Disappointment!
As a long-time fan of the Dragon Age series, I’ve always looked forward to each new installment with great excitement. The franchise has been a staple in my gaming experience, from Dragon Age: Ori...
Forum Discussion
Anyone still playing is only doing so out of sheer curiosity to see how the arc concludes. There’s absolutely no way someone who has followed Dragon Age for all these years could experience "this" and feel anything resembling joy, satisfaction, or nostalgia. What they’ve delivered is a shallow, tasteless imitation of what once made the series iconic. It’s almost nauseating, and let’s not even get started on the clearly biased or bought reviews trying to paint it as something it’s not. Disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover it.
There’s absolutely no way someone who has followed Dragon Age for all these years could experience "this" and feel anything resembling joy, satisfaction, or nostalgia.
I first played Dragon Age: Origins right when it when came out in 2009 and have completed many playthroughs over the years. Since I was already an adult when I first played it, I wouldn't consider the game nostalgic, but I love it and I enjoyed Veilguard as well.
It's understandable to dislike a sequel that deviates from the original, but I also think it's unfortunate that people enjoying this game seems to offend you so much. When I dislike a thing I just move on and find something else that does bring me joy, and that something else is usually not behaving in a rude and toxic manner on an internet forum.
It’s refreshing to see someone express their love for the series, even if we disagree on Veilguard. I respect that you’ve been with Dragon Age since its inception and found something to enjoy in this installment. However, let me address the assumptions in your post because, while I admire your perspective, I must challenge its conclusions.
First, you suggest that people enjoying this game somehow “offends” me. Let’s be clear: my frustration lies not with those who find joy in Veilguard but with the glaring shortcomings of the game itself. These shortcomings feel like a betrayal of the depth, complexity, and moral gravitas that defined the series. To say that I’m “offended” by others’ enjoyment oversimplifies the discussion. My critique isn’t about attacking players; it’s about holding the game to the standards Dragon Age set for itself. If we don’t challenge mediocrity, how can we expect better?
Second, the idea that “when you dislike something, you just move on” sounds simple, but it doesn’t apply when the stakes are higher. Dragon Age is more than just a game for many of us; it’s a story and a legacy that we’ve invested in for over a decade. To watch it veer so far from what made it special is deeply disappointing. Ignoring that and “moving on” isn’t an act of maturity. It’s apathy. Passionate critique comes from a place of love and respect for the franchise, not toxicity. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t bother to voice my thoughts at all.
Finally, the accusation of being “rude and toxic” on a forum simply for expressing critical opinions misunderstands the nature of discourse. Forums are spaces for dialogue where fans can agree, disagree, and debate the direction of something they care about. Constructive critique, even when pointed, isn’t toxic. Toxicity would be dismissing valid opinions or labeling others as “offended” simply because they voice frustration.
You’ve enjoyed Veilguard, and that’s great! However, my concerns, and those of others like me, come from a desire to see Dragon Age return to the thoughtful, emotionally resonant storytelling that made it iconic. If that means dissecting its shortcomings and challenging its direction, then I’ll proudly continue to do so—not out of rudeness but out of a genuine passion for this world we both clearly value.My critique isn’t about attacking players;
Oh, wow, really? (Pun intended) Because just a few posts above you try to ridicule a long-time fan of DA just because he mentioned that he likes DAtV.
("Try" because you are doing a very poor job at it tbh.)
You are absolutely fuming because so many people love DAtV and you are doing a very poor job of trying to hide it.
At least be honest and stop insulting our intelligence.Let’s bring in some facts in here, not assumption. (Steams’s DAtV player review page)
The overwhelming majority of people that actually played the game like it.
So do me a favour...
l_Fire_St0rm_lwrote:
The rest of us, though? We’re still mourning the franchise we fell in love with….
Because no true fan of the original series…....stop pretending to speak for "true DA” fans, you don't.
Your passive-aggressive tone peppered with inappropriate emojis towards everyone who likes the game is imho indeed toxic, and your opinion about the old games and DAtV is not the law of the land, but just that, an opinion.All this is purely subjective, a matter of taste and preference, and I, another long time DA fan, love DAtV as well.
You are going to continue to waste your time on something you don’t like?
Be my guest.
All this doesn’t really matter, BioWare will not look at a forum to decide what they do in their own games.
I will block you now, (I don’t need a button to do that.) because blocking toxicity is not silencing dissent, you have not made one point in all your post on this board that could be regarded as “constructive criticism”, it is just that, blocking toxicity.
Have a nice live.Ah, where to begin? Your post is a masterclass in contradiction, selective outrage, and a fundamental misunderstanding of what critique truly means.
