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Dragon Age: The Veilguard | Review Thread

What scores do you think Dragon Age: The Veilguard will get?

  • 60-64%

    Votes: 14 4.9%

  • 65-69%

    Votes: 14 4.9%

  • 70-74%

    Votes: 23 8.1%

  • 75-79%

    Votes: 59 20.8%

  • 80-84%

    Votes: 107 37.8%

  • 85-89%

    Votes: 53 18.7%

  • 90-94%

    Votes: 8 2.8%

  • 95-100%

    Votes: 5 1.8%
  • Total voters
    283
  • Poll closed .
Bitmap Frogs

Bitmap Frogs

Mr. Community
moxing said:
I'm always thrilled to see more trans folks in games. I think my problem with the dialogue I'm seeing so far is that it's this kind of doe-eyed "waow let's have a conversation about it" approach, which is tonally at odds with the setting. If the fruity little Qunari wants to switch things up, more power to them- but they shouldn't be having the conversation with the tone of like, a coworker in 2024 who's been figuring out identity stuff online with their pals in discord. The exact same conversation could be had, with the character saying something like, "y'know, all this she stuff isn't working out for me," and suggesting more neutral pronouns after someone makes a little observational humor over that dinner of big-ass honey hams they're having, I think it'd flow more naturally.

That whole "lines delivered like HR is in the room" observation definitely tracks with what I'm seeing here, and... I don't know, man. I'm in my thirties. I've been out as gay for longer than some people playing these games have been alive. I've lived in towns of 3,000 where calling someone queer is a prelude to a fistfight, and I've lived in Cap Hill in Washington where calling someone queer is like a secret fucking handshake. What's eating me is that both of those situations are a more natural and authentic experience than what's depicted in these screenshots. It's awkward and clunky to pump the brakes on the conversation for these kinds of things with the same tone as coming out to mom and dad. Aren't these other characters your colleagues? Your buds? You can trust them to take it more in stride- they've seen you barbecue a wild boar with lightning from thirty yards, I think they can accept whatever you throw at 'em without all the Very Special Episode vibes.

The whole "woke DEI SweetBaby marxist mafia" stuff doesn't bother me, fundamentally. I'm like, kind of the target audience, as an aging dyke with sixty dollars. But the actual presentation and execution is my problem. Hopefully these review highlights don't paint the whole picture and I'll find stuff I like between what makes me cringe, but I think I'd like to read some more reviews first, too. News outlets kind of have a responsibility to their click counter to put stuff that'll rile you up front and center, so I'd be best off reading half a dozen articles and taking an average.
Click to expand...

Ham firmly in fist is not a good look for a game, if anything a little tongue action in the cheek is always preferred.
 
simpatico

simpatico

Member
ManaByte said:
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Here's the thing: I don't think you can staff up to the size of BG3 Larian with an English speaking team and not get a bunch of those types. Even if you avoid the really far out blue hairs and xirs, you're probably gonna get some male feminists. Honestly I cannot say which is worse. Both have their merit. Some prefer the wolf in wolves clothing you get from the blue hair, vs the buttery soft handshakes and passive aggression you get from the male feminist. I think I'm rolling with the xir tbqh. I've talked myself into it.
 
moxing

moxing

Neo Member
Bitmap Frogs said:
Ham firmly in fist is not a good look for a game, if anything a little tongue action in the cheek is always preferred.
Click to expand...
You get me. There are a million ways to write something clever that strikes on the topic they want, but I feel like they choked here out of discomfort and gave us something undercooked.
 
SnakeB

SnakeB

Neo Member
The "final hours" are probably good because of Solas and the plots that Inquisition left open

All the new things this game do are bad
 
Giallo Corsa

Giallo Corsa

Member
This is EXACTLY what I was expecting:
- Glowing reviews from the usual media/suspects
- "It feels like HR is in the room" (as per skill up's review)
- A game that tries to appease to everyone but manages to satisfy no one

Let's be honest gents 'cause it's not like we were born yesterday :
The glowing reviews are a way from the usual suspects as to "push back®" the negativity of the past couple of months (wink*wink) and to "stick it to the man" (normal people, or, gooblegaters® in this particular case) and nothing more.
Shit is so transparent that it's not even funny nor it should surprise anyone, this IS about "politics", "agendas" or whatever you want to call it.
The dialogue, writing, mediocre graphics and apparently boring combat do not a 9/10 game make - especially in these shitty, politically highly charged times.

