I feel the need to review this game twice, once as a Dragon Age sequel, and once as a game in a vacuum.

As a sequel to to Inquisition (one of my favorite games) and the culmination of the 4 game story it's.... okay. A lot of the choice and story influence you'd expect from the story isn't really here, it has the same kind of unsatisfying blurb endings for character we got in Inquisition before trespasser, and while I understand and accept that most of the decisions from the last 3 games don't apply here, it does lead to some disappointment. As well, you can't really be a bastard in this game like you can in the other three. The most 'evil' Rook you can be is just kind of focused, whatever it takes, and even then it can feel like it's shoehorning you into being a good person. The combat is really good, i enjoy this the most of the 4 on that front, and the skill tree is a needed addition. The new weapon and armor system as well is a welcome addition that I think helps reduce the inventory clutter buildup of the other games. The factions add a good level to the world building of the Middle and Northern kingdoms unseen before now, and your companions are all interesting and well written. I also enjoyed that your faction start choice added more than a few dialogues, and actually made you feel like a member of that faction and let you talk insider baseball with NPCs and companions. (Mourn Watch is funny cuz you and the other necromancers just wonder why people look at you funny as you do undead stuff) There was clearly less focus on romance mechanics in this one, which is a bit of a shame but also not really a necessity in the end.

As a game in a vacuum, no notes, 10/10, perfect game.

Okay one note, I love the gender discussions and options here, and I am transgender myself, but there are a few dialogues where it's like "that's really well said and a very good point you just made unprompted and out of nowhere." As for how they handled the gender questioning character, i find the most objectionable part of their presentation to be their eyebrows more than anything else.

I feel the need to review this game twice, once as a Dragon Age sequel, and once as a game in a vacuum. As a sequel to to Inquisition (one of my favorite games) and the culmination of the 4 game story it's.... okay. A lot of the choice and story influence you'd expect from the story isn't really here, it has the same kind of unsatisfying blurb endings for character we got in Inquisition before trespasser, and while I understand and accept that most of the decisions from the last 3 games don't apply here, it does lead to some disappointment. As well, you can't really be a bastard in this game like you can in the other three. The most 'evil' Rook you can be is just kind of focused, whatever it takes, and even then it can feel like it's shoehorning you into being a good person. The combat is really good, i enjoy this the most of the 4 on that front, and the skill tree is a needed addition. The new weapon and armor system as well is a welcome addition that I think helps reduce the inventory clutter buildup of the other games. The factions add a good level to the world building of the Middle and Northern kingdoms unseen before now, and your companions are all interesting and well written. I also enjoyed that your faction start choice added more than a few dialogues, and actually made you feel like a member of that faction and let you talk insider baseball with NPCs and companions. (Mourn Watch is funny cuz you and the other necromancers just wonder why people look at you funny as you do undead stuff) There was clearly less focus on romance mechanics in this one, which is a bit of a shame but also not really a necessity in the end. As a game in a vacuum, no notes, 10/10, perfect game. Okay one note, I love the gender discussions and options here, and I am transgender myself, but there are a few dialogues where it's like "that's really well said and a very good point you just made unprompted and out of nowhere." As for how they handled the gender questioning character, i find the most objectionable part of their presentation to be their eyebrows more than anything else.