The final Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC, Trespasser, takes a look at the world of Thedas two years after the Inquisitor closes the breach for good. Your friends are back together to support their leader as the political powers-at-be argue over the fate of Inquisition now that they’ve completed their mission. The questions left at the end of Trespasser is what will the Inquisitor do with their power and how will they react to what Solas has in store for the world.
[Warning: this review contains mild Trespasser plot spoilers]
The Story
Trespasser is a bittersweet way to end the series. BioWare has announced it is the final DLC and with it comes the answers your Inquisitor’s been searching for like why the mark was created, where is Solas and what’s next for the Inquisition. You arrive at the Winter Palace to meet with the Exalted Council with a representative from Orlais, Ferelden and the new Divine, which could be Vivienne, Leliana or Cassandra depending on your decisions.
Trespasser is enough to satisfy all storylines, even those who fell in love with Solas. The reunion between the Dread Wolf and Inquisitor Lavellan is extremely emotional for those who enjoyed their complicated romance. You learn more about the tragic eleven histories, find out why Solas gave the orb to Corypheus and what he plans on doing next. Your Inquisitor is faced with difficult decisions on what to do once they return to the Exalted Council.
You also get to see what happens to the Inquisitor’s mark. Solas never explains why the mark has grown unstable and that’s OK. You can sort of deduct because the remaining Rifts and the Breach in the sky have closed, the mark is the final piece that needs to disappear in order to restore balance. The Inquisitor no longer needs the mark, and nothing good can come with the power it holds. It also links you to Solas, which might not be the best thing considering what unfolds.
There are lighthearted moments in Trespasser. The interactions with Cassandra, Varric, Sera, Cullen, Josephine and possibly Cole are a good balance in the densely-packed final DLC. You didn't get many interactions with your party in the Jaws of Hakkon DLC, so it was nice to play something that truly progressed the story and gave you more scenes with your favorite characters. You also aren't left with many burning questions, but BioWare didn’t wrap things up in a neat bow. Though I would suggest you don’t make Iron Bull stay with the Qun. He doesn’t deserve what happens in the Epilogue if you killed his Chargers. Or he might. Who knows?
The Gameplay
The fights and bosses are appropriately challenging if you’ve played the other DLCs and leveled up your players passed lvl 25. Your mark grows increasingly powerful, yet unstable, as you get closer to Solas. You can now unleash the power of your mark in blast form towards your enemies.
In general, the Qunari armies you face are fierce warriors. They are also incredibly annoying. I went in with an Inquisitor that was at lvl 27 and my party members were at lvl 25 or better. I thought that would be enough to get a fair fight with Qunari and it wasn’t. Their defenses and physical strength were high. I used a mage, my Inquisitor rogue and two warriors in my party. Iron Bull and Cassandra kept dying even with all the defense buffers I placed on them. Blackwall, er, Thom Rainier was a tank, but Dorian wasn’t as good of a mage as Solas.
It got to the point where I was using up all my potions and running away from enemies to move the story along. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a challenging boss fight, but the pointless enemies I face along the way shouldn’t force me to down all 12 of my health potions.
My party was strong and I tailored their attacks/buffs. I would’ve liked to see more supply caches after the herds of Qunari warrior attacks. The final bosses are a dragon and a huge Qunari. It’s easier to set the dragon free than fight it and 20 minutes of strong attacks from your party will put the Qunari army on its back.
The Verdict
If you only buy one Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC, let it be Trespasser. Fighting the Qunari was OK, but the storylines and scenes with your followers are worth it. You can complete the gameplay in about 5 or 6 hours depending on your party. It’s a great way to wrap up the series and give fans enough to make their own theories about what will happen to Thedas. The resolution with Solas is a solid way to cap off his story and lead into the next Dragon Age title. Possibly Tevintar and more Dorian in the future?!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, great ending DLC
