DevilAlastar's review of the fast-action-RPG Dragon Age 2 comes from one of Dragon Age Origins self-proclaimed biggest fans who had extremely high expectations of the game. While the sequel sports a new, more intuitive and real-time combat system, the other aspects of the game, including the inventory system and dialog, remain intact. Dialog for your main character, however, is now fully voiced, with spoken dialog. In Dragon Age 2, players take on the role of ke, a Lothering refugee, who is a survivor of the Darkspawn Horde's destruction of Lothering.

Customary to Bioware, you are able to import your save file from Dragon Age Origins. The decisions you made in the first game will therefore change and affect the world you face in the sequel. At the beginning of the game, you can choose to play as a female or male rogue, warrior or mage, similar to the developer's Mass Effect series.

The game does take a hit for its lack of character class customization, but increased fun from the combat system makes up for it in the re-playability factor. While Dragon Age Origins spanned two years, Dragon Age 2 spans ten. A mix of old, familiar characters with new, interesting ones positively impacts the storyline interaction.

The main flaw is in the game's linear storyline. Players make few key decisions that actually impact the direction of the game. There are also few options in terms of gear and armor. This detracts from the layers of playability that were present in Dragon Age Origins. The scale of the game is also a drawback. With so much of the game taking place in the same city, there is little to be explored in terms of the game's open world. Consequently, the overall feel of the game is that of a long and drawn out DLC rather than an independent release.

Overall, the score is a 3.5 on a 5.0 point scale.

Dragon Age II features a linear framed narrative story in which Hawke's, the protagonist's, choices only matter on a few occasions. Players are not able to create or customize their characters as they were able to in the original series title: Dragon Age Origins. Hawke is a human character. In Dragon Age 2, he has the ability to speak. Romance is party of gameplay, both with party members and in-game NPCs.

There are three classes of characters in the game: mages, rogues and warriors. The eight skills are used by all playable characters and are not designed to be used during combat. Players begin with two skills, determined by their origin and class, plus an additional skill point. Rogues receive one skill point every two levels, while warriors and mages receive one skill every three levels. Skills include: Coercion, Stealing, Trap-Making, Survival, Herbalism, Poison-Making, Combat Training, and Combat Tactics. Talents can be used by warriors and rogues. Mages use spells to take down their enemies, as well as to protect and heal themselves and their friends. Spells are classified within six schools of magic: Elemental, Primal, Entropy, Spirit, Arcane and Creation, as well as in three specializations: Force Mage, Spirit Healer and Blood Mage.

Dragon Age 2 follows Hawke throughout the mythical world of Thedas. Hawke escaped from Ferelden during Dragon Age: Origins and came to Kirkwall as a refugee. Within the ten-year span of the game, Hawke rises in power and influence and becomes the legendary "Champion of Kirkwall." The game features flashbacks voiced by one of Hawke's old companions, Varric. Varric tells the Hawke's 'true story' to Cassandra Pentaghast, a Seeker of Thedas' religious Chantry.

As the game begins, Hawke and his family are making their escape from Darkspawn after the Fereldan defeat at Ostagar and are rescued by Flemeth. Since they have family and an estate in Kirkwall, their plan is to head there. Flemeth helps them make their way to Kirkwall in exchange for the delivery of a pendant to the leader of a group Dalish living outside of Kirkwall. Once they arrive, Hawke learns that the city gates are closed to Fereldan refugees, and Hawke's uncle Gamlen confesses that he lost the family fortune and estate. Gamlen does manage to get Hawke and his family into the city in exchange for a year of servitude from Hawke.

After his year of servitude, Hawke delivers the pendant to the Dalish, and takes part in a Dwarven expedition to the Deep Roads led by Varric's brother Bartrand. Discovering a vault full of priceless artifacts, Hawke is now a wealthy man and purchases the old family estate before becoming known throughout the area for his adventuring.