Dragons Dogma 2 Review - Climbing to New Heights

ACG
20 Mar 202418:17

Summary

TLDRDragon's Dogma 2 is praised for its expansive and immersive gameplay, offering a rich character generator and strategic combat with a blend of technique, knowledge, and time management. The game's world is filled with interactive elements, rewarding exploration, and a dynamic day-night cycle that enhances the atmosphere. Despite some performance issues and occasional frustrations with controls, the game delivers a memorable experience with a sense of solitude and a well-crafted world that encourages player engagement.

Takeaways

  • šŸŽ® Dragon's Dogma 2 offers an improved and expansive experience over its predecessor, with a focus on refined gameplay mechanics and a larger world to explore.
  • šŸ”Ø The game features one of the best character generators in gaming, allowing for extensive customization of both human and beastman characters.
  • šŸ¤– AI companions, or 'pawns', play a significant role in the game, providing combat support, knowledge about the world, and quest information.
  • šŸ“š The narrative is driven by a blend of real-time events and flashbacks, creating a story with alternate outcomes based on player decisions.
  • šŸ„‹ Combat in Dragon's Dogma 2 emphasizes technique, knowledge, and time management, with a variety of vocations and strategies available to players.
  • šŸŒ The game world is rich with interactive elements, such as the pawn system, which integrates seamlessly with the HUD and map, enhancing exploration and discovery.
  • šŸ¹ Players can engage in combat with large, powerful creatures, drawing parallels to the Monster Hunter series in terms of strategy and tactics.
  • šŸŒƒ The game boasts an impressive day-night cycle and atmospheric world design, contributing to a sense of immersion and solitude.
  • šŸŽµ The audio and music design enhance the game's atmosphere, with pawns providing insightful commentary and the soundtrack fitting the game's tone.
  • šŸž Despite some performance issues in certain areas and occasional bugs, Dragon's Dogma 2 delivers a fun and rewarding experience for players willing to dive into its complex systems.
  • šŸš‚ The game encourages exploration and discovery through a restrictive fast-travel system and the introduction of ox carts for long-distance travel between cities.

Q & A

  • What makes Dragon's Dogma 2 special according to the script?

    -Dragon's Dogma 2 is special due to its detailed character generator, improved combat system, interactive HUDs in the form of pawns, and a world that rewards exploration. The game also offers a mix of combat, strategy, and exploration that caters to different player styles, including technique-focused, knowledge-based, and time-based gameplay.

  • How does the character creation in Dragon's Dogma 2 differ from the first game?

    -The character creation in Dragon's Dogma 2 has been expanded to include the ability to create both human and beastman characters with a wide range of settings and sliders, allowing for highly customized and unique appearances. Additionally, the game introduces the Beast ran races, which were originally planned for the first game.

  • What are some of the new features introduced in Dragon's Dogma 2?

    -New features in Dragon's Dogma 2 include the Beast ran races, an improved and more interactive pawn system, a day-night cycle that affects the game world, and a larger, more detailed open world with a greater variety of locations and encounters.

  • How does the combat system in Dragon's Dogma 2 differ from its predecessor?

    -The combat system in Dragon's Dogma 2 is more refined, with a focus on technique, knowledge, and timing. The game introduces new vocations and advanced classes, each with unique abilities and skills, and the combat is more tactical, requiring players to understand enemy patterns and weaknesses.

  • What is the role of pawns in Dragon's Dogma 2?

    -Pawns in Dragon's Dogma 2 serve as AI-controlled companions that assist the player in combat, exploration, and questing. They have their own skills, attitudes, and knowledge about the world, which can be leveraged by the player to overcome challenges. Pawns can also be hired and customized, and they play a significant role in the game's HUD and map systems.

  • How does the game's day-night cycle affect gameplay?

    -The day-night cycle in Dragon's Dogma 2 not only affects the atmosphere and aesthetics of the game world but also has gameplay implications. Certain events, enemy behaviors, and environmental interactions may change depending on the time of day, requiring players to adapt their strategies accordingly.

  • What are some of the challenges players might face with the game's controls?

    -The script mentions that the game's controls, particularly on consoles, can be finicky, especially with the use of the B button for multiple actions like talking, picking up items, and resurrecting pawns in combat. This can lead to frustration, especially when trying to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

  • How does the game's performance compare to its predecessor?

    -While the script does not provide a direct comparison to the first game, it does mention that Dragon's Dogma 2 has some performance issues, particularly in cities where frame rates can drop significantly. Despite this, the game is described as solid overall, especially during exploration and fighting.

  • What is the significance of the game's atmosphere and world design?

    -The atmosphere and world design in Dragon's Dogma 2 are highlighted as key strengths, with the game creating a sense of solitude and immersion that is both engaging and emotionally resonant. The game world is described as richly detailed, with a mix of magical and grounded elements that contribute to a unique and compelling experience.

