Dragon Age: Veilguard's Destiny Revealed

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, offering high praise for BioWare's latest action RPG. This article delves into his assessment and explores the game's innovative features.

Baldur's Gate 3 Exec Applauds Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Focused Vision

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), shared his enthusiastic review of The Veilguard on Twitter, revealing he played it "in complete secrecy"—even resorting to playing behind his backpack at work! He highlighted the game's clear identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing change from previous Dragon Age installments that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a captivating Netflix series, concise and character-driven, unlike a drawn-out, less focused television series.

Douse also praised the innovative combat system, describing it as a brilliant blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy, a combination he deemed "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat marks a departure from the more tactical style of earlier Dragon Age games, aligning it more closely with the feel of BioWare's Mass Effect series.

The Veilguard's pacing also received high marks; Douse noted its "good sense of propulsion" and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with their character builds and abilities. He even commended BioWare's continued industry presence, emphasizing its importance amidst "moronic corporate greed."

Douse's most significant observation was The Veilguard's newfound self-awareness. He called it "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be," a statement that, while potentially critical of past entries, was clarified by Douse's admission that he remains a fan of Dragon Age: Origins. The Veilguard, while different, offers a distinct vision that Douse deeply appreciates, summing up his feelings simply as: "In a word, it’s fun!"

Deep Character Customization Offers "True Player Agency"

Dragon Age: The Veilguard emphasizes player agency through the Rook, a highly customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players have extensive control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The Rook's mission: assembling a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation allows players to deeply personalize their experience, ensuring that choices, from backstory to combat specialization, align with their vision. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with specialized subclasses like the Spellblade Mage. Personalization extends even to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, where players can customize rooms to reflect their character's journey.

A developer quoted by Xbox Wire highlighted how character creation allowed for meaningful player investment, stating, "As you do, Rook reminisces about their history before the events of the game... The result is a character who truly feels like mine."

This focus on detailed character development and impactful choices likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment. With The Veilguard's release on October 31st, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review, awarding the game a 90, praised its embrace of a faster-paced action RPG style, resulting in a more fluid and engaging experience than its predecessors.