Look, I don't want to sound like I'm just saying "They Changed It So It Suck!", so I'm going to try to relate my concerns in as clear a way as I can. Please bear with me. Note: Major Unmarked Spoilers will follow.
-I want to reprise my Warden. I spent an entire game getting to establish him, getting like him as a real character within the story. He has a shit ton of plot threads that aren't closed. An example of just one: I Romanced Morrigan, and vowed to find her after she left. It's left really open as to whether or not I even find her, much less what I find out about her motivations and reasoning, etc.
If Hawke were to come across her and resolve the plotline that way, well, that would just be the shittiest resolution to a story in BioWare history. The Morrigan Romance was my single favorite part of the game. It was agonizing, brutal and altogether awesome to behold the genius to took to craft that story. However, it leaves the door wide open for a major plot hook in the sequel, and with Flemeth being confirmed as returning, it probably will involve her, and that would be a really weak way to resolve a story that was only powerful because my character specifically had a personal stake in the resolution.
-I liked the way they handled the Warden character. He's a blank state, he's voiceless, and you are given a blank check to create him. That's what made the game awesome. It took very little effort to get caught in as the Warden character. Those of you didn't like it are probably just outside of DA:O target audience. With a little role-playing I was able to step into the shoes of the Warden and get personally invested in the game's outcome. The fact that some of the harder moral choices had me putting down the controller to consider all my options speaks volumes.
The fact that I have to play as Hawke, a human refugee established as becoming the Champion of Kirkwall at some point, with a preset voice, limits my ability to role-play significantly. The dialogue system and DA:O allowed me to imagine the tone and inflection with which my character would speak, thus allowing me to get immersed in him with little difficulty. I have no desire to play ME or ME2 simply because I have to play as a voiced Shepard. That's my personal preference.
The reason I liked DA:O was because it was the exact opposite of what they're announcing DA2 will be like.
-The Origins did add a lot to the story. The Origins were what made DA:O unique from other fantasy RPGs. It only lasted thirty minutes to an hour but it did so much more for getting me into the game. Instead of starting Cold Turkey, the Human Noble Origin introduced me to the style of politics in Ferelden, the local myths and histories, and made Arl Rendon Howe an actual villain instead of just some incidental boss.
Hawke having a predefined backstory is a step backwards. Instead of more or better Origins (again, the biggest draw of DA:O) they're making it more like any other RPG on the market.
-More importantly, as said above, my Warden's story isn't over yet. I mean consider the epilogues I got:
Alistair and Anora are married.
The Dwarves are becoming a powerhouse as a people.
The Circle is able to restart.
Andraste's Ashes are a holy site now.
Morrigan regrets having left me.
Cue Awakening, and I get:
No Architect means the Darkspawn continue like they always do.
I chase after Morrigan, and my "tale is not yet complete..."
Right. "Not yet complete..."
Then complete it.
I would have no problem with this DA2 if it didn't feel like they were just invalidating DA:O. Why would I bother with a game that has nothing I want? If they gave my Warden a conclusion, one that didn't rely on someone else doing the stuff he should be doing, then I would change my tune. I would embrace this as a new chapter in the setting. Albeit, a chapter in the form of an RPG style I don't like, but I wouldn't be against it. I might even be encouraged to pick it up.