  • What are some of the game's drawbacks mentioned in the script?

    -The script mentions a few drawbacks, including occasional performance issues, particularly in cities, and the game's use of the B button for multiple actions which can be frustrating. There are also some bugs, such as pawns getting stuck in walls, and the game's frame rate can be inconsistent at times.

  • How does the game reward exploration?

    -Dragon's Dogma 2 rewards exploration through a variety of means, including finding rare items like Stones that enhance travel, discovering hidden loot, and encountering unique environmental interactions. The game world is filled with nooks and crannies that offer surprises and challenges for players who delve deeper.

  • What is the role of the game's pawn system in enhancing the player's experience?

    -The pawn system in Dragon's Dogma 2 plays a crucial role in enhancing the player's experience by providing AI companions that offer tactical support, knowledge about the world, and assistance in combat. Pawns can be customized and swapped out, and they contribute to the game's HUD and map systems, making exploration and interaction with the game world more rewarding.

Outlines

00:00

šŸŽ® Introduction to Dragon's Dogma 2

The video script begins with an introduction to Dragon's Dogma 2, highlighting its strengths and unique features. The game's style, presentation, and gameplay are briefly mentioned, with an emphasis on the importance of understanding what makes the game special. The video also thanks Capcom for the code and mentions the community's involvement through random pawns. The game's extensive character generator is praised, along with the variety of customization options available for both human and beastman characters. The script sets the stage for an in-depth discussion of the game's mechanics and strategies, promising an exploration of the game's combat, knowledge, and time-based systems.

05:02

šŸŒŸ Dragon's Dogma 2: Combat and Exploration

This paragraph delves into the combat and exploration aspects of Dragon's Dogma 2. It discusses the game's three main strategies: technique, knowledge, and time. The combat is described as engaging and interactive, with a focus on skill use and mastering tactics. The game's vocation system is also touched upon, with a variety of classes and hybrid classes available for players to choose from. The paragraph highlights the game's non-linear progression and the player's ability to switch between different playstyles. The importance of understanding enemy weaknesses and making informed decisions is emphasized, as is the game's day-night cycle and its impact on the atmosphere and gameplay.

10:05

šŸ›ļø Merchants, Gear, and the Carry Weight System

The third paragraph focuses on the game's merchants, gear enhancement, and the carry weight system. It describes the variety of merchants and the wide range of items they offer for purchase. Players can enhance their gear to improve their character's stats, and the paragraph mentions the strategic use of herbs and special armors and weapons. The carry weight system is introduced as a balancing mechanic that can slow down even the fastest characters if they carry too much. The paragraph also touches on the game's similarities to Monster Hunter, particularly in terms of item collection and combat strategies.

15:07

šŸŒŒ Atmosphere and World Design of Dragon's Dogma 2

The final paragraph of the script discusses the atmospheric and world design elements of Dragon's Dogma 2. It praises the game for its day-night cycle and the emotional impact it delivers, despite the game's somewhat detached storytelling. The paragraph also talks about the sense of solitude that permeates the game, even when playing with a party of pawns. The game's world is described as vast and filled with rewarding exploration opportunities. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging some minor issues with the game, such as the B button's multiple functions and occasional performance drops in cities, but overall, it emphasizes the game's strengths and the enjoyment it offers to players.

Mindmap

Keywords

šŸ’”Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma 2 is the central subject of the video, referring to the sequel in the Dragon's Dogma video game series developed by Capcom. The game is noted for its open-world exploration, character customization, and combat mechanics. The video discusses various aspects of the game, including its improvements over the first installment, such as the character generator and the pawn system.

šŸ’”Character Generator

The character generator is a feature in Dragon's Dogma 2 that allows players to create and customize their in-game avatars with a high degree of detail. This includes settings and sliders for various physical attributes, enabling the creation of both human and beastman characters with a wide range of appearances.

šŸ’”Pawn System

The pawn system in Dragon's Dogma 2 is a unique feature where players can hire AI-controlled companions, known as pawns, to assist them in their journey. These pawns have their own skills, attitudes, and can be customized using purchased items. They also provide valuable knowledge about the world, quests, and enemy strengths and weaknesses.

šŸ’”Combat Mechanics

Combat mechanics refer to the rules and methods players use to engage in battles within the game. In Dragon's Dogma 2, combat is dynamic and requires players to employ techniques, knowledge, and timing to effectively defeat enemies. The game encourages strategic thinking and the use of various vocations, or character classes, each with its own set of skills and abilities.

šŸ’”Vocations

Vocations in Dragon's Dogma 2 are the different character classes or roles that players can choose from, each with unique abilities and playstyles. These range from combat-focused vocations to those that emphasize knowledge and exploration. Players can unlock new abilities and improve their vocations through class points earned from leveling up.

