Dragon Age: Veilguard Ambitions Shine in BG3 Preview

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 on Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Baldur’s Gate 3 Exec 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 (developers of Baldur's Gate 3), expressed enthusiastic approval for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. He revealed playing it "in complete secrecy," even jokingly admitting to playing behind his backpack at the office.

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused design, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing change from previous series entries that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the game's experience to a "well-made, character-driven Netflix series," contrasting it with a "heavy, 9-season long show."

The combat system also received significant praise, described as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination he called "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat system aligns The Veilguard more closely with the Mass Effect series than earlier, slower, tactical Dragon Age games.

Douse commended The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion," and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with character builds and abilities. He even praised BioWare's continued industry presence, deeming it crucial amidst "moronic corporate greed."

The most striking point was Douse's assertion that The Veilguard is "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this might seem like a critique of past titles, Douse clarified: "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." He acknowledged it differs from the nostalgic charm of Dragon Age: Origins but respects its distinct vision. 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 character immersion through the Rook, a customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players have extensive control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The Rook's mission: assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation emphasizes meaningful choices, ensuring player agency extends from backstory to combat specialization. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for Mages). Personalization even extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate 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 focus on detailed character development likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the emphasis on impactful player choices. With The Veilguard's October 31st release, BioWare hopes players share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review, awarding the game a 90, highlighted its embrace of a "faster pace" and more engaging gameplay compared to its predecessors.