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.
Larian Studios' Publishing Director Applauds Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Focused Vision
Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on X), the publishing director at Larian Studios (creators of Baldur's Gate 3), expressed considerable enthusiasm for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. He revealed playing the game "in complete secrecy," even resorting to playing it behind his backpack at work!
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 Netflix series," contrasting it with a "heavy, 9-season long show."
The game's 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 system, reminiscent of Mass Effect, contrasts with the more tactical approach of earlier Dragon Age titles.
Douse further praised The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion" and 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 fondness for Dragon Age: Origins ("I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that."), Douse emphasized The Veilguard's distinct identity and overall enjoyment: "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 have extensive control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The core narrative involves assembling a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.
Character creation allows players to align choices with their roleplaying vision. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with specializations like the Spellblade mage subclass. Personalization extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to decorate rooms to reflect their character's journey.
A developer quoted by Xbox Wire emphasized the impact of these choices, stating, "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 choices likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment. With its October 31st release date, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review awarded The Veilguard a 90, praising its embrace of a faster-paced action RPG style.
