Dragon Age: The Veilguard Combat Deep Dive - A New Look at BioWare's Latest RPG?

While initial glimpses of Dragon Age: The Veilguard left some feeling underwhelmed, a recent 10-minute combat deep dive has sparked renewed interest in BioWare's latest RPG. The video, which showcases high-level combat, provides a closer look at the game's mechanics and has potentially convinced even the most hesitant fans to give The Veilguard a go.

The deep dive begins with a quick overview of character creation, which appears to offer a high degree of customisation. Although the video primarily focuses on a warrior build, an accompanying blog post highlights the availability of Mage and Rogue classes, each with three specialisations, some quite unconventional. For instance, the warrior can specialise as a Reaper, "stealing life and risking death to gain incredible unnatural abilities," while Rogues can become Saboteurs, "deploying explosives and turrets that devastate enemies, then picking them off with arrows."

These specialisations can be further honed through their respective skill trees, allowing players to select three special abilities and one ultimate ability to bring into battle. Weapon and equipment choices also play a significant role in shaping a character's playstyle, with swords, armour, and other items offering unique effects.

The video then delves into the core combat mechanics, revealing The Veilguard to be the most action-oriented game in the series yet, surpassing even Dragon Age 2. The inclusion of a dodge-roll suggests a touch of Souls-like influence, while a powerful kick ability allows players to knock enemies off ledges. However, The Veilguard hasn't abandoned its tactical roots entirely, allowing players to pause the action at any time to issue orders to their two companions and select abilities.

The third segment of the video demonstrates crowd control, showing the protagonist, Rook, zipping between groups of Darkspawn in a large open area, using abilities like a shield bash and a powerful AoE attack called "Titan Stomp" to scatter their foes across the map. This is where the video truly shines, showcasing fluid and stylish combat sequences. Although the inclusion of exploding barrels adds a somewhat cheesy element, the overall fluidity of the combat is undeniably impressive.

The final portion of the video explores the concept of "Primers, Detonators, and Ultimates." Primers and Detonators are set-up abilities that players can use with their companions. For example, Rook uses a freezing ability to immobilise a group of Darkspawn, while their companion Lucanis unleashes an "Eviscerate" spell, dealing massive damage. Ultimates, as expected, are flashy, high-impact abilities, such as Rook calling down a barrage of spectral arrows followed by a devastating exploding meteorite.

While the video leaves a lasting impression, it's not without its flaws. The sheer amount of abilities on display can lead to a visually chaotic experience, and the UI design may not be the most visually appealing. Some viewers may find the combat reminiscent of Diablo 3, which while a successful game, has faced criticism for its aesthetic choices. The fear remains that The Veilguard's combat may suffer from a similar fate, potentially overshadowing the narrative and characters.

Overall, the combat deep dive has left many with mixed feelings. While the mechanics look promising, with a clear emphasis on depth and variety, the visual presentation and UI design raise concerns. The upcoming character deep dives, focusing on companions, may be the key to swaying those who remain hesitant. The Veilguard's combat system seems promising, but only time will tell if it can deliver on its potential and truly bring back the "BioWare good times."