Dragon Age: Veil(GARBAGE)

Summary

In this critical review of *Dragon Age: Veilguard*, the speaker expresses disappointment with the game's story, combat, and overall design. They argue that while the game includes modern social politics, its main flaws lie in shallow character writing, repetitive combat mechanics, and predictable level design. The speaker laments the game's lack of depth compared to previous *Dragon Age* titles, feeling it diminishes the franchise’s once-compelling storytelling and gameplay. The review concludes with the speaker’s frustration over the game's failures and their belief that it represents a significant departure from what made the *Dragon Age* series special.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reviewer is disappointed with *Dragon Age: Veilguard* and considers it a major step back for the franchise.
• 😀 The game’s political elements, such as references to contemporary social issues, are criticized as forced and out of place.
• 😀 The reviewer emphasizes that the game's problems are not due to its 'woke' elements but because of poor game design and lack of immersion.
• 😀 The narrative is considered shallow and repetitive, with awkward dialogue and inconsistent character interactions.
• 😀 Quest design is overly linear and lacks excitement, with no meaningful world-building or character development.
• 😀 Combat is described as repetitive and shallow, with long enemy encounters that don’t feel challenging or rewarding.
• 😀 The combat system is compared unfavorably to *Mass Effect Andromeda*, with a lack of depth in abilities and no tactical control over companions.
• 😀 Healing mechanics are criticized for being simplistic, relying on potions that can be replenished by shooting bright green ears scattered throughout the map.
• 😀 Level design is linear and repetitive, with puzzles that feel unnecessary and tedious, breaking the flow of gameplay.
• 😀 Loot is unimportant and too easily accessible, with no real sense of discovery or reward for exploration.
• 😀 Overall, the reviewer feels *Veilguard* betrays the spirit of the *Dragon Age* franchise and doesn’t live up to its predecessors in terms of storytelling, gameplay, or design.

Q & A

What is the main reason the reviewer finds Dragon Age: Veilguard disappointing?

The reviewer feels that the game is disappointing primarily due to its poor design, which includes lackluster combat, shallow narrative, and repetitive gameplay mechanics. The reviewer argues that it strays too far from the core principles of previous Dragon Age games, offering a less immersive experience.

How does the reviewer feel about the game's inclusion of modern-day social and political elements?

While the reviewer acknowledges that these elements are a part of the game, they argue that the political aspects, such as the inclusion of a trans questline and non-binary characters, do not inherently make the game bad. However, they feel the implementation of these elements is obnoxious and detracts from the overall experience.

What is the reviewer's stance on the dialogue and character interactions in Dragon Age: Veilguard?

The reviewer finds the dialogue and character interactions to be shallow and unengaging. They describe party members' conversations as repetitive and often nonsensical, which undermines the depth of the story and immersion in the game.

What critique does the reviewer offer about the combat system?

The reviewer criticizes the combat system for being overly simplistic and shallow, comparing it unfavorably to the combat in previous Dragon Age titles. They argue that it relies too much on spam-dodging and lacks strategic depth, with abilities that feel unimportant and ineffective.

Why does the reviewer find the combat encounters in Veilguard frustrating?

The reviewer finds combat encounters frustrating because enemies take too long to defeat, especially on higher difficulties. Despite the game's emphasis on dodging and using abilities, the combat is described as predictable and tedious, with a lack of challenge and meaningful tactics.

What is the issue with the healing system in Dragon Age: Veilguard?

The healing system in the game is criticized for being overly simplistic. Potions can be replenished by shooting bright green ears scattered around the map, which the reviewer finds unimaginative and lazy. They compare it to the mechanics of mobile games, which lack depth and creativity.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the loot system in the game?

The reviewer is unimpressed with the loot system, describing it as underwhelming and unimportant. Loot is easy to find and doesn't offer significant upgrades or challenges, which diminishes the satisfaction of discovering new gear or progressing in the game.

How does the reviewer feel about the game's level design?

The reviewer finds the level design to be monotonous and repetitive. Many areas feature doors blocked by basic puzzles that involve shooting or interacting with environmental objects. This repetitive mechanic detracts from the sense of exploration and discovery, making the game feel linear and shallow.

Does the reviewer feel that the game is fun to play?

No, the reviewer does not find Dragon Age: Veilguard fun to play. They express frustration with nearly every aspect of the gameplay, from combat to loot to level design. They ultimately find the game boring and unworthy of finishing.

What is the reviewer's overall recommendation about Dragon Age: Veilguard?

The reviewer strongly advises against playing Dragon Age: Veilguard, rating it a 4/10 at best. They believe it fails to live up to the standards set by previous Dragon Age games and that it represents a significant step down in terms of design, storytelling, and gameplay.