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 the game's innovative features.
Larian Studios' Publishing Chief Sings the Praises of Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Michael Douse, known as @Cromwelp on Twitter (now X), expressed his enthusiastic approval of The Veilguard, revealing he played it "in complete secrecy," even resorting to playing behind his backpack at the office!
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" instead of a "heavy, 9-season long show."
The combat system also received significant praise, described as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination Douse called "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat system aligns The Veilguard more closely with BioWare's Mass Effect series, departing from the tactical style of earlier Dragon Age games.
Douse praised the game's pacing and its ability to balance narrative moments with opportunities for player experimentation. He noted the game's "good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," skillfully integrating impactful story beats with periods for class exploration and strategic gameplay. His commendation extended to BioWare's continued industry presence, deemed crucial 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 be interpreted as criticism of previous titles, Douse clarified, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." He acknowledged that while it lacks the nostalgic charm of Origins, The Veilguard's distinct vision is commendable. In his words, "In a word, it’s fun!"
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Rook Character Customization Offers "True Player Agency"
Dragon Age: The Veilguard emphasizes deep character immersion through the Rook, a customizable protagonist with extensive personalization options. According to Xbox Wire, players enjoy significant creative control over the Rook's background, skills, and moral alignment. The player's task is to assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.
Character creation allows players to align their choices—from backstory to combat specialization—with their role-playing vision. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for mages). Personalization extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate rooms to reflect their character's journey.
A developer told Xbox Wire, "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 detailed character development likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the focus on meaningful player choices. With The Veilguard's release on October 31st, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review awarded the game a 90, praising its embrace of a faster-paced action RPG style, resulting in more fluid and engaging gameplay compared to its predecessors.
