I've played the demo with each class and I have to say that though I wasn't accustomed to the new menus at first I've grown to love it. It works, it's efficient and the things feel great.
Now in terms of combat I feel they've made a much more satisfying experience for archers, mages, rogues, warriors and hell just everything. It feels so nice to be involved as a distance fighter. The Archer made me so happy with how it felt when I played it, and a little sad for my DA:O archer who can't reach that level of awesome feel.
For me the archer felt like Robin of the Hood from the newest film. The one with Russel Crowe. The up close animations were so welcome. It felt quick, powerful, and commanding. The ability to stand back and issue orders while not feeling like I'm apart from the combat was great. The speed and lethality I feel is finally relayed to the player. There is a reason why archery changed the face of warfare for the entire world. And now that power is in the Dragon Age world.
Not only that but also everything that makes the Rogue so much more mobile as they should be was fantastic. It actually felt like I was playing a different class from the Warrior, which was missing from DA:O. The agility overall really gave me a very specific and pleasurable experience for this class.
The Mage was awesome. The animations for attacks felt awesome. It was much better than standing back and constantly jabbing the stick through the air and watching an impotent twirling missile go to the target. And as with the archer it felt great for them to do something for when enemies close.
The Warrior felt very strong and solid, I have to admit that I much more enjoyed using the two handed weapon over the sword and shield. The claymore type just felt much more aggressive and crushing in it's moves. On that note I'd like to add that with the other to classes I feel you really hit the mark with the "fell" of the class. The Warrior for me just screamed "titan of combat, the juggernaut of the field". I felt unstoppable with my warrior.
As I said I am very happy with the more responsive controls. Now after interacting with it first hand I have to say that while it feels faster and more interactive this is not at the cost of tactical gameplay. Issuing commands and tactics are still very much there, Using your party is still extremely useful. It gave the sense of being a true leader fighting side by side with your comrades.
The menu was a little jarring, again as I previously said. But once I got familiar with it a whole of two minutes later it wasn't that drastic of a change. Though a part of me misses the menu from Dragon Age: Origins. But that's simply because I've spent so much time with it. I'm sure I'll create many new memories with the new interface.
Now my biggest problem with the demo is the fact that it's a demo. Obviously the feeling I wish to get is one of immersion from a Dragon Age title. And this is something that is saved for the main game. Though I did feel a bit sad that one of my siblings had to die, even if I knew it was coming it still sucked.
And one other gripe is that I wish Aveline was a romance option. She won me over when she charged that darkspawn and beat it down before killing it. Now that's a strong lady right there.
So overall obviously I loved it, miss the old menu, long to immerse myself in the full title.