Dragon Age II

 PlayStation 3
User Score
4.4

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 1245 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 384 out of 1245
  2. Mixed: 188 out of 1245
  3. Negative: 673 out of 1245
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. storygamer
    Sep 1, 2020
    6
    After the terrific predecessor, I was very hyped about the release of Dragon Age II. Storytelling is great and the fights are really decent. But this game has many flaws. It really doesn`t feel like a RPG, because many elements, that made the first game so precious were canceled. Sad to see how good ideas turn out to be disappointing. Ok, but nothing special...
  2. BigEvilSquirrel
    Aug 12, 2018
    6
    3 out of 5.
    Dragon Age II suffers from either being rushed, laziness, or both. Environment assets are reused so much it becomes painfully obvious. Enter a cave, and it’s the same map as the previous cave. Gameplay is fun, I really enjoyed playing as a mage. I do recommend giving it a play, but not at full retail.
  3. SrPepe
    Oct 30, 2017
    7
    Más que Dragon Age II, este juego parece el capítulo 1 de Dragon Age Inquisition. La única mejora frente a la primer entrega es el combate, que es más llevadero. Por lo demás decepcionante. Buen juego, muy mal Dragon Age.
  4. Lycanthropunk
    Oct 1, 2016
    6
    Dragon Age: Origins is still one of my all time favourite games. A RPG for grown-ups. Adult themes, brilliant story, the best characters and voice acting ever and it packed an emotional punch. Dragon Age II however is a sad example of the current trend of dumbing down a genre which should never be dumbed down. I know developers want their games to appeal to as wide a range of gamer asDragon Age: Origins is still one of my all time favourite games. A RPG for grown-ups. Adult themes, brilliant story, the best characters and voice acting ever and it packed an emotional punch. Dragon Age II however is a sad example of the current trend of dumbing down a genre which should never be dumbed down. I know developers want their games to appeal to as wide a range of gamer as possible to maximise sales, but if in doing so you alienate your origiinal fan base, then you are a capitalist douchebag. This game is a prime example. In it's own right it is still a good RPG, and one I still enjoyed playing (hence my score), but as a sequel to one of the greatest games of all time, it is a travesty. A decent RPG SHOULD be for a niche market- it's for gamers who want a whole lot more from a game than the simple sport of amassing huge numbers of headshots in every FPS ever released. The same thing happened with Mass Effect 3. Stop it already! I want depth and options, good story and characters in a RPG, and this provides none of that.… Expand
  5. MetaRogue
    Oct 14, 2015
    5
    Dragon Age 2 is definite departure from the original, but there are no good connotations to this statement. The meditated button pressing from Origins has transformed into mindless button mashing as you orchestrate your character's attack on enemies. Your character also has a preset identity who is horribly named 'Hawke', a hang over from the Mass Effect series.

    Map traversal hasn't    Dragon Age 2 is definite departure from the original, but there are no good connotations to this statement. The meditated button pressing from Origins has transformed into mindless button mashing as you orchestrate your character's attack on enemies. Your character also has a preset identity who is horribly named 'Hawke', a hang over from the Mass Effect series.

    Map traversal hasn't changed and the characters are predictably dull like before. The only praise that the game can receive is that it continues the story (woefully at that).

