Dragon's Dogma 2 - Before You Buy

gameranx

20 Mar 202414:30

Summary

TLDRIn this episode, the reviewer dives into the intriguing world of Dragon's Dogma 2, a game that defies conventional AAA titles with its open-world exploration, unique combat mechanics, and complex pawn system. Despite its janky feel and obtuse quests, the game offers a refreshingly different experience from other RPGs, rewarding curiosity and player autonomy. With a beautiful world filled with secrets and challenging enemies, Dragon's Dogma 2 is a love letter to fans of the original and a breath of fresh air in the open-world genre.

Takeaways

🎮 Dragon's Dogma 2 is a sequel to the 2012 original game, offering a more refined experience while maintaining its unique and somewhat janky charm.
🚀 The game is an action RPG with a large open world, distinct from other high-profile action RPGs with its specific mechanics and systems.
🤖 Players team up with three AI-controlled allies called 'pawns' instead of other players, adding a unique twist to combat and exploration.
🌍 The game features an open-world design that encourages exploration and offers a high level of freedom in completing quests and navigating the world.
🔍 Quests in Dragon's Dogma 2 can be open-ended with multiple possible outcomes, often requiring player experimentation and decision-making.
🎭 The presentation is minimalistic with mute protagonists and text-based dialogues, differing from the more polished presentations in other modern RPGs.
🤺 Combat is engaging and dynamic, with a variety of classes and abilities, and a physics-based system that adds to the chaos and excitement of battles.
🏕️ Camping is introduced as a new mechanic, allowing for rest and health restoration as well as cooking, adding another layer to the gameplay experience.
🌳 The game world is dense with enemies and full of secrets, rewarding curiosity and exploration with unique encounters and discoveries.
🖼️ Visually, the game is impressive with detailed environments, though the frame rate on consoles may not be as smooth as on PC.
🎲 Despite some obtuse quests and odd gameplay systems, Dragon's Dogma 2 is a compelling AAA game that offers a refreshing change from standard open-world formulas.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?
-The main theme of the video is a review and discussion of the game Dragon's Dogma 2, focusing on its gameplay, unique features, and comparison to the original game.
How does the narrator describe the original Dragon's Dogma game?
-The narrator describes the original Dragon's Dogma as a deeply weird and janky experience that was begging for a more refined follow-up.
What is unique about the pawn system in Dragon's Dogma 2?
-The pawn system in Dragon's Dogma 2 is unique because it consists of AI-controlled allies with complex rules governing their behavior, and there is no multiplayer aspect to the game.
How does the game handle open-ended quests?
-The game handles open-ended quests by allowing players to approach them in various ways, with multiple possible outcomes depending on the player's decisions. It does not provide a list of choices like Bethesda-style games, leaving the player to figure things out.
What is the significance of the character creation tools in Dragon's Dogma 2?
-The character creation tools in Dragon's Dogma 2 are significant because they are described as being very impressive, allowing players to create a unique character before diving into the game world.
How does the game world in Dragon's Dogma 2 differ from other open-world RPGs?
-The game world in Dragon's Dogma 2 differs from other open-world RPGs by offering a high level of freedom and exploration. The world is dense with enemies and secrets, and the game does not force players to follow a specific path or complete objectives in a certain order.
What are some of the combat mechanics in Dragon's Dogma 2?
-Some combat mechanics in Dragon's Dogma 2 include climbing on top of monsters, targeting weak points, and using special moves unlocked as characters rank up their classes. The combat is fully affected by physics, making battles chaotic and dynamic.
How does the game handle fast travel and exploration?
-The game offers limited options for fast travel, with ox carts transporting players between major cities and rare, expensive stones for instant teleportation. This encourages more exploration and walking through the game world.
What is the narrator's opinion on the game's presentation and storytelling?
-The narrator finds the game's presentation functional but bare-bones compared to other modern RPGs. The main quests are described as flat and simple, with the game not investing much in getting players emotionally involved initially. However, the game eventually leads to some wild and intriguing plot developments.
What are the technical aspects of the game that the narrator comments on?
-The narrator comments on the game's visuals, which are described as excellent for the console, and the frame rate, which mostly stays above 30 FPS but can drop in dense areas. The game is also noted to be bug-free and responsive, despite its complexity.
How does the game reward curiosity?
-The game rewards curiosity by placing unique items, secrets, and encounters throughout the world, encouraging players to explore and discover them on their own, rather than marking objectives off a checklist.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Introduction to Dragon's Dogma 2: A Unique AAA Experience

