwall over a turbulent decade. Hawke is supported by companions who recognize Hawke as a friend or rival based on player decisions.

Gameplay

The Dragon Age series shifts its gameplay style between entries. The first game, Origins, is a traditional RPG, while later games are story-driven action RPGs. In each main game, players control a single protagonist they customize by choosing gender, race (though Dragon Age II only allows humans), appearance, and one of three classes: warrior, rogue, or mage. Later in the game, specializations tied to these classes become available. Characters advance through a skill tree by gaining experience from killing enemies or completing quests, leveling up at set thresholds. The games are played from a third-person view, with an interface for moving characters, issuing commands, checking quests and party stats, managing inventory, and arranging party formation. Each game has a main story with branching paths and side quests, letting players proceed as they wish. The protagonist changes with each entry. Players can recruit secondary characters as permanent or temporary companions, bringing up to three along while exploring, with some control over them during combat.

Reception

The main series Dragon Age games have mostly been positively received. Dragon Age: Origins is widely considered among the best video games of all time. Roberts considered Origins an exhaustingly detailed RPG with intricate combat and extensive party customization, though complex storytelling and characters occur only in infrequent flashes. Richard Cobbett from Eurogamer described Origins as a halfway house between hardcore RPGs of old and a more modern style. Its expansion, Origins – Awakening, is also well received. Dragon Age II received generally favorable reviews from media outlets but a divisive reception from players, with criticism directed at wave-based enemies, reused environments, and lack of origin choices; its faster-paced combat and companions were praised. Dragon Age: Inquisition garnered numerous game of the year awards and a Special Recognition Award at the 26th GLAAD Media Awards for its portrayal of LGBT characters. Roberts felt Inquisition's side quest-heavy open worlds went in a distant direction from where the series began. Sam Roberts from Gamesradar opined that BioWare has yet to make a truly great Dragon Age game and that each entry is flawed in some way.