šŸ’”Exploration

Exploration in the context of Dragon's Dogma 2 refers to the player's journey through the game's open world, discovering new locations, completing quests, and interacting with the environment. The game rewards exploration with various finds, including hidden loot and challenging encounters.

šŸ’”Atmosphere

Atmosphere in a video game like Dragon's Dogma 2 refers to the overall mood, tone, and feeling conveyed through the game's visuals, sound design, and narrative elements. It creates an immersive experience that affects how players perceive and interact with the game world.

šŸ’”Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter is another video game series known for its focus on hunting and battling large creatures. The comparison made in the video suggests that Dragon's Dogma 2 shares similarities with Monster Hunter in terms of gameplay mechanics, such as the strategic approach to combat and the verticality of battles.

šŸ’”Performance

Performance in the context of video games refers to the technical aspects, such as frame rate, graphics rendering, and overall smoothness of the gaming experience. A game's performance can significantly impact player enjoyment, especially in fast-paced action games like Dragon's Dogma 2.

šŸ’”Graphics

Graphics in a video game pertain to the visual elements, including character designs, environments, and special effects. High-quality graphics contribute to the game's aesthetic appeal and can enhance the player's immersion in the game world.

šŸ’”Day-Night Cycle

The day-night cycle in video games is a feature that simulates the passage of time, transitioning from day to night and back again. This cycle can affect various aspects of the game, such as enemy behavior, visibility, and the overall atmosphere.

Highlights

Dragon's Dogma 2 offers one of the best character generators in gaming, with extensive settings and sliders for both human and beastman characters.

The game begins with an engaging start, similar to the first game, but improves by cutting out the boring parts and jumping straight into action.

Dragon's Dogma 2 encourages players to employ strategies of technique, knowledge, and time, with different players focusing on different aspects of gameplay.

Vocations in the game are tighter and more skill-based than the original, with a focus on class specifics and hybrid classes.

The pawn system is well-thought-out, with pawns having their own skills and attitudes that can be adjusted, making them an integral part of the HUD and map systems.

The game's combat is interactive and synergistic, allowing for unique party makeups and the ability to switch out pawns based on situations.

Dragon's Dogma 2 has a shared lineage with Monster Hunter, featuring similar tactics and enemy patterns, creating a strategic and engaging gameplay experience.

The game world is richly detailed, with a day-night cycle and atmospheric elements that contribute to a sense of immersion and emotion.

The game's atmosphere delivers a sense of solitude and melancholy brilliance, even when other characters and pawns are present.

Dragon's Dogma 2's biggest weakness is the strict relationship with the B button on consoles, which can lead to issues during gameplay.

The game's performance, especially in cities, can be inconsistent, with frame rate drops that are disappointing for the level of graphical detail.

The game's audio presentation is improved from the original, with better voice acting and sound effects that enhance the overall experience.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is worth buying for its fun and engaging gameplay, despite some imperfections and annoyances.

The game's world is filled with nooks and crannies that reward exploration, and the restricted fast travel system encourages players to experience the world fully.

The game's pawn system, while sometimes needy and interruptive, adds to the dynamic and immersive experience of the game.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a game where high-stakes gameplay decisions and the resulting victories feel incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

The game's mix of strategy, exploration, and character development creates a unique and enjoyable experience that stands out in the gaming world.

Transcripts

00:00

Dragon's Dogma 2 is at its best when well honestlyĀ  most of the time but why is it great is the mostĀ Ā 

00:07

important question because as with all gamesĀ  its style presentation and gameplay may not beĀ Ā 

00:11

for you so sit back and let's discuss what makesĀ  Dragon's Dogma 2o special and thanks to CapcomĀ Ā 

00:16

for the code also occasionally random pawnsĀ  throughout the community are going to show upĀ Ā 

00:20

in this video you get a chance try to guess themĀ  all and I'll throw you into the normal who willĀ Ā 

00:24

fur commenters and subscribers for winning theĀ  game while everyone is busy in this world it'd beĀ Ā 

00:29

really nice if you were here for the score aloneĀ  to maybe just let the video play 80 plus hoursĀ Ā 

00:33

plus another 10 for editing seems to be worthĀ  20 minutes a time and speaking of time if youĀ Ā 

00:37

want to jump in the Discord we will be streamingĀ  this all throughout the week bunch of differentĀ Ā 

00:42

people coming in as always discussing the gameĀ  behind the scenes and I'll be answering anybody'sĀ Ā 

00:46

questions Dragon's Dogma 2 starts quickly enoughĀ  with a small interlude and then you leaping intoĀ Ā 

00:51

one of the best character generators in gaming soĀ  far regardless if you choose a human or a beastmanĀ Ā 

00:56

the game has settings and sliders for pretty muchĀ  everything in the recent demo it showed just howĀ Ā 

