Dragon’s Dogma 2 manages to be more than the sum of its parts and is a memorable experience for those who dare to brave its world. The action RPG sequel by Capcom, arrives March 22nd, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 had a lot of ambition
Dragon’s Dogma 2 builds upon the foundation of the original with a clear sense of ambition. Director Hideaki Itsuno’s vision for the game seems to have grown significantly since 2012, potentially due to advancements in technology and resources. This ambitious approach offers exciting possibilities for the series’ future.
Dragon’s Dogma 2. Image courtesy of Capcom.
Some of those ideas included a Western-style, action role-playing game set in an unofficial Dungeons & Dragons-like universe, and that’s exactly what the previous game and its sequel are; 3rd-person sword and sorcery action games in an open world. Conceptually it’s very similar to Elden Ring, but with its combat style.
While some fans of the original might miss certain elements of the first game, Dragon’s Dogma 2 represents a clear evolution with the potential to capture the hearts of both returning players and newcomers.
What to Expect
In Dragon’s Dogma 2, you take on the role of the Arisen, a resurrected individual whose heart was stolen by a dragon. Now destined to face this beast, you embark on an adventure to grow in strength. Your journey will lead you across a vast land and see you encounter three major factions.
For those familiar with the previous games, Dragon’s Dogma 2 might feel less like a direct sequel and more like a reimagining in an alternate universe. If you haven’t played Dark Arisen, it’s a fantastic entry point often found for a steal (around $5) on Steam. If you loved the original and wanted little more than a bigger world and better graphics, then this is exactly what you want.
However, for players seeking a significant evolution in mechanics, accessibility features, and quality-of-life improvements, Dragon’s Dogma 2 might not offer the most groundbreaking experience. It focuses on refining the established formula rather than introducing sweeping changes.
While basic options like subtitles and control customization are present, deeper accessibility features might be helpful for players with various needs. For example, the emphasis on map checking, inventory management, and waypoint placement could be streamlined to reduce repetitive actions. Additionally, the timed button presses for specific vocations might cause discomfort for some players.
Considering a wider range of accessibility options, such as remappable combat actions, hold-to-repeat functionality, or alternative control schemes, could greatly enhance the experience for players with motor skill limitations.
Comparison to the original game
Fans who enjoyed the classic Dragon’s Dogma experience will undoubtedly appreciate this approach. However, for players seeking more modern conveniences in action RPGs, the lack of features like a lock-on camera and streamlined fast travel might feel like a missed opportunity. While the absence of handholding can be refreshing, some quality-of-life improvements could enhance accessibility without compromising the core gameplay.
Dragon’s Dogma 2. Image courtesy of Capcom.
Considering the popularity of lock-on mechanics in similar titles and the modding community’s efforts for the original game, perhaps a toggleable option for a lock-on camera could be a welcome addition. Additionally, exploring alternative fast travel solutions beyond teleporting to specific locations could improve exploration and convenience.
Strategic party composition and understanding your role are key to success.
While some fast travel options exist, a significant portion of the game involves traversing the world on foot or by ox cart. The Ox Cart is a bit annoying, from a long start-up animation, limited destinations, and frequently being interrupted by attacks. When on the cart you can nap, but most times the ox cart I was traveling in was attacked or even broken by random attacks from enemies, like the Cyclops. On-foot exploration is rewarded with experience points, making the occasionally cumbersome ox cart a less frequent choice. Pawns, AI companions with strategic value, become essential members of your party for navigating combat challenges.
Most of the “open world” feels more like a giant dungeon on the surface. Mountains, rivers, and hills create narrow terrain with a couple of different routes to get to places and several short side paths on each route. It’s still technically an open world but it felt very restrictive. There are areas I haven’t reached yet that have the same look, one even having gondolas to travel over impassable sections much like the current area I’m in being segmented off by bridges. Speaking of bridges, you can’t swim, so a destination fifty feet across a body of water turns into a long trek to find a bridge.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s open world offers a different experience than Breath of the Wild or Elden Ring. Dense foliage restricts exploration in some areas, and the world feels more segmented with linear progression.
The “ever-flowing river of time” system creates a trade-off between completing quests and maximizing replayability. However, quest-givers lack clear identification and often require aimless exploration to discover. Integrating the class-switching guild as a central quest hub could have streamlined this process.
