The Dragon Age series has been one of BioWare’s crown jewels since its debut in 2009 with Dragon Age: Origins. It brought players straight into the heavily detailed world (as thorough as it could be for that time) of Thedas. Dragon Age: Origins became one of the highest-rated games ever around that time. Many fans love this series and all the games that came after. With the upcoming fourth main entry in the series, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, there are a lot of mixed emotions about the game. Such as if it will maintain the quality from previous games or be a game that will be a black sheep of the series. In this article, I’ll explain what to expect from Dragon Age: The Veilguard, exploring its story, gameplay, and connection to the broader Dragon Age universe and media.
A new beginning for the Dragon Age series with The Veilguard
After years of development and speculation, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is almost here. The game had a long and complicated development process. Initially, it was teased under the title Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. The change to Veilguard reflected a shift in narrative focus. It emphasizes the role of the protagonist, Rook, and your companions rather than focusing on antagonists. It’s also a good story-wise choice, especially after the recently leaked “character creation” mode.
The story of Dragon Age: The Veilguard continues the narrative established in previous projects. I’m particularly talking about Dragon Age: Inquisition and its DLC expansion called Inquisition – Trespasser. Solas a.k.a. the Dread Wolf is currently at large, and he’ll be a part of the story. The game will explore the consequences of his plans, which were to tear down the Veil; which is the mystical boundary that separates the mortal world from the magical Fade. While Solas’s plan remains a major plot point, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will focus more on Rook.
But this doesn’t mean those two will be the only main focus of the story. The game’s main antagonists and big evil are called Elgar’nan (a.k.a. The Elven God of vengeance and the sun) and Ghilan’nain (The Elven Goddess of guides, hunters, and navigation). They will be set free by accident from their prison. But to stop them, it seems like we’ll have to team up with Solas and take them down.
As it happens, Thedas, the only known continent in the Dragon Age universe so far, is once again in danger. Following the political fallout that was seen in the Inquisition, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will introduce us to some new regions. It will also expand the familiar ones. That way we’ll be able to learn more about Dragon Age lore while playing through the story. While the game promises to revisit iconic factions like the Grey Wardens and Tevinter mages, we’ll see new ones like the Shadow Dragons for example who are an underground rebellion created in Tevinter.
There is no doubt in my mind, that as Rook, we’ll have to make difficult choices. And I do not mean only in combat, but in leading our fellowship and shaping our destiny as well. The companions you will recruit throughout the story have their past, personal struggles, and relationships with the protagonist will be revealed as we progress through the story. What I hope to see in the story are collectibles or scenes that will let us know more about this world and the lore. I am eager to learn more about gods, important events from the past, and reasons that will explain all that’s happening in this world.
The gameplay will focus on strategic combat and companions
One of the most exciting aspects of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to me is the new, refreshed gameplay. The Dragon Age series has been praised for its combat mechanics. From what we’ve seen so far, Dragon Age: The Veilguard builds on the legacy of past projects with upgraded mechanics by re-using old ones and creating new ones to make the experience more unique. When you boot up this game, you’ll have to create your vision of Rook. In the beginning, you’ll have to select a combat class for them, as well as customize their appearance.
What’s impressive is that the people who worked on that game, have outdone themselves. There is no limit to your imagination when it comes to creating Rook. I want you to be surprised, but I guess that you’ll spend more than one hour creating their look. At the end of the character customization, you’ll get to shape your character’s backstory by picking their fraction and more. The game will also allow you to pick different combat styles. Whether you prefer to play as a mage, rogue, or powerful warrior, you won’t be disappointed.
Companions were a huge part of the Dragon Age series, and they played an important role in both story and gameplay throughout the series. In this case, it’s no different. In Veilguard we’ll be introduced to seven companions, each with their own unique abilities and personal story arcs, to recruit them to help us through the journey. Your decisions will affect not only your relationship with those companions, but it will also help them evolve in many ways. Another important aspect of the gameplay is the strong focus on exploration. Like its predecessors, Veilguard will have a huge open world filled with dungeons, hidden areas, and surprises.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a contender to introduce players to a new era of RPGs
From a technical point of view, Dragon Age: The Veilguard looks like a game that wants to take full advantage of current-gen hardware. Its target is to maintain players’ expectations and provide us with amazing visuals, faster load times, and a smoother frame rate. The game will support 4K resolution and HDR, as well as settings for players who don’t have a powerful PC. What I love about RPGs is a mechanic that allows you to create your own story. Choices will be an important part of the gameplay and the story. They’ll allow you to receive upgrades for your gear, unlock new skills, as well as hurt you in many ways.
The game’s connection to previous Dragon Age projects is something that I was hoping for. I like games from this universe, and connectivity is something that is a key element of the story for me. For fans who have followed the franchise more thoroughly than I did, Veilguard will hopefully serve as a magnificent encyclopedia that will further build this universe.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard sounds like a promising chapter in the Dragon Age franchise. It offers a fresh story, complex characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. For fans who have waited nearly a decade since the release of Inquisition, the game will have a huge impact on them. Not just by continuing the previously established story arcs and creating new ones, but also by being a leap of faith, a leap of faith in terms of storytelling and technicality in RPG games.
With its focus on deep relationships, strategic combat, and player choices, Veilguard hopes to deliver an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, this installment promises to offer something truly special you won’t forget for a long time.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set to be released on October 31, this year only on Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, and PC.
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