Dragon Age II

 Xbox 360
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 2466 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 795 out of 2466
  2. Mixed: 431 out of 2466
  3. Negative: 1,240 out of 2466
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  1. Doublecross
    Mar 18, 2011
    0
    Wow, lol i cannot believe this, I s*** you not, like 3/4 through Act 2 i was like F*** this. Everything is the same not just map that i have already painfully accepted. But holy crap there was not 1 epic quest that actually took me a on a journey that was memorable. I really hated everything about this game. The only + was the combat, but even that got old after i have fractured my thumbWow, lol i cannot believe this, I s*** you not, like 3/4 through Act 2 i was like F*** this. Everything is the same not just map that i have already painfully accepted. But holy crap there was not 1 epic quest that actually took me a on a journey that was memorable. I really hated everything about this game. The only + was the combat, but even that got old after i have fractured my thumb on the mute...... i mean A button ;) (really Bioware?). And the lack of strategy, if there even needed to be any. When i played DAO i played the whole game on normal difficulty until the end, i just had to turn it on Casual cause i simply had no clue wtf i was doing wrong. But things would just beat the living s*** out of me. Now DA2 I played on normal the whole way through ACT 1, thinking wtf, why is this so easy. I had to turn it on Hard, and i never do that in any games, i hate challenges lol. But what the heck, all i was doing before was push a button and things started exploding right if front of me. I know its not major, but i feel like that just furthermore proofs how this games was just dumbed down to little schnitzel scheisters. Iam also playing a warrior, another thing that pissed me off is for me to wait for brittle *sigh, i need more brittle orgasms in this game. And although DOA was full of tactics and all that crap that i just wasnt used to in an RPG i began to love it. Sure it pissed me off that i spent most of the time during a battle at times in the Radial Menu, but w/e. I just missed the tactics in DA2. I also want to point out my final F*** this Game moment. So as i was doing the nightmare mission i was like yaay back in the fade killing shades and all that junk. I was sooooo prepared for like an epic long quest journey and bought poisons and potions to stock up for some action, just like in DAO. And then after 15 minutes the quest was over LOL. The dialogues before the quest took as much time as the the actuel fighting time. Wow i was pissed lol. I have to stop right here cause this isnt really constructive anymore, iam too pissed to continue, In summation DAO = Wow something new, something fresh, epic journeys, amazing world and areas, EPIC STORY DA2 = I just ran out of toilet paper, but even there it fails. I then tried DAO, and of course as clean a newborns butt. PS: Casey Hudson, I have complete Faith in you that you will not even remotely screw up Mass Effect 3, your team has brought RPGs to another level. Now please do me a favor go to your DA2 buddies office and break your foot up David Gaiders a**… Expand
  2. WarViking
    Mar 26, 2011
    0
    They said this game had a 8 month development cycle, i think most of us could tell based on how lazy everything was. The gameplay, the characters, the environments, the missions, hell even the soundtrack itself was all lazy Bioware lost respect from me after this release the game was even more lazy than Jade Empire was. It seems Bioware is destined to streamline all their games. AlsoThey said this game had a 8 month development cycle, i think most of us could tell based on how lazy everything was. The gameplay, the characters, the environments, the missions, hell even the soundtrack itself was all lazy Bioware lost respect from me after this release the game was even more lazy than Jade Empire was. It seems Bioware is destined to streamline all their games. Also Bioware needs to stop getting their dev team to come on these sites and give false good reviews own up to the crap you created.… Expand
  3. jurpque
    Mar 10, 2011
    2
    Bioware is death for me.
    Púdrete en el infierno Bioware, cómo puedes venderte de esta manera? traicionando lo que te ha hecho grande, Dragon Age II es basura. Juego sin emoción, pasillero, diálogos estériles, trama aburrida, sin cámara cenital, no vale la pena decir mucho más,
  4. shaun1021
    Mar 11, 2011
    0
    -entire game takes place in 1 location, (imagine playing all of DA:O in Denerim without leaving)
    -re-used environments (you keep going to the same 100% identical dungeon)
    -you cant speak to your companions (you speak to companions once and then they ignore you) -you cant customize your companions -the companions are awful, boring, 1 dimensional and hideous looking -Filled with bugs (you    -entire game takes place in 1 location, (imagine playing all of DA:O in Denerim without leaving)
    -re-used environments (you keep going to the same 100% identical dungeon)
    -you cant speak to your companions (you speak to companions once and then they ignore you)
    -you cant customize your companions
    -the companions are awful, boring, 1 dimensional and hideous looking
    -Filled with bugs (you cant play on "very high detail" setting or the game breaks down)
    -gameplay is a joke (you stab people with your knife and they explode into jelly like they got hit by a grenade)
    -the game is short (about 20 hours, and you wont want to play again)
    -character creation uses same hairstyles, tattoos and resources from DA:O -terrible value, game not worth money, you will feel 100% disappointed
    -I want my money back    … Expand
  5. sheep
    Mar 11, 2011
    0
    It's a big shame to see a studio that was responsible for legendary titles such as Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights releasing such a disgraceful title called Dragon Age 2. Generic combat, annoying cut-scenes with cheesy dialogs, closed maps - where is freedom I ask? I can't believe that major gaming sites rated this game so well. I can only think of sponsoring articles... Game just gotIt's a big shame to see a studio that was responsible for legendary titles such as Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights releasing such a disgraceful title called Dragon Age 2. Generic combat, annoying cut-scenes with cheesy dialogs, closed maps - where is freedom I ask? I can't believe that major gaming sites rated this game so well. I can only think of sponsoring articles... Game just got released and we have DLC already - laughable. Making money on well-known IP, that's all. It's sad.… Expand
  6. darkendless
    Mar 14, 2011
    0
    The developers claim that they have "streamlined" the game, but in actuality all they have done is ripped out the characteristics that made DA:O fun and unique. Catering to the mainstream user was a huge failure.
  7. not_good
    Mar 23, 2011
    4
    This game is **** great if you love jrpg's.

    If you like $60 epic sequels from premiere developers to award winning and critically acclaimed games, you will be disappointed however.
  8. Ravenous
    Mar 22, 2011
    0
    This was the worst Bioware game I've ever played. Where to begin... the overall plot was pathetic, with Act 3 being a complete disaster. Act 2 should have been the final act, with the minor conflict that was Act 3 being just an event that occurred sometime before the final events of Act 2. In other words, the two acts should have been switched. In addition, the combat was terrible, withThis was the worst Bioware game I've ever played. Where to begin... the overall plot was pathetic, with Act 3 being a complete disaster. Act 2 should have been the final act, with the minor conflict that was Act 3 being just an event that occurred sometime before the final events of Act 2. In other words, the two acts should have been switched. In addition, the combat was terrible, with the respawning of enemies becoming so predictable that you can literally expect it to happen in every single fight (YAWWWWN). Just press the attack button over and over, occasionally use a special ability, and you can play the game without even looking at the screen. This game is a complete disaster, and anyone who says they like it is probably deficient in some way.… Expand
  9. Madval
    Mar 12, 2011
    1
    Simply a damn console game for inept inapt. The 1 was so much better. Fail bioware. As someone say : Boring, boring and boring ... Can't even compare it to DA:O not to mention BioWare's older RPG games. Incredible disappointment. No much more to say. Simply a damn console game for inept inapt. The 1 was so much better. Fail bioware. As someone say : Boring, boring and boring ... Can't evenSimply a damn console game for inept inapt. The 1 was so much better. Fail bioware. As someone say : Boring, boring and boring ... Can't even compare it to DA:O not to mention BioWare's older RPG games. Incredible disappointment. No much more to say. Simply a damn console game for inept inapt. The 1 was so much better. Fail bioware. As someone say : Boring, boring and boring ... Can't even compare it to DA:O not to mention BioWare's older RPG games. Incredible disappointment. No much more to say.… Expand
  10. Olf
    Mar 11, 2011
    1
    A game that resembles every other RPG game tossed out for consoles. No imagination or creativity. The ingenuity that made Dragon Age origins so ground breaking is totally lost on this sequel that would make DAO get an emancipation from Dragon Age 2 if it could so it would not stain its good name. A terrible at best sequel and a very sub par game in general. Poorly done Bioware, and EA youA game that resembles every other RPG game tossed out for consoles. No imagination or creativity. The ingenuity that made Dragon Age origins so ground breaking is totally lost on this sequel that would make DAO get an emancipation from Dragon Age 2 if it could so it would not stain its good name. A terrible at best sequel and a very sub par game in general. Poorly done Bioware, and EA you should be ashamed by the lack of imagination it took to create this game.… Expand
  11. Zeegermintz
    Mar 14, 2011
    5
    I see a lot of 10's here from BioWare employees that are trying to increase the metascore. I've played this game and it's middle-of-the-road. Not amazing, not terrible. I'm sick of reviews done by developers to try inflating their ratings. The graphics and game play were good but I really liked DA:O much more.
  12. EAsukshard
    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    I made an account just for this.Dragon age 2 is **** sequel ever made. Not to mention Avanost gave a 10/10 because he works at Bioware ! seriously? Give your own game a 10/10 shame on you! Umm where to start? o yea sh!t graphics, for dx11 game the game looks like junk, something that was made 4 years ago and not now, we expected great, people working on the game said it will look amazingI made an account just for this.Dragon age 2 is **** sequel ever made. Not to mention Avanost gave a 10/10 because he works at Bioware ! seriously? Give your own game a 10/10 shame on you! Umm where to start? o yea sh!t graphics, for dx11 game the game looks like junk, something that was made 4 years ago and not now, we expected great, people working on the game said it will look amazing and it turn out to be for lack of better word Sh1tty.
    Game play = Tone down so much feel like diablo 2 hack/slash all day yawn.. requires zero skills. I bet a retard with IQ of 5 can beat this game. LIterally
    Console port! 100% is a console port don't fuking bs EA or bioware this PIECE OF SH1t is a console port ~! I dont give a fuk what you say it's a **** console port! ok? everyone it's A CONSOLE PORT NOT a PC game.

    OOOO not to mention the environment is reused, so everywhere you go it looks the same, which is more like a CONSOLE PORT!!!    … Expand
  13. ADogChasingCars
    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    Inspired by the success of Mass Effect 2, Bioware decided to send the Dragon Age franchise down the same dirt brown road. Taking an interesting universe, populated by interesting characters, and replacing it with a bland hero story that tries to hard at every direction. The only button you should press to make something awesome happen with this game is the eject button. :D
  14. jaymac407
    Mar 16, 2011
    1
    Wow. What a disappointment. I don't know what EA are paying the critics, but it must be a very large amount.
    I've given this game a 1 instead of a 0 because the graphics are spectacular. Unfortunately, that's all that's good about this game.
    This wasn't an RPG and I didn't feel like I was in control of the story. It seemed too scripted which is unlike a typical BioWare title. I do not see    Wow. What a disappointment. I don't know what EA are paying the critics, but it must be a very large amount.
    I've given this game a 1 instead of a 0 because the graphics are spectacular. Unfortunately, that's all that's good about this game.
    This wasn't an RPG and I didn't feel like I was in control of the story. It seemed too scripted which is unlike a typical BioWare title.
    I do not see why this was called "Dragon Age II" - because there was little, if any continuation from the previous game. It was hard to see where this game linked to the first.

