Dragon Age fans have waited a decade for a new entry in the series to be released, and at long last, a return to Thedas is on the cards. Video games have changed quite a bit in the years between Dragon Age releases, and for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the new entry in the series is looking to combine the signature high-fantasy series of that world with modern gameplay ideas.
GameSpot recently went hands-on with the BioWare-developed game, and for more details, you can check out how Dragon Age: The Veilguard feels like BioWare at its most confident. You can also read below for a quick look at several new interesting gameplay mechanics, quality-of-life changes, and nods to the franchise you can expect to encounter in the game when it launches on October 31 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
1. Customization options for days
When you boot up the game, you’re going to be able to create your own character, and there are an unbelievable amount of options here, including 88 hairstyles and even ocular features like cataracts.
2. Future fashion
You can also make adjustments such as the type of lighting your character is in, as well as have them wear more advanced gear, so that you can know exactly how your Rook will look when you’re actually playing the game.
3. What’s the backstory, morning glory?
Of course, creating your character isn’t just about how they look, but who they are. You can pick different factions and backstories for yourself, which will change how the story unfolds and how other characters will interact with you.
4. Tim Robinson is going to love the new mobility features
Once you’re in the game, you’ll feel a noticeable difference from previous Dragon Age titles, as the Veilguard brings the franchise into the era of modern mobility present in action-RPGs. Simple actions like vaulting–that are common for most other entries in the genre–bring a little more liveliness to the series. You can even use a zipline!
5. Combat is fast and fluid
This sense of momentum carries over to combat, which is much more visceral in The Veilguard. The final blow in a combo is a powerful hit that deals more damage than the preceding attacks. You can block with the left bumper, and if you time it right, you can parry, which will slow the enemy down temporarily.
There’s also a two-stage dodge: press B once to side-step and double-tap to do a bigger dodge. You can even jump over attacks, and you don’t need to restock arrows as they replenish over time. Overall, combat is fast, dynamic, and will be more welcoming for first-time Dragon Age players.
6. Stay in the loop with a massive codex
The codex for the game is absolutely massive and includes a ton of details for things in previous Dragon Age titles, so newcomers to the franchise can always catch up on past events, characters, and lore when they need to.
7. Skills to pay the bills
We got a good look at the game’s skill tree. At level 20, you can choose a specialization, and you can respec for free at any time.
8. The Lighthouse is more than just your headquarters
The Lighthouse is your base of operations in the game, and you can discover hidden areas by completing puzzles that you find there.
9. Valuables can enrich you in more than one way
You can find valuables in the world which can be sold to vendors. However, you can also use some of them, such as truffles, to buff your companions.
10. Companions can help you pull off flashy attacks
Companions can assist in combat. You can manually tell them where to go and which enemies to target. Companions have various skills, some of which can even be combined into a singular, powerful ability.
11. You’ll always know how to counter enemies
When you bring up the ability screen for yourself and your companions, it will actually highlight what the enemy you’re facing is both weak and resistant to, to better inform which skills you can use against it.
12. Ultimate abilities can turn the tide of battle
After filling a meter over time by damaging enemies, you can unleash a powerful ultimate ability by pressing down on both thumbsticks.
13. Allying with a faction is a good idea
Factions are a big part of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Allying with a faction allows you to shop with their merchants, unlocking access to new equipment and cosmetics. You can rank up your alliances through various means, which will unlock additional items.
14. You can upgrade your favorite gear at the Lighthouse
At the Caretaker’s workshop in the Lighthouse, you can upgrade your equipment and obtain new versions of your gear that will also unlock new properties. You can upgrade the workshop by collecting mementos in the world, unlocking additional power levels for your gear to reach.
15. You’ll understand just how important your choices really are
Every Dragon Age game has been just as much about your companions as it has been your own character, and the Veilguard will be doubling down on the importance of your allies. Different choices you make will impact your relationships, but in this latest entry, you’ll be given a lot more context for how those decisions affect your various alliances.
16. Nobody expects the Dragon Age: Inquisition reference
While Solas isn’t a companion this time around–and is instead an antagonist in Veilguard–some elements of the Solas we know from Inquisition will still crop up in the game, such as the murals he leaves around.
17. But the memory remains
Speaking of Solas, one of the biggest things we discovered in our time with the Veilguard preview is that you can stumble upon the Dread Wolf’s memories, and even play them yourself. This should give players plenty of insight into this controversial character.
18. Useful dialogue options
A great little quality-of-life feature is an icon that can appear showcasing dialogue opportunities with other characters. If the interaction icon has a chat bubble with a timer in the corner, that means that that dialogue will eventually expire if you progress too far into the game.
19. There are no restrictions on companion romance
In the Veilguard, every companion can be romanced, and unlike in previous games, there are no restrictions based on race or gender.
20. Dragon Age cameos from previous games, books, and more
It won’t just be characters from previous games that will show up in the Veilguard. The game will be bringing in those that have appeared in various Dragon Age spin-off content such as books and comics. During our preview, we met Strife and Irelin, two characters that have appeared in various spin-offs, and are Veil Jumpers; those that explore ancient elven ruins. Because we are playing as a Veil Jumper as well, they have a history with these characters.
21. Companions are more useful than you know
Companions have unique abilities that can not only aid you in combat, but can help you solve environmental puzzles. However, a companion doesn’t need to be in your party for you to be able to use their skills in this manner.
22. You can pet the baby griffin
Of course, the world of Dragon Age is filled with a whole host of various beasts and creatures, and yes, you can pet some of them.
23. Legendary lands can be visited for the first time
Dragon Age: The Veilguard will take players to places only mentioned in previous games. In our preview alone, we ventured to Minrathous, capital of the Tevinter Imperium, and the Arlathan Forest. We also ventured to Treviso, which has only been explored in spin-off media previously. There, we met Teia Cantori, also from the same spin-offs, And we finally got to see Weisshaupt, the headquarters of the Grey Wardens, a location that long time Dragon Age fans will be very familiar with.
24. Don’t like your appearance? Change it!
In the Lighthouse, you will find a Mirror of Transformation from the get go, which allows you to change your character’s appearance at will. This functionality was not in the base game of Inquisition, but rather a feature added in DLC.
25. Fast fashion
There’s also a wardrobe where you can customize your character’s many outfits. You can also decorate the Lighthouse with things that you’ve either found or bought on your adventures.
26. Fast-travel hubs also double as respawn points
Fast travel beacons in the world not only unlock fast travel, but are the locations that you respawn at, and also the places where you can swap out members of your party.