Nearly a decade after Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare has finally unleashed their latest entry into the beloved RPG franchise, Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
With anticipation levels through the roof, and my expectations suitably tempered by the gaming industry’s ability to break hearts, I jumped into Thedas once more, prepared for dragons, romance, and inevitably poor life choices. Picking up ten years after the world-shaking revelations at the end of Inquisition, Thedas is predictably in a mess, thanks mostly to everyone’s favourite problematic Elf, Solas.
Determined to tear down the Veil that separates the mundane from the magical, his antics have plunged the world into chaos again – because, of course, peace would just make for a terribly dull game. This time around, you take control of Rook, a customisable protagonist with your typical BioWare array of backgrounds and talents. Impressively, there are six different factions you can align with, each offering distinct story beats and interactions.
I opted for the rogue mage archetype, mostly because stealthy spell-slinging seemed the quickest route to disaster, and also as that’s on brand for every other Dragon Age game I’ve played. Combat, for better or worse, has moved significantly towards a real-time, action-oriented experience. Gone are the days of meticulous tactical pausing every few seconds. But now we’re dodge-rolling like we’re auditioning for a Soulsborne game, just like every other new release with sword and board combat too. While initially missing the tactical depths of the older titles, I’ll begrudgingly admit that the new combat mechanics grew on me, especially when chaining together flashy combos that made me briefly feel competent.
Briefly. As ever, companions remain the true heart of any Dragon Age experience. The Veilguard doesn’t disappoint here, mostly. Standouts include Bellara, the enigmatic Veil Jumper mage, and Grun, the dwarf warrior whose dry wit was surprisingly funny. However, other companions feel slightly overlooked, with the rogue Neve suffering from dialogue that felt like placeholder text someone forgot to edit.
The narrative choices, while abundant, sadly fall slightly short of the impactful storytelling we saw in earlier titles. Decisions certainly make you feel involved, but many ultimately lead to similar outcomes. I don’t mind taking multiple diverging pathways, and I know it’ll lead to the same endgame, I just want to feel like the decisions had impact on the game world. It feels akin to asking someone if they’d prefer coffee or tea, only to serve them lukewarm water regardless. It doesn’t ruin the story, but it somewhat dampens that illusion of player agency BioWare usually excels at, or at least used to (glares at Mass Effect). Visually, The Veilguard is genuinely spectacular. From the bustling streets of Minrathous, teeming with life and impressively detailed NPC routines (who knew virtual blacksmithing could look so intense?), to the eerie yet breathtaking expanse of the Deep Roads, each environment feels carefully and lovingly crafted.
It’s visually sumptuous enough that I often stopped to admire the scenery, usually moments before a bear or a dragon rudely reminded me this wasn’t a sightseeing tour. On the technical side, BioWare deserves kudos for finally delivering a stable release. Unlike certain past entries, I experienced minimal bugs. Sure, there was the occasional levitating horse or NPC clipping halfway into walls, but nothing that fundamentally broke immersion. Honestly, given the current state of game launches, my bar for technical issues is subterranean – so consider this high praise. Sound design and voice acting remain top-tier.
The dialogue feels natural, even if my choices often weren’t, and the score enhances every significant moment, swelling dramatically right as I inevitably biffed my choices and/or controller input and plunged Rook into a chasm. In summary, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a decent entry in the series. It doesn’t quite reach the glorious heights of Origins or even Inquisition (and my replay of that felt lacklustre), but it’s still an engaging return to Thedas, filled with enough dragons, wit, and questionable decisions to keep any fan happy.
If you’re new to Dragon Age, there’s plenty to love, just don’t expect your life-changing decisions to actually, well, change your life. If, like me, you’re a returning player, I’ll have to let you come to your own verdict I’m afraid. If nothing else, it’s another chance to pretend I have a vibrant social life and meaningful relationships, even if they’re pixel-based.
Author: Tom, Cardiff Store
