When Dragon’s Dogma 2 releases on PC and consoles in March 2024, there will have been 12 years between the two episodes. A considerable wait for fans of the series, but which can be explained by a lack of fervor on the part of the general public, especially Western ones. Because yes, apart from the circle of initiates and fans of Japanese-heroic-fantasy Action-RPG, Dragon’s Dogma remains a somewhat niche license, it must be admitted. But as Capcom is galvanized by the commercial and popular success of these latest titles, the Japanese publisher said to itself that it was the right time to relaunch the machine. So, we don’t know if this Dragon’s Dogma 2 will finally find popular momentum, but all I can tell you is that it has all the ingredients to be a worthy sequel.
If we had to summarize Dragon’s Dogma in a few words, we could say of this license that it is a bit of a catch-all for Capcom. Indeed, even if today, we can identify the game as a med-fantasy Action-RPG, the title is above all a big globiboulga of what Capcom has been doing for several decades. A bit of Monster Hunter here, a hint of Resident Evil there, inspirations from Devil May Cry too and even a bit of Dark Souls as well, all in a progressive open world and we get the not necessarily winning cocktail. It is true that at the time of the PS3 and Xbox 360, the game was far too ambitious for the machines of the time, and the game was handicapped by somewhat poor technology. Wrong frame-rate, unsightly clipping and popping, hellish loading times, all of this is erased in this sequel, which can in fact take advantage of the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series to shine brightly.
Visually, as you can see, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is doing quite well. Not that we are dealing with latest generation graphics, but the Japanese/West DA association in the rendering and the rather robust technique finally allows us to enjoy Capcom’s intentions. And god knows the game needs it when we know how many more imposing creatures there will be in this sequel. Because yes, like the first episode, Dragon’s Dogma 2 also draws its inspiration from Shadow of the Colossus, with this possibility of clinging to imposing creatures to try to defeat them. Dragon, cyclops, hydra, giant troll, chimera, griffin and now bronze colossus, Capcom clearly wants to impress us. If some act as bosses with the promise of great performances, it will not be rare to cross their path at the bend of a path, or in the middle of a forest. We might as well tell you that you will have to be prepared because Dragon’s Dogma 2 makes no concessions, especially if you do not have the required level.
This is where Dragon’s Dogma 2 has evolved compared to its predecessor, with pawns that you will be able to recruit, but also create yourself, or even buy pawns with very high levels if you ever want to save time and spend your money.
Like the first episode, this sequel will require the player to equip themselves with good equipment, increase their character’s experience, but also rely on the mutual assistance of teammates controlled by the AI. The concept of pawns is still relevant today and it is strongly recommended to recruit as many traveling companions as possible if you want to stay alive as long as possible. This is where Dragon’s Dogma 2 has evolved compared to its predecessor, with pawns that you will be able to recruit, but also create yourself, or even buy pawns with very high levels if you ever want to save time and spend your money. The big difference with the first opus is that these pawns will evolve over the course of the games, since they are able to gain XP, whether in your company or through other connected players who play them. will have recruited. It is not forbidden, for example, to find one of your pawns with more power.
PION, IT’S A JOB
The pawns are also subject to the same classes available in the game, namely Mage, Archer, Warrior and new for this number 2: illusionist. The Illusionist class wields a special weapon, the Censer, which can create smoke and invoke various illusions to provoke enemies into combat, among other things. The Illusionist can also temporarily increase team power, making it an ideal class for players preferring support roles. With so many different classes, it is strongly advised to form the most selective team possible, because there is a strategic and preparatory dimension in Dragon’s Dogma 2, with enemies that will be easier to defeat depending on the class. Moreover, the game does not hesitate to change paradigm depending on the time of day, with tougher enemies at night for example, especially since visibility is extremely reduced.
In fact, in terms of formula and even gameplay, Dragon’s Dogma 2 uses more or less the same mechanics as its predecessor from 2012, but with a more spectacular approach, more action too, because yes, it is necessary to attract as many players as possible this time, especially the Western ones, and this also translates into more ambition in the playing field. It is still an open world, but it is now much larger, with much more relief in its topography. Hills, mountains, plains, caves, fortified cities, variety will be required and above all, everything has been designed to make the world alive. We will come across a lot of NPCs in the cities, but nature will also be populated by various creatures who live their lives on their own. It will not be uncommon to see goblins being attacked by a cyclops in the distance, or even witness the hunt of a griffin coming to catch a buffalo for its lunch.
ACTION REACTION
Combat interaction is one of the main sources of gaming pleasure in Dragon’s Dogma 2, with the ability to collaborate to overpower an opponent. Pinning a harpy to the ground, immobilizing a warrior, using a shield to be thrown upwards, climbing on a griffin in full takeoff, so many actions that breathe strength into the clashes. This Shadow of the Colossus aspect considerably changes the situation and the way of approaching combat. For example, when facing a Cyclops, instead of shooting arrows into its eye from a safe distance, it is more effective to climb behind its back, go up to its eye and deliver as many sword blows as possible. to make him fall, and thus continue to hammer him with sharp attacks. In Dragon’s Dogma 2, everything is done so that the fights are the epic asset of the gameplay, and even if the Monster Hunter heritage shines through each of these passes of arms, in terms of collisions in particular, the fights are, with exploration, the engine of progression. There then remains this somewhat cold side, clinical limit of the graphics, which are somewhat reminiscent of the Skyrim atmosphere, but Dragon’s Dogma 2 is clearly one of the games with strong potential to be discovered from March 22, 2024.
