PSA — Dragon Age: Inquisition plays extremely well on gaming handhelds, and it’s the perfect way to get ready for The Veilguard

PSA — Dragon Age: Inquisition plays extremely well on gaming handhelds, and it's the perfect way to get ready for The Veilguard

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with over two decades under my belt, I must say that Dragon Age: Inquisition has captured my heart and imagination like few other games have before. Coming from a background of immersing myself in turn-based strategy games like Baldur’s Gate 3, the action-packed combat of this gem was a breath of fresh air.


Dragon Age is one of those franchises that I’d never played but often heard people talking about. My own sister-in-law loves these fantasy RPGs, especially Origins, and has encouraged me to play these games for years. Unfortunately, when Dragon Age: Inquisition released in 2014, I was in college and didn’t have the time or money to play it. A decade later, I realized that I’d missed out on one of the best fantasy RPGs ever made. 

2024 marks the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard on October 31st, inspiring me to experience Inquisition for the first time. Given my passion for handheld gaming, I opted to play it on my ROG Ally. To my delight, Inquisition turns out to be an excellent choice for handheld gaming devices, albeit with a minor hurdle – setting up controller support initially.

How to enable controller support in Dragon Age: Inquisition

PSA — Dragon Age: Inquisition plays extremely well on gaming handhelds, and it's the perfect way to get ready for The Veilguard

In order to play Inquisition on handhelds with controller support, you’ll need to:

  1. Run Dragon Age: Inquisition
  2. From the main menu, press the hamburger button to get past the start screen. 
  3. Use your finger to tap on Options
  4. Tap on Controls.
  5. Tap the arrow next to where it says “Use Gamepad or Mouse/Keyboard” until it says “Gamepad.” 
  6. Apply changes, and you’ll be good to play.

10 years old, but still a fantastic game on handhelds

Playing older games on Steam Deck, Legion Go, or ROG Ally can sometimes be a hit-or-miss experience, as developers didn’t have these devices in mind when they originally created the games. For instance, launching Dragon Age: Inquisition on my ROG Ally X through Xbox Game Pass resulted in the game not reacting to my button presses. Initially, I was concerned that I might not be able to play it on my device, but luckily, a simple adjustment to the touchscreen settings allowed me to activate controller support and enjoy this timeless title without any hassle.

As I type this, I’ve invested over 20 hours into this captivating game, and I must say, I’m hooked! The visuals, although slightly outdated, manage to hold their charm. For instance, the in-game controller icons appear rather bulky and unpolished. Similarly, the “chosen one” narrative occasionally feels a bit dated. However, on handheld devices, this game truly shines! Compared to the somewhat unsettling NPCs in Starfield, the characters’ expressions, while a touch stiff, seem more natural. Thankfully, I haven’t encountered any stuttering or laggy gameplay; instead, I’ve been immersed in enjoyable gameplay and an engaging plotline.

PSA — Dragon Age: Inquisition plays extremely well on gaming handhelds, and it's the perfect way to get ready for The Veilguard

To put it simply, how would you describe the gameplay of Dragon Age? Earlier, I mentioned that Inquisition has some similarities to Baldur’s Gate 3, considering they are both fantasy role-playing games with a rich Tolkien-inspired mythology. Upon starting, I picked my character’s race (Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Qunari), class (mage, rogue, or warrior), and personalized their appearance (male or female). Immediately, I was plunged into an engaging storyline.

Unlike Baldur’s Gate 3, Inquisition’s combat is action-based rather than turn-based.

In just a few short minutes, it becomes clear that something tragic has transpired, granting my character extraordinary abilities capable of sealing rifts in the mysterious Veil. These destructive rifts, appearing as vortexes of swirling green light in the heavens, pose a grave threat because they serve as gateways for malevolent demons and spectral entities to enter our world. Not long after, I found myself joining an unlikely alliance with the common goal of preserving humanity. This band of misfits is famously known as the Inquisition.

In this type of role-playing games, just like many others, it’s me, the player, who decides how my character reacts in different scenarios. The dialogues I select and the choices I make impact how Non-Player Characters (NPCs) feel about me, either growing fonder or becoming displeased. If I invest time into completing extra missions or quests, I can strive to persuade more characters to join my group or even try to win their affection. This aspect of the game has piqued my interest regarding its replay potential.

PSA — Dragon Age: Inquisition plays extremely well on gaming handhelds, and it's the perfect way to get ready for The Veilguard

Instead of a completely open-world game, Inquisition provides a central hub-world with expansive open-world regions. My party and I base our operations from this home, embarking on missions from here. By using fast-travel, we can access various maps boasting substantial areas to explore in an open-style fashion. Each map is brimming with side quests, resources, adversaries, collectibles, and intriguing destinations to engage me thoroughly.

Instead of Baldur’s Gate 3, Inquisition offers action-based combat instead of the turn-based system you might find in some strategy games. If you aren’t a fan of turn-based games, this action RPG could be more appealing because it allows your party members to act independently while you control your main character. When I engage enemies, my teammates often initiate attacks on their own, and I can switch between them using the D-Pad. My character automatically follows along in these situations.

In this game, I notice a well-structured progression system that rewards me as I advance. As I accumulate experience points, my team members upgrade their levels, offering me the freedom to select which talents to activate in their skill sets. Since I’ve crafted my primary character as a mage, I enjoy using a blend of distant and widespread attacks, which lets me effortlessly vanquish adversaries with visually appealing special effects and elemental combinations. To enhance my combat efficiency, I constantly search for superior weapons, armor, and accessories too. Overall, it’s a captivating game that’s drawn me in deeply.

Without a doubt, my enthusiasm for The Veilguard has grown since I’ve delved into Inquisition. Now I understand why countless gamers can’t stop praising Dragon Age. If you’re seeking an engaging game to lose yourself in, I wholeheartedly suggest diving into Inquisition on the platform of your choice. This game not only offers a thrilling journey but also prepares you for the upcoming sequel this October.

Is Dragon Age: Inquisition on Xbox Game Pass?

Absolutely! If you currently subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a service that includes EA Play games, you can enjoy playing Dragon Age: Inquisition directly from this platform.

Does Dragon Age: Inquisition have controller support?

Indeed, the game Inquisition does support controllers, yet it’s not activated automatically. To enable controller functionality for this PC game, you should navigate to the settings menu and adjust the control scheme to “Gamepad”. Only then will handheld gaming devices or controllers work effectively with Inquisition.

Is Dragon Age: The Veilguard a direct sequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition?

Indeed, although The Veilguard was published a decade after Inquisition, it serves as a direct continuation of the storyline. Consequently, you can expect at least one character from Inquisition to appear in the sequel.

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2024-08-17 19:09