cneuhauser
 
The game mechanics are horrible, and a horrible console port at that. In typical EA fashion they try so hard to be different, and unique that the befuddle any sort of intuitive UI to be something of a cluster (Deleted for Foul Language). Why am I spending five minutes searching around for how to replace my shield? Well... because EA made it THAT "interesting". I don't need some flashy UI to dazzle me with "who done it" type secrecy. It's ridiculous, and down right stupid!

 
The PC version has a completely different UI than the console version, so it's not a console port in that regard.  You are talking about the inventory.  You don't know how to replace your shield?  There are several ways to do this:
 

1. Double click the shield you want to use, just like in every other RPG.
2. Drag and drop the new shield over the currently equipped shield, just like in every other RPG.
3. Drag and drop the currently equipped shield to the inventory section, and then drag and drop the new shield to the shield slot, just like in every other RPG.
4. Right click the equipped shield, click "Unequip", then right click the new shield and click "Equip", just like in nearly every other RPG. 

Any one of these works.  This is all done in traditional fashion.  The same exact way as almost every other RPG.  How anyone can be confused by this is just astounding.
 

cneuhauser
 
Furthermore, the combat mechanics are hack and slash, and they aren't good at making that work either; it was a half attempt at combining Diablow, w/DAO and it just doesn't work. Not to mention there's no key-binding, so you're stuck with their "way to play", and the camera in "tactical mode" only zooms out half the distance as the original game so 9 out of 10 times you can't visualize your entire party. Also, tactical mode doesn't seem to hold my player characters actions in queue... meaning, if you've selected a basic attack, that character will attack ONCE, then he/she waits for another action to be selected...ridiculous... so you sit there in a battle, constantly pausing, doing a "round robin" trying to time your pause to select each character's next attack.

Hack and slash is only used when not in tactical camera.  The tactical camera however works very well overall, with the only problem being the inability to zoom out more like you said (they will most likely fix this in the next patch).  
 
There's no key binding?  Pause and go to Options and then look at the Key Bindings section.  There is an impressive amount of key binding configuration, including separate bindings for regular gameplay and the tactical camera.  Like a true PC game.  It's also full of PC exclusive UI options which is great.
 
Also you are simply wrong about the queue.  In tactical camera, if you set them to basic attack, they keep doing it, regardless of their positioning.  You don't have to go back and "update" them.  I wonder what you are doing wrong?  They also automatically use their abilities in combat, although this points toward a real problem which you failed to address: the vastly inferior AI behavior customization. 
 

geek32
overall, i enjoyed the game but there's something missing or lacking in gameplay like how to turn off the run mode because i would like to walk around instead of always on the run mode.  And i agree most of the OP's complaint and EA should fix this by making some game updates.

 
For sure, this is an actual problem with the game.  Bioware confirmed that they will fix this in an upcoming patch.  It's not EA who fixes these things by the way.  Bioware has shown to be more receptive to user feedback than most other studios, it's actually surprising.  Walk button confirmed, they acknowledged other issues like tactical camera zoom which should hopefully be fixed.
 

blacksapphire08
I havent played the new Dragon Age but it doesnt surprise me. Both of the previous games had serious mechanics issues.

 
What mechanic issues in Dragon Age: Origins?  There are very few, if any.  I think you just don't like pause and play tactical combat.  But people have to realize if a game's mechanics don't play into your personal preference, that doesn't mean there are serious issues.  I hate hack and slash, but I wouldn't say hack and slash games have serious mechanical issues because of that.