Pros:
-Engaging storyline (mostly) throughout. Branching decisions are thoughtful and appreciated.
-More customization than ever before. Could always use more, but this is a huge step in the right direction.
-Hours and hours...and hours of gameplay, activities, and huge areas to explore. I haven't spent as much time on a single playthrough than any other game with a linear plot before (which excludes games like Elders Scrolls, Fallout, WoW, etc.)
-Solid, entertaining combat. Attacks hit hard and have weight behind them. The game is a little too flashy...but it creates a certain charm (think the clunky but tactical approach to ME1 or DA:O...had its faults but most ended up liking it a lot). The sum of its parts add up nicely.
-Judgements are exciting, plentiful, and varied.
-Lots of companions and NPCs to meet. Most of the voice acting is solid.
-Epic soundtrack.
-Dragon battles are exhilarating and unique.
Cons:
-This is a buggy, BUGGY game. No game breaking bugs, but the bugs that are present are damn near close to game breaking. Some story scenes literally refuse to play out, and get awkward stagnated during key moments. Really kills the immersion and investment to the story. Other bugs include getting stuck in objects/corners, and not being able to complete/turn in certain quests. Such is the plight that many RPGs of this magnitude face.
-Some really poorly written dialogues and bad voice-overs.
-Lack of tactics. The few options we receive in the AI controlling its own behavior is abysmal, especially in comparison to previous games.
-No stat allocation is a terrible idea in RPGs of this style. Despite what crafting may achieve, it should always be there so that the player can properly mold a character's combat persona to their liking. Crafting is limiting in creating the true fighter you desire.
-No storage chest forces you to part with several unique, codex-worthy items that could be novel to have around. Boo.
The game's biggest strength: content. This game is absolutely brimming with content. Some may not appreciate all the content, and others (like myself) appreciate all of it. A fantastic game to lose yourself in.
The game's biggest weakness: Bugs and limitations. For a game that thrives by immersion, the bugs really do butcher the experience, and appear at the worst possible times. Limitations in combat, tactics, and other RPG elements are very disheartening. Makes me wonder what else they might streamline in future titles.
Neutral opinion: This game is so much more valuable to those invested in the series than to newcomers. Although a newcomer could endure the huge game if they made the effort, I can see why many would not appreciate this game for what it is. For those who love Dragon Age, RPGs, or both, this is a really great game and a good step into the right direction of RPGs from BioWare considering the backlash from DA:2, SWTOR, and ME3.
Final Verdict: 9/10.