Summary
Dragon Age: Dreadwolfhas shown players very little of what they can expect from the game, and details like combat have been no exception. One thing players can expect fromDragon Age: Dreadwolf’s combat is a change from the system used inDragon Age: Inquisitionbecause of indications from various leaks and a pattern theDragon Ageseries has established over the past three games.
Combat is one of the most important parts ofDragon Age, but is a bit of a weird space for the franchise. LikeDragon Age’s protagonist, its combat system always changes from game to game, either out of necessity for improvements or because of functional reasons such as a change in game engines. With leaked footage from 2022 showcasing combat fromDragon Age: Dreadwolf, it looks like players will once again have to adjust their expectations and learn a new combat system.
Every Dragon Age Game Has Different Combat Systems
Combat in Dragon Age Has Been Messy From the Beginning
Dragon Age: Originsopened the serieswith slow, weighted combat that was inspired by the combat ofDungeons and Dragons. It included a dice-roll system to hit and to calculate damage and, while largely effective, was largely criticized, especially in hindsight, for being slow and clumsy.Dragon Age 2made a dramatic departure from this system, where the combat was fast and intense. Warriors would swing heavy weapons as if they weighed hardly anything at all, rogues would send enemies into many different pieces with the touch of a blade, and mages would send explosions at a glance.
Dragon Age: Inquisition Sought Balance
Dragon Age: Inquisitionhad yet another combat system that deviated from its predecessors.Dragon Age: Inquisitionsought to balance the discrepancy between the two games by marrying the two styles: incorporating the faster movements ofDragon Age 2, but implementing the weight and physics ofDragon Age: Origins. The result was a combat system that was faster than many other CRPGs, but not as flashy or unrealistic asDragon Age 2’s offering.
EA’s Frostbite Brought Problems with Dragon Age: Inquisition
Because ofBioWare’s confidence in innovating the combat system with everyDragon Agegame, players can probably expect a new combat system withDragon Age: Dreadwolf. EA’s Frostbite system was one of the barriers for BioWare when developingDragon Age: Inquisition, including the combat system, and now that the developer has had a decade to work with Frostbite, the combat may be more robust than what was seen inDragon Age: Inquisition.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Leaked Footage Revealed a New Combat System
A Move Towards Real-Time Action-RPG Combat in Dragon Age
ADragon Age: Dreadwolfleakfrom 2022 showed a short clip of a sword-and-shield warrior inside the Grey Warden fortress of Weisshaupt amid combat. The combat is vastly different from previousDragon Agegames, with it being more similar toGod of War’s combat than otherDragon Agegames. This is in part thanks to the real-time combat which, for the sword-and-shield playtester, included manual parrying. The transition from turn-based to real-time action-RPG combat is one of the biggest departures from the otherDragon Agegames, but also one the franchise has arguably been heading towards.
There’s Still a Way to Go For Dragon Age: Dreadwolf’s Development
The leaked footage was recorded at a very early stage ofDragon Age: Dreadwolf’s Alpha phase, and so is likely to change a great deal before the release of the game. That said, for now, it’s a fair indicator of thedirectionDragon Age: Dreadwolfis heading in, and all players have until the promised reveal in the summer later this year.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
