I have nothing against sandbox games personally, but my complaint concerns how the introduction of the sandbox mechanic after such an intense VN prologue totally breaks immersion. IMO the sandbox mechanic just does not fit the story and degrades an otherwise superb VN.Okay so I wasn't going slightly mad. That change threw me off in particular because Ava was gotten rid of in my playthrough.
I'll also be joining the chorus is expressing my disdain, dislike, and disgust with the sandbox shift. I see it doing more harm than good in both the short and long term.
I wish we were given more information on the old world considering we've sent Morgana off to recruit them...more information on why it is such an awful place and why folks would be willing to risk death in a war that isn't their own to leave it.
In my playthrough Morrigan spared Ava, but she is otherwise gone.
The background story on the "Continent" can be had by playing Viz Origins. It is a prequel to the main story and tells a bit about Morganna.