June 12th, 2014
On the right, a streaming waterfall pours down majestically as green overhead looming branches showcase in full view, giving us a sense of nature abounds in glorious fashion. She then picks up the pace in a light jog, naturally executed with no exaggerated hips movements. In a few, she returns to a walk as she approaches two elves (I hope the elves are not as they were in Dragon II, but more like the model I’ve seen so far) in an encampment nearby. They were in deep conversations about the mages and “shems.”
Our female Qunari paused briefly to listen and then continues on again, jogging most comfortably; wildlife and green covered ground bordered the semi-filled smooth stone path she is jogging through… She reaches a short, low bridge, which is just below a small lake (lake Luthias) covered with lily pads, that passes under and empties into the deep pool of water, where the waterfall unloads. Wildlife roams about; tall grasses bordered each side of the path and tall evergreen as well seasonal trees nestle below a rocky hills on the right meet her gaze; they are broken carts in front that rocky hill as well; this gives the semblance that the area is alive, that it’s not just an empty beautiful world. Life abounds!
She traverses over a small puddle of water. She simply jogs through it. The sound of splashing water is heard. This is what I have always wished to have had in the two previous series and DLCs. Here is life as realistic as can be. Shortly ahead, there’s this female non-playable character (NPC) who’s sitting on a large cutoff log, just near lake Luthias. She begins to babble immediately about some Templar or bandit stealing a ring from her husband’s finger. Our female Qunari slows down to a stroll. She listens a bit to the woman and then she asks her a question, in a soft, womanly tone (which I enjoy by the way; I remember Creative Director Mike Laidlaw stated that they are different voice sets one can select from.). Our Qunari female protagonist said: “farewell.” She then pursues on.
As she does so, the smooth tone of Creative Director Mike Laidlaw explains that the woman was simply providing us information as to what was happening in that area, and thus allowing us to be a part of that world, of that particular region. We are no longer just puppet so to speak being tossed in an environment where information is being thrown at us. This living, breathable world we are a part of it. We are actually there in the mix, and all the while the melodious sounds of birds echoing in the background! Simply awesome! A bit ahead, a ram passes by and just then a wild bear appears. Immediately the screen changes and our female Qunari’s companions are seen by their headshots and the spells are displayed in a circular nodule.
She assumes the fighting stance and begins pelting the bear with ice shards: her posture: her arms extended, her head slightly upturned towards the heavens and freezes the bear. The biggest surprise for me to note here is the map. Bioware, a BIG thanks for giving Dragon Age: Inquisition, a proper map. I pleaded that you give us one and you did! So, thanks Bioware. The map is transparent and does not obstruct this wondrous world that you have created here. More can be seen via this map!
To continue, our female Qunari continues inching the bear’s health away along with her deadly three comrades: Sera, Iron Bull and Vivienne. The bear was quickly defeated; the screen is once again clutter free; the spells and companions’ headshots disappear; only the stunning world that Bioware created remains … to be observed unobstructedly, unhindered by the transparent map, which is well-placed on the bottom left of the screen, barely noticeable. =) ) Our female protagonist trudges on. She ‘jumps’ down! This I also desired in previous titles of the Dragon Age series. I also noticed her walking down over a semi-hilly path. Some of the things Creative Mike Laidlaw alluded to: i.e. jumping, walking climbing down I am able to see our Qunari female performs. Simply splendid! =)
