"Dragon Age: Veilguard Praised by BG3 Exec for Clear Vision"

Larian Studios’ Publishing Director Michael Douse recently offered high praise for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare's latest action RPG. Dive deeper into Douse's insights on this eagerly anticipated game.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Earns High Praise from Larian Studios’ Publishing Chief

“It Feels Like the First Dragon Age Game That Truly Knows What It Wants to Be,” Said Baldur’s Gate 3 Exec

Michael Douse, known on Twitter as @Cromwelp and the publishing director at Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, has nothing but positive remarks about Dragon Age: The Veilguard. In a tweet, Douse revealed he had been playing the game "in complete secrecy," humorously describing his covert gaming sessions behind a backpack at the office.

Douse believes The Veilguard stands out as a game that "truly knows what it wants to be," a quality he finds refreshing when compared to previous Dragon Age titles that sometimes struggled to harmonize storytelling with gameplay. He likened the experience to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series" rather than a "heavy, 9-season-long show."

He also commended the game's combat system, describing it as a blend of "Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," which he labeled as "giga-brain genius." This innovative approach appears to align The Veilguard more closely with the fast-paced, combo-driven style of BioWare’s Mass Effect series, rather than the slower, tactical combat of earlier Dragon Age games.

Douse praised The Veilguard’s pacing, noting the game "has a good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," and effectively balances "tentpole narrative moments" with opportunities for players to explore their class's strengths. He sees this as a thoughtful departure from the traditional RPG roots of its predecessors. His appreciation extended to BioWare's ongoing role in the industry, which he considers vital amidst "moronic corporate greed."

However, the most compelling aspect Douse highlighted is The Veilguard’s clear sense of identity. He praised it as "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this might be perceived as a subtle critique of earlier Dragon Age games, Douse made it clear that he remains a fan of Dragon Age: Origins, stating, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." Yet, he acknowledges The Veilguard's unique vision and finds it commendable. "In a word, it’s fun!" he concluded.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Rook Character Customization Allows for “True Player Agency”

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare aims to deliver a deeply immersive character experience through Rook, the custom protagonist. A feature by Xbox Wire highlighted the extensive creative control players will have over Rook’s background, skillset, and alignment. Players will lead Rook and assemble a party to tackle the threat of two ancient Elven gods in Thedas.

The character creation system in The Veilguard is designed to ensure every player's choice, from backstory to combat specialization, aligns with their role-playing vision. Players can select from classes such as Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations like Spellblade for mages, allowing close-quarters elemental magic combat. Additionally, players can personalize Rook's home, the Lighthouse, to reflect their character’s journey.

"As you do, Rook reminisces about their history before the events of the game," a developer shared with 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 customization could be part of what Michael Douse found commendable, especially as the game emphasizes choices that resonate deeply with players. With Dragon Age: The Veilguard set to release on October 31, BioWare will be eager for players to echo Douse’s sentiments.

In our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, we noted that the game successfully embraces "the faster pace of the action RPG genre," offering gameplay that "is more fluid and engaging compared to its predecessors." For a deeper dive into our thoughts on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and why we scored it a 90, read our full review below!