Just finished 100%ing Dragon Age Veilguard. I don't get the hate?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/db0c9d6f.jpg

Full disclosure, I've only played Origins and I feel like I did miss some context by not playing Inquisition first. That being said, it was perfectly enjoyable. Not amazing, but I enjoyed myself all the way through. But I'm seeing it ripped to shreds online and the entire team got fired and I don't think I understand why.

It's at the bottom of my winter 100hours of the past few years (Cyberpunk = Baldur's Gate 3 > Midnight Suns > Persona 5 Royale > Veilguard) but it was still a solid 8/10.

I've also never seen anyone talk about it here, which generally isn't a good sign but I took a $20 flyer on it and I think it paid off.

Maybe people are just not as enamored by the bioware style of rpg anymore.

Also, generally when a 10/10 or 9/10 series produces an 8/10 or 7/10, people tend to freak out.

Most of the hate is just political BS, it shouldn't matter but unfortunately bad actors have a lot of influence right now.

there was a topic on it here where a few people talked about playing it and some did i believe.
but a lot of the backlash will come from culture war stuff, between the character creator having things like top surgery scars and everything around taash. the latter legit just turned people away with the preachiness and went into "this is actually just a bad character" camp.

did hear some complaints on things like puzzles so simple they shouldn't even be called that, gameplay too easy, weak visuals, inconsistency with previous games, and some stuff that just plain doesn't make sense (e.g., a thief's guild that's... not a thief's guild). all in all just looked meh and there's plenty out there that's better right now, and that's all before getting into culture war stuff. after it, uh... well the entire writing team is fired, director "resigned," Bioware's basically put out a statement distancing ME5 from it, and the game sold so poorly they don't even want to say how much sold, leaving it at "engaged players."

It's a pretty good game, and I consistently enjoyed myself. 8/10's about right for a score (at least for me). But that's partly because the gameplay and world design are enjoyable. In terms of plot and characters, it's a step down from DA2 and DAI. Not that they're all bad or anything, but the game's lacking in peak moments like its predecessors had.

Why would you skip DA2 and DAI to play it, anyway? Those are definitely more interesting games. Though of course 100%ing DAI is a bad time.

FFDragon posted...

I've also never seen anyone talk about it here

There was definitely a topic discussing it here!

From what I heard the tone of the game is pretty PG? Which is a pretty stark contrast from the games I played, if that's true.

Yeah the game is a fine 7-8 to me. It does have those things its getting torn up over that have been mentioned though. Character creator controversy, the general tone shift, visuals and lore stuff (what the fuck did they do to the qunari?) etc.

MacArrowny posted...
but the game's lacking in peak moments like its predecessors had.

I don't know about that. The Battle of Weisshaupt was pretty good

pjbasis posted...

From what I heard the tone of the game is pretty PG? Which is a pretty stark contrast from the games I played, if that's true.

It also doesn't help it restricts it so you can't even be tough or mean with the PC dialogue. A comment I had heard puts it pretty well how it felt like HR was in the room looking over everyone's shoulder. It becomes particularly noticeable when Taash joins, who as mentioned is an utterly terrible character and probably the worst companion they ever had in any of their series.

I absolutely adore Taash and the fact that so many people are mad they can't be mean to them as they figure out their own identity says a lot about those people.

Pirateking2000 posted...

I don't know about that. The Battle of Weisshaupt was pretty good

I mean, that's a pretty good sequence, but I've seen that sorta thing in games before. DAI had the ball in Orlais though, which is one of the best chapters in an RPG.

It's a really solid 7 or 8 and it doesn't deserve the hatred it's been getting.

Also Emmrich and Manfred are the GOATs.

character ranking you say?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f0218b8b.jpg

Shadow Dragon "Not My Gods" Elf Spellblade Mage

Neve - Waifu. Had her become an inspiration to Dock Town. , and the whole hardboiled detective just hit right.
Lucanis - Hardened because I abandoned Traviso , so I had him in my party a lot to mitigate that fact and he's just fun. Considering I went down the Crow skill path I felt attuned to him (and he matched my detonations).
Harding - Had her embrace the Titan's anger, which I'm not sure if it was the reason but she went OFF on Solas during the final push and it was amazing.

Emmerich - Manfred best boy. But I felt it was important for the Mourn Watcher to respect death, so I didn't revive him and instead had Em became a Lich. Because who doesn't want a Lich in the party?
Bellara - Neurotic to the max, but being blighted turned her into an absolute boss at the end, which bumps her up. Also had her ditch the archive because everything wrong in the world was from ancient elf culture.
Davrin - Assan also best boy. Had the Griffons become the protectors of the forest to get them out from under the thumb of the Wardens. Absolutely gutted when Assan dove into the blight to try and save him. RIP.

Taash - Perfectly serviceable companion and had them embrace Rivaini culture since the Lords of Fortune are dope. Had no issues with the non-binary storyline, finding your place in the world is a well worn trope. And their relationship with Harding was cute. Just a Hulk Smasher otherwise though.

Everyone I know who played it enjoyed it but said it wasn't the best in the series, though not the worst either

The hate is almost exclusively from the "anti-woke" crowd (who were obviously never series fans to begin with)