Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review - Is It Any Good?

[@thegrumpyraccoon]

They nailed Qunari in DA2 and ok in Inquisition. In Veilguard they look like discount Tieflings.

[@panjilianorivano7900]

Lol😂 so real

[@brahmantyoihsan5938]

The demo doesn't do it justice. You can make a Qunari that look like DA2 Arishok.

[@GothaBillsAndDeath]

I even remember Pathfinder Kingmaker doing the wartable from Inquisition far better. And that wartable / DnD card event prompts that would pop up sporadically, would be further enhanced in Wrath of the Righteous, where companions with political aptitude or connections could be relied on to make compelling cases for their decisions. I feel like DA:V & DA:I are a relic of a bygone era at this point, with Inquisition having a lot of good ideas, but also EA hovering over their shoulder, attempting to make it as streamlined as possible. Now with DA:V there's almost no reason to go back to the franchise after so many isometric and mainstream triple-A games have filled this niche far better.

[@swordscythe]

It's true, there are much better games if you like tactical isometric RPGs , but Dragon Age was never really a good Isometric RPG. Inquisition was an Action RPG with a crappy combat system and a grindy gameplay, at least in Veilguard they solved those two issues. I think the game is great, it's the best Dragon Age game and the ultimate successor to Neverwinter Nights 1 in that respect. (Whereas Baldur's Gate 3 may be the the ultimate successor to Neverwinter Nights 2, that's actually good). But yeah, from what I hear these people ranting about it mostly sounds like Pathfinder: Kingmaker and games like Tyranny are actually the games they should be playing. Good post.

[@nian73]

“Or really anyone and Morrigan”😂 I loved that.

[@regiszeitlos970]

No, I don't hate it enough. I can hate it more and I will.

[@mosselyn5081]

I'm not as down on it as you are, but I do agree with all your criticisms and your final sentence of "mid". I'm enjoying it OK and I'm not sorry I bought it, but it is nothing special. I primarily play games like this for the story and the companion arcs (with or without romance, lol). I replayed DAI this summer and was happily surprised by how much I still loved it almost instantly, after so many years. It's no BG3, but I found the story and the companions interesting, even compelling. Veilguard, meanwhile, just feels...bland.

[@odinmaveth6224]

Thanks for the review.

[@ApparitionGuitar]

Short answer: yes Long answer: yesssssssssssssssss

[@pb2325]

I think the game was intentionally made for people who don’t like the challenge of the previous games.

[@Entreped]

It was made by and for people who aren't fans of -Dragon Age- games.

[@seanwalsh3774]

Love the content always. Was on the fence about this game and this was exactly what I needed to hear.

[@suuito4390]

Thank you for this well reflected review. The discurs about this game feels very political and toxic. Other reviews are often either 10/10s or feel like they focus entirely on the perceived „wokeness“ and how they hate it. But I dont care for any of that, just want to know if it is a good game or not. As you said, Dragon Age for me was all about three things: tactical combat, deep rpg elements and dark fantasy. I think I could live with a Dragon Age that lost one of these things, maybe even two, but seeing all three gone now in place for a real time hack n slash combat system, shallow rpg elements and a light hearted tone really makes me sad. I wanted this game to succeed, but unfortunately it lost me as a fan and a potential buyer with the new direction it is headed in. Thank you again for your rational opinion.

[@RogueSahara]

100% Thank you! Anytime the word 'woke' is used, I tune out as it's obvious there's an agenda that's clouding the criticism.

[@M0du5Pwn3n5]

I think the most damning thing about the game is that it doesn't really feel much like a Dragon Age game, yet if it didn't have "Dragon Age" in the title, I think basically no one would have bought it. The pedigree means it's getting more hate than it otherwise would, but it also means it's getting more attention. If it weren't Dragon Age, I think it would be almost completely forgettable. It's just a generic 7/10 with typical (i.e., not very good) writing, a fun combat system that isn't developed enough to really shine or to hold interest all the way through, and a few standout moments (mostly at the end). It is just extremely mid.

[@HSExsiccator]

A game should never be judged by what it isn't, even if it is part of an IP that used to do other thing. Should Fallout 3 have been condemned because it was no longer an isometric turn-based rpg? Any argument related to these factors should be dismissed immediately. Now, a lot of these things are subjective, but I have found the writing excellent, the level design captivating (frequently spending many more hours than I intend finding every last chest), combat to be one of the most compelling action systems I have ever played (probably only second to Ghost of Tsushima), looks great, runs great, and is fully voice acted. Currently my game of the year but I can understand some people might find it mid because that is just how game reactions go. Not everyone values the same things but I look at this game and I am completely baffled on the hate (outside of nostalgia, misplaced expectations, and potentially bigotry).

