Dragon Age in a World of Skyrim

GamingIllustrated’s Mark Gonzales has penned an editorial on what Dragon Age III might learn from Skyrim, and largely seems to focus on the way the world is presented, rather than mechanical changes. Here’s a snippet:

Dragon Age does not evoke the feeling that the world is alive as Skyrim does. During Dragon Age: Origins, the player would travel from one place to another but it felt more like a stage select than an actual world, which diminished the experience. Meanwhile, the majority of Dragon Age II is set in the city of Kirkwall. As such, it would seem natural that the city itself would feel alive and as much a character to the story as the protagonist Hawke. However, Bioware’s missteps in this execution are self-evident as the city was rendered almost comical, since different characters and their respective stories all took place in the same exact areas. To take an example from Bioware’s own Mass Effect 3, the relationship between the Krogan and the planet Tuchanka was perfectly matched. Exploring the desert planet very much illustrated the feel of a ravaged, war hungry, and desperate tribal culture.

Bioware should really focus on creating a land and culture out of necessity. Take the example of the upcoming war between the Magi and the Templars, which may be the backbone of the story in Inquisition. It would be wise for Bioware to show the aftermath of the events in Kirkwall and the lifestyles of both factions. Imagine the Magi living as wandering vagabonds in deserted watch towers, dusty labyrinths and decrepit underground passages. Books would be strewn about in every direction as the Magi would constantly be on the move and be carrying what ever spells and tomes they could grab after breaking free from the Chantry. It would seem logical to view them as outsiders of society akin to mutants in the Marvel comic book universe. The image of a roaming and baseless peoples adapting to a completely new way of living in an unknown land would be a magnificent direction to follow.