Dragon’s Dogma 2 review: Ruthless but rewarding

Main points

• Unscripted interactivity makes Dragon’s Dogma 2 special, and it’s perfect for dedicated role players looking for a unique experience.
• Pawns add depth to the journey, providing unique personalities and helpful guidance throughout the adventure.
• Dragon’s Dogma 2 eschews modern trends and focuses on thoughtful exploration and challenging combat that make every moment intense.

The moment I knew Dragon’s Dogma 2 was special, I also realized it wasn’t for everyone. As I walked through the forest towards my goal, I encountered some goblins. No big deal. It was easy to deal with them before, and this time should be no exception. However, things get a little complicated when a random gryphon decides to pounce. After a few minutes of weakening its health, it decided to just fly away while I clung to its back. I held on as hard as I could, but was eventually forced to fall to my death, destroying all the progress I’d made so far.

These are the stories that Dragon’s Dogma 2 will tell. The world is rich in spontaneous, unscripted interactions that are worth sharing with your friends, like the old war stories. However, this randomness, combined with some poor systems and old-school design philosophies, may turn some people off. This is a game for the most dedicated role players, those ready to fully invest themselves in the world and systems on offer. If you’re ready to invest, the sequel to Dragon’s Dogma won’t disappoint.

get your heart back

and summon the chess pieces

The premise of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is simple, but the complexity of the narrative and mechanics soon catches up with you. Early on, you discover that the character you created is a being known as the “Resurrection One.” He is the only person in the land whose heart was stolen by a dragon, who is immortal and can control a group of creatures called “Pawns”. On top of that, the Awakened are also supposed to be the only true rulers of Vermund, but there are already people claiming to be the Awakened.

The real joy, and the memories I will share with anyone who will listen, are all improvised.

Geopolitical intrigue, espionage and betrayal intertwine, and the main plot is gripping in concept but lacking in delivery. The voice acting is top-notch, although the strict adherence to Middle English terminology may turn some off. However, the character model itself failed. Most dialogue and cutscenes feature no expressions on the characters’ faces, and most of the time, they just stand around in static or basic idle animations. It’s a powerful story, but it’s buried beneath poor presentation that diminishes any potential impact. By the time my adventure was over, I barely recalled the beats of the story. The real joy, and the memories I will share with anyone who will listen, are all improvised.

Part of this magic comes from the aforementioned Pawn. These are player-created, but not player-controlled, NPCs that you can summon to help you on your adventures. You create a main one and can then call two more to make a full party of four. Each Pawn has its own personality and knowledge. If the Pawn completes the mission you’re on, they can guide you to your next goal. If someone discovers a hidden cave nearby, they’ll offer to take you to explore it. Their voices and small talk eventually get boring after a dozen hours, but early on, hearing the banter and chatter makes you feel like you’re not so alone in the world.

It’s the journey, not the destination

Adventure is cruel

The adventure in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is brutal. Fast travel does exist, but it’s noticeably limited to a frustrating degree. There are few places in the world where you can travel quickly, and doing so requires using a rare and expensive resource called Ferry Stone. This design choice succeeds in forcing you to risk walking for most of the game – the game will either click for you or make it very clear that you won’t fit in.

No trip is easy, you can turn off your brain and just follow your mission markers. Failure to prepare will force you into a situation with no clear solution. When you lose health in combat, a portion of each hit cannot be restored through normal healing items, only by resting at a camp or inn. Over time, your overall health may suffer if you stay out too long or don’t take a break before traveling. Death increases the health loss and returns you to where you last saved or the inn where you last rested. While this mechanic sounds brutal, it does lead to some of the most tense and nerve-wracking situations. You’re limping back to town with almost no health before night falls, which is the kind of sense of triumph you usually only get from a Souls game.

Once you find the class that’s right for you, combat can be a joy in itself. There are 10 classes to choose from, all of which behave and play differently. Rogues are nimble and adept at climbing onto large enemies to attack weak points, while warriors can knock enemies off balance with huge swings. Each one has their own skills to unlock and gain buffs based on the player’s overall level. Each class is limited to one class of weapons and armor, but you’re encouraged to experiment and change classes frequently so you never feel locked into any playstyle. If there are two factors that detract from the enjoyment of combat, it’s inconsistent framerates and a lack of locking.

judgment

An inappropriate game

Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t follow the current trend of deliberately abandoning many of the quality-of-life mechanics we’ve come to expect from games in the genre, but it does so intentionally. Fast travel is limited, forcing you to experience the world and create your own moments of excitement, while the health loss system means you need to plan every trip properly. Combat can be an exciting and rewarding experience when you defeat some huge enemies, but it can also be when you get killed due to circumstances beyond your control and are sent back to your last save weaker than before. Equally frustrating.

“Combat can be an exciting and rewarding experience as you take down some massive enemy, but it can be equally heartbreaking when you’re killed and sent back to your last save…”

If you dig into Dragon’s Dogma 2 and embrace its weirdness, you’ll find an experience unlike any other game on the market.