Summary
Corinne Busche, the game director ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, assures fans that Mages will continue to have plenty of complex combat choices in the upcoming BioWare title. WhileDragon Age: The Veilguardrevealed a rather controversial trailer during the Xbox Games Showcase, a subsequent gameplay trailer eased tensions in the community. The lingering debate about the nextDragon Agegame concerns its combat. Instead of embracing its tactical roots fromDragon Age: Origins,The Veilguardis making a bold pivot into action-oriented combat, closer toMass Effect 3in nature.
However, there is nuance in this direction that should hopefully make the change palatable toDragon Ageveterans. Even if the presentation is flashier and players can no longer control their party members, thecombat inDragon Age: The Veilguardpromises to have complexity as Rook and the game’s companions progress. Inspired by JRPGs such asFinal Fantasy 10,Dragon Age: The Veilguardwill offer a wide web of skills and abilities, allowing players to evolve their base class (Warrior, Rogue, Mage) into something unique.
Busche revealed in a recent conversation on Threads that many of the spells from earlierDragon Agegames have simply been folded into core combat actions that can be accessed in real time. Whereas Rogues can dodge around the battlefield and Warriors can toss their shield, a Mage inThe Veilguardwill be able to conjure up a Barrier, or create an Elemental Bomb. Some of these actions and spells will result in a tactical combo with one of theseven companions inDragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Will Have Plenty Of Spells For Mages
Perhaps the most exciting thing about Mage combat in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is that many core actions, such as Orb Toss and Mage Beam, will have elemental variations depending on the type of staff players equip. When accounting for these core actions and layering three spells on top, as well as ultimate abilities and skills gained via equipment, the combat’s potential starts to emerge – at least on paper. The demo for Dragon Age: The Veilguard focused on low-level gameplay, a decision that may have spared fans any major spoilers, but came at the expense of showcasing the full breadth of the title’s combat.
That being said, Busche mentioned that fans would see more Mage gameplay before thelaunch ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, and this may be the perfect opportunity for BioWare to present more high-level content. Following the failure ofAnthemandAndromeda, it makes sense that BioWare has embraced its biggest strengths forThe Veilguard, drawing inspiration from successful pastDragon Agegames and beyond. A character-driven narrative, action-oriented combat, and a mission-based structure – these are the core ingredients ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, but it remains to be seen if the result will end up greater than the sum of its parts.
