This is an analysis of the Dragon Age 3: Inquisition’s new Hero of Thedas trailer, as broken down by Ashe "Ladyinsanity" Soriano. You can check out even more Dragon Age analyses and videos from Ladyinsanity on her YouTube channel.
The ESRB has rated the game Mature 17+, for blood, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, and strong language. Of note is the fact that the rating describes full nudity (versus partial nudity in previous games), and intense violence (whereas previous ratings only described violence). Bioware may be taking the HBO approach to violent content in this new game.
The trailer proper starts with the Inquisitor, with the trappings of a warrior. appearing with what appears to be a damaged flaming rune sword. This could alternately be a Digital Deluxe exclusive weapon.
It then cuts to a callback to Dragon Age: Origins, as the Inquisitor, Cassandra, Varric, and Solas, are shown returning to the Haven.
In the next scene, the Inquisitor is shown walking down rows of soldiers, clergy, and villagers, while the Breach looms in the background. Another cut gives us a brief glimpse of Adamant Tower, a broken stronghold turned trading post. The bas relief of a big cat in the background hints at the Inquisitor’s ability to upgrade towers and other structures, indicating he can do this in more locations than the stronghold.
Solas, holding a dual serpent staff, walks with the Inquisitor atop a snowy hilltop, looking towards SkyHold. This then cuts to a scene of the Inquisitor seemingly in the middle of the fade and the real world, armed with dual daggers, so we know this one is a rogue. This has only been shown possible in two places so far: Red Cliff castle and the location of the Breach.
The Inquisitor is then shown rushing to attack the Grey Wardens, who may be under the control of the ancient Tevinter Magister Corypheus. There may be storylines involving fighting the Wardens unconnected to Corypheus, but don’t be surprised if this comes up.
The party is then shown running from a Venatori base of operations, to face a rain of fireballs that strikes down what seems to be a Freeman.
We cut back to the Wardens’ base, as the Inquisitor takes on a bearded man who somewhat looks like Hawke, but is likely not him. This may be an Orlesian, and it begs the question of why he was even there.
The strange tentacle monster reappears here, in conflict with a party that includes Hawke, an unnamed Warden, Stroud, and the Inquisitor, all in the Fade. We then get a brief cutscene showing a Fear Demon dropping from the Breach.
In the next scene, an archer Inquisitor explores a war struck area with Cassandra and Solas. This cuts again to the Inquisitor, with Cassandra and Lilyana, facing a Fade Rift. A clear faded spirit appears, seemingly to talk to them.
In another action scene, a Fade dragon shoots fire at the Inquisitor, who protects himself with his shield.
The Grey Wardens’ gate is torn asunder by a battering ram as the Inquisitor comes in. We then see the fade rift from where the faded spirit appears close, to abruptly cut to the summoning of a pride demon. This confrontation appears to occur in front of Red Cliff castle
The trailer winds down with the appearance of a dragon, who could be Flemeth, flying upwards to the sky and making its way down. This cuts back down to the ground, as the Inquisitor turns around to look at a second, more menacing looking dragon. In another cut, the Inquisitor, with Cassandra in the background, now stares at a more familiar, skeleton like dragon, with scales resembling the outline of bones.
The Inquisitor is then shown fighting and killing a Red Templar, who wears a Red Sun emblem. Another Inquisitor fights against Tevinter soldiers surrounding him. This may be a unique setup as gameplay footage we’ve seen so far implies this doesn’t happen often.
In the next scene, The Inquisitor, Dorian, Varric, and Cassandra, enter a Keep with an unpainted statue in the back.
And then, another look at another familiar face; the Red Dragon from prior trailers. We cut to a fight between dragons, possibly Flemeth against a Red Fade dragon. Unfortunately, the Fade dragon seems to be winning, as Flemeth drops to the ground. The Fade dragon then outright eats a Warden, facing the Orlesian’s corpse.
In the next scene, the Inquisitor seems to rally a crowd from a short cliff, next to Lilyana. He briefly reappears taking on monsters with that flaming sword before the final scene; the entire Inquisition looking towards the screen.
Dragon Age 3: Inquisition will be released on November 18 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.
