Game reception and rating: Dragon Age 2

Dragon Age II has received generally positive reviews, holding a Metacritic score of 82/100 (PC version). However, even Critic reviews have been less positive than its predecessor, which holds a Metacritic score of 91/100 (PC version). David Radd from 'Industrygamers' noted that "Dragon Age II has had the most mixed critical reception for a full-retail BioWare product perhaps ever (assuming Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is not counted)."[48]

PC Gamer UK magazine highly praised Dragon Age II mentioning the improved combat system, dialogue wheel, skill-trees, and solid storytelling as its strong points. The game earned their "Editor's Choice" award and was stated to be, "The best RPG of this decade? Nine more years will tell, but for now, yes."[45] Official Xbox Magazine gave the game a 9 out of 10 mentioning that although it was slightly altered from its predecessor, the game "offers some of the deepest, nerdiest, most worthwhile 40 to 60 hours you'll ever love losing sleep over."[44] Game Trailers gave the game high marks and stated, "Though it doesn't hold a candle to its predecessor when it comes to sheer breadth, Dragon Age II has quite a bit more soul" and that it had "some of the most gratifying RPG combat we've played in a long time."[42]

Not all of the reviewers have praised the changes however. VideoGamer said the game "never progresses beyond the identity issues it had with Origins", criticized the lack of noticeable characters, small area of setting, while adding "simplification of combat doesn't work in the game's favour".[46] Game Informer gave the PC version of the game a score of 7.75 and the console versions an 8.25, criticizing the poorly designed combat system, stating "On all platforms, Dragon Age II caters to an audience that didn’t connect with Origins, while alienating those who did" and "improving the polish doesn’t do much good when the basics still need work".[37]

Eurogamer settled for saying the game is "never quite as great as it could be" but also conclude that it is still a "Satisfying epic", awarding it 8/10[49] while Gamespot noted that the game suffered from "unnecessary simplification and unfocused storytelling" but still left a strong impression.[50] RPG Site awarded the game 80%, arguing that "the discussion about Dragon Age II doesn't need to be 'is it good?' - It is - but needs to be 'is this what fans wanted from a sequel to Dragon Age: Origins?'", suggesting that is where some of the fan animosity towards the title may arise from.[51]

Dragon Age II's lead designer, Mike Laidlaw, in an interview with GameSpot, addressed the fans' concerns toward the changes in Dragon Age II by stating that BioWare will "[despite Dragon Age's players' criticisms] continue to tune and capitalize on that 'fusion' between the Origins experience and Dragon Age II". Additionally, he also noted that a return to the RPG style of Dragon Age: Origins is unlikely, proclaiming "The big key is to not adjust 180 degrees again, because we've done this."[52]

One million copies of Dragon Age II were sold within two weeks of the launch, faster than Dragon Age: Origins.[53] Within two months of the launch, the game sold-in "over two million copies", meaning that over two million copies have been distributed to retailers. The sales rate of the game has been decreasing fast since its release, selling in later weeks less than what Origins sold in the same numbers of weeks after launch.

In June 2011, in an interview with GameRant.com titled "Fans ‘Were Not Pleased’ with ‘Dragon Age 2′ Says EA", EA Games Label President Frank Gibeau acknowledged the fans' disappointment over the direction Dragon Age 2 took, and proclaimed: "As we think about where we take the franchise next, we’re going to take that into consideration and really engage them”[1].