Dragon Age: Inquisition stream shows the benefits of mouse and keyboard controls

Dragon Age: Inquisition

BioWare's latest Dragon Age: Inquisition gameplay stream takes a closer look at the PC version of the game, complete with a "keyboard cam" that highlights the advantages of playing with a mouse and keyboard. The action takes place during a fairly early stage in the game but it's still a bit "spoilery", as narrators Cameron Lee and Mike Laidlaw put it, so you might want to avoid it if you're determined to go into the game as cold as possible. But if you're not hung up on that, there's a lot of good stuff to see.

The PC interface is the big attraction here, and the video offers a look at elements including the "war table" and the dialog wheel that comes up during conversations with NPCs. Responses can be selected with the mouse or keyboard, and those that reflect a particular emotional state will also sport specific icons, although that can be turned off via the options menu.

The stream also explains how players will send scouts into an area in order to open it up to further exploration (a segment that includes my favorite part of the video, an interface question that literally asks if you want to gather your party and venture forth), and eventually digs a bit into Laidlaw's "advanced class" character, a Knight Enchanter. Naturally, there's a good chunk of gameplay on show as well.

I should acknowledge up front that I've never played an RPG with a controller, so I'm coming at the issue from a place of complete inexperience. That said, I cannot imagine how it's possible to play a complex game like Dragon Age: Inquisition without the flexibility of a mouse and keyboard. Which isn't to suggest that it can't be done, but I'm sure glad I won't have to.

Dragon Age: Inquisition comes out on November 18.

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.