    In the end, DA2 is the only RPG that is loosely affiliated with the genre.    … Expand
  6. AriseAndBe
    Aug 5, 2015
    7
    The battle system is a great improvement over the original game. That's really all that improved in this game. The characters were okay but I preferred the ones from Origins. The story was actually quite boring and when you compare the two games in this department, II doesn't even come close. Also, the choices you make in this game have a dramatically reduced effect on the outcome ofThe battle system is a great improvement over the original game. That's really all that improved in this game. The characters were okay but I preferred the ones from Origins. The story was actually quite boring and when you compare the two games in this department, II doesn't even come close. Also, the choices you make in this game have a dramatically reduced effect on the outcome of the game which was disappointing.… Expand
  7. DeusXCom
    Feb 21, 2015
    7
    After hearing extreme negative criticism from all sides, I was avoiding this title for a long time, but I loved Dragon Age: Origins and I wanted to experience this one before going into Inquisition, at least for the sake of lore and story, so I finally gave it a spin. It's not as tragically bad as everyone says, but the problem is that when you're making a sequel, especially when you're aAfter hearing extreme negative criticism from all sides, I was avoiding this title for a long time, but I loved Dragon Age: Origins and I wanted to experience this one before going into Inquisition, at least for the sake of lore and story, so I finally gave it a spin. It's not as tragically bad as everyone says, but the problem is that when you're making a sequel, especially when you're a company such as Bioware, people expect it to be better, to make some improvements, to go further, to be bigger. Unfortunately, Dragon Age 2 is worse than Origins in basically every single aspect. Huge world full of various beautiful places and cities to go and explore has been shrank into 1 single city and it's surroundings. Not only that, most of the locations are heavily reused and repeated, so you're visiting the same few places all over again? What the hell happened? Perfectly functional inventory management with tons of beautifully hand-drawn pictures for every single item has been massacred into a simple consolized interface, with only same simple visual signs for items, or only text descriptions. Again, what happened? Character creation, one of the best things about Origins, where you could really tailor your character, including it's race and origin, which affected the starting of your game has been again radically dumbed down into simple choice Warrior/Mage/Rogue and your start is always the same. Open world feeling where you can go anywhere has been changed to pretty strict linearity. Challenging and complex tactical battles has been crippled into what is now basically a mindless hack'n'slash button masher. You can clearly see why scores for this title are so tragic, because nobody coming from Origins to this could have been satisfied with this. Fortunately, I came to this expecting the worst and hoping to enjoy the story and I did. I like the more personal approach, Origins was basically typical saving the world type cliche, so I'm glad this is a bit different, some quests were fun. Characters, while not as strong as in Origins were also well-written. Overall, going into DA2 to enjoy the story is not a bad idea, just avoid comparing it to Origins and thinking about how much worse this is. 6/10… Expand
  8. bigboss1964
    Oct 20, 2014
    7
    Dragon Age II

    Game-play:The game play in this game is great even an improvement from the first game i could say the combat is fast and you have the control over it this was my only complain from the Dragon Age :Origins but the new spells and skills are very disappointing. Story:The story is not so bad it has its moments but the character development is crap here the only interesting    Dragon Age II

    Game-play:The game play in this game is great even an improvement from the first game i could say the combat is fast and you have the control over it this was my only complain from the Dragon Age :Origins but the new spells and skills are very disappointing.

    Story:The story is not so bad it has its moments but the character development is crap here the only interesting people in the game are the protagonist Hawke and Varric.The ending sucks.The story will take you about 24 to 26 hours and with the sides about 36 to 38.

    Graphics:A small improvement but nothing special.

