I Finished Dragon Age: The Veilguard. I Have Some Thoughts...

[@randalette4286]

What I miss most in the Dialogue was subtext. Healthy reading between the lines. Like normal talking between people. Communicating stuff without saying it out loud. The game for me felt it did not respect my intelligence in that regard.

[@holgerackermann75]

The dialogues are definitely not for adults. I play hzd remastered right now and that game tries to show you how to be a caring human person a lot. BUT with deep dialogues it doesn't feel patronising.

[@BadEnd98]

I replayed the Witcher 3 recently after tried Veilguard - and DAMN IT, it's like I got awe strucked by difference of how good it was, like the conversation with the Blood Baron, see how real, how painful he felt, and how he's so guilty but also so miserable man

[@bossked1563]

I really liked Morrigan's relationship with her mother in DA:O, as an example. She's outwardly spiteful, and does have a lot of negative feelings towards her, but at the same time you can tell she cares. She doesn't know why, but you can see it there.

[@kmel3588]

@@holgerackermann75 A caring person? Imma be honest if this was any company besides BW i would think they were trying to make you hate non binary people becuase Taash is one of the most annoying characters to in the game. She acts like a teenager, demands respect from others while giving none of her own and we as players cant call out her shitty behavior. The fact that they railroad you into only beinag able to be a nice person also destroys rp potential and replay value.

[@bizmonkey007]

Absolutely. The most powerful thing in a conversation can be that which goes unsaid by which is clear to all involved. Conversations in this game aren’t necessarily bad, but they too often feel shallow and bereft of interpersonal conflict or personality. The humanity isn’t there

[@ariatloakstan]

I'm still pissed at the dev who lied to you and said this game is horny, lol. This is about as horny as Skyrim

[@Eualia]

Still don't understand why lie about the game being a way. Maybe the script was before reboot was like DA2. but the reboot of the script of the game dumbed it down and the dev just never overlooked the new script just waved an okay. Stuff like that is like korean/chinese games taking out the nudity in games while the western countries can get said nudity in games. Just mind blowing😂 I'm hoping someone mods to replace dialogue and add horny into this pg13 game

[@Kizui1]

Maybe the dev was referring to the new Qunari horns

[@ShadowKallig]

​@@Eualia They lied because they wanted to convince people to play it. Double back and look at every single interview with a dev, each one of them lied about it. Lol it's actually crazy. I've spent HOURS digging through interview footage to find kernels of truth, nothing.

[@ara1465]

Dont disrespect skyrim tho. I would rather have my way with that fckng chicken, than Traash.

[@nixx0334]

an autogynephilic disorder is as horny as these people get now

[@LegendaryDrops]

Well said and effortlessly eloquent. Modern dialogue just feels so unnatural in a fantasy RPG. It feels so inauthentic the way characters are represented, and it just doesn't evoke the same level of immersion or empathy from the player like in Baldur's Gate 3. It's not that themes or issues can't be discussed in games. It's that they need to feel authentic, and nothing about DAV felt that way for me.

[@hibarikyoya854]

In dragon age origins you have a conversation about how Zevran is bi and you have that conversation happens only with Zevran and not Lelianna is also bi which in 2009 that would've been modern dialogue because why would a fantasy game bother explaining why it's strange to have man be bisexual oh because in 2009 a man being bi was still considered gay

[@ungeimpfterrusslandtroll7155]

It is all ghahaay, all these categories don't exist. Trans is also ghahaay, binary is ghahaay, it is all the same. There is only straight and .... And its not the dialogue alone, the issues itself are modern. Not only modern but they don't even exist outside certain parts of the western world, they are not even considered in most of the world, as it should be.

[@DemetrioGC]

the way they use "modern dialogue" irl also feels unnatural

[@cl8804]

oh, look: it's the fascist in the comments

[@JBrandonMercer123]

@@cl8804 Everyone I disagree with is a fascist Nazi!

[@tyrannicalchocolate]

When Tolkien wrote the Lord of The Rings dialogue he deliberately used older words - "tarry" "nigh" "kingly" "haven" "fortelling". He frequently uses Anglo Saxon language sentence structure in dialogue for better authenticity. That's why they chant "Hail Theoden King" instead of the modern grammatically correct "Hail King Theoden". He also barely uses any latin or French words, as they are connected to a more modern linguistic style. Veilguard has none of that speechcraft. It actually breaks it continually. There was no thought to the authenticity of language used.

[@ethanduncan1646]

Even game of thrones did this. They don't say "When I was 25 years old" instead it is written as "when I was five and twenty". By having quirks of speech and avoiding modern diction the world can come to life.

[@andrewshaw1571]

Winston churchill deliberately avoided using foreign origin derived words in his speeches because he believed he made greater connection with the people by using words whose links had been used in homes for over a thousand years. Hence why his most famous passage, the fight them on the beaches speech, only contains 2 words that arent derived from the saxon.

[@MeidoInHebun]

Well, Tolkien was a philologist, these games are written by people whose linguistic expertise might be learning a little Japanese from watching anime.

[@recusantvessel]

Well Tolkien had talent And worth These “writers” and trauma dump losers would provide more worth to the soil in the earth Become compost

[@DrFrogglePhD]

@@andrewshaw1571 It's funny because Hirohito did the same thing and used classical literary Japanese, of which like like 1 percent of people in 1945 could understand. So the broadcast of surrender had to be accompanied by a guy translating it for normal people, even though it was all Japanese language.

[@benjamindamestoy3661]

When I listen to companions, I feel like i'm their parent or therapist. They don't argue or give their opinion, they just tell you how they feel, and you only have the option to be supportive. I really liked dialogues in DA:I because all the companions had clear opinions on what the Inquisitor should do, and reacted depending on the Inquisitor's choices. That gave them personality ! In the Veilguard, only Emmrich, and maybe Davrin felt like mature individuals. And I agree, Act 3 in the Veilguard is actually excellent. The only problem I have with it, is that you don't actually make choices, you clear the content or rush the end, and that's all. The choices you make during the quests don't matter, it's doing the quest itself that changes the outcome of the game.

[@SoulSurge]

@ i bought all DA games full price day 1 and played more than 600hrs per game but when i saw* the interviews and writing in the trailers…i just gave up, such a rich world wasted, ill buy it on a bargain bin sale but have no hope for it because writing is what made dragon age series for me and the tactical gameplay

[@oliviawilliams6204]

I thought the ending was very reminiscent of ME2 suicide missions

[@ProjectAyumiie]

Sorry but this was in every game

[@CabageBeans]

@ You say that like it's good? Even if that was the case (which it isn't), why would be accepting of them have the same quality of writing they had 20 years ago? Don't you want improvement?

[@tartatovsky]

@@ProjectAyumiie Except, those were superior in every way.

[@MrWazzietje]

For me the main 2 points where the game failed were: 1. Show, don't tell. 2. The lack of role playing options for your main character, it felt like you were railroaded to interact in a certain way.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

I don’t disagree with your points, but I dislike the fact that when I make similar criticisms about inquisition, people get mad and defensive about it. The “show don’t tell” issue was incredibly prevalent in inquisition. Even more so than this game. I really don’t get why people look back on that game with rose tinted glasses. I get people enjoyed it and it holds a place in their heart, that’s fine. I feel the same way about this game despite it being bad. I feel like people have to stop pretending the previous 2 games weren’t also bad.

[@EM-vw7im]

​@@BBS-dl1lt inquisition had its moments, of bad sure. However it's characters were great, writing g was generally clever and respected the previous lore and attempted to expand upon and answer old lore. The lack of moral choice was annoying g for a rpg I agree.

[@emylikula9159]

@@BBS-dl1lt Inquisition is hot garbage but win GOTY soo people think it is perfect, i share the same opinion as you when i as playing DAI i felt off i can't explain but i was playing but not feeling anything from the game everything and everyone on the game felt like strange or too artificial it just feels wrong, maybe it was because i play DAO and DAI back to back, but it was something similar to Fallout 4 you have options but on reality you just choosing the same thing with different words.

[@rockingbirdey]

@@emylikula9159 Inquisition won GOTY in a very weak year for gaming.

[@arpadszabo661]

⁠@@BBS-dl1lt There are no rose tinted glasses. Being worse than Origins doesn’t mean the game is bad. The vast majority always loved 2 and inqusition too, for good reasons. If your criticism about it is that it lacked roleplaying options, you’re objectively wrong. If you think the show, don’t tell is a bigger issue in that game, they you’re objectively wrong. In Veilguard, they just throw at us the fact the Ferelden has fallen, with the exception of Redcliffe. That’s it, get used to it, bye. After 3 games of doing everything we can for it. They literally could’ve made a whole game about that story. That alone is a bigger issue than anything in 2 or inqusition.

[@jgj75]

In the pre-game marketing they talked a lot about how for the first time they were going to really lean into companions being the true strength of a BioWare RPG. They said they wanted to tell the story through the companions, and that companions would have more agency rather than simply following around the hero. To accomplish that design goal, however, they TOOK agency away from the player. Unlike prior games, you are not allowed to seriously conflict with companions to the point they leave, let alone kill them as you can in Origins. What this meant is that this was much less of an RPG even than Inquisition. The writers really wanted to tell a particular "found family" story about this group of companions, and the player is continually railroaded into that story whether they want to role play that way or not. That is NOT a BioWare RPG where you could be Dark Side Revan, renegade Shepard, or even an Inquisitor that punched Solas.

