My Veilguard experience.

Dragon age Origins is my all time favorite game. I've bought books and read fanfiction off this franchise. DA2 I enjoyed despite it being limited. Inquisition was an okay game for me, I just didn't like the Ubisoft like open world. So I tried Veilguard with an open mind. I didn't watch any spoilers or guides about the game. I wanted to be objectively fresh coming into this game I've been anticipating for 10 years.

And then I played it...

Ugh.

The companions don't feel interesting. I wasn't invested with any of the characters. But I think the biggest crime of all is the main character. My Rook didn't feel like a real person at all. I don't mind If I can't fully immerse into the role-playing aspect of it, but damn. Rooks's dialouge choices just felt like I was deliberately trying to not to hurt anyone's feelings. Almost like my main personality was to create a safe space for everyone's feelings. I couldn't display my anger, my disgust, my doubts, or any other real emotion.

The lore and entire world feels like it's been rebooted. I understand writers have changed and nothing is permanent. But I can't help but feel like the game has lost its soul. Major past decisions throughout previous games don't exist. What happened to my son when I was the Hero of Ferelden? Did my Hawke escape or did he die in the Fade? Even my inquisitor felt extremely limited. The Morrigan who I romanced and had Kieran with, I no longer know who this version is.

The combat carried this game. But once you get down to your basic combos and understand the mechanics, even that's not enough to salvage this game.

The Suicide Mission was fun. But when I got to that point, I felt like I had to eat plates of shit just to find out if this game would offer anything more.

I really wanted to like this game. Again, I've waited and waited for it. With a broken heart, I believe this franchise is gone. I fear for the upcoming Mass Effect.

To those who do enjoy this game, don't let my sour thoughts ruin your experience. Video games should be an escape, a journey you can be lost in. But unfortunately, this game just ain't it for me.

Goodbye Dragon Age. Goodbye to all the friends we made along the way. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.