    Notes:The side quests are nice and interesting, i did not like that you can not choose the race of your character.The game is good if you are a RPG fun you should buy it but if you are a hardcore Dragon age fun you probably will be disappointed by the changes but i am fin of the first game and i do like this one as well but the first was surly better than this one.buy it especially when the price drops.    … Expand
  9. Kai82
    Sep 13, 2014
    7
    It is not a terrible game but compared to Dragon Age it is a decline on nearly all levels. The game fells rushed and the main story ends abrupt. The good things are as in nearly all Bioware games the characters. They are all interesting and I always stopped to listen when they starting conversations. Varric and Isabella are always funny. The main story is O.K nether bad or a masterpiece.It is not a terrible game but compared to Dragon Age it is a decline on nearly all levels. The game fells rushed and the main story ends abrupt. The good things are as in nearly all Bioware games the characters. They are all interesting and I always stopped to listen when they starting conversations. Varric and Isabella are always funny. The main story is O.K nether bad or a masterpiece. The side quests are more interesting and better than in the original Dragon Age. Also the dialog wheel is an improvement. On the bad side the graphic looks dated, the locations were recycled over and over and the battle system was switched to action instead of strategy. Overall 2 additional years of programming would have improved this game a lot.… Expand
  10. SyrupForDragons
    Jun 13, 2014
    7
    No clue why people hated this game so much. I personally didn't much care for Origins the 1st time I tried it b/c I couldn't stand its combat, so when I heard 2's combat was more action oriented, I had to try it out. I'm happy to report that I liked it & it got me back into the series. Sure, the game is a bit more linear than it should & everything takes place in pretty much the same area,No clue why people hated this game so much. I personally didn't much care for Origins the 1st time I tried it b/c I couldn't stand its combat, so when I heard 2's combat was more action oriented, I had to try it out. I'm happy to report that I liked it & it got me back into the series. Sure, the game is a bit more linear than it should & everything takes place in pretty much the same area, but I'm willing to overlook these shortcomings for the game's improved combat & wonderful followers. My only real complain is that I wish there was more of a main story, as the game definitely lacked focus.… Expand
  11. rohbi
    Nov 2, 2013
    7
    I'm probably the only one who thinks this but I thought that Dragon Age II is actually an improvement over Dragon Age: Origins in a few ways; and I actually am enjoying the time I'm spending in the game right now. For one, I think the combat is better, I still think it is a little boring but it fits within the mechanics of the game. The graphics are better, the game is much moreI'm probably the only one who thinks this but I thought that Dragon Age II is actually an improvement over Dragon Age: Origins in a few ways; and I actually am enjoying the time I'm spending in the game right now. For one, I think the combat is better, I still think it is a little boring but it fits within the mechanics of the game. The graphics are better, the game is much more comfortable to look at here on the PS3 than Origins. Some may complain about the story and I agree that it is not as exciting as the story in Origins but the story here picks up faster than in Origins and generally it is engaging. I actually want to continue playing just to see what happens with Lord Jayford Hawke and his companions. On the downside, the environment that you spend the game in is horrible and it is boring, Kirkwall is interesting to explore at first but it gets tiresome after a few hours, and the outside and cave levels are all copy and paste and it reminds me of Halo: Combat Evolved. I'm shocked that Bioware didn't spend more time here to make better environments to match what they wanted in a exciting story and character driven game. This game gets a 7, it's good, but it could have been so much better.… Expand
  12. Yukari
    May 4, 2013
    6
    Dragon Age II is a huge disappointment, especially after the epic DA:Origins. Well to begin with good things...the combat system improved, and the graphics are better. And now the bad things, beside the graphics been better the environment and background are so simple that is stupid for a game like this, tha characters are not epic and fun anymore, they are all very winy and don't haveDragon Age II is a huge disappointment, especially after the epic DA:Origins. Well to begin with good things...the combat system improved, and the graphics are better. And now the bad things, beside the graphics been better the environment and background are so simple that is stupid for a game like this, tha characters are not epic and fun anymore, they are all very winy and don't have much of a personality the only one that is an exception is Varric (thank god of the dwarfs). The story is so basic and not that memorable and what you will be doing in the entire game is babysitting and clean the streets from thieves and not much else, even the boss battles are not that amazing.… Expand
  13. thatkid1995
    Feb 6, 2013
    7
    A fantastic RPG experience. There are several negatives, however. The reuse of dungeons is very annoying. Really I would've prefered to wait another 6 months or so for BioWare to finish it rather than have it as it is. The story is quite good and kept me involved for a good 30 hours. The combat is deep and involving and the characters are all well written and interesting.
  14. gmpawesomeness
    Feb 6, 2013
    6
    I have mixed feelings about this game. I love Bioware and think they make amazing games. I enjoy the options you have and the dialogue. It has an interesting combat system although its wierd to use. I personally found it hard to get interested in the game, I hope if they make another one they will make some improvements
  15. MrRPG
    Sep 13, 2012
    6
    This is a fantastic game, I don't understand all the negativity towards it, simply because it's different to the first one, it's a great game in its own right, But I guess the people just wanted a shinier version of origins..

    The combat system is close to the same with a little more depth in the actual combat.. Characters are likable, but forgettable, this is one part where I will    This is a fantastic game, I don't understand all the negativity towards it, simply because it's different to the first one, it's a great game in its own right, But I guess the people just wanted a shinier version of origins..

    The combat system is close to the same with a little more depth in the actual combat..
    Characters are likable, but forgettable, this is one part where I will compare the 2, the characters of origin were some of the greatest and most memorable RPG characters of all time, while these ones won't take long to forget..

    The game is lengthy, the story is well written, and it's a lot of fun..
    If your not a fan boy, Hurrdurr different to Origins, definitely pick this title up..    … Expand
  16. Kaden101
    Apr 22, 2012
    5
    Didn't expect much from this after seeing some of the user reviews, but managed to get hold of it cheap, & you know what, it wasn't bad, but could have been so much better.

    Pros : Good acting, & characters, mostly convincing dialogue. Okay companion missions. In my experience bug free, which is more than I can say for some RPG's. Cons : Disgustingly lazy & repetitive level design. They    Didn't expect much from this after seeing some of the user reviews, but managed to get hold of it cheap, & you know what, it wasn't bad, but could have been so much better.