[@_BitJager_]

I find it very lazy design. You are forced in one direction and that's it. There is no other option. This is the opposite of what we expect from an RPG especially from a BioWare RPG. Reading then statements like "Return to form" is an insult. This game is broken on so many levels. Story, pacing, gameplay loop, dialogue. The technical foundation is okay but they did so little with it. Huge disappointment to be honest.

[@gearchief1819]

Thats because they wanted you to live through their self insert fantasies.

[@LP-mh6ri]

yeah because following them around while you scavenged for mushrooms, feed birds or lit candles while they spew exposition at you was so rewarding.. I mean the ideas behind the chars where usually solid...but due to the writing and lack of dialogue choices it was so boring to play.

[@weareharbinger914]

The funny thing is Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age 2 had much better character writing and the companions are a strength in those games. Especially 2, DA2 had problems, and its characters carried it a loooot.

[@AnaDias737]

@@weareharbinger914 I agree. DA2 is my favorite 'cause I really liked the characters and their dynamics. Finished the game yesterday and already miss them

[@marioderekx254]

At one point Rook literaly says "cool" and during party banter Bellara says "holla" ... like come on. If they came out and admitted a bunch of teenager wrote this i'd not be surprised.

[@TOUGHEYES]

I'm holding a seance for whatever ghosts haunted or influenced this game.... Let me light the candles. Whoa, *whoa*... I get the vision, of a blue haired narcissistic young woman with a beanie! Quick, get out the Ouija Board! Let's see how it communicates.... *Hello! Can you hear us? What do you want to say? What's on your mind?* Oh, look, the Ouija's moving! It's spelling out a word..... H-E-L-L-A WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, GUYS!?

[@JannetFenix]

Mental teenagers, at least.

[@gamera5160]

@@JannetFenix Forty year old Millennials who never grew up.

[@xyreniaofcthrayn1195]

Your giving teenagers too much credit the script was clearly chatgtp'd especially taash's dialogue touched up by panicking last second submissions from gifted 5th graders.

[@Galf506]

The list of people who worked on this game always turns up with the worst internet characters. Actuall twitter DEI warriors who self inserted their teenage fantasies into this series, murdering it.

[@Derayne33]

A true sin of writing is always underestimating the intelligence of the audience.

[@arpadszabo661]

I don’t think they wanted to do it that way. Its just that the writers lack the intelligence to write something on par with audience’s intelligence.

[@TBAZombie]

@@arpadszabo661 huge thumps up! Couldnt hold my self 🤣 hope this comment gets some recognition^^

[@Vladimir_Fedorov27]

@@Derayne33 exactly, and other games have this now and again to a degree, but here it's so blatant, everyone has noticed that!

[@Derayne33]

@@TBAZombie thanks for the kind words.

[@jamad-y7m]

The audience they are going for is kids they want to indoctrinate

[@mrlizardman8000]

People talked about toxic positivity in this games development team. How people on devs team were afraid to criticize anything. So yea, if that's true, that's an issue.

[@jessmorri7194]

@@mrlizardman8000 I’m curious, who talked about it? One of the devs? Where? If that’s true then wow that’s terrible.

[@098devil]

@@jessmorri7194 BioWare worker contacted big KZbinrs like endimionTV , smash jt, asmongold Many were saved of wasting money in that thing and now BioWare started a witch hunt to find him

[@clintonchico9547]

Bioware has been doing that since Mass Effect 3.

[@L3FT2BURN]

I see that on the discourse within the community as well. People are either toxically negative or toxically positive. There is no room currently for critical nuanced discourse.

[@vtheman1850]

DAI: "'How small the pain of one man seems when weighed against the endless depths of memory, of feeling, of existence. That ocean carries everyone. And those of us who learn to see its currents move through life with fewer ripples." DA Veilguard: "Hey Dragon"

[@navandozer]

The dialogue just felt like a fanfic of Dragon Age written by a high schooler who was held back a couple times. I couldn't believe the dialogue I saw being shared around. I thought it had to be a parody at first.

[@everestcomputer]

lol thats how i describe it, using slightly more colorful language.

[@seeinred]

If only dialogue was when this feeling begins and ends. EVERYTHING about this game invokes that feeling.

[@Adam-xp5nm]

I despise how all of the big questions fans had regarding the lore of the series boil down to "elven gods did it" (nature of blight, archdemons, titans, the black city) and it also devalues other in-game lore (tevinter old God worship, andrastian faith/the maker). The pacing with these reveals was also horrible - no time to digest and reflect. The hidden ending with the illuminati-esque group undermining the narratives and characters from earlier games makes this even worse. Extremely disappointing and unsatisfying, feels like the writers totally phoned it in.

[@Pastafari4]

It really does. It's like maybe parts of it was how things were supposed to be in the lore. Be it the Archdemons, Morrigan to Mythal, etc. It's honestly too neatly packed up too. Like nothing left ambiguous at all. It's like someone dusted off the setting bible and decided to rush to the finish-line in explaining all of it. Feels like a big contrast to all the tidbits we got with DA2 and DAI. It felt like a good pace after Origins established things to have some time to consider what got revealed in each game, consider it and let it sink in. Not to mention for it to be executed in a good way. Honestly, it really does feel rushed. The storytelling of it just kinda crumbles imo

[@marlow21]

@@Adam-xp5nm i remember in WoW shadowlands many people dont like the story because of some higher being pulling the strings all along with the burning legion invasion or arthas undermining their motivation and as to how and why they are evil.

[@karlthorsten9118]

Basically, the entire Veilguard game and the Dev team was BARVE-ing us all the time.

[@farahs8341]

agreed on everything but Andraste. If you read the documents (can't blame you if you didn't) and got the best ending with Mythal it was pretty much clear that Andraste was another host of Mythal who made up the Maker to take away Tevinter's followers of the old gods to weaken them after Mythal started to give Andraste visions of the past and the god's prison. But yeah, major lore points happened on the sideline...

[@davidmorcombe6779]

this is the reason i am baffled buy people saying they are dragon age fans and defending the story. like did we play the same games. just so much disrespect got the IP in the game. at this point i hope they get shut down and mass effect gets canned. i dont want to see another beloved IP get butchered

[@_Koozebane_]

I had fun, but I don't ever want to hear anyone say "I'm with you," or "You got this" or "I'm here for you" or "Together!" ever again.

[@stevemosch]

XD

[@pjtoxic09]

"oh good job rook" like what im killing people wtf

[@ТАДАМ-ю4ж]

Fun ? Nah I had fun before now its cringe

[@SnakeHelah]

Companion: Refers to Taash as someone who swears a lot... The swear word? Crap Minor things like Davrin somehow carving 24/7. Like why does he have to carve during a "team" meeting? It felt out of place and weird. There were a lot of "minor" things like that that just felt a bit forced on the companions. Oh hey Lucanis I heard COFEEE was your personality trait? Lucanis is like that Tinder girl that says travelling is her hobby... seriously? The dialogue was way too crazy at certain times. It felt less like companions working in survival life death situations and more like a "team" within a company working on a project and the project was killing the gods.

[@jermainerucker2027]

I think theres a point where one of the characters uses the phrase: “goes hard” I think these writers thought they were making a marvel film

[@p0tek]

That's what happens to me in the morning - lmao.

[@J03m0mma69]

You have to be fucking kidding me

[@AkZeal76]

Just replayed Dragon Age Origins. In it, all the companions were some version of flawed aresholes who constantly mock each other, but I found myself wanting to spend more time with them. In Veilguard, the characters are more 'good' or moral people, but I would have to be paid big to babysit them and listen to their awkward whinging. And a Bioware game with bad companions is not Bioware game at all

[@Cloudkiller01]

Idk why you people who love Origins keep playing 3 other DA games knowing you only want to keep playing Origins

[@AkZeal76]

@@Cloudkiller01 Origins was the best imo but I enjoyed 2 and Inquisition as well, I just find this specific aspect (the companion roster) so much worse in veilguard then any other DA game

[@Cloudkiller01]

@@AkZeal76 fair enough, I agree.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

I mean…I didn’t like the companions in 2 at all really. Inquisition was hit or miss, but I enjoyed learning more about them. Origins really only offered compelling story surrounding Morrigan, Leliana, and Alistair.

[@arpadszabo661]

Yeah, Bioware is the kind of company that had games that were good, but the team interactions boosted them to great. Here… It’s a bad game with horrible companions. It blows my mind that they fumbled this hard.

[@Evoken111]

It's a game when you're not even the main character, you are just a companion.

[@arpadszabo661]

It’s one of the smallest issues with the game but idk why they didn’t just made the inquisitor the main character again when its a very heavily connected sequel to inquisition

[@aesirgaming1014]

This. I feel very much like Rook doesn't drive the storylines. I feel like I'm just there as a cheerleader to tell my companion that 'you're special, you can do this, we can work together and everyone gets a gold star'. The game desperately needed a Renegade Shepard type option, where you can make some evil decisions, tell your companions to shut up, maybe blow one of them (preferably Taash) away with a shotgun/fireball the way we can do with Wrex.

