First, it's beautiful, and the sound effects are reminiscent of those of Baldur. Pleasant, it is easily immersed in medieval atmosphere with the cries of merchants and boots noises. Some nice cutscenes punctuate the whole.
The plot (early different in race and profession you choose) is basic in appearance (reunite the peoples to fight the common enemy), is expanding as and moves forward in the history. So that you do not loose along the way ..
A group !! Yes, a group of 4 characters to control. Ability to assign their "behavior" to be adopted before the enemy, and in case of different situations. They are interchangeable at each stop to your camp. And if their alignments differ too much, they insult happily on the roads, which punctuates tasty dialogues trips :) * Special dedication to Morigan and Alistair respectively Paladin and Sorceress Apostate that can not be framed: "Alistair, it is in those moments that I wonder what makes you a fungus ... "*
And, of course, won the capabilities at each level, the pleasure of association of equipment, manage limited inventory, the ability to raise the esteem of a companion by offering him gifts, side quests galore ... and fireballs for every fart of course !! (My favorite fate still remains Cone Ice, frozen because once the opponent, we can try to stick him with another personal mandala 'physical or property spell to burst !!)
Immersive and entertaining, DAO is recommended when loved Baldur. By cons, it bleeds, intrigues are hard, it dies in sometimes very unfair circumstances ... I would not advise young players.