    Oh, and releasing a DLC before the game was even out yet? Shame on you EA!    … Expand
  15. monkcocoa
    Mar 17, 2011
    0
    This game is a mess. The Ishtar of video games. Everything is a downgrade from the first game in the series. The graphics are sloppy and cheap. The game play is dumbed down. The story and characters are worse than the original, if that is even possible. Bioware has really been going downhill since they have been bought by EA.
  16. InformedGamer
    Mar 20, 2011
    0
    BIOWARE AND EA WROTE THE POSITIVE REVIEWS FOUND ON METACRITIC! Google: "Dragon Age Metacritic Review". I'm sure that most of these positive reviews were written by people with a connection to EA, Bioware or the employees friends and family. If you need to deceptively self promote that is a sign of a BIG PROBLEM! This is not even an RPG at all. Action game, yes...kind of. Devoid of anyBIOWARE AND EA WROTE THE POSITIVE REVIEWS FOUND ON METACRITIC! Google: "Dragon Age Metacritic Review". I'm sure that most of these positive reviews were written by people with a connection to EA, Bioware or the employees friends and family. If you need to deceptively self promote that is a sign of a BIG PROBLEM! This is not even an RPG at all. Action game, yes...kind of. Devoid of any life, the main city feels like an empty shell. The story is poor and the NPC's are lame. I am shocked that this was the sequel. And with the DLC, it feels like a complete money grab. Now I know why EA didn't offer a collector's edition, they can make far more money this way. Bioware has slid to a new low and this is from someone that has been a lifetime fan. All I want to do is bring forth the truth about this so we as gamers can influence a change for the better from a corporate entity that has turned their eyes to dollars instead of quality.… Expand
  17. Theorn67
    Apr 8, 2011
    5
    I like role-playing games. I do not by-and-large like any other genre. I do not like action games nor FPS. And the ability to role-play is the main think I look for in a game. And though I do enjoy aspects of action/combat, story, moral choices it is the ability to play out the role of my character in the world he/she is placed based on what I believe the character might do is veryI like role-playing games. I do not by-and-large like any other genre. I do not like action games nor FPS. And the ability to role-play is the main think I look for in a game. And though I do enjoy aspects of action/combat, story, moral choices it is the ability to play out the role of my character in the world he/she is placed based on what I believe the character might do is very important to me. With that said, losing the abilities to lie, intimidate, persuade people lessons my ability to play out interesting role-playing scenerios within the world as does the greatly limited npc interactions. A major part of rpgs that I enjoy is the non-quest non combat interactions with the environment (i.e. conversations etc).… Expand
  18. Redfordsto
    May 22, 2011
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's impossible to review this game without comparing to it's predecessor. The most direct reason being that it's billed as a sequel with the "II" hanging there rather than a sub-title indicating this is a relative concurrent adventure to the original. I played through Origin so many times, I had to remove some of the save character profiles to a flash drive because there was a limit on how many characters that I could create. For DA2, I played through four times to find any variation with regard to choice. There wasn't any. That being said...

    Pros: -The graphics engine has been improved. The set pieces are more picturesque than the original. Even the combat animations are more diverse and compelling. -The audio. Both effects and soundtrack are even better than the original. Inon Zur earned his keep yet again. If only there was someone to download the remix of Florence and the Machine's track. -Having a voiced hero does allow for a deeper connection to your hero. It's fun to hear your hero reflect your choices in tone. And the voice acting is excellent. -There are a few more character customization options as far as hair and facial hair... -You can import your saved games from Dragon Age: Origins. -Skill progression as far as branching rather than directly progressive is was more rewarding than just unlocking the next in a row or skills. -Your companions have individual skill trees that are useful. -There were a number or armor variations and weapon variations as far as appearance and textures. -The companion characters are unique and voiced well.

    Cons: -You can import your saved games from Dragon Age: Origins, but it makes no difference at all. The only purpose is to slightly vary a dozen or so comments made by ancillary characters. -A large amount of character customization is gone. No choice of who your character is with regard to backstory. No variation of races. You can choose your class, change your face, and upgrade skills. The opportunity to give more options to the player was lost. -The skill trees were inventive, but there was little in the way of improving skills. Rather than investing in skills that work with your style of gameplay you unlock another skill. Most skills are maxed at a single upgrade. -The endless repetition of dungeons. You see the same locations again and again. And again. -While the weapons and armor looked good, only your main character can use the armor. Your companions are only slightly customizable. -Choice doesn't matter like it once did. You side with someone or help someone escape harm and you end up getting a nice letter and do all the same quests regardless of choice. Your choices don't open up new locations or options only vary dialogue. The biggest choice you have is to not do some of the quests. -You spend 85% of your time in the same city. The story is suppose to take place over a decade but any change in the city are minimal. There are no new area or expansions. There's an occasional new wall or statue and you move live... once. And the only change to your mansion after a few year is you gain a few bottles of liquor and your love interest moves in a mandolin. -Where are the traps, the different types of arrows, various grenades, the runes, and all the potions. Instead of increasing variation, they are either stripped down or just plain gone. This also decreases tactical options. -The stories of all the potential love interests are all depressing. There are no options for happy endings. You're going to find out Fenris is alone, Merrill will alienate her clan, Isabella will do anything to get her ship, and Anders will start a war. While the stories and personalities are unique, their arcs are all downers. -The main story is a set of sidequests. While many are good, when you see the same locations more than a dozen times, it blurs into a mindless hack and fetch experience. Made more boring the second time because even if I sided with the mages on the first playthrough, I get to do the same missions on the second playthrough when siding with templars. And on the third playthrough while trying to stay impartial... which you can't. Further, the threads connecting the acts are thin. I find an artifact while trying to become rich and somehow it corrupts the final boss who I never really interact with till the final act. There's no sustained rivalry and no real growth considering you're supposed to enact the emergence of a hero. Nor do your companions really evolve over the course of the story, they seem obsessed with singular goals. It's a linear story with the false promise of choice. -The highlight that should have been the connection to your family fell way short. You have one act to get to know a sibling then you don't see them till the end of the game... or they died. The promise fell to the same overly dark theme of either killing everybody off or bitter realizations. -Plain lack of satisfaction upon completion compared to most games.    … Expand
  19. milkymoor
    Mar 14, 2011
    0
    This is easily Bioware's worst game to date. Extremely repetitive and grueling combat. A lackluster progression system where you never feel any more powerful. A storyline with no internal consistency to itself or its predecessor and there's zero choices except for choosing whether Hawke is nice, angry or sarcastic. Companions are average at best and terrible at worst. And it's incrediblyThis is easily Bioware's worst game to date. Extremely repetitive and grueling combat. A lackluster progression system where you never feel any more powerful. A storyline with no internal consistency to itself or its predecessor and there's zero choices except for choosing whether Hawke is nice, angry or sarcastic. Companions are average at best and terrible at worst. And it's incredibly buggy with cutscenes firing out of order and other strange glitches.

    And I say this as someone who has loved Bioware since the days of Baldur's Gate. This is the game that will shake Bioware's reputation amongst fans and consumers, which is more harmful than any number of bad reviews.    … Expand
  20. vankwisha
    Mar 13, 2011
    0
    Worst game iv ever played, I think ill go play barbie playhouse instead. They've rushed this game so bad, Copy and paste copy and paste copy and paste copy and paste.
  21. jean-francois
    Mar 12, 2011
    3
    I really enjoyed the first dragon age game. It was one of my favorite game of all time. But I did not enjoy this second installment. The history is bland, the role-playing elements has been dumbed down. You cannot pick your race, talk to your companions during missions. The dialogs are boring and the characters forgettable. A note to Bioware: graphics and combat are not the onlyI really enjoyed the first dragon age game. It was one of my favorite game of all time. But I did not enjoy this second installment. The history is bland, the role-playing elements has been dumbed down. You cannot pick your race, talk to your companions during missions. The dialogs are boring and the characters forgettable. A note to Bioware: graphics and combat are not the only things that I enjoy in a game!… Expand
  22. Barman1942
    Mar 13, 2011
    2
    An unfortunate, utter disappointment. I started into this game hoping it would be as every bit enjoyable as Dragon Age: Origins, which was a pretty good RPG in its own right, if not what I would consider classic. The game is marred by shoddy writing, some rather terrible voice acting, bad facial animations (though BIoware has never been known for *good* facial animation), and copy andAn unfortunate, utter disappointment. I started into this game hoping it would be as every bit enjoyable as Dragon Age: Origins, which was a pretty good RPG in its own right, if not what I would consider classic. The game is marred by shoddy writing, some rather terrible voice acting, bad facial animations (though BIoware has never been known for *good* facial animation), and copy and paste levels, where you will often find yourself fighting through the same dungeon several times. It's also rather linear for an RPG, you feel like you're merely along for the ride with a choice here and there, than an actual driving force in the story. The only upside is the combat is sometimes fun, but even that is tarnished by the endless "waves" of enemies, which soon render it boring.

    2/10, stay away from this one, or at the most rent it.    … Expand
  23. svett
    Feb 28, 2012
    0
    This was the most disappointing game that I ever played. Not because it was the worse, but because it did not measure at all to the first one. There's only one city during the whole game. The dungeons are reused with the entrances reversed and some rooms blocked. The characters are flashy, but not very deep. You can't equip your NPC's now - what's up with that?! It's a terrible failure inThis was the most disappointing game that I ever played. Not because it was the worse, but because it did not measure at all to the first one. There's only one city during the whole game. The dungeons are reused with the entrances reversed and some rooms blocked. The characters are flashy, but not very deep. You can't equip your NPC's now - what's up with that?! It's a terrible failure in light of the previous game - it's as if the game was not made by the same company. I don't know what else to say.… Expand
  24. BakedPotato
    Mar 15, 2011
    2
    Well, the combat was better than the first, but that was about it. I tried to play all the way through but couldn't bear to keep playing. I am now scared for Mass Effect 3. For me it was like when something not very funny happens and someone makes a joke about it and laughs nervously while everyone else just stares at them. I was extremely disappointed, that is probably why I couldn'tWell, the combat was better than the first, but that was about it. I tried to play all the way through but couldn't bear to keep playing. I am now scared for Mass Effect 3. For me it was like when something not very funny happens and someone makes a joke about it and laughs nervously while everyone else just stares at them. I was extremely disappointed, that is probably why I couldn't enjoy it.… Expand
  25. EricNeo
    Mar 15, 2011
    4
    No multiplayer, Huge amount of copy paste, allot less skills, allot less items, enchantment system could have been flushed out and made far better then it is, and worst of all this game will not have a toolset.
  26. Morbane
    Mar 17, 2011
    1
    This sequel reminds me of the disappointment I felt when I played CoD3, after loving CoD2. Same game engine, but a completely different take on the game and game world. Not so much a sequel as a homage or reboot.

    DA2 really feels like it was made by a different studio, one with no regard for stylistic continuity. I'd argue DA2 is more linear than past incarnations of this genre and    This sequel reminds me of the disappointment I felt when I played CoD3, after loving CoD2. Same game engine, but a completely different take on the game and game world. Not so much a sequel as a homage or reboot.

    DA2 really feels like it was made by a different studio, one with no regard for stylistic continuity.

    I'd argue DA2 is more linear than past incarnations of this genre and doesn't shape up to offerings like Mass Effect that continue plot and character decisions across sequels. Mass Effect and DAO made me want to play them again to see how things would have turned out had I made different decisions. My choices in DA2 felt inconsequential, at least individually. The world itself is fairly linear as well, rather than the story or action pushing you forward - the maps / landscape forces you to move in a specific direction.

    Perhaps my biggest disappointment was when I realized I could not import my character from DAO, I had to be a specific new character. I could pick my gender and class, although they all looked very similar, but there were less options than DAO which went beyond the typical 3 classes and 2 genders to offer up different races and unique back stories. I really think RPG fans expect more from this genre than a choice between Mage, Warrior or Rouge. I loved DAO and to be honest was hoping for more of the same with DA2. I played DAO through as three different characters - each experience had enough unique elements to keep me coming back for more. I especially liked that I could import my characters into the expansions packs and really enjoyed Awakenings (which in my opinion felt more satisfying as a sequel than DA2).

    DA2 does allow you to import key plot points from your save game, although considering the first character I met in DA2 from DAO was one I killed in DAO - I'm not sure what impact this actually had. To be fair I think the part of DA2 I'm referring to is set before I killed said character in DAO (yep it's a kind of parallel story line as opposed to a continuation), but even so the character looked completely different. Had the name not been mentioned several times, I would not have guessed it was the same character.

    DA2 also has none of the detail or depth of DAO.

    It's highly stylised compared to DAO, icons replace images of weapons and armor in the inventory for example. Part of the fun of DAO was considering the look of the character as much as the features of items - but in DA2 with items represented by icons and the wider camera, you tend to just pick items purely on their stats like an old school Ever Quest game. Icons are a lot more abstract / stylised as well, so aren't always obvious what they represent - particularly the spells and skills. Likewise many back story elements and cut scenes are highly stylized 2d flash style animations. Similar to the flashbacks in the cartoon Mulan. The abstraction / style comes across as an animation cheat rather than an artistic decision.

