Man, this review is so refreshing. I don't ever comment on reviews, but I'll do it here and now.
This is the first Dragon Age title I've played, so I can't relate to any comments about how it doesn't feel like previous DA titles. I also ignore all reviews that aren't clearly written with the thoughtfulness that you've employed here, which means I don't relate to any unsubstantiated opinions which refer to this game as woke, too easy, or straight up trash, or which complain about choices not mattering. I also don't have much insight into the turbulence experienced during this game's development.
Like you, I experienced this game in heavenly solitude, making the experience entirely my own, and it made all the difference. I'm on my second play through now, reaching about 100 hours of playtime, which is very rare for me. I consider myself a fairly casual gamer who doesn't see many titles to completion, partially because I'm picky when it comes to setting and theme, but mostly because I just don't like games that have a dull grind... and there are a TON of those. Anyway...
This game just bleeds personality, and you can tell that the people who made it loved the process. I swear, it's the perfect antidote to the poison that runs so deeply through gaming popular culture. If you shut out the noise - like you mention with respect to social media - and just give this game a good, honest shot, it might just change your life. It definitely changed mine. And it just cemented in my mind the fact that you can only really get access to the kind of experience that you and I share with DATV if you just try it for yourself and make your own conclusions.
I even ordered Rook's Coffer from the BioWare merch store, and I've never ordered video game merch before. Am I growing out of being casual...?
I'd write more, but I'm being character limited. Oh well. Thanks for this review, and I'll be on the lookout for more of your reviews. You clearly enjoy what you do.
