A single-player role-playing game with a strong narrative component, “Dragon Age – The Veilguard” is the fourth major offshoot of a franchise born in 2009. It can be played on Windows PC, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5. You play as Rook, a character whose gender, physical appearance, clothing, class and basic abilities the player chooses.
In a medieval fantasy world in crisis, the elf Solas is prevented from completely tearing apart a magical veil that separates two antagonistic worlds. But the operation (which is the first game mission) does not go as planned: Solas fails and becomes a prisoner of an ethereal dimension. The protective veil is, however, weakened and two power-hungry gods have taken advantage of a breach to escape. They become the main adversaries of a band of heroes/heroines led by Rook.
Tired of the service game
Talking about “The Veilguard” has become complicated. Already, the game is designed by Bioware, a studio which experienced its last hours of glory with the science fiction trilogy “Mass Effect”. This before suffering the full force of the desire of the publisher Electronic Arts to develop game-services, something most often multiplayer, full of microtransactions and in perpetual construction. Bioware was responsible for designing what became “Anthem”, rightly considered a major industrial accident.
Having returned to better feelings towards scripted single-player games – the success of two “Star Wars” (“Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Jedi: Survivor”), undoubtedly has something to do with it – Electronic Arts has therefore allowed a Bioware very weakened (resignations, dismissals, team renewal, etc.) to return to its original know-how. “The Veilguard” is the first effect. A new “Mass Effect” is then in the works.
“The Veilguard” is thus the product of a studio first adored, then mistreated and today, it seems, in convalescence.
Easy target for anti-wokes
But that’s not all, having once again everything to prove, the structure is today violently attacked for its alleged political positioning. The one which consists of trying to put men, women and non-gender people at ease. Open-mindedness that also attempts to put all forms of sexual orientation on an equal footing. An unbearable wokisme say some masculinist detractors active on social networks.
Despite this context which makes the right distance difficult to find, we must confess to having taken great pleasure in hanging out with the characters that “Dragon Age” gave us the opportunity to meet. We appreciated having an action game in our hands more than a cutting-edge role-playing game (which was already evident with “Mass Effect”).
Spectacular opening
We found that the setting in motion of the story was particularly spectacular and effective, but also that the deployment of the narrative frames held up.
We also appreciated the social relationship system which allows us to set our sentimental sights on the person or creature of our choice. But without excessive immodesty, it is written in small letters in the contract.
We finally appreciated the careful artistic direction. Like others, we have certainly noticed a certain Pixarization (or Dreamworkization) of the characters without this bothering us. That said, and this goes hand in hand, we see that the dramaturgy is lightened, or rather, adapted to an ostensibly targeted “young adult” audience.
In short, “Dragon Age – The Veilgard” is probably not our game of the year, but without exaggerating expectations, it gets the job done. That of a convalescent on the mend.
“Dragon Age – The Veilguard”, Bioware studio, ed. Electronic Arts, single player, available on Windows, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5.