    The camera perspective is higher and wider than DAO, which has the effect of taking you out of the action and makes the battle field look more like Dynasty Warriors or Warriors Orochi - it's often confusing and the wider view means you see less detail in the charters and models. This is compensated for by the inclusion of non-interactive elaborate "finish him" cut sequences when you kill a boss. Combined with the faster pace and the single action button for attack that triggers combo / attack animations - the fighting feels very much like the Samurai button mashers I mentioned. The combat in DAO was always pretty basic compared to other RPGs, DA2 has simplified it further. The speed of the action also means less detail and more animation cheats for things like spells. Again this more realistic timing has been replaced by stylistic animation loops. Action is broken up by the turn based system, but even this doesn't feel as rewarding as DAO, with the wider view effecting enemy selection. There seems to be more enemies as well, but you seem to be able to take more damage and dispatch them faster than DAO as well. The gaps in the enemy waves allow you to regenerate, so all these aspects combined mean there's less reliance on the turn based tactics and more button mashing. The specialization system is similar to what was on offer in the DAO Expansions, but the layout isn't as clear. With specialization groups displays as trees rather than in a matrix with prerequisites. AI tactics seem better, but probably because combat is less complicated. In terms of visuals, you won't be having any Red Dead Redemption moments.

    Bottom line is it really doesn't feel like a sequel. It feels more like a poor copy or a stylistic re-imagining    … Expand
  27. NoWisdomAtAll
    Mar 9, 2011
    3
    After the scam EA/Bioware pulled with the Signature Edition I decided to buy the regular copy of the game and my experience wasn't very good this whole game seems more like a scam project than a game, as many have said it's shorter than the previous title, the characters are quite interesting upon first meet but then it goes downhill from there. The areas seem different in some ways butAfter the scam EA/Bioware pulled with the Signature Edition I decided to buy the regular copy of the game and my experience wasn't very good this whole game seems more like a scam project than a game, as many have said it's shorter than the previous title, the characters are quite interesting upon first meet but then it goes downhill from there. The areas seem different in some ways but more or less copied and pasted work and for the story.....it wasn't one of Bioware's best. Overall this game as I said in the beginning feels like a giant scam.… Expand
  28. Kehfee
    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    By reading this review you already put more effort forth then the designers did in this game. In fact, Bioware put more effort into trying to bump up the user score on this site then they put into their game.
  29. fitscotgaymer
    Mar 13, 2012
    7
    This game really gets a bum rap as far as games go, and the reason for it is two fold.

    1) The gaming media has so skewed the ratings system that most people think anything less than a 9 or a 10 is positively awful. This is a belief shared by big publishing houses, and by developers also. It has rendered the ratings system useless; and is, I believe, responsible in part for the negative    This game really gets a bum rap as far as games go, and the reason for it is two fold.

    1) The gaming media has so skewed the ratings system that most people think anything less than a 9 or a 10 is positively awful. This is a belief shared by big publishing houses, and by developers also. It has rendered the ratings system useless; and is, I believe, responsible in part for the negative overreaction to this game as evidenced by the inaccurate and unfair Zero's, One's, and Two's.

    2) Bioware's Marketing Department is really really bad. They gave a distinct impression to the fan base about what Dragon Age "2" was going to be like, and then what was delivered was quite different. Which explains much of the backlash.

    Granted none of this was helped by the extremely short development cycle that resulted in a game that feels incomplete and has a really crappy, bland, and boring ending.

    In spite of this however I still feel like a lot of the really low user reviews are unfair, because IMO the game is decent.
    The engine runs much more smoothly, and is much more stable than in Dragon Age Origins. The Character based textures are much cleaner, and much prettier. The dialogue, and interpersonal interactions with NPC companions are much deeper and more emotive than in Dragon Age Origins. And the overall story arc is coherent and mostly complete, even if it ends a little abruptly, and crappily with SuperEvilNinja!Meredith.

    Claims that the combat has been dumbed down to flashy hack'n'slash mechanics are untrue. Combat runs almost exactly the same as in DAO. The differences are mostly cosmetic, with faster animations, a lack of "finishing" moves, and the missing isometric camera.
    Or are different in the execution/presentation of the combat scenes - example: The Parachuting from the Sky Heavily Armoured Waves of enemies, or occasional cut scene "finishing" move.
    Tactics work the same, and talents (although streamlined) work the same. The guts, the actual mechanics of combat are exactly the same.

    If DA2 were an exam, it would get a solid and respectable B IMO (with DAO getting an A).    … Expand
  30. Apz
    Mar 11, 2011
    0
    Dragon Age 2 was incredibly short, and felt unrefined and rushed at many points in the game. Instead of boring you with a long spiel that'd likely repeat some of the strong opinions already voiced here, you should observe Bioware/EA's response. They're kicking and screaming like a bunch of **** Threatening their player base because they made a terrible game. Their reaction is so strongDragon Age 2 was incredibly short, and felt unrefined and rushed at many points in the game. Instead of boring you with a long spiel that'd likely repeat some of the strong opinions already voiced here, you should observe Bioware/EA's response. They're kicking and screaming like a bunch of **** Threatening their player base because they made a terrible game. Their reaction is so strong because even they know their game is so ****… Expand
  31. zwaps
    Mar 9, 2011
    5
    1. Rogue Archer is useless. The NPC dude is much better and it's almost impossible to run from mobs with two rogues and one mage. I had to cheese every single engagement. I hope you get a warrior if you keep playing because ****
    The worst thing: The difficulty on insane is not from tactical depth. All you need is luck and button-mashing (and running around in circles, if your party    1. Rogue Archer is useless. The NPC dude is much better and it's almost impossible to run from mobs with two rogues and one mage. I had to cheese every single engagement. I hope you get a warrior if you keep playing because ****
    The worst thing: The difficulty on insane is not from tactical depth. All you need is luck and button-mashing (and running around in circles, if your party sucks).

    At least I can spec the Dwarf to be melee if I want my character to be ranged.
    Oh wait I can't. That's right, **** your RPG-ism. You play like we want.


    2. The gameplay has nothing to do with tactical RPG. Your only real option is when to press the ability buttons.
    Tactical placement of characters, stealth, backstab etc. doesn't mean **** All you need to do is press the button since _everything_ is an ability now.
    I don't even see what I could be doing differently. There are a few battles where you can chokepoint enemies in doorframes, otherwise there is little to do tactically.
    It feels like half of the elements of BG2 combat are missing. In BG2 I usually ended up planning hard engagements, leading different enemies into traps I set earlier, buying specific items and buffs just for that engagement. DA2 is so far away from that complexity. DA:O wasn't perfect, but it was at least a bit closer.
    Rogue used to be about using a few things like stealing, positioning and stealth. Now it's just like beeing a mage - a Rogue mage.

    Also, I hate the amount of enemies. The screen is littered with em and any amount of tacticality that remained is pretty much an efford in futility. Most mobs should have been about the size of your party, but with interesting foes. I don't even particulary analyze what enemies I am fighting, I am doing the same charade over and over again.
    Miles and miles away from previous RPGs.


    3. You never get to plan ahead anyway, since ALL enemies just drop on you literally. This is the worst thing ever and I can't grasp how they thought this would be a good idea.
    It's almost like Mass Effect 2 now. "Oh look an empty room. Welp, ambush. How surprising"
    Preparation doesn't get you any further. I also haven't used any potions or buffs yet previous to engagements. Maybe it was too early in the game for that though.

    4. Camera angle.. whatever. Isometric view wouldn't have salvaged the gameplay.

    5. Everything feels so restricting. You have almost no choice in what your character does and how he looks etc. Inventory has become more or less obsolete. It doesn't even feel like an RPG in that sense.
    For some reason the character creation process and the initial RPG immersiveness has - for me- never felt so disappointing in any PC RPG.
    It feels like a movie.
    Everytime. Cutscene. Go somewhere, enemies appear out of thin air, second wave, cutscene. Repeat. Every.. single .. time.
    Immersion level is very low. If you care about those things.

    6. Graphics are fine, voice acting is nice etc.

    7. Art style is ****ed. The ****ing Dalish elves look like cartoon characters. This has bothered me the most. It's like an anime. I expect this will be even worse later on. Not that the gameworld is completely unattractive. It just feels like EVERY SINGLE THING they changed is worse than in DA:O.
    I HAVE to use that dwarf with the cyberpunk Machine gun in an high fantasy RPG? Yeah thanks, totally works for me. **** you.

    8. You can interact even less with the gameworld. In the spirit of dumbing it down this is not too surprising. But there is so little loot, so little to pick up or see or get.
    You just don't get the feeling the enemies are actually carrying weapons or whatever.
    It feels like you get a generic reward, instead of actually "going through their stuff for useful ****".
    Feels wrong.

    9. The interface is **** I don't even know why, but it annoys me hugely. Probably because back in the day the interface symbolized a backback or inventory or a spellbook or whatever. Now it's literally a list of computer buttons. Just like the loot is not actual loot, but a computer-given reward. Also feels wrong.



    With a decent story I could see myself buying this for 10â    … Expand
  32. azadi
    Mar 10, 2011
    0
    I been coming to this site for many years now and I never had a need to join the website or give my opinion on a game until now. This game made me lose all my respect for Bioware and I will not buy nor play another one of their games in the future. Which is very meaningful since I brought every single game they created. This game is nothing but a boring button mashing action game. TakingI been coming to this site for many years now and I never had a need to join the website or give my opinion on a game until now. This game made me lose all my respect for Bioware and I will not buy nor play another one of their games in the future. Which is very meaningful since I brought every single game they created. This game is nothing but a boring button mashing action game. Taking place in the same reused dungeon over and over. This is very similar to Modern warfare 2 and is a insult to those who helped support this company for so many years. Let alone the insult from all the greedy downloadable content on day one. Good bye Bioware.… Expand
  33. Gixxer420
    Mar 11, 2011
    0
    The combat in Dragon Age 2 was actually a lot more fun than the original. But the gameplay, story, atmosphere, music, and just about everything else made this game a steamy pile of **** compared to the original. You stay in one area for the ENTIRE game and environments are recycled 5-10 times, holy **** The characters are decent, but it's hard to get attached to them like you could inThe combat in Dragon Age 2 was actually a lot more fun than the original. But the gameplay, story, atmosphere, music, and just about everything else made this game a steamy pile of **** compared to the original. You stay in one area for the ENTIRE game and environments are recycled 5-10 times, holy **** The characters are decent, but it's hard to get attached to them like you could in Origins. Now as a modern game it was mediocre, but for a Dragon Age successor it was a huge disappointment... I think I beat the game 100% in a little over 9 1/2 hours, Dragon Age: Origins took me over 60 hours to fully complete it, huge step backwards. The story was a mess, serious **** mess, I won't spoil it for anyone but no connections are made and it's a huge cluster **** of nothing. The game has polish, but it doesn't have that epic feel like Origins did. Oh well, maybe Dragon Age 3 will be a little different.… Expand
  34. bijhun
    Mar 10, 2011
    0
    I had more fun with trying to catch a ball in the cup. Now THAT is a real game and doesn't have DLC like a for a new cup and new balls that does nothing
  35. girlgamer212
    Mar 9, 2011
    1
    I think the number of Bioware reps jumping onto this site to defend this sorry excuse for a game is pathetic. Oh no! People are actually going to discover what horrible dreck DA2 actually is! In all honesty, I have never been so disappointed from when I bought a game, to actually getting home and playing it. This is the worst game Bioware has ever released, and I played Jade Empire. II think the number of Bioware reps jumping onto this site to defend this sorry excuse for a game is pathetic. Oh no! People are actually going to discover what horrible dreck DA2 actually is! In all honesty, I have never been so disappointed from when I bought a game, to actually getting home and playing it. This is the worst game Bioware has ever released, and I played Jade Empire. I was so upset I even went back to the store and bought the PC version to see if it was any better......WRONG. In addition to being just as boring as the console version, the PC one was buggy beyond belief! I am never buying a Bioware game again without reading reviews first, and NOT the paid-for "professional" reviews.… Expand
  36. Blago
    Mar 9, 2011
    1
    Here's the best analogy I can think of to summarize my feeling about Dragon Age II. Imagine you love heavy metal music and this new band released their debut album (Dragon Age: Origins) a couple years ago and it was simply awesome. Heavy, deep, rewarding. You counted down the days in giddy anticipation to their second album (Dragon Age II). You couldn't wait to see how they couldHere's the best analogy I can think of to summarize my feeling about Dragon Age II. Imagine you love heavy metal music and this new band released their debut album (Dragon Age: Origins) a couple years ago and it was simply awesome. Heavy, deep, rewarding. You counted down the days in giddy anticipation to their second album (Dragon Age II). You couldn't wait to see how they could possibly improve on the first album, but you knew this band would not disappoint. Finally the day is here and you have the album in hand. You put on your best set of cans, press play, and........find out your favorite band sold out and is now producing "pop" music for the masses. Yes, they may sell more albums, but man, what a bummer. Total sell out.… Expand
  37. Sayalero
    Mar 10, 2011
    0
    Bioware: 1995-2011. RIP.

