#how do 3 randos win against 10 qunari btw? naahh that's just awful

[moondustocean]

Dragon Age Veilguard review after 65 hours - 87/100

Pros:

• the combat is fun

• the main quest is interesting and has some great twists, same goes for the side quests

• conclusions to some plot points from former games

• Rook's factions are one of my favorite part of the game (I played a grey warden and it was mentioned constantly, I even had the option to force someone into the joining. My Rook had friends and a life before everything started. I felt really involved in the warden storyline. Sometimes Rook even pointed out when they came close to dark spawn hords since they could sense them. I felt more like a warden than in DAO.)

• I always loved the "galaxy readiness" - system in Mass Effect, so I was over the moon when I saw that DAV had a similar system

• dialogues change a lot depending on Rook's faction or what Rook said or did to NPCs

• companions remember what Rook said to them. Sometimes they try to change Rook's mind over a long time or they refer back to it

• companion quests

• companions can have relationships with each other, they've conversations and meetings without Rook

• the romance (the flirt faces aren't awkward anymore)

• relationship bar is back in a way

• best Bioware CC so far

• small maps

• the locations feel alive (there are also some cute little nonsense interactions like petting animals or giving money to homeless people and bards)

• the environments are stunning

• one desicion can change a location (look and storyline) completely

• the lore was peak as always

• you can activate statues to get more health or ability points but there are no collectables

• some cameos arrive with their old theme, there are also bards that play the DAI bard music

• everything was really alive

• the blight was better portrayed than ever before

• great NPCs

• companions can die depending on your choices

Cons:

- few references to former games

- retconning

- many missed opportunities for cameos (I know people say "new player would get confused by them" but we also don't know any of the new NPCs and their introduction lacked)

- Inky's role was shallow, they should've had a bigger role, it was their fight as well after all

- the game doesn't explain the factions/countries well enough. For example new players won't know how hugh and important the Tevinter Imperium is

- nearly impossible to play a serious Rook

- NPCs tend to explain the situation too often. To a point where three people talk with each other and nearly everyone says the same. Or you run through a level and the companions point out 5 times what you've to do next or they give you short summaries of stuff you've JUST heard

- the tone is off from time to time. There was a quest in which Rook and their companions should've been frightened yet they cracked jokes the entire time. DA was always open to jokes but who laughs when someone just died right in front of them?

- many NPCs treat Rook like a child and act way too young/giddy

- almost no real disapproval, everyone loves Rook

- the ending was underwhelming

All in all:

I had a great time. Veilguard is definitely one of my favorite games but as a Dragon Age fan I can't help but feel disappointed by the lack of callbacks. And the tone of the game had me rolling my eyes constantly. Yet the NPCs, story and locations grew on me so much that I couldn't put away the controller.