(OSV News) — “Dragon Age: The Veilguard” (Electronic Arts), the latest installment in BioWare’s acclaimed role-playing series, invites players into a richly detailed world. The game also offers them choices that significantly affect the course of the narrative as well as the development of character relationships.
Yet a number of factors make this action-adventure title suitable for grown-ups only. They include intense imagery, mature themes and, most significantly, an option for same-sex relationships, which are implicitly presented as morally equivalent to those in keeping with scriptural values.
Another option allows for female characters to be depicted topless. Like the homosexual scenarios, however, these images can be avoided entirely at the gamer’s discretion.
Set in the expansive fantasy realm of Thedas, the game introduces a new protagonist, Rook. A customizable character, Rook is voiced in the American version by Jeff Berg or Erika Ishii and in the British by Alex Jordan or Bryony Corrigan.
Rook leads the Veilguard, a band whose task is to protect the border between the physical and spiritual dimensions. Here, they’re up against formidable adversaries — namely a pair of ancient, terrifying elven gods.
One of the game’s notable features — and a trademark of BioWare’s titles in general — is its emphasis on consequential decision-making. Early on, for example, players must choose to save one of two cities from a dragon attack.
Since one community’s salvation means the other’s destruction, this pivotal moment has sweeping ripple effects, changing alliances, narrative paths and the availability of future quests. The game excels in presenting such morally ambiguous situations with no easy answers, only different costs.
Companion dynamics are also strong. Each companion character possesses a distinct personality, backstory and set of beliefs — and player decisions can strengthen or strain relationships.
Assigning a companion to a critical mission, for instance, may lead to his or her permanent departure from the scene. This forces gamers to weigh the greater good against their personal bonds. Such interactions underscore the importance of empathy and loyalty and highlight the ethical implications of leadership.
Though combat is not excessively violent, “Veilguard” does contain disturbing visuals. Players encounter graphic sights such as bloody or impaled corpses. These images contribute to a grim atmosphere that helps underline the destructive impact of Rook’s opponents.
Via the persona of Rook, gamers may opt to pursue romance with one of the companions, regardless of gender. This can involve kissing and physical closeness, and there are brief references to complete sexual intimacy. But, again, players are free to steer clear of this aspect of the narrative entirely.
Along with such morally wayward content, the game also suffers from some aesthetic shortcomings. The most noticeable of these are the occasionally clunky dialogue and uneven pacing.
Yet “Veilguard” does benefit from pleasing landscapes, a stirring musical score and well-crafted mechanics. Taken together, these assets make “Veilguard,” overall, a worthy addition to the Dragon Age universe for those mature players for whom alone it’s appropriate.
Playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Windows PC.
The game contains mostly stylized combat violence with some gore, a skewed view of sexuality, optional images of upper female nudity, nonscriptural religious ideas and brief rough language. The OSV News classification is L — limited adult audience, material whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is M — mature.
Adele Chapline Smith reviews video games for OSV News.