    Murió de casualización aguda, agravada con una fiebre consolera que llevó a la compañía de RPG más grande a no saber ni quién es. Despreció a su antaño fiel base de usuarios, quienes aguantaron pacientemente sus desplantes hasta que DA2: El    Bioware: 1995-2011. RIP.

    Murió de casualización aguda, agravada con una fiebre consolera que llevó a la compañía de RPG más grande a no saber ni quién es. Despreció a su antaño fiel base de usuarios, quienes aguantaron pacientemente sus desplantes hasta que DA2: El Insulto Final dejó claro que el verdadero sueño de Bioware es convertirse en uno de tantos aspirantes (eternamente fracasados) a ocupar el trono de la mediocridad en el que se sienta Call of Duty.

    Menos mal que nos queda CD Project. Y que esto sirva de advertencia para Bethesda.    … Expand
  38. hero_85
    Mar 11, 2011
    0
    Haven't seen such a rush job since Knights of the Old Republic 2. But, at least there they started hacking things out of the game. Here, they decided to just fill the game with copy and pasted areas (seriously). I loved the first game, and pretty much everything else Bioware has done, but this game is a complete joke with all the bugs and terrible looking graphics. Send EA a messageHaven't seen such a rush job since Knights of the Old Republic 2. But, at least there they started hacking things out of the game. Here, they decided to just fill the game with copy and pasted areas (seriously). I loved the first game, and pretty much everything else Bioware has done, but this game is a complete joke with all the bugs and terrible looking graphics. Send EA a message that this is okay, and stay far away from this game (or rent it).… Expand
  39. L0stR3negade
    Mar 26, 2011
    3
    Horrible ending and just like the first game it just falls really short. This game needed more time in development. Not worth 60 dollars at all =(....
  40. acedeck
    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    This game oversimplifies everything! What happened to the "RPG" of DA? While I'm at it, what happened to the story? This game is pure crap. I'm so disappointed in Bioware with this game. I could get by with a terrible story if the characters were interesting, but they simply aren't. Inventory management and items in this game seem so half-assed. Honestly, DA:O was dumbed downThis game oversimplifies everything! What happened to the "RPG" of DA? While I'm at it, what happened to the story? This game is pure crap. I'm so disappointed in Bioware with this game. I could get by with a terrible story if the characters were interesting, but they simply aren't. Inventory management and items in this game seem so half-assed. Honestly, DA:O was dumbed down enough. The amount this game has been dumbed down for universal appeal is beyond ridiculous. I can't recommend this game to anyone, not even as a rental. Save your time for a game that deserves your attention.… Expand
  41. Tata
    Mar 25, 2011
    0
    Bioware, I find your lack of effort disturbing in Dragon Age II.
  42. CitizenCook
    Mar 26, 2011
    4
    A very disappoint sequel.
    The original was disappointing in itself, but this game manages to undermine that effort in almost every way. The combat mechanic has been improved, but the story is boring, and play areas are extremely uninteresting and repetitive. A rushed sequel, one to avoid.
  43. Goikotxea
    Mar 10, 2011
    1
    Not only this is not a step forward from what was already a "not so good but somewhat promising" RolePlaying Game, this is officially two steps back. Some people like to call those gamers that like to think, when playing, other than smashing buttons expecting awesome things to happen, i don't care, i refuse to call what is an extremely dumbed down, very poorly written action game with itsNot only this is not a step forward from what was already a "not so good but somewhat promising" RolePlaying Game, this is officially two steps back. Some people like to call those gamers that like to think, when playing, other than smashing buttons expecting awesome things to happen, i don't care, i refuse to call what is an extremely dumbed down, very poorly written action game with its own, childish concept of "mature content"(which means sex scenes and lots of blood-- give me a break) anything more than horrible. Poor job Bioware.… Expand
  44. Alexandr_n
    Mar 11, 2011
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. She was the most anticipated game of the year. With trepidation, I watched all the interviews and news. And now the game is released. A feeling that we were betrayed and sold.… Expand
  45. remaxjon
    Mar 11, 2011
    2
    Its not that this game is so bad its just that it was such a let down. I really enjoyed the first Dragon age. I played through twice and purchased all the DLC. The biggest problem I had with this game is the magical appearing enemy. I would have my mage in the back being protected by my tank casting spells only to be found defenseless by a buncy of enemys who spawn from no where. ItIts not that this game is so bad its just that it was such a let down. I really enjoyed the first Dragon age. I played through twice and purchased all the DLC. The biggest problem I had with this game is the magical appearing enemy. I would have my mage in the back being protected by my tank casting spells only to be found defenseless by a buncy of enemys who spawn from no where. It was awful. I could write about a lot more that I hated but I really just wanted to get this 2 on the board. 10 hours is what Dragon Age 2 got from me. I just returned the game and got $35 dollar credit from gamestop so I'm out $25. This is the first bioware game ever I have not liked. I really hope they don't ruin mass effect next.… Expand
  46. Valhakar
    Mar 11, 2011
    4
    2o2P/AGE player. First off, this game is a narrative, not a an exploration. You know the ending before you get out of the first act. While this may have worked for the movie "The Princess Bride", if fails miserably at providing an immersion laced plot that makes you care about your party members or the story. I found that the game was pretty much a streamlined RPG to showcase the2o2P/AGE player. First off, this game is a narrative, not a an exploration. You know the ending before you get out of the first act. While this may have worked for the movie "The Princess Bride", if fails miserably at providing an immersion laced plot that makes you care about your party members or the story. I found that the game was pretty much a streamlined RPG to showcase the increased animations and spell effects. Site locations were reused over and over so they bumped up the pretty (only a little) and gutted the unique locations and non-plot based interactions. The dialogue is ONLY for plot progression. No more poking around in the heads of your party members. The combat is improved pace wise but much of the strategy of DA:O is lost. It almost feels like they were looking to compete with the now delayed release of Diablo 3. Even if it was not, it feels rushed and shallow.

    DA2 is akin to dating a blonde coed in college. Pretty to look at and fun to play with for a while, then you find it lacking and uninteresting. Add in the immediate DLC offering, you also get a lighter wallet like said coed. I'll stick with the "quirky brunette" that is DA:O. This will be a financial success for EA, so look for more of the same. I will not be ordering the next installment.    … Expand
  47. Larkin90
    Mar 15, 2011
    1
    dragon age 2 is the worst game made by bioware, the graphics, animations, story,dialogues , character design...all looks really terrible. if i wanted a action rpg i would play diablo. but i expect much more from bioware
  48. DetonNation
    Mar 15, 2011
    3
    What a disappointment... I went out and picked up the game first thing. Repetitive environments! Lack of a story that makes you want to play. I think I notice some of the same environments from Dragon Age 1. They are just recycled! The first Dragon Age was so cool. This one leaves me cold.
  49. KiddPablo
    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    I bought this game because I loved DA Origins so much. I've never been so disappointed. It's horrible. How hard would it have been to use the same engines and mechanics as Origins? No. They completely replaced the game with a dumbed down, buggy, ridiculous game that seems designed to appeal to 10 year-olds. It's a terrible game. Try the Witcher if you're really in need of an RPG fix.
  50. dckburry
    Mar 15, 2011
    0
    First and foremost, this game is pretty terrible. I wonder if any of them have actually played the game really,,, for the most part you can ASSUME anything positive you'll see about this game is an overreaction of personal preference from people in bed with the devil.

    The immersion and combat of this game terribly! A truly puke-worthy and relentlessly stupid story is all you get from    First and foremost, this game is pretty terrible. I wonder if any of them have actually played the game really,,, for the most part you can ASSUME anything positive you'll see about this game is an overreaction of personal preference from people in bed with the devil.

    The immersion and combat of this game terribly! A truly puke-worthy and relentlessly stupid story is all you get from this experience. For what it is, it is a slap in the face to those that enjoyed the first game and certainly done by the B-team. I would be more forthcoming but I don't want to get banned by EA.    … Expand
  51. Corvus
    Mar 18, 2011
    1
    i cant believe what bio did with this game. they take the name of a good rpg and put it on a hack and slash dungeon crawler for consoles. the name of the game reminds of dragon age origins and the theme. nothing else. everything is made with consoles in mind. i don't want to destroy my keyboard and mouse after all. graphics are a joke and the hi res texture pack for pc is nonsense. manyi cant believe what bio did with this game. they take the name of a good rpg and put it on a hack and slash dungeon crawler for consoles. the name of the game reminds of dragon age origins and the theme. nothing else. everything is made with consoles in mind. i don't want to destroy my keyboard and mouse after all. graphics are a joke and the hi res texture pack for pc is nonsense. many say that a good rpg doesn't need good visuals but no one plays text based adventures anymore. we live in 2011.
    the only good thing about the game is that with its lunch dao ultimate edition sells for 18 euros for pc.    … Expand
  52. tbaker
    Mar 27, 2011
    0
    This game is awful. Combat is faster but looks absolutely ridiculous. RPG players usually want more detail - not less. I spent over 120 hours on various playthroughs of Origins (that's more than 5 days). I tapped out and returned my signature edition of DA2 after less than 5 hours. I never write these reviews but I'm hoping it will give Bioware a hint going forward.
  53. RogerWilco2099
    Mar 27, 2011
    6
    Being a Massive fan of Origins I was excited immensely for DA2. While the plot in general doesnt at all disappoint, in fact Bioware know how to add suspense, the simple fact this game is rushed shows over and over again. Bugs (some game breaking), reuse of the same areas, glitches and clipping show how unpolished the game is. Dumbing down on inventory, loot and and simplifying manyBeing a Massive fan of Origins I was excited immensely for DA2. While the plot in general doesnt at all disappoint, in fact Bioware know how to add suspense, the simple fact this game is rushed shows over and over again. Bugs (some game breaking), reuse of the same areas, glitches and clipping show how unpolished the game is. Dumbing down on inventory, loot and and simplifying many things also shows this game was about sales rather then vastly improving the original game. Having said that its still a fun game and Bioware were very mature in including homosexual romances. Something it was nice to see introduced. However the romances in general seemed stale at times compared to Origins. The combat is vastly improved and it shows. However im on my second play now and I discovered how repetitive things can get (not just with same old level aesthetics) but the fact there is no randomness in the enemies you encounter. Its all scripted. But the vastness of choices available and the different ways of doing things means theres plenty of replay value. It may be rushed replaying though as you just want to get it done. Overall, many improvements that are good are overshadowed by its vast amount of flaws, which came as the game was rushed.… Expand
  54. lewoij
    Jun 2, 2011
    5
    Dumbed down RPG, with so-so story , 1 cave and 1 coast combat maps. Console-like, PC unfriendly UI made me rage hard. That is until I saw Witcher 2 implementation which is a new LOW.