I have no beef whatsoever with people/users wanting to play this due to either being fans of the franchise or out of sheer curiosity but... the gaming media and the usual suspects have to go, they just can't convince their (supposed) audience any more, people had enough of their shit and gaslighting...

I'm no betting man but I'd be willing to bet my right nut that 1 week from now - like most games of this "type" - is going to become the next big internet meme : I'm waiting for the usual video bugs compilations, horrible dialogue clips and everything that this supposedly 9/10 game features.

The only purpose the majority of these high review scores is to make their reviewers feel better, not to have the viewers/users make an informed opinion

The term "virtue signaling " comes to mind.
 
RJMacready73

RJMacready73

Simps for Amouranth
Dialogue sounds like HR is in the room... Jesus fucking wept, that comment alone should kill this game dead, who in their right mind would want to play through what 50hrs of an RPG with loads of HR censored safe space type dialogue!?! Such a shitshow of a game, I hope this game burns what's left of Bioware into the ground, the gaming industry needs another massive AAA fucking failure like this to course correct away from they/them/cunts putting their politics into these hugely expensive games and hopefully the suits who lets face it could care two shits about the purple hairs finally see that this era of mentalness is over
 
Gambit2483

Gambit2483

Member
SJRB said:
y5KJwZM.png
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😂 Fucking fanfic levels of writing...

How did this shit get greenlit?
 
Plague Doctor

Plague Doctor

Member
Danjin44 said:
Medieval fantasy setting and we dialogue like "Oof"? WTF!?
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I mean there is top surgery in a land of curative magic and potions and polymorph. This would be satire if the hack writers and director weren't sincere.

Also for a series that moved away from Blood Magic cause it's 'icky', there's an awful lot of self mutilation going on.
 
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MujkicHaris

MujkicHaris

Banned
Itchy Tickles said:
A side note as I just started watching that linked Skill Up video. The first thing he says is "reviews are opinion. " ... if you are a professional reviewer, please stop thinking that is correct. It's meant to be objective, not opinion.
Click to expand...

It's not meant to be objective. There is no such thing as objective reviewer/critic. It's not possible.

Everything they say/write is shaped by the experiences they've had, games they've played and even the place they were born determines how one looks at a particular game.


Itchy Tickles said:
That's why gaming journalism is so fucking shit. It's a small thing, but "opinions" have caused this state of gaming after years and years of morons getting a platform (not calling this reviewer a moron, more the "big" go to "journalists)
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This one is wrong too. We have no problems with the opinions on video games, as long as it's in the boundaries of video games.

The problem with one group of game journalists (not all of the game journalism is bad) AND game developers is that they go beyond their original job title. They go out of bounds.

Instead of focus number 1 being writing about/developing video games, they use them as a tool to promote social narratives, politics or agendas. This way, the games they write about/develop have become the second or third in the importance ranking. And this shifted focus of theirs shines through. It was obvious in many games and this includes The Veilguard.

This is also why all the reviews coming from that group sound uniform and united, because their sources aren't unique opinions but rather they all come from one well or agenda, to be precise.
 
Gambit2483

Gambit2483

Member
James Sawyer Ford said:
Oof.

Is this the hill you’re going to die on?

My sweet summer child

This game was made by ResetERA
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No, "Oof" is just one example in a sea of dozens of terrible, dumb an amateurish dialog I've seen in this game. The fact that someone saw that and said "fuck it, leave it in" says a lot.

The whole damb writing team is big giant "Oof" as far as I'm concerned 😂
 
Itchy Tickles

Itchy Tickles

Member
MujkicHaris said:
It's not meant to be objective. There is no such thing as objective reviewer/critic. It's not possible.

Everything they say/write is shaped by the experiences they've had, games they've played and even the place they were born determines how one looks at a particular game.




This one is wrong too. We have no problems with the opinions on video games, as long as it's in the boundaries of video games.

The problem with one group of game journalists (not all of the game journalism is bad) AND game developers is that they go beyond their original job title. They go out of bounds.

Instead of focus number 1 being writing about/developing video games, they use them as a tool to promote social narratives, politics or agendas. This way, the games they write about/develop have become the second or third in the importance ranking. And this shifted focus of theirs shines through. It was obvious in many games and this includes The Veilguard.

This is also why all the reviews coming from that group sound uniform and united, because their sources aren't unique opinions but rather they all come from one well or agenda, to be precise.
Click to expand...

It is meant to be objective. You can write a review as a professional while being objective and still add personality without it becoming an opinion piece. It is not "wrong."

It is absolutely not impossible, that's a really weak argument and easy get out. The reason it may seem that way is simply because click bait overtook actual professionism, so opinions, exaggerated or not, have replaced something you could read or watch with respect to the reviewers doing them. They used to put in a lot of work and effort that they could then form an objective take on something and publish it.

It used to be common place for a site or person to review something and later, on a different video or article or whatever, say nearly the opposite of what they wrote, because that was their opinion. They kept their professionalism and opinion separated as best they could. Personality, skill, education etc are not opinion.
 
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MujkicHaris

MujkicHaris

Banned
Itchy Tickles said:
It is meant to be objective. You can write a review as a professional while being objective and still add personality without it becoming an opinion piece. It is not "wrong."

It is absolutely not impossible, that's a really weak argument and easy get out. The reason it may seem that way is simply because click bait overtook actual professionism, so opinions, exaggerated or not, have replaced something you could read or watch with respect to the reviewers doing them. They used to put in a lot of work and effort that they could then form an objective take on something and publish it.

It used to be common place for a site or person to review something and later, on a different video or article or whatever, say nearly the opposite of what they wrote, because that was their opinion. They kept their professionalism and opinion separated as best they could.
Click to expand...

Being objective is not possible. Unless you are a software using a routine that gives the same result each time. People change views on everything, even games, with experience and age. This includes "professional" reviewers.

If you really think that having an opinion and putting it out there is what the problem with game journalism is, then you are adding to the problem by minimizing what that group is doing.
That's my main problem with your original take.

Their goals are way bigger and go outside of video games. I don't even think many of them even care about games at all.
 
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Agent_Nobody

Agent_Nobody

Member
Trippy said:
The most middle of the road, inoffensive reviewers on YouTube in MrMattyPlays and SkillUp were pretty scathing in their criticisms of the games.

I’m curious to see how the most the rational minded and compassionate community on the internet are reacting to those reviews….



,


IMG-4581.jpg



IMG-4583.jpg


IMG-4584.jpg


IMG-4582.jpg




Oh….
Click to expand...

They are weird and militant and they don’t know when they have gone overboard. If you’re the head of something maybe check to see if your head is up your own ass…the mod team there seems to be.
 
lmimmfn

lmimmfn

Member
Metacritics "critic" score, lol, makes me puke, the user score is only important there, user score should be higher priority than "critic" score
 
FunkMiller

FunkMiller

Member
Madflavor said:
I'm increasingly finding it more and more hilarious that there are reviewers who thinks this is the best RPG Bioware has ever made. Our society really is getting dumber with each generation.
Click to expand...

It's nothing to do with dumb, though. It's everything to do with wanting a certain political agenda and point of view to be heard as much as possible. Any issues or problems with the game can be swept under the carpet in favour of the messaging it has. A game can have all the terrible gameplay, awful characterisations, and shoddy writing imaginable, but as long as it pushes a distinct and singular ideology that the reviewer agrees with, it's going to get top marks.

It's too insidious to be done by somebody who is dumb. They're smart enough to know what they're doing.
 
peek

peek

Member
ZehDon said:
OIP.5XUUQUG6BhoHA2YZuQqg6gAAAA
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Actually wonder if its an over correction by IGN because of the infamous ign review of concord in their somewhat high praise of the game. In the review the dude even says hes excited for whats next in store for the game and is looking forward to the seasons ahead xD
 
Hot5pur

Hot5pur

Member
The SkillUp review eviscerated it, but the review itself was kinda weak. Sounds like a mix of high expectations and nitpicking.
I will have to wait for some other reviews to get a sense, and also look at user reviews.
It seems like this is Dragon Age: Pixar Edition, which is kinda...eh, okay, there's been good silly games like that. For example, it reminds me of Kingdoms of Amalur which was also a banger.
Feels bad for dragon age fans though.
 
Itchy Tickles

Itchy Tickles

Member
MujkicHaris said:
Being objective is not possible. Unless you are a software using a routine that gives the same result each time. People change views on everything, even games, with experience and age. This includes "professional" reviewers.

If you really think that having an opinion and putting it out there is what the problem with game journalism is, then you are adding to the problem by minimizing what that group is doing.
That's my main problem with your original take.

Their goals are way bigger and go outside of video games. I don't even think many of them even care about games at all.
Click to expand...
You are wrong. Being objective is possible, I don't know why you are having a hard time with that. How am I "minimizing what that group is doing" by pointing out the obvious? You are grouping together everyone, when I clearly made the distinction between objective journalism and opinion based takes. Having and wanting standards / credibility again over opinions disguised as professionalism is not some crazy take. I never once said having an opinion is wrong (why would I?) I said the problem with these "professional" reviewers, is that they are just opinions and not objective.
For years now, there hasn't been (more or less) a source that people can trust to a review a game that actually holds credibility like it used too, so we have to end up taking people's opinions from videos, articles, forum posts etc and then add everything up, then decide. We have to do the work that the professionals used to do as their paid job. Trust has been long-lost with these big outlets, especially when professionalism was replaced with opinion, but still being called professional / objective.

I can understand a review via personal opinion like that Skill Up one people linked, having disclaimers saying that this is his opinion, but go watch other stuff and make up your mind etc to just keep the peace. I am not against videos like that all, it's just how he started it with that line about reviews = opinions. I said it as a side note, so no big deal. I watched the rest of the video and thought it was very good (in a non patronizing way) and showed some very revealing things about the game. I then started the IGN video and couldn't make it past 2 minutes.

In terms of Bioware, wasn't it kinda accepted the Bioware that we loved and respected, died when the Doctors left? Or there about. Think it was around the time of that Star Wars MMO, before Anthem anyway. Personally, I haven't seen a Bioware logo in years that filled me any sort of confidence, as it's Bioware in name only.
 
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peek

peek

Member
Also, dont have the shots saved, just saw some floating around on twitter... is the dialogue about nonbinary character and using pronouns just a fake screenshot?

Also saw another one where the dialogue options were choices about healing from their scars or something... seemed kinda TOO over the top weirdo and current day that I think its fake.

Edit: LOL just realized theres a topic on this right now right below this one. DOH
 
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Zacfoldor

Zacfoldor

Member
It’s 84 so I will skip it. 85 I would have shipped it. Go woke go broke but if your hair is blue, just betta your meta or program our waifu.
 
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MujkicHaris

MujkicHaris

Banned
Itchy Tickles said:
You are wrong. Being objective is possible, I don't know why you are having a hard time with that. How am I "minimizing what that group is doing" by pointing out the obvious? You are grouping together everyone, when I clearly made the distinction between objective journalism and opinion based takes. Having and wanting standards / credibility again over opinions disguised as professionalism is not some crazy take. I never once said having an opinion is wrong (why would I?) I said the problem with these "professional" reviewers, is that they are just opinions and not objective.
For years now, there hasn't been (more or less) a source that people can trust to a review a game that actually holds credibility like it used too, so we have to end up taking people's opinions from videos, articles, forum posts etc and then add everything up, then decide. We have to do the work that the professionals used to do as their paid job. Trust has been long-lost with these big outlets, especially when professionalism was replaced with opinion, but still being called professional / objective.

I can understand a review via personal opinion like that Skill Up one people linked, having disclaimers saying that this is his opinion, but go watch other stuff and make up your mind etc to just keep the peace. I am not against videos like that all, it's just how he started it with that line about reviews = opinions. I said it as a side note, so no big deal. I watched the rest of the video and thought it was very good (in a non patronizing way) and showed some very revealing things about the game. I then started the IGN video and couldn't make it past 2 minutes.
Click to expand...

It seems like you are determined to stay by your "being objective is possible" naïve stance. I tried.

That manifesto will bring many disappointments in your life.
 
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