[@Marcustheseer]

i didnt get that at all,i felt like the main charc,what you can say is the dialog sometimes took youre chance away to say you didnt agree or that you have diffirent viewpoints,in that way you do occasionaly feel like a controlled charc rather then in controle.

[@Akeche]

Reminds me of Final Fantasy 14's latest expansion.

[@TorgoMazing]

"Bioware NEVER brings back another Dragon Age player character!" OKAY WELL NOTHING IN VEILGUARD IS THE SAME AS BEFORE SO WHY WOULD THAT SUDDENLY BE A BAD CHANGE

[@ossdemura]

After BG3 this game felt so outdated that I feel replaying BG3, again. Or DOS2.

[@JohnDBlue]

IMO it's insulting to so many good RPGs that came out before both games to imply that this game is only seen as bad because it's post-BG3

[@wardensurana8336]

@@nonyourbusiness165 . Stop insulting DOS2

[@dendrien]

first of. Most gamers were outdated prior BG3 the only difference is that BG3 only confirmed what everyone knew already. BG3 proved you dont need to be a AAA game or a reputive company to be able to make a great game. if you think all this is because of BG3 than you are part of that same problem.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

Haven't played Veilguard so far, not sure I will. (Not so much a problem with the current ongoing "wokeness" discussion about it but more due to the fact that it is a direct sequel to Inquisition and that was simply so long ago that I forgot all about it.) But I played all other Dragon Age games. Only the first one could compare to Baldur's Gate (That is 1&2 back then). I think one has to ignore that BG3 exists, because that is so much its own standard, that it is unfair to expect others to reach it. Especially in games that were already in full development when BG3 came out, so that the developers and writers did not even have a reference point to compare themselves to.

[@kmel3588]

@@dendrien BG3 raised peoples standards of what to expect from RPG games in terms of narrative, story, and RP from AA games because BG3 attracted non traditional RPG fans to that type of game. There was a reason people like even BW devs came out and cried not to hold BG3 as some new standard.

[@nickrubin7312]

Completely agree. It felt like the lead writer/editor who oversees ALL the writing and gives feedback, makes sure everything fits, was missing.

[@Northex23]

I don't know, feels more like they had one, but their job was to make sure they use understandable modern words. "Will they understand 'party?' This isn't festive, its serious. Use something simple, use 'team.'"

[@AlesMicik]

She was busy deciding which gender they are that day so they could not do it, then he himself wrote a self inserted Traash with mommy issues and angst like a fucking teenager that you said no to.

[@pascaldifolco4611]

he/she/they/zorg was utterly incompetent and only made sure it was woke propaganda all around

[@Trace153]

This fits those moments “Toxic positivity”

I was just about to say, that all indicates to recent trend of Toxic positivity. Critique is not welcome

[@Ceivous]

The way it disrespected DA:O was too much for me. Not only does Hero of Ferelden basically not exist in a fathomable way because it never asks you about your choices, all of Ferelden was annihilated which was mentioned in a tiny side dialogue like it's nothing. Then the ending twist and what it means for the beginning of DA:O. So bad.

[@hibarikyoya854]

The hero of Ferelden hasn't existed besides passing mention after Origins and where not even in ferelden anymore where on another continent far removed Minrathus has no reason to care Kirkwall had a terrorist attack during da 2 because they've left that place decades ago. Plus Ferelden has been in shit multiple times and has comeback. This is just an overreaction

[@Ceivous]

@@hibarikyoya854 When one of the most important Warden things ever happen, HoF should absolutely be there or there should be a good reason for them not to be. Side mentions are something at least, DAV gives you nothing. It's total past erasure. Ferelden gone, Kirkwall gone, Orlais destroyed (What happened to the Divine btw? Ah who cares, that's Old-DA stuff) and the Wardens as a whole have been made obsolete, they are gone too. The only people I can imagine defending this are people that started with DA:I maybe

[@zuriyel5368]

To be expected. Most of the choices from Mass Effect 1 resulted in you getting emails in Mass Effect 2.

[@garrettpercell4365]

Bro. Its the same fucking continent. ​@hibarikyoya854

[@Zombie1Boy]

@@zuriyel5368 Rachnai Queen: lemme just slide into ME3 along with a few others. Very minor, but also a great callback to things not addressed in two.

[@KassTheLass]

They focused so much on action gameplay and level design but did very little to actually immerse you in the world which is the point of these kinds of games.

[@kmel3588]

The "action game play" is not even that good. From encounter to encounter you keep doing the same thing over and over dodging waiting for a damage window vs hp sponge enemies that all despite being different factions all have the same move sets and enemy arch types. 10 hours in and i just started running past encounters cause i was just so mentally checked out and didnt care anymore.

[@bizmonkey007]

Yeah, it’s weird. In the beginning of the game for example when you go through the Blighted village, the level looks absolutely incredible. It doesn’t take long for you to realize that there’s very little to interact with though. That and the choice you have to make with the Mayor at the end feels meaningless.

[@D4C_LoveTrain1]

@@bizmonkey007 because most consequences aren't seen til the later half of the game. It's not until the end of Act 1 do you see what happens to the Mayor if you sent him to the grey wardens. If you left him for the blight you get a different quest after completing some mission.

[@Rebelnutt]

And all that's left is the writing in story and that's a mediocre at best.

[@wirilome]

Consequence of this being intended to be a multiplayer shooter game until the last minute...

[@pimpsup27]

Great, well constructed feedback. We all get this isn't the same Bioware, but instead of writing them off based off of that fact, you chose to dive in and give a well delivered critique. Really enjoyed your insights.

[@HairyNippy]

I was not the only one to miss the intricacies of the writing. You can feel the lack of input and contribution from the amazing writers who were behind the previous games, like David Gaider, Mike Laidlaw, Mary Kirby, and Luke Krisjanson, to name a few. They were responsible for the most memorable characters and arcs in the series, and their departure from the company is like an open wound.

[@alejandra8111]

With this I don't think I want to play the new mass effect , I love ME too much to be disappointed on whatever they are going to do

[@malkavian4120]

Mary Kirby was there. She wrote Lucanis and some of Crows content. She was fired only after that.

[@_Not_Alice]

​@@malkavian4120 lucanis was rewrittern the most corinna said in an interview after mary left

[@ninethreefivesix]

@@malkavian4120 Lucanis was rewritten after Kirby left. Which makes sense since she's an excellent writer and Lucanis feels unfinished.

[@DevinParker]

Once I read that Mary Kirby had been laid off, I suspected Veilguard was doomed. Watching the first gameplay footage and listening to Varric confirmed my fears-his soul just wasn't there.

[@Murrythesane]

This is what happens when you lay off your writing staff in the middle of making a game

[@gamernextdoor23]

@@Murrythesane probably they were laid off and some willingly left because the direction which they wanted was different from EA and Bioware mains were wanting

[@marlow21]

i read in some forums that the writer for Taash ( the character memed to death in the internet) was the same writer for Solas and the Tresspaser DLC from Inquisition, which baffles my mind and that he has 19 yrs of experience in bioware.

[@D4C_LoveTrain1]

@@gamernextdoor23 Game was originally live service but the leads clashed, leading to an exodus. One of the Bioware veterans decided to restructure the game into a single player around 2020. I think there are a couple writers left from the early 2010 days but one of them wrote taash.

[@elkx3814]

@@marlow21 Yeah man. I was feeling the same way. Makes me wonder if the writer, for some reason, hates the character that he has to wrote for, was written terribly on purpose.

[@jalka4719]

​@@marlow21Taash's character actually turned out to be almost the most well-written. Criticism of the dialogues is not at all connected with the woke, which is less in this game than in bg3

[@indigocrayon520]

I was waiting for your review. I watched a couple streams and you didn't seem as engaged as when you play BG3. Thank you for your time we appreciate it!

[@Fatalitix3]

I still don't understand why elves are against Solas after centuries of discrimination, surely a lot of them would want revenge

[@PunishedRouxpacDiamond]

Because from origins Fen'Harel, hence Solas, has always been regarded as a liar, a manipulator and the one that is responsible of the elves suffering, that is why the elves prayed the Evanuri while the Evanuri were the bad guys all along

[@talimancern7724]

In the Trespasser DLC it shows a cutscene of the elves stop doing their jobs and leaving towards where Solas was going. I guess the developers dismissed that too.

[@ALLmasked]

demons, lots and lots of demons.

[@Fatalitix3]

@@PunishedRouxpacDiamond He was responsible but he was also they only hope now

[@MrProdigy810]

Because a lot of them would die?

[@farmerjohnTV]

The original team was already working on Dreadwolf so I imagine, the good parts/writing may have come from them before they were replaced by the new team.

[@Shadeius]

The original DA4 was a live-service low stakes heist game set in Tevinter until Jedi: Fallen Order proved to EA that single player games still sell.

[@bphan08]

​@@Shadeiusthe game was first developed as a single player game following inquisition. It followed a troubling development cycle over the last 10 years where it was a single player game first, then live service game (then Anthem collapsed), and then finally back to single player. When it was first being developed (early early stages) as a single player game, we were told it was going to be set in tevinter with a more tight knit group, not unlike what we got. So it's not unlikely that some of the original team's work made it in and that's the good stuff we saw.

