The long-awaited sequel to Dragon’s Dogma, Dragon’s Dogma 2, is finally here, and it’s safe to say that fans of the original game won’t be disappointed. More than a decade since its initial release, Dragon’s Dogma has grown into a cult favorite, much like the Dark Souls series. Its unique take on the Western fantasy action RPG genre caught the attention of players and critics alike, and the sequel takes that formula to the next level.
At the Tokyo Game Show, we had the opportunity to play a preview build of Dragon’s Dogma 2, and our impressions were overwhelmingly positive. The game largely retains the same gameplay mechanics and feel of the original, but with some notable improvements. One of the standout features is the expanded functionality of the pawns, the AI companions that you can recruit to fight alongside you.
Game director Hideaki Itsuno revealed that Grand Theft Auto V served as a source of inspiration for the team. The developers aimed to create a living world, much like in GTA V, where non-playable characters go about their lives independently of the player. The result is a game that feels vibrant and immersive, with interesting emergent behavior happening all around you.
The pawns in Dragon’s Dogma 2 have also received a significant upgrade. In the original game, players often heard the same lines of dialogue from their pawns, which became repetitive over time. The developers addressed this issue by increasing the variety of dialogue options for the pawns. They now react to various triggers, such as the scenery or each other, and provide useful information, like pointing out missed treasure chests.
Interestingly, our experience with the preview build led us to draw comparisons between Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3. While the two games are different in style and gameplay, the dynamic and reactive conversations between party members in Baldur’s Gate 3 reminded us of the atmosphere created by the pawns in Dragon’s Dogma 2. However, game director Hideaki Itsuno admitted that he hadn’t had a chance to play Baldur’s Gate 3 yet, as developing a game of this magnitude leaves little time for anything else.
Another exciting feature of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the inclusion of player-designed pawns. When playing the full game online, players can see and recruit pawns created by other players, including their friends. This adds a social element to the game and allows for a more diverse and personalized experience.
As for the choice to release Dragon’s Dogma 2 exclusively on current-gen consoles, Capcom producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi explained that the decision was made to ensure the best possible experience for players. By targeting the recently released PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, the team could take advantage of the increased user bases and design the game specifically for that hardware.
Overall, Dragon’s Dogma 2 seems to be a worthy successor to the beloved original. With its improved gameplay mechanics, expanded pawn system, and immersive world, the sequel promises to deliver an unforgettable gaming experience. Fans of the series have been eagerly waiting for its release, and they won’t be disappointed. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is set to become another cult favorite in the realm of action RPGs.