BioWare revealed gameplay for their upcoming entry in the Thedas legend, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, this week. Formally known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, The Veilguard opens with Varric. Varric, introduced in Dragon Age 2, can’t seem to get himself out of world/country ending trouble since his debut. Seeing that this takes place after Inquisition to answer a particular question surrounding a certain party member from that game. Thanks to Solas’ actions, Varric the dwarf and Rook are to find Scout Harding and Detective Neve Gallus. Their journey looks to be in an area where a ritual is about to begin and they are meant to bring it to a halt.
Compared to its’ more renegade style trailer with pop out graphics, The Veilguard gameplay trailer keeps to Dragon Age’s usual theme with a darker tone. The playable character, Rook, is the custom character whose playing as a rogue class from the Shadow Dragons backstory.
Some major notes include the change in gameplay. While many of fans protest about the change, the game feels as if it’s going into a bit of the path of Mass Effect. Dragon Age 2 was the last title to feel a bit more tactical than not with a bit more of a move-to-fight vibe. Regular attacks were on auto pilot while special attacks usually had to be initiated. Inquisition went ahead with a more real-time approach with the ability to switch characters during combat with actual staggers from blows.
The Veilguard seems to only allow Rook to be controllable in this part. Rook was able to use a bow and arrow along with daggars. The way bows are used seem to be a change as they have the character get a more third person view more akin to shooters like Gears of War or Max Payne 3.
In the demo, Rook’s information was the only thing present. BioWare stated, from the beginning, that this was early in the game. Perhaps this could change for more than one character. Dragon Age parties, on the field, are four characters max. Varric’s status info was not present. Nor was Harding’s after she joins you. Usually, BioWare RPGs, that have multiple characters, would start without having control over other characters in the party, so this could possibly be the case for the lack thereof.
Projection of attacks seems to be a thing in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Seeing lines come out of enemies to signal that your is in the line of sight. In the Pride Demon fight, it shows who the enemy is targeting for attacks. There is also a way to safe fall in the game, which is new. Speaking of which, the Pride Demon does look more nastier than previous games.
In the demo, decisions still are an important factor to Dragon Age. Characters can approve or disapprove of what Rook decides as per usual. BioWare always has a way to make these decisions carry more weight for emotional impact and storytelling. Both characters involved, during a “who’s better to help” situation, would try to argue to see their side get picked.
Sadly, the decision made here, to approach Solas to end the ritual, costed Varric his prized possession – Bianca. As to what happens to him, that’s for the rest of the game to figure out.
A Chance To Re-roll For Dragon Age
For BioWare, The Veilguard is the first new release for the company since the tragedy that was Anthem(2019). Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which was the update to the trilogy for last gen consoles, was the last for the company on a remastered level. With Mass Effect: Andromeda has had a similar reception, Dragon Age: The Veilguard may be looked at to quench the thirst for a masterpiece that BioWare is capable of bringing about and redeeming the team since the EA tenure.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Steam in Fall 2024.
