Recent reviews by killertaco

**Rating as a generic fantasy RPG:** 10/10
**Rating as a Dragon Age fan:** 7?/10
I like playing it, I hate thinking about it

**Playthrough:** Human female mage, Gray Warden, ~75 hours, pretty much completionist run

**Pros:**

- **Character Creation:** The character creator is stunningly detailed, allowing choice of race, gender, class, and faction. Bioware has finally listened to fans, providing multiple hairstyles (no more "10 types of bald!") and lighting options to preview your character. Changing Rook’s appearance is possible right from the start—a huge thank you to Bioware for this.

- **Combat & Builds:** Though I was initially skeptical of the action-based combat, it grew on me quickly. It’s fast, fluid, and lets me feel like an overpowered mage. The variety of builds, equipment, and effects (plus an awesome wardrobe) allows for plenty of creative customization. Basic commands for companions work well, given the pace.

- **World Detail & Exploration:** The game is absolutely breathtaking, with unique, glow-filled environments. Each location feels alive with carefully crafted lighting and shadows. Tevinter’s slums, Treviso’s rooftops, and other environments each bring their own atmosphere. Plus, exploration is genuinely fun, with statues and chests that require problem-solving to access.

- **Voice Acting & Cinematics:** Stellar voice acting brings Rook and the companions to life, adding to the immersive, cinematic experience. I genuinely felt like I was talking to real people, with accents and emotions that feel perfectly on-point.

- **Stability:** Running the game on ultra settings, I didn’t encounter a single bug or issue since release—a rarity these days.

- **Companion Content:** While the writing could use improvement, companion story arcs and banter are still pretty nice, I particularly appreciated the content density, though I miss the “unhinged” vibes of earlier DA banter.

- **Details ** The amount of detail is impressive. From crow droppings on Treviso’s rooftops to Neve’s peg leg hitting the ground, the developers put in careful touches that reward careful observation.

- **The Final Mission:** It’s spectacular—one of the best I’ve seen. I’ve replayed it just to relive the experience. It’s clear how much work was put into making this epic conclusion truly unforgettable.

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**Cons:** Oh boy..... if you're not a DA fan probably you can skip this.

- **Missed Story Opportunities:** . The game could have been set 50 or even 100 years after Inquisition, as the lack of references to world-shaking events from prior games is jarring. Veilguard seems to be a soft reboot in the middle of events, it was written to wipe the slate clean and avoid dealing with previous lore.

- **Lack of Cameos and Continuity:. Lore breaking. ** Inconsistencies and omissions are everywhere. Major unresolved threads like red lyrium—critical in Inquisition—are suddenly dismissed. Tevinter—a nation famous for mage supremacy, blood magic, and slavery—feels unrecognizable - where are the Magisters and slaves? Where is the politics?
Familiar faces are missing: where’s Merrill, an elf specializing in blood magic and eluvians? Where’s Fenris, whose experiences with Tevinter should have been relevant? Where’s Hawke, or even a proper reference to the HOF For a game aiming to be the last in the series their absence and lack of any information is baffling.

- **The Veilguard World is Simplified:** DA has always been about people struggling against oppressive systems: the Chantry, Templars, Circle, dwarven caste system. Here, these core themes are almost entirely missing. Even faction interactions feel sterilized to avoid conflict, and Rook’s interactions with the world lack meaningful pushback. Instead of deep moral conflicts, we’re handed overly agreeable dialogue and character arcs that feel far too safe and HR-friendly. Everybody is happy and smiling.

- **Shallow Factions:** The faction dynamics had so much potential but feel hollow. Six factions should’ve meant rich, complex alliances and conflicts.
There’s potential here for meaningful, morally complex situations.

- **Limited Replayability:** The game’s linearity limits replay value. after one playthrough, you’ve essentially seen everything, save for a few faction-related dialogues.

- **Diminished Moral Complexity & Bland Companions:** The Veilguard companions lack the texture of past characters. Everyone is too nice, and Rook is too compliant, even when dealing with companions. Conversations rarely evolve into real conflicts, and the companions feel defined by only two or three superficial traits. (like their love for... coffee) There’s no real moral or emotional tension, making it feel like you’re navigating a workplace with friends instead of a deadly, complex world. Veilguard’s dialogue feels overly polished, “therapized,” and sanitized, stripping the world of its grit and realism. There’s no room for challenging or morally ambiguous responses, which undercuts the entire tone of a series known for its raw, often uncomfortable depth.

- **Romances:** Romance has always been crucial in DA where some of them could even change the outcome of the main plot, yet here, it feels underdeveloped. Flirt options often fall flat, with companions responding like they’d prefer to call HR. There’s no chemistry, no intensity, just a shallow experience with barely 15 minutes of total romance scenes per character. For a series known for sparking emotional investment in romance arcs, this feels lackluster.

- **Rushed Epilogue:** Following an incredible final mission, the epilogue is surprisingly brief and unsatisfying. Given how much detail the game offers elsewhere, I expected more closure for both the plot and my companions.