[@sarcasm-83]

One them or multiple them's?

[@sergiosanchez3344]

I love how people just assume shit they don't know at all lmao.

[@AlexMercer00]

The lead writer has always been Patrick Weekes. And all of the new members has been in Bioware since Inquisition.

[@SullyOnee]

First day, they come and catch everyone. Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat. Third day, the men are all gnawed on again. Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate. Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn. Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams. Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew. Eighth day, we hated as she is violated. Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin. Now she does feast, as she's become the beast. Now you lay and wait, for their screams will haunt you in your dreams.

[@jadeblack5586]

@@SullyOnee The writing in origin was just so dark and so amazing. They are so big on sucking on the ESG rating to be so bold and dark anymore.

[@EclecticFruit]

I loved that poem. So haunting. So dark. And Dragon Age never went that far ever again.

[@theobell2002]

@@jadeblack5586 Cute opinion. Did a KZbinr give them to you?

[@billygoatgruff3536]

​@@theobell2002 Nope, they gave it to themselves, and I have the same opinion, because we played the games. =)

[@marc0lin00]

The first time I played Origins I was 13 and I didn't realize until i was 18 what she was actually saying, after another playthrought. Glad I didn't catch that whan I was younger even tho iI missed a piece of lore. Edit: btw she says her "kin", not "skin" because she is referring to the dwarf kin

[@evidicus]

Veilguard is an extremely streamlined, kid-friendly (almost condescendingly so toward the player) and shallow. I’ve said that it feels like a LEGO video game adaptation, just without the LEGOs. Perhaps a better analogy would be a Hollywood set for a town in a Western movie, where all of the buildings are just 2D props. That’s how player choice, combat and any kind of role playing feels in Veilguard. The game presents the illusion of being a CRPG, but it’s really just an action game with minimal RPG elements. It presents the illusion of having companions, but they’re really just extra ability buttons and tutorial-level exposition bots. It gives you multiple skills, a talent tree and basic ability combos, but combat complexity is really just spammy and puddle deep. The illusion is pretty to look at. Environments are gorgeous, combat is bright and flashy, and character ability animations are very kinetic and over-the-top. But it’s still just an illusion. If this is a preview of what we can expect from the next Mass Effect, then I’ll have to write off two of my favorite franchises, and that sucks.

[@KirelRed]

Pixar / Disnified I have almost no hope for Mass Effect at this point.

[@zuriyel5368]

I wrote off Dragon Age after DA2 and Mass Effect after ME3. The people that made BioWare a pioneer in RPG video games are all gone.

[@ZayyWithTheKs]

M for mature. Definitely not kid friendly 😅

[@ashrafabdillah5369]

I know Dragon Age changes every game and is never the same thing twice...but I never thought Dragon Age would ever stop being an RPG. This is an action adventure game. More specifically, it's a Telltale game. If you've played a Telltale game or Life Is Strange, the narrative structure and the way the choices were designed really felt like a Telltale adventure game and not an RPG. If you approach it like that, the game is really good actually. But I understand if people are disappointed that this RPG is not an RPG.

[@ironmaiden93ofangmar]

The thing about an elven god calling your friends a "team"... I feel that

[@nunya_bizniz]

I don't want to be preached to. I don't want to be talked down to. I don't need my hand held. I know exactly ZERO gamers who want those things. Why would Bioware include all these things in Failguard? It is so off it is just incomprehensible that testers played this and came back with positive feedback and editors read the dialogue and decided it was good.

[@Iam_Stu]

I played the whole thing and never felt preached to, or talked down to. That's entirely a subjective perception.

[@nunya_bizniz]

@Iam_Stu doing push-ups for using the wrong pronoun is not preachy? Especially considering the character offended offends other characters unapologetically in a nasty fit of hypocritical bs. Emmrich is a necromancer not a death mage or any of the other offensive NOUNS she used. Necromancer lives matter.

[@oll6273]

@@Iam_Stu have some self respect lil fella, maybe then you could see his point

[@Iam_Stu]

@@nunya_bizniz You know during that bit with Emmrich you get to pull Taash up for that, tell them to stop being a bully, and make them apologise right? Taash also isn't the one that got offended in that moment in the bar. Taash didn't ask anyone to apologise. Bellara notices that Isabela used the wrong pronouns and and when Isabela realises, she does the pushups.

[@nunya_bizniz]

@@Iam_Stu Sure, we should all practice self-harm when we use the wrong pronouns for someone who doesn't respect others' NOUNS. that's not preachy at all, right? Ffs your brain is mush.

[@unclebuck1313]

I own all the DA games but this one.....and I think it's gonna stay that way. I haven't played BG3 since late December of 2023....It's time again for a few plays with mods!😁 That should help me forget what they have done to DA!

[@katehaha5504]

literally lmao im playing as a vampire drow dark urge worshipping bane and romancing gale

[@katehaha5504]

@@oll6273 hahaha never!!!

[@ninethreefivesix]

I would still play Vanguard if I were you. It's not terrible, but it is the weakest entry by far. Like she said, it's very inconsistent, but it does do some things very well. Like if you like the Wardens this feels like a canon Warden origin and it's the best Warden experience in the series (yes, better than Origins).

[@captainlcm]

Very well said. You are trying to be polite and not go too hard on the game. I hope the gaming industry will see this and improve accordingly.

[@NVNNN]

And I hope people like you get the fuck out of the internet and stick to sims Activist writers deserve no kindness

[@kmel3588]

Harsh criticism is needed if you want to see improvements or they will just call you "tourists", to dismiss criticism. From a narrative and story perspective this is unacceptable for the standards that we know BW is capable of. They treat player like an idiot,or a child hand holding you with dialogue that is said for the sake of driving the plot of not dialogue spoken like a "real" character. Major plot twists are immediately obvious like when you lucanis and the crows or how certain characters talked about another by tone making it clear what the late story twist is from a mile away. Also hate the horrible rectcons of characters from previous games due to one of the endings.

[@Rebelnutt]

Not gonna happen.

[@ANGRYWOLVERINE2060-ft2nc]

somebody sent her some money. NICE.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

The coping is hilarious. She literally talks about how good the ending was and how parts of the story and dialogue were excellent. And you’re here like “she’s just being polite” lmao. She said what the problems were and she said what she enjoyed. You don’t need to try so hard to find reasons to dislike the game. Her review, both the positives and negatives, are fair and accurate. People on both sides of the extreme are ridiculous. The people calling this GOTY are laughable, the people calling this game absolutely terrible are laughable. It’s a mediocre game that had very big shoes to fill and didn’t quite measure up. Overall it had a great final act.

[@francescoluan8174]

I was on the fence about getting this game because of the stark contrast between reviews im getting between but hole warriors for this series and casuals. Thank you for the serious and honest take. Providing a video explanation on it and diving into it has helped me realize this isnt for me. I'll save my money for something else.

[@Henbot]

Up to you. She still enjoyed it and the third act was awesome but if you don’t like the politics or different views on things that is down to you

[@onesolopolo4194]

@@Henbot its not only politics and views that lets this game down or would have someone bounce off it. The RPG elements, combat, side quest mundanity, writing, characters were all poor - especially if you played the former instalments of the IP.

[@Morrodin182]

@@onesolopolo4194 Yeah, I saw another YT-commenter give his feedback and to him it felt as if the game is constantly talking down at you by overexplaining stuff, that certain tasks you do are beyond simple. That the overal tone for the game is too much oriented towards younger teens while at the same time, the title got rated Mature. Personally I haven't played the game and based on the feedback I've seen online, I will not and this has nothing to do with politics or 'different' views but simply because I feel that the game is not a true Dragon Age game.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

@@onesolopolo4194I mean let’s be clear, the side quests are all much more relevant and plot focused than inquisition ones. And combat, despite the flaws mentioned in this video, is a much better experience than inquisition and dragon age 2. Only origins offered a true tactical gameplay combat style. Every other game fell short. This is far better than most. If you tolerated dragon age 2 and 3, this game really is no different in terms of quality. Let’s not pretend those two games had stellar writing compared to Veilguard.

[@tektight]

@@BBS-dl1lt Opinion noted. Also Inquisition combat was better.

[@HitsuTwistedTalong]

I'm more proud of you for finishing this game than BG3 with difficult conditions. This game left me broken hearted, I miss the old Dragonage. They should have just remake the old games.

[@Heavenly_Father]

No remakes, they'll make Morrigan black, Alistair gay and our Mabari trans

[@sergiosanchez3344]

The BG3 comparisons are tiring af. They're different games attempting different things, BG3 is focused on choices and consequences DAV is not, it is trying to tell a very specific story the same way Final Fantasy does and it's still an RPG.

[@HitsuTwistedTalong]

@@sergiosanchez3344 chill man i compared it to bg3 because thats what she play the most.

[@HitsuTwistedTalong]

@@Heavenly_Father you prob right but we dont know for sure

[@sergiosanchez3344]

@@HitsuTwistedTalong i'm not even angry wdym chill?

[@Cassandra_Solidor]

Every time I heard "team" I'd immediately think of Mass Effect where that made way more sense. Heck, even that game still often referred to your "team" as your squad to keep with the military theme. It's funny. I never really thought about it until BG3 saying "companions" but it'd feel so damn awkward if they said anything else.

