Why so much people hate this game and prefer Origins over DA II?

[emanueljoab]

Title says all.

[Warlock]

Personally, I don't hate this game but it has its problems. I think that most don't like this game much is because of how much different it was from Origins. Human-only character, shorter storyline than back in Origins and this game kinda exists to set up Inquisition.

Personally, I think one of things that this game did wrong is add lots of hostile NPCs in one city that endlessly respawn or copypasted in different story chapters. The sheer number of enemy NPCs feel like half of Kirkwall, like how are there so many of them? Second, is incompetent Circle. We are supposed to sympathize with them, support them but in the end even Grand Enchanter ends up being a blood mage and then an abomination, so why support them in the end? It really is awful when Circle in Ferelden was more competent.

[Steve (Dawn's Hubby)]

I don't hate DA 2 either, but Origins had better characters, combat and a better story to me.

[Yoinkyz]

da 2 is great just not as great as da o and da i

[Quinn]

I replayed and finished DA2 over 6 times on PS3. To me, it feels like the logical evolution in terms of combat. It has a bit more engaging attack and magic animations. It was never button-mashy to me. It just has an overall less complex combat since there's far less abilities to combine. I imagine it was because of the shorter development time so they couldn't have as many things as Origins.

The worse part of DA2 is the level design and again, I'm sure it's because of the very short development time. The story to me was better than Inquisition but worse than Origins. I haven't finished the game since PS3 and I'm in the middle of replaying it on PC so maybe I'll change my mind on that. However, all the characters to me are engaging.

I honestly can't be too mad about copy-pasted things based on their development time. Just a bit annoyed and bored at times.

[Awaken]

The primary reasons for not liking it are, in no particular order:

Copy pasted maps, you will frequently find yourself doing quests in areas that are supposed to be different, but use the same maps.

Reduced build diversity. 3 specializations, and you can take two. DAO had 4 (six with expansion) and you could take 2, 3 or 4 with the DLCs. Certain skills trees like dual-wielding and archery for warriors and popular spells from DAO were either removed or nerfed very hard.

Dumbed down character creation. DA2 does not let you select different races, origins, stats, or starting talents/skills, all things which DAO had.

Dumbed down combat. DA2 ditched the semi turn based more strategic combat of Origins & replaced it with a more button mashy action style of combat.

Repetitive combat. It gets drawn out as additional waves of enemies spawn from nowhere, padding combat length.

A disjointed story without a clear antagonist & a weak 3rd act.

DA2 was the worst big budget western RPG I had ever played, until DA:I & Andromeda came out. It's really, really horrendous.

[Freak4Leeks]

Originally posted by Yikes:

da 2 is great just not as great as da o and da i

this. i am doing a trilogy playthrough to refresh my knowledge on the world and plus never finished DAI

it's good, the intro was really good and Kirkwall is so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ cool design wise seeing all the giant statues and such it gives off a really... sinister vibe.

i do like the atmosphere over DAI which is is alot more light, while DA2 retains some of it's roots in dark fantasy.

[Warlock]

Originally posted by Freak4Leeks:

Originally posted by Yikes:

da 2 is great just not as great as da o and da i

this. i am doing a trilogy playthrough to refresh my knowledge on the world and plus never finished DAI

it's good, the intro was really good and Kirkwall is so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ cool design wise seeing all the giant statues and such it gives off a really... sinister vibe.

i do like the atmosphere over DAI which is is alot more light, while DA2 retains some of it's roots in dark fantasy.

I finished DAI on first playthrough entirely, only main quest on second and can't even start proper third so I just filled blanks in tapestry. Origins is so much more better than DAI, at least it doesn't start immediately with actions or some urgent missions but exploration of each origin.

I think intro is alright, but I don't like Ferelden's portrayal in the intro. I know DA II didn't have enough time, but I hate outskirts of Lothering, it's just a desolate wasteland Mordorsque not Lothering we saw, not even a sight of the village burning or destroyed. I believe when exploring Ferelden, during Origins, not every place invaded by Darkspawn was suddenly desolate and scorched. I think it's part of the problem, how badly the very beginning was designed and like others pointed out reused textures for dungeons/locations during various missions. I think the beginning for DAII should have been waking up in Lothering by Leandra to alert about Darkspawn invasion and then proceed with Hawkes running away by Imperial Road.

[Freak4Leeks]

Originally posted by Knight of Revan:

I finished DAI on first playthrough entirely, only main quest on second and can't even start proper third so I just filled blanks in tapestry. Origins is so much more better than DAI, at least it doesn't start immediately with actions or some urgent missions but exploration of each origin.

i agree, Origins is still the best DA, the combat wasn't great imo and i still stand by that, but the world and atmosphere is so good.

I love that they didn't shy away from racism, sexism etc. i wish more games did it.

I played a female city elf, and i love how through out the game you get sly remarks about being a woman and an elf, it also makes it all the more statisfying to relieve them of their heads lol. DAO is a wholly unique experience there is no other game like it as far as i am aware.

