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[LectureMaster]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Is at War With Itself - IGN

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is awkwardly in conflict with itself, torn into pieces that reflect a sequel to a decade-old RPG and a fresh beginning with no ties to what came before.

www.ign.com

Actually a rather lengthy article criticizing the game. This guy Matt Purslow sounds more like a OG fan of the series rather a progressive agent. Here are some snippets:

---

While I’m nowhere near the 100-hour mark myself, that line is so far proving true – not a single character has mentioned The Veilguard. My team of D&D archetype oddballs may collectively be known as such in all the marketing, online articles, and the physical box itself, but within the world of Thedas they’re none the wiser. Imagine Tony Stark and Steve Rogers having no idea the world called them Avengers… that’s how odd it is.

---

Many aspects of The Veilguard point to it being something of a soft reset or even spin-off from the main Dragon Age series. Set in the northern Tevinter region, it leaves behind the saga’s original southern home of Ferelden, along with all its characters and politics. Dragon Age has always started afresh with each new game as, unlike Mass Effect, there’s no persistent protagonist across the series as each instalment tells a brand new story. The shift to Tevinter is perfectly in keeping with Dragon Age’s history, then, but The Veilguard isn’t a typical Dragon Age game. It is its first direct sequel – a continuation of Dragon Age: Inquisition, which dedicated its post-credits and Trespasser DLC to setting up Solas as the villainous Dread Wolf. And this is where it all starts to feel a little messy.

So much of The Veilguard is dedicated to Solas. Its opening sees him performing a dangerous god-unleashing ritual, and the world is littered with quests that explore his history and relationship with those dark deities. There may be no mention of the word “Veilguard” anywhere, but everyone is talking about the Dread Wolf. Why isn’t that the name of the game again?

---

The Veilguard crew all appear to be likeable people, but it feels as if I’m being blocked from forging true bonds with them. That especially goes for Varric. What is arguably Dragon Age’s best-ever character has been imprisoned in his bedroom, consigned to spouting incidental dialogue that you can’t engage with. His sidelining is yet another example of The Veilguard’s uneasy relationship with its predecessor, but unfortunately the frustrating treatment of its new cast means it’s also difficult to fully embrace the story’s fresh faces.

---

The overall result is that Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t the golden era BioWare game that I had hoped it would be. Torn between continuing its traditional role-playing legacy and starting afresh as a modern action RPG, the end result is an awkward sequel trapped in a cage made of reboot ideas. After years and years of faltered steps I understand why BioWare landed on this particular, very mainstream AAA formula, but I wish it had been inspired by the undying mass popularity of The Witcher 3 – a full-on nerdy RPG – rather than veer closer to Sony’s palatable RPG-ish approach for modern God of War. But that ill-defined shape is often what uneasy development cycles get you. Thankfully The Veilguard’s launch has seemingly gone well for EA and BioWare, which hopefully means Dragon Age will continue. Let’s just hope next time it’s not just the name that’s got a bit of Baldur’s Gate in it.

---

 

[Loomy]

Thankfully The Veilguard’s launch has seemingly gone well for EA and BioWare, which hopefully means Dragon Age will continue. Let’s just hope next time it’s not just the name that’s got a bit of Baldur’s Gate in it.

I really hope there's more and that they set it far from this particular storyline. One of the things I liked about DA:2 was that it was its own thing. Solas continuing on from Inquisition was a mistake. They should treat this like Final Fantasy. Have some things that make it thematically Dragon Age, but tell a wholly original story in an original world every time.

 

[phant0m]

---

The Veilguard crew all appear to be likeable people, but it feels as if I’m being blocked from forging true bonds with them. That especially goes for Varric. What is arguably Dragon Age’s best-ever character has been imprisoned in his bedroom, consigned to spouting incidental dialogue that you can’t engage with.

---

"Every conversation feels like HR is in the room"

Also, this game has just about all the hallmarks of design-by-committee. Instead of executing on a vision (usually lead by a small-ish group of the creative director, lead writer and lead gameplay designer) and staying consistent to it they bring in whole groups of people that get to exert their influence and it results in the product being the safe, non-offensive, risk-averse generic RPG that this turned out to be.

