Dragon Age: Veilguard Unveiled, Garnering Industry Accolades

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, praising its focused design and engaging gameplay. This article delves into his positive assessment of BioWare's latest action RPG.

Larian Studios' Publishing Chief Showers Praise on Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Baldur’s Gate 3 Executive Calls it a Dragon Age Game That "Truly 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 praise for BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse revealed his clandestine playthrough, jokingly admitting to playing the game hidden behind his backpack at the office.

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's clear sense of purpose, a refreshing change from previous Dragon Age installments that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the game's experience to a "well-crafted, character-driven Netflix series," contrasting it with a "lengthy, cumbersome 9-season show."

The innovative combat system also received high praise. Douse described it as a brilliant blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy, calling it "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat system marks a departure from the more tactical approach of earlier Dragon Age games, aligning The Veilguard more closely with the style of BioWare's Mass Effect series.

Douse further commended The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "propulsion and forward momentum," and its ability to seamlessly integrate impactful narrative moments with opportunities for player experimentation and class exploitation. This represents a significant shift from the more traditional RPG structure of its predecessors. He even extended his praise to BioWare's continued industry presence, emphasizing its importance amidst "moronic corporate greed."

The most significant point Douse made was The Veilguard's newfound identity. He 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: "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." While not replicating the nostalgia of Dragon Age: Origins, The Veilguard's distinct vision resonated strongly with Douse. 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 aims for deep player immersion through the Rook, a highly customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players will have extensive control over their Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The Rook's mission: to assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation emphasizes meaningful choices, ensuring that backstory and combat specializations align with the player's vision. Players can select from Mage, Rogue, and Warrior classes, each with unique specializations (like Spellblade for mages). Customization even extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to personalize their space 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 focus on detailed character development likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the emphasis on impactful player choices. With The Veilguard's release on October 31st, 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," praising its "fluid and engaging" gameplay compared to its predecessors. For a full review and our 90 score, check out our dedicated article!