Eventually there comes a point when it is necessary either to shit or leave Shithouse.

Andrzej Sapkowski, "Lady of the Lake"

BioWare never messes up - it is a truism. Well, almost. Neverwinter Nights with scenario affected by rachitic was saved by a terrific level editor and the game was kept on the hard drive because of the magnificent mods from fans. It is only after then the first add-on came out, and then more mature second part, but if it were not for graphics, Newerwinter Nights sank to the abyss of oblivion, since it wasn’t any lack of good games based at the third edition of D&D in those years. A little later, the second internal command of the studio (almost entirely another people) created KOTOR, which beat us brains out and deprived of speech. And the game absolutely deaf to your fanaticism on the Lucas's creations - it was a consummate standard for role-playing game of the New School. As it’s seen from further history of BioWare, two internal collectives went completely different ways. Casey Hudson, Drew Karpishin and all the SW-based staff produced in 2007 Mass Effect, which fairly broke a platitude of what may be a role-play and put the philosophical question: what is is your RPG in general? Meanwhile, the creators of Baldur's Gate and NWN do, frankly, a failure (including the level of game standards for studio) Jade Empire, and the development of the next fantasy game Dragon Age stalled for a long period. As a result, a new owner of BioWare – EA - gave impetus to DA. The project was totally remodeled and after two years hit store shelves. Despite some flaws, Dragon Age: Origins absorbed, had a great storyline, brilliant voice acting and nice music from Inon Zur.

Probably looking at a painful development cycle of the first game, the sequel was made just phenomenally fast, even for a shooter. Accelerated 12-month development period can be seen in Dragon Age 2 almost everywhere. Here are small number of locations, imperfect combat system and slow working, sometimes broken quest triggers. However mature Witcher-like scenario and total storyline course from the standard "save the world" into the personal drama still does not allow to call sequel just the average product. Of course DA2 - this is an example of spoiled by deadline masterpiece, but it does not negate the fact what few role-playing games are equal in addictiveness or the overall quality of performance. 

The only thing Dragon Age 2 turned out unambiguously bad in comparison with the original one is the Inon Zur’s music, poor quality of which he tries to explain by embarrassing pretext by total lack of time. You know what, Comrade Zur? After listening to your Dragon litter, better, as would say mister Sapkowski, to leave the Shithouse. 

He, Sweety, has no voice, no hearing, and may rhymejust "Slut" and "Butt"

Geralt of Rivyia

Common refrain of the whole soundtrack - primitive. Seriously, almost every tune is “three guitar chords”, transcribed in the orchestral musical party. As the scope of history has narrowed considerably, composers could safely operate on personal themes, interesting violin motifs and piano. However, attempts to give something "personal" turned into a total fiasco. Taking  main theme: vocals became more intimate and interesting, but leitmotif from the first part was reworked not in the best way, and therefore there’s no any feeling it has evolved. On the contrary - "pupupu" tubes sound more ridiculous than calling in the expanse a melody from the first part. Wrote something more dramatic, as they said, yeah. 

Generally, trumpeters are the main villains in the soundtrack. Inon Zur, apparently, caught by the idea that he is Michael Giacchino and knows how to deal with wind instruments. Maybe that's because trying to insert something could blow are seeing in almost every track, and the sound is clearly odd. And all because the brass parties look primitive and could be expressed by "lyalyalya, lyalyalya, Tweedledee, lyalyalya". Most of all it's annoying in combat tracks, such as Arishok. 

Permanent self-quoting not the brightest musical moments of the first part insufferably enrages. No, we do not criticize Zur for reference (which are in every decent sequel), just sometimes, even playing DA2, seems like the background music sounds from Origins. Where is difference between the second part of Dark Dawn and action tracks from the first part only the Lord knows. Well, why Zur rips off pieces for the quotes from previous not very successful work doesn’t know, perhaps even Andraste. Due to the above, all songs are monotonous, boring and the whole album is more like a viscous gum with lost taste but not the soundtrack to the RPG AAA class.

Medieval instruments, incidentally, are used quite sluggishly, with some reluctance, and often unsuccessful. In many places, they would be able safely replaced by more classical violin or cello - it would give to a greater personal color to tracks and simply would have sounded much better. 

What is most surprising, this misunderstanding was performed live, although the tracks could easily be made from samples and wouldn’t have lost anything in sound quality or creativity. 

Nevertheless it may be, why not, compliment for three tracks - it's really a personal theme of Hawk, breakbeat with medieval instruments in the Tavern theme and successful musical heritage of the first part heard in the vocal theme Rouge Heart.

Silence is not gold. But some cost it still is.

Andrzej Sapkowski

 And we really had hope about Zur’s success in DA: O – maybe he began to develop musical self-sufficiency? But no, in DA2 we clearly meet the old good melancholic scriber Inon and his enormous minutes of boredom reflected in the music. Probably just because hide the shame music hardly sounds inside the game and turns on mostly during the battle, and even not always (even if it's a bug, it is rather good than bad). In any case, it will be strange to see Inon Zur in the next game, which is hinted at end of the second one, since Crysis 2 have already managed without the services of this friend. 

P.S. And a bit of time. One former staff EALA blabbed C&C4 was made a little longer than the Dragon Age 2. Remembering a brilliant soundtrack by Wynne, Hannigan and Graves conclusions about who is guilty and who is wrong can be done by yourself.