I can only imagine the hours spent on zoom calls or in a conference room with 15 people arguing over specific wording in some pithy dialogue.

 

[SlimySnake]

I like the game but man he’s so on point about the characters. They are so basic and simple they are legit bidding to be around. I fast forward through most conversations because i know it will be all kumbaya with these people.

And yes they did both varric and solas dirty. Two great characters both relegated to cameos. Lame.

 

[JayK47]

Kill one thread and another one just pops up in it's place. I like how he says it sort of sucks while avoiding the elephant in the room. They just can't talk about it. Funny watching them tip toe around it like such brave and stunning ninjas.

 

[Skifi28]

 

[LectureMaster]

"Every conversation feels like HR is in the room"

Also, this game has just about all the hallmarks of design-by-committee. Instead of executing on a vision (usually lead by a small-ish group of the creative director, lead writer and lead gameplay designer) and staying consistent to it they bring in whole groups of people that get to exert their influence and it results in the product being the safe, non-offensive, risk-averse generic RPG that this turned out to be.

Honestly, I was having some hope for the game because despite being woke, the lead writer Patrick Weekes had a good track record for previous games, he wrote the trespasser DLC for inquisition for instance, which was unequivocally the best part of the game. His writing was not this blatantly cringy and weird.
It was just sad that the studio culture has poisoned the talent.

 

[BigBeauford]

Total damage control after that fellatio session they called a review.

 

[Loomy]

And yes they did both varric and solas dirty. Two great characters both relegated to cameos. Lame.

Varric has been getting Shaft since Inquisition. Honestly, the more I think about it, they should have kept Hawke as the player character from Dragon Age 2 onwards.

 

[Madflavor]

It might be the most embarrassing and cringe inducing game in a while. Even more than Concord. How can anyone look forward to Mass Effect 5?

 

[Kacho]

This article highlights why mainstream sites are losing influence.

IGN couldn’t keep BioWares dick out of their mouth before launch, but now they want to (sorta) call out the game’s problems after giving it a 9/10 while also ignoring the elephant in the room because it’s inconvenient.

The fact that the game was renamed to Veilguard is so irrelevant to overall discussion about the game I’m not sure why they thought it was worth bringing up.

 

[MayauMiao]

IGN, just like Jason Schrier, wanted to "own the chuds".

 

[CityHunter1981]

I don’t know how people can defend certain aspects of the game.

I am a huge supporter of LGBT and think everyone should love whoever they want and live the way they feel.
But if a geese try to teach you about acceptance and think you are stupid and ignorant, that ist just complete cringe.
LGBT should be also represented, but if it’s taking unrealistical proportions, that is another story.

 

[Danjin44]

The thing here is this character being overly aggressive for no good reason and they expect people like the character.
Watch this...


You dont see her suddenly lashing out at Porco and calling him "sexist", instead she calmly and with logic will convince him to give her a chance, now thats a good fucking writing

 

[Zarak]

It's because the people writing it are at war with themselves. It's a product of mental illness.

 

[IFireflyl]

 

[LectureMaster]

LGBT should be also represented, but if it’s taking unrealistical proportions, that is another story.

That's why I miss David Gaider, the OG Dragon Age writer's work.

He's openly gay, but he kept his sexuality out of professional work. When he created LGBT+ characters, they were normal people, even with charisma. Liked Dorian in inquisition, and I was even able to relate the Ironbull's trans sidekick.

Those days were long gone, nowadays, all those queer characters are just fucking stereotypically cringy and weird.

 

[Kacho]

Here is a trans person ripping the game to shreds



Skip to 20:10 for the part that focuses on modernism in gaming

 

[diffusionx]

Feels like they are laying the groundwork for the inevitable "why did Dragon Age bomb" article they will be writing in a couple months.

 

[a'la mode]

While he does mention not finishing the game, he should, because these will make sense by the end.

Spoiler: Regarding the Veilguard

The ending implies it more of a title of the legend that follows the events. You are not the Veilguard during the game, it's not an actual organization like the Inquisition was, but stories and legends after you name you the Veilguard.