01:00

crazy the Creations can be want to make a damnedĀ  monster looking human go for it Vin Diesel fromĀ Ā 

01:05

Pitch Black yep but you can also now make one ofĀ  the Beast ran races originally planned for theĀ Ā 

01:10

first game they're finally here and surprisinglyĀ  look less like humans with kitten heads andĀ Ā 

01:15

instead merges the two races well enough to lookĀ  natural at least in so much as Dragon Dogma 2 everĀ Ā 

01:21

looking natural hit him out with scars complexĀ  issues make them fat as hell skinny like a railĀ Ā 

01:26

huge small it's all there after that you leapĀ  into the game improper without any real spoilersĀ Ā 

01:31

in many ways Dragon's Dogma 2 opens with the sameĀ  resonance as the first game but truncated cuttingĀ Ā 

01:36

out the dirty little Villa location that was soĀ  boring in the first game and starts it actuallyĀ Ā 

01:41

in the same way the first game did at an outpostĀ  battle a larger one here and then a trip that wasĀ Ā 

01:46

more like Dragon's Dogma one when it reallyĀ  started to show its systems and its prowessĀ Ā 

01:51

it's a better way to start by a good measure inĀ  the game's occasional uses of flashbacks helpsĀ Ā 

01:57

actually flesh out a story with an alternateĀ  world where two arisens have arised gameplayĀ Ā 

02:02

in Dragon's Dogma is also a true reflection of theĀ  focus they expect players to employ and that's theĀ Ā 

02:07

simple strategies of technique knowledge and timeĀ  while on cursory examination it may sound like aĀ Ā 

02:13

trite example that the developers have given theĀ  ideas is that the players will come at the titleĀ Ā 

02:17

in one of those three ways or of course as theyĀ  continue to play a combination of them it's notĀ Ā 

02:22

really anything new however Dragon Dogma 2 mayĀ  be one of the few games where almost every singleĀ Ā 

02:26

decision made and the way you set your characterĀ  up or that can't be made plays out across thoseĀ Ā 

02:30

three strategies it's a game that entices in theĀ  initial offerings of combat but then interlacesĀ Ā 

02:35

that with truly interactive Huds in the form ofĀ  the ponds and then adds to that the reward forĀ Ā 

02:40

exploration across those other two facets let meĀ  explain them for a second with technique meaningĀ Ā 

02:45

heavy skill use and mastering of the combatĀ  tactics and the tighter vocations a playerĀ Ā 

02:50

focus more on the Marshall prowess than marchingĀ  across the world or spending time munching mealsĀ Ā 

02:54

with pawns and learning about the world throughĀ  them while some changes have been made to theĀ Ā 

02:58

vocations it's still ultimately a set of classesĀ  then advanced classes and then hybrid classesĀ Ā 

03:03

with skills that get unlocked with class pointsĀ  as well as passive perks upgrading and changingĀ Ā 

03:07

these aren't hard at all as you quickly unlockĀ  the ability to do so at any vocation trainerĀ Ā 

03:12

after some quests a knowledge based player willĀ  come at this game slightly different hiring pawnsĀ Ā 

03:17

who know about the world and the quests whoĀ  may have explored prior who may be of higherĀ Ā 

03:21

level understanding the weaknesses and strengthsĀ  of enemies and not pushing into situations thatĀ Ā 

03:26

the player can't get out of because they enteredĀ  into it without any of that information all pawnsĀ Ā 

03:31

have their own skills and attitudes which canĀ  be adjusted using purchased items as well inĀ Ā 

03:35

addition smart understanding of the time of dayĀ  and the resources needed for a trip to a questĀ Ā 

03:39

location become vital for this kind of player toĀ  the developers a time-based player is closer toĀ Ā 

03:44

the time honored tradition of grinding money andĀ  Times of leveling up the character to the pointĀ Ā 

03:49

where perfect skill use higher more expensiveĀ  pawns are less important than a player that looksĀ Ā 

03:53

like they bedazzled themselves with max levelĀ  armors and weapons and give off a magical glowĀ Ā 

03:58

enemies can see like a second coming over the riseĀ  the expectation here is that almost nobody will beĀ Ā 

04:03

able to facilitate all three right away at leastĀ  not until an incredible amount of time within theĀ Ā 

04:07

game has been put down and the developers haveĀ  hit it perfectly for example a combat basedĀ Ā 

04:11

player it's not about locking or pairing it'sĀ  about moving in Magic about sliding between twoĀ Ā 

04:15

goblins to take down their armored best friendĀ  and then whipping up a storm and Trailer Park inĀ Ā 

04:19

an entire enemy camp vocations are indeed tighterĀ  than the original game with more powerful moves asĀ Ā 

04:24

you advance but their focuses have shifted a bitĀ  to class specifics and it's also still still aĀ Ā 

