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

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently heaped praise on BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Let's delve into his insightful comments on this newly released action RPG.

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,” Says Baldur’s Gate 3 Executive

Michael Douse (@Cromwelp on Twitter/X), the publishing director at Larian Studios (developers of Baldur's Gate 3), has expressed immense enthusiasm for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse shared his thoughts on Twitter, revealing he'd been playing "in complete secrecy"—a feat he humorously described as playing behind his backpack at the office.

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused identity, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be." This, he suggests, is a refreshing change from previous entries in the series, which sometimes struggled to balance compelling narratives with engaging gameplay. He even likened the game to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series," contrasting it with a "heavy, 9-season long show."

Douse also lauded the game's combat system, describing it as a "mix of Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," a combination he termed "giga-brain genius." This innovative approach seemingly aligns The Veilguard more closely with the fast-paced action of BioWare's Mass Effect series, featuring fluid attack chains and powerful combo potential, diverging from the slower, more tactical combat of earlier Dragon Age titles.

Further praising The Veilguard's pacing, Douse noted its "good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," highlighting its ability to seamlessly transition between impactful narrative moments and periods of player exploration and experimentation with character builds. This represents a departure from the more traditional RPG structures of its predecessors. His praise extended to BioWare's continued industry presence, which he deemed crucial amidst "moronic corporate greed."

However, Douse's most compelling observation centers on The Veilguard's newfound self-awareness. He lauded it as "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this might be interpreted as a critique of past Dragon Age games, Douse clarified: "I’ll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." While lacking the nostalgic charm of Dragon Age: Origins, The Veilguard, according to Douse, possesses a distinct and compelling vision—a quality he deeply appreciates. 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 character immersion through the Rook, a customizable protagonist with highly personalized traits. According to an Xbox Wire feature, players enjoy extensive creative control over their Rook's background, skills, and moral alignment. As the Rook, players assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation in The Veilguard emphasizes meaningful choices, ensuring player agency resonates throughout the experience. Players select from classes like Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for mages). Customization extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, where players personalize rooms 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 meticulous attention to character detail likely contributes to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the focus on impactful player choices. With The Veilguard's release on October 31st, 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," praising its "more fluid and engaging" gameplay compared to its predecessors. For a more detailed look at our perspective and our 90 score, check out our full review [link to review].