[@Iam_Stu]

Iron Bull referred to the "team" in Inquisition. Zevran referred to the "team" in origins. This isn't new language for DA.

[@LumanuL]

Вы - такая молодец. Это самый глубокий и в тоже время самый деликатный разбор Veilguard, который я видела. На игру сейчас выливается очень много негатива, настолько много, что она кажется провальной во всех аспектах, целиком и полностью. Многие фанаты серии в результате не хотят давать ей даже шанс, и я одна из таких игроков, но теперь я все же попытаюсь пройти её.

[@OnFirewall]

One of the best endings in gaming... Ah yes, the one that tells us that none of what we did in the first three games mattered at all. Even better, it just does not exist anymore, aside from some people from Inquisition. The scariest thing is that with time people will accept what happened at the end, that the place we spend so much time in, trying to make things right, doesn't exist anymore. "We don't want to invalidate the choices you've made" so we destroy the whole place, okay? Sorry, I'm just grieving.

[@hibarikyoya854]

No choices you made in origins mattered in 2 and no choices you made mattered in Inquisition it only changed some cameos and veilguard is 10 years later in another country not Ferelden

[@OnFirewall]

@hibarikyoya854 I still think some choices from Origins and Inquisition should matter for Ferelden. Something like who ends up on the throne, with just Anora Ferelden has much less chance to stand the Blight than with Alister or Loghain helping. Or who leads Orlais, imagine how hard it would be to assasinate three people with one of them being a freaking spy. Plus HoF could've been mentioned by Evka and Antoine or could help them study the new Blight, since if they are alive that what they do. But I guess sometimes nothing you could possibly do is enough to stop the apocalipse. Or Ghillannain was hellbent on destroying Ferelden lol

[@brandonoflight8274]

After the Mass Effect ending, I kinda figured this is where we'd end up.

[@arturius9715]

My concern for ME5 is at the max level.

[@sofajockeyUK]

I think Mass Effect 5 will be excellent and we have a tease for Dragon Age 5 now, though that'll be a while.

[@tektof5649]

There are only 3 Mass Effect games.

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@tektof5649 Ah and a foolish comment enters the chat. Obviously Mass Effect 5 will be following up on Andromeda as has been confirmed and as it should,

[@atlasblast2082]

The writing in Veilguard toward the end really makes the next Bioware game hopeful. It's like the writer figured out moment to moment conversation Vs. exposition and when to use both accordingly by the end of Veil

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@atlasblast2082 I agree. The 3rd Act reminded me of Mass Effect 2 (structurally), building on many quests to an awesome finish. The Mass Effect team were deeply involved in Veilguard so it's all a good sign for Mass Effect 5.

[@TheOdMan]

"I Have Some Thoughts" Said no one at BioWare.

[@holgerackermann75]

Yeah, something like this can only be created in an echo chamber. Toxic positive where everybody is cheering and no one dares to give constructive feedback.

[@patryklesniak1759]

Dayum xD

[@JohnDBlue]

Having thoughts is seen as toxic in today's game dev culture :p

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

Let me guess, none of you actually watched this video?

[@Iam_Stu]

@@holgerackermann75 it's funny that you use the term echo chamber when all of you guys say the exact same things.

[@Kat1kafka]

Gameplay 5/10 Graphics 7/10 Dialogue 2/10 Breaking immersion 10/10 Hand holding 10/10 Veilguard is not a return to the origin form. Fortunately, i got that Dragon Age Origins feeling back with Baldur's Gate 3.

[@gabrielbarrosdemeloamorim1021]

What game has 10/10 gameplay to you?

[@sechu2]

I dont agree. Rogue gameplay is like 85/100 warrior 70/100 mage 50/100. Graphics 85/100. But overall this game deserve 55/100, so many things are bad.

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@gabrielbarrosdemeloamorim1021 BG3

[@krysuh6936]

​@@gabrielbarrosdemeloamorim1021 to make an example dmc faranchise is 10 and yes even dmc ninja theory not as good as the others but good enough.

[@8minato]

@@sechu2 dragon age gameplay is just guardians of the galaxy gameplay but slightly better so not really good. I actually would take that back because guardians had some value and thought to the comrade abilities you used.

[@MisterBlackroad]

The best part of DA's writing so far was that there was never really anyone to put the blame on, it's all a mix of motivations that make sense but are in conflinct. The hidden ending really made it clear that these devs don't understand Dragon Age by giving you people to blame for literally everything that ever happened.

[@mrmasky9783]

What i despised was the fact that no side quests let you make any choices so you are basically forced to help out and that the game tricked you in the start that you can make a diplomatic run (the tavern decision of fight or talk) but there's no other sequence in the whole game where you can talk your way out of trouble or smooth things over with your enemies and even get them to side with you by the end. Shame

[@wardensurana8336]

Auntie Ethel in BG3 is a good example of that.

[@molybdaen11]

@@mrmasky9783 So it's like in Demonicon where you could make only 2 impactful decisions (how to handle a criminal and what to do with your „suster”).

[@Adanu191]

Recruiting Loghain was one of the most insanely brilliant moves you can make in Origins. It sends a statement and puts an accomplished warrior on your team. I know the emotional among us can't forgive him for Duncans death, but Duncan is DEAD. Killing Loghain doesn't change that, and we have a Blight to deal with.

[@fadingghost9723]

​@@Adanu191 Loghain was too untrustworthy to let live imo, plus letting Alistair duel him felt like I was giving Alistair a bit of closure. But just having the option to recruit or ally with an antagonist is so rare in games now, and it's something I really wish would become more prevalent again.

[@Adanu191]

@@fadingghost9723 Untrustworthy? His ENTIRE MO was defending Fereldan at all costs. He is extremely trustworthy in that, and that was what you were offering.

[@iOnlySignIn]

I just want to bring attention to Lua's face at 1:47. It perfectly summarizes my impression of DAV. :D

[@eliminatedzergling1685]

pause it at 1:50, its a very funny face she makes

[@utkumuratoglu]

As a longtime DA fan, I was very doubtful about this game, and in between whether to play or not. This video helped me make the decision and clearly shows that everything I feared was true. Thanks for the video, this was what I needed.

[@kmel3588]

Its funny, watching her reaction/review now vs the day 1 review watchalong reaction she had on stream. I remember her watching the reviews and saying "it dosnt look that bad", it was one of the few times ive seen lua's chat push back against her and say no this dialogue/gameplay is shit.

[@sofajockeyUK]

having just finished (107 hours) I think it's the best of the 4 games. As a longtime DA, I feel totally vindicated that those calling it 'garbage' are delusional.

[@ESEJESEJ]

@@sofajockeyUK Can you elaborate on that statement, unless you are sarcastic? What makes it the best?

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@ESEJESEJ Not at all sarcastic. 1. It takes the story set up from Inquisition and runs with it. Following up Trespasser, the Descent DLC and getting deep into elven lore. Unlike Inquisition which has a weaker final act, Veilguard has the strongest with an excellent Act 1 ending and a huge Act 3 with 'deadly choices'. Think 'Fantasy Mass Effect 2'. I also found the gameplay a big step up on Inquisition. DA2 had been my favourite but this tops it. Had you had doubt about it? There's a good deal of nonsense being shared on the internet.

[@Henbot]

@@kmel3588She still enjoyed it and the chat enjoyed act 3 a lot and some dialogue

[@tiagocanetaverde6770]

10 years waiting for the continuation of the inquisition and it's not what I expected or wanted

[@sofajockeyUK]

Have you finished the game?

[@arpadszabo661]

I don’t think anyone who genuinely says that this is what they wanted, ever played other Dragon Age games. The writing became weaker after Origins in general, but this is just a new low.

[@bootnscoot5265]

@@sofajockeyUK Suffering through mediocrity just to say you beat it isn't as strong an argument as you think it to be. Nor is saying the ending makes you hopeful for the "next" game. You are effectively acknowledging that the lions share of the game is sub standard. It is a turd with sprinkles on it. Just play it for one more hour, i promise it gets better, It's only just getting started.

[@profbawbag6604]

Inquisition was a pile of dung too. The only reason that wasn't annihilated was because DA2 was worse (DA2 DLC was what the game could have and should have been), and it was a step up from that. DA:I had large maps filled with nothingness, and whilst going for the open world feel, and attempting to do the usual BioWare story on rail thing BioWare does, they nailed neither.

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@profbawbag6604 Ah yes, the dung pile that was GOTY Inquisition. Be serious.

[@shaunwayne8610]

In a Bioware game I don't care for gameplay. I expect good story, dialogue, companions and respect for the lore. I can't understand how wrtitng can be the worst part of this game. Does Bioware not understand what people want from it? I am afraid for MassEffect

[@boynextdoor1951]

Not caring about a game's gameplay is crazy. Sure you can prioritize other aspects over gameplay, but not caring...come on man

[@shaunwayne8610]

@boynextdoor1951 maybe I overstated it but if I can have a good story I don't need gameplay innovations. For a Bioware game story is far more important.

[@Iam_Stu]

@@shaunwayne8610 The story was great.

