Dragon's Dogma 2 Review
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is an exceptionally special game. Essentially, I've had to rewrite this review several times, from the initial experience to playing it for over 20 hours, and then realizing I had to review it. This game has truly evoked a plethora of emotions during my playthrough.
After 12 years since the first installment, we embark once again on a journey filled with trials and challenges of dragon lore. If you're expecting an outstanding sequel with many innovative improvements or new mechanics, Dragon’s Dogma 2 might disappoint you. That is, if you set your expectations too high. However, if you're a first-time player of Dragon’s Dogma or not overly concerned about what others are discussing, after just 10 hours of gameplay, you might find yourself addicted to this game without even realizing it.
This review holds a unique significance due to its timely nature. Dragon’s Dogma 2 was released on March 21st, but even before that, numerous gaming media outlets had the opportunity to preview the game, sharing images and gameplay footage that garnered widespread praise. Even our team, upon receiving a preview from Capcom, stated that it had the potential to compete fairly for the Game of the Year 2024 title, a sentiment echoed by many others.
However, amidst the fervor, upon its release, gaming forums both domestically and internationally were flooded with criticisms, citing reasons such as lack of creativity in gameplay, poor optimization performance, the inclusion of microtransactions, glitches, bugs, and most notably, the absence of a new game plus feature, which allows players to start over. These criticisms are not unfounded, particularly regarding the somewhat outdated graphics in 2024 and the lack of stable 30fps lock on consoles or poor optimization on PC. This has led many to question why game publishers seem to have a common trend of releasing poorly optimized versions of games on both PC and consoles at launch, sparking frustration among those who pre-ordered the game at a significant price.
Therefore, it can be said that at the time you are reading this review, the game has already been out for some time, so I won't be able to review it before the embargo anymore. However, I do want to clarify that Mr. Phong, the editor-in-chief of Phá Đảo, informed me that the Capcom review guidelines did not mention anything about microtransactions. Therefore, it is highly likely that media outlets in Asia were unaware of this aspect. Consequently, we only received the review code a day before the release. Therefore, the complaints we became aware of were simultaneous with those of the players.
As for myself, when I received the review code from Capcom, I was quite excited. However, after a sleepless night, I found myself disliking the game because my Xbox Series S couldn't handle the performance well, constantly dropping frames and featuring lackluster graphics after 10 hours of play. Subsequently, I decided to switch to the Xbox Series X for a better experience, which did improve the graphics and eliminated frame drops. With a more comfortable mindset, I spent another 20 hours playing with renewed enthusiasm, only then realizing that, beyond the criticisms, the game wasn't actually bad. It compelled me to spend dozens more hours exploring every nook and cranny, experiencing one surprise after another, making me realize that hastily criticizing it after just a few hours of play wouldn't do it justice.
In Dragon’s Dogma 2, you assume the role of "The Arisen," a hero prophesied to save the world from the Dragon, accompanied on your journey by Pawns, humanoid creatures that serve their masters, aka you. Before starting the game, you'll create The Arisen and a main Pawn with detailed character creation tools. I won't delve into this character creation system, but I must admit, it's one of the best and most detailed character creation systems, guaranteed to consume a considerable amount of your time if you truly want your character to look just right. After the introductory sequence, you're thrown into a world without any specific guidance.
The game's storyline unfolds across two territories that encompass the entire game world. One is the kingdom of Vermund, ruled by humans, while the other is Battahl, inhabited by the Beastren, monstrous creatures. Overall, the intertwined narrative and history of these two opposing forces are present in nearly every main and side quest, revealing the dark political machinations of all factions.
The most important aspect here is that the game's story, theoretically, may not be overly impressive or attention-grabbing, but that's what makes it unique. It doesn't unfold in a predictable, scripted manner that you have to complete like a checklist, as is often the case with open-world RPGs from Ubisoft. Instead, it's more akin to Breath of The Wild or Elden Ring, where everything related to the story is seamlessly integrated into the exploration. The game's lore feels like a collection of oral legends, cleverly intertwined with world exploration.
Missions are never marked on your map; instead, they're discovered naturally within the world. This creates a rich tapestry of interconnected stories and tasks that make the world feel alive, and this diversity extends to quest design. Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn't just offer generic item-fetching quests or combat encounters; it often challenges you to engage with its world creatively and proactively. While they may still have their flaws and not be worthy of outright praise, I'll discuss this later.
Therefore, while the in-game storyline may seem dull and unclear in theory, that's actually a positive aspect because I didn't feel burdened to explore it further. It's like if you miss it, it's not a significant loss. Thus, while there's a fixed storyline, many parts of it are optional, resulting in a rich tapestry that makes the in-game world feel vibrant. You'll feel like you belong in this world, a small, insignificant part of it, making your own decisions rather than following directives. For me, as a fan of Western RPGs, if you're like me, you'll likely appreciate this storytelling approach more than the linear RPGs from Ubisoft or the typical JRPGs.