    Bottom line, although DA2 is action oriented like TW2, and although having a weaker story and MUCH weaker graphics, DA2 is couple of milestones ahead FUN and GAMEPLAY wise.
  55. Devil_Man_X
    Jul 5, 2011
    3
    The User ratings have this one almost dead on. No it's not the worst game out there but just because you can make a game look relatively pretty doesn't mean it's good. Dragon age suffers from one game breaking flaw, greed. EA and Bioware show their true colors here. They have changed everything that made Dragon Age Origins such an incredible game. Not in the name of improvement but to sellThe User ratings have this one almost dead on. No it's not the worst game out there but just because you can make a game look relatively pretty doesn't mean it's good. Dragon age suffers from one game breaking flaw, greed. EA and Bioware show their true colors here. They have changed everything that made Dragon Age Origins such an incredible game. Not in the name of improvement but to sell more copies. I do see how some of the changes could have been for the better if done properly yet others are just senseless. The battle system needed reworked if only for the console versions. However the changes they made left it feeling less like an RPG and more like a bad hack and slash. Gone are all the deep character customizations. You simply choose gender and class. No more custom backstory. If this was any other franchise it would have been better off. Calling it a sequel to Dragon Age simply ruined it. No one buys a sequel hoping it will be more simplistic with a simple story and fewer options. If you buy a sequel to a beloved franchise you expect it to improve on itself. The story is borderline garbage and the way it's delivered is even worse. Don't get excited for some upcoming exploration or engaging plotline as the game will simply skip ahead just as you're getting into it. Yes this dungeon looks exactly like the last one just make a left here instead of a right. Bioware has openly admitted to using the same dungeon layout multiple times. Here is the bottom line. I like many others was expecting a sequel. Hoping to continue my story or atleast flesh out the world of Dragon Age. Instead I was sold a crappy 5 yr old baldurs gate wannabe with modern graphics. I was not expecting Mass Effect Medieval Edition. Bioware is hands down the most overrated developer around. They consistently make terrible games that have great stories. They really should just consider making movies instead of games. We would all be better off… Expand
  56. Brother3Wright
    Mar 15, 2011
    5
    I get what Bioware was trying to do here. I really do, it's just too bad that they didn't achieve it. Dragon Age 2 isn't a bad game by any means. Where as it's predecessor was a large and sprawling epic that was rough around the edges on PC, and struggled mightily on consoles, Dragon Age 2 is a small and focused story that excels on consoles and feels OK on PC.
    Dumbed down. It's the phrase    I get what Bioware was trying to do here. I really do, it's just too bad that they didn't achieve it. Dragon Age 2 isn't a bad game by any means. Where as it's predecessor was a large and sprawling epic that was rough around the edges on PC, and struggled mightily on consoles, Dragon Age 2 is a small and focused story that excels on consoles and feels OK on PC.
    Dumbed down. It's the phrase that RPG fans use when a game cuts the fat and gets straight to the point. Gone are all the small min/maxing numbers, replaced by one big number and simply increases over time. Gone is your ability to deck out your party with gear. Streamlined is the word that developers use to justify cutting that fat, they've made it easier! They've made is a better version of what you loved before, while getting rid of what stood in the way of it becoming mass market.
    Dragon Age 2 is both of these. Where your party is concerned, it's streamlined. Yes, gone is the min maxing, gone is the gear switching. There are upgrades, but they feel spoon fed and linear compared to the the customization you had in Origins. Honestly though, it doesn't seem all that bad. The biggest gripe I have with it is that when you get gear that's for a class your Hawke isn't, then it's just junk, instead of being a useful piece for a party member.
    Combat too is streamlined. Now hang on a second, almost every review here says that the combat has been dumbed down to a hack 'n slash. Well guess what, they're right, except for when you bring in the difficulty. On casual, normal, and even hard difficulties the game is mostly hack 'n slash, fast, bloody, satisfying combat geared toward the console crowd, and it's wonderful. To PC users however, it's a snooze fest. The combat isn't action packed or strategic, it's downright boring. That's why there's nightmare difficulty. Bioware says hard difficulty is there for this reason too, but even that's too easy. Nightmare adds Origins friendly fire, hard hitting monsters, difficult situations which require thought and strategy. I agree that those things should be there throughout the whole game, but I get that this is the "mass market" version of Dragon Age. While it's not default, the strategy and planning of Origins is there....it's just on the hardest setting.
    No, I'd say most of the game play is as Bioware says, "Streamlined". Where the game gets dumbed down, is the story, character, party interaction, and environments. Let's begin with the story. You're Hawke, your family is forced to leave Lothering during the Blight and you wind up in Kirkwall. That's pretty much it for 2/3rds of the game. There's is no "Save the world" epic here, Bioware has attempted to create a complex city state that brims with politics, greed, and many different factions vying to be heard. Unfortunately, without even the slightest breath of an antagonist it comes off as a series of side stories and jumbled fetch quests. You'll do them because they're in your quest journal but there's nothing there to propel you forward. The worst part about it is that most of those side quest are well written and genuinely good. They do a great job of telling you what Kirkwall as a city is like, they'd be great as part of a bigger whole that moves the city forward instead of just telling you what it is.
    Next up is the character of Hawke. Here again the game splits between dumbed down and streamlined. Having a voiced character is great, and Hawke is a great character compared to the mute Warden in DA:Origins. The issue comes when you compare the choices the Warden had against the one's that Hawke has. The Warden could respond to characters with a plethora of shades of gray. Hawke generally get's a Diplomatic, Sarcastic, and Bold answer. That's pretty much it. While you could generally say that it's ok, just get the tone right because in your head you're basically thinking the same thing, the problem is that while that might be true, half the fun comes from trying to say the right thing amongst all the shades of grey. The system is streamlined, to the point of being dumbed down.
    Lastly in the dumbed down category are the environments. Technically they're much more detailed and beautiful compared to the ones in Origins, but again Bioware seems to be two headed here. They might be better looking, and therefore higher quality, but there just so few of them. This is one argument where I'd go with quantity over quality. For most of the game you're restricted to the city of Kirkwall, which is quite large and expansive. There are also a few areas outside of the city which help to flesh out the "city state" feel to the whole thing. The main issue comes when you go into any dungeon, the map may tell you that there are say 14 dungeons in the whole thing. You'll salivate to get in there, then you suddenly realize that they're all the same dungeon with different areas closed off and sometimes flipped backwards.    … Expand
  57. ruxi
    Mar 15, 2011
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Compared to DA1, the sequel is trash in my honest opinion. The game lacks depth in storytelling, lore and quests. Storytelling was even lower quality than DA1. What I mean is that if I am playing a "movie RPG" like DA2, I expect to see some scripted custom animations, high quality dialogue or even nice prerendered cut scenes but when I completed the game I felt empty handed. I was also expecting to see some advancement in the Dragon Age core lore but after the brief introduction of Flemeth and her reappearance mid-game, the game just kept centering on the Champion of Kirkwall. Lore-wise speaking the game should have been an expansion or DLC to original DA, very much like DA:O. The quests themselves are mindless, which might be enough for some people but I feel that there should be something new to these "go to the point X, kill Y and bring me the Z". Recycling maps is usually acceptable in this kind of games but if we are just running around one city lik in DA2, I get the expression the game was pushed out too early. Every mansion looks the same, every house has the same rooms and even all the close by caves, five or six of them, look completely the same. I felt like playing one of those low grade Asian role-playing game made for kids which would not see the similarity of the maps.

    Combat and skill system is surely better than in DA1. Fighting in general feels more smooth and even thought number of abilities/spells was reduced, I think the general feel of the abilities/spells is better. The "combo states" (staggering etc.) game the fighting a little more depth too but overall these positive features can't save the game.

    All-in-all, I feel like I've brought an overpriced and hurried expansion pack to Dragon Age. Makes me a sad panda.    … Expand
  58. ExiledMimic
    Mar 15, 2011
    2
    Dragon Age 2 takes you on a tour of Kirkwall, a new city outside Ferelden in the Free Marches. You see new culture, a deviation in social standing as well as a different take on several subjects from the original Dragon Age: Origins. As you play through the game you run through both Kirkwall and immediate area outside it's gates doing side quests as well as plot quests that are supposeDragon Age 2 takes you on a tour of Kirkwall, a new city outside Ferelden in the Free Marches. You see new culture, a deviation in social standing as well as a different take on several subjects from the original Dragon Age: Origins. As you play through the game you run through both Kirkwall and immediate area outside it's gates doing side quests as well as plot quests that are suppose to help tell the tale of Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall, as over the course of 7 years (not 10 as advertised) becomes a central person in the events that would change the world.

    Fans of Dragon Age: Origins will like most of the improved combat. No more shuffling to the exact spot to throw a shield slam, or throwing small balls of light from your mage's staff only to hit blocking terrain and do nothing. For those who are playing the console version the auto-attack feature didn't make it onto the disc, so expect to be spam-smashing the A button on your 360 for hours on end while you try to kill anything. You also wont see the tactical decisions you use to make. Instead of controlling the whole party for optimal results, you have more tactics slots to use to make sure that while you smash your buttons to cause damage, your party can function without you for the most part. However the companions are not as reliant on the tactics as they use to be. They have a will of their own at times, and will skip petty things like healing to throw attack spells if the AI thinks it's necessary. Which isn't as bad as you think since this go around a tank OR a healer will get you through all but the most difficult encounters.

    Unlike Origins you also have a more forgiving tier. Casual is about the same, leading you to slaughter the world in order to enjoy the story or just beat the game. Where Normal isn't a huge leap like in Origins, so you don't feel like the learning curve is so severe if you decide to replace at higher challenge levels.

    Companions, this time, are sadly bland. Your class choice (warrior, rogue, mage) decides which of your two siblings survives to reach Kirkwall to begin with. Bethany, your sister, is a mage. So if you choose Warrior or Rogue, you'll have her around to help out. Where Carver, your brother, will be there for you if you play a Mage. Which is fine and good, however by comparing the two companions Bethany is by far the more reasonable and likeable sibling. In terms of story it's a sad thing if you like Mage since Carver is so lack-luster.

    The rest of your companions have their gems. Varric is easy to get along with, and he tells your story throughout the game, but he's not very interesting. He's just a comfortable friend on par with the person you'll use for his skills and get a few chuckles out of his reactions. Isabella is for those who want plenty of sex jokes through the game, and Merrill is the sweet innocent girl who you'll love instantly (even if she practices blood magic). The rest of the companions seem to lack true depth. But each have their moments where they become interesting. Sadly by the time something is there to like you stopped caring.

    The story in Dragon Age: Origins is epic. Defeating the blight and solving problems as you mass an army to do so. In DA2 you're just sort of a bi-standard to the events of the world, even if an important one. The linear angle of the story means most of your choices are simply fluff. You can't affect the world much beyond the scope of how the story lets you. And at times the decisions you make that seem to have real impact, are forgotten by NPCs suddenly for the sake of required conflicts. The perfect example is that if you side with mages constantly, a group of them made up from those you've helped with suddenly decide that you are against them for no reason and require you to fight them.

    The ending tells how rushed the game was as you have more than a few fights that just don't seem to belong. As well as being punished for choosing a side in the end conflict (no matter which side you choose) despite the fact you couldn't decide to sit it out because of how muddled the conflict is. This leads to an ending that will leave you angry that you spent the time you did to get there.

    All in all the game would have been successful as an expansion pack, or perhaps a side game. But as a sequel to DAO it falls very flat and fails to capture the hearts of the player, or breath life into a world you already love. Strangely if you like God of War you will like some of the combat options, or if you like most run-and-smash games that leave gore in your wake. However if you want an immersible RPG experience, this is not the game for you.

    For those who didn't like Origins you'll probably like this game. For those who did? Read the wiki entry soon and just be glad you didn't have to live it. Hawke may be the Champion of Kirkwall, but when it comes down to it? The Warden's dog had more personality and charisma.    … Expand
  59. Danpascooch
    Mar 15, 2011
    6
    If you want my personal opinion the game is pretty broken. At the very front I could barely handle it on hard, but two hours later with a few more abilities I'm on Nightmare because hard is unbearably easy. What kind of difficulty curve is that? The AI are unbelievably stupid when it comes to friendly fire, I'm lucky if Varric doesn't set me on fire with the burst shot ability with theIf you want my personal opinion the game is pretty broken. At the very front I could barely handle it on hard, but two hours later with a few more abilities I'm on Nightmare because hard is unbearably easy. What kind of difficulty curve is that? The AI are unbelievably stupid when it comes to friendly fire, I'm lucky if Varric doesn't set me on fire with the burst shot ability with the default tactical set. When I tell my companions to hold position because I want them positioned a certain way and combat starts about 50% of the time the current action (under their portrait) flickers rapidly between two abilities (indicating an infinite loop) which is really an unforgivable glitch (it mostly occurs when there is a doorway between them and the enemy), what did they expect nobody would use that feature? These two major problems combined with the lack of auto-attack on consoles (which Bioware officially stated was a mistake, that option was supposed to be there) and the shamelessly recycled environments, really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Did I mention the lack of any sort of antagonist? I'm well over 12 hours in and there is no antagonist outside of whatever happens to be the enemy in my current sidequest.