Where the game really shines
The classes referred to as vocations Dragon’s Dogma 2, are where the game starts to shine. There are ten different vocations in total and you start with four basic D&D-like vocations: Fighter, Archer, Mage, and Thief. The other six are significantly different, like the Trickster or Spearhand who can use magic to increase agility or make illusions. Other classes are enhanced versions of existing classes.
The Warfarer. Image courtesy of Capcom.
The Warrior is a tanky fighter, and there are enhanced versions of mages and archers with strong magic. The Warfarer is the most interesting class because it uses abilities and weapons from different classes, similar to a Freelancer in Final Fantasy. Freely switching between unlocked classes, from Fighters to Archers, dramatically alters gameplay, keeping the experience fresh.
Enemies within the game
When following roads and quests, I never faced any enemies that felt overly difficult, but a couple of times when I wandered off the path I got wrecked by a huge horde of enemies. One such scenario had six harpies flying in the sky and casting sleep on me and my allies, and at the same time, a bunch of hobgoblins flanked us. It was the first time I worried if I was saving enough.
Interestingly, the game gave a strange one-time warning that saves at Inns are more reliable than saving anywhere and quitting. I never really saw the impact of this, but the main menu always gives the option of loading a last save or an inn save. To avoid problems I saved at inns whenever I quit the game, which got expensive, since inn saves cost gold.
Setting Expectations for Newcomers
Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a fantastic adventure, but it’s important to set expectations for new players. It has a steep learning curve compared to similar titles. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to feel comfortable with the combat and systems. The good news is that Dragon’s Dogma 2 rewards perseverance. Once you overcome the initial hurdle, you’ll discover a deeply engaging experience.
Exploring the world. Image courtesy of Capcom.
Here are some tips to help you on your journey:
Experiment with vocations (classes): Finding the right playstyle for you can significantly impact your enjoyment. For example, if you miss a lock-on mechanic, consider the ranged options of Archer or Sorcerer.
Be patient with the learning curve: Mastering the combat and systems takes practice. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while to “click.”
The initially frustrating pawn companions transform into a reliable, albeit occasionally goofy, team. Their quirks, like getting stuck on walls, become endearing and feel reminiscent of playing with a group of online friends who make silly mistakes.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a refreshing experience by avoiding intrusive in-app purchases.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a refreshing experience by avoiding intrusive in-app purchases. This is a welcome change from games like Street Fighter 6, where the potential for monetization was evident even before launch. However, the main menu’s design could be improved for clarity. While it currently links to the enhanced editions, it might lead players to believe there are additional microtransactions available. Perhaps a more specific explanation or the absence of a dedicated link altogether could be considered.
RE Engine pushed to its limits
This game is pushing it to its limits. The RE Engine pulls it off, but just barely. On a 4080-equipped PC, I had no problem running it but still saw many graphical bugs and random frame drops. Most bugs were just slightly immersion-breaking, but when a wall or an entire river glitches and flashes strangely, it’s noticeable. I tried playing Dragon’s Dogma 2 on my RTX 3080 TI laptop, but the game struggled to maintain 60fps. Even with significantly lowered settings, performance was worse than on any other RE Engine game I’ve played when switching between PCs.
While consoles benefit a lot from being fixed platforms, this makes me concerned about the framerate on the console versions of this game. Very occasionally I’d get a hard freeze that would eventually pass, no crashing, but still very annoying. It could be that fixes are coming for the PC version that drastically improves performance, but I imagine the console version might struggle in some areas.
Eventually Magical
Despite my misgivings, Dragon’s Dogma 2 somehow manages to be more than the sum of its parts. It is a memorable experience for those who brave its world. This will probably be exactly the game long-time fans want. While the lack of accessibility options might be a concern for some newcomers, it’s unsurprising given the game’s adherence to the design philosophy of its predecessor.
Despite its potential to cultivate a devoted fanbase like its predecessor, Dragon’s Dogma 2 might not achieve the same level of widespread acclaim. However, for patient players, the rewards are plentiful. There’s a wealth of enjoyment to be found, and I am eager to dive back in.
Matthew Forchione is a friendly Canadian that loves anime movies, tv, and games. Always on the lookout for the next interesting thing. He’s also published an illustrated book called Matty & The Mountaintop. You can find him on Twitter as @Forchy
