DA2 has good ideas that are only half baked or not implemented at all.
There's the idea of a game happening in the same place over 10 years instead of you going lots of places. This is original. But the city barely changes and it's not large enough. So by the end you're sick of jogging through the same six streets.
Kirkwall is a kind of anti-magic police state with lots of surveillance. This doesn't translate to gameplay because you see mages in every corner and even you can be a mage. Lip service is paid to this, but on the whole the game doesn't play by its own rules.
Rise to power. Again all well and good on paper, but just like in that old godfather game where you still bribed and threatened butchers despite being a caporegime, Hawke runs errands throughout the game.
Companions have their own style. It makes sense that grown ups would pick up their own gear according to their distinctive taste. Sadly this translates to your companions' inability to put on another shirt in ten years.
More distinctive classes. Good idea to specialize more the classes to improve replayability and group tactics. It's maybe a minor complaint but I find class restrictions limiting. Fan-favourite builds like the dual wielding warrior were missed.
You understand the point.
The game also have a narrative problem in my opinion, especially in Act 1. For example, (SPOILERS) you agree to work for Athenril for a year. The screen fades to black, then a year has passed and you get a mail from Athenril saying "hey we had good times" and Varric finds you and says "you've made a name for yourself". You don't see this; you have to be told. In addition, you have to make money for an expedition by taking unrelated jobs from random NPCs, most of which are irrelevant to the plot. This is a drag. I had much rather play through that year as Athenril's agent, thereby making money and meeting my future companions.
Despite everything, if you like Dragon Age, the game can be light-hearted and Hawke can be a goofball. There are also interesting takes on topics games don't usually bother themselves considering. It's original that way.