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

Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, showering it with high praise. Discover his insightful comments on this newly released action RPG.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Earns Enthusiastic Endorsement from Larian Studios Publishing Director

Baldur's Gate 3 Executive Calls The Veilguard a "Game That Knows What It Wants To Be"

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

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused direction, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing change from previous series entries that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the game's experience to a "well-crafted, character-driven Netflix series" instead of "a long, drawn-out television show."

Douse also praised the innovative combat system, describing it as a brilliant blend of "Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy," a combination he termed "giga-brain genius." This new approach brings The Veilguard closer to the action-oriented style of BioWare's Mass Effect series, featuring fast-paced attacks and combo potential, a departure from the more tactical combat of earlier Dragon Age games.

Douse lauded The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "strong sense of momentum" and its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for players to experiment with their character builds and abilities—a significant departure from the more traditional RPG structure of its predecessors. His praise extended to BioWare's continued industry presence, which he considers vital amidst "corporate greed."

The most striking aspect of Douse's commentary centers on The Veilguard's newfound identity. He proclaimed it "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this could be interpreted as a subtle critique of previous Dragon Age titles, Douse clarified: "I'll always be a [Dragon Age: Origins] guy, and this isn't that." While not replicating the nostalgia of Dragon Age: Origins, The Veilguard's distinct vision clearly resonated with Douse. "In short, it's fun!" he concluded.

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

Dragon Age: The Veilguard strives for deep player 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 alignment. As the Rook, players assemble a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation emphasizes meaningful choices, ensuring that backstory and combat specializations align with the player's vision. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations (e.g., Spellblade for mages). Customization extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to personalize their space to reflect their character's journey.

"As you play, Rook reflects on their past," a developer told Xbox Wire. "This allowed me to further define my Rook—even incidental choices, like face tattoos. The result is a character that truly feels like mine."

This meticulous attention to detail likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the emphasis on impactful player choices. 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 "faster-paced action RPG gameplay," offering a "more fluid and engaging experience" than its predecessors. For a comprehensive review and our 90-point score, check out our full article!