After years, EA has released another new installment in the Dragon Age series. Is The Veilgard a good addition to the series.
Along with The Elder Scrolls, Baldur’s Gate and Fable, it’s fair to call Dragon Age one of the biggest names in the fantasy RPG genre. Yet this game does things a little differently in its own way. As with many RPGs, your choices are of great importance to the game’s story.
EA Games studio BioWare had work to do with Dragon Age. It was always praised for its good RPGs, such as the Mass Effect series and Dragon Age. The studio’s latest games fell far short of that level. The Veilgard should get the studio back on track.
This is Dragon Age: The Veilgard
The new Dragon Age installment, The Veilgard, seems like an odd duck at first. This is mainly because EA has chosen a slightly different graphical style. A style that many people have yet to get used to.
That graphical choice has worked out well, however, because the world looks great. Granted, I did play the earlier games, but wasn’t a die-hard fan, and so the difference doesn’t really bother me.
In Dragon Age: The Veilgard, you play Rook, a character you can completely customize. You choose from different classes and peoples. He, along with the various characters he encounters, must take on two elf gods who are endangering the future of the world.
In the first part of the game, you go from one action scene to another and don’t really feel like you’ve entered an RPG yet. However, that changes as you get to know your entire team. Each character has different qualities and can be completely customized with an extensive skill tree.
Waiting for freedom
Once you get through the first part of Dragon Age: The Veilgard, you also get a lot more freedom. You can choose from various sidequests or just follow the main story. Once you complete missions, you always come back to The Lighthouse, a hub of sorts in the game. Here you can also talk to different characters, which makes for a good dynamic.
And that dynamic is especially the game’s strength. Although the main story is fairly well written, the stories the characters struggle with are actually much more interesting. These characters, in part because of your conversations and choices, also go through developments.
(Image: EA)
Fighting in Dragon Age: The Veilgard
But besides the story of Dragon Age: The Veilgard, this game is mostly about the battles, and they are very good in this game. You can perform quick actions simply. For more elaborate attacks, you open a special circle menu with the push of a button. These special attacks can sometimes be combined between different team members, creating an even stronger attack. Still, it could have had a bit more depth, as seen in other RPGs.
Because of the lighter combat, you could actually call Dragon Age: The Veilgard more of an action RPG. OK, it may not be as deep as, say, Baldur’s Gate, but that doesn’t make the game any less fun.
Conclusion
All in all, Dragon Age: The Veilgard may be less of a traditional RPG, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. It depends more on what your expectations are. The stylistic look and lighter combat make it more of an action RPG.
However, you do get sucked into a story, only sometimes the sidequests might be even better. At least it gives you motivation to put some more hours into the game.