Spoiler: Regarding Varric

Spoiler: this is a major endgame spoiler

Spoiler: are you sure

He's not actually there - he has been dead since the beginning of the game.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Here is a trans person ripping the game to shreds



Skip to 20:10 for the part that focuses on modernism in gaming

i was listening as a lullaby.... holy shit, it destroys the game and stupid "jurnos".

the cherry on top it will be if it's nominated to anything on the VGAs.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Feels like they are laying the groundwork for the inevitable "why did Dragon Age bomb" article they will be writing in a couple months.

after its nomination to game of the year instead of Wukong

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Witcher 3 is full on nerdy RPG?

LMAO.

This is why games are far more subjective than people think. There are no 10/10, GOTY, GOTG. Its all personal.

 

[N30RYU]

 

[Revolutionary]

i was listening as a lullaby.... holy shit, it destroys the game and stupid "jurnos".

the cherry on top it will be if it's nominated to anything on the VGAs.

Even if it's nominated, there's no chance of it winning anything over Metaphor Refantazio or FFVII Rebirth.

 

[kiphalfton]

Here is a trans person ripping the game to shreds



Skip to 20:10 for the part that focuses on modernism in gaming

Good for them.

Sick of seeing other dumbasses defending SBI/etc. and honestly it's kind of sad, as they're too stupid to see they're being played. SBI is obviously in it for a quick buck, and doesn't care about the LGBTQIA+ cause.

However, I wouldn't doubt it if those same people who defend SBI have the same fucked up perception of "what it means to be LGBTQIA+" as SBI does. Or are as mentally ill as some of the people at SBI are.

I refuse to believe any self respecting person in the LGBTQIA+ community would lap up the garbage SBI puts out, and accept it as an accurate representation. Like the person in the video said, the writing in these type of games is always so hamfisted and on the nose it's not even funny. If anything I would assume it's extremely offensive.

 

[FunkMiller]

Everything about this game screams that it was made by a group of people terrified of doing anything that might offend/upset/anger/confront players on any level whatsoever.

It's a project that appears utterly hamstrung by storytelling cowardice, where the banal replaces the exciting, because we don't want anybody feeling triggered by something, now do we?

 

[Darkmakaimura]

Here is a trans person ripping the game to shreds



Skip to 20:10 for the part that focuses on modernism in gaming

Sophia Narwitz is a member here.

 

[krumble]

So I've been playing the game (thank god I didn't pay for it as my wallet is not going to fund this)
It's like a role play light for kids where all the writers were shit scared of the trans director having a freak out at their writing.

So I avoided any gender issue in my character creator, and got about 5 hours in before the first push came up

The idea of being a hero. Where you look in a mirror and if you don't accept yourself then it leads you down gender choices (and labels it clearly) - I obviously selected that I'm very happy with what I see in the mirror

Next it goes into something to do for race where again you either accept your heritage (in my case elf) or you decide to play victim and wallow in all the discrimination you face.. again I avoided all that crap, but it pretty well spells out the mental health and victimhood that is involved in a lot of the freaky element of the trans community

The biggest problem with this being in the game is the younger people and kids that will be subjected to this and perhaps re-enforce seeing themselves through these ideological far left goggles

Unfortunately I am enjoying the game as it is as a role play light with engaging graphics and fairly likeable characters so far

EA and BioWare deserve to feel this hard on the bottom line of their finances and all involved face the music to the shareholders

Unfortunately it all traces back to the banks, as there are a lot of strings to larger business having good financial support which is how this is spreading further, where company's are only extended credit and services if they comply with the DEI and Sustainability goals set..

I'm a gay man who doesn't consider himself part of the alphabet nonsense they have labelled that community now

I hate all this pushing of subversive ideas and all the stuff around as it's really caused more division and rejection in society or us "normal" guys

There used to be the LBG community and a very tiny percentage of T's who were generally vetted before any transition steps were taken. Known some real transsexuals that are feminine and do everything they can to look like females

Then you had the Transvestites - as one of my transexual friends used to call them "cross dressing men in ill-fitting dresses" - the "ladies" from Little Britain perfectly depicted this - and these perverts have expanded their reach and taken over with the blue haired freak brigade to be the loud and activist side of things we see being forced by our throats now, they need to get it out of our games!

