Combat has always been an interesting part of BioWare’s games. It can be occasionally terrific, as seen in someMass Effectgames andDragon Age: The Veilguard, but it has also been one of the most inconsistent aspects of the studio’s design process, with thecombat of games likeDragon Age: Originsarguably not aging well at all.
But sometime aroundMass Effect 2, BioWare seemed to have landed on a solid overall formula, leveraging a careful balance of strategic and real-time gameplay. This approach maximizes player engagement during combat encounters while also synergizing with the fundamental squad-based gameplay of the studio’s RPGs. Such design principles made their way intoDragon Age 2andInquisition, and ultimatelyVeilguard, which all effectively toe the line between white-knuckle action and careful, short-term planning. That said, each game makes small adjustments to this formula, and some of these most key changes are embodied by the user interface ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, whichMass Effect 4may or may not adapt for its own purposes.
What Mass Effect Could Learn from Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Combat UI
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s UI Is Streamlined
TheMass Effectfranchise has always given players access to the full spectrumof unlocked abilities during combat encounters. Rather than having to assign specific abilities to the radial menu that can be accessed mid-combat, every offensive power, buff, and other ability is available all at once. This allows combat to be expressive and open-ended, but it can also be overwhelming for some players. Moreover, it cuts down time spent in real-time combat, as maximizing effectiveness often requires long periods of looking through different powers and weighing them against the threats at hand.
Technically,Mass Effectplayers can swap out specific abilities, but this is through power reassignment/Bonus Powers, not through more traditional ability-swapping or build-crafting systems.
Dragon Age: The Veilguardtakes a different angle with its character abilities, which is reflected in the design of its UI. Characters can only have three active abilities equipped at once, meaning that there are fewer options for tactical gameplay. This helps battles maintain a consistent pace and energy, as real-time combat is prioritized. There’s also a helpful feature that identifies when different abilities can combine with one another, further smoothing out combat encounters, making them more accessible, and reducing any sort of friction between player and game.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Combat UI Might Be Too Streamlined
If UI is a facet or reflection of a game’s deeper mechanical leanings, thenVeilguard’s more trim and accessible UI is representativeof its more stripped-back, watered down combat sandbox. Limiting each squadmate to just three active abilities at once is great for making fights easier, smoother, and more accessible, but it also necessitates a more active, less tactical style of play. The clear communication of which abilities synergize with each other further decreases potential for experimentation and emergent gameplay opportunities.
This is a rather stark change from the olderMass Effectgames, which offer players a broad assortment of different abilities for use at any time. It may be overwhelming at first, but after gaining some experience, it’s nice to have several distinct ways to approach a single fight. And while things like synergies aren’t communicated in black-and-white terms, this is part of what makes combat so enjoyable. Discovering, for instance, thatPull can be combined with Singularityto fling enemies off a structure, is exciting by virtue of the fact that it’s not communicated to the player. Rather, the player themselves has to conceive the idea and test it out, deepening their connection with the interactive aspects of the games.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
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’re able to’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.