The paragraph introduces Dragon's Dogma 2, a sequel to the 2012 original game. It highlights the game's unexpected development, noting that while a refined follow-up was anticipated, the result is a game that remains true to the original's quirky and janky charm. The summary emphasizes that despite not being perfect, with issues like obtuse quests and inconsistent frame rate, the game is intriguing and exciting, offering a distinct experience from other AAA titles. It lacks multiplayer but makes up for it with its unique gameplay mechanics and open-world exploration, setting the stage for a compelling gaming experience.

05:00

🤖 The Pawn System and Combat Mechanics

This paragraph delves into the game's unique pawn system and combat mechanics. It explains how players team up with three AI-controlled allies called pawns, which have complex behavior rules. The absence of multiplayer is noted, but the game's open-ended quests and systematic world, complete with day and night cycles and NPCs with schedules, make up for it. The combat is likened to Monster Hunter, with large enemies that can be climbed and targeted for weak points. The pawns, which can be obtained and improved, play a crucial role in battles, making the combat experience in Dragon's Dogma 2 stand out from other RPGs.

10:01

🌍 Exploration and World Design

The paragraph discusses the game's open-world design and exploration elements. It highlights the freedom players have in exploring the world, with the ability to ignore the main quest and the lack of restrictions on player actions. The world is described as dense with enemies and full of secrets, rewarding curiosity. The game's lack of fast travel options is mentioned, but the enjoyable combat and beautiful world design make the extensive hiking less tedious. The paragraph also touches on the game's impressive character creation tools and the non-traditional presentation compared to other modern RPGs.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma 2 is the sequel to the 2012 action role-playing game (RPG) Dragon's Dogma. The game is noted for its unique blend of open-world exploration, deep combat mechanics, and a dynamic AI system called 'pawns'. In the video, the reviewer discusses their impressions of the game, highlighting its faithful continuation from the original and its intriguing, albeit sometimes janky, gameplay experience.

💡Action RPG

Action RPG, or Action Role-Playing Game, is a subgenre of RPGs that emphasizes real-time combat and action elements, often requiring more immediate and skillful input from the player. In the context of the video, Dragon's Dogma 2 is described as an action RPG with a unique combat system that involves climbing on and targeting weak points of large enemies, reminiscent of Monster Hunter.

💡Pawns

In Dragon's Dogma 2, 'pawns' are AI-controlled allies that accompany the player on their adventures. These pawns have complex behavior governed by a set of rules and can be customized and upgraded by the player. They add a unique strategic element to the combat and exploration, as the player can issue them vague commands to assist in battles.

💡Open-World

An open-world game design allows players to explore a virtual world freely, without being confined to a linear path or progression. In Dragon's Dogma 2, the open-world aspect is emphasized by the lack of restrictions, enabling players to approach quests and exploration in any order they choose, contributing to the game's sense of freedom and non-linearity.

💡Combat

Combat in the context of video games refers to the player's engagement in battles with enemies, utilizing various attack strategies, defensive maneuvers, and special abilities. In Dragon's Dogma 2, combat is a core gameplay element, featuring a mix of melee attacks, ranged attacks, magic, and the unique ability to climb on and interact directly with large monsters.

💡Character Creation

Character creation is the process in video games where players customize and design their in-game avatars, choosing from a variety of physical attributes, skills, and other characteristics. In Dragon's Dogma 2, the character creation tools are praised for their depth and flexibility, allowing players to create unique protagonists to navigate the game world.

