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

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

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

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on Twitter/X), the publishing director at Larian Studios (creators of Baldur's Gate 3), has publicly lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, revealing he played it secretly – even behind his backpack at the office! His key takeaway? The game "truly knows what it wants to be." This focused identity, he suggests, is a refreshing change from previous Dragon Age titles that sometimes struggled to balance compelling narratives with engaging gameplay. He likened the experience to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series," a far cry from a "heavy, 9-season long show."

Douse also highlighted the innovative combat system, describing it as a brilliant blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy – a combination he dubbed "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat system marks a departure from the more tactical, slower approach of earlier Dragon Age games, drawing closer to the style of BioWare's Mass Effect series.

Further praising the game's pacing, Douse noted its "good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," highlighting its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with their chosen class and exploit its strengths. He even lauded BioWare's continued presence in the industry, deeming it crucial amidst "moronic corporate greed."

Perhaps the most significant praise centers on The Veilguard's newfound self-awareness. Douse declared 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 himself: "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." While not replicating the nostalgic charm of Origins, The Veilguard's distinct vision clearly resonated with Douse. His final verdict? "In a word, it’s fun!"

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

Dragon Age: The Veilguard aims for deep player immersion through the Rook, a highly customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players will have 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 emphasizes impactful choices, ensuring player agency from backstory to combat specialization. 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 their space to reflect their character's journey. As 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 meticulous attention to character detail likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the focus on choices with meaningful consequences. With The Veilguard launching October 31st, BioWare will be hoping for widespread agreement with Douse's enthusiastic endorsement.

Our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard highlighted its embrace of "the faster pace of the action RPG genre," praising its "more fluid and more engaging" gameplay compared to its predecessors. For our full review and 90 score, check out the article below!