[@meodrac]

For me, Veilguard was Bioware's last straw. I didn't like where Inquisition was bringing the series to and Veilguard showed where the series is headed. Same with Bethesda and Starfield. Blizzard and Warcraft 3: Reforged.

[@MrJpc1234]

@@boynextdoor1951 I think the point is that they dont play specifically a "Bioware" game for the gameplay and (for the previous games) as long as the gameplay was functional and served the atmosphere it wasnt the selling point.......The issue here is that the things you do go to a Bioware Game for i.e the writing world building character and story are the games weaknesses and while people can say that it may have good gameplay thats not the selling point of thisfranchise and your going to get better gameplay in other games

[@randyduran-po2fl]

So uh inquisition is the last dragon age game guys? Crazy cliffhanger! Thanks BioWare. I’ll miss yall

[@D4C_LoveTrain1]

ironically origins fans will say origins is the last dragon age 😭Dragon Age will never have a well recieved game at this point 😭😭😭

[@UtlawBroine]

Just imagine Solas going into the fade as part of inquisition’s ending and its okay. Too bad they created a 80 hour long cringefest before that scene.

[@ervus3289]

I'm happy to live with this cliffhanger. Time to create an end of this story in my head.

[@lcicada]

Making Corinne Busche the game director was a big mistake. She just had not even remotely enough experience and I will forever be salty about it.

[@D4C_LoveTrain1]

normally when people put blame on someone it's for arbituary reasons but I can understand questioning her hiring. She previously worked on the sims, she's never worked on dark projects and you can tell with how the game turned out. The lack of experience was also an issue for Mass Effect Andromeda, a new studio was made and the leads had very little experience with that type of game. ME5 is being developed by people who lead parts of the Mass Effect series but won't mean much if the game director is out of touch with the brand.

[@sofajockeyUK]

Her arrival has clearly had a huge impact. Her skillset is systems design and Veilguard is the sharpest bug-free game of the series.

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@ati3473 Thankfully this is an excellent game with few bugs. Everyone happy.

[@JohnnyUriah]

@@sofajockeyUKbait use to be believable

[@sofajockeyUK]

@@JohnnyUriah I know, the amount of clickbait nonsense on KZbin these days is hard to fathom.

[@gustavoaraujo6923]

"Gather your gang"

[@randomgeneration7781]

"Get your guys"

[@confusedashell020]

"Drag your dudes"

[@aldmerian]

Gather your goons

[@MKumarY]

Assemble your workers

[@dacks3375]

"Avengers Assemble"

[@asgeirkvitvik6685]

I just started replying Mass Effect 1 and talking to Liara about how Asari reproduce, and they had written a whole "story" around it, in DA:V they jut go .. "I'm non-binary"

[@hibarikyoya854]

Except Taash whole story begins with how they act more like a man then a woman and how the fire breathing has to be kept a secret and how since birth they've lives on 2 different worlds rivaini and Qunari which just enhances the feeling of not belonging on top of the non binary stuff. Wow see what you can do if actually pay attention

[@rigzcygen]

@@asgeirkvitvik6685 me too! got the legendary edition discounted on steam!

[@Youtube.changed.myname]

I had the same thoughts regarding the skill system and the lack of the option to save multiple loadouts the moment I've seen the first gameplay trailers. I was going insane watching multiple reviewers not mention the loadout problem at all, feels great to know that I am not crazy.

[@Rebelnutt]

Yeah they're getting paid to not mention anything they really want to and just to chill!

[@Cloudkiller01]

There has never been a loadout system in any Dragon Age. Why would this one have it?

[@Youtube.changed.myname]

​@@Cloudkiller01 Because the game regressed from having 10+ abilities at once to only 3 and advertised that as encouraging frequent respecting and skill switching. The moment I've seen that nonsense I left some comments about it on EA youtube channel but each one of them was swarmed by people screaming that either the game will for sure have loadouts or that skill switching/respecing will be quick and easy. Obviously, I was right. Anyone who had seen Andromeda knew what was coming.

[@Cloudkiller01]

@@KZbin.changed.myname you mean 10 years ago when Inquisition changed the formula from DA2 and became the best seller in the series? And you expected this game to go back to the near universally hated system of 2? Or the cRPG style of one? You’re not thinking straight.

[@Youtube.changed.myname]

​@@Cloudkiller01 _Mobile games are more profitable than PC games, I guess all future games should be mobile only_ And yeah, I would prefer for them to go back to CRPG style from Origins or DA2, hell, coping Baldur's Gate 3 and going full turn-based would be a more true to the original than what we got. Still, if you decide to change the genre and overhaul the combat system then you should do it right, the need for loadouts was obvious and they still didn't add them. It was an easy fix that should've been there from the start, but they are either too lazy to add basic quality of life features, or don't have anyone in their company who actually plays games.

[@Lu5ck]

Conspiracy theory! Bioware did fired 50 staffs a little more than a year ago, in the name of "restructuring" to "agile studio". However, I believe they were fired because they don't agree with the writings and therefore caused a lot of delays thus got fired. If not, the CEO wants to push certain narratives but these staffs resisted thus got fired. In any case, it is clear as day there are a lot of inconsistency in the writings, way worse than any of the titles they had. Anyway, the bad writings make it very hard for many to keep playing despite the beautiful world.

[@chilbiyito]

They wanted only the yes people on board to push out a product as soon as possible

[@kthulhukif]

I wouldn't at all be surprised lol

[@modracihla5532]

I could see that. The game feels like someone went with a red marker and crossed anything that might be too complex or dark. Like Lucanis questline. Or Hardings questline felt like it should have go into something way darker. Instead both got resolved with a power of friendship

[@pepepepoe8882]

❤This is the best review ive seen so far, you said the truth while having the full experience and not letting yourself being influnced by any of the hate media. I just finished the game and i couldnt be more agree with you it has extremely good things and others that are weak, and overall is a good game that can also could have being better improving in all the things that you said.❤ And pardon my writting english is not my native language.

[@mohgceoofblood8235]

It was doomed to fail from the start, BioWare didn't learn from Andromeda, BioWare died long time ago.

[@Scoobay]

Andromeda is for sure the weakest mass effect instalment, and shouldn’t even be associated with the OG trilogy…but it was still enjoyable to play. Repetitive, yes, but the gameplay was fine and I actually played it a couple times. The bad guys were cool too.

[@sprintstothebathroomdaily2429]

@@Scoobay agreed, andromeda gameplay was better, but same dialogue, companion, enemies are bullet sponges issues as Dragon age

[@Maitredebo2]

Technically, Veilguard is much, much better than Andromeda. If there is 1 thing this game does well, this is the performances, even on PC.

[@HeyItsCdub]

Sadly enough, I actually felt better about the dialogue in Andromeda over Veilguard

[@bizmonkey007]

In all fairness, Veilguard is a lot better than Andromeda and is a solid ARPG. The sterile and safe dialogue is definitely the weakest part of the game though. Andromeda was just plain terrible from start to finish, with a laughably bad conclusion.

[@Kay0Bot]

This game was definitely meant to be mmorpg live service. The writing makes perfect sense from this perspective. Just general gameplay has that feel.

[@Josyeliel]

you always do such an amazing job at speaking to the details that make a game an intriguing one.

[@lep2525]

What’s even more heartbreaking about this game is that if you look at the recently released art book for Veilguard, it shows what Project Joplin (Dreadwolf) was originally going to be. Sooo much more choice/consequence, world state was there as it used to be, much more nuanced concepts, fleshed out romances, companions sounded more interesting, etc. Supposedly it was even going to be a 2 part game 😩 knowing this makes me so disappointed with what we ended up getting. I think the chaotic development cycle and the BioWare higher ups (per David Gaider’s tweets) not believing that the writing/writers are important enough to justify the budget really screwed this game big time. If Mass Effect 4 turns out like this, I hope BioWare closes and I say this as a diehard fan.

[@KOTSOSMC2002]

Remember when you'd see a character walk off-screen in a particular way and go "Ha, that's the BioWare walk". Remember when you'd have discussions about writing in media and refer to BioWare as the prime example of videogame script, narrative, world building and flow to the extent where their material was literally desecibed as "the BioWare magic", a thing you had to experience to understand. I remember those times. Oh I remember. Andromeda had some of that magic, it was 50% meh 50% classic BioWare. Anthem was devoid of any by design. Legendary Edition was a fun diversion that they had no hand in crafting, just refreshing. The Veilguard isn't just the next BioWare L or a disappointing release, it's the confirmation that what I'm talking about is nothing but a memory. They claim the Mass Effect creative team is different and a lot more self aware about the legacy of their IP and the stakes for the studio. Is the next Mass Effect doomed to fail or a miracle. We will see and we will remember.

[@secondsplitter]

so basically, what i hear is: They took Mass Effect, specially Andromeda (which kinda has the best gameplay) and put a Dragon Age Skin on it, with not much to improve your character. Dialog wheel is way outdated, everything is super friendly and inclusive without making sense in the universe, writing is mainly poor, overall has it's moments, physical world building is great, start is as bad or worse like the beginning of Inquisition, ending is superb... ohh man. BioWare really lost it's ways. There are some bread crumbs, but not enough to keep me. Maybe in a far future after forcing myself through inquistion. Someone said, it's a great "first rpg for kids/teens", and i would agree on that, specially the character designs are not meant for the older fans or gamer. Great review, great insight in your opinion of DA: Veilguard.

