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, offering high praise for BioWare's latest action RPG. This article delves into his assessment and the game's innovative features.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Earns Rave Review from Larian Studios' Publishing Head

Baldur’s Gate 3 Executive Calls it a Dragon Age Game That Finally "Knows What It Wants to Be"

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), the publishing director at Larian Studios (creators of Baldur’s Gate 3), expressed enthusiastic approval for BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse revealed on Twitter his clandestine playthrough, jokingly admitting to playing the game hidden behind his backpack at work.

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused design, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing departure from previous series entries that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a compelling, character-driven Netflix series, contrasting it with a lengthy, unwieldy television show.

He also praised the combat system, describing it as a brilliant blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy, a combination he dubbed "giga-brain genius." This fast-paced, combo-driven combat system marks a shift from the more tactical, slower-paced battles of earlier Dragon Age games, bringing it closer to the style of BioWare's Mass Effect series.

Douse commended The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion," and its ability to seamlessly transition between crucial narrative moments and opportunities for players to experiment with their character builds and abilities. This marks a potential departure from the more traditional RPG structure of previous installments. His praise even extended to BioWare's continued industry presence, emphasizing its importance amidst "moronic corporate greed."

The most striking point, however, was Douse's assertion that The Veilguard represents "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this could be interpreted as criticism of previous titles, Douse clarified, stating, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." While not replicating the nostalgic appeal of Dragon Age: Origins, The Veilguard's distinct vision resonated strongly with Douse. In his own words: "In a word, it’s fun!"

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

Dragon Age: The Veilguard aims for deep character immersion through the Rook, a customizable protagonist with extensive personalization options. According to Xbox Wire, players will enjoy significant creative freedom in shaping their Rook's background, skills, and moral alignment. Players, as the Rook, must assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

The character creation system emphasizes meaningful choices, ensuring that every decision, from backstory to combat specialization, aligns with the player's vision. Players can choose from Mage, Rogue, and Warrior classes, each with unique specializations (like the Spellblade mage subclass). Personalization even extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate rooms to reflect 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 focus on impactful player choices. With The Veilguard's October 31st release date approaching, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, awarding it a 90 score, highlighted its embrace of a faster-paced action RPG style, offering a more fluid and engaging experience than its predecessors. For a more in-depth look at our review, please see the link below!