Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, heaps praise on BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. In a recent Twitter post (@Cromwelp), Douse revealed his clandestine playtime (involving, he joked, playing behind his backpack at the office) and shared enthusiastic opinions on the game.
Douse lauded The Veilguard's focused identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing contrast to previous series entries which sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a "well-made, character-driven Netflix series," rather than a sprawling, lengthy one.
The combat system also received high marks, described as a "giga-brain genius" blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy. This faster-paced, combo-driven approach aligns The Veilguard more closely with BioWare's Mass Effect series, departing from the slower, tactical combat of earlier Dragon Age titles. Douse highlighted the game's pacing and narrative structure, noting its effective use of "tentpole narrative moments" interspersed with opportunities for player experimentation. He even praised BioWare's continued industry presence, deeming it vital amidst "moronic corporate greed."
While acknowledging his fondness for Dragon Age: Origins, Douse emphasized that The Veilguard carves its own distinct path. He summarized his feelings succinctly: "In a word, it’s fun!"
The game's character customization, particularly the Rook protagonist, further impressed. According to an Xbox Wire feature, The Veilguard offers extensive player agency in shaping the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. Players assemble a party to confront ancient Elven gods, with choices impacting everything from combat specializations (Mage, Rogue, Warrior, with sub-specializations like Spellblade) to personalizing the Rook's in-game home, the Lighthouse. This deep level of character immersion appears to be a key factor in Douse's positive assessment.
With The Veilguard's October 31st release date approaching, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our own review, awarding the game a 90, highlighted its embrace of a faster-paced action RPG style, resulting in more fluid and engaging gameplay than its predecessors. For a complete breakdown of our review, please see the linked article below. [Insert Link Here]