I like this game a little less than Dragon Age 1, but I think it's a better streamlined experience.

It has a more solid plot to follow with, with more story scenes and your companions are more fleshed out. You don't get to travel very far, and the entire story takes place in one large city instead of having to traverse an entire continent.

It's been a long time since I played this game, but I can't remember much of it. It's the shortest of the three Dragon Age games for sure, and I think you can just hop in this one without having played DA1.

Also if you like to play mages in rpgs I am so sorry but you might want to skip Dragon Age altogether. They do nothing but shit on mages and treat them like maniac scum of the earth no matter what choices you make, so if you want to play well just brace yourself for that!

Varric is the guy ever.