04:29

stamina based game with a number of afflictionsĀ  statuses and specials there's almost no one whoĀ Ā 

04:34

can't find a vocation that's going to fit themĀ  even if everyone wants to take the more advancedĀ Ā 

04:38

classes and try to buff pawns or use Illusions toĀ  lure enemies onto spectral Bridges and then watchĀ Ā 

04:43

them fall to their deaths while knowledge-basedĀ  players in the pond system are truly well thoughtĀ Ā 

04:47

out here offering ponds that are awarded badgesĀ  for knowledge exploration and monsters downĀ Ā 

04:52

building their own abilities for those elementsĀ  above and beyond just sheer battle prowess thisĀ Ā 

04:57

makes them an integral part of the HUD and mapĀ  systems pawns who've completed missions canĀ Ā 

05:02

lead you more easily back to them which can be theĀ  difference between stumbling out into a game worldĀ Ā 

05:07

where many times the map just says something'sĀ  happening over here and gives you a massive swathĀ Ā 

05:11

of land to investigate it's an elegant system thatĀ  quickly becomes second nature even if you're usingĀ Ā 

05:16

it as a third option and lastly the game's justĀ  chock full of merchants traveling and hold up inĀ Ā 

05:21

Ruins or major cities selling wears all kinds forĀ  you to buy then enhance to impact your character'sĀ Ā 

05:26

main stats mixing and matching herbs in yourĀ  inventory then or combining their Buffs withĀ Ā 

05:31

special armors and weapons lets players who justĀ  want to grind it out pretty much do so unlessĀ Ā 

05:35

they find themselves staring down the shorter andĀ  shorter line of a carry weight system that turnsĀ Ā 

05:39

even the fastest character into a trudging fattyĀ  if he carry too much in my gameplay I've focusedĀ Ā 

05:44

on one or the other I've mixed and matchedĀ  them at different times taking down enemies IĀ Ā 

05:48

shouldn't have been able to with a smart mix ofĀ  double Pawn spell casting and potions that keptĀ Ā 

05:52

me topped off regardless of how hard the enemiesĀ  hit I've also ground down areas at enemies andĀ Ā 

05:57

taken their parts back and enhanced weapons andĀ  made myself hundreds of thousands of coins justĀ Ā 

06:01

based on being a homicidal maniac but regardlessĀ  of which of the tactics you take there's simply noĀ Ā 

06:06

denying a couple things the first is a sharedĀ  lineage between this game and Monster HunterĀ Ā 

06:10

Dragon's Dogma 2 like a cousin who comes to liveĀ  with a family after some terrible other eventĀ Ā 

06:15

familiar but always a bit alien at the same timeĀ  these moments aren't just in collecting items fromĀ Ā 

06:20

dead bodies but in the verticality that pervadesĀ  everything in Dragon's Dogma 2 like the first timeĀ Ā 

06:25

a 25-ft tall Rampage inversion of Black DeathĀ  on Two Legs rip snorted through a village andĀ Ā 

06:29

my team of trustworthy walking versions of YouTubeĀ  comments had to take them down and you also haveĀ Ā 

06:34

villagers who spend the afternoon trying to killĀ  it sure it's about as futile as a bunch of wolvesĀ Ā 

06:38

trying to eat a fraking Iceberg but still lookedĀ  really cool and while they were doing that I gotĀ Ā 

06:42

to circle around and hit them with a specialĀ  move and during these times it's hard not toĀ Ā 

06:46

see the similarities it becomes this fantasticĀ  ballet of stamina steel and monster teeth if theĀ Ā 

06:51

ballet dancers wore middle-aged armor and wereĀ  related to Merlin it's also about the tacticsĀ Ā 

06:56

for those specific enemies or those locations forĀ  instance the lizard men will moonwalk right theĀ Ā 

07:01

[Ā __Ā ] out of your attack range when you startĀ  doing damage and chasing them becomes its ownĀ Ā 

07:04

miname as they Lead You past one of their alliesĀ  who then turns and spits at you slowing you downĀ Ā 

07:09

so you turn to attack that new enemy and now theĀ  one you were just chasing spits poison at yourĀ Ā 

07:13

back again it's like the part in Empire StrikesĀ  Back when Darth Vader just kept throwing randomĀ Ā 

07:17

[Ā __Ā ] at Luke's back those glorious momentsĀ  of strategy and understanding movement in enemyĀ Ā 

07:22

patterns plays out across the whole world and inĀ  the open world really shows an increased featureĀ Ā 

07:27

of the terrain and location problem props that weĀ  saw in the original game for example Boulders areĀ Ā 

07:32

still here but they're much more often if youĀ  spy Cyclops at the bottom of the hill you canĀ Ā 

07:36

just sneak past and maybe find a massive BoulderĀ  to roll down onto them or other interactions thatĀ Ā 

