Dragon Age The Veilguard Criticism Thread (formerly Skepticism Thread) [Spoilers]

I'm pretty sure it will be accurate. I'd love to be wrong and Veilguard turns out to be good despite all those things I dislike, but I seriously doubt it will. It has distanced itself too far from it's origins to really appeal to me.
So unless they performa 180° turn once more for an eventual DA 5 and return to the previous model, Veilguard will most likely be the last title I buy in the Dragon Age franchise.

Yeah, I'm waiting for the BG 3 patch (and modding support) as well. Also, the first DLC for "WH 40K: Rogue Trader", which is an excellent turn-based game if you're into 40K.

I don't see them doing a 180° either, but you'll never know. But I don't see their action-combat as being able to draw in a large number of (new) players either, so they may at least dial back in that regard. I fully expect the focus on sex/relationships as part of the main story to remain going forward, if BioWare survives.

For now, however, this is all speculation. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

I don’t think, at last from a writing standpoint, that they’re talking shit about the previous games, because outside of Gaider the team was still there for Veilguard (Mary and Lukas still wrote companions for this game). Talking shit about the previous companions would be bashing yourself. It’d be insane to do so.

I think they should’ve been clearer with what they meant, but my take is that the focus and resources put on companions in Veilguard is greater then in previous games, because they wanted to put them as a bigger, central part of the game (which they already mentioned in regards of the title change). It’s not exactly novel, at least in regards of resources put on them, in BioWare games. The focus on squadmates, for example, is much bigger in ME2 then ME, and the same could be said with ME3 and Andromeda.

Now, while this is definitely something I’m happy about, will it translate to companions being better? Not necessarily, especially because it’s a highly subjective matter. Which is why I think they should’ve used a better wording to what they meant.

It’s similarly for the combat talk from Darrah (although worse then companions in my mind). The gameplay, after seeing it in full, could very well work and be excellent, but it doesn’t mean a part of the players would still prefer it over the previous games. There are big changes that aren’t going to be okay for some because they simply prefer a different type of gameplay.

I’m open minded to see how the combat works, but no matter how good it ends up, it doesn’t change the fact that I prefer a gameplay where I can control companions, with a bigger party, with stats and abilities shared by the party.

It's the way of Current Year.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you must"

For me, the biggest potential gripe is the lack of identity for DAV. It is a sequel. Thus, those who did not play previous games would not even bother looking since they won't have any idea about what is going on. Those who played all previous games and might be tempted will at least in part get discouraged by flashy action combat and overall casualness and cartoonishness. To overcome all these potential pitfalls on both sides, DAV has to have exceptional writing and be generally exceptionally good to appeal to younger audiences, who had no interest in previous DA games due to their outdated looks and systems or general dislike for older titles, and to old-time fans, who are now 10-15 years older and clearly prefer BG3 and the likes. Anything less than that will be considered a failure on both sides of the audience and general overall failure. I am unsure that current BW is up to the monumental task they face with DAV.

For some it no doubt will.  But all these companies always seem to forget, or want to forget, that a train needs an engine to move forward.  That engine is usually the core fan base, dragging everyone else behind it.  The mythical 'modern audience' will not be there to take over.  Well, might as well talk to a wall when it comes to some people...

You might be right. I get the feeling she will be like the peepee asari character from MEA.

Having studiously avoided MEA, I can't comment on that likeness.  However the impression I got from the reveal trailer was of a 6 yo jumping up and down a trampoline...  Not what comes to mind when thinking about Dragon Age.  Apart from her, the Pixar Mortalitasi & his skeletal sidekick didn't impress either.  I was like "what is this, a travelling circus?!" 


That being said, that trailer might have a recycled relic from the period when DA4 was supposed to be an online game.

Mmmm. Five bucks says we’re introduced to Bellara either leaping out of a Fade rift and knocking over the protagonist, or running from some monster in a Looney Tunes-style chase sequence. Either way, it’s sure to be zany.

God, my face is tired.

MEA already had the knock over the main character thing. Don't need a repeat of that. It was poorly done.

I’m skeptical about unique enemies. 2 minutes in and it looks generic