Originally posted by Knight of Revan:

I think intro is alright, but I don't like Ferelden's portrayal in the intro. I know DA II didn't have enough time, but I hate outskirts of Lothering, it's just a desolate wasteland Mordorsque not Lothering we saw, not even a sight of the village burning or destroyed. I believe when exploring Ferelden, during Origins, not every place invaded by Darkspawn was suddenly desolate and scorched. I think it's part of the problem, how badly the very beginning was designed and like others pointed out reused textures for dungeons/locations during various missions. I think the beginning for DAII should have been waking up in Lothering by Leandra to alert about Darkspawn invasion and then proceed with Hawkes running away by Imperial Road.

yeah that's fair, when i said the intro was really good, i mean't more "set up" wise i forgot how badass flemeth looked in DA2 lol and i like the whole "fake story" at the beginning and then the real story.

i'll be honest i got to the point where i started booking the main story because the combat is full of bloated health bars and DAI is even worse in that regard, which i didn't do in DAO i did a ton of the sidequests. It's still sad that the bioware we once new is gone we may never get something so unique.

:(

[Warlock]

Originally posted by Freak4Leeks:

Originally posted by Knight of Revan:

I finished DAI on first playthrough entirely, only main quest on second and can't even start proper third so I just filled blanks in tapestry. Origins is so much more better than DAI, at least it doesn't start immediately with actions or some urgent missions but exploration of each origin.

i agree, Origins is still the best DA, the combat wasn't great imo and i still stand by that, but the world and atmosphere is so good.

I love that they didn't shy away from racism, sexism etc. i wish more games did it.

I played a female city elf, and i love how through out the game you get sly remarks about being a woman and an elf, it also makes it all the more statisfying to relieve them of their heads lol. DAO is a wholly unique experience there is no other game like it as far as i am aware.

Originally posted by Knight of Revan:

I think intro is alright, but I don't like Ferelden's portrayal in the intro. I know DA II didn't have enough time, but I hate outskirts of Lothering, it's just a desolate wasteland Mordorsque not Lothering we saw, not even a sight of the village burning or destroyed. I believe when exploring Ferelden, during Origins, not every place invaded by Darkspawn was suddenly desolate and scorched. I think it's part of the problem, how badly the very beginning was designed and like others pointed out reused textures for dungeons/locations during various missions. I think the beginning for DAII should have been waking up in Lothering by Leandra to alert about Darkspawn invasion and then proceed with Hawkes running away by Imperial Road.

yeah that's fair, when i said the intro was really good, i mean't more "set up" wise i forgot how badass flemeth looked in DA2 lol and i like the whole "fake story" at the beginning and then the real story.

i'll be honest i got to the point where i started booking the main story because the combat is full of bloated health bars and DAI is even worse in that regard, which i didn't do in DAO i did a ton of the sidequests. It's still sad that the bioware we once new is gone we may never get something so unique.

:(

Absolutely, especially since your character can be goody-two-shoes or a die-hard Grey Warden doing everything you want to defeat the Blight even if it means betraying or resorting to immoral means.

Yeah, lots of early games had them like Mount and Blade or Mass Effect 1 and even classist themes (nobles vs lowborns, etc). My very first playthrough was female city elf, another one was male city elf. I really hate the injustice in the Alienage, usually I go with city elf to prevent as much of them as possible and always struck Vaughan down. It'd be interesting to try doing opposite as human noble, make deal with slavers, be humancentric instead, but I picked Circle Mage this time. Dalish Inquisitor can make remarks about being true elf, but any rude comments are gone when city/dalish elf could have been huge racist as much as human noble/mage or even a dwarven grey warden. Not many games include this nowadays, but BioWare doesn't shy away from making comments on Hanar with how many times Shepard calls one "big stupid jellyfish" when in fact hanar have interesting background, lore behind them. DAO-II will always be original Dragon Age while Inquisition and the awful comics after that are just new fantasy world with Dragon Age title on it.

Yeah, there are some funny moments like fake story in the beginning or fake story where Varric goes alone into the mansion shooting Bartrand's thugs and then his brother starts begging for his life until scene is interrupted by Cass shaking her head at this. Good moments.

The set up is good, don't know how to feel about Hawke's comments why one wants to leave Ferelden because all options are either "I'm deserting" or "I'm giving up on Ferelden because Cailan died", but otherwise set up is okay. But like with Circle Mage/City Elf or any other origin, Hawke's background also gives limitations to choices like Circle Mage couldn't live entire life in tower making friends and then one day go and side with templars to slay all former collegues and same with Hawke. Hawke's sister is a mage who has positive relationship in beginning while Carver has rivalry, so prior to Lothering Hawke was friends with Bethany while in conflict with Carver.

[Snake Eater]

Because it is a step backwards in almost every single way. The game feels so small and linear compared to Origins, it's very copy pasted, Hawke isn't very customizable compared to the warden, story and characters ain't as interesting, has less content and so on. But even so, I wouldn't say I hated it, it was short enough to not overstay it's welcome and I could finish it no problem. Inquisition on the other hand is the opposite, it had waaay too much of everything, way too big for it's own good, it felt like a single player MMO, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. The story and characters were also even less interesting, so I just got bored. They should have just stuck with the traditional RPG formula of Origins.

