This game really was a mixed bag for me. The first game became a top 5 game for me after just one playthrough, so I was excited to play this game although I had heard it isn't as beloved by RPG fans. I had a great time during the playthrough but consider most the major criticisms of the game as valid. The game is clearly rushed, the maps are not interesting to explore and are reused often. Even the maps and accessible regions themselves are often dull. The story is good and it keeps you engaged but it doesn't feel nearly as important of a conquest as the first game, although the ending sets up my interest for the next game nicely I suppose. Overall this game fell well below expectations especially coming out the same year as Skyrim. On the other hand I still enjoyed every minute of the game, and it is short enough to not overstay its welcome. I cared enough to go through all the side quests, and found the storytelling interesting. The game really shines with it's companions, which might even be a slight improvement on its predecessor. I rocked a mage Hawke with Anders, Isabella, and Verric. I loved fighting with this team and it made combat pretty fun, even if its repetitive. Overall, this game is not nearly as good as it should have been on multiple fronts...but for fans such as myself it is worth playing and fun enough to hit a weak spot. 7/10