[@Qneoneone]

7/10 is generous

[@georgejones5019]

The real score sits at a 3/10, if the critics are shielding it so hard because of the contained messaging.

[@RogueSahara]

Great review! This is the first time I saw a review that didn't mention anything about gender politics and went straight into actual, proper criticism, so thank you for that.

[@VuduNRG]

Trash game confirmed - thanks

[@swordscythe]

It's not though. It's really good.

[@newhope33]

@@swordscythe Worst game I've played in years, it's fucking awful.

[@swordscythe]

@@newhope33 ...Have you played it? All the reviews are saying it's really bad, the game has been out a week, and you spent all that money despite the reviews... Maybe you should take a second look or give it some more time?

[@newhope33]

@@swordscythe The writing is horrendous and infantile, the combat is easy, boring and repetitive with little enemy varity, worst charater creator I've seen in a while with awful art style, most of the RPG elements now mean next to nothing might as well not be there, the diologs are stupid and all the choices are just variations of the same thing and the companions range from outright generic to disgusting childish arseholes like Taash. The game is trash.

[@elzorianwinsnockle8123]

​@@swordscythe I doubt anyone who says it is the "worst game" has played it. There are a LOT of bad games out there. The fact that this game even starts up, has graphics and audio and production values at all automatically disqualify it from being the "worst" lol.

[@sofajockeyUK]

It's (just) my favourite of the 4 games. Started a 2nd playthrough which feels very different.

[@Account2-ng6hr]

The only difference is only your class. Other then that your story would stay exactly the same

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@Account2-ng6hr No. Try a no nonsense warden vs a sarcastic elf. And different choices.

[@Account2-ng6hr]

@@sofajockeyUK thats just changing the tone. The answer will still be the same and the outcome will be the same.

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@Account2-ng6hr The outcome is the same in all Dragon Age games.

[@Account2-ng6hr]

@@sofajockeyUK uh... You never played origin, didnt you?

[@peterfox6159]

It has been this very exact way since Dragon Age 2! After Dragon Age Origins they "devolved" - they went backwards and streamlined the shit out of it. That happened because EA bought the Bioware studio!

[@codsamanta]

When you try to appease a completely new audience with the 4th game in a franchise, all you're gonna do is lose the fan base you already have. Especially when you're trying to cater to the same audience who will accept any half-assed and empty fantasy show. You cannot make those superficial shows into a game and expect gamers to enjoy it. The game was always ahead of its time, had everything that people complain media doesn't have enough of without being forced or nonsensical and being able to have choices that impact the world and also your character (remember how in DA2 the first handful of dialogue choices you'd pick at the beginning of the game would even influence the random remarks Hawke makes outside of your control). I don't like the style they went for either as it feels too cartoony for how dark the games are supposed to be. I remember how promising the game was back when they announced it. At the end of Inquisition I legit thought the 4th game would be centered around Solas going on a murderous rampage and your choices would either lead to his death or redemption. But then they decided to scrap what promised to be maybe the darkest entry yet for reasons unknown and I think that pissed off a lot of fans to begin with. The way the game is looking, I'm not sure I will ever try it.

[@bhryaen3743]

The well scene I've not seen anyone else feature in a preview. It looked cool, I agree, but, like most of what the game "offers", it flagrantly clashes w established DA. Even the long, consistent time travel segment isn't something that one has ever found in the Fade, and that well isn't even in the Fade for it to be behaving as if it is. In a world like BG3 where magic is pretty open-ended and has no heavy lore link like in DA, such a fun magic incident ONLY comes across as cool. In DA it begs the question of- is it a demon voicing back? Is the well bottom somehow breaching the Veil? How is magic affecting the well at all, much less in that way? In DA generally no magic is introduced unless it fits the place that the lore has for it, but in Veilguard they just wantonly add huge magic effects to warrior and rogue combat, idiotically add creatures and structures floating in the air as if the real world and Fade have no distinction... and Veilguard deals heavily w the Fade lore, so you'd think it'd be less carelessly splashed out in that way. But DA usually has such meaningful, interesting lore and dialog along the way that not getting a well like that wouldn't be missed. When a game is so lacking overall as to need the player to ignore its own rules in order enjoy something... it's basically calling up from the well to go play something else. The usual compliments to the game are fair, and I was giving them out months before release, predicting the game would sell OK (having not seen the vapid personalities and dialog): the environments look nice and it appears to not be buggy. Given that Inquisition already had excellent (and needlessly expansive) environments w the Frostbite engine, it would've been difficult to NOT produce something nice-looking in Veilguard, and... it's a testament to the games industry these days that we give developers eager kudos for simply not releasing their product as a buggy mess.

