Why Dragon Age 2 Is Still The Best Game In The Series

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While has shown that BioWare can still produce quality RPGs, it cannot supplant as the crown jewel of the franchise. is a unique game that stands apart from other games, and one that stands out from other fantasy RPGs in a broader sense.

Whether it is a Western-style RPG like, or a JRPG, the genre tends to depict world-spanning quests and sweeping epics, following heroes destined to save the world. followed a family simply reacting to terrible circumstances, showcasing an urban adventure with masterful characterization and world-building.

Some may argueis superior to other games in the franchise, and it certainly puts forward a solid effort, showing those who were disappointed by and that there is still reason to trust in BioWare. Still, it does not have the uniqueness or the grounded humanity of , a game that made Kirkwall feel lived-in by its characters, and the player alike, for its 30-hour playtime. Fantasy RPGs centered on quests to save the world, or sinister conspiracies to unravel, might blur together, but stands apart.

In character background mattered greatly, and the diverse character options made a significant difference in the experience. went in a different direction, with a distinct story to tell, that of a refugee and their family who fled their home to try to make a new life in the city of Kirkwall. This was a perfect follow-up to the climactic and earth-shaking events of the first, showing the human cost of the Darkspawn invasion in a way never could. It opens with the Hawke family fleeing Darkspawn, then seeking refuge in Kirkwall.

Though is fantastically creepy at times, the eldritch horror of The Blighted is not as gripping as the real-world horrors refugees face, struggling against fear, rejection, and poverty. is one of the few games to present this point of view, and it is more poignant than ever, today. In the USA there has been a rising tide of xenophobic sentiment, depicting asylum-seeking refugees as dangerous invaders, rather than