    If you absolutely must buy this game, wait for the inevitable (and likely not too far off) price drop, or borrow it from a friend. It doesn't deserve a 4.2, but it is certainly not up to Bioware's standards, also, did you know that at least one of their employees has post a 10/10 review here posing as a consumer? (that's not my opinion, it's a news story) NOT COOL BIOWARE.    … Expand
  60. xenomorf
    Mar 17, 2011
    5
    With the reputation that Bioware built in the past years, I really wonder whether Bioware is actually satisfied with the performance they delivered and if they would ever be honest about it. Its not about the combat, which in some ways I found satisfying and enjoying despite its less tactical. Its not about the simplification of the RPG system. The worst thing in my opinion is theWith the reputation that Bioware built in the past years, I really wonder whether Bioware is actually satisfied with the performance they delivered and if they would ever be honest about it. Its not about the combat, which in some ways I found satisfying and enjoying despite its less tactical. Its not about the simplification of the RPG system. The worst thing in my opinion is the lifelessness of the story, the characters, the environments. Bioware games stood for epic and immersive storylines, atmosferic environments, deep and evolving charachters and overall...choice. That is gone with DA2. No epic beginning of the story that leaves you wondering where this is all going. The first 8 hours you spend time to try to 'get into the city' jumping from the same locations to the same locations and worse, a lot of 'different' environments are exactly the same. Not just in textures or anything, but EXACTLY the same map with the only difference is that sometimes certain areas of the map are not accessible by a locked door. Compared to ME 1&2, DA:O, KOTOR etc, Bioware should be ashamed of themselves. If this is the new direction Bioware is taking, I am already worried about their future games. I already bought this one blindly like everyone else being negative about the game, but their next game I will consider with greater care. Sorry Bioware, next time better I hope… Expand
  61. mirimar
    Apr 28, 2011
    3
    Another disappointing cash run from a major developer. Clearly rushed; yet most mainstream review blogs and magazines pander to Bioware and give praise to this abortive money grabber. Don't these reviewers know they lose the trust of their readers when they do this?
  62. LD9000
    May 2, 2011
    1
    This game is very disappointing. The plot is on rails, and the same X number of locations are reused ad nauseum. The dialog wheel takes away from the quality of interactions, and doesn't really offer any choices. You say what you have to say, just in 3 different forms...

    Now if you take Dragon Age out of the title, the score may be something like 6 or so. It's an ok action rpgish game.    This game is very disappointing. The plot is on rails, and the same X number of locations are reused ad nauseum. The dialog wheel takes away from the quality of interactions, and doesn't really offer any choices. You say what you have to say, just in 3 different forms...

    Now if you take Dragon Age out of the title, the score may be something like 6 or so. It's an ok action rpgish game. It's not deserving of the Dragon Age Title    … Expand
  63. kalisnik
    May 20, 2011
    1
    Absolutly the biggest crap I ever played..Graphic is soooooooooo ugly,gameplay and story is boring ugly and It seems ea and bioware wants to just earn money,becose if this have to be serius game thay all must be fools
  64. Rizla
    Mar 16, 2011
    4
    It's sad that this game has turned out how it has. Where i would play DA:O hours on end cause it immersed me into a beautiful world with diversity and a compelling story, i have to take a break from DA II every half hour because of the fatigue the game gives me, it's the same thing over and over, covered in bland and repeating surroundings and a general 'meh' feeling toward anythingIt's sad that this game has turned out how it has. Where i would play DA:O hours on end cause it immersed me into a beautiful world with diversity and a compelling story, i have to take a break from DA II every half hour because of the fatigue the game gives me, it's the same thing over and over, covered in bland and repeating surroundings and a general 'meh' feeling toward anything character or story wise.

    I miss bird eye view alot when positioning party members, which is a shame since you haveto reposition alot due to enemies spawning out of nowhere. Simplified loot system is so uninteresting and easy to get around with that it's an annoyance to be bothering with.

    Managing companions has been reduced to giving them jewelry. I never liked Massive effect to start with and the introduction of that wheel selection thing is just horrid to me.

    In the end i felt like all options that would activate some braincells have been reduced to such simple tasks that i can't find it more challenging than setting one foot in front of another. It's so straightforward and linear :-S

    The character selection system is restrictive and doesn't offer in any way what DA:O did, not at all. I don't feel like i'm playing a unique character at all in this game.

    This game might of been received better if it hadn't been named the sequel to DA:O. But even if you take the first game out of the picture it still doesn't add up to a very good game in it's genre. I'd say i would rate it a 6 without ever playing DA:O. It's just not good. :(    … Expand
  65. drumbunny
    Mar 17, 2011
    6
    It's not a bad game but definitely no RPG, not to speak of a Dragon Age... The story also is far less dramatic and interesting than in DAO. Damn those casuals :(
  66. whisky
    May 5, 2011
    0
    DA2 is a huge disappointment. Being a sequel to DA:O, it has nothing to do with the Dragon Age universe. Instead, DA2 told some lame story about politics and earning money. Some of you may think it's ridiculous to give this game a zero, but I'll tell you why: Ugly art style, bland environments, ugly user interface, no tactical camera, exploding bodies parts, thousands waves of teleportingDA2 is a huge disappointment. Being a sequel to DA:O, it has nothing to do with the Dragon Age universe. Instead, DA2 told some lame story about politics and earning money. Some of you may think it's ridiculous to give this game a zero, but I'll tell you why: Ugly art style, bland environments, ugly user interface, no tactical camera, exploding bodies parts, thousands waves of teleporting enemies, DMC combat style, no companion interactions, boring companions, boring ugly city, recycle maps, no armor customization for companions, retarded darkspawn design, painfully boring story and conversations choices. If I give a minus (-1) for every bad aspect above, DA2 will get a negative score. Sadly, we all know it's impossible to give a negative score, so zero is my only choice.… Expand
  67. Kosma
    May 8, 2011
    4
    Simple, dumbed down, lacking everything that made the original have such potential. Bland story, constant reusing of the same locales.

    This is the most disappointing game of 2011 so far, feels like a budget cash-in for Bioware.
  68. azza
    May 11, 2011
    2
    I used to really love Bioware and every game they made. KOTOR was fantastic as was Mass Effect. With Dragon Age: Origins being such an amazing game i expected Dragon Age 2 to be of the same calibre but it simply wasn't. They seem to have a problem when it comes to sequels, they get them all wrong. Mass Effect 2 is another example, while it was still a good game, not great, it paled inI used to really love Bioware and every game they made. KOTOR was fantastic as was Mass Effect. With Dragon Age: Origins being such an amazing game i expected Dragon Age 2 to be of the same calibre but it simply wasn't. They seem to have a problem when it comes to sequels, they get them all wrong. Mass Effect 2 is another example, while it was still a good game, not great, it paled in comparison to the original. If something is working great, it should keep the main elements and build upon it, not completely change everything about it. Dragon Age: Origins was a true core RPG and that was why it received such praise. So why shift the focus to action and put story telling on the back burner? Was it so it would appeal to a mass market and make Bioware and EA more money, at the cost of alienating fans of the original? I don't know but i hope they fix these issues in the next one, which at this stage i donâ… Expand
  69. sg1fan75
    May 20, 2011
    1
    The speed of combat was good and smooth, the story is so weak and boring. Being stuck in 1 city was dumb and usually Bioware is know for strong story. I did like the Magic powers they were fun. The only being human sucked. The repetitive environments made me angry I will never buy any Dragon Age games again very disappointed by this game.
  70. tzedan
    Jun 20, 2011
    4
    Bioware should have released this game first and then DAO; that would at least give the impression of improvement. As it stands, this game provides no continuity of significance with Dragon Age Origins. The game play is dumbed down, the character development is no where to be found and the plot is weak. Seems like Bioware is betting all it's money on Mass Effect 3. I just hope then don'tBioware should have released this game first and then DAO; that would at least give the impression of improvement. As it stands, this game provides no continuity of significance with Dragon Age Origins. The game play is dumbed down, the character development is no where to be found and the plot is weak. Seems like Bioware is betting all it's money on Mass Effect 3. I just hope then don't mess that game up.… Expand
  71. SupR_G
    Mar 14, 2012
    3
    An absolute mess of a game. Buggy, full of nonsensical subplots and scenery that is constantly recycled in a way that just comes off as lazy - this game did not impress me. In terms of story and writing, it paled in comparison to Dragon Age: Origins and just came off as a cheap sequel you would see in theaters (like Speed 2). While I found some of the artistic re-designs of familiar racesAn absolute mess of a game. Buggy, full of nonsensical subplots and scenery that is constantly recycled in a way that just comes off as lazy - this game did not impress me. In terms of story and writing, it paled in comparison to Dragon Age: Origins and just came off as a cheap sequel you would see in theaters (like Speed 2). While I found some of the artistic re-designs of familiar races was refreshing and gave more distinction, overall the game suffered from the lack of a coherent and compelling story. Some of the characters got on my nerves and combat had little substance. The entire game seemed to forebode some "great threat" that we never see or understand, and the ending simply gives a cliffhanger into the next game. On top of this, the DLC is terrible and slapped together with little care. All in all a poor game that I would recommend to nobody.… Expand
  72. safteygamerpro
    Jul 6, 2014
    8
    Dragon age 2 was very fun Boware improved the gameplay (finally i hated the slow paced action from the first one) the side quests are really fun the main story feels like a side quest to me but i liked the side quests the characters were fun the one thing that made this rpg more fun than others were 3 types of a person you could be instead of just good or bad which you can be but you canDragon age 2 was very fun Boware improved the gameplay (finally i hated the slow paced action from the first one) the side quests are really fun the main story feels like a side quest to me but i liked the side quests the characters were fun the one thing that made this rpg more fun than others were 3 types of a person you could be instead of just good or bad which you can be but you can also be funny (which is my favorite) Overall dragon age 2 is a fun game that feels like it has no main campaign just side quests which are fun awesome gameplay fun characters and good graphics I highly recommend this game… Expand
  73. Daggerrim
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    Do not listen to the haters of this game. I for one didn't really like Dragon Age Origins but this game even though the combat could use some work.
    It's better than what everyone else says so give it a try because if you're like me than you'll love it
  74. Vaeleth
    Mar 22, 2011
    4
    I could write an essay on this game. I'll keep it short....

    Good: *Classes and skills have much more synergy. *Companion dialog remains witty and amusing. *Companion quests are fun. *Initial story is OK *Crafting is streamlined. - Some don't like this change, it made the game less tedious. The BAD: *The game and environments are hollow. Kirkwall is nice, but it is a ghost town. All    I could write an essay on this game. I'll keep it short....

    Good:
    *Classes and skills have much more synergy.
    *Companion dialog remains witty and amusing.
    *Companion quests are fun.
    *Initial story is OK
    *Crafting is streamlined. - Some don't like this change, it made the game less tedious.

    The BAD:
    *The game and environments are hollow. Kirkwall is nice, but it is a ghost town. All dialog is scripted.
    *Copy and pasted environments are a kick in the balls.
    *Imported saves from DA:O hold no impact.
    *Dialog wheel is misleading.
    *Most boss fights are just tedious attrition kites.
    *Linear environments. You literally cannot explore at all. There are no hidden goodies to be found.
    *Para dropping enemies. All fights come in waves of enemies that appear out of nowhere.
    *Linear story. Your actions have zero impact on the MAIN story.
    *You cannot interact with companions past the rare and quick scripted events.
    *Character cameos from DA:O are forced and hold no meaning.
    *Day 1 DLC that tries to milk more money out of you. Another kick in the balls.
    *The game falls flat in the end. The outcome is the same, regardless of everything you've done.
    *Most equipment is junk, most loot is junk. - Literally. You just killed a boss? He drops... Junk and one good item. -If you are lucky.
    *Bugged quests.
    *Side quests are hollow and pointless. You loot an item and magically know to give it to x or y stranger for gold. ZERO dialog.
    *Enemies just explode, not finishers are satisfying animations.    … Expand
  75. Hunterx1x
    Feb 4, 2012
    0
    This game is an insult to players who have played DA:O. I do not see how Mike Laidlaw could have allowed this half***ed game to be released. Does he really think customers are that dumb that we wouldn't notice the recycled maps? Or he just didn't care because he's making good money off it? I played DA:O beginning to finish over 10 times and couldn't even finish DA2 a second time as a mageThis game is an insult to players who have played DA:O. I do not see how Mike Laidlaw could have allowed this half***ed game to be released. Does he really think customers are that dumb that we wouldn't notice the recycled maps? Or he just didn't care because he's making good money off it? I played DA:O beginning to finish over 10 times and couldn't even finish DA2 a second time as a mage versus a warrior. I could go on and on but it's not worth it. I will wait and see DA3's USER reviews first before I think about buying it. Same goes for ME3(… Expand
  76. coelo
    Mar 14, 2012
    0
    This game sucks so bad.
    Graphics are not as good as the first DA.

