In Dragon’s Dogma 2, players assume the role of the Arisen, a hero tasked with vanquishing a dragon that has marked them. The journey to confront this dragon involves exploring the game world, undertaking quests, and battling monsters amidst a complex geopolitical conflict between two kingdoms. Assisting the Arisen are Pawns, AI-controlled non-playable characters that function similarly to player-controlled companions. These Pawns offer combat support, provide information about enemies, and guide players through active quests. Players can customize their own Pawn, selecting gender, appearance, and race. Furthermore, the game allows recruiting up to two additional Pawns created by other players.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the sequel to Dragon’s Dogma, released twelve years prior. While I have no personal experience with the first game, indications suggest that the sequel retains the core mechanics while offering a significantly expanded and enhanced experience.
Dragon’s Dogma II is set in an open world, reportedly four times the size of the original game’s map, and presents a parallel world to its predecessor. This world is divided between two primary kingdoms, Vermund and Battahl, populated by humans, the feline-like beastrens, and elves.
Fast travel is facilitated through the use of ferrystones and ox-drawn carts. Resting, whether by establishing a camp in the wilderness or lodging at an inn, is essential for regaining full strength. The game world is dynamic, with various events unfolding that require player adaptation, such as utilizing destructible environments to overcome enemies. A day-night cycle influences enemy encounters and their strength.
Players can choose from a variety of classes, referred to as vocations, including mage, thief, and warrior. A balanced party composition, with the main character and Pawns each fulfilling different vocational roles, is generally advantageous for addressing the game’s challenges.
While many of the game’s elements may seem familiar, with similar structures and companion systems found in other titles, Dragon’s Dogma 2 introduces several unique features. Notably, the Pawns exhibit a level of realistic behavior rarely seen in AI companions. They offer contextual commentary, interact with the environment, communicate with the player character, and even discover treasures autonomously, without requiring direct player control. During combat, four distinct commands can be issued, but the Pawns’ responses are influenced by their individual personalities. Outside of combat, issuing a “Go” command prompts a Pawn to confidently lead the party, expressing appreciation for the player’s trust. Pawns may also embark on independent explorations, requiring the player to catch up.
A unique risk involves Pawns contracting a disease, indicated by glowing red eyes. Failure to address this infection can lead to severe consequences, including the Pawn becoming hostile and potentially harming essential story characters. Although these characters eventually reappear, such an event can significantly disrupt the player’s progress and adds an element of unpredictability to the gameplay.
The nuanced behavior of the Pawns fosters a sense of responsibility towards them. In one instance, a shortage of funds prevented the party from resting at an inn after purchasing new equipment. The disappointment displayed by the Pawns was palpable, creating an unusual level of emotional connection and prompting in-game reactions, such as playful teasing about the situation.
The game world is vast, offering numerous side quests in addition to the main storyline. These side quests can also impact other ongoing objectives. For example, accepting a letter delivery quest led to an encounter with another character seeking an escort. The conflicting destinations presented a choice, and opting for the letter delivery resulted in the escort-seeking character joining the party until their destination was reached.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 truly embodies the spirit of a role-playing game, offering players freedom to explore the world, tackle quests, and progress at their own pace. While some missions are time-sensitive, effective time management allows for flexible gameplay.
However, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has certain aspects that can lead to frustration. While the freedom to explore and engage with the world at will is a core strength, it can also result in encountering areas and enemies that are significantly overleveled. In one instance, following a Pawn’s questline led to an encounter with an exceptionally powerful enemy. A single save file system resulted in being trapped in an unwinnable situation upon reloading. Choosing to reload from the last rest point resulted in the loss of several hours of progress and the Pawns that had been recruited in the meantime. While more diligent save management could have mitigated this issue, the system is less forgiving than alternatives, such as the multiple save options available in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is developed by Capcom. Recalling the original Resident Evil on Playstation, released nearly 30 years ago, the acting performances were often a source of amusement. While the voice acting in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is improved, some dialogue exchanges can still be cringeworthy.
Testing Dragon’s Dogma 2 was performed on Playstation 5. Despite recent patches, the console version is capped at 30 fps, even on the more powerful Xbox Series X. Higher frame rates of 60fps or even 120fps are achievable, but only on high-end PCs. Although the game boasts impressive visuals, performance can become unstable and visually muddy during scenes with significant on-screen action.
In conclusion, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a highly recommended, visually stunning, and unique role-playing experience. Despite some shortcomings, as previously mentioned, the overall experience provides pure and engaging RPG gameplay.
Capcom provided review code for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence editorial independence.