[@honestbenny]

Yes, it deserves. No, it's not good game. Thank you.

[@rsick266]

14:25 So basically, it's like you're playing someone's else character *if* the game had choice on how to portray your character.

[@RandomWandrer]

Nope. Its a real shame. I bought Veilguard and had a wonderful 60 hours playing it to the end. The main story was outstanding and the finale was one of the best that I've seen. But I totally understand the perception that its full of woke stuff. I can tell you, as someone who didn't do Taash side content, I actually didn't see the woke stuff that's allover youtube. It's 100% in the companion quests of that 1x companion, so if you ignore the companion, that stuff doesn't permeate the rest of the game. If bioware had been a little braver, and not worried so much about "triggering" people, if they had included prejudice and slavery in the story (especially around tevinter), this could have been something phenomenal. I still had a great time in this game. Returning to Thedas, with some banging combat and very cool lore. I just wish it had been a little braver, and a little less PG13

[@cal5365]

"does it deserve the hate" yes, outside the stupid politics its a below mediocre game, bordering on bad and boring, with absolutely abhorrent writing

[@veldryn01]

I find it funny that everyone praise the pretty world and the fact that the game runs well. I mean, a shiny walking turd is still a turd. 😅

[@whtvrmelon]

"Very little party drama" Clearly hasn't had Lucanis and Davrin in the party at the same time. "Spamming the same shit over and over again" You can combo your companion moves with yours too, you know. You can also completely respec your character's abilities whenever you want. Companions also can apply buffs, certain skills of your own can apply buffs... I LOVE Baldur's Gate but don't pretend like you can't run that whole game with Gale, Astarion, Shadowheart, and your PC of basically any class. There's strategy if you want it, and none if you don't. There are also multiple difficulty levels to choose from OR you can create your own customized difficulty. Cry louder.

[@OpenWrldHeadHunter]

The game for me is just average. It’s not doing anything special, I roll my eyes at a lot of the dialogue, but I would be lying if I said I’m not enjoying my time with it. I plan on beating it and doing another playthrough to try a different class. Doing my best IGN impression I’ll give this game a 7. It’s nothing spectacular but it’s FUN enough for me to sink some hours into.

[@danwhite8268]

As much as I do get some of the criticisms for this game, I think some of it is a stretch here. For example saying that an RPG isn't a true one without "meaningful dialogue options" is maybe over stating how meaningful they are in other franchises. I think people remember FF7 and 8s dialogue options with rose tinted glasses for example. Option 1: Sound edgy and dispondent. Option 2: Sound slightly less edgy and dispondent. The biggest meaningful RPG choice you make in the original FF7 is who you go on a date with, which by the way... you also can do in this game :D I also wanted a new DA Origins, but I got BG3 last year and it sets the bar so high. This is a fun game for what it is! (note FF7 OG, is my favourite game of all time so I'm not ragging on it, just an observation.

[@Account2-ng6hr]

You cant even buy or sell item. They probably think gamer are too stupid to manage their finance in game.

[@vanyadolly]

Post credit scene. Nuff said.

[@MojoVice]

Yes, yes it does...

[@pauly9055]

I have watched enough gameplay to know its not a good game. We dont have watch or listen to ign, gamespot anymore. We know what they are about. Take the woke stuff out of games or you will go out of business.

[@otavioluna6433]

Let's be honest, the only good one was Origins. Inquisition surely tried but it didn't reasonate was well either. I liked a lot of the changes of Veilguard, just wish they hadn't changed the tone so much. BG3 proved you can do dark with the goofy stuff too.

[@alolanjojo8153]

Yes

[@coreymckee4844]

DAV will sell well initially. Its the long term decline that happens after people have played and word of mouth happens. after that i fully expect a massive decline. Regardless of the EA/bioware damage control. The game is solid story and gameplay wise. But the political bs and DEI/pronoun and none binary stuff is extremely off putting in a medieval fantasy game. Its borderline preachy and in your face as well. I still somewhat enjoy it nonetheless. I would give the game a decent 7/10. But hey thats just me being rational. 🤷‍♂️ I also am holding on cause i loved DAI so much and this game is a direct sequel to that game, giving us a conclusion to the solas story and finally lets me romance Lace Harding. Something we were not able to do in inquisition.. But as i said before my thoughts on the game about all the controversial stuff still stands. As a sequel to inquisition it is fine. But as a "dragon age" game i can understand why people do not enjoy it.

[@sweazer]

the combat is good but the story and dialog is kinda bad

[@varendae]

Couldn't agree more

[@em1536]

I've played it and doing it again.. I'm having fun with it.

