Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s new approach that integrated its companions and their abilities with in-game exploration is something the nextMass Effectgame could learn and build from with the series' next roster of squadmates. Unlike its predecessor,Dragon Age: Inquisition,Dragon Age: The Veilguardadapted its level design, balancing a greater focus on returning to key locations with large-scale environments for players to discover and explore. While recurring locations are a staple of RPGs,DA: The Veilguardand its companions appear to have taken inspiration from the Metroidvania genre when ensuring its levels had replay value.
With each companion that joins the player’s party, new areas ofDA: The Veilguardbecome accessible thanks to the various abilities its party members bring to the table. Besides the benefits this has for its level design,DA: The Veilguard’s more Metroidvania-like approachgives its companions more to do and a sense of individuality beyond simply following the player around. Moreover, this is something the nextMass Effectcould learn from, combining this new approach with its existing formula for background dialogue to add more depth to its squadmates, make them feel more engaged with the player, and open up new possibilities for level design.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Blends Character, Level, and Story Design Together
While each companion brings unique abilities toDA: The Veilguardthat helps the player open up new areas and pathways to explore its levels, there are several that stand out more due to how they further support the game’s story. For instance, Harding’s newly acquired magic to interact with and manipulate stone initially helps the player scale walls, cross gaps, or find new paths across multiple levels and areas. But should players follow Harding’s character arc to discover the truth behind her seemingly impossible abilities, this can lead them to reveal hidden parts of dwarven history and ultimatelythe origins ofDragon Age’s Blight.
Other companions' abilities appear to function similarly to this, where respective abilities are vital toDA: The Veilguard’s level design and the characters' developing stories. Ranging from Taash’s struggles with her own identity as a deified fire-breathing Qunari to Davrin’s balancing duties between Assan, the griffons, and the Grey Wardens, their abilities are a direct connection to their characterization,DA: The Veilguard’s story, and the franchise’s canon as they are to the game’s levels. As a result,DA: The Veilguard’s companions like Taash, Davrin, and Harding seem more engaged with both its design and story.
Mass Effect 4 Should Take Notes From DA: The Veilguard’s Companions
With BioWare confirming it will be singularly focused on the nextMass Effectgame moving forward, it would be the perfect opportunity toreview itsVeilguardexpectationsto see what worked best and where things could be improved. Among these areas,DA: The Veilguard’s approach to companions and proactively integrating them into the player’s gameplay could be somethingMass Effect 4adopts. Much like theDragon Ageseries, previousMass Effectgames have always included interparty dialogue, such as its infamous elevator conversations, butDA: The Veilguard’s new approach demonstrates that these games can do more with its party members.
Mass Effect 4’s Story Could Be Enhanced Through Its Squadmates
HowMass Effect 4implements these abilities would depend on BioWare’s interpretation of the series' sci-fi backdrop, but Metroidvania-like level design could improveexploration ofMass Effect’s planetsand stations, as well as develop its squadmates. By tapping into the existing lore from past games,Mass Effect 4could subvert expectations and tackle new stories through its squadmates and their in-game abilities, such as the few examples below.
With the chance for players to get a fresh start with theMass Effect’s universe, adoptingDA: The Veilguard’s companion approach could strengthen this as BioWare prepares to take the series and its ongoing story in a potentially new direction.
