Recent reviews by Mr.Scadding

I was unsure what to expect going into Dragon Age: The Veilguard (DATV). As a longtime fan of both the Dragon Age series and its developers, BioWare, I struggled to reconcile my love for the franchise with the negativity surrounding the game’s release. The criticism was so intense that I waited nearly three months to play it, hoping that by avoiding it, I could protect the integrity of the series I cherish. In a way, it felt like a Schrödinger's Dragon Age situation: if I didn't play it, then it couldn't tarnish my love for the franchise or signal the end of the Dragon Age saga.

But now, just shy of 85 hours in, with all achievements unlocked, I can summarise my experience with DATV. DATV is a visually stunning game featuring fantastic music, engaging combat, divisive characters, and a compelling story that, despite some questionable writing at times, effectively narrates its plot. However, it lacks the player agency that is a hallmark of the Dragon Age franchise.

Combat feels weighty, the skill tree is large enough to allow for diverse builds, and each class feels distinct. Combat is a good balance of simplicity and complexity. While I often found myself fighting the same enemies over and over, the combat was varied enough to prevent stagnation. What was not varied enough, though, was the puzzles. I enjoy a good puzzle in a video game and DATV is not even the first in the Dragon Age franchise to include them, but it was definitely the weakest implementation. The core puzzles themselves were fine, but they were the same again and again and again, with the same solutions, the same look, just slightly different locations. Was this issue compounded by going for the 100% in the game? Probably. Did it stop me from hitting 100% in all areas? No, it was fine—just a missed opportunity.

The decision to shift from the sprawling open-world gameplay of Inquisition to more densely packed and revisitable environments, similar to those in Dragon Age 2, was a positive move for DATV. Whilst I enjoyed exploring the verdant Arbor Wilds, or the atmospheric Storm Coast, I don't think it would have fit the scope of DATV. It's clear that Bioware learned valuable lessons from the mistakes made with Dragon Age 2 and how revisited environments are handled. The gameplay in these areas is enjoyable, offering plenty of nooks and smaller spaces to explore. However, be aware that some areas are completely locked to specific quests. So, if your goal is to achieve 100% completion, make sure to thoroughly investigate every area before moving on.

I found the core story arc to be gripping and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was suspenseful, tense, and twisty; I often found myself holding my breath in anticipation or throwing my head back in disbelief. Side quests were a mixed bag; some were excellent, and others were little more than fetch quests. Companion side quests, in particular, were usually the best of the bunch. Each and every one of the 7 companions is interesting and multi-faceted once you look a little deeper. Identity is a core theme that runs through all of the companion questlines. Rook aids their companions in discovering who they are, choosing to encourage and support various choices that contribute to the development of the companions' identities. I would have loved to have seen more personal out-of-combat interactions with the companions, particularly with the character you decide to romance. The romance was a slow burn for the majority of the characters, but it was heartfelt and, depending on your choice of paramour, sometimes a little awkward or particularly wholesome. This was nice, but I do understand the criticisms regarding the romance. There is very little payoff in the romance scenes, with some romances culminating in a little more than a kiss or two across an entire playthrough. For those characters that do actually have a romance scene, they are very tame, offering little more than a swift glimpse of a buttcheck at most. Perhaps we have all been spoiled by Baldur's Gate here, but for a game rated M, it was a surprising choice.

I was very disappointed by how little the decisions from previous games impacted DATV. Seemingly, only two choices truly have a significant impact on the world. Instead of meticulously crafting your ideal world state by replaying games, importing your saves, and tweaking things within Dragon Age Keep, we are treated to a simple menu pop-up. This omission is particularly disappointing.

I have seen numerous complaints about the game’s tone being less dark than its predecessors, but I struggle to understand the basis for this claim. The world is bleak, particularly when one of the main city hubs gets blighted . Rook is tackling issues of suffering, hopelessness, human sacrifice, blood magic, genocide... the list goes on. I have noticed that the way your player character interacts with companions/NPCs is a big departure from other entries in the series. While you can still adopt the role of a reluctant hero, there is limited opportunity to behave like a true antagonist. The ability to kill your companions or drive them away with constant 'bad' decisions has gone. If you typically enjoy playing the villain/renegade role, then this game may not be the right fit for you.

One complaint that I believe has some merit concerns the writing. While most of the writing is quite good, some of the dialogue options available for Rook are questionable. For example, a character appears and introduces themselves to Rook and the gang, and then another character recognises this new character and essentially restates the same introduction. After this, Rook can ask, “Who are you?” This triggers a third round of the same information. Such interactions can be tiresome, and conversations of a similar nature occur more frequently than I would prefer. This situation leads to an impression that either 1) Rook is not very bright, or 2) the developers think the player lacks intelligence.

I would highly recommend Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Is it the perfect Dragon Age experience? No. Is it still a good game? Absolutely. Whilst it's not shooting to the top of my favourite games list to join the likes of Dragon Age: Origins, it is still a game that I will frequently think back to and remember fondly.

7/10