Dragon Age is laughable, specially Origins. It was a game of drinking heal potions endlessly and made the most difficult boss on max difficulty a game of endurance.

There was absolutely no way you can die less you just not prepared...

Normal is too hard at the beginning but it gets easier. Easy mode is way too easy. Like you don't take damage at all.

I love the combat, I'm playing on Hard, but have found that as you start to invest points in your character combat has become a LOT easier than in the beginning. Also getting a feel for combat rhythm helps a great deal as well. Taking on multiple enemies can be as easy as finding the right bomb to throw in the crowd (red haze anyone?) sitting back and picking off stragglers. The first fight with the Kingslayer was a bit difficult and forced me to play him with a *shock* strategy. After dying multiple times, you start to work out what works and what doesn't :). After playing on Hard I don't think I would enjoy combat as much on a lower level. Though I would really like to see somebody do a playthrough on Insane, I just cannot see how that is possible..

I hate when I forget to save and I die.
But after I die the first time I make sure I save before the part that gives me trouble. That way I can die and take another whack at it. It's a lot of fun as long as you aren't losing your progress.

the beginning is quite challenging even on normal but i found it becoming way easier lateron... as soon you get some of the crazy swords, skills and armors it becomes quite "hack and slashy" again

Agreed i play o normal but now the game became really easy on chapter 3 with all the upgrades and new weapons/armor.

And yet the Bioware forums were filled (regarding Origins, not DA:2) with people that couldnt defeat the dragon at the end and couldnt defeat multiple encounters in Origins including a certain wolf encounter when you were on your way to the mage tower!

But hey, Im sure you were a allstar at game because you tell us so.

TW2 isnt really that hard once you figure it out, Early on I had tons of trouble because I was vastly over thinking the encounters, the trick is just stop thinking, roll around and slash and sign use. Near as I can tell, even the advantages gained from using different styles against certain mobs (as in TW1) is gone now. Mash Quick, throw in a few strong, roll away if crowded, spam signs when able, combat will end. Repeat next battle.

Im now on hard setting as easy and normal in chapter two became to easy (and Im NOT a difficulty junkie regarding combat normally, I play these more for story and immersion then combat). Might change at boss encounter if its like Chapter 1 and just a patern fight and reflexs, not strategic or tactical. So maybe ill go back down to easy at that encounter, we shall see when I get there.

Personally If you took EVERYTHING but combat from Witcher 2 and added Dragon Age: Origins strategic combat, id be in freaking heaven and never log outta game for any reason short of forced hunger and bathroom breaks!

(I gotta admit, I never spammed healing potions at any difficulty in DA:O game, I actually out thought and out manuvered the encounters, and also spent amazing amounts of time in tactics screen for group members (love that option in Origins) so cant really say if potion spamming does or doesnt work, not interested in brainless play like that, even if possible)

Anyways, At first I was very taken aback by how difficult The Witcher 2 was combat wise and went down to easy for chapter 1. By the end of chapter 1 the fights were pretty boring truthfully and then the boss was beyond stupid (I hate patern fights, give me a fight where I utilize my characters skills and abilities any day of week). But into chapter two I had to up the difficulty as the fights continued to be boring. Only fight that really caused me issues was the golum fight in the cave (nasty bit of work there).

The Witcher 2 combat is basic console style combat, once you acept that things get much easier. As Ive said in other threads, I was expecting much more combat wise from a PC title.