Dragon Age: The Veilguard, after spending ten years in development, is a much-anticipated title in theDragon Ageseries. Players appreciate the series for its story, characters, and referential writing that toes the line between morbidity and humor, andVeilguardis no different. Writers have upheld the tradition of a tongue-in-cheek tone that results in both a city entirely destroyed by blight and a skeleton that serves tea.
In fact, there are some subtle referencesVeilguardwriters have snuck into the game that players may have missed on their first play-through. Many have already pointed outreferences to the three previous Dragon Age games(such as the joining chalice players can find in Weisshaumpt and Isabella’s mention of Merrill’s elven flashcards). Still,Veilguardalso references other games and franchises, if players know where to look.
…Or Does He?
While not technically a reference to a singular game,Dragon Age: The Veilguardjoins the long list of video games that reference “The Black Knight” Monty Python sketch in a cutscene in the first few minutes of the game.
World of Warcrafthas the “Just a Flesh Wound” Rune, and there are multiple references to Monty Python in games likeThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Skyrim,andFable 3.While subtle, the pervasiveness of this line in video games can be linked back to this sketch (which itself was referencing a 1954 broadcast ofThe Goon Show). Maybe this reference was a hint at the true severity of Varric’s injury.
2Treasure… Try Down
Surprise…There Is Actually Treasure!
InEmmrich’s companion quest"House of the Dead," players can find a note next to a ledge while in the fade with the message “Treasure… try down,” a reference to the notes system in theDark Soulsseries. These notes are created by choosing from a variety of predetermined phrases, so the structure of this message is very distinctly Soulslike.
This tool is used to prank players just as often as it is used to assist them, but inDragon Age: The Veilguard,the message is truthful. How refreshing!
3TOUCH NOT MY SAND!
Researchers Are All The Same, Whether They Are Secret Government Agents or Necromancers
In the Grand Necropolis, there is a note that reads: “I’ve heard complaints that the sand here is impeding work. But consider! We are too deep for it to be from the surface. It falls endlessly, yet its mass does not increase or decrease. This is because the sand trickles in from the Fade itself! It’s of incredible experimental value, and anyone caught hauling it away just to erect some scaffolding will be chastisedmostseverely! “TOUCH NOT MY SAND!”
This is a very similar message to one left by Doctor Darling in Remedy Entertainment’ssurreal action game Control.
4Bellara Is Doing Some Calibrations
Bioware Loves A Pure-Of-Heart Nerd
Keeping up with the tradition ofDragon Agegames referencing its sister seriesMass Effect,there is a line of dialog from Bellara while she is working on the eluvian at the lighthouse where she mentions that she’s “just in the middle of some calibrations;“a reference to Garrus' dialoginMass Effect 2.This same line of dialog is referenced at the war table inDragon Age: Inquisitionby Cullen, though less directly.
5Paragon Of Leadership
A Gift From An Old Friend.
After completing “The Singing Blade” mission, players can find a chest containing the cosmetic items Spector of Battle’s Past, Paragon of Leadership, and Command Helmet (or Command Vitaar, if Rook is Qunari) in a chest next to the Caretaker’s Workshop.
These items, which have beenshepherdedto the player according to the accompanying note, are a reference to Commander Shepard, the protagonist ofMass Effect, Mass Effect 2,andMass Effect 3.AnotherMass Effecthomage fromVeilguardis not unexpected, but appreciated, as this issome of the most stylish appearance options in the game.
6Cheese! Cheese, Everywhere!
When Critics Say The Writing Is Cheesy, Is This What They Are Referring To?
In Arlathan forest, players can find a wheel of cheese contained by an enchantment next to a series of dangerous magical artifacts. One of these artifacts horrifically combines living creatures, killing them instantly. Another gets so hot, it can melt stone.What does this cheese wheel do that warrants such security? The game gives no explanation.
They have also brought The Wedge of Destiny back fromDragon Age: Inquisition,now aged ten years, which can be found by completing all Hossberg Wetland side quests and then returning to the Old Crossroads. This is a continuation of an inside joke in theDragon Agefranchise that began withDragon Age: Origins.Where did this cheese obsession come from?Writers have not given an explanation. Cheese wheels do appear as an item inThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,which was released three years prior toDragon Age: Origins,and hasspawned a similar meme obsession with cheese. While there is no proven connection, it is an interesting coincidence.
