Dragon Age: Unveiling Ambitions, Exec Praises BG3

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, heaps praise on BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse, known as @Cromwelp on X (formerly Twitter), shared his enthusiastic review, revealing he played it secretly – even behind his backpack at the office!

He lauded The Veilguard's focused identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing contrast to previous entries. He likened the game's experience to a "well-made, character-driven Netflix series," avoiding the drawn-out feel of longer, less focused narratives.

Douse also highlighted the innovative combat system, describing it as a "giga-brain genius" blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy. This faster-paced, combo-driven combat marks a departure from the tactical style of earlier Dragon Age games, drawing comparisons to BioWare's Mass Effect series.

The game's pacing also received high praise; Douse noted its "good sense of propulsion" and ability to balance narrative moments with opportunities for player experimentation. He even commended BioWare's continued industry presence, contrasting it with "moronic corporate greed."

While acknowledging Dragon Age: Origins as a personal favorite, Douse emphasized that The Veilguard carves its own distinct path. He succinctly summarized his opinion: "In a word, it’s fun!"

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Rook Character Customization Offers "True Player Agency"

The Veilguard's character creation system, centered around the customizable Rook protagonist, allows for extensive player agency. According to Xbox Wire, players enjoy significant control over Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The player's task: assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Choices made during character creation, from backstory to combat specialization, deeply impact the gameplay. Classes like Mage, Rogue, and Warrior offer diverse specializations (e.g., Spellblade for mages). Personalization even extends to Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate rooms to reflect their character's journey.

A developer quoted by Xbox Wire highlighted the immersive nature of this system: "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 October 31st release date approaching, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review awarded The Veilguard a 90, praising its fluid, engaging gameplay, a significant improvement over its predecessors.