07:40

I'm not going to say now to stop from spoilingĀ  but they just continue to impress and merge theĀ Ā 

07:45

worldview the way you play and the atmosphereĀ  together in a way other games don't it doesn'tĀ Ā 

07:50

just leave you with a character that say takes 15Ā  seconds to cast a freaking fire spell but it alsoĀ Ā 

07:54

offers you the ability to synergize with the otherĀ  spell casters casting that same spell faster thisĀ Ā 

07:59

also means that a party makeup can look reallyĀ  unique depending on situations and somethingĀ Ā 

08:04

that you can switch out often because pawns areĀ  all over the game world something I want to talkĀ Ā 

08:08

about in a second the same goes for choosing theĀ  harder hitting vocations or the more Marshal onesĀ Ā 

08:12

for instance switching from fighter to WarriorĀ  isn't just losing the shield and replacing itĀ Ā 

08:16

with two-handed weapon the size of a card doorĀ  it's adding a ton of Buffs and resistances forĀ Ā 

08:21

example a warrior flatly doesn't give a [Ā __Ā ]Ā  about being hit when attacking and the ability toĀ Ā 

08:25

get staggered and knocked down considerably dropsĀ  which means that Chang in weapon isn't just aboutĀ Ā 

08:30

the hit and the ability to soak but the abilityĀ  to weade in and just not be affected at all duringĀ Ā 

08:35

attacks which also means you can command othersĀ  more accurately also it's about the atmosphereĀ Ā 

08:41

Dragon Dogma 2 might be the game with the bestĀ  day night cycle in World atmosphere merging thatĀ Ā 

08:45

I've seen cresting a hill in the dead of nightĀ  with a small circle of thrown off light from thatĀ Ā 

08:49

Lantern at your waist and seeing the Embers of aĀ  small fire glowing in the distance there's thisĀ Ā 

08:54

tentative moving towards and consistently at alertĀ  feeling that starts to grow is it a goblin campĀ Ā 

08:59

or is it just the politeness of past travelersĀ  to leave a fire smoldering and for a game likeĀ Ā 

09:04

Dragon's Dogma which is I would say somewhatĀ  on the unemotional side when it comes to theĀ Ā 

09:09

story and almost a detached feeling to everythingĀ  especially with the way the pawns react there's aĀ Ā 

09:14

great deal of emotion that the game actually endsĀ  up delivering for example four dead tired pawnsĀ Ā 

09:19

dragon weapons behind him exhausted from threeĀ  afternoon battles as in his Darkness descendsĀ Ā 

09:24

around you the light collapse is nothing more thanĀ  that 15t radius of vague enemy location Pockets aĀ Ā 

09:29

safe in a world that's absolutely punishingĀ  then two small dots of blue show up in theĀ Ā 

09:32

distance rocking back and forth and for a secondĀ  you think to yourself oh maybe that's just the twoĀ Ā 

09:36

blue flower pedals that illuminate at night andĀ  then nope it's two skeletons and trust me too isĀ Ā 

09:42

four times too many if you haven't rested in aĀ  while as you can only regain your true abilityĀ Ā 

09:46

and health back if you end up resting skeletonsĀ  just flatly don't give a [Ā __Ā ] if you pound itĀ Ā 

09:50

into separate pieces because until you find theirĀ  head and crush it like a Terminator movies theseĀ Ā 

09:55

guys are just going to reassemble sentient hateĀ  filled Lego blocks and kick the living [Ā __Ā ] outĀ Ā 

09:59

you and that's just one example there's an almostĀ  melancholic Brilliance here a sense of a pervadingĀ Ā 

10:05

loneliness even with the ponds that seeps throughĀ  everything as you continue to Adventure and withĀ Ā 

10:10

every single Quest and more exploration it flowsĀ  out into the world around you movie like almostĀ Ā 

10:15

or dare I say a little bit like dark souls in thatĀ  feeling of solitude even when other characters areĀ Ā 

10:20

there with the pawns replacing some aspects of theĀ  HUD as well as the Lord dumps and the occasionalĀ Ā 

10:25

characters you might meet each one is a smatteringĀ  of onliners about locations creatures andĀ Ā 

10:30

otherwise and that means despite the game having aĀ  party system and despite it having cities there'sĀ Ā 

10:34

still this awesome feeling of solitude that I loveĀ  however there's a couple things I don't love andĀ Ā 

10:40

that's especially when you're playing with aĀ  controller Dragons Dogma 2's biggest weaknessĀ Ā 

10:44

continues to be their strict romance with theĀ  B button on consoles I assume these guys areĀ Ā 

10:48

just laying out a bed of roses and a bottleĀ  of Arkansas's finest $3 wine for a date nightĀ Ā 

10:53

with a B button you hold it to talk click it toĀ  pick up stuff hold it again to resurrect Pawns inĀ Ā 

