Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review – A Modern Take on a Beloved Classic

I’ve been a longtime fan of Dragon Age—whether it’s Inquisition or the older Dragon Age II. Bioware’s RPGs have always been a cornerstone for me, so when Dragon Age: The Veilguard was announced seemingly out of the blue, I was both thrilled and apprehensive. Could it live up to the legacy of its predecessors?

Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long after the announcement to dive in. And while The Veilguard takes some bold risks—most notably reworking the familiar combat style—it manages to feel both refreshed and distinctly Dragon Age. Of course, any major change will divide the fanbase, but for those invested in the series’ lore and world, The Veilguard offers a compelling experience.

Character Creation: A Perfectionist’s Playground

The first thing you’ll notice is the deep character creator. With a variety of races, classes, and customisation options, I spent an embarrassing amount of time crafting my Rook. Yet, as is often the case, what looked perfect in the editor didn’t quite translate in-game. The nose was too high, the proportions felt off, and those thick eyebrows? A definite no-go. Cue the cycle of adjustments and fine-tuning for hours. In the end, I found a preset that someone made from a Reddit thread and did a few tweaks to finalise my Rook.

Happily, The Veilguard allows you to tweak your character’s appearance in-game at no cost – which I wasn’t aware of at the start. So if your painstakingly crafted hero looks less heroic under the harsh lighting of your first cutscene, you can fix it.

Visuals and Strand Hair Magic

Visually, The Veilguard marks a significant leap forward for the series. The environments are stunning, the textures sharp, and the addition of Strand Hair technology is a game-changer. I initially dismissed it as a gimmick, but after toggling it off and witnessing the horror of flat, lifeless hair, I quickly turned it back on. Once you’ve seen it in action, it’s hard to imagine playing any game without it.

Companions and Choices

As always, companions play a central role. Each one comes with their own distinct personality, skill set, and side quests, deepening your connection as you adventure together. Helping them with their problems through personal quests and saying things that they like also help with the approvals (which can lead to romance options later down the line). What surprised me most was how much the little things matter. Conversations you might dismiss as trivial can resurface in future dialogue or even impact decisions down the line.

Major story choices, as in previous games, are clearly marked, giving you time to weigh your options. These decisions shape the narrative in meaningful ways, keeping you engaged and invested.

Combat: Modernised but Familiar

Combat is where The Veilguard takes its biggest risks. Gone are the slower, tactical battles of old. Instead, we get a faster, more action-oriented system. As a Warrior, I found myself throwing my shield Captain America-style (whether I liked it or not) and switching seamlessly between a sword-and-shield combo and a two-handed weapon. While the lack of a Claymore stung a bit, the fluidity and pace of combat won me over. Light attacks with the left mouse buttons, and heavier attacks by holding it down, for example.

Skill selection is streamlined, with only three active abilities available at a time (plus an Ultimate skill), but the game compensates with a wealth of flexibility. Each time you level up, you can allocate a skill point into the skills tree and there is also a class specialisation later down the track. You can respec your skills—and even change your class specialisation—whenever you like, free of charge. This encourages experimentation, letting you adapt your build as you find new gear or encounter tougher challenges.

Tactics aren’t entirely abandoned, either. Enemies have barriers and armour that require specific strategies to overcome, and you can combine abilities with your companions for devastating results (with a primer skill followed by a detonator skill). You can also parry (assuming the attack can be parried) and if you do it at the right moment, you can trigger a few things (like a flaming sword with my warrior and a rally bonus after getting the class specialisation). The mix of strategy and fast-paced action feels like a nod to modern RPGs, blending the best of both worlds.

And of course, what’s Dragon Age without dragons?

Gear and Progression

Gear progression introduces an intriguing mechanic: upgrades are tied to finding duplicates of your equipment. Each duplicate improves the stats and adds enhancements, which feels unique and rewarding. While some players might miss crafting systems in other games, this approach keeps exploration somewhat exciting and gear upgrades meaningful as you keep the old gears with you.

Quirks and Criticisms

Exploration involves a fair amount of busywork—breaking objects, searching corners for coins, or solving small puzzles. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does interrupt the flow at times. Companions, too, feel slightly less grand than in Inquisition, though their stories still hold emotional weight somewhat.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review Conclusion

Dragon Age: The Veilguard successfully modernises the series while preserving the rich storytelling and immersive world fans have come to love. With its faster-paced combat, stunning visuals bolstered by Strand Hair technology, and meaningful choices that shape the narrative, it’s a game that feels both fresh and true to its roots.

The flexibility in character customisation and skill-building ensures that players can tailor their experience, while the dynamic interactions with companions add depth to the journey. Exploration is engaging, with plenty of treasures to uncover and puzzles to solve, making every corner of the world worth investigating though it may feel tedious at times.

While it may take the series in a slightly new direction, The Veilguard is a testament to Bioware’s commitment to delivering a compelling RPG experience. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the franchise, it’s a thrilling adventure that’s hard to put down. It may not feel as grand and satisfying as Dragon Age: The Inquisition, but it still is a worthy RPG game to grab and play. .

Players can purchase the Standard Edition of Dragon Age: The Veilguard for the suggested retail price of $69.99 USD on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, or $59.99 USD on PC. Meanwhile, the Deluxe Edition is available for the suggested retail price of $89.99 USD on console or $79.99 USD on PC and will include the following cosmetics: three Rook armor sets, six Rook weapons, seven companion armor sets and seven companion weapons. EA Play Pro members on the EA app will enjoy unlimited access to the EA Play Pro Edition starting October 31st. Also available at Amazon and retailers around you.

Disclosure: Dragon Age: The Veilguard review licence was supplied for reviewing