Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Approach to Romance Would Be Perfect For the Next Mass Effect

While BioWare is a studio with a long reputation for intricate character relationships and the compelling stories of love that come with these, the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set to potentially be the most romantic game by the developer yet. With its nuanced approach to the bonds shared between the player and their companions having been outlined as one of the title’s core focuses, the Relationship Level system of Dragon Age: The Veilguard could go on to inform the next entry in BioWare’s other flagship franchise.

From the isometric offerings of Baldur’s Gate to the current effort in Veilguard, the developer has frequently excelled in creating meaningful character interactions punctuated by emotional narratives. Now that the latest Dragon Age is taking this focus on romance to what may be its furthest extent yet, the studio’s upcoming Mass Effect project may have an excellent reference for structuring its own character dynamics.

The Veilguard’s Relationship Levels Have a Direct Impact on Gameplay

Unlocking Abilities Through Both Romantic and Platonic Development

Each companion has a Relationship Level in Dragon Age: The Veilguard based on the status of their bond with the protagonist, Rook. Minor choices and dialogue affect these metrics alongside actions within the game’s world, and upgrading these levels will grant access to new abilities within a limited set of options. The concept of a relationship is not restricted to romantic interest in this case, as platonic friendships can also seemingly be progressed to earn similar benefits.

Reflecting Identity in Romance Arcs

Through the design approach to companion romances in TheVeilguard, the party is able to maintain a sense of diversity which goes against the homogeneity of anyone being able to date every one of them, regardless of any traits. Advancing the Relationship Level of one companion might prove tougher than another depending on how the player’s Rook behaves, motivating the party to bond with one another instead. In an interview with Game Informer, game director Corrine Busche explained:

“We wanted to lean into not just the relationships the characters have with you but the relationships they have with each other…each romance has a very different flavor…You learn who these characters are in how their romances unfold,”

How the Next Mass Effect Can Use Relationship Levels to Its Advantage

Aligning with the Previous Loyalty System and ME’s Streamlined Combat

The likes of Mass Effect 2‘s loyalty missions and the way they tied character development to abilities in gameplay served as one of the series’ strongest progression systems, and DA‘s Relationship Level feels like a natural evolution of this concept. Instead of merely triggering a binary flag for loyalty, however, the protagonist of the next Mass Effect may be able to earn the respect and hearts of their squad through a more complex series of quantified interactions that actually require a deeper understanding of these characters instead of the completion of a single mission.

Combat has been simplified to what might be the furthest point yet with Veilguard, and this has brought it closer than ever to Mass Effect‘s action-heavy RPG style. Considering that squadmates in the ME titles have always only had access to a few abilities, the switch to this system for DA could make it a blueprint for progression being tied to more than just battle. As BioWare continues to blur the lines between gameplay and storytelling with its takes on romance, incorporating The Veilguard‘s Relationship Levels into Mass Effect would open the door for even more of an interplay between emotional depth and strategic planning which could even set a new standard for RPG narrative presentation.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the long-awaited fourth game in the fantasy RPG series from BioWare, and formerly known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. A direct sequel to Inquisition, it focuses on red lyrium and Solas, the aforementioned Dread Wolf.

Franchise

Dragon Age

Released

2024

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

Engine

Frostbite

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