Dragon’s Dogma 2 Review

For most of us, the beginning of any RPG with which we’re unfamiliar determines how likely we are to persist through the tutorial phase. Admittedly, I played Dragon’s Dogma 2 without ever playing its predecessor. That said, I found the early stages of this game to be more exciting than stressful.  The beginning of Dragon’s Dogma 2 sees a heavier focus on the story and more of a “trial by fire” for the rest. I usually find myself drowning in such a set-up, but DD2 slowly dips players into combat, thus allowing the game to be learned at your own pace. By the time combat becomes more active, the game feels comfortable.  First, the detailed open-world setting meshes with a quest layout that makes for an unencumbered playthrough. Set in the regions of Vermund and Battahl, varied areas like forests, deserts, and mountains provide so many places to explore. Through these diverse landscapes and numerous quests, Dragon’s Dogma 2 allows players to decide how best to move through the story. After choosing a starter vocation for yourself and your personal pawn, you hunt the dragon who stole your heart and deemed you The Arisen. Completing primary quests for story progression, players have many chances to add side quests. Some quests don’t have the option to decline, and others are affected by the passage of time meaning players must decide which to prioritize. On many occasions, you’ll find yourself running to your next objective, only to be unwillingly stopped by NPCs. Even though I occasionally wished I could skip it, I found that it usually pertained to side quests or information I didn’t know I needed. By allowing players to pursue as many side quests as desired, DD2 can be tailored to fit individual playstyles and timeframes.  

Part of what makes Dragon’s Dogma unique is the ability to hire pawns. Pawns of varied vocations help with tasks like fighting, healing, gathering items, and even leading you to your next objective. Pawns saved my life on more than one occasion, and I continually relied on them to move my progression along. But for every story I have of them helping me, I have two where they harmed me. More than once, glitchy Ai caused my pawns to accidentally fall to their deaths, especially if fights were anywhere near a small bridge or cliff. We always seemed to find ourselves in these situations because even the docile pawns seemed to always want the smoke. As the game progressed, hordes of enemies were overwhelmingly present. In my weakened state between chaotic fights, I tried my best to avoid these omnipresent enemies until we could rest and restore our health. Still, pawns seemed to view low collective health as a sign they should engage enemies at the most inopportune times. Exacerbated by the fact combat is more frequent and intense after the first few hours of gameplay, my pawns sometimes felt like they were wasting my precious time and resources. By charging goblins or Saurians in inescapable trenches, pawns attracted any other enemies lurking nearby. This always ended in my death, usually when pawns needed reviving as I became outnumbered. At several points, it felt like pawns halted my overall progression. Once I realized they can’t play to an enemy’s weakness, I learned to dismiss and hire pawns according to specific situations. This made the game much smoother for me, so it’s up to you to decide when pawns are worth the trouble they manage to stir up.  

In general, Dragon’s Dogma 2 felt well-executed and responsive, but it isn’t without its typical videogame bugs. In the moments when I was pinned against a wall and getting jumped by enemies, things always seemed to go awry. Stuck with the view from inside whatever monster was on top of me, I struggled to get out alive because I had nowhere to run as monsters stabbed me through a giant’s leg. For the most part, I learned how to avoid such circumstances, but the issue still occasionally arose in unfamiliar areas. Do I think this is a dealbreaker? Not at all. I can’t think of a single game wherein camera angles haven’t sabotaged me at least once or twice. Nowadays, I simply consider the occasional death from such a problem to be the cost of doing business, especially when the good far outweighs the bad. 

Let’s discuss the elephant in the room—microtransactions. Let me start by saying I don’t believe they make this game “pay to win.” Annoying? Duh! But I was more irked that I couldn’t spend stamina climbing walls like I could on monsters. However, there IS one purchasable item that really rubbed me the wrong way: portcrystals. Unless you find or buy more of these extremely rare items, there are only two portcrystals to which you can fast-travel. This seemed like something Capcom added as a tease, hoping we’d love the convenience of it and spend real money purchasing more. While it was the only item I genuinely considered buying, I refused to open my wallet and decided to play the game without ever making a microtransaction. The game can absolutely be played without ever spending an extra dime, but then again, I didn’t care to change my appearance, pawn inclination, or relationship statuses. Given that I always had or found whatever I needed, I don’t feel inclined to fault a literal business for trying to make extra money on a game that’s ten years in the making, nor do I feel it negates how amazing DD2 is. 

With such a detailed game, it’s inevitable that you’ll find a few flaws. Yes, it’s possible to trigger situations you aren’t ready for, but adventure is the purpose of Dragon’s Dogma 2. It’s up to you to choose whether you skim through in 30 hours or spend 100 leaving no rock unturned. Regardless, if the ending seems anti-climactic, maybe try one more time and see if you can yield a different result, wink wink! 

 Score: 8 out of 10

Reviewed on PlayStation 5