Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. His enthusiastic comments highlight the game's significant departure from previous entries in the series.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Earns High Praise from Larian Studios
A Focused Vision: "The First Dragon Age Game That Truly Knows What It Wants To Be"
Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), responsible for publishing Baldur's Gate 3, shared his overwhelmingly positive experience with Dragon Age: The Veilguard on Twitter. He confessed to playing the game "in complete secrecy," even resorting to playing it hidden behind his backpack at the office!
Douse's key takeaway? The Veilguard possesses a clear, focused vision. Unlike previous installments that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay, Douse felt The Veilguard successfully integrates both. He likened the experience to a "well-crafted, character-driven Netflix series" – a concise and engaging narrative, unlike a sprawling, drawn-out production.
Douse also praised the innovative combat system, describing it as a brilliant blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy – a "giga-brain genius" combination. This faster-paced, combo-driven approach marks a departure from the more tactical combat of earlier Dragon Age games, aligning it more closely with the style of BioWare's Mass Effect series.
Douse highlighted The Veilguard's excellent pacing, emphasizing its ability to seamlessly transition between narrative moments and opportunities for player experimentation. This balanced approach represents a welcome change from the more traditional RPG structure of its predecessors. His praise extended to BioWare's continued industry presence, which he sees as vital in the face of "moronic corporate greed."
The most striking observation 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 earlier games, Douse clarified, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." He acknowledges its difference from the original but values its distinct identity and ultimately declares, "In a word, it’s fun!"
True Player Agency Through Deep Character Customization
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's character creation system, centered around the customizable Rook protagonist, offers players unprecedented agency. According to Xbox Wire, players enjoy extensive control over their Rook's background, abilities, and moral alignment. The player's task: assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.
Every choice, from backstory to combat specialization, contributes to a personalized role-playing experience. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations (like the Spellblade Mage). Even the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, can be personalized, reflecting the character's journey.
A developer emphasized the immersive nature of character creation, stating, "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, awarding the game a 90, praised its embrace of the faster-paced action RPG genre, highlighting more fluid and engaging gameplay compared to its predecessors. For a detailed review, see our full article.
