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So, this is a long entry and big one for me.
I jut finished Dragon Age Veilguard.
And I mean just, like an hour ago. I'm going to try and keep spoilers light here as it's one of the first times I've commented on a game so new.So if going to play it skip most of this until the end.
Rare that it is I even buy new games but as a Dragon Age fanatic and waiting 10 years for this game, well. Jesus, 10 years. EA made Bioware restart dev after a few years to chase the idea of GaaS, however Anthem's success changed it again, so they started again. The teaser came out in 2018, another 6 years later we get the game. I went in blind to this game, first time since DA:I I've done that for a game.
But so much has changed since then, the biggest hit was the main writer and one of the creative leads who directed DA:I. Basically without them I feared for the direction, especially of the story.
Before playing I sorted out my Dragon Age Keep world of my 'canon' world. One of my narrative fears is that Inquisitor will be involved at all, my Inky hates Solas but also doesn't care anymore, she lost a lot and in my head, she went back to where her clan was and spent the rest of her life fishing. Away from the worlds problems (I was correct, Inky is in it a lot, had to use my canon one, who was a money hungry Dwarf... and Inky was nothing like this alas). Turns out, it didn't even use the keep, a waste if there ever was.
Anyway, let's go over things. First, it's not really an RPG, certainly not like the previous entries. They all had their base stats, strength, cunning, vitality etc, same in each game even if the games themselves changed. None of that is here. Gone is the 4 party system, now it's 3, gone is control of multiple party members, now it's one. Abilities has gone from a massive amount in DA:O to DA:Is 8 to now just 3 plus "ult". It's an action game really. Down to the standard worlds filled with generic chests and a single set of weapons with levels and frankly terrible outfits (My Inky looked fucking sweet most the time, I could barely stand the look of these outfits, helmets were comical).
Gameplay however is actually quite good for it's ilk. Combat is fast and while there are a few things that are odd about it, like targeting is twitchy if you actually don't lock on it gets more manageable and for me switching from dual wield to bow was quick and easy depending on situation. However, I played on normal, ended up too easy, I barely took damage really even in the final fights. This was simply down to the fact activating abilities gives you invulnerbility frames, plus dodge is like Souls games where you can dodge all damage if timed right.
Graphics are a mixed bag, you can tell it is new but honestly, I wouldn't say it's that much of an improvement over DA:I, just different. DA:I has aged amazingly well, seriously go look at it. Lighting, character animations. This was fine but has moved to a more cartoony style, which was a shame as I'd prefer a darker tone. However generally it was a glitchless game however, very well polished.
And lastly the story, it's decent is places, good at times but just kinda stale in others. Spoilers below, including big ones.
For the first several hours, all I could think was "no that's wrong, that's wrong", it was like an off take on the world, like the writers had learnt the lore of the world by reading the reddit discussion on it. DA:O, 2 and I were filled with long conversations about people's beliefs, their traditions. All of that is missing and it's all about people, swap the setting and it could have been any other world with the same story for the most part, one companion was literally just a generic clever quickly good with technology girl (technology is not a thing in Thedas) while one companion could have been right at home in DnD. There are next to no choices like in previous games except prehaps 1. All companions are required, no leaving the annoying ones out of your next playthrough it seems. I didn't even romance anyone as didn't find any of them appealing, they were either cliche's or their own stories didn't interest me. Yet, there was some interesting stuff hidden in there just didn't live up to what 10 years of speculating can achieve. They were never going to get it right in that respect and I think they did well enough but there was so many holes and things left unanswered that not even a sequel can answer.
It felt like an end of a series.... which btw, had a cliffhanger (which undermined previous games).
In the end, what this made me want to do is play DA:O, 2 and I more than it. Which is telling really.
As a game in it's own right, I'd say it's a solid 7.5-8/10 however as a DA game, it's maybe a 5 if it's lucky.
EDIT: Btw, I have noticed the thread about the review score of it has vanished from the forum, presume it got heated about certain aspects of the game.
Hmm, pie.
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