I'm enjoying it enough so far, even though it can't hold a candle to DA:O in my eyes. And I played the CONSOLE versions of DA:O, so that's a huge compliment in DA:O's favor.
My main issue is the heavy side-questing. I mean, it's all side-quest. Look at my Escapist title, FFS. I'm almost 30 hours in, and I don't have a villain, or any motivation. And the mandatory side-quest grinding for 50 gold at the start is a real replay value killer. Sure, the side-quest form connecting threads between acts and missions, but they're still boring. PACING ISSUES ABOUND!
Also, I'm enjoying the combat, while easier and generally inferior to DA:O in my eyes, it's still solid. But this brings me to imbalanced Cross Class Combos. Which, sadly, my Dual Wield Rogue Hawke can't easily exploit. Archers, Warriors, Mages...Those guys CCC easily. Dual Wield rogues can only exploit STAGGER with Explosive Strike and Lacerate, to minor effect. Especially compared to other CCCs, which can devastate. Any of my fellow DW Rogue Hawkes getting my issue here? Also, as a Dual Wield user, I can't inflict DISORIENT. The rogue CCC status.
Another issue is that Bioware STILL can't make good AI for melee rogues, forcing Isabella into the backseat for most players, like Zevran. But that's a minor quibble.
Bioware also saddles you with two anti-mage allies, while making it really hard to create a believably anti-mage Hawke. You either ARE a mage, or have a sister that's a mage. Being anti-mage just seems...silly.
/rant from a filthy console player
I'd appreciate your opinions on the CCC section, at least.
My main issue is the heavy side-questing. I mean, it's all side-quest. Look at my Escapist title, FFS. I'm almost 30 hours in, and I don't have a villain, or any motivation. And the mandatory side-quest grinding for 50 gold at the start is a real replay value killer. Sure, the side-quest form connecting threads between acts and missions, but they're still boring. PACING ISSUES ABOUND!
Also, I'm enjoying the combat, while easier and generally inferior to DA:O in my eyes, it's still solid. But this brings me to imbalanced Cross Class Combos. Which, sadly, my Dual Wield Rogue Hawke can't easily exploit. Archers, Warriors, Mages...Those guys CCC easily. Dual Wield rogues can only exploit STAGGER with Explosive Strike and Lacerate, to minor effect. Especially compared to other CCCs, which can devastate. Any of my fellow DW Rogue Hawkes getting my issue here? Also, as a Dual Wield user, I can't inflict DISORIENT. The rogue CCC status.
Another issue is that Bioware STILL can't make good AI for melee rogues, forcing Isabella into the backseat for most players, like Zevran. But that's a minor quibble.
Bioware also saddles you with two anti-mage allies, while making it really hard to create a believably anti-mage Hawke. You either ARE a mage, or have a sister that's a mage. Being anti-mage just seems...silly.
/rant from a filthy console player
I'd appreciate your opinions on the CCC section, at least.