Dragon Age: The VeilguardIs Ready to Bring You Back

After revitalizingMass Effectwith aremastered collectionof the first three games and handing offStar Wars : The Old Republicto a separate studio , BioWare ’s now putting its full weight behind its other big franchise , Dragon Age . Over the years , it ’s been a question of if ( and in what way of life ) BioWare would bring back to the world of Thedas , even as it ’d continuously reaffirm a fresh entryway was in growth . As such , it was all the more surprising whenDragon years : The Veilguardgot a full reveal and information rollout over the summertime , and even more when the game staked a release date forOctober 31 .

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io9 latterly attended an event that supply press and content creators five hours ofVeilguardplaytime . During that , we nonplus a good tactile property for how it play and its general structure that ’ll inform the eternal sleep of the secret plan . To immediately recall early buzz from over the summer , the combat is very telling . Previous entries landed on different point of the “ action - RPG ” spectrum , andVeilguardleans toward the more straightaway end , like with 2011’sDragon Age II . This is better exemplified in the Rogue class , which have canonical light and laboured attacks , and a lot of dodge and parry . Having spend the most time as a Rogue , a practiced parry belong a long way , and it immediately felt easy to catch within minutes while also experience elbow room to grow with subclass built around dueling , explosive , and long - range archery .

Veilgaurd Bellara

© BioWare/EA

That spruce , straightaway mavin is spread across the other two classes ( Warrior and Mage ) , but in different ways . As a Warrior , thresh at enemy with my sword and then performing a shell knock ( or throwing it around ) sway a different weight to it than a Rogue ’s daggers . too , the Mage felt like a glass shank that made being right in the thick of it a speculative proposal , but potentially deserving it for those who get a in force feel for the magic subclasses and how to take reward of them during mid and cheeseparing - range scraps .

If you ’ve seen gameplay videos , you know it ’s also charm byMass impression : our new protagonist Rook rolls with two Companions ( previous games gave you three ) , and or else of switch between political party members , you pull up a wheel to use their abilities on a specific enemy or field . As inMass Effect , it ’s very square to chain powers together for jazz band , and when those acquirement are on cooldown , Rook still feel formidable enough to get the job done . ( If you ’re not paying attention to the UI , do n’t worry ; Companions will vocally call out when they ’re quick to practice an power . ) The fights all felt veryDragon Age , just in a snappier , crunchier way ; Rogue and Warrior mains may find more challenge in bumping the difficulty up from the monetary standard once they ’ve settled into a solid calendar method , just to add some more teeth .

Veilguardalso borrowsMass Effect’sstructure and world blueprint . WhereasDragon Age : Inquisitionhad players drift large , unfastened environments , Rook and party use the Eluvian internet of magical mirrors ( which let you fast travel between part ) to go from region to region during their journey . Each area ’s sizing will vary , and during our playtime , we got to know several , including the Crossroads ( a disjoined proportion that ’s also a way - station between Eluvians ) , the Arlathan forest , and the Antivan larboard - city Treviso . The team ’s hub , the Lighthouse , is big enough to warrant exploration , but not so bighearted you ’ll find yourself getting lost in it ; conversely , Treviso is a comme il faut - sized metropolis that feels plan with submerging in mind . Unhoused people and musicians hang around meddling arena call for for money ( I render them money when I saw them , just to do it ) , and the ziplines help add together some spare flavor to an already flavorful place .

Veilguard Neve

©BioWare/EA

But when you ’re not explore , you ’re embark on commission to figure out how to stop a pair of evil Elven god . This being so betimes in the game , our playtime involved recruiting several fellow traveler to avail us in this endeavor . The latter is whereVeilguardwill feel most familiar to longtime BioWare rooter , in particular those who ’ve playedMass Effect 2 : to recruit assassin Lucanis Dellamorte , Rook has to deliver him from an underwater prison , then help him finish up a lingering contract . Another task you with finding Bellara , a Veil Jumper Mage who agrees to come along once you help her ascertain and bushel a low Archive Spirit .

In these missionary post , you get a good estimate of how the specific Companion you ’re seeking out gels with your group on multiple levels . fighting - wise , they each have their own specific element and style they can help ferment the tide that player will forecast out over time . Outside of armed combat , they also have an environmental ability , like Bellara tinker with magical artifact that can lead to new areas or loot . ( Luckily , a Companion does n’t require to be in the company for their ability to be used . )

As factual character , they ’ll necessarily gather more depth over the course of the plot , but the meter pass with them was promising . My Rook was part of the Shadow Dragons , so it was nice to see him link up with the Mage investigator Neve early on over their share allegiance , and I enjoy how well everyone jounce off each other in conversations . ( In one Treviso side quest , Lucanis and dragon huntsman Taash have a playfulness back - and - forth . ) It ’s just as well , too , since it seems like those conversation will have a wad of weighting behind them : after choosing a conversation option ( or ca-ca a BioWare - received toughened decisiveness ) , on - screen text edition said an NPC would remember Rook ’s action . nigh all the studio apartment ’s game have save grade , but presenting it so matter - of - factly reinforces that there ’ll be some consequence to amount when all is order and done , and in ways that ’ll in all probability catch players completely by surprisal .

Veilguard Taash

©BioWare/EA

For me , the most surprising thing aboutVeilguardis how much authority it exuded throughout the five hours spend with it . It did n’t peacock around like nine years had n’t passed , and it did n’t seek to live as some kind of excuse for the franchise being off the grid ( at least , plot - overbold ) for so long . BioWare ’s newest title is very self - assured , and it might have the goodness it thinks it does . We ’ll discover out for sure whenDragon Age : The Veilguardreleases on Halloween for PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X|S , and microcomputer .

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