Dragon Age II

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,260 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dragon Age II Game Cover
The best RPG combat ever. Not gamings best story, but maybe its best storytelling. Darker, sexier, better.
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In Dragon Age II, players step into the shoes of Hawke, a fledgling hero who rises to power and fame amidst a tumultuous conflict in the fantasy city of Kirkwall. With a variety of abilities and companions to choose from, players will shape their Hawke's destiny as they make difficult decisions and confront a mysterious force threatening the world. This immersive RPG features a dynamic storyline and intense combat, offering a rich and unforgettable journey.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,260 reviews
story1,404 positive mentions
stability118 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with well-developed characters and strong writing.
  • Fast-paced and fluid combat system that improves upon its predecessor.
  • Companions have meaningful relationships and dynamic interactions, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Repetitive environments and reused assets lead to a monotonous exploration experience.
  • Simplified character customization and skill trees compared to Dragon Age: Origins.
  • Technical issues with the EA launcher can hinder gameplay and frustrate players.
  • story4,236 mentions

    The story of "Dragon Age II" is characterized as a more personal and intimate narrative compared to its predecessor, "Dragon Age: Origins," focusing on the journey of Hawke, a refugee who rises to prominence in the city of Kirkwall amidst the tensions between mages and templars. While many players appreciate the depth of character development and the engaging companion quests, the game is often criticized for its repetitive environments and a less epic overarching plot, leading to mixed feelings about its pacing and overall coherence. Despite these criticisms, the writing and character interactions are frequently highlighted as strong points, making the story a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

    • “The writing, the direction, and the setting all do this story great service, and especially in the final act, the delivery is done to perfection.”
    • “The story, structured in three acts, offers an interesting hero's journey with personal stakes.”
    • “The story is rich and engaging, diving deep into the complexities of political intrigue, personal relationships, and moral ambiguity.”
    • “The story is boring, the world is tiny and repetitive, and the mechanics feel shallow.”
    • “The story felt rushed and the main quests all feel like side quests.”
    • “The story is a total non-starter.”
  • gameplay850 mentions

    The gameplay of Dragon Age II has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its fast-paced, action-oriented combat as a departure from the more tactical approach of its predecessor, Dragon Age: Origins. While some appreciate the streamlined mechanics and character interactions, others criticize the repetitive environments, simplistic combat, and lack of depth, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel shallow and monotonous. Overall, the game is often seen as enjoyable for its story and characters, but the gameplay is frequently described as its weakest aspect.

    • “From the first minute it was intuitive; the controls were perfect, the gameplay and combat were pretty spot on, fluid, and the story is really captivating.”
    • “The gameplay is a big step up from Dragon Age: Origins.”
    • “Great gameplay, romance, and humor.”
    • “The two things I really didn't like (they're very big things) were the actual combat/gameplay and the way quests are distributed.”
    • “It is impossible for this game to not lose its luster from a pure mechanical experience extremely quickly, genuinely within 10 hours.”
    • “The gameplay is probably the worst part of the game; I really don't like how they keep adding enemies when you're in a fight that blows, but otherwise it's decent and gets the job done.”
  • graphics502 mentions

    The graphics in "Dragon Age II" show a modest improvement over its predecessor, "Dragon Age: Origins," but many players feel they remain somewhat dated, especially by modern standards. While some appreciate the unique art style and improved animations, others criticize the repetitive environments and graphical inconsistencies, suggesting that mods may enhance the visual experience. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for the game's release period, but they do not fully meet contemporary expectations.

