The review, overall, is fairly indicative of DA:O's general gaming experience… Before I take up arms against the one glaring exception(his belief that he was not a pawn from square one) let me say that I found it refreshing to read a relatively objective review.
The plotting overall isn’t noteworthy. Not that I mind a series of clichés; most entertainment or art starts with that. It’s how you expand upon it that matters, and the development in DA:O is standard formula. I never came away with the feeling, as I did in BG2 or Ultima VII, of being a pawn successfully moved about in a much, much larger game, or disrupting a very carefully laid and complex plan, as in BG1, or discovering that everything I knew was wrong, as in Planescape: Torment.
Becoming a gray warden is unavoidable, a necessary bit of linearity to maintain the games continuity. But your "survival" at Ostagar is nothing of the sort… Of course as the hero you have live, but there were other ways you could have survived the tower. However, more telling are those that did not survive. Why did Flemeth not save the King or Duncan? She claims that the blight is a threat to all, if so saving the man with the knowledge to make more gray wardens would have been the logical choice. I'm of the belief that it was all part of her plan to acquire the soul/essence of the old god from the archdemon.
Now the question becomes, had Flemeth already started the ritual to take over Morrigans body before the threesome set off for Lothering(as we learn it seems to take time to "settle in")? It would explain why killing a nearly immortal being was so damn easy, what was killed was nothing more than a vestigial husk - Flemeth's old body. Indeed it's destruction was most likely tangent and meant only to further Morrigan's complacency or perhaps it was a necessary part of the ritual? Then again, let us assume that Morrigan was truly herself. She lets on that killing Flemeth will most likely only be a temporary set back… Which in hindsight, could also be part of Flemeth's plan to take over the body/soul of the old god Morrigan wishes to birth.
Of course with only two grey wardens the hero is definitely tempted to take up Morrigan's offer. Let's face it, who wants to die? Though, for arguments sake, let us assume that the her offer is refused and one of the grey wardens dies… You still find out that a woman matching Morrigan's description is heavy with child. IMO, that can only mean that Morrigan is actually Flemeth and she seeks to continue her perverse existence. Of course there are other remaining old gods for her to try and acquire…
Then again, maybe I've given Bioware too much credit.
Another issue I'd like to comment on, one that I found quite annoying, was the lack of reactivity - especially when playing a Blood mage… At a minimum within the party, those who would see you using such abilities, should express their thoughts on the matter if not leave or attack you. Oh and Wynne, why would she even allow herself to learn blood magic?!? Small things can kill RPing/Immersion, for me anyway.
Oh boy, I guess I have more to say on the subject than I thought… I'll just stop for now and say this, I've been a lurker for some time, great site.