I've played all the Dragon Age titles, including the DLCs. I know my shit, okay? Okay. Dragon Age II, with its quirky level design, and DA Inquisition, rank in my personal Top 10. Inquisition was a big open world, with endless fetch quests, and a scope that was epic but also burdensome. DA II was a personal favorite because of its consequential storytelling. The templars? Or the mages? Do you spark a rebellion or squash one? Loved it.
So, when the fourth game was announced, like so many others, I was excited and happily purchased my copy. I heard and read a lot of negativity online about the art style but really it seemed to be more this exaggerated and toxic hatred for anything trans or gender related (the game has a non-binary ally who goes on a sweet, perhaps too on-the-nose, self-discovery journey). If you don't tow their line these days, the boycott fever surges strong within the gamer bros. Gamer bros' (my name for that Musk-loving, diversity hating online niche) mercy towards others--for those who dare to be different and for those creators seeking freedom in their storytelling--has been blighted. A darkness has definitely fallen as these new gatekeepers take their spiteful place at their keyboards. And with that said, and the success of the game no doubt impacted, I have to say, after spending nearly 90-plus hours playing it over a month, it's a beautiful blast. The story is about Rook, a kind of rebel heart, who is selected by our old friend in Thedas, Verric, to seek out Solas, an elven God desperate to attone for his ancient crimes. Disaster ensues and two equally ancient Gods escape from their prison in the spirit world, the Fade. Now, your job as Rook is to round up and recruit a band of merry characters to stop Solas and save Thedas from the demented cruel gods. The characters are a mix of dark, dreamy and dank, like Emmerich who loves spending his time talking with the dead, or Bellara, an elven historian who reminds me of a wide eyed deer and flower meadow merged and come to life.
Some of my cons with the game are the hammy dialogue between Rook and the characters, like silly dialogue, cliches abound. It's fair to say it's a bit Disneyfied. Not all of the dialogue is corny, far from it, with many epic scenes swelling and plucking my heart strings. The game is slow going at first with lots of revisiting the same places, walking around, with NPCs stuck to their same spots for days and months as the game progresses. This one is more like DA II with a more linear story, moving you from quest to quest to final battle. The lands you visit are exquisitely designed, beautifully realized and layered with color and texture abundant. The art direction in this title is a big win. I was often stunned, and would just have Rook stand on various ledges and just look around, absorbing what the developers built. Very impressive. But for those that like open worlds and endless crafting, this isn't it.
As for pros, the combat is excellent and full of dazzle and crunch. The mechanics are tricky at first but become easy to use as the game progresses. Having the two characters who join you never die or take damage is both a relief and a letdown. It takes away from the stakes of the combat if you have these helpful tanks who never take damage by your side. Nevertheless, the combat was fun, fast and frisky ... with only a touch of fatigue near the game's end but that was more my wanting to face the Big Bad, not another darkspawn sworm. At the end, the overlays for all the magic and sword slashes were like every city's 4th of July fireworks in a blender. Wild. Not confusing really. I also liked wrapping up each character's personal story, helping them find some peace or not, and romancing Lucanis, the Crow possessed by a demon. It was just sexy time and when he told Rook he loved him, well, I clapped. Insert eye roll sure but that third act was epic and a lot fun. And I guess that's where I wash out with The Veilguard. Yes, some hammy dialogue, and limited replayability with the RPG elements stripped to more bare bones for a straight forward action game on a linear track, but stuffed with inventive combat and gear and a big upgrade chart for your powers and your pals' powers. And you do make some really consequential choices in the last act, especially if you don't prepare I've read ... But I prepared, got all my allies in a row and maxed out my level. I was ready for those damn pesky gods. I enjoyed getting to journey back to Thedas, and a warm thank you to the hard work of the men and women and all those inbetween (because kindness is free, my sweet yet angry gamer bros).
May the Veilguard keep a steady watch.
🎮🎮🎮🎮1/2
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