    Pros : Good acting, & characters, mostly convincing dialogue. Okay companion missions. In my experience bug free, which is more than I can say for some RPG's. Cons : Disgustingly lazy & repetitive level design. They really cheaped out on this one using exactly the same levels for different locations, but just locked a few doors & opened some others. I saw in the credits when I finished this that there were 11 level designers/developers...they needed more. Main story - felt weak, & only held up due to the acting & characters. When I'd finished I just thought, is that it, wasn't very epic.

    Overall, it was a pleasant enough rpg, but not a patch on the first one. If you like a story for the dialogue & characters, you'll probably get on okay with it, otherwise it's probably not your cup of tea.

    I'd recommend it only if you can pick it cheap. I don't reckon it's worth £40 of anybodies money.    … Expand
  17. Inuit_Dude
    Dec 3, 2011
    5
    i need to start off by saying i loved the first game and it is easily in my top 5 games for the PS3 and in the video game world sequals are usually better but that is defenatly not the case here. this game takes a big step back from the previous game in many ways for one they have taken out the combat system which was amazing and required strategy and thought and replaced with a buttoni need to start off by saying i loved the first game and it is easily in my top 5 games for the PS3 and in the video game world sequals are usually better but that is defenatly not the case here. this game takes a big step back from the previous game in many ways for one they have taken out the combat system which was amazing and required strategy and thought and replaced with a button mashing system which makes you sometimes forget to watch your companions health and they sometimes die. they have also taken out the RPG elemant that i loved you make one desicion in the begining and that is it, it doesnt even affect the story all that much. on top of all this is the fact that you can no longer talk to your followers except at thier home base which sucks alot. as well as all this they have gone and made all the items you pick up to only be used by certain characters which made no sense and i went for a while with some people having really crappy equipment and some with really good equipment that they couldnt use because they already had something alot better on. now that all that bad is out of the way if you havnt played the first one you will probably like this game though because it is still an alright game with good graphics colors and voice acting and i also liked how the decisions you made in origions afect this world if you can rent this game before you buy it to see if you will like it… Expand
  18. FThickett
    Nov 8, 2011
    5
    A colossal let down. Dragon Age: Origins was a lot of fun and really captured the brilliance of KOTOR in it's own way (the two are quite similar but not so much so that it's a rip off or something). The characters in DA2 are just bland and, usually, unlikeable. The quests make you wonder why you're even doing anything, I understand the story, why the characters are there, but the questsA colossal let down. Dragon Age: Origins was a lot of fun and really captured the brilliance of KOTOR in it's own way (the two are quite similar but not so much so that it's a rip off or something). The characters in DA2 are just bland and, usually, unlikeable. The quests make you wonder why you're even doing anything, I understand the story, why the characters are there, but the quests pile on so much that you're running so much at a time that it just becomes banal questing. Just a really poor quality sequel.… Expand
  19. magcakpro
    Oct 12, 2011
    6
    The re-use of the same maps over and over was a disgrace, but the gameplay, combat, and story was engaging. While the story was weaker than the DA:O, it was still interesting and drove me to play the game to the end, not to mention the obvious lead in to DA3 which I am excited about because of this game. This game is very much worth a used purchase ($20 or less) or a rental. However, ifThe re-use of the same maps over and over was a disgrace, but the gameplay, combat, and story was engaging. While the story was weaker than the DA:O, it was still interesting and drove me to play the game to the end, not to mention the obvious lead in to DA3 which I am excited about because of this game. This game is very much worth a used purchase ($20 or less) or a rental. However, if DA3 does not provide actual level design, I will throw this series away.… Expand
  20. Salamunic
    Aug 26, 2011
    7
    Dragon Age II does not feel like a true sequel. Despite the setting and references to Origins, it is more of a redesign of the series, a new start, with too many elements cut and pasted from Mass Effect 2. This isn't a completely bad thing, but it appeals to an entirely different audience and might leave fans of the original very angry and frustrated. From an oversimplified inventoryDragon Age II does not feel like a true sequel. Despite the setting and references to Origins, it is more of a redesign of the series, a new start, with too many elements cut and pasted from Mass Effect 2. This isn't a completely bad thing, but it appeals to an entirely different audience and might leave fans of the original very angry and frustrated. From an oversimplified inventory system to sped up gameplay mechanics, it leaves little room for strategy and requires too much button mashing. While the action-rpg fan in me was still ok with some of the new changes, the game truly suffers from its bland characters. Fantasy stereotypes that are obnoxious and annoying, especially the emo elves whose whining never stops echoing in the big city of Kirkwall. Now understand that this is being compared to DA:Origins, a game that had characters you really cared about until the very end. So as a whole, Dragon Age II is still solid compared to other rpgs, it's just not comparable to its predecessor. Graphically, the game is much sharper with a smoother frame rate, but it suffers from poor, repetitive level design. For the 30 + hours of gameplay, you will feel like you've never left the surroundings from the first few hours of the game. Despite my heavy criticism, this is still a fun action-rpg. It's obvious that the developers worked with an unreasonable deadline but my hopes are high for Dragon Age III. Would I recommend this? If you have played Origins, I would recommend this as a small appetizer for DA III, but just make sure you lower you expectations. For anyone else, I'd highly recommend the fantastic DAL Origins first and wait till this finds its way into the bargain bin.… Expand
