After more than a decade since its predecessor was released to critical acclaim, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has finally arrived to a niche reception. Longtime fans returned to play the newest entry in Capcom’s high fantasy series, but new fans less familiar with the setting seem to have been won over by the high volume of positive reviews.
I count myself among these newcomers, and truthfully felt intimidated by the prospect of introducing myself to this established world. Thankfully, only a little pre-existing knowledge is required to enjoy the game, as much of the lore relies on long-standing fantasy genre tropes: feudal systems of government, the widely understood existence of monsters, a chosen one who holds the divine right of kings and, of course, a big red dragon.
While at first glance the presence of these tropes may raise red flags forewarning an unremarkable story, or even a game world lacking immersion, Dragon’s Dogma 2 defies these expectations. These tropes are utilized as narrative shorthand in service of telling a grander metanarrative which centers less on the details of the setting, and more on the nature of fantasy games as an artistic medium.
You play as The Chosen, an individual ordained by a god-like red dragon to fill a prophesied role in the cosmic order, to slay the dragon, take the throne, and rule over the land until their death, triggering the cycle to begin again. While much of the story involves this specific journey, those you meet along the way will make you begin to question how true the story you’ve been told might be. Ultimately, it is up to the player to fulfill your role or to rebel against this system and attempt to overthrow those who possess a higher order of power and truly liberate the world.
Regarding the gameplay, The Chosen can take on a variety of vocations, offering expertise in different modes of combat ranging from classic sword fighting, archery and the magical arts. Dragon’s Dogma 2 also provides access to more exotic and unique vocations such as the Mystic Spearhand, a combat-focused mage who fights with a vicious double-ended spear.
The Chosen is also empowered to command “pawns,” a kind of person who originates from a magical plane of existence called The Rift and does not possess their own free will. One of these pawns belongs to your specific character and can be fully customized, while the other two members of your party are pawns created by other players who can be summoned from The Rift. Building a team with diverse skill sets and a range of abilities will be the key to completing your quest.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has come under some considerable criticism for its implementation of microtransactions. A major element of its difficulty is a limited ability to save your game and consumable respawn items, which can be purchased for an additional fee. The same goes for Portcrystals and Ferrystones, items used to enable fast travel in the game, which are both exceptionally rare. While purchasing these items is not required for an enjoyable gameplay experience, they effectively paywall a more convenient way to play.
The game is now available on Xbox, PlayStation 5 and PC stores for $69.99. Game Girl Advance offers its full recommendation for anyone who enjoys high-impact fantasy combat and a sense of exploration. Also, have I mentioned that they added in full-motion video clips of cooking meat over a campfire? An inspired choice indeed.