Dragon Age: Inquisition and the Illusion of Choice
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Empty Lighthouse Magazine has cranked out their own Dragon Age: Inquisition editorial, with this particular article focusing on the major choices available within the RPG and why they didn't quite have the impact and game-changing significance that the author was expecting. An excerpt to follow:
The biggest choice you make in Inquisition is whether to side with the Mages or Templars. There is a sinister force manipulating both sides in a Palpatine-esque manner, and you must save one from plunging into darkness. Regardless of your decision, Corypheus reveals himself as the villain and attacks Haven with a massive force of Red Templars or Venatori-enslaved mages.
This is one of the best parts of Inquisition, and my knuckles were white as I gripped my controller trying to save as many townspeople as I could. There's one problem: the aftermath. If you side with the Templars, there are still Red Templars interspersed throughout the world. In addition, if you side with the Mages, you still encounter Venatori agents making you wonder how much weight your choice held.
This doesn't even include the leaders of the Mages and Templars, both of whom can appear as potential bosses depending on the side you choose. After arriving at Skyhold, the leader of the order you saved has little impact on the overall narrative. He or she is tucked away in the castle and is capable of only shining an expositional light on the game's story.
The game tells you that your decision between Templars and Mages has impact on your companions. You will see a list of which characters approve or disapprove of your choice. But I didn't even feel that. I could still romance Cassandra even though she (greatly disapproved) of my decision to side with the Mages. Some may argue that this is a more dynamic system; just because a person disagrees with a decision you make, doesn't mean that he or she dislikes you. I see this point, but there didn't appear to be a breach of trust with any of my companions. They greeted me the same way.
