In the ever-evolving landscape of role-playing games (RPG), the Dragon Age series has carved out a niche for itself. The game offers very rich and detailed lore, challenging choices that can have moral implications, and engaging interactions with various characters throughout the story.
However, as fans eagerly wait for the release of its latest installment Dragon Age: The Veilguard, they do not fancy one aspect of the game; The combat system. Despite the game’s immersive world-building, fans feel that the combat mechanics fail to capture the aesthetic and polish of the game.
Fans Angry About Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Combat System
Historically, the Dragon Age series has never been renowned for groundbreaking combat mechanics. As the main focus of the series has always been the storytelling, character development, and the intricate choices that define the player’s experience. With The Veilguard, the developers are aiming to innovate yet again, but the results have left many fans feeling disappointed.
However, new RPG games like Baldur’s Gate 3 have redefined the genre with its narrative and cut-above combat system. That’s why fans expected Dragon Age, another beloved RPG, to follow suit and deliver an overall better combat system than its predecessors.
With the recent teaser showcasing the combat system, the reactions from the fans have been mixed with confusion and frustration. Many feel that the system lacks depth and is very basic, trying to take a few bits here and there from the previous games. Overall, the combat system has failed to engage players in the way its predecessors like Origins did.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is looking to have an excellent RPG combat system.
— KAMI (@Okami13_) August 26, 2024
High level sword and shield gameplay captured from the latest official video.#DragonAge #DragonAgeTheVeilguard pic.twitter.com/XheCBhRapw
Some players feel that this is a major letdown.
Nah it’s a huge step back for the series
— AstroCyborg (@AstroCyborg) August 27, 2024
Others feel that RPGs are played for narrative or moral choices and not combat.
Looks serviceable at best. Nobody really plays DA for combat tho
— Josh Avery (@JoshAve24586638) August 26, 2024
While some feel that the combat system is too basic for a modern game.
Compared to today's arpg games, it's too basic
— Tiền Phạm (@TinPhm36111715) August 27, 2024
Some also feel that this is even a stepdown (too basic) from previous titles like Origins.
How is that an RPG combat system? They stripped away damn near everything from the previous entries. It just looks like a generic hack and slash
— Jacques Strapp 🏒 (@WTFMAN999) August 26, 2024
The reception from the community, especially for combat systems has been very vocal and largely negative. Fans are going on various online forums and social media to express and discuss how the combat system feels out of place from the overall experience.
Fans Hoping for Potential Improvement Moving Forward
Despite fans finding the combat system a major letdown, they are willing to overlook the flaws if the game is able to deliver on its promise of rich storytelling and expansive world-building.
As Dragon Age: The Veilguard release date (31st October) continues to come closer, players are hoping that the developers will listen to the player feedback and address some of the issues and concerns they have for the combat system.
For some, significant changes are needed to win back their hearts as they are disappointed by the current system, feeling not up to the standard of modern games.
At its core, fans want the series to remain focused on immersive storytelling and character development. But they also want some tactical depth that can help in redefining the series. In the end, while players may be impressed by the story and characters, the combat system is a significant block that needs to be addressed before the release.
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