My name is Steve Saylor, and this is my quest log for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD. If you want to play the game and come back to listen or read this later, please do. Don’t worry, I’ll be here when you’re ready.
During my latest gaming session with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I decided to try something different by playing on the PlayStation Portal. While the handheld experience presented some challenges with combat targeting on the smaller screen, it generally worked well, feeling like a DualSense controller split in half with a screen.
The session introduced me to the Crossroads, an unexpected development that expanded the game's world within the Fade. This area is protected by guardian spirits but threatened by blight creatures attempting to infiltrate. While pursuing the main quest to defeat a champion and collect their essence, I decided to explore the Crossroads more thoroughly.
This exploration led me to a fascinating side mission called "The Labs Below." This memory mission provided insight into Solas's past and his involvement with the blight. As part of Solas's agents, we witnessed his pragmatic yet fearful approach to dealing with the blight threat.
The mission presented a morally complex situation where Solas had to choose between helping people trapped in a lab or pursuing Ghilan'nain, who had been experimenting with the blight. This glimpse into Solas's decision-making revealed a character operating in shades of gray rather than simple black and white villainy. His choice to sacrifice the few to potentially save many reflects the classic "needs of the many" dilemma.
While I wish I had played previous Dragon Age games to better understand the full context, I appreciate how The Veilguard keeps new players informed about crucial past events. The game's accessibility and storytelling make it an excellent entry point for newcomers like myself.
This side mission demonstrated the value of venturing off the main path. The rich storytelling and character development I discovered have encouraged me to explore more of these optional narratives. As I continue my journey through The Veilguard, I'm considering bringing in Dragon Age experts - possibly even team members - to help explain the world's deeper lore and answer questions about this fascinating universe.
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