  21. grand_alpha
    Aug 20, 2011
    7
    I was initially put off from purchasing Dragon Age II purely based on the massive backlash that it had received from fans. Some of the user reviews on here would make you believe that it is the worst game you will ever play (it's not) and that Bioware (or EA if you will) is out to steal all your money and cares nothing for its audience. I can only comment on the PS3 version of the gameI was initially put off from purchasing Dragon Age II purely based on the massive backlash that it had received from fans. Some of the user reviews on here would make you believe that it is the worst game you will ever play (it's not) and that Bioware (or EA if you will) is out to steal all your money and cares nothing for its audience. I can only comment on the PS3 version of the game which came with the Black Emporium as free DLC but I'm glad I ended up giving it a chance. While far from perfect and certainly not as good as Origins, it's still an enjoyable game that suffers from some admittedly baffling design choices. The first thing I noticed was the inability to fully customise your other party members with any armor that you purchase or find, instead replaced by one (or two) preset "companion armor" looks. Customisation should be one of the main focuses of any RPG and the limitations placed on it take away from the immersion and fun of discovering new items, especially when it's something that your main character can't equip. While the re-using of certain maps, some choppy cut scenes, the limited amount of locations and the emphasis on a more hack and slash style combat will no doubt annoy a lot of people, I still found the story engaging and spent many hours playing it right through to the end. Perhaps the brilliance of Origins and Bioware's other classics gave us high expectations but you could still do a lot worse than Dragon Age II. Here's hoping that they get it right with the third.… Expand
  22. Schuback
    Aug 5, 2011
    6
    Dragon Age II is a good game but for those who had an amazing experience with Dragon Age Origins, don't expect DAII to be DAOII. There are improvements to certain aspects of the first instalment and I can understand why many fans were furious about the changes made in DAII. In fact, those who have been following the Mass Effect series you'll probably understand too. Anyway, from what IDragon Age II is a good game but for those who had an amazing experience with Dragon Age Origins, don't expect DAII to be DAOII. There are improvements to certain aspects of the first instalment and I can understand why many fans were furious about the changes made in DAII. In fact, those who have been following the Mass Effect series you'll probably understand too. Anyway, from what I gather, the storyline is not as epic. You play as a human named Hawke either as a warrior, rogue, or a mage and you can customise his/her appearance. The game spans over 10 years and you discover and learn how Hawke becomes the Hero of Kirkwall. The story has 3 Acts, mostly unrelated and therefore lacking a central theme seen in DAO (gathering arms across Fereldan against the Blight). And the story is quite linear though you'll be making a lot of minor choices throughout the game. Another flaw of this game is that the characters are not as interesting as the ones in DAO. This time they won't be telling you stories about their past or legends, nor will they share jokes. This time converstions with your companions are more about activating their individual quests and acknowledging that you have completed those quests. Some of the companions I found to be unlikable. And let's be honest here, Isabela doesn't hold the candle to Morrigan in every single way. Thirdly, this game uses repeated maps and dungeons. So while there are many quests to take up, you'll be completing them at the same area. Even the dull city of Kirkwall remains exactly the same throughout the ten year period. What's strange is that the graphics are sub par and the level of details and texture of buildings and environments are poor despite the game only having one city and reused caves.. The gameplay is more action oriented this time meaning that it is more fast-paced and requires button mashing (which is optional) to execute moves and attack which I felt was a good addition especially for one playing this game on a console. You'll be seeing some characters from DAO which brings back sweet memories. So despite all the flaws I found in this game, DAII does has it's charms and I certainly enjoyed playing it. It is a good game in itself and if there wasn't a DAO in the first place, this game would have been received much better by the fans.… Expand
  23. ShoCh
    Jun 4, 2011
    7
    Reading all the whiny complaints about this game (not just here - everywhere!) is starting to get on my wick. The game isn't perfect - but it's also nowhere near as bad as people would have you believe. The characters are great (especially the elf, Merrill) and the graphics and game-play are definitely way above average. If this was the 1st game and Origins didn't exist, everyone would beReading all the whiny complaints about this game (not just here - everywhere!) is starting to get on my wick. The game isn't perfect - but it's also nowhere near as bad as people would have you believe. The characters are great (especially the elf, Merrill) and the graphics and game-play are definitely way above average. If this was the 1st game and Origins didn't exist, everyone would be raving about how great this game is. My one complaint is that they haven't put enough effort into creating the locations. One house is exactly like another, as are caves and warehouses - if more effort had gone into making each location different to the previous one you were in - I would give this game a 9.… Expand
  24. OddityAngel
    May 22, 2011
    7
    Oh, the hyperbole and the hysterics! Dragon Age II is not the best RPG ever, nor is it the worst. It does not deserve a score of zero. It also doesn't deserve a full ten. Obviously subjectivity is an issue, some people look for certain things in a game, while other players are judging by a totally different set of standards, but the extremes in scoring may say more about the fanbase thanOh, the hyperbole and the hysterics! Dragon Age II is not the best RPG ever, nor is it the worst. It does not deserve a score of zero. It also doesn't deserve a full ten. Obviously subjectivity is an issue, some people look for certain things in a game, while other players are judging by a totally different set of standards, but the extremes in scoring may say more about the fanbase than the game itself...

