While you consider really memorable open world video games, it is exhausting to not image the likes of Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Each are finally taking pictures for various objectives, however they share a deep appreciation for discovery. Their worlds aren’t outlined by map markers; they’re designed in ways in which push gamers in the direction of the unknown, and that is what makes them so engrossing.
However there was a sport all the way in which again in 2012 that tried to seize that very same sense of journey — and it was referred to as Dragon’s Dogma. Initially, Capcom’s first actual foray into the fantasy RPG house was sadly overshadowed by Skyrim, however throughout the final half decade or so, the title has firmly established itself as a cult traditional by constructive phrase of mouth. There’s an argument to be made that Dragon’s Dogma was truly forward of its time, with a transparent emphasis on ’emergent’ gameplay depth and a definite lack of handholding — well-liked traits of vital darlings right here in 2024.
And that brings us to Dragon’s Dogma 2 — a a lot deserved sequel that diehard DD followers have been ready 12 years for. Given the present open world panorama, Capcom might have simply modified course and crafted a extra… modernised instance of the style — however no, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is mainly a retread of its predecessor, besides it has been handed the sources and price range that its imaginative and prescient calls for. The result’s an open world motion RPG that sits alongside Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild as probably the most absorbing adventures we have ever performed.
Every little thing this sport does, it does in service of the journey. And by that, we imply the overwhelming majority of your playthrough will probably be spent travelling from place to put by way of the various, many treacherous roads that make up the title’s sprawling map. These pathways are the lifeblood of Dragon’s Dogma 2, providing up close to fixed thrills as you clamber over mountains, edge throughout creaking bridges, and dash between dusty trails. It is peak open world design, each in the way in which it coaxes you ahead with impressive-looking landmarks, and in the way it feels to truly interact with the sport’s various geography.
However earlier than we proceed gushing, we must always in all probability present a rundown on Dragon’s Dogma as an idea. As was the case within the unique launch, you play as a totally customisable character often called the Arisen. Your (literal) coronary heart stolen by an omnipotent dragon, it is the Arisen’s responsibility to trace the winged menace and develop into a hero within the eyes of the individuals. Simply to be clear, this is not a direct sequel; information of the primary sport is not in any respect required, though it provides you with a higher appreciation for what Dragon’s Dogma 2 is making an attempt to do.
Certainly, this sequel seeks to enhance upon every thing that Dragon’s Dogma acquired proper. It doubles down on exploration with a far greater map that is completely filled with secrets and techniques, it fleshes out the motion with extra in-depth character courses (or vocations, as the sport calls them), and it even strives for a extra nuanced narrative. On that closing level, the primary sport flirted with political intrigue however by no means fairly embraced it; the storytelling was pretty fleeting, counting on a handful of key cutscenes to specific tone and ambiance, instead of a extra typical, dialogue-driven plot.
It is a comparable form of deal in Dragon’s Dogma 2. There is no query that the narrative takes a backseat to the entire adventuring that you will be doing, nevertheless it does attempt to provide a bit extra perception into the societal workings of its fantasy setting. Most of the principal story quests, for instance, contain courtly plots and characters with questionable motives. It is all very theatrical, particularly when it comes to writing, which steadily borders on the kind of whimsical script you’d affiliate with Shakespearean stage performs.
It goes with out saying that the sport’s distinctive model of storytelling will not be for everybody — it is actually not the form of character-focused RPG that we have develop into so accustomed to. However once more, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is all about gameplay, and we might dare recommend {that a} extra concerned narrative would detract from what the title does finest. As a plot that merely bubbles away within the background — and provides you ample excuse to go off on far-flung adventures — it greater than will get the job performed.
Because it seems, everybody needs a favour from the Arisen. Nobles vie for the chosen one’s affect to additional their very own ambitions, whereas the peasants cry out for assist with their extra humdrum happenings. It is no shock, then, that facet quests are quite a few, sending you up and down the land looking for eventual glory. Most are genuinely fascinating and add context to the encircling world, however the targets typically boil right down to go right here, get this, convey it again. Fortunately, that is one other state of affairs the place the energy of the sport’s exploration carries the remainder of the expertise; the act of truly journeying to your vacation spot is often the spotlight of any given quest.
And that is as a result of Dragon’s Dogma 2 goes all-in on making its map as dynamic as potential. Primarily, random occasions and enemies are key to holding issues contemporary. Whether or not it is a pack of squealing goblins or a ox-drawn cart being dismantled by a griffon, there’s nearly at all times one thing mad occurring. There are even occasions when entire teams of foes from a close-by cave or bandit camp will probably be drawn into the fray, which ends up in utter chaos. You realize in Skyrim if you’d see giants and mammoths having a go at wandering guards and suppose, “wow, this sport actually feels alive”? Properly, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is like that, however taken to a brand new degree.
There’s additionally a smattering of very delicate survival mechanics, which assist preserve that integral sense of journey. As you journey and inevitably interact in fight — there’s loads of fight — your most well being will lower as you are taking harm. At the least within the sport’s early hours, this steadily degrading well being pool forces you to cease and relaxation after a troublesome battle, both at a chosen campsite out within the wilderness, or at an inn. As such, there’s a component of danger versus reward to every tour, and it is enhanced by a beautiful day and evening cycle through which extra harmful monsters (together with horror-tinged creatures, just like the residing lifeless) roam the roads after sundown.
