Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma could have been a hit. Perhaps it should have been a hit, but it pulled the short end of the stick by launching in 2012, in the shadow of the previous year’s Dark Souls, which took the gaming world by storm. Despite that, the game gathered a devoted community who lived to see an expansion, and even a limited-release MMORPG.
And now, after twelve years of waiting, fans of the game are finally being rewarded with the release of Dragon’s Dogma 2, which promises to fulfill all the ambitions of the original game.
How it started vs. how it’s going
Dragon’s Dogma 2 isn’t a sequel, it rather appears to be a complete overhaul that expands, polishes, and fleshes out what made the first game so special.
Curious about the open world filled with quests and monsters of all sizes? It’s now back, bigger and better, more complex, engaging, and reactive than ever, with even more interesting encounters during travel and more interactive environments.
The giant monsters have gotten an upgrade as well, making the climbing mechanics more essential and exciting. Who knows, perhaps the griffin you cling onto takes you to another region entirely and you’ll have to figure out how to survive. With inspiration from Devil May Cry and Monster Hunter, combat is now even more dynamic than before.
Alongside returning favourite playstyles, such as the telekinetic Mystic Spearhand, players can now also embrace fresh roles like the Trickster, wielding smoke illusions to confuse enemies and aid allies.
The iconic pawn system is bigger and better than ever, with more quirks and options to define how your NPC hirelings act. Just as before, other players will have the ability to recruit and return them to you with valuable knowledge about the quests and treasures they encountered on their journeys.
This feature lets you enjoy a great single-player experience without feeling lonely on your adventures. The pawns benefit from the awesome character customization of DD1, as well as the introduction of Beastren, a new catlike species. Indeed, now you’ll be able to make a digital cosplay of Thundercats if you want to.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a true testament to the power of innovation and perseverance. Through iterative improvements, it has become a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the ideas behind the original game. With its larger scale, stunning visual design, and dynamic gameplay, it is a worthy successor to a beloved classic that is sure to inspire new generations of gamers.
How to prepare for the launch?
If you have some time left before the launch, and are considering entering this exciting world, you might want to try a few games that offer a similar playstyle. Fortunately, there are several options available that can give you a taste of what DD2 has to offer. You can find all of them available at surprisingly affordable prices, with a secure and convenient purchasing process and instant delivery on G2A.COM.
Journey to the Lands Between
It would be remiss if we didn’t mention DD2’s latest and most direct competitor: Elden Ring. From the creators of Dark Souls and Bloodborne, this stunning action RPG has a fantastic open world, impressive dungeons, plenty of huge monsters to fight, and a compelling story. Much of the lore you’ll need to discover on your own, as it’s presented in an almost cunning way through item descriptions, level design, and NPC voice lines.
Its upcoming expansion in June this year will bring in new weapons, stories, and, more challenging bosses for you to defeat. It’s about time for a martial arts-themed weapon, nothing quite like spin-kicking an abominable monster in the face.
ER can be a challenging game to master even for the most veteran of players. Its difficulty, which can be managed in various but not always obvious ways, and the epic dark fantasy setting with strong themes of corruption of body and soul might not exactly be the vibe you’re looking for.
Big weapons, and bigger monsters
If you’re in the mood for a game with a different tone, but that’s still challenging, you might want to give another game by DD’s creator Capcom a try: Monster Hunter, more specifically its newest installments: MH World and MH Rise. They fully deliver on the experience of fighting monsters many times larger and stronger than you, minus the grotesque monsters, the beasts of MH mostly feel more like parts of the natural environment.
It doesn’t mean that they won’t breathe fire at you, or zap you with electricity accumulated in razor-sharp quills. Monster Hunter World and Rise have different dynamics. The former is slower, more deliberate and measured, with larger maps and more realistic aesthetics. The latter, originally developed for Nintendo Switch, is faster, more vibrant, and fantastical, but smaller in scale. Both, however, are geared more towards specific expeditions out of the home base, rather than a contiguous open world with organic events. This might seem like a flaw until you understand its convenience and experience the sense of accomplishment of being able to just play a single mission from start to finish.
Call the professional
Finally, a game that has some aesthetic overlap with Dragon’s Dogma: The Witcher 3. Armaments, architecture, and monsters of DD2 are mostly rooted in European folklore and history, so it’s only appropriate to point you towards a game which has the same inspirations, features a lot of mythic and legendary beasts to fight, and has a ton of excellent quests and stories to tell.
The game focuses on Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter, which pushes you into a very specific role, but even so you can personalize the level of sword mastery, alchemy, and magic in your fighting style. With several large, impressive open world regions to explore, The Witcher 3 is a great intro before you become Arisen in DD2.
The Heart stolen, the spirit stronger than ever
Dragon’s Dogma 2 begins with your heart eaten by a dragon of cataclysmic power, which propels you to venture into the world and engage with its many wonders. Throw a wrench into the dealings of lords and kings, find your calling in helping the common folk against dangers and monsters dwelling beyond city walls, or become a brave explorer hoping to clear the roads for others. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a game about being a heroic adventurer, giving you the power and opportunity to embrace this fantasy.
March to release
By all accounts, Dragon’s Dogma 2, with its release date set for today, March 22, 2024, is going to deploy the full potential of the first game, bringing players to an amazing world to experience a journey rarely seen in video games of this scale.
If you’d like to take a step through this gate to adventure, take a look at offers available on G2A.COM, the world’s largest and most trusted marketplace for digital entertainment. You’ll be able to find DD2, and titles such as Elden Ring, as well as thousands of other games from different genres and platforms, all available at attractive prices right at your fingertips.
This is a sponsored post published on behalf of the G2A digital platform.