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**Final Thoughts:**

*Dragon Age: Veilguard* is visually stunning, immersive, and rich in design detail. The hard work and dedication of the developers are obvious, and as someone who has gamed for over 25 years, I appreciate the scope of their efforts. But it’s frustrating to see Bioware’s struggles with decision-making on display. Longtime fans who’ve poured hours into prior games deserve a bit more care with continuity and complex storytelling. After ten years in development, EA’s resources should have been ample, yet there’s an unmistakable feeling that corporate pressures diluted the final product.

The success of *Baldur's Gate 3* proves that prioritizing creative freedom, listening to fans, and respecting lore can lead to commercial success and community love. With *Veilguard*, Bioware’s world feels smaller, safer, and lacking the soul of its predecessors. Nonetheless, for all its flaws, the game is still a labor, and I enjoyed my journey through it. And as a DA fan I want it to succeed and to see more games in the series.

Please do a remake of Origins I beg.

Detroit: Become Human is more than just a game; it's a profound, thought-provoking experience that blurs the line between cinema and interactive entertainment. From the moment I started playing, I felt like I was directing a movie, with every action and decision shaping the story in a way that felt deeply personal and impactful.

The characters are exceptionally well-written, each with their own unique arcs that draw you in and make you care about their fates. The voice acting is superb, bringing these characters to life with a depth of emotion that adds another layer to the immersive experience. It's clear that a lot of love and attention to detail went into crafting these personalities, and it pays off in every scene.

What truly sets "Detroit: Become Human" apart, though, is the sheer number of choices and consequences available to the player. The branching narratives offer an incredible range of possibilities, making each playthrough feel distinct. The weight of your decisions is palpable, and the game does an excellent job of making you question your own morality and the nature of humanity itself.

That said, one thing that stood out as a drawback was the limited interaction with objects in the environment. While the game excels in delivering a cinematic experience, I often found myself wishing there were more items to examine or interact with, which would have deepened the immersion even further.

After completing my first run, I was left in awe and a bit of an existential crisis—what does it mean to be human? Who deserves freedom? These are the kinds of questions that linger long after the credits roll. I know I'll be diving back into this world to explore different paths, but for now, I need to take a step back and process everything this game has made me feel.

"Detroit: Become Human" is not just a game—it's an emotional journey that challenges you to think deeply about life, choices, and what it means to be truly free. A must-play for anyone who enjoys narrative-driven experiences, despite a few limitations in environmental interaction.

As a newcomer to the Mass Effect series, having only played the original trilogy for the first time last year, I was naturally curious about what the fourth installment, Andromeda, had to offer. Despite the barrage of negative opinions and YouTube videos claiming that you need 150 mods to enjoy the game, I decided to give it a shot. After completing my first playthrough with zero mods, here’s what I think:

Of course, I miss Shepard, but it was nice to see a parallel storyline. The game introduced a fresh narrative that, while not as impactful as Shepard's saga, still managed to keep me engaged.

Less Stressful and Heartbreaking: Unlike the original trilogy, Andromeda isn't as filled with stressful, heartbreaking decisions. This was quite relaxing and allowed me to enjoy the game without the emotional toll.

Loving the BioWare Easter Eggs: Fans of the original trilogy will appreciate the subtle nods and references sprinkled throughout the game.

Nice Squad and Crew: The characters, both squadmates and crew, are well-developed and endearing. Each brought something unique to the table, making the journey more enjoyable.

Some Missions Felt Unnecessarily Long: Jumping from one planet to another for certain missions felt a bit tedious at times, and some quests seemed to drag on longer than necessary.

Plot Enjoyable, If Not Twist-Filled: The main storyline wasn't filled with twists and turns, but it was still an enjoyable ride. The new galaxy exploration aspect was intriguing.

Pathfinder Had Big Shoes to Fill: Ryder had a tough job stepping into the shoes of Shepard. While I liked Ryder, Shepard remains the ultimate Space Mom, and no one can compare to her.

Loved Reyes' Voice Acting: Hearing Garret voice Reyes was a delight and added an extra layer of enjoyment to the game.

Sad About the Backlash: The negative reception means we might never discover what happens next to the crew and the Pathfinder, which is disappointing.

Music Was Lacking: The soundtrack didn’t quite capture the epic feel of previous games. I missed the iconic moments, like walking into Afterlife on Omega for the first time.

Maps Were Sometimes Too Big: The expansive maps felt overwhelming at times, making exploration less enjoyable.

Many Missions, Mostly Well-Integrated: There are a lot of missions, and most of them fit nicely into the plot, adding depth to the game.

With all this said, I am sooooo waiting for the next Mass Effect game! Andromeda may have its flaws, but it's still a worthy addition to the series and an enjoyable game in its own right. Next run I will try adding mods and see how I like it.

pain sweat and tears, but it was amazing. 10/10 will play again and hope for another trilogy to come

A masterpiece. I cant wait for more Larian games

Amazing, cant wait for Deadwolf

The DLC did not work in the beginning, but managed to make it work after logging into EA app several times

I would pay a lot for a remake of this masterpiece

Terribly lagging, couldn't change the game's language to English, which made me not fully understand the weirdly translated commands. Problems with making bread and finishing the first mission, as the guide ends all of the sudden and you do not know what to do next. Read a bit about in in the web and seems like I am not the only one with this problem. Got tired after 1,5 h and uninstalled. Back to Civilisation