    The Good (things I considered enjoyable)

    The characters. Bioware typically shines when creating party members, and this game is no exception. Are they better than the DA:O characters? Well, let's just say I liked SOME DA:2 characters better than SOME DA:O characters. The conflict: Dragon Age II does not try to create another Blight level threat, instead it focuses on more complicated issues. There are no clear good guys here, only extreme views and scared people. The typical 'horde of evil' fantasy trope has its place, but it's nice to see a more nuanced conflict. I found it to be quite engaging.

    The combat animations: Gone are the slow moving mages. No longer do I feel the need to mutter 'pew, pew' as they seem to slowly fire ineffectual bolts at their enemies.

    Voiced PC. The voice acting in general is superb. The dialogue wheel could have been better utilized, but it is a step in the right direction. New designs for the fantasy races. Why even have elves if they're just going to be pointy eared humans? Take advantage of your visual medium and create something unique! Good on Bioware for deviating from the typical design.

    The Bad: Reused maps. Uninspired environments. Kirkwall itself boasts a more unique design than most locations in DA:O, but it is static, unchanging and sterile. DA: II is supposed to take place over a number of years, that should should show in the city itself. There should have been changes in scenery, weather, ANYTHING! Total lost opportunity, Bioware. Disjointed quests. Sometimes you complete a quest without even realizing it because there is so little distinction between them. You stumble across your goal. Predictable fights. There is no variation and very little strategy involved. Weak third act. After an impressive amount of build up (and a strong second act) the climax of the game falls flat due to some heavily forced character moments. It loses it's organic feel. The Ugly:

    Game breaking glitches. Many of these have been resolved with patches, but they should not have been an issue in the first place. They were just another sign that the game was rushed.

