Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Mass Effect 4 are likely going to be two of the most important RPGs of the modern era, whether they are good, bad, or something in the middle. This is not only because Dragon Age and Mass Effect are among the best RPG franchises of all time, but also because of what they represent for BioWare as a company. The world will be watching these games to see if the once-revered studio has truly got its "magic back."
If early impressions and gameplay footage of Dragon Age: The Veilguard are any indication, though, it would appear that BioWare very well may have gotten this magic touch back after stumbling with releases like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda. Informative, sober info dumps featuring real gameplay footage and in-engine cutscenes have opened a portal between Veilguard and prospective buyers, as the ostensible strengths and weaknesses of the game are on full display. This is in contrast to some other AAA games, whose marketing can tend to feel highly curated and cinematic, to the point where it obscures the actual game that players will ultimately engage with. But a transparent approach to marketing is generally a good omen for a game, showing that it has nothing to hide, and hopefully BioWare continues this trend for future releases.
Mass Effect 4's Marketing Should Follow In Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Footsteps
Transparency Will Be Key for Mass Effect 4
There are many reasons why people don't like Mass Effect: Andromeda, not the least of which being its fundamental departures from its predecessors and rough state at launch. It's rather unfortunate because, though Andromeda isn't all bad, it left a bad taste in the mouths of audiences as the last Mass Effect release. If BioWare had only dropped the ball with Anthem, it would be easy to argue that it simply wasn't the right developer for a co-op looter shooter. But Mass Effect is its flagship franchise, making Andromeda's quality indicative of the company's overall decline in the eyes of many.
In other words, BioWare has a lot to prove with Mass Effect 4. The Mass Effect series is suffering an identity crisis that isn't shared by Dragon Age, which players last experienced through the well-received Dragon Age: Inquisition. Plus, the story of Dragon Age is easier to continue than Mass Effect's, which is definitively concluded after Mass Effect 3. This isn't a death sentence, by any means—franchises backed into such corners have made great comebacks before—but audiences will definitely be wary of Mass Effect 4, even as BioWare starts to roll out more substantial trailers.
What BioWare Needs to Show With Mass Effect 4
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's previews have been revelatory, giving invaluable insight into not only the game's story, but its mechanics and world systems as well. Combat, dialog trees, and level design have all been touted in these previews, which helps audiences form a firm yet tentative image of what the final product will be like. Mass Effect 4 needs to do the same thing.
Showing the story will be important, certainly, but prospective buyers also need to get a clear and comprehensive picture of what the gameplay will look like; cinematics should only make up a minority of Mass Effect 4's promotional material, especially if they aren't representative of what will actually be in the game. Long, mostly uncut looks at Mass Effect 4's gameplay, similar to what BioWare has done so far for Veilguard, seem like the best call, serving as both a sign of confidence and a gesture of goodwill to consumers who need a clear picture of Mass Effect's next chapter. It's been over a decade since players have seen BioWare's grand vision of the Milky Way, so such clarity is essential.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.
Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
- Engine
- Frostbite
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- PC Release Date
- October 31, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 31, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 31, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- RPG
