Followers of the unique Dragon’s Dogma by no means dreamed the wonky fantasy RPG would possibly get a sequel. Over a decade later, Capcom delivered a successor that improved on the failings of the primary with out shaving off the sharp edges that earned it a cult following to start with.
Weeks after it launched, Dragon’s Dogma 2 hasn’t simply offered nicely, it’s been the right breeding floor for enjoyable discoveries and unusual participant tales. It’s additionally been a lightning rod for debate, regardless of being one of many highest rated video games of 2024. Listed below are the ups, downs, and every part in-between since Dragon’s Dogma 2’s launched on March 22.
Followers freak out over Dragon’s Dogma 2’s microtransactions
The sport’s Steam web page shows all of the issues you should buy with actual cash, a lot of that are included within the Deluxe Version. They embrace tenting kits, Wakestones, Portcrystals, and different in-game objects that save time and affect gameplay. Reviewers of the sport level out that many of the assets are earned simply sufficient simply by enjoying, however for some gamers the mere existence of the choice to purchase them looks like a corrupting affect. The paid merchandise for altering characters’ appearances will get modded into the sport on day one.
Steam critiques are a multitude
Whereas early critiques have been glowing, the sport will get slammed on Steam. With a lower than 40 % constructive score in its first day, PC gamers complain about poor optimization. Efficiency points vary from glacial framerates in some areas to occasional freezes and crashes. A Capcom rep tells IGN forward of launch that it’s conscious of CPU points and is wanting into them.
Gamers uncover the horrors of Dragonsplague
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s NPC companions, referred to as Pawns, are weak to a mysterious sickness referred to as Dragonsplague. If left untreated lengthy sufficient, it triggers a lethal transformation that may wipe out cities. “One of many pawns nukes all the village due to Dragonsplague and I had no inkling in any respect that they’d caught it,” one participant reviews. “No voice traces, no feedback of staying away from them, no glowing pink eyes. My save is now simply fucked due to this mechanic.”
One of many surest methods to identify the sickness is that if Pawns begin appearing rudely. Gamers hear fastidiously for any indicators of dangerous manners, whereas some kill their companions earlier than ever sleeping over at an Inn. The best manner to do this is throwing Pawns into the our bodies of water inhabited by Brine, misty creatures that kill every part they contact. In consequence, gamers begin hurling NPCs off cliffs en masse.
A Pawn pyramid scheme creates free cash
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s economic system is all over, with issues like Ox cart rides between cities being comparatively low cost, whereas haircuts value a whole lot, and rooms at Inns can value 1000’s. Thankfully, gamers work out an exploit for fast money involving sending Pawns out on quests on-line for issues like killing monsters.
By setting the hunt rewards for 10,000, different gamers can rent the Pawn and acquire the bounty. Whereas the primary participant has to pay it out to ship the Pawn on the hunt within the first place, an infinite variety of different gamers can hire the Pawn to snag the reward. The result’s that Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Rift dimension turns into flooded with free Pawn cash.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s first patch provides do-overs
One of many weirdest issues about Capcom’s RPG finally ends up being the truth that there’s just one save file that continuously will get up to date. Gamers can’t even begin their recreation over from the start till Dragon’s Dogma 2’s first patch on March 29. The replace additionally provides extra graphics choices for console, makes it simpler to get a home earlier within the recreation, and adjustments the variety of Artwork of Metamorphosises that may be bought from 2 to 99.
Capcom takes pity on undesirable Pawns
A participant by the identify of MrFoxer on the Dragon’s Dogma subreddit notes that Capcom seems to be manufacturing synthetic gamers to hire out Pawns if no person actual is doing it. “You possibly can inform whether or not an precise participant rented your pawn by trying to view their profile whereas your pawn’s report,” they write. “If the choice is greyed out, it’s a ‘pretend participant.’” Some followers are crestfallen. “Effectively thats good but in addition kinda unhappy since nobody needs to truly use our Pawn,” one writes. “Oof, 99% of my rents are greyed out,” writes one other. “Feels dangerous, however by no means thoughts.”
The server-hopping companions proceed to be one in all Dragon’s Dogma 2’s most fascinating playgrounds. Pawns who’re rented out for actual begin returning to their gamers with rotten meals as followers attempt to devise methods to warn each other about doable Dragonsplauge afflictions. Different gamers prank each other by sending Pawns again with cast Ferristones as items.
The worst NPC within the land
Meet Martin, the human Justice of the Peace from Vernworth that everybody hates. He’s laborious to search out, breaks quests, and is simply an all-around sack of griffon turds. Gamers can kill him after discovering him in Melve yelling at Ulrika for treason they usually do.
A one-hit kill “Unmaking Arrow” is a godsend
Survival could be robust in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Huge legendary creatures stalk you at each flip. However none of them can stand as much as the Unmaking Arrow, an merchandise so highly effective Capcom autosaves the sport after you employ it. A minimum of one participant managed to bypass this save-scumming safeguard utilizing cheat engine instruments and proceeded to kill every part they got here throughout. Common followers debate the perfect vocations within the recreation. Many consider it’s clearly Mystic Spearhand or Magick Archer whereas others declare the bottom Thief and Sorcerer roles stay superior.
Gamers debate the sport’s friction
Dragon’s Dogma 2 limits quick journey, doesn’t allow you to absolutely restore well being until you’re on the town or have tenting gear, and severely limits the quantity of junk you’ll be able to carry in your stock. The consensus is that the fantasy RPG is friction-heavy in comparison with different open world video games like fashionable Murderer’s Creed titles, however much less unanimous is whether or not that’s at all times a good factor or sometimes masks real shortcomings. The ensuing dialog is inconclusive however enlightening.
A second main patch nerfs Dragonsplague
After untold loss of life and destruction, the event crew decides to dial again Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Pawn illness. Along with being extra noticeable, the illness can also be much less frequent. The April 25 replace additionally reduces how a lot NPCs banter throughout quests and removes outdated treasure chests from gamers’ maps, along with different fixes. What it doesn’t do is markedly enhance efficiency on PC.
Capcom shareholders get an sudden payout
Dragon’s Dogma 2 sells 2.5 million copies in its first 10 days the place the primary recreation took a complete month simply to promote lower than half that quantity. That brings the franchise’s lifetime whole gross sales as much as 10 million, pushing it nicely previous the cult standing it had beforehand loved for years. “Dragons Dogma 2 was launched within the fourth quarter and has carried out favorably,” Capcom introduced in a revision to its earnings forecast. It elevated its projected dividend per firm share by $.03. Not sufficient to afford an evening in Bakbattahl however sufficient that the corporate additionally will increase salaries for brand new graduate hires.