Moving on to gameplay. Players will mostly have to utilize the skills of each character class (referred to as vocation in the game) to be as flexible and effective as possible in reaching their destination. Many locations are designed to be inaccessible by foot or regular climbing. This is where agile skills or throwing teammates come into play, greatly aiding in exploration. Treasure chests or hidden caves await players to solve. Sometimes, pawns will offer hints if players pay attention to dialogue, which appears very naturally and humorously. This creates a natural and comfortable atmosphere, unlike Atreus in GOW constantly nagging about what to do.
Everything in Dragon’s Dogma 2 feels natural and spontaneous, and the pawn system in the game is also well-implemented. It's been a long time since I've seen a game where the sidekick is so interesting. The mundane conversations, jokes, or teasing are timed perfectly and fitting for the environment.
The combat capabilities and AI intelligence in the game are also remarkably well-done. You won't find your teammates just standing around while you do all the work, as in Call of Duty, nor do you have to individually command each character's actions like in GOW or Zelda. While you can issue commands to pawns, they're typically simple combat instructions, and how they fight depends on their vocation and individual characteristics. Sometimes, if you have a powerful mage or archer pawn, you'll need to cover them as they're the primary damage dealers and the most vulnerable.
At these moments, you're no longer the main character but simply a support or tank. Each player can create their own pawn and hire two more pawns from others to form a complete party. Hiring pawns usually costs a certain amount of Rift Crystals, corresponding to the pawn's level that you want to recruit. However, sometimes you'll encounter random pawns or stone pillars along the way that you can hire for free.
Speaking of currency, Dragon’s Dogma 2 features various currency units or items tailored to different types of goods or upgrades you want to purchase, such as Rift Crystals, Wyrmslife Crystals, gold, etc. These currencies, except for Gold, are quite challenging to acquire. Rift Crystals, used for hiring pawns, expanding inventory space, or changing appearances, significantly impact the player's experience. While it's relatively easy to earn Gold through quests or selling looted items, obtaining Rift Crystals actively can be quite difficult. Additionally, Wyrmslife Crystals, used for upgrading pawns, enhancing equipment, or crafting items, are even harder to come by. There are some tips or farming methods for acquiring Wyrmslife Crystals, such as hiring Thief pawns with corresponding skills to farm extensively, but defeating dragons requires considerable effort and time.
Moreover, farming too many dragons can lead to a mysterious ailment known as the Dragon Plague, which has spread within gaming communities. Players have discovered that after a night of turning off their consoles, the next day, all NPCs are slaughtered, and there's no way to save them. Essentially, you'll reach an early ending where the world is decimated by the pawn you hired. The reason is simple: if you kill too many dragons, pawns become infected with this plague. Even pawns hired by other players who are infected with your plague will suffer the same fate. After much investigation, players have spread rumors about how to prevent this unfortunate outcome, advising players to pay attention to their pawn's eyes—if they turn red and exhibit strange behaviors or dialogue, it's a sign of infection, and they should be removed from your world immediately. If your own pawn is infected, reloading the game might help, but it's likely too late to save them.
Just this example alone demonstrates that Capcom has brought some very interesting elements into their game. Many times, I've been amazed by my own discoveries, and these mysteries unfold naturally, without any forewarning or requirement to adhere strictly to predefined rules like in Elden Ring. This makes the in-game world operate without any predetermined script, providing players with a diverse experience. This is quite a rarity when compared to the open-world games from Ubisoft or certain JRPGs. Therefore, it's fair to say that Dragon’s Dogma 2's world design is outstanding, if not exceptional.
And speaking of Elden Ring, many people may appreciate its simplistic yet captivating combat style. Using the trigger buttons to execute light or heavy attacks feels natural. However, when it comes to the control system of Dragon’s Dogma 2, it really made me feel clumsy. The traditional button-mapping for attacks resembles old-school beat em up games, making the initial approach to the game somewhat rough. The delayed responsiveness of attacks often led to frustrating situations where quick reactions were required.
Choosing the right vocation that suits oneself is also a challenge. I started with the Fighter vocation but quickly realized that the sword-and-shield combat style didn't quite fit me. So, I switched to the Thief and found the game much more enjoyable. The agility and visually appealing combat maneuvers were what I experienced with this vocation. After several hours of playtime, I found my true love in the game: the Mystic Spearman. While the Thief vocation offered decent agility and damage, it lacked in defense and ranged attacks. The Mystic Spearman compensated for all these shortcomings. This vocation boasts massive damage, agility, and solid defense thanks to its powerful armor buff skills. With a magical spear in hand, you can fulfill various roles from damage dealer to tank or support. Skills unlock progressively based on proficiency and vocation level, with later skills being more powerful, making you feel excited and confident in starting any battle.
