Dragon Age: The Veilguard “Truly Knows What it Wants to Be” Praises BG3 Exec

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, showering praise on BioWare's latest action RPG. Let's delve into his insightful review.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Earns High Praise from Baldur's Gate 3 Executive

"It Feels Like the First Dragon Age Game That Truly Knows What It Wants to Be," Says Baldur's Gate 3 Exec

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on Twitter/X), the publishing director at Larian Studios (creators of Baldur's Gate 3), has expressed enthusiastic admiration for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse shared his experience on Twitter, humorously revealing his clandestine gameplay sessions – playing the game hidden behind his backpack at the office!

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused identity, a refreshing change compared to previous entries which, he suggests, sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the game's experience to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series" rather than a lengthy, drawn-out television show.

The game's combat system also received high praise, described as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination Douse calls "giga-brain genius." This new direction steers The Veilguard closer to the fast-paced action of BioWare's Mass Effect series, offering fluid attack chaining, unlike the more tactical, slower pace of earlier Dragon Age titles.

Douse praised The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with their class abilities. This represents a departure from the more traditional RPG structures of its predecessors. His praise even extended to BioWare's continued industry presence, deeming it crucial amidst "moronic corporate greed."

However, Douse's most significant observation centers on The Veilguard's newfound identity. He considers it "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this might seem like a subtle critique of past Dragon Age titles, Douse clarified: "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." Although it doesn't replicate the nostalgic charm of Dragon Age: Origins, The Veilguard's distinct vision resonates deeply with Douse. In his own words: "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 with highly personalized traits. According to an Xbox Wire feature, players enjoy extensive creative control over their Rook's background, skills, and alignment. As the Rook, players assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation emphasizes player agency, ensuring choices—from backstory to combat specialization—align with the player's vision. Players choose from Mage, Rogue, and Warrior classes, each with specializations like the Spellblade Mage, enabling close-quarters elemental magic. Customization even extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to personalize 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 meticulous attention to detail likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the game's focus on impactful choices. With The Veilguard's October 31st release date approaching, BioWare hopes players share Douse's enthusiasm.

Our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard highlighted its embrace of "the faster pace of the action RPG genre," with gameplay that's "more fluid and more engaging" than its predecessors. For a complete breakdown of our thoughts and our 90-point score, check out our full review [link to review article].