In football, the phrase “2-minute Drill” commonly refers to a specific change in the philosophy of an offense when their team is behind on the scoreboard and there is little time remaining in the half, or the game. The 2-Minute Drill can often be a fine balance between playing up-tempo to score quickly while also trying to be the last one to score so you do not give your opponent the chance to rebuttal.
Now how does that apply here?
Well, in terms of gaming, the opponent is usually… boredom. The 2-minute Drill series will be just that; a race against the clock, while not giving up a score to boredom. I will be playing the equivalent of a 2-minute Drill of my game of choice and then report back with whether or not it grabbed me and made me want to keep playing for longer.
Some simple math will help give us the length of our 2-minute Drill for any game.
2 minutes / 60 minutes (Clock Length of a Standard College Football Game) = 3.33% rounded up to 3.5%. I will play 3.5% of the game based off the time to beat listed on https://howlongtobeat.com/
In the case of Dragon Age: The Veilguard that comes out to ((59 Hours * 60 mins) * .035) = (3540 mins * 0.035) = 123 Minutes
Dragon Age… You’re on the clock!
Jumping into Dragon Age: The Veilguard, my expectations were neutral, having played a few of the previous iterations, I knew this wasn’t always my style of game. However, all the reviews I have listened to and read since this game dropped had me excited. That made this a perfect candidate for my 2-minute drill series, and the first two hours didn’t disappoint—but they didn’t completely blow me away, either. Here’s a quick rundown of my initial impressions.
Impressions
Let’s start with the obvious: this game is stunning. Even in performance mode, The Veilguard delivers a visual feast. The opening scene pulls you in right away with some breathtaking visuals and an engaging setup. Combine that with an excellent character creator, and you’re off to a strong start. That said, the exploration early on feels a little underwhelming. The opening act takes you through some beautifully crafted areas, but it feels like it’s holding back. I’m hoping that changes as the game opens up. One of my favorite things so far is The Lighthouse, the game’s main hub world. I’ve only been there a short time, and it is already piquing my interest. It has this mysterious, layered vibe that makes me excited to see how it evolves as I progress.
Perhaps the biggest difference in this newest Dragon Age is the Movement and combat. For me personally, this is a welcomed change from Dragon Age: Inquisition, and I’m a big fan of the improvements. The style of combat is fast and fluid, but managing the camera while tracking multiple enemies can be a little frustrating at times. Hopefully, that’s something I’ll adapt to as I get more comfortable with the mechanics.
It wouldn’t be a Dragon Age title without some flirtatious fun with your companions. The party has been fantastic so far. Shoutout to Neve, who’s already become my go-to for banter and… let’s call it budding romance. (Sorry, Harding) On the lighter side, the fact that NPCs sprint just as fast as you? Chef’s kiss. No more awkward moments where your party lags 20 feet behind you during every walk-and-talk.
I wrapped up my session in Arlathan Forest, which was a solid ending to my introduction to The Veilguard. There’s plenty to love already, but I’m hoping for a little more depth and freedom as the story unfolds. If the rest of the game keeps this momentum and builds on the foundation it’s set, I think we’re in for something special.