Furthermore, each vocation has its own set of skills and combat style, allowing you to play and experiment with all of them without much hesitation. Some missions or locations in the game will require specific skills to complete, so being proficient in multiple vocations can be an advantage.
Turning back to the discussion of missions, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I feel relieved that the game's mission system is not as rigid and repetitive as Ubisoft's games, but on the other hand, I'm not fully satisfied because while it's not boring, it's also not outstanding. Fundamentally, the mission content in the game is quite shallow. Occasionally, there are interesting missions like rescuing a boy in a village where if you rush, you might save him, but if you take your time, you might only retrieve a piece of his clothing. However, the quantity of such missions is quite limited. Basic missions like delivering letters, finding items, or killing monsters are still prevalent. While theoretically they serve their purpose, the mission content lacks the depth of those in The Witcher 3. The missions in Dragon’s Dogma 2 appear quite randomly and progress naturally. The karma system in the game exists but doesn't have significant impact or create much difference. Helping people may result in receiving a few words of thanks and some small rewards, creating small joys to encourage players to lean towards kindness in the game.
When it comes to graphics, I can only describe Dragon’s Dogma 2 as resembling The Witcher 3 with ray tracing. The art style and surrounding environment all give me the feeling of CD Projekt RED's RPG title. For a AAA game in 2024 to have such graphics, coupled with poor performance optimization, is a recipe for player frustration, as seen in games like Cyberpunk, Starfield, or Redfall. However, it seems that Capcom overlooked this issue and continued to make the same mistake. Overall, the graphics in the game are not outstanding but also not terrible given certain conditions.
Without ray tracing, the graphics of Dragon’s Dogma 2 would be quite mediocre. I must admit that Capcom's RE engine has beautiful graphics, as seen in titles like Resident Evil 2, 3, or 4 Remake, which are hard to fault. However, applying it to an open-world RPG might have been too bold a move. The problem arises when this feature is removed, and the visual experience of Dragon’s Dogma 2 on consoles is reduced to resembling a PS4-era game. So, while the textures and animations may not be god-tier, the inclusion of Real Time Global Illumination (RTGI) makes Dragon’s Dogma 2 visually stunning, highlighting the importance of lighting adjustments in determining the aesthetic success of a graphics engine. And the fact that you can only experience this game on the Xbox Series S and X consoles left me disappointed, knowing that only PCs can truly showcase its beauty. Console versions, including on PS5 or Series X, may not offer the same graphical fidelity. This also means that if you're playing on console and your performance isn't great, turning off ray tracing to seek smoother gameplay would mean sacrificing the visual appeal of Dragon’s Dogma 2, and this trade-off comes at a steep cost.
However, overlooking the performance issue, Dragon’s Dogma 2 still offers a vibrant and detailed living environment. From architecture to terrain, everything in the game is carefully designed and lively. Character animations, especially during combat, are of good quality, but in activities like dialogue or everyday tasks, they are only average, lacking the impressiveness and persuasiveness found in combat sequences.
The music in the game is also quite good, with the OST providing a pleasing auditory experience. The tracks have a strong medieval vibe, unmistakably Japanese in composition rather than Western, giving a slightly more anime fantasy feel, leaning towards Final Fantasy rather than The Witcher 3 or Elder Scrolls. I believe that compared to the previous installment, the soundtrack has removed modern elements like guitar riffs to focus more on medieval instruments like the violin or harp. Even the background music has a more mellow and less tense tone than the original, helping players focus on exploring the world, which aligns with the game director's intention to encourage players to explore rather than rely on fast travel.
Overall, in terms of presentation, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is most accurately described as rounded. It's not perfect and still has weaknesses like performance that need improvement, but once experienced on a better configuration, what you see and hear in Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be convincing enough to win you over.
VERDICT
After everything, I feel like I've completed this game in a basic sense after nearly 100 hours, and I can easily see myself going back to it again. There's still so much left unfinished or undiscovered. A variety of vocations and builds or quest missions are still waiting to be explored, making the replayability factor immense. And the world of Dragon's Dogma 2 simply begs you to continue being curious.
This is a game deserving of praise for its game design, with standards that set an example for future RPG titles to learn from. Despite the performance issues, graphics, and other peripheral controversies that have tarnished this game, the remaining highlights are enough to overshadow these negatives. It's one of those rare games that, true to the spirit of Phá Đảo, even if played at 30FPS with less-than-stellar graphics, if the gameplay is good enough, it's still worthy of praise. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one such game. Therefore, I believe that if you prioritize gameplay over any other aspect in a game, Dragon’s Dogma 2 can definitely win you over, especially for those seeking an RPG set in a medieval context, amidst a market flooded with titles mimicking FromSoftware or following the Ubisoft formula rather than charting its own path like Capcom.