The choices you make determine who you are or in the words of the Iron Giant, “You are who you choose to be.” Choices are what makes up the backbone of Dragon Age Veilguard. From the beginning you choose your gender, race, and faction as Rook. You are looking for Neve, a mage from Minrathous, with the help of Varric and Lace Harding. Your task is to stop Solas from bringing down the Veil. This of course goes wrong causing 2 ancient Elvin mages who in the centuries have gained the reputation of gods. It is up to you to build your team to defeat them and save all of Thedas.
I played two full run throughs to collect all of the trophies and achievements. In my first run through, I played as a human Crow, largely influenced by our reading of Tevinter Nights and in my second I was an elvin Mourn Watcher. I also romanced two different characters within the game which is an option you can choose to romance any of your companions based on your conversation and actions. You don’t have to play the full game twice to earn all of the achievements but throughout the game there are choices you make that change the game. In order to see the whole story, I did a second run through.
After facing up with Solas, you end up at a lighthouse in the Veil. This location allows you to quickly go to different cities. In all, there are 6 different locations, including the Lighthouse, that you explore while collecting teammates. I really enjoyed my first character, making decisions that felt right to the character and to my own moral standards. In all of your choices there are no truly wrong decisions, except to choose not to do the side quests for your characters and factions.
The biggest decision that affects the game the most is to choose to save Treviso or Minrathous. Whichever one you do not choose will cause you to lose the companion from that city, Lucanus or Neve, for a short time and the deaths of minor characters in those cities. The first time I chose Treviso, playing as a Crow, and Minrathous was destroyed with the Venatori taking over. The second time I chose Minrathous and Treviso was blighted and I had to fight some of the minor characters who turned into darkspawn. Both were bad but the Crows are not as mad at you as the Shadow Dragons are.
The things that I really enjoyed playing this game was the small attention to details that show the game makers enjoy this IP and this world. When you are in the Lighthouse, you can listen to and have short conversations with your companions, although it is a little unnerving that when they are done speaking they both stare at you. I played multiple games of rock, paper, scissors with Manfred who was one of my favorite characters in the game and yes, I chose both storylines with him as well, it was my one regret from my first play through. I also enjoyed reading the discourse of who is cooking dinner with some of the collectible items in the dining room.
The side quests for the characters and factions were short enough that they didn’t feel like a burden but more like a bonding moment to build your team. I didn’t love all of my companions but they grew on me at the end, even Taash. The environments, you do revisit which is a pet peeve of mine but they added different aspects to where you visit of those cities that I didn’t mind going back. I became attached to my character and my team. The ending was emotional and well earned. I’ve seen the hate online about the dialogue being cringe but I’ve seen way worse and found the dialogue in this game to be playful even when choosing the tougher option.
“My decision. My sacrifice. And you don’t get to take that away from me.” As the leader you make the big decision and you must live with the consequences or go into your load game menu to choose a different option. However you play, choose with your heart and become the leader Thedas needs.
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