[@Jolsn]

Totally fine, don't let other peoples opinions tell you what to have fun with or not, I was also having a good time for parts of the game

[@jonathandoeman7496]

It's not Dragon Age. It's assassin's creed or god of war re-skinned. You can't play as a companion and there isn't any tactics in combat. They tried to make it into an action game instead of keeping it an RPG. Not to mention the hollowness of the companions personalities.

[@Jolsn]

I felt like I was playing Hogwarts Legacy again for some parts of the game

[@Quaz944]

The hardest part for me is my friends getting into Dragon Age via this game and loving it. I dont want to tamp down their fun at all but god this game just makes me wish Dragon Age would die as an IP

[@jayqueuescontent8075]

That’s insane if your friends love it what’s your problem?

[@kickingfatality]

Does it deserve the hate. Yes. 1000% yes. We have had gay characters in games many times previously. Except, NO ONE shoved the dialogue into our faces like this game does . That's why the hate. They could have made gay and Bi characters in the story, Left the creator alone so we can make the character WE want to and leave it up to the player to make their own choices. We dont need the horrible agenda filled script shoved in our face . Baldur's Gate 3 had gay characters. They just didn't force a shitty propaganda agenda laced script at us.

[@incinaflaregameing8644]

After beating this game i just dont see how its politically cause so much controversy yea the scripts cringy at best but the woke stuff as they say didnt really feel forced if at all present in the main story outside of taash in a 10 second clip an if you do the compainon line sure. Im not usally one to like things that are deeemed woke But this games definetly not what alot of people are makeing it out tobe on both sides its not trash but its not perfect either its just mid i dont regret buying it unlike Andromeda now that was a tragedy

[@newhope33]

Yes it's trash worst game I've played in years.

[@AxeMain]

Trash game

[@Gyuribacsik]

I love the game. Nightmare difficulty is aggressive enemys. My hero is Beautifull, and i save world. Fack the haters:)

[@elzorianwinsnockle8123]

Game isn't perfect but it's fun and far from bad. Y'all just mad that you are too poor to buy your own copy and actually form your own opinion instead of stealing somebody else's. Most of the negative comments are coming from people who haven't even touched it.

[@johndeighan2495]

Nah, it’s at a 71% on Steam right now, which isn’t great at all, as Steam reviews are all by players who actually spent money on the game and therefore at least want to like it. I was reading av few reviews yesterday and to be honest even a lot of the positive ones are like “I wasn’t really sure whether to recommend it or not, it isn’t terrible but it isn’t great either”. So in short, no, a lot of the negative comments are from people who have played the game.

[@elzorianwinsnockle8123]

@johndeighan2495 if you can't form your own opinion you got bigger problems.

[@johndeighan2495]

@@elzorianwinsnockle8123 As a generic ARPG it's average. It's absolute cheeks as a DA game. That's my opinion. Formed by me. Plenty players agree with it, but that's incidental.

[@swordscythe]

These reviews are searching all over Thedas for a stick to beat a dead horse with. I know the algorithm rewards you for being negative, but really, this is just so disingenuous.

[@mgkpraesi]

Yes it does.

[@accelerator8558]

Bioware need to by close before they have a chance to work and release mass effect 5

[@cherritt2123]

The gamer community doesn't want to get involved in politics. We just want to game, we want a great game with no political crap.

[@swordscythe]

People who have played this game and think there is political crap in this game... The problem is you.

[@Lostpure]

Disagree with the bit at 5:30 about RPG choices. It is an RPG because it has taken mechanics from tabletop RPG's where you build a character from a set of choices and then play the role of that character. An RPG does not have to have story choices

[@Jolsn]

I think maybe I didn't get the point across well. If your character can't make meaningful choices, like killing Astarion in BG3 or a number of other decisions, the roleplay feels less meaningful. There are choices in Veilguard too, but they don't seem to affect how the game plays out very much beyond some immediate minor consequences. It's not that killing Astarion is even a story choice, because the game continues even without him. I just wish that there were more choices your character can make, that have an actual effect on the game's world. I hope that makes more sense!

[@Axterix13]

@@Jolsn I think it does depend a bit. Like JRPGs offer very little in the way of choices. Heck, even having a dialogue option is a rarity. People still consider them RPGs. And I think a lot of that has to do with them typically having an epic adventure story, with serious consequences at stake, and a strongly defined characters, while still having the leveling and looting mechanics people also associate with RPGs. And because they don't have to worry about as much about choice and consequence in conversations, it lets them create longer stories, which makes up for it. And meanwhile, visual novels are all about choices, usually with consequences, but they aren't considered RPGs. DA:V does try to be a Western style RPG, but does it poorly, thanks to how lackluster and/or bad much of the writing is.

[@wolvo5441]

Yes