Entertainment
12 Years Later, the Best Fantasy Video Game Quote of the 2010s Still Hits Hard
The video game medium has several incredible fantasy titles, from modern gems like Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to certified classics like Final Fantasy VII and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. One of the genre’s greatest franchises is Dragon Age, BioWare’s crowning jewel, which dominated the fantasy space in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The series arguably peaked with its third entry, 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition, which won the first-ever Game of the Year at the Game Awards and remains one of the best open-world experiences of the 2010s.
A huge reason behind Inquisition‘s success is the brilliant writing, which does a truly outstanding job with the complex worldbuilding, compelling narrative, and characterization. Perhaps the greatest aspect of the writing, however, is the dialogue, which can be equal parts informative, clever, and witty. More than once, Inquisition delivers some genuinely iconic quotes, including what might just be the best line in fantasy gaming during the 2010s. Spoken by the villainous Corypheus, this line is not only striking and incredibly impactful within the game’s context but also undeniably badass and outright unforgettable, a perfect encapsulation of the Dragon Age saga as a whole.
What Is ‘Dragon Age: Inquisition’ About?
Dragon Age: Inquisition takes place in the continent of Thedas, a medieval-inspired place living under a state of constant conflict. The biggest threat to it is the Blight, a catastrophic event that happens when demonic underground creatures known as darkspawn find one of the slumbering Old Gods and taint them, thus creating an Archdemon. The Archdemon then leads a horde of darkspawn to the surface, launching a Blight that can last decades. The physical world also lives in proximity to the Fade, the realm of spirits and demons, separated by a metaphysical barrier known as the Veil. Before the game’s events, a civil war has broken out between the Templars and the Mages, devastating most of the Kingdom of Ferelden and the Empire of Orlais.
The game’s main plot sees an unnamed protagonist attending a conclave summoned by Divine Justinia V to settle the Mage-Templar conflict. However, an explosion destroys the Temple of Sacred Ashes, killing everyone at the Conclave except for the protagonist, who emerges with no memory of the attack and a mysterious mark on their hand. The explosion also causes a hole in the Veil known as the Breach, as well as several minor rifts which the Inquisitor can close with their mark. As Thedas descends into chaos, the protagonist and their allies reestablish the Inquisition, acting separate from Ferelden and Orlais and hoping to close the rifts and seal the Breach for good.
As the story progresses, the Inquisitor learns of the existence of Corypheus, an ancient Tevinter Magister who is behind the attack at the Conclave. By using a powerful, ancient elven orb, Corypheus meant to destroy the Veil, enter the Fade, and declare himself a god, hoping to reshape the world in his image. Because the Inquisitor interrupted the ritual, Corypheus is left to find other ways to achieve godhood.
What Does Corypheus Say to the Player in ‘Dragon Age: Inquisition’?
Corypheus’ introduction happens in the main quest known as “In Your Heart Shall Burn,” in which his dragon attacks the town of Haven, the protagonist’s base of operations. Like any good villain, Corypheus loves to monologue; unlike many mediocre villains, however, the magister actually has something interesting to say. As he approaches the protagonist, Corypheus confronts them for interrupting the ritual at the conclave, speaking in a threatening and assured yet vague tone.
Many things make this cutscene incredibly badass. Corypheus’ design is striking and off-putting, coming out of the flames like a spectre from a long-forgotten past. His lyrium dragon is rad as hell, and Trevor Morris‘ incredible score amplifies the tension as the magister slowly creeps towards the player. However, it’s the dialogue that’s the cutscene’s centerpiece, further elevated by David Sterne‘s booming, assured, terrifying voice performance. Of all the lines he speaks, one stands out as the greatest, a concise, perfectly constructed sentence that not only summarizes his motives but captures the series’ main thematic concerns: “Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty.”
Why Is Corypheus’ Line So Brilliant?
With this one line, Corypheus dismantles the entire belief system of the Chantry (Dragon Age‘s main religious organization) and puts into question everything the player knows about Thedas as a whole. Previous games, not to mention the in-world Chant of Light, claim that the Blight was punishment by the Maker, Thedas’ version of God, after ancient Tevinter Magisters breached the Veil and entered the Golden City in the Fade. Their presence corrupted it, turning it into the Black City, and causing the Maker to expel them, sending them back to the physical world as distorted, corrupted versions of themselves.
Corypheus challenges this notion by claiming he indeed entered the Black City, but there was no god; no Maker to punish or banish him, no gold to make the city shine. In fact, the city was already blackened when he entered, and whatever tainted it happened long before the magister’s arrival. Religious concerns are a major theme in Dragon Age. Conflicting views between different institutions are the root of many of the continent’s conflicts, whether it’s the polytheistic Tevinter Empire trying to expand or the intolerant Chantry attempting to spread its influence. With this one line, Corypheus shatters Chantry teachings and even Tevinter’s beliefs, revealing that the very foundations of modern Thedas are not only wrong, but they’re as tainted as the Blight itself.
Beyond the in-world impact, Corypheus’ line strikes at the heart of real-life religious concerns. We’ve all wondered if there is indeed a god, if religion has any validity at all. Faith is one of the most powerful forces in this world, yet it can be so easily shattered with just a few well-chosen words. Corypheus’ quote does just that: it speaks into our greatest fears concerning faith and captures the hopelessness and dread of realizing everything you know is a lie. Of course, it’s meant to be a badass line spoken by a video game villain, but it’s also so much deeper and more discomforting than just that. It’s perhaps the single most memorable and profound quote in any 2010s video game, and further proof that Inquisition is the best Dragon Age game by far.
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