There’s a duality between solid combat and archaic, frustrating exploration in equal parts. At times, it feels like a pioneering game, and at others, it turns into the most awkward and outdated experience imaginable. The combat, though straightforward, is convincing, and the ability to alternate between an action-oriented approach and a more tactical one is nice. The mechanics related to the abilities of each class and specialization round out the formula. While traversing the world, collecting materials feels rewarding thanks to a well-implemented crafting system for weapons, armor, potions, and other materials. The mechanics tied to the war table and the real-time operations of the Inquisition are initially surprising but eventually become more of a nuisance than a pleasure. Finally, the exploration and quest tracking, while not terrible, are very old-school and certainly don’t make things easy for you. Having to jump across rocks and constantly consult maps has a certain quaint charm, but it becomes tiresome. It’s ironic how sometimes you get a map marker for the most trivial thing, and other times, you can spend hours—yes, hours—trying to figure out how to access a specific area with no clues. There’s an infamous main story mission that focuses less on combat and highlights these shortcomings.