Dragon Age: The Veilguard “Truly Knows What it Wants to Be” Praises BG3 Exec

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, praising its focused design and engaging gameplay. This article delves into his positive assessment of BioWare's latest action RPG.

Baldur's Gate 3 Exec Showers Praise on Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), the publishing director for Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, expressed enthusiastic approval for BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard. He revealed playing the game "in complete secrecy," even jokingly admitting to playing it behind his backpack at the office.

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's clear identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing change from previous Dragon Age installments that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the experience to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series" rather than a sprawling, drawn-out epic.

The combat system also received high praise, described as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination Douse called "giga-brain genius." This faster-paced, combo-driven combat deviates from the slower, more tactical approach of earlier Dragon Age games, drawing comparisons to BioWare's Mass Effect series.

Douse further praised the game's pacing and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for player experimentation. He even commended BioWare's continued industry presence, emphasizing its importance amidst "moronic corporate greed."

While acknowledging his preference for Dragon Age: Origins, Douse clarified that The Veilguard's distinct identity is a significant strength: "It's fun!"

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

Dragon Age: The Veilguard aims for deep character immersion through the Rook, a customizable protagonist. According to Xbox Wire, players have extensive control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The Rook's mission: assembling a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation allows players to align their choices with their roleplaying vision, from backstory to combat specialization. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for mages). Even the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, can be personalized to reflect their journey.

A developer quoted by Xbox Wire emphasized the impact of these choices: "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 contributes to Douse's positive assessment. With The Veilguard's October 31st release approaching, BioWare hopes players share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review awarded the game a 90, praising its embrace of a faster-paced action RPG style.