You quote me saying, “My critique isn’t about attacking players,” and then claim otherwise. Let’s set the record straight: critiquing a product, pointing out flaws, or even questioning someone’s rationale for enjoying it is not an attack. Forums are spaces for debate, not applause chambers. If my pointing out flaws in The Veilguard feels like a personal affront, then perhaps the issue lies with how you process differing opinions rather than the substance of my posts.
Now, onto your claim that I’m "fuming because so many people love DAtV." Let me be abundantly clear: voicing disappointment in the direction of a game isn’t "fuming." It’s holding a product to the standard its own franchise set. If some players genuinely enjoy The Veilguard, good for them. However, conflating that enjoyment with immunity to critique is as absurd as suggesting that popularity equals quality. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
You also accuse me of "pretending to speak for true DA fans." Let’s dispel that misconception. I’m not claiming to speak for everyone. What I represent is a significant portion of fans who are vocal about the game’s lack of depth, deviation from the series’ core principles, and shallow mechanics. If that sentiment resonates with others, it’s not me claiming to be their voice; it’s shared experience speaking for itself.
Your argument devolves further with the tired "Steam reviews prove you wrong" trope. Let’s dismantle this with facts, not feelings. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
1. "Slightly Positive" Reviews Are Mediocrity in Disguise
A "Slightly Positive" rating on Steam is the absolute minimum a game needs to avoid being labeled mediocre. For a franchise like Dragon Age, which previously delivered Origins and Inquisition—both critically acclaimed—this is a glaring underachievement. Celebrating this as a victory for The Veilguard is akin to cheering for a C grade from a student who once excelled with straight A’s. It’s not failure, but it’s far from success.
2. The Context of Steam Reviews
Steam reviews, especially post-launch, are a snapshot of surface impressions. Early positive reviews often reflect nostalgia for the franchise name or appreciation for graphics, rather than the depth or longevity of the gameplay. However, games like The Veilguard reveal their weaknesses over time. Uninspired mechanics, shallow puzzles, and meaningless choices don’t always show up in the initial hours.
Moreover, review systems are easily swayed by external factors: marketing campaigns, brand loyalty, and even coordinated efforts to "rescue" games from perceived negativity. These don’t erase a game’s flaws; they only mask them temporarily.
3. Dragon Age Has a Higher Standard
The real issue isn’t whether The Veilguard is "playable" or "enjoyable" to some. The issue is that this franchise once defined the RPG genre. This is a series that produced Origins and Inquisition, both celebrated as milestones in storytelling and gameplay. A "Slightly Positive" rating isn’t progress; it’s a clear regression.
4. Sales and Development Woes
If we’re bringing facts to the table, let’s talk about numbers. The Veilguard underperformed in sales compared to contemporaries like Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, despite carrying far greater expectations. Combine this with a chaotic development process, filled with cancellations, restarts, and a pivot from multiplayer to single-player, and you get a game that feels directionless. For a project that took over a decade, the result is underwhelming at best.
5. The Painful Truth
The Veilguard is a product of compromises, not ambition. It tried to cater to everyone and ended up pleasing very few. The "Slightly Positive" reviews reflect a base of players happy to engage with anything bearing the Dragon Age name, regardless of quality. However, loyalty alone won’t sustain a franchise. Without meaningful change, Dragon Age risks becoming a relic of what could have been.
"Slightly Positive" Is Not Enough
Fóruns like this exist for debate, not blind praise. If The Veilguard couldn’t capture the essence of what made Dragon Age great, no amount of "Slightly Positive" reviews will change that. If your defense rests solely on Steam ratings, it says more about the game’s inadequacy than my critique ever could.
Ultimately, this isn’t about tearing down a game or mocking its players. It’s about demanding that Dragon Age return to the greatness that earned it its place in RPG history. "Slightly Positive" might suffice for lesser titles, but for Dragon Age, it’s a glaring failure.
On BioWare’s Silence
BioWare has not disclosed the production cost of The Veilguard, which, let’s be honest, is already telling in itself. If the cost wasn’t astronomical, or if the results were even remotely satisfactory, the company would be shouting from the rooftops about the "resounding success" of the game. However, the deafening silence speaks louder than any press release.
Let’s be realistic: The Veilguard isn’t even in contention for the year’s best games at the Game of the Year (GOTY) awards. That single fact alone is more damning than a thousand arguments. For a franchise that once stood at the pinnacle of RPG excellence, seeing a title like this barely scratch the surface of relevance is a glaring reflection of how far the series has fallen.
Let’s not forget, "Slightly Positive" reviews aren’t paying the bills, especially for a project that undoubtedly cost millions to develop. This is a loss in the making, both financially and in terms of credibility. The lack of transparency around the numbers is an implicit confession: The Veilguard didn’t meet expectations, not in sales, nor in prestige.
If Dragon Age wants to reclaim its former glory, it will take more than mediocre scores and lukewarm sales. It needs games that don’t just meet expectations but exceed them. And The Veilguard, without a doubt, is the antithesis of that.
