Dragon’s Dogma 2 Overview (PS5)

We’re not fairly able to ship our remaining verdict on Dragon’s Dogma 2 proper now. Due to circumstances exterior of our management, we nonetheless want to complete the primary quest, after which try how the sport handles New Recreation+ — which was a staple element of the unique Dragon’s Dogma.

Once we’ve wrapped all of that up (hopefully inside the subsequent couple of days), we’ll be returning to this evaluate with a view to situation a definitive conclusion and a rating.

Whenever you consider actually memorable open world video games, it is laborious to not image the likes of Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Each are in the end 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 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 area was sadly overshadowed by Skyrim, however throughout the final half decade or so, the title has firmly established itself as a cult traditional via optimistic phrase of mouth. There’s an argument to be made that Dragon’s Dogma was really forward of its time, with a transparent emphasis on ’emergent’ gameplay depth and a definite lack of handholding — standard 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 principally a retread of its predecessor, besides it has been handed the assets 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 one of the vital absorbing adventures we have ever performed.

Every 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 diverse 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 authentic launch, you play as a totally customisable character generally known as the Arisen. Your (literal) coronary heart stolen by an omnipotent dragon, it is the Arisen’s obligation to trace the winged menace and change into a hero within the eyes of the folks. Simply to be clear, this is not a direct sequel; data of the primary sport is not in any respect required, though it provides you with a larger appreciation for what Dragon’s Dogma 2 is making an attempt to do.

Certainly, this sequel seeks to enhance upon all the things that Dragon’s Dogma received proper. It doubles down on exploration with a far larger map that is totally filled with secrets and techniques, it fleshes out the motion with extra in-depth character lessons (or vocations, as the sport calls them), and it even strives for a extra nuanced narrative. On that remaining 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 related sort of deal in Dragon’s Dogma 2. There isn’t any query that the narrative takes a backseat to the entire adventuring that you’re going to be doing, nevertheless it does attempt to supply a bit extra perception into the societal workings of its fantasy setting. Lots of the major story quests, for instance, contain courtly plots and characters with questionable motives. It is all very theatrical, particularly when it comes to writing, which often borders on the kind of whimsical script you’d affiliate with Shakespearean stage performs.

It goes with out saying that the sport’s distinctive type of storytelling will not be for everybody — it is actually not the sort of character-focused RPG that we have change 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 offers you ample excuse to go off on far-flung adventures — it greater than will get the job accomplished.

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 aspect quests are quite a few, sending you up and down the land in the hunt for eventual glory. Most are genuinely attention-grabbing and add context to the encircling world, however the goals typically boil all the way 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 protecting issues recent. 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 happening. There are even instances 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 understand in Skyrim whenever you’d see giants and mammoths having a go at wandering guards and suppose, “wow, this sport actually feels alive”? Nicely, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is like that, however taken to a brand new degree.

There’s additionally a smattering of very refined 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’re taking harm. At the very least within the sport’s early hours, this regularly degrading well being pool forces you to cease and relaxation after a troublesome combat, 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 via a beautiful day and evening cycle wherein extra harmful monsters (together with horror-tinged creatures, just like the residing lifeless) roam the roads after sundown.

Battling towards these beasts is the place the sport arguably shines brightest. Fight within the authentic Dragon’s Dogma was wonderful as soon as you bought to grips with its barely jank mechanics, and the sequel simply pushes all the things ahead. There’s now a formidable smoothness to character animations, whereas each enemy sort comes with its personal bag of tips that you’re going to must deal with. What’s extra, vocations are extremely diverse of their method, resulting in an enthralling diploma of experimentation as you attempt to discover a favorite.

Actually although, it is the texture of fight that is typically excellent — a feat that Capcom has achieved time and time once more over time 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 have to be blasted out of the air earlier than they’re susceptible, as an example — and a few vocations are significantly 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 alternative ways to deal with 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 generally known as 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 aware of a sure foe.

They acquire mentioned expertise via 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 may encounter pawns from “different worlds”; secondary characters that every participant creates alongside their Arisen. Your major pawn is your fixed companion, and will they be employed by one other participant, they’re going to acquire data that may be put to make use of throughout your personal excursions.

When you performed the primary sport, you may already know the pawn system inside-out, and mechanically, it is just about an identical right here within the sequel. Having mentioned that, apparent enhancements have been made to pawn AI. Extra particularly, pawns now combat 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 authentic launch.

General, the pawn system stays a singular 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 may query why co-op is not no less than an choice, however there isn’t any denying simply how endearing your trusty pawns could be, particularly whenever you’re shoulder to shoulder within the warmth of battle.

Talking of which, getting busy on the battlefield might be whenever you’ll discover the only best flaw of Dragon’s Dogma 2. We’re, after all, referring to its uncapped body price, which is able to fluctuating wherever between what appears like 15 and 60 frames-per-second on PS5. Now, crucial factor to notice is that 90 % 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. Nonetheless, when issues get hectic in the midst of a highway that is full of vegetation, after which the sport has to render loopy magic spell results over all the things, the body price can tank.

Hilariously, for those who pan the digicam to the sky — away from the entire bushes, grasses, particles, lighting results, and shadows — you may see the body price skyrocket to a stable 60. That is additionally the case whenever 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 price 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 usually picturesque. The environmental element — notably out within the wilds — is gorgeous, and the lighting is immaculate. At instances, it appears like a correct current-gen launch — one thing that will 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 exterior 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 appears so nicely realised.