The road to Dragon’s Dogma 2 was a long and winding one, but the result is well worth the wait.
Throughout the years, I’ve consistently regarded The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim as my ultimate go-to RPG. Despite many RPG titles, none surpassed my love for this game. However, Capcom has recently released Dragon’s Dogma 2, the follow-up to their highly successful 2012 game.
As an open-world role-playing game enthusiast, I was eager to discover whether Dragon’s Dogma 2 would meet my expectations and stand out from countless other open-world titles. Could this be the RPG I have been dreaming about? Let’s dive in and find out.
*Disclaimer*(We were provided a code via CAPCOM after the release date and, due to personal complications, could not post a review until now.)
A World of Exploration Like Never Before
Dragon’s Dogma 2 unveils a parallel world to its predecessor, introducing two fresh regions – Vermund and Battahl. These areas, distinct from the familiar island of Gransys, promise a thrilling exploration of new environments and locations, igniting a sense of anticipation and eagerness in the player.
While the setting may have changed, the ancient dragon remains a formidable threat. Once again, the Arisen (a character chosen to stand against the dragon and its minions), holds the world’s fate in their hands. This epic role of the player as the world’s savior evokes a sense of empowerment and heroism.
The story of Dragon’s Dogma 2 begins with your character imprisoned in Southern Galos, a work camp where you have lost most of your memories. At this point, your Vocation type(character class) cycles through prisoners in the holding cell. However, as you progress through the game, you’ll soon discover that you are the Arisen and have the power to fight the dragon and its minions.
The game’s opening chapter sees the work camp attacked by a Gorgan, a creature resembling Medusa. After the battle with the Gorgan, you find the perfect opportunity to escape your imprisonment and the journey as the Arisen begins.
Upon completing this scene, the game will open up and grant you the freedom to embark on your journey. It’s worth noting that I have invested a substantial amount of time into this game, dedicating almost 70 hours of gameplay thus far. Nonetheless, the game has been an enjoyable and immersive experience from start to finish. Where Dragon’s Dogma 2 shines is the sense of exploration of the world.
The game world encompasses an expansive area of around 30 square miles, offering many diverse locations waiting to be discovered during your playthrough. From sprawling cities to serene countryside landscapes, the map promises a range of exciting and unique environments to explore.
Despite its vastness, the area never feels daunting, thanks to the intuitive design of the game world. Players can easily navigate their way through the different regions without getting lost; making the experience of exploring this vast and captivating world all the more enjoyable.
As you journey through the game, you will encounter a diverse range of characters who will offer you intriguing and challenging side quests to complete. While I was engrossed in the main storyline, I couldn’t resist the temptation to explore some of these side quests.
I had to force myself to re-focus soon, however, as the game is masterfully crafted to offer you a plethora of stories to uncover, each with its unique narrative and rewards. Capcom has ensured there are multiple layers of storytelling to experience in this vast and immersive world, making it easy to get lost in the captivating and enthralling stories that unfold before you.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 features a main quest line filled with excitement, drama, and humor. It’s an engaging mix that keeps the player hooked from start to finish. However, what sets the game apart is its vast exploration. The world is expansive, filled with many places to explore and secrets to uncover.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of the few games that has captivated me this way outside of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series. The world is so immersive that it feels like a living, breathing place. Capcom has done an excellent job designing a beautiful, dangerous world with plenty of challenges to conquer, providing a sense of accomplishment like no other.
There are countless places to visit, from sprawling cities to hidden caves and ruins. Each location is unique, with its own set of challenges and rewards. Whether you’re looking for a tough fight or want to soak in the scenery, Dragon’s Dogma 2 world has something for everyone.
In Such a Beautiful World, Team Work Makes the Dream Work
One of the most fascinating aspects of exploring the world is the diverse range of Vocations available to choose from. Vocations are essentially a character class, each with its own unique set of skills, abilities, and strengths. At the beginning of the game, you have the opportunity to select from four distinct Vocation styles for your character: Archer, Fighter, Mage, and Thief.
