After finishing my first playthrough, I just had to take a second to praise your level designers.
When I imagined what I'd want a new Dragon Age game to look like your people really nailed the amount of detail I dreamed of. Thanks!
I have absolutely nothing negative to say when it comes to the huge environments, which is saying a lot coming from a negative nancy like me.
I would really love to see their development pipeline, because their maps are truly great.
Mostly agree... except for Val Royeaux. Amidst all the super-detailed and huge outdoor zones it kind of stands out for its LACK of detail and character. It looks and feels like it was built yesterday from brightly painted sheets of plywood. Like something you might see in Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. It's terrible.
But that's about my ONLY complaint with the level design anywhere in this entire game, so that's saying something.
I can see things only getting better from now on. They delved into map making and exploration. That was their primary focus this time. I feel like next time they'll be able to balance story and exploration much better. This game looks brand new and unlike previous installments of Dragon Age. Naturally, there'll be a learning curve and improvements will be made.
100% agree with this. They are finding the balance. I loved reading about the thaig entrance sealed up on storm coast, then you can actually find it if you go afield of the map, sure enough sealed up with a dwarf statue above it.
And the giant hand statue. Sure it was flavor but still pretty cool.
Mostly agree... except for Val Royeaux. Amidst all the super-detailed and huge outdoor zones it kind of stands out for its LACK of detail and character. It looks and feels like it was built yesterday from brightly painted sheets of plywood. Like something you might see in Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. It's terrible.
But that's about my ONLY complaint with the level design anywhere in this entire game, so that's saying something.
Agree with the OP. The maps look gogeous. While I do ahve some concerns with the game and quest design, that aspect was done pretty much perfectly.
I do also agree that Val Roeaux stand out negatively. It brings up some unpleasant memories of Kirkwall in it's empty and static presentation. BioWare should take a page out of the Assassins Creed dev book when it comes to populating cities and making them feel lively. Maybe they can filch some of their guys to get a decent crowd AI going or something. 
The environments are gorgeous enough that it has made me collect ALL shards in every playthrough. It's definitely something that should be praised.
Also why there needs to walking functions for PC.
For a map so small, I shouldn't have to fast travel to the other levels. It's kind of baffling.
I think they did it for tutorial purposes, at least I got that pesky message with "you know what? there are other levels and you can fast travel to get to them"
VR was pretty meh in comparison to other maps, but I also try to keep in mind that good cities are very hard to make in games.
Agreed, the environments were one of the big positives of the game. I just wish there was some better story content that was put into those environments, but some environments weren't too bad. Aside from how long you could get stuck in the Hinterlands doing quests, I really liked that map and the mage/templar conflict erupting in it.
Spectacular, although (and this is my one major complaint about this game) I hate the artificial way they force you to explore by putting massive mountains in EVERY SINGLE MAP. I think Exalted Plains is one of the worst in that regard, proportionate to its size. If I can climb or find a secret dungeon to go through, fine but don't force me to go around half the freaking map just to get a crappy dagger (75% of weapons to loot are daggers). It's a cheap mechanic.
You're telling me that across both Orlais and Ferelden, there isn't a single prairy?
Sorry, I forgot but Oasis is even worse.
I underestimated the levels judging by the trailers and demos. Man, they nailed it. These levels are just stunning and really detailed! Still impressed even after several playthroughs.
Felt like I was there(unlike Skyrim 
),and lost at times,no really. Sure to some the maps felt small,but not to me. They are big. 
The maps are beautiful, but we need some more plot to make use of them. More actually story to warrant exploring them.
The Hissing Wastes has so little to do in it, for example. The exhalted plains have an entire Dalish Clan who may as well not be there. There's a huge section of the Fallow Mire which no quest even directs you towards, with a windmill. The Emerald Graves Freemen of the Dales thing just doesn't really... go anywhere. And yet there's a huge Haunted Mansion in one section of the map with no direction to it at all.
Each map kinda feels like there was something more intended, that did not happen in the end. I hope future DLC might flesh things out a little.
The maps are beautiful, but we need some more plot to make use of them. More actually story to warrant exploring them.
The Hissing Wastes has so little to do in it, for example. The exhalted plains have an entire Dalish Clan who may as well not be there. There's a huge section of the Fallow Mire which no quest even directs you towards, with a windmill. The Emerald Graves Freemen of the Dales thing just doesn't really... go anywhere. And yet there's a huge Haunted Mansion in one section of the map with no direction to it at all.
Each map kinda feels like there was something more intended, that did not happen in the end. I hope future DLC might flesh things out a little.
This. Entire weakness.
The Hissing Wastes was probably my favourite, overall. It's one giant puzzle that (if you don't cheat and just look things up on the intrawebs) forces you to actually *look* at the landscape and match what you see with the clues and some basic understanding of perspective and such. Very different from the other zones in this respect, almost relaxing.The Hissing Wastes has so little to do in it, for example.
The Hissing Wastes was probably my favourite, overall. It's one giant puzzle that (if you don't cheat and just look things up on the intrawebs) forces you to actually *look* at the landscape and match what you see with the clues and some basic understanding of perspective and such. Very different from the other zones in this respect, almost relaxing.
I agree, I see many people complain that Hissing Wastes had no quests in it, which in my opinion is why it was very nice to me. It's the one zone where exploration actually works, and the night time of the desert gave quite the atmosphere 
but the enemy designs. they are horrible
>Level designs are "godly"
>Hissing Wastes exists
Argument is invalid.
I think the Hissing Wastes is an amazing map- gorgeous, atmospheric, and immersive. I have no issue exploring it every time I play, even if I am getting antsy to finish the game.
And I kind of think the Epcot Pavilion feel of the Val Royeaux market was intentional. It's all about appearances, and if you look closely you can see weathered paint and cracks in the masonry. It does make me sad that we don't see more of Val Royeaux, however. The glimpses you get beyond the market (both when walking on the upper levels, and when doing the handful of quests that take you to other parts of the city) just aren't enough.
All the development money went into creating the maps.
Level design and art direction were brilliant. For me the exception is Val Royeaux because it is a set piece, a back drop, a Hollywood movie set, rather than a location.
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