    • “Beautiful graphics, and it was a great storyline.”
    • “The art style is distinctive and the environments are beautifully crafted, ranging from the bustling city of Kirkwall to the eerie, dangerous outskirts.”
    • “The graphics have aged some but that's not its fault; it looked pretty good when it originally came out.”
    • “The graphics are almost the same as in Dragon Age: Origins.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated and the maps are very repetitive, but this game is 13 years old, so it's to be expected.”
    • “The whole game was outdated even when it was brand new; the controls are janky, environments are repetitive, the graphics were years out of date to begin with, and DA2 was always going to be the ugly middle child bridging Origins to Inquisition.”
  • humor140 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the witty dialogue, hilarious party banter, and the comedic personality of the protagonist, Hawke. Many found the interactions between companions to be charming and entertaining, often leading to laugh-out-loud moments, despite some criticism regarding the oversimplified dialogue choices. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “The party banter and dialogue when playing as a sarcastic Hawke is hilarious and constantly makes me laugh out loud.”
    • “I did a sarcastic Hawke which was genuinely funny and so entertaining, it almost makes the game worth it for that on its own.”
    • “The game itself I found very entertaining; I enjoyed the combat method, the characters, the story, and especially the humorous banter going on between the party members.”
    • “The humor in the game feels insignificant and often relies on glitches that aren't funny.”
    • “The jokes are so weak that they come off as insignificant, and the humorous glitches just add to the frustration.”
  • music136 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance immersion and complement the narrative, while others criticize it as bland and repetitive, particularly in comparison to the previous installment, "Dragon Age: Origins." Notable tracks have been highlighted for their emotional impact, yet many players feel the overall soundtrack lacks variety and memorability. Despite these criticisms, some reviewers acknowledge that the music is well-composed and fits the RPG setting, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The music is phenomenal and definitely helps with this immersion factor, especially the track that plays in the Hawke estate, which really encapsulates the feeling of persevering hopefulness amidst the tragedy that is consistent throughout the game's events.”
    • “Massive shoutout goes to Inon Zur for once again crafting a masterpiece of a soundtrack that elevates the game even further and maintains motifs from Origins while providing a different soundscape for this adventure as well.”
    • “The soundtrack reflects a deeper understanding of the game's theme and atmosphere, showcasing the developers' commitment to enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is pathetically bland and lacks variety.”
    • “One of my biggest complaints is the lack of music.”
    • “The music was pretty forgettable too.”
  • stability134 mentions

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players have had a relatively smooth experience, the majority express frustration over the game's poor optimization and the cumbersome EA launcher, which adds to the instability. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," requiring extensive troubleshooting to play effectively.

    • “My experience was essentially bug free.”
    • “It runs great and is a good game to get into keyboard style playing.”
    • “Runs great and the controls are fine.”
    • “This game is buggy to hell and back.”
    • “From frequent crashes to graphical glitches, the game feels poorly optimized and unfinished.”
    • “Expect multiple crashes, freezes, or infinite load screens per hour.”
  • grinding116 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its repetitiveness and tedium, with players noting that frequent enemy encounters and reused environments contribute to a monotonous experience. While some found the combat engaging initially, it often devolved into tedious battles against damage-sponging enemies, leading to frustration with the pacing of quests and overall gameplay. Despite these issues, many players appreciated the strong story and character interactions, which helped mitigate some of the grind's drawbacks.

    • “A lot of enemies are damage sponges, and you're incentivized to focus on DPS builds rather than support or persistent playstyles in order to make fights not tediously long.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Enemy encounters are frequent but feel more like tedious obstacles than engaging challenges.”
    • “Quests were unbelievably tedious with lots of backtracking over reused levels.”
    • “The developers frequently reuse environments which can make exploration tedious, combat is a little repetitive and you can see that the developers cut corners because they were in a rush.”
  • replayability96 mentions

    Dragon Age 2 offers a mixed bag in terms of replayability; while many players appreciate its compelling story, memorable characters, and the impact of player choices, some criticize the repetitive maps and less meaningful choices compared to its predecessor, Dragon Age: Origins. Overall, it maintains a decent level of replay value, with opportunities for different character builds and story outcomes, though it may not entice players to return as frequently as other titles in the series.

    • “What truly sets Dragon Age 2 apart is its replayability.”
    • “Its compelling story, memorable characters, dynamic combat, and replayability make it a standout title that has stood the test of time.”
    • “Your choices matter and change how the story progresses, giving it near-endless chances for replayability options.”
    • “As it is, it's a game with very little replay value (and very little play value - the endlessly repeating maps get old very quick) sandwiched in between two games in a series that otherwise rewards multiple playthroughs and exploring different versions of their focal character in each one, which makes it a more grating experience than it would be if the series was a one-and-done type franchise.”
    • “The reused maps kind of kill the replayability.”
    • “Its one of those games that's really fun but you really only play once (or maybe once every few years) because it has very limited replayability.”
  • emotional84 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the story heart-wrenching and the character relationships deeply engaging, leading to genuine emotional investment and moments of tears. However, some critiques highlight a lack of depth in the narrative and dialogue options, which can detract from the overall emotional resonance expected from a Bioware title. Despite these shortcomings, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from nostalgia to heartbreak, making it a memorable experience for many players.