    In conclusion: Dragon Age II is a polarizing game. It benefited from its brand (the oddly high early reviews and exceptional preorder sales), but perhaps that same pedigree has hurt it. People had high expectations, and when those expectations were not met they responded with (disproportionate) anger, and the backlash has been amusingly ferocious in intensity. You will likely find something to enjoy in this game if you REALLY enjoy the Dragon Age setting and would like to visit again (being more interested in a good story than a great game), or if you are a casual fan of RPGs. I find it has a fair amount of replay value. I would not recommend paying full price for it if you do not belong to one of these two groups. Wait for it to go on sale, keep your expectations reasonable and you may enjoy it. I did. Or you may not. If these reviews are anything to go by most people probably make up their mind well before they sit down to play.    … Expand
  25. gorkys
    May 17, 2011
    5
    I was very disappointed. I expected game much more like RPG than Hack&Slash. Shame on you BioWare. This game is very overrated on all platforms.!!! That was waste of my money!!
  26. frikkingsweet
    May 13, 2011
    7
    This is a great game from the get go ... but the longer you play it the more it feels like your doing the same thing over and over... lack of different areas to check out and no way to really free roam in between locations is kinda a big downer...
  27. skydigger
    May 8, 2011
    6
    I bought this game the day it was released. I HATED it in the beginning. However, it has grown on me a little bit. The characters, dialog, acting and plot are all pretty good. Not quite up to the DA:O standard but DA:O is hard to beat in those areas.

    The combat is DIFFERENT. They've eliminated some of the stalling and freezing that plagued DA:O but they've turned it into a    I bought this game the day it was released. I HATED it in the beginning. However, it has grown on me a little bit. The characters, dialog, acting and plot are all pretty good. Not quite up to the DA:O standard but DA:O is hard to beat in those areas.

    The combat is DIFFERENT. They've eliminated some of the stalling and freezing that plagued DA:O but they've turned it into a button-masher.

    As others have reported the maps are quite repetitive. This game is NOT a 10 or a 1..it's somewhere in the middle.    … Expand
  28. trophy_hunter
    Apr 30, 2011
    6
    First of all, Dragon Age 2 is by no means a terrible game. Itâ
  29. likeitsillegal
    Apr 19, 2011
    6
    I enjoyed how fast the action seemed to be in this game - it was a massive improvement as a person who frequently plays a two-handed warrior. I really enjoyed the new Elf and Qunari designs - because no longer did the Qunari look like muscular tanned guys with white hair. But that was almost ALL I enjoyed. I still can't buy the change in Anders' character, and a lot of the story justI enjoyed how fast the action seemed to be in this game - it was a massive improvement as a person who frequently plays a two-handed warrior. I really enjoyed the new Elf and Qunari designs - because no longer did the Qunari look like muscular tanned guys with white hair. But that was almost ALL I enjoyed. I still can't buy the change in Anders' character, and a lot of the story just seemed silly. The dialog just got stupid at times. It's an alright game, but I'd definitely recommend to anyone to wait till it is 30 dollars or less. Especially since there are only a handful of unique maps, which are just recycled over and over. By the time you're at Act II, it becomes painfully apparent. With a lot of the negative out of the way (which basically comes down to bad writing), I really did like some of the party dialog.… Expand
  30. padavid10
    Apr 12, 2011
    7
    I'm quite surprised by the disparity between the critical reviews and the user reviews.

    Dragon Age 2 is a good game, not a great game but another fun adventure through the Universe they've created. Writing this review after 40 hours of gameplay (story and many side and companion quests completed) I enjoyed it. Production values are high and it feels like a solid enough game. On the    I'm quite surprised by the disparity between the critical reviews and the user reviews.

    Dragon Age 2 is a good game, not a great game but another fun adventure through the Universe they've created. Writing this review after 40 hours of gameplay (story and many side and companion quests completed) I enjoyed it. Production values are high and it feels like a solid enough game.

    On the plus side, the fighting is quick and mostly pretty enjoyable although it is a bit of a button basher at times and the characters are great, I could happily spend much more time playing with Isabella and the team.

    On the negative side, the maps are used and reused so much you get little sense of adventure at times and the story lacks any real antagonist; without the Archdemon to work towards killing the story does lack something.    … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Best PS3 Game of 2011
7
#7 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
80
#80 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
  1. GamingExcellence
    Aug 3, 2011
    85
    I'll give Bioware points for trying to do something different in their world, but they really did have it right the first time in terms of character building and the scope of the story.
    Read full review
  2. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    May 27, 2011
    80
    Ultimately Dragon Age II feels like a one step past, and two steps back from Origins. It has been specced purely with us console gamers in mind and now has a low barrier of entry that will rally new fans to the Dragon Age banner. That's admirable, but fans who did get into Origins will lament the less masterful storytelling and the noticeably uneven visual presentation. [May 2011 p.78]
  3. Gamers' Temple
    May 16, 2011
    85
    A smaller gameworld and recycled environments make Dragon Age II feel less expansive than Origins, but a number of console friendly game changes may make it more appealing to console gamers than its predecessor.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »