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 highlights key features.
Larian Studios' Publishing Chief Showers Praise Upon Dragon Age: The Veilguard
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. He revealed playing the game "in complete secrecy," even jokingly admitting to playing it hidden behind his backpack at the office.
Douse highlighted The Veilguard's clear sense of identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be." This focused direction contrasts with previous Dragon Age entries, which sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a "well-made, character-driven Netflix series," a far cry from a "heavy, 9-season long show."
The combat system also earned 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 marks a departure from the more tactical style of earlier Dragon Age games, bringing it closer to the feel of BioWare's Mass Effect series.
Douse praised the game's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion" and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with their character builds and abilities. This represents a departure from the more traditional RPG structure of its predecessors. He even extended his praise to BioWare's continued industry presence, deeming it crucial amidst "moronic corporate greed."
The most striking aspect of Douse's review is his assertion that The Veilguard is "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While potentially a subtle critique of past entries, Douse clarified, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." However, he clearly respects The Veilguard's distinct vision, concluding simply, "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 enjoy significant creative control over their Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The Rook's mission: assembling a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.
Character creation emphasizes player agency, ensuring choices resonate with the player's vision. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with specializations like the Spellblade Mage, allowing for close-quarters elemental magic. Personalization extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, where players can customize rooms to reflect their character's journey.
A developer stated to 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 focus on meaningful player choices likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment. With The Veilguard's October 31st release, BioWare hopes players share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review awarded The Veilguard a 90, praising its embrace of a "faster pace...more fluid and engaging" gameplay compared to earlier titles.
