I might post this somewhere else but I'd like to get this off my chest. I think Bioware unintentionally made a gender neutral experience or more current language their first real nonbinary experience in Dragon Age 2 (I don't count Mass Effect because it still feels like you get some gendering even if they all only call you Commander Shephard) as I really can't remember your gender being used against you in exclusive routes or choices and only flavoring text, save for Anders when you're a male expressing interest and maybe Isabella's first meeting who gives Fem Hawke a warning instead of flirting. I need to replay this game to confirm this but this really would explain why I felt indifferent in each replay (except for class as I would feel the pain of combat when not a mage) no matter my gender or flipped the rivalry or friendship meters, hell I think being a mage gets me more characterization tension. Is it a bad thing? No I would call it weak at worst as when I am given a choice at gender I want that depth or exclusivity as I'm playing with each new each time I start up a game that allows me to customize the main character/my avatar. I guess I really felt like my actions didn't matter as the Hawke-sexual tension was strong with everyone and who could really blame them when someone competent is actually doing something in this Maker forsaken city.
But it's not bad for narrative or game choice as they were under a lot of constraint and pressure from EA to ship out a follow up to Origins and ironing out all the choices your character could go and where beyond dialogue I understand just adds to the pile of what ifs I have. I understood why this wouldn't work aside from romance options in Origins as a Grey Warden you're working towards building an army for the narrative to be grander than just your character even if the story is more the journey than destination but DA2 or it's proper working title Exodus was meant to be a personal roleplay of your personal survival your choices and the consequences for the player. I still love this series and the game (except combat) and I still enjoy the banter even after I have to kill Anders in the end every single time.
But it's not bad for narrative or game choice as they were under a lot of constraint and pressure from EA to ship out a follow up to Origins and ironing out all the choices your character could go and where beyond dialogue I understand just adds to the pile of what ifs I have. I understood why this wouldn't work aside from romance options in Origins as a Grey Warden you're working towards building an army for the narrative to be grander than just your character even if the story is more the journey than destination but DA2 or it's proper working title Exodus was meant to be a personal roleplay of your personal survival your choices and the consequences for the player. I still love this series and the game (except combat) and I still enjoy the banter even after I have to kill Anders in the end every single time.
