1. The Frostbite 2 Engine
OK, so in case you skipped the rest of this article, you should know by now that Dragon Age 3: Inquisition is supposed to look a whole hell of a lot better than previous titles. Why? Because, it will be sporting the
Frostbite 2 Engine, seen here going head to head with the equally stunning Cry 3 Engine. That means, better graphics, better animations, better rendering, better environments, better physics, a better game.
How does this change things? How does it not change things? Everything listed before this is possible, BECAUSE of the Frostbite 2 Engine. None of it would be possible without the power generated by the most advanced game engine on the damn market. Because of this engine, we'll move from predetermined encounter zones to open world roaming. Because of this engine, we'll move from crummy looking plate steel armor to whatever the artists can dream up. Because of this engine, we'll move from exploding fireball spells that cause enemies to feint to fireballs that cause enemies to be flung across the room and smashed against a table. Because of this engine we'll move from a top down view to the real world.
Get the Klenex, cuz here it comes... The introduction of this engine to the Dragon Age series will literally change the way RPGs are made. That's a fact, Jack. That's also a fact to other people. BioWare has made the same style of game for decades now. The games have always been third person, top down, advanced turn based, squad combat RPGs. With the exception of Dragon Age 2: End of Enjoyable Gaming, the formula has not been deviated from. And even DA2 was just slightly different in its approach, changing only the combat system and gear collection. Giving BioWare style story tellers the ability to program with an engine even capable of isometric play allows them to rewrite their own book in a free roaming and beautiful world with full physics. Add to that the fact that
BioWare's founders just up and quit the company, and you can be assured that this game will be a revolutionary step made by one of the industry's oldest and best RPG developers.