Dragon Age II: Ultimate Edition Reviews

I’m currently doing a playthrough of Dragon Age Origins, 2 and Inquisition and after finishing DA2 I’m pleasantly surprised by the game. I only knew of its negative reputation before starting my run, which is why I also considered skipping it. But I’m glad I played it, because I quite liked the experience. There are, of course, some differences to Origins (some that I like and some that I don’t). While Origins is more akin to a CRPG, DA2 plays more like an Action-RPG, which is a tonal shift not everybody will enjoy. I myself prefer the combat system of DA2 over that of Origins, since I like the spectacle and feeling of battle in it more. Origins is far more tactical, and thus you sometimes feel a little removed from the action when you are focusing on tactical decisions. In 2 you are always part of the action. DA2 even improved some parts of the tactics menu of Origins. It really bothered me that I couldn’t assign certain actions when enemies are clustered in Origins. I could only tell my companions to change their sustained abilities. In DA2 I have the option to designate certain abilities to clustered enemies, like aoe spells or debuffs. However, there is some jank to the combat system. The Hitboxes of enemies don’t always line up with their whole bodies, which makes targeting them harder. Hawke also sometimes stops attacking for no apparent reason, so you have to tell him to continue, which can bring you back to the aforementioned problem. Also, the drops are not that exciting. I don’t really cheer, when I get the 10th ring that boosts my mana/stamina regeneration by 2, and the dropped money doesn’t really increase throughout the game. Enemies tend to drop between 5 and 20 silver even in Act 3, which is nothing because a lot of good items in the shops sometimes cost above 50 gold. The only real means to get gold is to do quests. But even then, the maximum amount of gold per quest I have seen was 5. DA2 also replaced the crafting system for potions, etc. of Origins with an ordering system, where you pay some silver to order potions, etc., if you have the materials needed (you can’t, however, order health or lyrium potions, which is sometimes annoying, especially if you want to stock up on healing before a boss fight). The fights can also feel quite repetitive since there are like 10 different maps in DA2 that constantly repeat with only certain parts of them closed off at a time, to have some difference, i guess. The story, on the other hand, is very interesting and enjoyable. I really like the rags-to-riches parts at the beginning and the different conflicts of the second and third acts. Even the very simple sidequests become interesting with their connection to the wider conflict in-game, and it is nice to see that some minute choices in Act 1 influence some things in Act 3. Your choices overall, however, don’t compare to the first game, where you could ally with different groups, which would have consequences for the final battle. Act 3 also feels somewhat rushed and not well fleshed out in comparison to the first two acts. There is a lot of unnecessary conflict and you can’t really choose sides up until the very end. Hawke is also a very linear character and the game only allows for some evil actions, whereas in the first game you could become the bad guy. But the game definitely shines with its companions that have intriguing stories and quests. Despite some of the flaws of DA2, it is still a good game and worth playing if you are interested in the Dragon Age universe. You just have to keep in mind that it was meant to be a spin-off for Origins and not a full sequel, and that it had a really short development cycle. With that in mind, you will better understand the different elements of the game and come to appreciate it as an experience. Overall a good 6/10

really, the only issue with this game is that isabelas booba arent quite huge enough

A good game with a great story and several flaws. I still enjoyed playing it in 2024, though the EA app sucks and may be a deal-breaker for some.

Great game but EA app refuses to let me play it again. EA literally forces you into pirating if you want to play this in 2025.

has better gameplay than origins but origins still had a better story.

its a good game in my opinion origin's better but this game is still ok for the price

The game requires an EA account. I tried to creat e a new account and the game informed me it already had my e-mail. I can't remember my password and the "forgotten password" link points to http://go.bioware.com/dragonage2/forgotpassword/en-us which cannot be reached! Decided to opt for a refund - life is too short ....

It's an over-hated and underrated gem. You'll have a far better time playing it than you will Veilguard. The rumors about this game are true. You'll be navigating through the same environments over and over. You cannot equip custom armor to your companions. Despite those facts, the producers for Dragon Age 2 had a year to make it and churned out a better product than Bioware was able to develop in 10 years with the latest release. The art style is iconic and aesthetically the best in the series. It has by far the most challenging and rewarding combat system (on Nightmare Mode), and you can build Hawke and your team into a real powerhouse with the right specs. Ability crossovers and other tactics let you overcome difficult enemies. There are a few issues with the combat. AOE spells and abilities are weak. Some spells and abilities are also ridiculously weak and a waste of ability slots. Even your tank can be insta-killed by undetectable back-stabs from enemy rogues, despite their investment in wasted ability slots designed to reduce flanking damage. There are certain enemies that can only be beaten by cheesing them as they are far too overpowered. Nighttmare mode serves as a default violence slider and filters out almost all of the grotesque and over-the-top gore animations. The story, writing, dialogue and voice acting are top-tier. Where Dragon Age 2 shines most is with the memorable companions, one of whom is in my opinion, is the most endearing fictional character of all time.

Perhaps a controversial take, but this is my favorite of the Dragon Age series. The characters are all so memorable and really feel like a weird little found family. You're not some big world-saving force, you're just Hawke, a person trying their best for their family, friends, and city. The writing in this game is a shining example of the old Bioware we know and miss. The gameplay, while old now, is also more fast-paced and engaging than DA Origins. The only downside here is that you still have to deal with EA's horrible launcher even if you have the Steam version of this game. I've had to iron out a lot of kinks with the EA launcher to get the game and all its DLC to run properly. Worth it, though.

Wait to buy this game until EA fixes it or a workable fix is found to actually play the game. I love Dragon Age, and enjoy the hell out of all 4 games. If you have DA:O, you probably had to play with the system settings and game files until you could play the game without it crashing. For DA:II, you can't even get past the start menu. It automatically goes to a "Create account page," and as many DA fans know, the site is no longer active. Thus, you cannot play the game. It's extremely disappointing, considering that DA:O CAN be played. EA, do better.