Followers of the unique Dragon’s Dogma by no means dreamed the wonky fantasy RPG may get a sequel. Over a decade later, Capcom delivered a successor that improved on the issues of the primary with out shaving off the sharp edges that earned it a cult following to start with.
Weeks after it launched, Dragon’s Dogma 2 hasn’t simply bought properly, it’s been the right breeding floor for enjoyable discoveries and unusual participant tales. It’s additionally been a lightning rod for debate, regardless of being one of many highest rated video games of 2024. Listed here are the ups, downs, and the whole lot in-between since Dragon’s Dogma 2’s launched on March 22.
Followers freak out over Dragon’s Dogma 2’s microtransactions
The sport’s Steam web page shows all of the issues you should buy with actual cash, a lot of that are included within the Deluxe Version. They embody tenting kits, Wakestones, Portcrystals, and different in-game gadgets that save time and influence gameplay. Reviewers of the sport level out that a lot of the assets are earned simply sufficient simply by enjoying, however for some gamers the mere existence of the choice to purchase them looks like a corrupting affect. The paid merchandise for altering characters’ appearances will get modded into the sport on day one.
Steam opinions are a large number
Whereas early opinions have been glowing, the sport will get slammed on Steam. With a lower than 40 % constructive ranking in its first day, PC gamers complain about poor optimization. Efficiency points vary from glacial framerates in some areas to occasional freezes and crashes. A Capcom rep tells IGN forward of launch that it’s conscious of CPU points and is wanting into them.
Gamers uncover the horrors of Dragonsplague
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s NPC companions, known as Pawns, are susceptible to a mysterious sickness known as Dragonsplague. If left untreated lengthy sufficient, it triggers a lethal transformation that may wipe out cities. “One of many pawns nukes your entire village due to Dragonsplague and I had no inkling in any respect that that they had caught it,” one participant stories. “No voice strains, no feedback of staying away from them, no glowing purple eyes. My save is now simply fucked due to this mechanic.”
One of many surest methods to identify the sickness is that if Pawns begin performing rudely. Gamers pay attention fastidiously for any indicators of dangerous manners, whereas some kill their companions earlier than ever sleeping over at an Inn. The simplest approach to do this is throwing Pawns into the our bodies of water inhabited by Brine, misty creatures that kill the whole lot they contact. Consequently, gamers begin hurling NPCs off cliffs en masse.
A Pawn pyramid scheme creates free cash
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s financial system is everywhere, with issues like Ox cart rides between cities being comparatively low cost, whereas haircuts price lots of, and rooms at Inns can price 1000’s. Happily, gamers determine an exploit for fast money involving sending Pawns out on quests on-line for issues like killing monsters.
By setting the search rewards for 10,000, different gamers can rent the Pawn and accumulate the bounty. Whereas the primary participant has to pay it out to ship the Pawn on the search within the first place, an infinite variety of different gamers can hire the Pawn to snag the reward. The result’s that Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Rift dimension turns into flooded with free Pawn cash.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s first patch provides do-overs
One of many weirdest issues about Capcom’s RPG finally ends up being the truth that there’s just one save file that always will get up to date. Gamers can’t even begin their recreation over from the start till Dragon’s Dogma 2’s first patch on March 29. The replace additionally provides extra graphics choices for console, makes it simpler to get a home earlier within the recreation, and adjustments the variety of Artwork of Metamorphosises that may be bought from 2 to 99.
Capcom takes pity on undesirable Pawns
A participant by the identify of MrFoxer on the Dragon’s Dogma subreddit notes that Capcom seems to be manufacturing synthetic gamers to hire out Pawns if no one actual is doing it. “You’ll be able to inform whether or not an precise participant rented your pawn by trying to view their profile whereas taking a look at your pawn’s report,” they write. “If the choice is greyed out, it’s a ‘faux participant.’” Some followers are crestfallen. “Nicely thats good but in addition kinda unhappy since nobody needs to really use our Pawn,” one writes. “Oof, 99% of my rents are greyed out,” writes one other. “Feels dangerous, however by no means thoughts.”
The server-hopping companions proceed to be considered one of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s most fascinating playgrounds. Pawns who’re rented out for actual begin returning to their gamers with rotten meals as followers attempt to devise methods to warn each other about attainable Dragonsplauge afflictions. Different gamers prank each other by sending Pawns again with cast Ferristones as presents.
The worst NPC within the land
Meet Martin, the human Justice of the Peace from Vernworth that everybody hates. He’s exhausting to search out, breaks quests, and is simply an all-around sack of griffon turds. Gamers can kill him after discovering him in Melve yelling at Ulrika for treason they usually do.
A one-hit kill “Unmaking Arrow” is a godsend
Survival will be robust in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Huge legendary creatures stalk you at each flip. However none of them can stand as much as the Unmaking Arrow, an merchandise so highly effective Capcom autosaves the sport after you utilize it. At the least one participant managed to bypass this save-scumming safeguard utilizing cheat engine instruments and proceeded to kill the whole lot they got here throughout. Common followers debate the very best vocations within the recreation. Many imagine it’s clearly Mystic Spearhand or Magick Archer whereas others declare the bottom Thief and Sorcerer roles stay superior.
Gamers debate the sport’s friction
Dragon’s Dogma 2 limits quick journey, doesn’t allow you to absolutely restore well being except you’re on the town or have tenting tools, and severely limits the quantity of junk you possibly can carry in your stock. The consensus is that the fantasy RPG is friction-heavy compared to different open world video games like fashionable Murderer’s Creed titles, however much less unanimous is whether or not that’s all the time a good thing or occasionally masks real shortcomings. The ensuing dialog is inconclusive however enlightening.
A second main patch nerfs Dragonsplague
After untold dying and destruction, the event workforce decides to dial again Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Pawn illness. Along with being extra noticeable, the illness can also be much less frequent. The April 25 replace additionally reduces how a lot NPCs banter throughout quests and removes outdated treasure chests from gamers’ maps, along with different fixes. What it doesn’t do is markedly enhance efficiency on PC.
Capcom shareholders get an sudden payout
Dragon’s Dogma 2 sells 2.5 million copies in its first 10 days the place the primary recreation took a complete month simply to promote lower than half that quantity. That brings the franchise’s lifetime whole gross sales as much as 10 million, pushing it properly previous the cult standing it had beforehand loved for years. “Dragons Dogma 2 was launched within the fourth quarter and has carried out favorably,” Capcom introduced in a revision to its earnings forecast. It elevated its projected dividend per firm share by $.03. Not sufficient to afford an evening in Bakbattahl however sufficient that the corporate additionally will increase salaries for brand spanking new graduate hires.