I play the two series for different reasons. For me, the strength of the Elder Scrolls games is in the actual world itself far more than the characters or story. This world lends itself very well for sort of sandbox style play.
When I play Dragon Age, I want compelling characters and a strong, dare-I-say linear storyline that takes me from Interesting Story Point A to Interesting Story Point B. It's a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate 1&2; I want my squad based tactical combat and fun companions and tightly plotted story. When I first played Inquisition, I was confused. Why can my character jump? Where is the all important pause button? Why doesn't tab search for things like it has since Baldur's Gate? Where are all the things that make Dragon Age, well, Dragon Age?
I managed to sort of bash my way through the game so I could say I did it, but the entire time it just felt off, to me. This wasn't the Dragon Age I was used to. It felt like it was trying to be The Elder Scrolls despite the fact that it lacked the strength the Elder Scrolls has (the very, very lore-heavy world - I love me some Thedas lore, but it doesn't lend itself for sandbox style play the way Tamriel lore does), and as such was downplaying the very strengths I was playing the game for - story and characters.
I don't know if I'm wording this well but I guess what I'm trying to say is... well, if I want to play Elder Scrolls, I'll load up Elder Scrolls. If I want to play Dragon Age... looks like I'm loading up one of the first two games in the series because Inquisition doesn't feel to me like Dragon Age. It feels like something else, something which a lot of people like, don't get me wrong, but which I can ultimately get in a better form with, say, Morrowind.
EDIT: thought of a TLDR way to say it. I feel like the Elder Scrolls setting and lore lends itself better to open world, whereas DA setting and lore lends itself better to, well, not-open-world.





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