Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, heaps praise on BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. In a recent Twitter post (@Cromwelp), Douse lauded the game, revealing he played it secretly at the office. He described The Veilguard as "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing departure from previous entries that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a compelling Netflix series, concise and character-driven, contrasting it with lengthy, unwieldy productions.
Douse's commendation extended to the combat system, which he characterized as a brilliant fusion of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy, resulting in fast-paced, chainable attacks reminiscent of BioWare's Mass Effect series. This contrasts sharply with the more tactical, slower-paced combat of earlier Dragon Age titles. He praised the game's pacing, noting its effective use of narrative tentpoles and opportunities for player experimentation. While acknowledging his fondness for Dragon Age: Origins, he emphasized that The Veilguard carves its own unique path. Ultimately, he summarized his experience with a simple yet powerful statement: "In a word, it’s fun!"
The Veilguard's focus on player agency is another key element highlighted by the game's promotion. Through the customizable Rook character, players enjoy unprecedented control over their protagonist's background, skills, and alignment. Choices resonate throughout the game, impacting everything from combat specializations (Mage, Rogue, Warrior, each with unique sub-classes like Spellblade) to the personalization of the Rook's in-game home, the Lighthouse. This level of detail, as highlighted by Xbox Wire, allows players to forge a truly personal connection with their character, even influencing seemingly minor details like facial tattoos.
This deep character customization likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the emphasis on meaningful player choices. With The Veilguard's October 31st release date approaching, BioWare will be hoping for a widespread echo of Douse's enthusiasm. Our own review, awarding the game a 90, highlighted its fluid and engaging gameplay, a significant improvement over previous iterations. For a more detailed analysis of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, please refer to our full review.