    Also, the environment just repeats over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over...


    See how it felt to have to read that?
    That's how it feels to play DA II.

    The game sucks hard.
  77. weedlord
    Nov 9, 2011
    0
    There was no button-awesome connection for me. I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry!
  78. technoboy2008
    Nov 17, 2011
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game didn't meet my expectations and failed miserably on some fronts.
    I don't understand how people can rate it 9 or 8.
    I gave this game a fair 4 for the following reasons.

    The Positives:
    1;The Non-Linear plot of the game keeps you interested in this game to the very end. I used to take different decisions at a save point just to see how the story unfolded in each case.
    I finished the game as "Male Warrior",then beat it again with a "Male Mage".The point here is that the game doesn't end once beaten but there is a possibility to explore the game in 6 different classes/genders each having substantial effect on the story-line.
    2;Then the choice to choose your character's Gender and class in the beginning of the game is something which is unique and deserves praise.
    3;The graphics are just "fine".
    4;The XP system is quite good.

    The Negatives:
    1;The game has very few main quests which are actually a part of the story.a good chunk of quests are wasted on "Deep Roads Expedition" as a means to raise money for the expedition. They should have had more main quests which would gradually unfold the story and keep the Gamers interested not just the side quests which are meant for gaining XP,money,Amulets,Junk e.t.c
    The side quests are a liability.
    2;Even on "Nightmare" difficulty level,the battles seem too easy.
    3;i personally felt that the "Warrior" and "Rogue" class had very few good moves as compared to the "Mage" class.

    ***The worst part is that the "Negatives" overshadow the "Positives" of this game.***

    This game did all that was needed to defame it successor DA:Origins which was the "Game Of The Year" and succeeded. The success of sequel should not be expected to come from the reputation of the prequel.The "Dragon Age" name carries a distinct weight and importance but this game leaves you disappointed. I am very disappointed with this game and i don't think i'll be following "The Dragon Age" franchise in future.
    Bioware truly didn't deliver what was expected of them.    … Expand
  79. Loco
    Jan 9, 2012
    1
    Dear EA,

    We all know that you corrupt the poor developers who join your money-making operation, and I don't mind any more. I don't even care that you have sucked the soul out of Bioware, who used to be one of the best developers in the industry. It hurts, but I can deal with you killing talent in the way that you do. It's in your nature. I'm beyond complaining. But killing Dragon Age?    Dear EA,

    We all know that you corrupt the poor developers who join your money-making operation, and I don't mind any more. I don't even care that you have sucked the soul out of Bioware, who used to be one of the best developers in the industry. It hurts, but I can deal with you killing talent in the way that you do. It's in your nature. I'm beyond complaining.

    But killing Dragon Age? After all the promise the first game had? All that potential, just wasted? Even you, EA, must recognise that you've crossed a line too far this time.

    So go ahead. Kill my favourite developers. Drain the life out of the whole industry if you have to. But leave Dragon Age alone. For the love of Ferelden, please, stop Mass Effect-ing what was once the greatest RPG franchise of this generation. Even you have to draw the line somewhere.

    -Loco    … Expand
  80. Crustypirate
    Jan 17, 2012
    0
    The story of dragon age 2 has a number of problems but the most evident one is that it doesn't have any relevance to the dragon age series in the slightest. In fact It feels more at home in the assassins creed universe. My best guess at bioware's thinking is that they wanted to cash in on the success of the assassins creed games and were pushed for time by EA their publisher. TheThe story of dragon age 2 has a number of problems but the most evident one is that it doesn't have any relevance to the dragon age series in the slightest. In fact It feels more at home in the assassins creed universe. My best guess at bioware's thinking is that they wanted to cash in on the success of the assassins creed games and were pushed for time by EA their publisher. The gameplay would be fine if not for the fact that this game bears the title of dragon age 2. The second game in a series is supposed to improve upon a game, refine and add to the mechanics and deliver a better experience. Dragon age 2 dumbs down already simple combat bringing it to a pathetic hack and slash style. Complexity and large numbers of abilities have been thrown out due to bioware attempting to build the game for a controller one of the worst design decisions that can ever be made yet I see repeated over and over. Basically the game is a simplified husk devoid of any interesting lore or gameplay. Do not waste your money on this garbage.… Expand
  81. Klijpo
    Feb 28, 2012
    7
    Certainly a mixed bag, Dragon Age 2 gets a lot of unfair criticism in among the well landed blows. Coming out only 16 months after 2009's Dragon Age: Origins, the follow up feels rushed and unpolished. The new more action oriented combat system, while pacier than its predecessors pedestrian fighting, also lacks some of the tactical planning, and could have done with more development. WorseCertainly a mixed bag, Dragon Age 2 gets a lot of unfair criticism in among the well landed blows. Coming out only 16 months after 2009's Dragon Age: Origins, the follow up feels rushed and unpolished. The new more action oriented combat system, while pacier than its predecessors pedestrian fighting, also lacks some of the tactical planning, and could have done with more development. Worse is the repeated use of the same maps over and over, which makes the exploration feel repetitive. However, despite the quick turnaround the story does not suffer much for it. Eschewing the epic battle against all odds of the previous game (and many other game narratives), DA2 is a character study of the (male or female) protagonists Hawke and his or her friends and family, told over 7 to 10 years, in 3 main acts. Fully voiced (using the same kind of dialogue wheel system from Mass Effect) and well written and acted, there are many subtle and clever subplots and arcs woven through the main narrative, mostly involving a cast of well developed characters all with back stories ranging from intriguing to powerful. BioWare have at least tried something different with the storyline, and while it does get a little restrictive towards the end, it is mostly successful. If it had had a few more months to solidify the story, and polish up the gameplay and environments, it could have as much improved over the original as Mass Effect 2 was to Mass Effect. However, the gameplay problems, while disappointing, are by no means terrible, and the game is still an entertaining experience for 30-40 hours or so. That hate this game gets is certainly extremely excessive, and it should not deter BioWare in trying out different types of story to tell.… Expand
  82. bubblegumNtaffy
    Mar 3, 2012
    0
    The first RPG game I ever played was KoTOR. From then on I was instantly hooked, even calling it my favorite game. I bought every Bioware release from then on. Although Oblivion eventually replaced KoTOR as my favorite RPG/game of all time, Bioware continued to make me happy. I enjoyed Jade Empire, loved Mass Effect, and honestly I was mesmerized by Dragon Age. No story has fully engrossedThe first RPG game I ever played was KoTOR. From then on I was instantly hooked, even calling it my favorite game. I bought every Bioware release from then on. Although Oblivion eventually replaced KoTOR as my favorite RPG/game of all time, Bioware continued to make me happy. I enjoyed Jade Empire, loved Mass Effect, and honestly I was mesmerized by Dragon Age. No story has fully engrossed me as Dragon Age did. The characters were real. The plot was fantastic and felt as though ti was fully customizable and world that was yours to develop. Lets get this out of the way first, I have always been a console boy. Now onto DA2.... I have never been more let down by a video game. EVER. If you thought Mass Effect 2 was bad then you're in for a rude awakening. Mass Effect 2 at least kept me interested in the ME world. I have completely lost interest in everything relating to the DA world. I was bored the second hour into this game. The combat, is only slightly entertaining... for the first couple of fights. There is no tactical advantage at all. The only reason I finished the game was to finish the game. The game was pure filth. I honestly cannot say any more that anyone else hasn't said. Even those who have been at Bioware for years agree with most here. If you go to Wikipedia you'll read this:

    During the pre-development of the game, Brent Knowles, a veteran lead designer who had been with Bioware for a decade and the central figurehead behind Dragon Age: Origins, decided to resign during the designing process of Dragon Age II and eventually left the company, stating "I'm not the same person I was when I started, and BioWare isn't the same company."[10] He later went on to clarify his decision to leave, elaborating "I never thought Dragon Age 2 would be a terrible game. It was just that a highly cinematic, action-leaning RPG wasnâ    … Expand
  83. TheVindelator
    Mar 5, 2012
    2
    This game was a big disappointment for me. A huge step down from the original. The world is so incredibly small and limited. What I thought was the starting city turned out to be the entire game.

    If you haven't played Dragon Age Origins 1st, absolutely don't buy this. Play the original.
  84. Notonlytheend
    Apr 3, 2012
    1
    If this game didn't have the "Dragon Age" in it's title, it wouldn't have gotten any attention. It's a crap game with a good trailer. The story is confined to the same city and dungeon maps you'll see till you can run through them blind. Your "friends" can barely be called that as they all just pine over some obsession for the course of the game. The character customization is far lessIf this game didn't have the "Dragon Age" in it's title, it wouldn't have gotten any attention. It's a crap game with a good trailer. The story is confined to the same city and dungeon maps you'll see till you can run through them blind. Your "friends" can barely be called that as they all just pine over some obsession for the course of the game. The character customization is far less than previous or comparable games. And the combat isn't fun or tactical. The RPG element have been stripped to appeal to action gamers. They want a wider audience, but it just ends up alienating anyone older than 12. Finally, the story tries to be dark. It's not dark. It's damn bleak. The vast majority of the people you meet are the worse for the encounter and nothing you do can ebb a coming war. At the end, everything stands in ruin and you just walk away. Personally, I don't play videogames to be depressed. I play to save the world and be the hero. They went for dark, they hit train wreck tragedy.… Expand
  85. Tubey
    Jul 3, 2012
    2
    This game, along with Fable 3, destroyed my RPG soul in the space of six months, as these two releases made me realise that big studios no longer give a monkeys about producing a technically proficient game; rather, they're more interested in rushing a half finished product out the door as soon as possible to bring in the cash.

    My proof? The game is graphically inferior to Dragon Age 1,    This game, along with Fable 3, destroyed my RPG soul in the space of six months, as these two releases made me realise that big studios no longer give a monkeys about producing a technically proficient game; rather, they're more interested in rushing a half finished product out the door as soon as possible to bring in the cash.

    My proof? The game is graphically inferior to Dragon Age 1, for a start. Not really sure how that's possible but it's true. The script has either never seen an active revision by a team of writers before release, or the whole team are raving idiots. This is the same company that brought us the amazing Jade Empire... it's beggars belief a game of this low quality passed through their doors.

    Gameplay? Awful. So very dumb to the extent that this is a generic hack and slasher with little to no requirement for strategy. Again, in stark contrast to the first game. Character development - something that should be a standard for an RPG, right? Nope. Nothing. In fact, three months after playing this title I dare you to recall three names from it. The sound effects and general atmosphere, so immersive in DA1, are completely gone. So how about the ability to move around the open world, discover places etc.? Nope, it's as linear as they come. In fact, it's almost a dungeon crawler. DA1 let you off the beaten track for a while which worked, even if you had to go back to the main story after a while; DA2 doesn't let you do this at all, ever. This would be forgivable, if the story was fine tuned and memorable, but no, no, no. It's completely generic and something your average 15 year old emo could write in a week. The completely irony is that if they'd taken the original Dragon Age graphics engine and overall game and just slapped a new story on it with reskinned characters, then they'd have had a hit. Instead, they managed to balls up everything (and I mean everything; not one single improvement and no redeeming qualities introduced) on the previous game.

    So thanks Bioware and Lionhead, you've destroyed my gaming innocence and the long held hope that some gaming studios actually gave a monkeys about making a decent game first and a profit second.

    The worst game of 2011 when taking into account the overall execution and expectations of the title. So bad, that I can no longer play Dragon Age: Origins without feeling angry about the franchise as a whole.