Hopefully people here aren't as sensitive as era and I won't be banned for this post (as I was for something similar many many years ago)

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

That's why I miss David Gaider, the OG Dragon Age writer's work.

He's openly gay, but he kept his sexuality out of professional work. When he created LGBT+ characters, they were normal people, even with charisma. Liked Dorian in inquisition, and I was even able to relate the Ironbull's trans sidekick.

Those days were long gone, nowadays, all those queer characters are just fucking stereotypically cringy and weird.

Ironbull was a great character and had killer lines.

 

[DaciaJC]

Hopefully people here aren't as sensitive as era and I won't be banned for this post (as I was for something similar many many years ago)

Don't think you have to worry about that here, friend.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Honestly, I was having some hope for the game because despite being woke, the lead writer Patrick Weekes had a good track record for previous games, he wrote the trespasser DLC for inquisition for instance, which was unequivocally the best part of the game. His writing was not this blatantly cringy and weird.
It was just sad that the studio culture has poisoned the talent.

Trick Weekes lives in Edmonton, Canada with their wife Karin Weekes and their two sons. Trick Weekes uses they/them pronouns and identifies as pansexual and non-binary.

 

[Rush2112]

Oh hes wondering why the famous male dwarf NPC was ignored. Well, I don’t want to get banned so I can’t answer that question, unfortunately.

 

[ungalo]

That's some great tiptoeing right there, some great euphemism.

Damn they're so full of shit, incapable of speaking their minds

 

[Ammogeddon]

I cannot stand IGN. About as much integrity as a leaky boat.

 

[SJRB]

Pathetic article from a pathetic outlet.

These people would sell their mom if it got them a few bucks in advertisement money.

Zero integrity and irrelevant opinion.

 

[Bonfires Down]

My dick is at war with my ass and my balls are trying to mediate.

 

[SaturnSaturn]

Didnt ign give it a 9 out of 10 also lmao.

 

[Plague Doctor]

Total damage control after that fellatio session they called a review.

This is my thought.

 

[samoilaaa]

It might be the most embarrassing and cringe inducing game in a while. Even more than Concord. How can anyone look forward to Mass Effect 5?

because most gamers are dumb and are willing to accept anything to be entertained

 

[Humdinger]

And yes they did both varric and solas dirty. Two great characters both relegated to cameos. Lame.

I heard they did the same with Morrigan. She appears in cutscenes as required by the plot, but you can't interact with her.

 

[Nickolaidas]

How can anyone look forward to Mass Effect 5?

Delusion is a helluva drug. Poor folk think the game is going to be actually good.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

As some pointed out, this is wild damage control exactly like Starfield or Cyberpunk first reviews, that straight-up lied and then backpedaled wondering how they failed lol.

 

[buenoblue]

I'm loving the game but I do agree. It's a great looking and playing "game".

but if they had stuck more to the old dragon age writing and character art style it could of been fantastic game of the generation stuff.

 

[Madflavor]

If I were a betting man, I would place serious bets that Mass Effect 5 is going to bring Shepard back. Not as a cameo, but actually have you play as him again. They obviously need Mass Effect 5 to be a success, and I think if they show that first trailer and reveal you're playing as Commander Shepard again, that's going to get A LOT of people interesting in the game. Maybe I'm wrong, but after how Andromeda, Anthem and Veilguard has performed, I'm surprised Bioware is still operating. It's making me think despite what EA is feeling, they have hope ME5 will do well, but that Bioware has to do something that's going to bring in as much interest as possible.

 

[LectureMaster]

If I were a betting man, I would place serious bets that Mass Effect 5 is going to bring Shepard back. Not as a cameo, but actually have you play as him again. They obviously need Mass Effect 5 to be a success, and I think if they show that first trailer and reveal you're playing as Commander Shepard again, that's going to get A LOT of people interesting in the game. Maybe I'm wrong, but after how Andromeda, Anthem and Veilguard has performed, I'm surprised Bioware is still operating. It's making me think despite what EA is feeling, they have hope ME5 will do well, but that Bioware has to do something that's going to bring in as much interest as possible.

There would be no M/F Shepard. Only a gender fluid they/them one that has both dick and boobs during the character creation section.

 

[The Saint]

The thing here is this character being overly aggressive for no good reason and they expect people like the character.
Watch this...


You dont see her suddenly lashing out at Porco and calling him "sexist", instead she calmly and with logic will convince him to give her a chance, now thats a good fucking writing

Video not available in my country. USA.

 

[Fake]

Both this game and the people that give a higher score are embarrassing.

 

[Mayar]

I'm just wondering, does anyone in the IGN management understand that publishing such things after the oral sex they did to the game before the release and after they gave the game a 9 out of 10 and EDITORS' CHOICE badge. It looks extremely stupid and ugly, or is it that important to cover your ass when everything came to light? And then they will be outraged that they are not taken seriously and that in general the players do not evaluate the work of the press fairly.

 

[Gojiira]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Is at War With Itself - IGN

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is awkwardly in conflict with itself, torn into pieces that reflect a sequel to a decade-old RPG and a fresh beginning with no ties to what came before.

www.ign.com

Actually a rather lengthy article criticizing the game. This guy Matt Purslow sounds more like a OG fan of the series rather a progressive agent. Here are some snippets:

---

While I’m nowhere near the 100-hour mark myself, that line is so far proving true – not a single character has mentioned The Veilguard. My team of D&D archetype oddballs may collectively be known as such in all the marketing, online articles, and the physical box itself, but within the world of Thedas they’re none the wiser. Imagine Tony Stark and Steve Rogers having no idea the world called them Avengers… that’s how odd it is.

---

Many aspects of The Veilguard point to it being something of a soft reset or even spin-off from the main Dragon Age series. Set in the northern Tevinter region, it leaves behind the saga’s original southern home of Ferelden, along with all its characters and politics. Dragon Age has always started afresh with each new game as, unlike Mass Effect, there’s no persistent protagonist across the series as each instalment tells a brand new story. The shift to Tevinter is perfectly in keeping with Dragon Age’s history, then, but The Veilguard isn’t a typical Dragon Age game. It is its first direct sequel – a continuation of Dragon Age: Inquisition, which dedicated its post-credits and Trespasser DLC to setting up Solas as the villainous Dread Wolf. And this is where it all starts to feel a little messy.

So much of The Veilguard is dedicated to Solas. Its opening sees him performing a dangerous god-unleashing ritual, and the world is littered with quests that explore his history and relationship with those dark deities. There may be no mention of the word “Veilguard” anywhere, but everyone is talking about the Dread Wolf. Why isn’t that the name of the game again?

---

The Veilguard crew all appear to be likeable people, but it feels as if I’m being blocked from forging true bonds with them. That especially goes for Varric. What is arguably Dragon Age’s best-ever character has been imprisoned in his bedroom, consigned to spouting incidental dialogue that you can’t engage with. His sidelining is yet another example of The Veilguard’s uneasy relationship with its predecessor, but unfortunately the frustrating treatment of its new cast means it’s also difficult to fully embrace the story’s fresh faces.

---

The overall result is that Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t the golden era BioWare game that I had hoped it would be. Torn between continuing its traditional role-playing legacy and starting afresh as a modern action RPG, the end result is an awkward sequel trapped in a cage made of reboot ideas. After years and years of faltered steps I understand why BioWare landed on this particular, very mainstream AAA formula, but I wish it had been inspired by the undying mass popularity of The Witcher 3 – a full-on nerdy RPG – rather than veer closer to Sony’s palatable RPG-ish approach for modern God of War. But that ill-defined shape is often what uneasy development cycles get you. Thankfully The Veilguard’s launch has seemingly gone well for EA and BioWare, which hopefully means Dragon Age will continue. Let’s just hope next time it’s not just the name that’s got a bit of Baldur’s Gate in it.

---

Yeah nah, no mention of the CRINGE gender politics nonsense and millenial dialogue. Kinda just glossing over rather than actually criticising