Dragon's Dogma 2 Review (PS5): Another Trial by Fire

dragons dogma 2 It essentially exists in its own pocket universe. This open-world action RPG has its own internal logic that is completely unique compared to similar games in the fantasy genre. It's not Dark Souls, The Elder Scrolls, or The Witcher 3, but it's somewhere in between on the other side of the mirror. Fans of the original Dragon's Dogma will understand how unusual this world is for newcomers. And this sequel successfully builds on what made the original game a cult classic. This isn't to say that Dragon's Dogma 2 doesn't have its moments of frustration or its old-school jerky gameplay systems, but to some extent, that's all part of the charm.

I woke up anew, once again

Similar to the plot of the first Dragon's Dogma, this sequel is about cycles and whether they should be perpetuated or broken. It is a metaphor for Eastern stories in a Western fantasy world. Every time a dragon appears in the world, it chooses an Arisen who is obliged to defeat it. It must have been fate for your character too, but something goes awry.

The opening chapter shows Arisen working menial labor in a faraway land, knowing nothing about being a chosen one. Your character returns to the Kingdom of Fermund thanks to a twist of fate and one eventful ride aboard a griffin. However, it seems that another unlikely Arisen exists and is claiming the throne of the capital. Many factions have conspired to deny the true Aries their rightful rulership, and it's up to you to set things right.

As you progress through the story, you will become embroiled in political intrigue and intrigue involving both Fermund and its neighboring country, Batar. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say that the plot is satisfying for the most part. This lore is not as grounded as The Elder Scrolls, nor as mysterious as Dark Souls. Most of the cutscenes and his NPCs aren't particularly important, and the voice acting is spotty at times, but the dialogue is well-written enough to get you through the quests. That said, just like Skyrim, the game is focused on exploring an open world, with the main storyline mostly visiting tourist attractions and moving from one side of the map to the other. It serves as a means of transportation.

give in to wanderlust

Exploration is extremely rewarding in Dragon's Dogma 2. Even if there aren't any side quests to tell you where to go, wandering around pointing in a direction leaves you itching to discover. In some cases, you'll find treasure chests hidden in corners or behind cave walls, golden beetles that permanently increase your carrying capacity, or flowers, fruits, ores, and other materials that can be combined to create health items. there is. . If you're lucky, you can discover enough shards to form a wakestone that can be used to revive characters or NPCs that may have been accidentally killed. Also hidden in the most secluded corners are the seeker's tokens. 240 of them are scattered around the world and can be handed over at professional guilds for additional rewards.

On the downside, fast travel is quite clunky and restrictive. As in the original game, Ferry Stones can be used to instantly travel between Port Crystals, but not all major cities have permanent Port Crystals. Instead, you must first find a Portable Port Crystal as a reward. The game offers very few hints on how to get port crystals, so you'll probably have to look them up. Also, Ferry Stone is a rare consumable item that is difficult to obtain and expensive to purchase, so it is not something that can be distributed on a whim. The game attempts to alleviate some of this problem by adding new oxcarts that can travel from one town to another, but I regularly find that my oxcarts are attacked and destroyed by enemies. had. Being forced to travel on foot is frustratingly common, and the fact that some quests have time limits makes the problem even worse.

sense of occupation

The world of Dragon's Dogma 2 outside of town is a hostile one, with enemies littering every path, temple, forest, and cave. It's strange how anyone can move anywhere safely despite the presence of security guards on the main streets. Fortunately, that means a lot of combat, and Arisen has plenty of opportunities to gain experience points and learn skills from multiple professions. It's up to you whether you prefer a melee-oriented fighter or thief, a long-range archer, or a weak but powerful mage. However, these are just the first professions, and by completing various quests you can unlock other professions such as Warrior, Magic Archer, and Sorcerer. Switching professions is easy in the guild, but cash and materials are required to purchase and upgrade class-specific equipment.

Most battles will be against goblins, saurians, harpies, and bandits, but occasionally you'll have to fight powerful bosses with multiple health bars in the field. Fans of Dragons His Dogma will recognize many of these, including the ogre, griffin, and chimera. To defeat them, you must identify weaknesses, apply debilitations, and utilize elemental affinities. In some cases, that means you need to climb onto a boss and hack into certain locations to stagger the boss and make it vulnerable. Certain creatures only appear at night, so you'll need to light a lantern to locate them. Whichever profession you choose, you will need to carefully monitor your stamina, avoid enemy attacks, and monitor the health of your allies.

Return to pawn shop

On that note, this sequel features an improved pawn system that makes it easier to complete your party with members of different professions. In addition to the main pawn, you can summon two more pawns created by other players by summoning them from the Riftstone. You'll also find different types of Riftstones scattered around the world and random pawns roaming around that you can hire on the spot. However, Riftstones located in major towns allow you to search for pawns with specific professions, levels, appearances, and specializations. I want you. If you are having trouble with a particular quest, which often occurs because many of them have vague objectives, you can hire a pawn with specific knowledge to provide some clues. .

Pawns fight fairly well autonomously, so you don't need to direct them often during combat. The AI ​​that controls them provides enough support to make their assistance useful without compromising your role. They also double as pack rats, which is useful since materials can quickly add up and add weight to your camping gear. Taking an attack in battle will reduce the party's maximum hit point, so it is recommended to restore this by resting at the campfire. Campfires are usually cheaper than inns anyway and allow you to cook meat and gain temporary buffs.

However, pawns have a habit of falling off cliffs, making it a death pit for anyone who stays in for a long time, as they have difficulty reaching the cliff or spill into the water when they fall. They also tend to repeat the same conversations and words of advice too often, and some of their areas of expertise can't be adjusted at all. Chirurgeon's specialization gives pawns the ability to use potions, but their usage is high, and Forager's specialization allows pawns to collect ingredients, but can also take away the thrill of opening treasure chests themselves.

with an arbitrary constitution

If you progress through the main story in one go, it will take approximately 25 hours to complete, but this ignores detours and does not include the endgame. It will easily take you over 80 hours to complete all the quests and explore the world to its fullest. In addition to the new game plus, you can also unlock an epilogue that requires good time management and strategic combat to finish with the best possible outcome.

Dealing with microtransactions unfortunately leaves a bitter aftertaste. They are avoidable because you can find everything you need by playing the game. However, the mere ability to purchase wakestones and port crystals, even in limited quantities, may be off-putting to some players. So it's understandable that that would be a hindrance to negotiations.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a funny Valentine's Day. The graphics aren't particularly pretty, quest progression can be vague, and there are some intentionally old-fashioned ideas that are frustrating to deal with. Still, the game manages to capture a sense of freedom and surprise while delivering challenging boss fights through exploration. This is one of the few games that makes you want to explore every nook and cranny of the world map without the game prompting you with notifications or quests. And I hadn't had that feeling in a surprisingly long time.

Disclosure: Dragon's Dogma 2 PS5 code provided by the publisher.