Dragon Age™: The Veilguard

I won't talk about the bad writing, worse companions, or politics. Those have already been covered by too many people. The mechanics, lore, and decision versatility is what broke this game for me. Mechanics: Clever, strategic, and varied combat was replaced with a cheap god of war rip off. Mechanics from inquisition that were fun or interesting were removed all together (crafting, mounts, etc.) Maps locked you out of areas until random points in the future making the game not immersive or fun to explore. Additionally the party size changes and cutting of extra party members from most cut scenes damaged interactions. Overall the entire feel of play was nothing like a Dragon Age game. Lore: Lore was relentlessly ignored, retconned, or savaged by clueless writers. Every culture, religion, or unanswered question was replaced with "The elves did it!". I would be surprised if the writers didn't purposely destroy Dragon Age's established lore with how effective it was. If you like anything other than elves in DA this game is a net loss for the franchise. Decisions: Always the heart of Dragon Age this game rips out that heart and stomps on it. Gone was the Dragon Keep mechanism for importing your past choices into the new game. They don't care what you did you will get their story their way whether you like it or not. On top of that Veilguard decided to do away with any real choice and just give you false options or no options. Don't expect more than two or three of your choices in this game to actually make any difference. Dialogue makes you either agree or strongly agree with the writer's planned response. The writers had a plan and they weren't going to allow you to deviate in any substantial way. This game didn't feel like the death of Dragon Age because it just wasn't a Dragon Age game at all. The creators took an IP that was unique and treasured and threw its skin on another game. So disappointing on almost every level.

Who gave Disney the rights to this game's writing?

I've loved the Dragon age series for a long time now. I know that I am biased in my opinion, partially in that I feel this is what Mass Effect Andromeda is to the Mass Effect series. Fine on its own if you don't know lore, characters, and the over arching story, but ultimately still fails in crucial areas. I will say the fighting, the graphics, and environments are gorgeous, the developers did phenomenal work there. As we all know though that's only a portion of the experience. Which brings me to my next grievance, the writing. The writing...... is just so astronomically bad. For a game series that is so intricate and gripping in its story telling this is just the annoying little sibling trying to copy it. The writing lacks any true substance. The characters are cute, but incredibly forgettable no matter how much I wish they weren't. They all seem to follow one type of trope and then that's their entire personality. They don't feel like people, they just feel like NPCs that you encounter have a quick convo or two then go about your way. The connections between you and your team is just so bland. I heard someone put it so correctly one, "Rook feels like a life coach rather than a leader of a team". I am a sucker for the romance in games in all genres so I always have a more critical lens when it comes to that. When I tell you the romance in this game is just disgustingly juvenile and childish, like its so bad. DA: Origins is the superior in my opinion, and this wouldn't even be a lit match next to that. You have no connection built, it feels like a middle school romance where you can only hold hands and ask each other to a dance with chaperones. Do not even get me started on how mangled Solas and his story+romance felt. What should have been a beautiful conclusion to his story (romanced or not) It just felt so cheap and weak. Its a nice enough experience as you play, the combat truly is great I really love how they handles the warrior class (I love a big lady fighter), but when I think about it after completing it it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think I'll just stick to fanfics for the conclusion of this story. I really hope that DA is able to get into its own studio away from idiot exes who just want a cash cow and they can step back into the world with a new exciting story and expand from there.

Ils ont tué la licence c'est le 2 en moins profond déçevant...

Сколько хейта вылилось на эту игру... Не слушайте никого. Поиграйте сами и составьте своё мнение. Мне игра понравилась, не хватает звёзд с неба, но она не хуже в некоторых аспектах от двойки и инквизиции. Геймплей бодрый, сюжет просто но эпичный, спутники нормальные, каждый прописан и со своей особенностью, повестки не так много как про неё кричат (кроме кринжового момента с Тааш, в целом ничего необычного для Биоваров) Прогрессия и прокачка интересная, можно собрать реально прикольные билды и наказывать. Не слушайте про "губки для впитывания хп" я смотрел эти видосы, там чуваки бегают в серой броне или качают одно, а пользуются другим, есть уникумы которые только лкм спамят, а потом илм геймплей не нравится. Убрали пустой открытый мир как было в инквизиции и теперь у нас локации но выполнены очень доже недурно. Графика отличная, визуал многие ругают, но как для жанра фентези всё довольно красиво и каждая локация очень грамотно заставлена. Короче игра понравилась, рекомендую, на скидке покупайте не пожалеете, если уберете предвзятость и попытаетесь увидеть хорошее, то вы явно насладитесь игрой.

Came to the game after hearing a lot of bad things. Turns out gamers are, as usual, dramatic as hell. Dialogues weren't half as cringe as people made it seem, the nonbinary arc was pretty on spot (and relatable as hell, as a transmasculine guy myself). Companions were fun, missions had me invested as hell. Not to mention the art and sound design - just marvelous. Different than origins, for sure, but more similar to inquisition. Loved it.

Unbelievably bad game design

4.9/10 If you're looking for a game to waste time this one is for you. Don't get your hopes up though as it's nothing compares to an actual Dragon Age game. This should just be called Veilguard and be a stand alone game, it might have attracted more attention that way. I think if you like combat and making builds, it's a feasible RPG. You can make builds but they're limited and probably around 6 actual ones. Past that, the companions, conversation, and story just seems to be atrocious. If you like true story games or old Dragon Age for the story, I wouldn't play this one. It feels like such an agenda piece that I'm genuinely confused any of this was signed off on or made. Back to companions, they feel lackluster and are just there to provide skills that sync with each other. You're playing therapist between each companion that it doesn't even feel like you're apart of the team but rather their parent. At one point, you console a companion about wearing a dress...let that sink in. I could go on but here are some pros and cons: Pros: - You're the sexiest individual alive (everyone wants to romance and flirts with you) - Skills/builds - Combat is feasible so is going here but it's just eh - Everyone wants to have sex with you and you're sexy - Transmog Cons: - Companions - they are lackluster (i.e gear is eh, backstory who cares?, skills are literally the same) Every conversation is a snooze and all they do is whine. You then play therapist. - The game looks terrible - feels like I'm playing Tiny Tina Wonderland - Everything is purple - The fog is rainbow - Variety of enemies is poor - Repetitive - Art direction of the entire game - PURPLE

The writing is so bad, its cringe. The actors are way too emotional and weak and the trans stuff really does take away from the game (I thought I wouldn't mind it, but it's WAyyy too much)

Played when it came out and was too disheartened to review but I was thinking about the game again and I was so filled with rage I had to leave a bad review. Extremely souless, every aspect of the setting that was dark or interesting has been sanded down. Companions lack personality, are all just vaguely nice people with no interesting relationships with each other or real flaws (except for Taash, who still suffers from some bad writing but is honestly the closest to companions from previous Dragon Age games). Initially I thought it was fun because of how flashy it is but as you play you just realize there is no substance or heart at all. The only part that was really worth it is the final quest, which did feel very cool. Not worth everything to get up to that point. And all of that is not even mentioning the fact that previous choices don't matter at all, killing the life of the setting. Even if you know it's bad but think you'll give it a shot cuz you liked the other games and want the ending to the story, I would strongly suggest you don't bother. I played through the whole thing and regret buying it at all, and I went in with a very open mind.