10:58

combat it's notoriously fickle when added to theĀ  system that doesn't have any lock on which I likeĀ Ā 

11:03

but also means that at time you're fighting with aĀ  camera trying to pick up a needed drop while alsoĀ Ā 

11:07

trying to not resurrect your Pawn because thatĀ  takes too long that being said Dragon's DogmaĀ Ā 

11:11

2 hits where the first one did but is much largerĀ  mostly more polished and continues the traditionĀ Ā 

11:16

that started with the original the combat feelsĀ  wide open with your own moves the pawns and theĀ Ā 

11:20

ability for random monsters to LEAP into alreadyĀ  frenzied engagements means that fights are alwaysĀ Ā 

11:25

interesting and the way everything interactsĀ  together is profoundly enjoyable graphicallyĀ Ā 

11:31

the game continues in its humble Origins there'sĀ  something very lay andlike about the way Dragon'sĀ Ā 

11:36

Dogma has always presented itself initially aĀ  lot of Browns mixed with prairies and forestsĀ Ā 

11:41

but still a lower level magical style despiteĀ  the gigantic spells you may be casting later onĀ Ā 

11:47

also a larger world so when you start out in theĀ  slave pits there's a really good chance somebody'sĀ Ā 

11:52

really nice Castle isn't going to be built 3 ftĀ  from it and instead there's initial layering ofĀ Ā 

11:56

travel between locations in this massive spreadingĀ  out changing between rural and urban that growsĀ Ā 

12:02

with each location and builds to make travel notĀ  only a true Delight but something that continuallyĀ Ā 

12:07

tantalizes the senses as you look just over oneĀ  more Hill and you see some shiny new location orĀ Ā 

12:13

possibly some hidden Loot and really deep and mostĀ  likely dangerous cave entrance that you want to goĀ Ā 

12:18

to the tough to dirt and soil under your feetĀ  or the soft glow of flowers that only bloom atĀ Ā 

12:22

night and Spark around their stems means there'sĀ  still a magical feel to everything but it's alsoĀ Ā 

12:27

grounded what I wish wasn't so grounded andĀ  lifted a little bit higher was the performanceĀ Ā 

12:33

what frustrates me so much about Dragon's DogmaĀ  2 is that rate tracing or not the performance ofĀ Ā 

12:37

the game it was solid enough when exploring andĀ  fighting but I saw some heavy drops in citiesĀ Ā 

12:42

which is sort of disappointing because really theyĀ  aren't that complex and especially on a 4090 and aĀ Ā 

12:47

new i7 you should be seeing better fps than thisĀ  and certainly shouldn't be seeing the drops inĀ Ā 

12:52

some of these spots now on PC the game's optionsĀ  let you turn rate tracing on or off it also hasĀ Ā 

12:57

support for FSR as well as DLS and a numberĀ  of options also I got to point out right awayĀ Ā 

13:02

Bloom really does do something strange so you mayĀ  notice that sometimes in the footage when I wasĀ Ā 

13:06

testing everything it's really not that good andĀ  probably something you should turn off right awayĀ Ā 

13:11

it's because Dragon's Dogma loves to lace fog andĀ  smoke and particle effects everywhere and Bloom inĀ Ā 

13:16

this game has a tendency to just blow the pictureĀ  out where in the nighttime it delivers a nice softĀ Ā 

13:21

ethereal glow at campsites that ands to the airĀ  of mystery and fantasy during the day it's justĀ Ā 

13:25

much less attractive on the consoles the frameĀ  rate can also be all over the place those withĀ Ā 

13:30

variable refresh rate systems can turn that on butĀ  be aware it is noticeable The View distances sizeĀ Ā 

13:35

of the world in general activity level in theĀ  game is grander than the original by far manyĀ Ā 

13:40

times larger but still would have been nice toĀ  see a locked 30 versus something this variableĀ Ā 

13:45

so if you're a pixel peeper be prepared to seeĀ  some stuff I also had a couple bugs I had pawnsĀ Ā 

13:50

especially stuck in walls and stalls luckilyĀ  they teleport right to you as you continue toĀ Ā 

13:55

move on I had monsters ass hammering the side ofĀ  a wall to get to the villagers on the other sideĀ Ā 

13:59

blissfully unaware of the solid structure in frontĀ  of them for a good deal of time when it comes toĀ Ā 

14:04

audio the presentation is a good deal better thanĀ  the original especially with pawns having a hugeĀ Ā 

14:09

number of comments about the world quest partyĀ  makeup and more sometimes they'll discuss theirĀ Ā 

14:12

last Master choice of all beastmen party membersĀ  or how Everyone likes to smash the crap out ofĀ Ā 

14:17

everything regardless if they're being attackedĀ  other times calling to attention what they'reĀ Ā 

