Dragon Age: Unveiling the Essence of Gaming Desire

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 insightful review.

Larian Studios' Publishing Chief Sings the Praises of Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), Baldur’s Gate 3's publishing director, expressed unreserved admiration for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. He revealed playing the game "in complete secrecy," even jokingly admitting to playing it hidden behind his backpack at work.

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing contrast to previous series entries that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series" rather than a sprawling, lengthy one.

The combat system also received significant praise, described as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination he called "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat represents a departure from earlier Dragon Age titles, drawing comparisons to the Mass Effect series.

Douse commended The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for player experimentation. He even praised BioWare's continued industry presence, deeming it vital amidst "moronic corporate greed."

The most striking observation was Douse's assertion that The Veilguard is "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this might seem critical of past entries, Douse clarified, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." He acknowledged a different feel but emphasized his respect for the game's distinct vision. His final verdict? "In a word, it’s fun!"

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Rook Character Customization Offers "True Player Agency"

Dragon Age: The Veilguard aims for deep character immersion through the Rook, a customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players enjoy extensive control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The player's task: assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation in The Veilguard emphasizes meaningful choices. Classes (Mage, Rogue, Warrior) feature unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for Mages). Personalization even extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate rooms reflecting their character's journey.

"As you do, Rook reminisces about their history before the events of the game," a developer told Xbox Wire. "This let me define more about my Rook—even down to choices I thought were incidental, like why he has face tattoos. The result is a character who truly feels like mine."

This focus on impactful choices likely contributed to Douse's positive review. With The Veilguard's release on October 31st, BioWare hopes players share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review, awarding the game a 90, highlighted its embrace of a "faster pace of the action RPG genre" with more fluid and engaging gameplay than its predecessors.