Battling in opposition to these beasts is the place the sport arguably shines brightest. Fight within the unique Dragon’s Dogma was wonderful as soon as you bought to grips with its barely jank mechanics, and the sequel simply pushes every thing ahead. There’s now a formidable smoothness to character animations, whereas each enemy kind comes with its personal bag of methods that you will have to deal with. What’s extra, vocations are extremely various of their strategy, resulting in an enthralling diploma of experimentation as you attempt to discover a favorite.
Actually although, it is the really feel of fight that is usually excellent — a feat that Capcom has achieved time and time once more through the years with titles like Monster Hunter and Satan Could Cry. For the uninitiated, fight revolves round vocations and the strategies that they bestow, nevertheless it’s the way you deal with every encounter that issues. Monsters have particular weaknesses — harpies must be blasted out of the air earlier than they’re weak, as an illustration — and a few vocations are a lot better suited to clobbering sure beasts than others. It’s also possible to use the encircling terrain to your benefit, leaping onto bigger foes and climbing throughout them in a really Shadow of the Colossus method. It is all brilliantly dynamic, at all times providing other ways to sort out more and more loopy conditions.
In brief, there’s little extra satisfying than touchdown a crushing blow to an ogre’s head, earlier than watching it reel from the impression and crash to the ground. However what separates Dragon’s Dogma from its friends is the way you manufacture that skull-smashing assault within the first place. This can be a party-based system, the place your Arisen is joined on their journey by not-quite-human entities often called pawns. These AI-driven companions are central to each gameplay and the story, as they reside and die by the Arisen’s will. In battle, pawns act based on their prior experiences, providing recommendation in the event that they’re conversant in a sure foe.
They acquire stated expertise by their adventures with different gamers, and that is actually the crux of the pawn system as a complete. Enjoying on-line is not a requirement — staying offline will see that your sport is populated by randomised Capcom pawns — however an web connection signifies that you will encounter pawns from “different worlds”; secondary characters that every participant creates alongside their Arisen. Your principal pawn is your fixed companion, and will they be employed by one other participant, they will acquire information that may be put to make use of throughout your individual excursions.
Should you performed the primary sport, you will already know the pawn system inside-out, and mechanically, it is just about similar right here within the sequel. Having stated that, apparent enhancements have been made to pawn AI. Extra particularly, pawns now battle based on their vocation. Mages and archers keep at a distance as shield-bearers and warriors wade into the carnage, stopping the moments of sheer frustration that might punctuate battles within the unique launch.
Total, the pawn system stays a novel promoting level. The pawns themselves nonetheless have an underlying weirdness to them, and it is amplified by the addition of pawn-to-pawn banter. New gamers would possibly query why co-op is not at the least an choice, however there is no denying simply how endearing your trusty pawns might be, particularly if you’re shoulder to shoulder within the warmth of battle.
Talking of which, getting busy on the battlefield might be if you’ll discover the only best flaw of Dragon’s Dogma 2. We’re, in fact, referring to its uncapped body fee, which is able to fluctuating wherever between what seems like 15 and 60 frames-per-second on PS5. Now, an important factor to notice is that 90 p.c of the time, the title runs at a (comparatively) regular 30fps — and the sport performs so easily that almost all gamers in all probability will not even discover the extra minor dips. Nevertheless, when issues get hectic in the midst of a highway that is filled with vegetation, after which the sport has to render loopy magic spell results over every thing, the body fee can tank.
Hilariously, should you pan the digicam to the sky — away from the entire timber, grasses, particles, lighting results, and shadows — you will see the body fee skyrocket to a stable 60. That is additionally the case if you enter The Rift — an interdimensional (and most significantly, barren) airplane the place you possibly can recruit pawns. The highs and lows of an uncapped body fee are clear, then, however we reside in hope that Capcom can optimise the title post-launch.
It is an actual disgrace, as a result of visually, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is commonly picturesque. The environmental element — notably out within the wilds — is gorgeous, and the lighting is immaculate. At occasions, it seems to be like a correct current-gen launch — one thing that might by no means run on a PS4. In actual fact, our solely presentational gripe is with the distinctly missing dialogue animations. Lip-syncing is barely a factor outdoors of full-on cutscenes, and we swear that a number of the inventory animations are taken straight from the primary sport. Jarring stuff, particularly when the remainder of the discharge seems to be so properly realised.
And at last, we have to at the least point out the sport’s microtransactions, which, greater than something, are simply very disappointing. In case it wasn’t made clear already, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an unbelievable RPG. Whereas taking part in by your complete journey for the needs of this evaluation, not as soon as did we discover ourselves pining to spend actual cash on gadgets that may be obtained in-game. Nevertheless, the mere presence of stated microtransactions seems like Capcom’s spitting within the face of its personal excellence. Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t want microtransactions; it is a single-player, open world launch that places every thing it has into its pursuit of exploration and discovery. Once more, a really disappointing resolution.