Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, offering high praise for BioWare's latest action RPG. This article delves into his insightful review.
Larian Studios' Publishing Chief Showers Praise on Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Baldur’s Gate 3 Executive Calls it a Dragon Age Game That "Truly Knows What It Wants to Be"
Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), the publishing director at Larian Studios (creators of Baldur's Gate 3), expressed immense enthusiasm for BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse shared his positive experience on Twitter, revealing he played the game "in complete secrecy," even resorting to playing behind his backpack at work!
Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing change from previous Dragon Age titles that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He cleverly compared the game's experience to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series" instead of a sprawling, drawn-out television show.
The combat system also received significant praise, described as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination Douse called "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat, unlike the more tactical approach of earlier Dragon Age games, aligns The Veilguard more closely with the style of BioWare's Mass Effect series.
Douse further praised The Veilguard's pacing, describing it as having "a good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," skillfully balancing narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with their class abilities. This marks a potential departure from the more traditional RPG structure of its predecessors. He even extended his praise to BioWare's continued industry presence, deeming it essential amidst "moronic corporate greed."
However, the most significant point Douse made was The Veilguard's newfound self-awareness. He declared it "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be," a statement that could be interpreted as a subtle critique of past entries. Douse clarified, "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that," indicating that while different, The Veilguard's distinct vision is commendable. In his own words, "In a word, it’s fun!"
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Rook Character Customization Offers “True Player Agency”
Dragon Age: The Veilguard aims for deep player immersion through the Rook, a highly customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players will have extensive control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The player's task: assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.
Character creation emphasizes meaningful choices. Players select from Mage, Rogue, and Warrior classes, each with unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for Mages). Personalization extends even to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate it to reflect their character's journey.
"As you do, Rook reminisces about their history before the events of the game," a developer told 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 impactful choices likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment. With The Veilguard's October 31st release date approaching, BioWare hopes players share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard highlighted its embrace of "the faster pace of the action RPG genre" with more fluid and engaging gameplay than its predecessors, awarding it a score of 90.