[Muscarine]

To me it's highly underrated, it's the post Baldur's Gate Bioware game i've played the most, more than ME and ME2 in particular

Of all DAs it has :

+ The best writing, and a more intimate focus which lets you grow closer to every characters, it's more mature and less LotR fantasy nerdy for your typical muh immershun insufferable Tolkien fans.
Varric as unreliable narrator is just brilliant.
It actually has its personal identity, as opposed to your usual microwaved fantasy.

+ By far the best player character, everyone loves Shepard, Hawke is an even better Shepard, the dialogue wheel is also the best iteration Bioware ever made.
Jo Wyatt is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ amazing.
The supporting cast is also excellent, and consistently so this time around.
DA:O also had great characters, but mixed with some really bad ones.

+ Also the relationships designs are the best they've ever been.
In DA:O, spam gifts and be a hypocrite to become best buds with everyone, especially characters who can't stand each others, become completely impersonal, everyone's a buddy or they leave, good luck having them leave though.
In DA2 you become friends, rivals, but also romance partners OR rivalmance partners.
It's so much more consistent, logical and engaging, your Hawke makes sense, but your companions also make sense. There's still gifts but they're exclusively bound to small quests where you get to dig further in either friend or rival direction.
Rivals are just as important as friends and both are much more than "i hate you ima leave" or "i like you ima yes man".
Some companion arcs depending on your Hawke are so much more interesting as rivalries.

I just wish they made ONE thing different, and have all characters relations affected by your answers whether they're in your party or not, to avoid the feeling of having to methodically decide who to bring to grind relationships. Would have been more organic.

+ Actual agency, there's absolutely no good reason for the Warden to keep going after the events of Ostagar other than "plot must go forward". On the other hand, Hawke's aspirations and rise are completely justified and believable.

+ The best character growth, and at higher difficulty the best combat, people love to fawn over DA:O's "tactical and strategic" battles as if they don't just spam AoE CC with their mage like everyone else, DA:O battles are easy, tedious and repetitive even on highest difficulty.
On top of it every skill is useful in DA2, as opposed to a DA:O bar filled with 15 skills, 13 of which you end up never using because they're pointless.
Combat is also reactive and the animations ten times better, as opposed to DA:O's slog.
It's also repetitive, sure, but at least it's a fun repetition this time around.
Basically DA2 is streamlined, more efficient, and that applies to almost (AI scripts are worse for instance) every designs compared to DA:O.

Try a triple Rogue 1 Mage, with Hawke Assassin - Isa Duellist - Varric CC - Merril Tank
This is the most fun i've ever had in a squad RPG out of 25+ years with the genre.

+ It's not ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Dragon Age Awakening, this title should hold the worst DA spot in anyone's mind regardless of their opinion on DA2

- Reused environments, yes, it gets bothersome after 3 acts, blame EA for a short production. Bioware still put a lot of efforts where it really matters.

- Mark of the Assassin DLC is just bad, boring quests with ♥♥♥♥♥♥ filler puzzles, Tallis is cringy as ♥♥♥♥ and foreshadows Bioware's writing quality going down the drain at light speed. A DLC that's basically an introduction to the terrible DA:I
That said, DA:O had (Harry Potter and the) Witch Hunt so... You know...

My personal Dragon Age ranking :
1. DA2
v
v
2. DA:O
v
v
v
v
v
3.DA:I
4.DA:A

DA2 is substance over form, also due to production constraints, but by all means people should keep ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on it and then go pikachu surprise when DA5 is just as bad if not worse than DA:I or DA:A

[RACHMANOVSKI]

Because... Mostly because it has rocky start and the obvious failing of level design.

I think the story is A LOT better than DAO, that decision when you gotta choose between stabbing or not stabbing certain someone at the end TOPS anything DAO has to offer. The story on how things come to that point is simply, incredible.

I personally love every DA games, almost equally, but in term of story, DA2 is the best DA there us for me—it's personal, gripping, engaging and overall unforgettable... Like I've never been hurt losing fictional sister in vidya games... While in comparison I feel nothing when My father Cousland died.

[Swansonhart]

I think the DAO surpasses DA2 in most aspects. Most obvious ones are the level design and story. To keep it short, DA2 reminds me of a bad old beat'em game, where all levels are uninspired and the enemies are bland; the characters are hard to care for and their dialogues are yawn-inducing. I'd rather play a beat-em up that has passed the test of time than this jumbled mess.

[Marduk]

i prefer DA2 to DAO due to the too outdated graphics in DAO, but i still play make a 3 game playthrough

[Honorable Lord Biggie Cheese]

They had barely over a year to develop 2 and its scope is far more narrow relative to how massive Origins was. Origins was a streamlining of classics like Baldur's Gate, even refining areas like companions and storytelling. DA2 is just a massive dumbing down of Origins, really cuts down on every element of the first game. Isn't even that much different graphically. I don't hate it, it just dilutes what identity Dragon Age might have had as a series because BioWare sipped from that Mass-Effect-Success-Chalice and instead let that franchise bleed over to impact 2 as well.