Game of the Month - November 2014 - Dragon Age: Inquisition

November of 2014. It is the Age of the Mascot, if Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is to be believed. Another Smash, another fluid and fantastic fighting game in a beloved series that captures that undeniable Nintendo magic. For many, this is the game that personifies the age: a return to the pure, unfettered joy of friendly competition.

November of 2014. It is the Age of Pokemon, presuming you gotta catch ‘em all. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire may be remakes, but they are remakes that capture the charm that keeps millions of players returning to the Pokemon arena. Whether you’re a new trainer or an expert handler, the newest pair of role-playing games makes the case that this is, indeed, the Pokemon Age.

November of 2014. It is The Age of the Blockbuster for anyone drawn to the big-budget bravado that commands your attention and drains your wallet during the holiday season. Far Cry 4, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Assassin’s Creed are all vying for your dollars, along with re-releases of Halo and Grand Theft Auto games. If you love slick production values, showstopping cutscenes, and adventures stuffed with activities, this is your age.

Where GameSpot is concerned, however, November 2014 is the Age of Dragons.

Dragon Age: Inquisition hasn’t captured our imaginations because of the way it adheres to BioWare’s proven role-playing formula, but because of the ways it deviates. Intriguing characters and game-changing choices may lead you through Inquisition’s main plot, but the story that really counts is the one you create for yourself as you explore the game’s expansive regions. Every dungeon harbors secrets, and every sight draws you in for a closer look. And then there’s that moment you see a dragon descend from the heavens for the first time. It is a huge and marvelous creature, but facing it with your level-five party would prove disastrous.

In time, however, you will face and vanquish that dragon. You might also romance your favorite companion, uncover the truth about red lyrium, and find out more about Bianca, Varric’s beloved crossbow. You hobnob with the political elite, enhance your armor with dragon scales, and direct an entire institution that determines whose lives are worthy enough to preserve, and whose deserve to be snuffed out. That Dragon Age: Inquisition connects you with its characters and world isn’t so surprising. That the game’s immense spaces don’t diminish these connections is its true triumph.

Yes, indeed, it is the Age of Dragons, and thus it is fitting that Dragon Age: Inquisition be awarded GameSpot’s Game of the Month for November, 2014.