Each style offers a different approach to gameplay, and caters to different playstyles. For instance, an Archer excels at long-range combat, while a Fighter is a formidable melee combatant. A Mage, on the other hand, specializes in magic and can cast powerful spells, while a Thief is nimble and can sneak past enemies, and take what’s needed without being discovered.
Your choice of Vocation style significantly impacts your gameplay experience and determine how you approach and overcome challenges in the game. What makes this great for exploration is you can change your vocation style in certain areas of the world depending on the challenges you face.
Once, I was playing through the game I came upon a very challenging area where we encountered a Cyclops facing off against a Drake (a lesser version of a dragon). Both of these enemies were vastly stronger than I was, but with my pawns, I thought we’d have a chance.
After being repeatedly defeated by the Drake, I felt disheartened and frustrated. I knew I needed to change my approach if I wanted to succeed. I decided to explore different parts of the map to find a new strategy.
While traversing the map, I unexpectedly stumbled upon a group of knights locked in a fierce battle with a formidable Drake. The prospect of joining forces with them against this common enemy was both thrilling and unpredictable. I decided to seize this opportunity and lend my strength to their cause.
Our combined efforts proved to be a force to be reckoned with, as we managed to inflict serious damage on the Drake. Despite its escape, the sense of empowerment and accomplishment that surged through me was undeniable. The experience of fighting alongside others invigorated me and marked a significant milestone in my journey.
Just then, a man named Sigurd appeared before me. He offered to teach me the art of Mystic Spearhand, a powerful technique that would allow me to fight more effectively against dragons. His goal was to rid the land of all dragons, and with the Mystic Spearhand vocation, I could become a valuable ally in his mission.
As I progressed further in the game, I was taken aback by a revelation there were many more vocation styles to choose from. It was an exciting discovery, as each vocation style provided its unique set of strengths and weaknesses. However, what really caught my attention was the existence of Hybrid Vocations.
Hybrid Vocations, as the name suggests, are a combination of two different vocation styles. They merge the best aspects of both styles into a single playstyle, resulting in an entirely new way to play the game. These vocation styles are designed to provide players with more flexibility and allow them to explore new ways of playing.
What I found particularly interesting was how seamlessly these two styles were integrated to create the Hybrid Vocations. It was quite impressive to see how the developers had managed to balance the unique playstyles’ of each vocation style to create a whole new experience. Something else that adds a level of excitement to your playthrough is the Pawns that join you on your journey.
Pawns are the Arisen’s party members who join you on your journey through the game. One main pawn can be fully customized in their style of play, just like the main character. You can have a total of three pawns in your party, which can be your ride-or-die crew or, if you don’t like certain members, can be switched with another character as you journey through the world.
As you make your way through the map there are pawns you run into on your journey that will offer their services to you. Pawns can also be called upon at Riftstones found in the world.
Riftstones are mysterious stones that are connected to the ethereal dimension, where most pawns reside. They are powerful and can be used to call forth pawns who are well-versed in different skills and abilities, ranging from combat to healing and everything in between.
Once summoned, pawns will accompany you on your adventure, providing valuable advice, strategies, and support. They can be customized and equipped with weapons, gear, and skills that complement your playstyle, making them an integral part of your team.
Let me take some time to provide a detailed analysis of the amazing graphics and music featured in Dragon’s Dogma 2. As the title confidently states, Capcom has struck gold once again by releasing yet another blockbuster hit. The graphics in this game are simply breathtaking, and they are undoubtedly some of the best in the market.
Despite running at a seemingly low frame rate of 30 frames per second on the PS5, the game’s graphics still stand out and leave a lasting impression. The textures and character models are so detailed that they bring the game world to life and make it feel more immersive than ever.
Moreover, the music in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is nothing short of amazing. The game’s soundtrack is perfectly timed, and it adds another layer of depth and excitement to the gameplay. The music is designed to match the mood of the game world, and it changes seamlessly as you move from one area to another. In fact, the music is so well-timed that it makes you feel like you are part of the game world, and it helps you to get fully immersed in the experience.