    • “The story is heart-wrenching, the friendships beautifully connected, and my almost nostalgic love for this grimy, destructive city reminds me of my actual hometown.”
    • “I left the game feeling genuinely emotionally attached to Hawke and all their friends, and wishing that I'd had more.”
    • “It's amazing, so far it's the only Dragon Age game that made me cry at the end, probably because hearing Florence and the Machine when I was already at the verge of crying at the end was like a brick to the teeth.”
    • “The dialogues are dull and the story fails to engage emotionally.”
    • “The dialogues are dull and the story fails to engage emotionally.”
  • character development60 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and the intricate storytelling that allows for meaningful character arcs and relationships. While some critiques mention shallow dialogue options and limited impact on the overall narrative, the majority agree that the character designs and development are among the game's strongest aspects, showcasing Bioware's talent in crafting memorable experiences. Overall, players appreciate the rich character interactions and the emotional weight of their choices throughout the game.

    • “From its intricate storytelling to its deep character development, this game is a testament to Bioware's skill in crafting unforgettable experiences.”
    • “It is truly an amazing game with good character development, well done character growth, and a very realistic (although simple) rivalry/friendship system that affects the ways your companions react to you or listen to your orders narratively.”
    • “Everyone you meet is specific; the creation of them wasn't slacked on (and is the best quality this game has.) The character development is immaculate and the storyline gives you so much freedom to truly express a good character arc.”
    • “Character development is shallow, and the dialogue options often feel meaningless, failing to significantly impact the story’s direction.”
    • “The abysmal voice acting, the super clunky mechanics, the lack of customization for the party members, and the subpar character design really did a number on this game.”
    • “In 2024, the graphics on this are becoming a little dated, the EA login requirement is annoying, and on my system made the game launch a little buggy, but this is still Bioware storytelling and character development arcs at their finest.”
  • optimization52 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frequent crashes and graphical glitches, even on high-end PCs. While some users have noted that the game runs smoothly after initial setup, the reliance on the EA launcher has been criticized for causing additional problems. Overall, the game feels poorly optimized and unfinished, detracting from the otherwise rich storytelling experience.

    • “Another big plus is that the game runs smoothly without the need for mods compared to DAO.”
    • “DLC works without issue and performance is stable on Windows 11.”
    • “At the time of this review, I have not experienced any crashes and the game has run smoothly.”
    • “Ea just doesn't care about the customer, which is always reflected in the poor optimization of their games and the lack of quality in their porting to other platforms.”
    • “From frequent crashes to graphical glitches, the game feels poorly optimized and unfinished.”
    • “Even on a high-end PC, performance issues persist, making the game frustrating to play.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, with beautifully rendered environments and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers note that the character writing and story contribute significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms regarding its development timeline. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating and atmospheric world that draws players in.

    • “Let's be honest, we play RPG games for the story and the atmosphere, and this game has both.”
    • “The environments, whether exploring the bustling streets of Kirkwall or venturing into ancient ruins, are beautifully rendered and contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “You can tell it was made in 2 years, but the story and character writing still outshine Inquisition, and the sound and color choices and overall style give it a strong atmosphere that helps with immersion.”
    • “The soundtrack reflects a deeper understanding of the game's theme and atmosphere, showcasing the developers' commitment to enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “I know the hype and marketing did not live up to expectations, but this game provides a phenomenal linear story with just as much interaction and choice differences as Origins, but the characters and atmosphere are once again one of the main driving forces of this experience.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a blatant cash grab that relies on misleading advertising and intrusive elements like constant EA Origin prompts and advertisements in the main menu. Players express frustration over recycled content and mechanics designed to extend gameplay artificially, leading to a perception of poor value and quality. Overall, the sentiment is that the game prioritizes profit over a genuine gaming experience.

    • “This game is trash that exists only as a cash grab.”
    • “I got the impression that it was a cheap cash grab and I am not the kind of person who gets a game just because of the brand, so I skipped it.”
    • “I see they've removed that from the store page, but I still feel like I got ripped off with misleading advertising.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

28hMedian play time
39hAverage play time
27hMain story
58hCompletionist
20-52hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs

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