I didn't think it was possible, but I actually liked DAI less than DA2.
So, for me, the series has gone downhill since DAO.
DAO immediately grabbed me. I liked how you could choose from multiple origins, and the origin portions established an immediate context and connection to the character. Even in DA2, there's a prologue section where you flee with your family, and that serves to connect you with your Hawke.
In DAI, you are immediately thrust into the story. You don't really get a sense of who your Inquisitor is or where he/she came from. you get bits and pieces in dialogue and maybe a few War Table missions. but from what I've heard, it's not much and doesn't have much effect on the story and you don't get to experience it like you did in DAO or DA2.
I also found the companions in DAO more interesting.
Combat, though slower and "clunkier", felt more visceral and satisfying in DAO, especially when you pulled off the random finishing move. In DA2 and DAI, it just feels like you are mindlessly wacking stuff until they explode.
DAI just felt more "limiting" compared to the prior games in terms of skill/spell selection and how you can build your character.
You can only pick one Spec out of a choice of 3 in DAI, and for the mages, 2 of those Specs are basically just reshuffles of spell trees from prior games. And for most of the Specs, the big focus attack seems out of place compared to the rest of the tree.
Like, Rift Mage sounds cool in concept. It sounds like the Force Mage spec in DA2. And some Force Mage spells are in there. But then they retool Stone Fist ( and Earth/Nature spell ) and Meteor Strike ( a Fire spell ) and throw them into Rift Mage. Why?
Knight Enchanter also sounds cool in concept. But again, role playing wise it's limiting, because you can only wield the spirit blade in your left hand, and it's only limited to one color - gold. What if you want to wield the blade in your right hand because that's your main hand? What if you want to wield a cool blue spirit blade or a purple blade? Can't do any of that.
Healing spells have essentially been gutted and deemphasized. Mages even lost the cool melee staff attacks they had in DA2. In DAI, you will still fire blasts from your staff even if your enemy is inches away from your face.
I could go on and on......but I think you get my point.......lol.
oh, and I even went online and read up on the ending. and hearing about how underwhelming the final boss fight is ( and how underwhelming the antagonist is in general ) as well as how your choices don't really matter much in the end, just further deflated my interest in the game.
now, with all that being said, after taking a long break from the game, I'm going to give it one more go. I'm also waiting to see what the upcoming DLC will be. Hopefully, there will be an Awakening like expansion that adds new specs and skills/spells. but somehow I doubt it.