💡Quests

In video games, quests are tasks or missions assigned to the player, often involving combat, exploration, or dialogue with non-player characters (NPCs). Dragon's Dogma 2 features open-ended quests that offer multiple outcomes and solutions, emphasizing player choice and agency within the game world.

💡Frame Rate

Frame rate in video games refers to the number of individual images (frames) displayed per second, which affects the smoothness and responsiveness of the game's visuals. A higher frame rate generally leads to a more fluid gaming experience. The reviewer notes that while Dragon's Dogma 2 has excellent visuals, the frame rate can dip in certain areas, affecting the overall performance.

💡Camping

In the context of Dragon's Dogma 2, camping is a gameplay mechanic that allows players to set up a temporary resting place in the open world. This mechanic serves multiple purposes, including restoring health and providing a base for cooking and other activities. It adds a layer of strategy and convenience to the game, as players can heal and prepare without returning to towns.

💡Exploration

Exploration in video games involves the player discovering and navigating through the game's environment. In Dragon's Dogma 2, exploration is a key aspect, with a large and detailed world map filled with secrets and unique encounters. The game encourages curiosity and rewards players for venturing off the beaten path.

💡Non-Linear

Non-linear gaming refers to a game structure where the player is not required to follow a strict sequence of events or levels. Instead, they can often choose their path and order of完成任务, leading to a more personalized and open-ended experience. Dragon's Dogma 2 is highlighted for its non-linear design, allowing for a high degree of freedom in quest resolution and world exploration.

Highlights

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a sequel to the 2012 original game, offering a more refined experience while maintaining its unique and 'janky' charm.

The game is a relentlessly faithful follow-up to the original, staying true to its roots despite the long gap between releases.

Developed by Nacom, Dragon's Dogma 2 could have been a medieval fantasy Monster Hunter clone but chose to be distinct and enthralling.

While not a perfect game, Dragon's Dogma 2 is described as intriguing and exciting, offering a different experience from other AAA games.

The game features obtuse quests and oddball gameplay systems that are not fully explained, offering a challenge to players who enjoy figuring things out.

Dragon's Dogma 2 has inconsistent frame rates and low-key opening hours, but these flaws do not detract from the overall experience.

The game is an action RPG with a focus on character creation and exploration in an open world, setting it apart from other high-profile action RPGs.

Combat in Dragon's Dogma 2 is reminiscent of Monster Hunter, with players battling gigantic enemies and utilizing pawns instead of a multiplayer party.

The game offers a high level of freedom, allowing players to ignore the main quest, explore randomly, and even fail quests without severe consequences.

Dragon's Dogma 2's quests are open-ended, and the game world is systematic with day and night cycles and NPCs with schedules, making it a unique hybrid of Monster Hunter and Skyrim.

The game's presentation is functional but bare-bones, with minimal cutscenes and a mute protagonist, relying on text for most dialogue.

Main quests are simple and often incidental to exploration, while side quests offer more complexity and multiple possible outcomes.

The pawn system in Dragon's Dogma 2 is improved from the first game, with AI-controlled allies that can guide players during quests.

The game has minimal menu busywork, focusing on crafting, skills, and equipment without the loot game mechanics of other RPGs.

The world map in Dragon's Dogma 2 is large and full of secrets, rewarding players' curiosity and exploration.

Combat is engaging and class-based, with a variety of moves and abilities that change how the character functions as they rank up.

The game does not include a dodge button or lock-on feature by default, making combat fundamentally different from other RPGs like Dark Souls.

Camping is introduced in Dragon's Dogma 2, allowing players to rest, heal, and cook real meat, adding to the game's unique features.

Fast travel options are limited, encouraging players to explore the world on foot, despite the presence of numerous enemies and potential ambushes.

The game's visuals are stunning, with detailed environments and grand vistas, though the frame rate on console versions is not as high as on PC.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a confident game that trusts players to figure out its mechanics without handholding, offering a refreshing and rewarding experience.