[@Odine777]

I don't think the dialogue wheel is the problem, the problem is the lack of consequences. In Mass Effect, when you make a decision, it matters, here it only slightly changes the tone in which you say something.

[@kmel3588]

@@Odine777 lack or consequence and a lack of choice on how you want to play your character. In DA2 being pro vs anti mage from an RP prepective was enough to have multiple playthroughs. You can be anything but 3 flavors of "nice guy" here.

[@wardensurana8336]

It can't be the first RPG for teens or kids. The game is rated M and has sex scenes.

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

@@Odine777 Agreed the dialogue wheel is no different in function to any other way of selecting a response, and the wheel is IMO far better if you are using a controller, and is visually pretty clear. The problem is the content of the wheel, not the wheel itself. The Mass effect trilogy great as it is sometimes was a bit too ambiguous so you got those 'ok that really wasn't what I expected' moments it plays out in an unexpected way. But there was a huge variety of options on the wheel that actually had some impact on that interactions and world.

[@carbodude5414]

The reason they retconned the Elves working for Solas thing is because it would be difficult to justify not having a "let Solas win" ending when one of the major pros of it is equal rights Because why fight for positive change when we could just enforce an abusive status quo no matter what?

[@hibarikyoya854]

But that's not what Solas wants he wants to uplift the elves to how they where before and take down the veil he out up that's stated in trespasser and even there if you chose the help him option he says no because he knows what he's doing is wrong but he's lost in his convictions and regret

[@DevinParker]

That was one of the reasons I was so looking forward to Dreadwolf/Veilguard. Solas being set up by Trespasser as the main antagonist after you spent all of Inquisition fighting alongside him and coming to understand his worldview made him far more interesting. At least some-though maybe not all-of the Dalish and the city Elves joining him would have made for a complex and morally challenging scenario, since you go into it knowing that the Elves have very good reasons to want to overthrow all of Thedas as it currently exists. But maybe not all Elves are on-board with Solas' plan; some of them might not want to see all of Thedas destroyed. And if Morrigan was still in play as her old power-and-independence-seeking self, she might have come into the plot with a different option... Had BioWare been willing to show any degree of courage, they could have had their writers create a highly dramatic game plot with lots of ethical quandaries and no easy answers. One of the promises Trespasser made (at least as far as I remember it from my playthrough) was that trying to change Solas' mind or somehow appeal to him might have been a valid strategy to pursue. Attempting a non-violent ultimate solution felt like a novel and welcome proposal to me, rather than just doing yet another iteration of "we're gonna have to kill this guy."

[@rustyshackleford1062]

"equal rights" is a really funny way of phrasing genocide all others from existence but sure if that's what you feel it takes it should have been an option. Origins allowed you to sacrifice children to demons and turn dwarves into an army of soulless automatons after all, genocide in the name of equality would fit right in with old bioware writing.

[@omnipenne9101]

Would have been interesting if they bit the bullet and kept that angle. Like, Solas' agents ignite a slave rebellion because they feel the Shadow Dragons aren't doing enough. You get the choice to side with either the slaves to invoke change and gain their favour at the cost of instability in Minrathous and a few successful assassinations of important people you want to keep alive. Or, you side with the Venatori Magisters for their help to root out the agents quickly for information on Solas' next move at the cost of maintaining the status quo. Having the choice to let the Veil fall or not, combined with past choices and/or a Chaos/Order system that influences either choice's ending like in Dishonored would have best reflected how your decisions mattered. Imo the only reason why letting the Veil fall would be destructive is because of the suffering happening in Thedas. The Veil shouldn't really be there to begin with so it should come down. I would have loved to have the option to bring ALL of the magic back to Thedas, whilst giving a lot of people a greater chance of surviving whats to come.

[@FleekQueenLevy]

It's a miracle we even got a game that's okay. This game was remade twice in development. Leads were fired, Leads left, and at one point many of the games writers were laid off. Other people had to pick up the frankenstein monstrosity that was this games development and churn out something that could even be called a game. I genuinely believe this is the root cause for all this games issues.

[@A2theC]

Ah ok, so the game is half decent only due to the hard work done by those who either quit or were fired, likely over consultancy disagreements.

[@kronusx3484]

That's EA/Bioware fault though, not ours.

[@magikonkuiz]

I'd rather they just DROP the game than release this, but of course they can't. Too much money was sunk in development already.

[@FastNCurious88]

Entire dev team, everyone who worked on this- infected with blight. I'm convinced.

[@serioussimon998]

Haven't played the game, but loved Origins and partially Inquisition at the time. This was the most authentic, clear and well-spoken review I have ever seen. Liked AND subscribed!

[@MundaneCat]

Dragon Age : HR is In the room The Game

[@theobell2002]

Regurgitating what KZbinrs say, huh? Can't form your own opinion?

[@ZayyWithTheKs]

People can come to the same conclusion. I did too 😅 DA Inquisition was better

[@avidian888]

Very well put! Thanks for playing this game, so that I don't have to... Honestly after this game BioWare is done...

[@crimsoncardin6659]

I just beat the game yesterday after 97hrs. Your thoughts resonated with me

[@liu1255]

Can't agree more when Luality says the game lack of a capable overseer or lead writer, at least some of the writters who did excellent work in inquisition participate in this game, but the writing is still dreadfully poor for most of the time. In fact even the director of veilguard is some nobody from The Sims 4 studio who get this most important job only because his “special” identity, that speaks volumes.

[@Axterix13]

The one in charge connects with one of the two worst companions. It isn't a lack of ability to give feedback, but rather, that that's probably the direction given. If I had to hazard a guess, the better written quests were done by the people brought in late from the ME team... that those are better due to a lack of oversight. The ending is pretty bad as well. You have multiple endings, but they're all basically the same outcome. And the secret ending undermines all the previous games.

[@AulisVaara]

Everything in this game undermines the previous games, not just the secret ending. For instance: Solas' explanation of the Archdemons blatantly contradicts his opinion toward the Grey Wardens and his denial of Archdemons as pets in Inquisition.

[@Worldknower]

From the way you speak, it sounds like a 6/10 game, which i would think is fair, and 6/10 is an average score, most games are average. Giving a game 10/10 should be a thing that only happens very rarely. Like with BG3. The fact that this game got so many top review is a painful reminder that alot of reviewers are not honest, or dont know how to do their job.

[@Rebelnutt]

5/10

[@hellerdamon6101]

I'd take points for taking so long and being probably the last thing we'll get of this ip. Having a 6/10 made in 3 or 4 years knowing they'll get another chance to improve in another 3 or 4 years is ok.... Waiting 10 years for the probable culmination of 15 years of build up and the uncertainty of the company. I'd take 2 points. No Bioware game should be a 4/10, not considering the amount of time they had.

[@ANGRYWOLVERINE2060-ft2nc]

Most players will think it is a 5 or less. It might be enough to close the studio.

[@UtlawBroine]

5/10 as a standalone game, because its literally average, but its a 3/10 as a Dragon Age game.

[@BBS-dl1lt]

@@hellerdamon6101this iteration of the game has not been in development for 10 years though. This game has had the most chaotic development journey and didn’t really begin in earnest until 2020 after the previous iteration was scrapped. Then Covid slowed it down even more. It’s disingenuous to imply this game had 10 years of work put into it when we all know it didn’t. This is also game 4 in a 5 game series. I suppose if fans make it their mission to boycott and ensure the series never continues, then that will change…but dragon age has been planned as a 5 game series.

[@adrijenie4105]

so it takes so much time to get to the good part. and there is so much cringe things to endure before that. ok, im done with this game. ill try to refund

[@BadEnd98]

It does felt better now that I didn't know the good parts it can get so I can avoid entirely, especially how she praise the ending as peak, it could be so regrettful to have something good and think about what could've been good, how much of a wasted potential before reaching it. No I think I don't wanna waste my time to get to the good part too

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

You are funny. Software can't be refunded. If you don't like a game that's just tough luck. Doesn't give you the right to play it for hours and then just give it back and not pay for it.

[@VIPMVPanyquestions]

@@Quotenwagnerianer You absolutely can refund games on steam for any reason you want so long as you haven't played more than two hours. I love how confidently wrong some people are when talking down to others.

[@jessikautumn]

Lua, This is the best review I've seen of the game so far. It's honest, it's pointing out the correct mistakes and not nonsense like many other streamers/KZbinrs, no lies to convince others to like or dislike the game and all that. I thought it was very good and I appreciate you doing this! It really breaks one's heart to love this franchise so much and see people inventing things that don't exist or talking badly about things that have always been in the game. I agree with you that the way the dialogues were written is one of Veilguard's biggest flaws. Despite this, you can still have fun playing. Anyway! Your review was the best by far. Thank you! I hope they listen to you and make some changes in general. ❤

[@Sekainoowaride]

This was a LOT more positive than new Bioware deserves, this game opens with Ferelden dead or dying, absolutely 0 events from Origins or DA 2 matter and they did Solas so dirty it's not even funny. They won't learn anything from this, they DONT want to learn anything from this.

