They can use different weapons? Companion weapons are still restricted to their character types: dual-wield weapons for Isabella, archery weapons for Sebastian, two-handers for Fenris, sword and shield for Avelline and staves for the mages. You can give them better weapons, but you can't force Fenris to use a sword and shield or Sebastian to use dual-wield blades. As I said, I prefer this as it doesn't break the characters' individual preferences and how you perceive them and their personalities.
Well, realistically, multiple playthroughs with DA:O weren't very different either. There was perhaps a slight difference in dialogue depending on your race and gender, but in the great scheme of it, after the origins of each race were done, it became exactly the same experience.
Strangely, DA2 is more about side-quests with a main story leading it along than a deftly stitched main story with a few pitiable frays of side-quests ala Origins. I enjoy it too and largely prefer it over the way Origins played out, as I said, I consider it a much more rewarding experience (even though it is shorter). However, it's still not enough to overlook the dialogue system (what's a story worth if your means of interacting with it is ambiguous and breaks immersion in its own right?) or the half-finished story?
SPOILER ALERT:
Or, even the fact that everything you've done in the game boils down to a black-and-white choice in the end; that you never find out what actually happens with your companions afterwards.
No, in my opinion it's a very enjoyable game and I'd recommend it any day of the year, but it's not BioWare at their best.
Oh, and show me your character!
