Dragon Age: The Veilguard Receives High Praise from Larian Studios’ Publishing Chief

“It Feels Like the First Dragon Age Game That Truly Knows What It Wants to Be,” Said Baldur’s Gate 3 Exec

Michael Douse, the publishing director at Larian Studios, known for their work on Baldur's Gate 3, has showered accolades on BioWare's latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Douse shared his insights on the game via Twitter (X), where he goes by @Cromwelp, revealing that he had been playing the game "in complete secrecy"—even jokingly mentioning playing it behind his backpack at the office.

Douse's praise centers around The Veilguard's clear sense of identity, describing it as a game that "truly knows what it wants to be." This, he believes, sets it apart from previous entries in the series which often grappled with balancing storytelling and gameplay. He likened The Veilguard to a "well-made, character-driven, binge-worthy Netflix series" rather than a drawn-out, multi-season show.

The game's combat system also received high marks from Douse, who lauded it as a blend of "Xenoblade Chronicles & Hogwarts Legacy," dubbing this combination "giga-brain genius." This suggests a shift towards a more fast-paced and dynamic combat style akin to BioWare's Mass Effect series, moving away from the slower, tactical approach of earlier Dragon Age games.

Douse commended The Veilguard's pacing, noting its "good sense of propulsion and forward momentum," and its ability to balance narrative moments with gameplay freedom. He appreciates how the game allows players to explore their character's class and exploit its strengths. Douse's praise extends to BioWare's continued relevance in the gaming industry, especially in an era he describes as marked by "moronic corporate greed."

The most compelling praise from Douse is reserved for The Veilguard's distinct identity. He hails it as "the first Dragon Age game that truly knows what it wants to be." While this could be interpreted as a critique of the series' past, Douse clarifies that he remains a fan of Dragon Age: Origins, yet acknowledges The Veilguard's fresh and fun approach. "In a word, it’s fun!" he concluded.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Rook Character Customization Allows for “True Player Agency”

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare aims to deliver an immersive character experience through the protagonist, Rook, offering players extensive customization options. As detailed in a recent Xbox Wire feature, players can craft their Rook with a personalized background, skillset, and moral alignment. Rook's journey involves assembling a party to confront two ancient Elven gods threatening Thedas.

The character creation system in The Veilguard is designed to ensure that every choice, from Rook's backstory to their combat specialization, deeply resonates with the player's vision. Players can choose from classes such as Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, each with unique specializations like the Spellblade for mages, allowing for close-quarters elemental magic. Additionally, players can personalize Rook's home, the Lighthouse, 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 focus on detailed character customization and impactful choices may be what Michael Douse found so commendable. With The Veilguard set to launch on October 31, BioWare will be eager for players to echo Douse's enthusiasm.

In our review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, we noted that the game successfully embraces "the faster pace of the action RPG genre," offering gameplay that is "more fluid and more engaging" than its predecessors. For more on our thoughts and why we awarded the game a score of 90, check out our full review below!