[DAV SPOILERS ALL] - My opinion after finishing the game

Okay so I finished the game 3 days ago and I'm surprised I haven't played it again. This is the first time I'm going to do a review (english is not my first language, I apologise if a make mistake) because I need to get my head straight :

Its a superb action-adventure game, I’d probably have loved it if I’d played it as a teenager, and without having played dragon age origins and two.

Now for a Dragon Age, it’s frustrating.

I think the worst mistake was cancelling the world states. I found myself uninvested in my decisions, especially Bellara and Darvin, because « how could it have consequences if it has no real impact anymore (for my canon) ? » about griffons for warden, or elven history with her brother.

I’m also a little upset to know that the 3 choices imported are from the trepasser DLC.

Of course, importing ALL the choices is ridiculous, but it would have been interesting to know how the world of Thedas behaves after banishing the Wardens to Orlaïs, for example.

I know that the Inquisitor mentions that Ferelden and Orlais have fallen and that's so insulting ?? I would have accepted it if it were the consequences of our choices.

(Example: banishing the Wardens of Orlais makes the country fall, but the opposite allows resistance).

Darvin, who also mentioned feeling like a failure for not dying after Weisshaupt, also took me out of the game. Given that my HoF had survived, it’s really frustrating.

There were also comments about the Wardens saying that the Darkspawn weren't intelligent or that it was abnormal, okay but hadn't the Awakening events alerted them enough? I know a lot of people are in on the secret, but are you going to tell me that First is too? AND WHAT ABOUT CORYPHEUS ? Why are they so stupid, what's the point of this organization in the end?

The game is very beautiful, and I see dark themes. Destroyed villages and corruption with Blight.

But why aren’t my characters covered in blood and dirt? It’s a stupid detail, but when my characters comment « it’s disgusting » and I see them clean, I can’t realize it even though I see it? In Inquisition there wasn’t much if I remember, but it’s particularly satisfying in DAO and DA2 to see HoF, Hawke and the others covered in blood, after chopping off heads for the battle lol (maybe just me). Yet I can see it in some cinematics with the Blight, that's what surprises me? Idk

I find the group dynamics cool, but not interesting either. It’s probably personal, but when I talk to Lucanis, pretending to be a nice guy (and he is), while the Crows are trafficking children, murdering people and prostituting themselves (I understood it that way with Zevran), it’s weird...?

For example, Neve and Lucanis. Or someone romancing him as a Shadow Dragon, isn’t that morally contradictory? You fight to free the slaves, but you date a man who participates assassin who exploits children ? don’t you want to talk about that at least ??

In conclusion, Veilguard is fun, but that’s where it ends for me. I’m envious of those who can fully enjoy it. While it’s a good game, I don’t consider it canon within Dragon Age lore.

It feels more like a new bestseller written by Varric—crafted to entertain but without lasting substance, like a flashy Avengers movie. I see references in the codex but it doesn't have the same flavor since my past decisions no longer exist. Or It’s like a spin-off on Netflix where HoF, Alistair never existed and Morrigan has always been alone, Zevran doesn't exist either because this version of the Crow is cool, Hawke never date anyone, and was destined to end up in the Fade to join all their dead family.

I’ve played 60 hours and I’m thinking of waiting a long time before playing again.

It’s not bad, but it doesn’t deserve to be named Game of the Year for me. I still need process I guess.