The long-awaited role-playing game is finally out and the first players are thrilled. But there is also harsh criticism.
Since yesterday at 5 p.m., players worldwide can finally play Dragon Age: The Veilguard ; Over 70,000 Steam users have traveled to Thedas since the release.
Even before release, there was a lot of talk about The Veilguard. And with the lifting of the review embargo earlier this week, numerous discussions about the role-playing game were reignited: Is it Bioware’s salvation or a complete failure?
With an average Metacritic score of 84, the international press is pretty much in agreement on the answer to that question. The game is now also launching on Steam with 79 percent positive reviews (out of over 3,000 comments) and is therefore “mostly positive.” We take a closer look at what fans like and what is criticized.
What the fans like
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a huge game – it’s clear that players weren’t able to experience the full story and all the facets of the game during Halloween night. So the first impressions were made after about 3 to 13 hours of gameplay.
Steam user ReliableEyeball writes about :
Maybe I’ll change this review because it’s still so early [editor’s note: playing time is 3 hours], but I approached this game as a hater. […] It’s FUN, it draws me in, it’s beautiful and runs like butter.
As a big Dragon Age fan, smoosie is also impressed by his first 9 hours of play:
I love Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2, and I’ve learned to love Inquisition too. I love the improvements in The Veilguard. The changes to the new combat system remind me a little of the change from Origins to Dragon Age 2. It’s faster, but it makes perfect sense because it gives you a new sense of control and possibility.
Jadeah wasn’t particularly impressed by the first trailer for The Veilguard either, but after four hours she is now pleasantly surprised:
I didn’t like it. Gameplay, graphics – I didn’t like anything… but still I wanted to give the game a chance because I really like the DA games. Well, what can I say? I like it a lot! Gameplay is fast and smooth, the graphics are more than ok overall and the atmosphere has completely absorbed me. After a few hours, I am fully immersed in the game and having fun. What I can say so far: Yes, it’s a good game!!
The game’s smooth performance, beautiful landscapes, fun battle system and story have also been praised elsewhere.
What players don’t like
The Veilguard doesn’t leave positive feelings with everyone, though. Some fans are disappointed after the first few hours of gameplay.
After two hours of gameplay, user Sneez has a frustrated first impression.
I’m a die-hard Dragon Age/Bioware fan, I’ve played all their games since Neverwinter Nights and Jade Empire. Dragon Age Origins was a masterpiece, the sequel was great […] and I enjoyed Inquisition. But I’ve been in for 2 hours and problems are already cropping up. The world has disappeared from the game, every character feels like they went to the same school, the same village, we’re just running on Crash-Bandicoot trails, everyone’s cracking jokes even though the world is falling apart […]
Even after four hours, The Veilguard still can’t convince Steam user LORT:
I will edit this review if my opinion changes while playing. But I’ve been at it for four hours and still don’t feel like the game has started. I’ve never found it so difficult to immerse myself in a Dragon Age game as I have in these four hours. I don’t feel like I can really role-play here and develop my character. I have no idea who this guy is, I don’t feel part of the world, and the characters all blend into a single inanimate entity. Everything feels like a backdrop.
Ghostrat has already spent a total of seven hours in the game and recorded the following verdict:
The writing is not good. So much exposition, exposition, exposition. They’ve obviously never heard of “show, don’t tell.” I was really looking forward to Neve, but she speaks without any emotion. […] After three hours, it still feels like you’re playing the tutorial. […] There are also things that don’t make sense, as if you were in an alternate universe or something.
Critical reviews often talk about how characters seem too shallow, and that the writing and story are unconvincing. Some also criticize the combat system, which they find too superficial and lacking in variety. Some players also seem to experience technical problems such as crashes.