    So, just like Fable 3, this is potentially a franchise killer. A heartless, soulless train wreck of a game that doesn't deserve so much as $10 from anyone unlucky enough to find this in a bargain bin somewhere down the line. A game so bad that whenever I check for a review of a new game on a website, I check to see what score they gave Dragon Age 2. If it's anything over 6/10, I move on, as it'd be a ludicrous score. For me, 2/10, and those two points are solely for the fact that the game works when you put the disc in and it responds to the actions of your control pad. That's it.    … Expand
  86. noesis790
    Jun 18, 2012
    0
    I created an account just so I could review this game.
    This is a sequel that takes a step backward in almost every area of the game.
    It doesn't even compare to Dragon Age: Origins.
    Skip.
  87. ChrisGames
    Oct 23, 2012
    0
    This is the worst video game i have ever played without a doubt. You will go to the same cave 100 times, and each time the game will rename the cave, telling you it is a new and mysterious place you have never seen before. And then its just the exact same cave. Bioware has no shame for releasing something like this.
  88. Vehement
    Jun 25, 2012
    0
    Bad game. Bioware took everything I loved about DA:O,and destroyed them in DA2. Stiff, locked, and awkward hack and slash really messed up DA2 for me. The characters in DA2 is no where as interesting and heartfelt like Origin. What happened to the many choices I can pick? Why am I getting a choice wheel? This is not f'n Mass Effect. Also, Tons of fetching/killing quests that willBad game. Bioware took everything I loved about DA:O,and destroyed them in DA2. Stiff, locked, and awkward hack and slash really messed up DA2 for me. The characters in DA2 is no where as interesting and heartfelt like Origin. What happened to the many choices I can pick? Why am I getting a choice wheel? This is not f'n Mass Effect. Also, Tons of fetching/killing quests that will have you backtracking the same map over and over and over again. DA2 and ME3 really dropped my confidence in Bioware's game quality.… Expand
  89. hiimbigdave
    Jul 2, 2012
    0
    After playing the marvellous game that was the original Dragon Age this will be nothing but a disappointment to any person who chooses to play it. I suggest you instead use your time wisely and instead grind you way to the next prestige level in Call of Duty
  90. Rox22
    Dec 12, 2012
    7
    There is allot wrong with this game. It feels like it was rushed and released far to quickly. The repeated environments and rather poorly rendered character models (aside from Isabella) are proof of this. HOWEVER, production SNAFUs aside, the game is pretty good. I loved the almost all the characters (I just love Merrill to bits!) Story is really dark and really focuses on the Templars vsThere is allot wrong with this game. It feels like it was rushed and released far to quickly. The repeated environments and rather poorly rendered character models (aside from Isabella) are proof of this. HOWEVER, production SNAFUs aside, the game is pretty good. I loved the almost all the characters (I just love Merrill to bits!) Story is really dark and really focuses on the Templars vs Mages theme. A really clever comparison to the church vs free thinking of the dark ages (but I'm sure the average gamer didn't notice this.) Overall: A good really good game with a great story and solid combat mechanics, but it should have left in production for at least a further 6 months. This is what happens when you rush. A shame.… Expand
  91. Socratease
    Feb 16, 2013
    2
    Worst. Bioware game. Ever. At least Mass effect 3 did a pretty good job of covering up its crappyness. With dragon age 2, however, bioware seemed to think it a rather amusing joke to throw as much said crappyness as possible at their consumers, AND BOY WAS THERE A LOT OF IT!!

    First off, the only two characters in the game that were even marginally interesting were the antagonist, and    Worst. Bioware game. Ever. At least Mass effect 3 did a pretty good job of covering up its crappyness. With dragon age 2, however, bioware seemed to think it a rather amusing joke to throw as much said crappyness as possible at their consumers, AND BOY WAS THERE A LOT OF IT!!

    First off, the only two characters in the game that were even marginally interesting were the antagonist, and Varric, the dwarf without a beard!!!

    Nobody reacted to ANYTHING you did (EX: stealing from a guard, using magic RIGHT. IN FRONT. OF TEMPLARS, drawing your weapon in public, etc. I thought this series was going to evolve, not devolve). It`s not a living, breathing world like ME1s and DA:Os were: it`s a bland, empty, artists nightmare filled with carboard cut outs in place of NPCs. The facial animations are terrible. Half the NPCs look like they had their faces partially melted, and the elves looked like retarded little fairy creatures. bu-but the protagonist is fully voiced!!

    Whoopdie. Fu--ing. Doo. Does it make up for the other 98% of the games bad parts?

    But the combat is more action oriented!

    Did dragon age ever NEED to be a mindless hack n slash?! Did it ever need to be something so witless that only the hapless little lab monkeys at EA games and Activision would find it enjoyable?!

    Somethings rotting in the state of bioware and it has a name: Electronic. Goddamned. Arts.

    Dragon age was, WAS, the spiritual successor to Baldurs gate and Neverwinter nights. But now it`s a final fantasy wannabe, complete with final fantasy rejects (Fenris. Nough said).

    Who in their right mind would give this game a score any higher than a 3/10?! Oh, that`s right: the bought and paid for game ''journalists'', if that`s what you want to call them. Personally, i think a more appropriate term for them would be: corporate spokespersons. Pay no attention to those pravda rejects.

    This game is NOT AN RPG by ANY stretch of the imagination: it`s a witless hack n slash for six year olds, and should be burned in the streets along with similar games like mindjack and, lets count sand (okay, i made that up, but you get the point). Unless you`re six years old and don`t know any better yet, DO NOT buy this game!!    … Expand
  92. Theraton
    Feb 4, 2013
    1
    A waste of time. The beginning was very promising. Interesting new talent system, good graphic, new world/adventures. So much to discover.... Ye not really. The first act was kinda good, but there will much more to see in the second? No! You walk the following 20 hours in the same dungeons. To be precise: There are only 2 cavemaps total, whatever cave you enter, you are on the same mapA waste of time. The beginning was very promising. Interesting new talent system, good graphic, new world/adventures. So much to discover.... Ye not really. The first act was kinda good, but there will much more to see in the second? No! You walk the following 20 hours in the same dungeons. To be precise: There are only 2 cavemaps total, whatever cave you enter, you are on the same map just another entrance. this map recycling!! The whole game world map is as big as one event in Dragon age Origins. The "boss fights" are very poor also. No special abilities for your main hero. This game was way to fast published, and the fault goes 100 to EA… Expand
  93. BigDegs29
    Nov 12, 2014
    8
    I enjoyed this game every bit as much as Dragon Age: Origins, and hence I'm giving it the same 8/10 rating. Where Dragon Age 2 excels is in Bioware's mainstay: story and characters. It's a sizable improvement over DA:O in both regards. As much as I loved the characters in the original, I have to say I was even more invested in the characters of DA2. And the way Varric narrates theI enjoyed this game every bit as much as Dragon Age: Origins, and hence I'm giving it the same 8/10 rating. Where Dragon Age 2 excels is in Bioware's mainstay: story and characters. It's a sizable improvement over DA:O in both regards. As much as I loved the characters in the original, I have to say I was even more invested in the characters of DA2. And the way Varric narrates the story is just genius! It's obvious focusing on a smaller world led to a more focused and detailed story.

    I also like the wave combat that some people deride. The problem with large battles that don't use the wave mechanic is that you get overwhelmed to begin with, but if you somehow manage to make it through that the battle becomes a breeze as you mop up. The wave mechanic takes care of that by preventing you from getting overwhelmed early, and still presenting a challenge later on in the battle. Unfortunately, I think they'll steer clear of this in the future given the negative criticism they received.

    Graphics also received a bit of a boost, though not as much as could have been hoped.

    Now the bad. The world is smaller than even I would like, and I'm not a huge proponent of open worlds (I've yet to find an open world that offers the amount of detail I desire in games). You're confined to one city and the surrounding area. What's worse is that even though the game area is small, different locations look almost exactly the same. It's blatantly obvious and very disappointing. However, if you can overlook that laziness it doesn't really have an impact on the gameplay.

    Another thing I don't like is that they seem to have gone away from tactical combat and focused more on action-oriented gameplay. I dislike this direction a lot. I can get that from other games. I want Dragon Age to to tactical.

    DA2 is a great game that people have unfairly punished for being too small. 0/10? Get a life! 10/10? Get real! This game is worthy of at least a 4/10 from even the strictest critic, but it has too many flaws to be perfect. I give it as 8/10 because I truly believe that's what it deserves. It's a hell of a lot of fun, and could have been even greater if Bioware allowed themselves the time to polish the game.    … Expand
  94. XRaidenX
    May 26, 2015
    10
    The game is not better than the first, but does not deserve a 4. The game is good .
  95. Masgerr
    Jan 13, 2015
    9
    Some how I managed to skip this game when it came out probably, playing some MMO or something. But played through Inquisition and seem to be missing some key story points so I bought this and have been working my way through it. It is a great story with a good amount of dialog. The game play is old school and takes a minute to fall back into that old mod but once you get there and immerseSome how I managed to skip this game when it came out probably, playing some MMO or something. But played through Inquisition and seem to be missing some key story points so I bought this and have been working my way through it. It is a great story with a good amount of dialog. The game play is old school and takes a minute to fall back into that old mod but once you get there and immerse into you feel right at home.
    Not being able to jump has been my biggest problem the space bar is the pause button on this one and the jump button on the other. I do play on PC and id use a graphic enhancer to upgrade it a little.
    It does offer a lot more challenging combat than Inquisition.
    Worth the time to go back and play if you haven't.    … Expand
  96. overtimeneowar
    Jun 17, 2015
    10
    This game is a very good RPG, have many characters very interesting and the desitions can change a lot the course of the game, very good than DAO, no all RPG are about open world but even whiout that can make you feel you are part of the history line
  97. mikereview
    Aug 1, 2018
    2
    Dragon Age 2 plays like an unimaginative console port. The story is lackluster, the battle consists of brainless button mashing and the graphics are ugly and dated. They even recycled several maps. There's very little this game has in common with either DA1 or DA:Inquisition except the name. It is a turd sandwich so stay away from this game.
  98. gqmasters3
    May 11, 2019
    2
    I cannot give this game a "zero" because it IS playable and it has a mild amusement value, but it is the worst sequel ever. The game is clearly very rushed, dungeons are reused over and over (to the degree it is insulting to the gamer), you spend the entire game in one town and the plot is quite scattered and unengaging. I personally did not like the different battle gameplay, but it isI cannot give this game a "zero" because it IS playable and it has a mild amusement value, but it is the worst sequel ever. The game is clearly very rushed, dungeons are reused over and over (to the degree it is insulting to the gamer), you spend the entire game in one town and the plot is quite scattered and unengaging. I personally did not like the different battle gameplay, but it is not terrible.… Expand
  99. wormhole
    Mar 9, 2011
    0
    this game sux in any way it can. worst console port ever. DA1 was good RPG, not perfect but just good.
    DA2 is just step back: bad graphics, bad gameplay, bad story and incredible high requirements.

    if u want play good cRPG just stay away from DA2. it's waste of ur time
  100. ferghshe
    Mar 10, 2011
    0
    Remember when games were fun? Remember a time before bioware and activision. Yea those were fun times.. when people didn't think of the gaming industry as a way to get rich quick.
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Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2011
3
#3 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
19
#19 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 75
  3. Negative: 1 out of 75
  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.
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  2. Gaming Nexus
    May 1, 2011
    75
    Faulty game mechanics and disappointing maps, combat scenarios and storyline direction aside, Dragon Age II still has a surprising amount of intrigue hidden beneath the blemishes. The depth of character relationships, as well as the complex nature of the world of the Dragon Age franchise are a savior to a game that would otherwise forever be remembered by its mistakes.
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  3. Game Chronicles
    Apr 22, 2011
    90
    Above all, it seems like Dragon Age II is an experiment. If you're a fan of the first game and expect a direct continuation, either in story or mechanics, you'll be disappointed. If you're not willing to put up with some rough edges and some mechanics that don't quite work as intended, you'll end up having a hard time. But if you're going for a game that has some of the best storytelling in RPGs in a while, or you're looking for a BioWare RPG to tide yourself over until Mass Effect 3, you won't do much better right now than Dragon Age II.
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