[@fabobg]

"One of the best endings in gaming" is a pretty strong claim.

[@nickrubin7312]

It is great pretty much in everything, the last stretch of the game, even tho I have some gripes with some parts it provides/tries to tie

[@arpadszabo661]

There is 0 chance that anyone who played all the dragon age games and actually remember the quality of the writing (even after Origins) thinks that this game has a good ending

[@StuartEaston23]

@@arpadszabo661 I don't know, the ending were everybody in the team gets killed off can be considered a form of good ending lol.

[@theobell2002]

@@arpadszabo661 Sure.. because Origins finale is so much better. "Quick! I need to have sex with you to save the world!!" I'm cringing even thinking about it.

[@Xsorus]

She's under selling it.... and i'm not joking... the end carries the game HARD

[@tgc93]

Never played a Dragon Age game before. I was thinking about trying this one but I’m probably going to pass. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@MrDaliLeo]

The ending is perceived better because it is the legacy of the game's lore. Many things were written down back at the stage of creating DA: Origins. Since these were fundamental elements of the series, they were harder to spoil. But all the improvisation from the current authors is a bland chewing gum, in which there is neither sharpness nor depth. If it were not for the traditionally high level of voice acting, it would be much harder to perceive these texts. And if in terms of gameplay the game is normal (but definitely not excellent), then as an RPG it is a complete failure. Without a high-quality original source, current authors are not able to offer anything interesting at all. And this is sad.

[@ectogamut]

Here's hoping Avowed gives us meaningful choices, just a few months away!

[@J4kuZZi]

When the writers care little about fantasy, culture, lore, gamer experience, and only their own agenda, this happens. At least you finished it.

[@StriderX117]

One of the most well criticized reviews I've ever seen! You described very well the problems with the game and give examples. Awesome as always!

[@Dino9474]

The way I see it is this is an average RPG game, but not a Dragon Age RPG game.

[@ansizfark]

It looks more like the mobile RPG ads I see all over the place rather than a Dragon Age game.

[@tami3456]

Calling this game an rpg is an insult to rpgs

[@XXSteel]

It doesn’t even feel average.

[@daedalron]

It is an average Action game, not a RPG.

[@BackseatGamingJesus]

Gameplay average, writing awful.

[@defiante1]

This game basically declares that Solas was the maker and Andraste was a Mythal host. The golden city is the palace/prison he built. It just... farts on the lore and wraps it up in this bow and ignores anything that doesn't fit with that interpretation. Even outright tells you how to interpret it so there is no confusion. The subtext and multiple endings and different views are not only invalid, they may as well never happened. Liliana and her religious experience was just her being crazy. It's such a shockingly sad ending to a great series.

[@_vindicator_]

nah that doesnt work coz the black city is the original palace of the evanuris and the fade prison is just an isolated bubble. you can always see the black city in the fade, but nothing ever comes out of it, while the magical soul prison or whatever the hell it is is not visible. i think the implications lore-wise are worse, coz they flat out say the maker didnt exist in a convo and imply that elves lived in the golden city, ghilly made the blight and archdemons for all of them, caused the darkspawn before solas prisoned them coz he says he couldnt contain it fully. so that also means that when tevinter teleported to black city, they are right, it was already blighted and empty, evanuris being in solas prison, and blight leaking out to thedas when they came back. thats a big ass plothole coz archdemons had nothing to do with the black city or tevinter and the blight has already leaked before, meaning tevinter did nothing wrong (pun intended). that contradicts dao and dai lore. they tried to wrap it up and just made a mess of it.

[@hibarikyoya854]

​@@_vindicator_seeing how the archdemons are just blighted old gods in the deep roads them being creations of Ghilan'nain and the blight seeking then out when tevinter pierced the veil isn't far fetched also given the fact Wardens can hear the whispers of the blight it can be easily said those whispers are from the evanirus. Also I might've missed something but tevinter still did unleased the blight because they entered physically in the fade and made contact with it whiles mages only ever enter the fade spiritually. So I wouldn't call it lore shattering retcons because also Tevinter also has there side of the story that they tell

[@chriskarpetas]

It was 100% a lack of direction and leadership. The writer lead should have outright slashed 40% of the dialogue (and all the exposition). Companion quests should've been integrated in the main story quest. Same with the exploration. It seemed like there was no game director for this title, and if there was, they need to get fired because they didn't do jack shit. And for god's sake, no modern writing/slang in a medieval fantasy setting. It felt like the lead writer was too worried about hurting his co-writers feelings, when he should've told them that "this part here, it's utter shit".

[@toffylikesgames]

Thank you, Luality, I greatly resonate with your review. You said all the things I thought myself while going through the game. I still have a lot of play in it, but I know enough spoilers to not feel happy about the future. I feel like Bioware had all the great ingredients to make something delicious, but ended up with a very bland and safe meal. Which is a pity, as we had such a fantastic set up for it.

[@AutisticHermit]

I have to say after 200 hours in my own playthroughs, I never really felt like Rook was mine. Storywise being a Grey Warden felt good and had an actual link to what was going on but again I never felt connected to my Rook. Also romances are a complete let down, I liked the companions but very surface level, I don't know them like I knew Alistair or morrigan, even Nathaniel Howe felt more in depth than some of the Veilguard companions, aside from Emmrich who is very well done. Lore is great for future games but who knows if that will ever happen and lastly the ending slides are horrible and I felt no sense of closure just a hollow empty feeling.

[@jimmathin1669]

your review is so good very neutral and non bias! Thank you

[@MrKitEA]

Her review is literally Skill Up review which she didn't like (she was almost assuming he is a hater and why was he playing it if he didn't like it). He as well said that dialogue was weak, battles were dragged on and the ending sequence was amazing and he wished that it would translate to the whole game. So even though I like her in general, I'm kinda mad she didn't really respect Skill Up review.

[@DeaD1te]

when i saw you cant start actual arguments with companions and no choice really "mattered" in the game i knew id not be buying it

[@Zuron]

DA1 and 3 had a feature which was almost never used, and easily overlooked: The ability to dismiss companions. When Leliana asks to join you in Origins, or when Blackwall does in Inquisition, you can tell them: F off, see you never, loser. Certain actions in the story/companion quests could also cause them to leave, for example Varrick leaves you in Inquisition, depending on how you deal with Hawke and the fallout. Only after Veilguard do I see what a great feature that was. Being forced to get along with everyone is so annoying. And it's a consequence of how the (admittedly well presented) ending sequence is constructed.

[@Cloudkiller01]

Doesn’t someone leave you in DA 2 as well depending on some choices?

[@Zuron]

@@Cloudkiller01 I had to look it up, but actually yes, it can happen. There's much less team mentality in that game though, it's like the companions have their own lives going on while I'm ghosting them.

[@Cloudkiller01]

@@Zuron I actually kinda loved that about DA2. It made any romance that did happen feel a lot more weighted since barely anyone except Merill really wanted to be there.

[@waytoblue653]

The vocabulary in this game makes me feel like I’m in a Zoom meeting for work

[@Arnyh0ld]

The game was designed to not appeal to the general audience Dragon Age has. They have succeeded in that at least. I understand they wanted to MAKE us like the game, hence the tone and delivery, but that's not how that works. And I'm not even talking about inclusivity, which is something us, the general public has no problem with, which was clearly shown in recent successes of CP2077, BG3 or the show Arcane, which are all extremely diverse, but it simply doesn't matter as it is written well and the audience is treated like adults. Likeable characters vs obnoxious ones. I could go on, but you get the point.

[@Chewable396]

Medieval fantasy in which everyone looks like they’re 20th century high class aristocrats in waistcoats…?

[@cesarpereira1625]

Very nuanced and honest review. Thanks for sharing

[@NoisyTumbleDryer]

Companions killed it for me, theres not a solitary one I connected too and thats because of absolutely terrible writing and being their therapist rather than their leader

[@mackthedog95]

I'm so glad to hear your opinions, you give a very nice glance at the game, I think you are fair

[@Callsign-Wildcard]

This is the nicest, most respectful criticism outline of the game I've seen so far, and I love it for that. I do find it interesting that quite a few of the negative reviews I've watched have had nothing but praise for the last two hours of the story. That speaks volumes to me.

[@Spumoon]

0:51 Yeah. 'You gotta take point on this' really immerses me in ye olde elven times. Although perhaps this particular instance gets a pass, because where would this phrase of taking point derive from? Perhaps a Pointer hunting dog?

[@Kaijudomage]

The thousand yard stare into the camera 2:25

[@oguzcanoguz5977]

I dont think the dialogue got better, except for the ending part which honestly feels like another team did it. I think you just get used to the terrible dialog so it becomes more bearable.

[@finnfraser2228]

Thank you Luality for this video. More than you can think. I was part of the crowd that waited 10 years for this game, and while I didn't join the hate train I was not exactly a defender of the game before being able to play it myself and get to my own conclusions. I finished the game last night with around 80 or so hours and I was disappointed because the story and characters fell flat for me and those where what I personally looked forward to the most. Quite honestly I felt betrayed and I appreciated the ease in which you explained your opinions in this video in a constructive, harsh, but fair way. Keep up the amazing work.

[@HoezellCadarn]

Thanks Luality, for putting in words the exact feelings I have about this game!