Larian Studios' Publishing Director, Michael Douse, recently lauded Dragon Age: The Veilguard, offering high praise for BioWare's latest action RPG. This article delves into his assessment and explores the game's innovative features.

Larian Studios' Publishing Chief Sings the Praises of Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Baldur’s Gate 3 Exec Calls it a Dragon Age Game That "Truly Knows What It Wants To Be"

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

Douse highlighted The Veilguard's focused design, stating it "truly knows what it wants to be," a refreshing change from previous entries that sometimes struggled to balance narrative and gameplay. He likened the game's experience to a "well-crafted, character-driven Netflix series," avoiding the drawn-out feel of a "9-season long show."

The combat system also received significant praise, described as a "giga-brain genius" blend of Xenoblade Chronicles and Hogwarts Legacy. This faster-paced, combo-driven combat system marks a departure from earlier Dragon Age games, drawing comparisons to the action-oriented combat of BioWare's Mass Effect series.

Douse praised The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion," its ability to balance impactful narrative moments with opportunities for player experimentation. This represents a departure from the more traditional RPG structure of its predecessors. He even commended BioWare's continued industry presence, emphasizing its importance amidst "moronic corporate greed."

However, Douse's most compelling observation centers on The Veilguard's distinct identity. He declared it "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be," a statement that, while potentially critical of earlier entries, was 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 clear vision resonated deeply with Douse. In his own words: "In a word, 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 with extensive personalization options. According to Xbox Wire, players enjoy considerable creative control over the Rook's background, skills, and alignment. The Rook's quest involves assembling a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

Character creation emphasizes meaningful player choices, ensuring that every decision, from backstory to combat specialization, aligns with the player's vision. Classes include Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations like the Mage's Spellblade, enabling close-quarters elemental magic. Personalization extends to the Rook's home, the Lighthouse, allowing players to customize 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 detailed character development likely contributed to Douse's positive assessment, particularly the emphasis on impactful player choices. With The Veilguard's October 31st release, BioWare hopes players will share Douse's enthusiasm. Our review praised The Veilguard's embrace of a "faster pace," resulting in "more fluid and engaging gameplay" compared to its predecessors, awarding it a score of 90.