14:21

doing or what they can do and a quick buttonĀ  press from you tells them to go do it it's aĀ Ā 

14:25

nice little combo system there musically it's aĀ  subdued Affair like the original and right up myĀ Ā 

14:30

alley with a soundtrack that sits well back fromĀ  the action many times just a soft backdrop andĀ Ā 

14:34

an otherwise harsh world soundwise it's alsoĀ  excellent with very easy tracking of enemiesĀ Ā 

14:39

far and wide during battle completely offscreenĀ  you can still usually hear an enemy attacking asĀ Ā 

14:44

well as excellent directional sound when tryingĀ  to identify where a pawn is or who's calling forĀ Ā 

14:48

you or who wants to use levitate to get up to aĀ  chest somewhere when it comes to everything comingĀ Ā 

14:53

together and is it fun for all the highlights andĀ  the Praises I can sing let me just say this sureĀ Ā 

14:58

there are other games that have made some of theĀ  same choices but it's rare outside of say justĀ Ā 

15:02

Dark Soul style titles to see it working so wellĀ  yeah sure football was invented by some random guyĀ Ā 

15:07

but it takes an amazing quarterback to turn itĀ  into an efficient tool and for the second timeĀ Ā 

15:11

dragons dogma's creators are those quarterbacksĀ  and without hesitation I can say this is worthĀ Ā 

15:15

buying Dragons Dogma team has always been aboutĀ  fun between locations about that experience acrossĀ Ā 

15:21

the breath of a landscape here massively largerĀ  it's a busier world than the original in manyĀ Ā 

15:25

places but the world that is filled with nooksĀ  and crannies that always reward exploration butĀ Ā 

15:31

it's also that darker world view and the factĀ  that while some options have their weaknessesĀ Ā 

15:34

it's how they drive the world itself that mattersĀ  a worldview again reflected in the restricted fastĀ Ā 

15:39

travel system with for Stones returning fromĀ  the original game rare items that make it veryĀ Ā 

15:45

difficult to Just Bounce Around The Game WorldĀ  unless you want to pay for it so if you're likeĀ Ā 

15:48

me who hates the repetitive location sprawlingĀ  runs like Lord of the Rings If The Hobbit justĀ Ā 

15:53

kept running back to hington that's reduced andĀ  then somewhat even more because you can now DoĀ Ā 

15:57

ox carts that transport you between the big citiesĀ  they have their own risks like being attacked andĀ Ā 

16:02

left for dead also the game does have some reallyĀ  annoying ideas that pop up the more you play pawnsĀ Ā 

16:07

and switching them out is the name of the gameĀ  here as they don't progress in levels aside fromĀ Ā 

16:11

the main one I'm fine with that finding StonesĀ  across the game world's pretty easy and that'sĀ Ā 

16:15

where you switch them out however pawns are alsoĀ  around the game World walking and they're someĀ Ā 

16:20

needy [Ā __Ā ] and consistently interrupt you toĀ  sell their services even at the worst of timesĀ Ā 

16:25

and even when you aren't focused on them at all orĀ  haven't clicked on them and this can happen on aĀ Ā 

16:29

trail in the middle of a battle but the best partsĀ  of this game destroy any of those problems a gameĀ Ā 

16:34

where a 30 minute fight with a minitar results inĀ  a pawn muttering the Beast is dead and the world'sĀ Ā 

16:39

laziest high five it's worksman like in itsĀ  atmosphere even when you have others with you sureĀ Ā 

16:44

you're there risen and someone rumbles great dudeĀ  but what have you done for me lately and send youĀ Ā 

16:48

on a quest but strangely makes a celebration of anĀ  enemy's defeat all the sweeter because instead ofĀ Ā 

16:52

a cut scene or even a dark souls-like return toĀ  a bonfire Dragon's Dogma 2 is like a subtle nodĀ Ā 

16:58

from a football coach at a job well done it's anĀ  appealing mix of sweaty moments punctuated by pureĀ Ā 

17:03

Discovery isn't perfect far from it not everyoneĀ  is going to love this kind of high stakes gameplayĀ Ā 

17:08

decision that the series makes which is an oddĀ  Meandering between multiple systems and multipleĀ Ā 

17:13

Styles but what it is is one of the most fun gamesĀ  I've played in 2024 full stop subscribe check outĀ Ā 

17:20

the patron peace out our packs are heavier and ourĀ  purses far lighter these were necessary expensesĀ Ā 

17:29

mind no use clinging to every last coin it seemsĀ  sir rodick is the one to talk to shall we go andĀ Ā 

17:36

speak with him I know where that person can beĀ  found Master this way a guide is most welcomeĀ Ā 

17:45

now we sh lose our way my Cur of magics are atĀ  your disposal wait right there one of us is being

17:53

TR

18:15

there would I be without you arisen