I finished Dragon Age II this weekend after about a month of playing (did most of the side quests. My thoughts:
1) BioWare has the best taste in sound. The ending credit music for Mass Effect 1 & 2 and Dragon Age 1 & 2 leave me with a satisfying feeling that no other games have done.
2) I'm so sick and tired of Kirkwall. I think BioWare took it a bit too far with 90% of the game revolving around a dozen or so different environments. This was my biggest disappointment in the game. They could have tried randomizing some of the dungeons at least. It has left me with an unsatisfying 2nd play-through.
3) My first character (and first play-through) I wanted to be an evil mage. I accomplished being a mage, but you can't really take evil as far as you'd like in the game. Some of the evil responses you make in dialogues are pretty tame. As an evil player, I want to become the Vicount and exterminate the Qunari. I didn't enjoy being everyone's pawn.
4) Red lantern district was childish. A whore house in an RPG is an interesting idea, and for a mature game they turned this into a 'teen-appeaser' where you make out and make sexy sounds. I don't want porn, in fact I don't want the sex scenes at all, but as an evil character, I should be able to have more involvement with this location: like becoming the muscle behind the business (where the hell are the bouncers?).
Perhaps, because of the restrictions placed on video games for content rating, BioWare couldn't take this place too far.
5) Combat was fast and satisfying. Much better than Dragon Age 1. My team was primarily myself (mage and and I played with all kinds of builds but ended up with a mostly elemental one for DPS with heal), Merill (dps mage with heal), Anders (dps mage with heal), and Aveline (tank). Tons of spells going off and no issue with dying with so many heal spells and health potions.
6) My overall impression is this was a fantastic game I'll never forget. Worth purchasing (price has come down now too since release) and I'll be buying all of the DLC quests that come out for it.
Thank you BioWare Edmonton and Austin!