Dragon Age: Inquisition was one of the games I unfortunately didn't find the time to play before I named my favourite games of 2014. Having watched the credits roll (and witnessed the after-credits scene), I can safely say it would have been on that list.

At first glance, the game is stunning to look at. The character models are a considerable upgrade since Bioware's last outing, and the art design in general is superb. An aspiring artist myself, I was left in awe at some of the environments that have been crafted in this game. There's a good variety to them as well. Travelling between the vast deserts of the Hissing Wastes, the gigantic forests of the Emerald Graves, and the snowy mountains of the Empirse du Lion really gave me the sense that the world of Dragon Age is a large one. Although the segmented nature of these environments perhaps worked against that feeling, it didn't entirely detract from the sheer sense of scale that Inquisition evokes. And as an aside, I really liked the inclusion of the tarot card-style used in much of the art direction. It gave the game a unique identity, compared to other video games in the fantasy genre.

But rather than ramble on more about the aesthetic, I'll talk about what is easily the best component of Dragon Age: Inquisition: the characters. For many reasons, the characters in this game got me to care about Dragon Age in a way none of the previous installments have. For one, the variety in the cast you meet over the course in the game is very impressive. Though you might not love the entire cast, it's hard to deny that each of them bring something unique to the table. My personal group included Cassandra, Dorian, and Varric. It was great how, despite the group of characters you went with, they'd all have lines of dialogue written as little tidbits of interaction with each other as you were exploring the various areas. I enjoyed the little bets Dorian and Varric would share, and Cassandra's embarrassment whenever Varric or Dorian would bring up her more feminine side. And the effort to appeal to different types of players was also admirable. More than any other game, this one allowed you to share a meaningful romance subplot regardless of your sexual preference. And I must admit, though I chose to go with Cassandra in the end, Dorian's sassy charm tempted me a few times. Given the wealth of relationship options, I can see myself playing a new, female character later down the line. Which is more than I can say for any other Bioware game I've played. I appreciate that they choose not to have a default "Shepard". Though I feel that worked for Mass Effect, I find that this game specifically really benefited from allowing you to craft your own main character, without it feeling like you were straying from the intended choice. That said, if there is to be another game, I would hope I could resume the role of my Inquisitor. But I have to wonder if Bioware will stick to the formula of introducing a new character with each iteration.

My Party before the real Party:

Inquisitor	Cassandra	Varric	Dorian

In terms of the overall narrative, it was okay. Enough to push the story forward, but not much more. The villain, while initially menacing, quickly lost that impact with their lack of presence in much of the main act. The majority of the other characters were really what carried the game. Though I must give props to Bioware for their handling of the Dragon Age Keep. As someone with little experience in the previous games, I felt that the Keep brought me up to speed on the main story and helped me shape the world in a way that felt unique before I even started Inquisition. Despite having already completed the Mass Effect series, I think the next game in that franchise would really benefit from having a similar website attached to it. And while Jeff had some negative things to say about the post credits scene in the GOTY podcasts, I didn't mind it. It felt like a way of allowing space for a sequel (or dlc?) without taking away what you had worked for in the main game.

All that said, Inquisition was not a game without faults. There are many, in fact. The side missions were mostly made up of fetch quests. The pacing was all over the place, at times giving the player little to do and at other times overwhelming the player with options. The final fight against the villain was a little anticlimactic. The combat grew to be mundane after the progression saturated. The animations both in cutscenes and in gameplay left something to be desired. The game just felt full of filler. It's a shame, too, because the gorgeous environments deserved better reasons to be explored. If not for my completionist nature, I would have skipped over much of what the game offers.

I could go on, rattling off more things that hindered my enjoyment, and yet, I really like DA: Inquisition. I was hesitant when initially starting, because I typically don't enjoy starting a series in the middle, but I think Inquisition did a terrific job of bringing in newcomers. If you were ever on the fence about trying out the Dragon Age series, this is the game you should play.

Not many games in 2014 left me with a melancholic feeling like this one did, as I said goodbye to the characters I had grown attached to over the 90-ish hours of play. That might seem like a strange way to judge a game, but as someone who cares deeply for story and characterization in video games, mentioning that I will miss interacting with those characters is some of the best praise I can give. And with that, I bid DA: Inquisition adieu. Thanks for reading.