Dragon Age: The Veil Guard – A Disappointing Entry

[Sir Valentine]

As a long-time Dragon Age fan, I was eager to dive into The Veil Guard and explore the depths of the series' lore and complex character arcs. Unfortunately, this installment left much to be desired.

First, let's address the elephant in the room: the way BioWare handled the review copies. Restricting access and effectively blacklisting certain critics comes across as unprofessional. It creates a skewed, curated perception of the game and leaves a sour taste before even pressing "Start."

The game’s writing is, frankly, one of its biggest downfalls. The Veil Guard has a clear activist slant that feels shoehorned in, detracting from what should be a fantasy epic grounded in Dragon Age’s rich universe. Instead of organically building social themes into the world and characters, it seems intent on preaching to players, breaking immersion and undermining the story's potential.

Dialogue, too, feels flat and uninspired. Many characters lack the depth that has defined the Dragon Age series. Instead of memorable exchanges and emotional nuance, we’re left with shallow conversations that fail to establish any meaningful connection with the characters or the story.

Ultimately, Dragon Age: The Veil Guard feels like a missed opportunity—a game that tries too hard to push an agenda at the expense of engaging storytelling.

[Shotoku]

Biggest 'bait and switch' in video game history.
Fool me once Bioware...
Never again.

[Supgad]

Originally posted by Shotoku:

Biggest 'bait and switch' in video game history.
Fool me once Bioware...
Never again.

Aye, same. A decade of bated breath for a game that has failed to deliver on any of its promises.

I'm hoping the IP is picked up by someone else who cares, first and foremost, about making good games -- and, secondarily, good Dragon Age games.

[DaisyRay]

Originally posted by Sir Valentine:

As a long-time Dragon Age fan, I was eager to dive into The Veil Guard and explore the depths of the series' lore and complex character arcs. Unfortunately, this installment left much to be desired.

First, let's address the elephant in the room: the way BioWare handled the review copies. Restricting access and effectively blacklisting certain critics comes across as unprofessional. It creates a skewed, curated perception of the game and leaves a sour taste before even pressing "Start."

The game’s writing is, frankly, one of its biggest downfalls. The Veil Guard has a clear activist slant that feels shoehorned in, detracting from what should be a fantasy epic grounded in Dragon Age’s rich universe. Instead of organically building social themes into the world and characters, it seems intent on preaching to players, breaking immersion and undermining the story's potential.

Dialogue, too, feels flat and uninspired. Many characters lack the depth that has defined the Dragon Age series. Instead of memorable exchanges and emotional nuance, we’re left with shallow conversations that fail to establish any meaningful connection with the characters or the story.

Ultimately, Dragon Age: The Veil Guard feels like a missed opportunity—a game that tries too hard to push an agenda at the expense of engaging storytelling.

When talking about the writing, is this just with the Qunari woman? I'm asking because this seems like a genuine review and not just hate bashing. I've been holding off her part until I get the necromancer and I've also been avoiding watching too many spoilers.

So just from the other members and missions I've been on, it's why I've been in a disagreement about this game being "bad". So I'm curious, if you can share without spoiling, what parts are activist and forceful? I personally haven't experienced any of that. It's just a fun rpg game, so I'm genuinely confused by the criticism from people.