Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Very Average dont know what all the fuss is about. ok the monsters are big. so what that does not make it a good game. when you go up a level nothing happens no choice no skills. The places you can go in the start are very few the free roaming, isnt. you can tell this is a x box action game not a PC RPG. ported game design for a gamepad contoller not a mouse and keyboard. avoid

Dragon's Dogma is basically a Japanese attempt at modern western-style sandbox RPGs. In some ways it's quite quirky but in others it is just amazing and it is simply sad that so many years since its release developers still haven't really learned form this game. Dragon's Dogma offers a pretty large, albeit rather generic fantasy world which is threatened by a dragon. In terms of quests and characters the game has very little going for it. Most quests are just simple "get x" or "kill y" stuff. And pretty much all characters are underdeveloped which is quite painful because some of them showed promise. HOWEVER, where the game really shines are the combat, character customisation and loot. First off: we got two characters that we can fully customise and whose classes and active abilities and passive bonuses we can always change. The extra character is an AI-controlled pawn who can be hired by other players and likewise we can always hire up to two pawns of other players, so we're pretty much always on an epic quest with a band of unique companions. The pawns may not be interesting characters but they prove great allies during combat. Most importantly, however, the combat itself is some of the best in the genre. Fighting gangs of goblins, bandits or the undead is fun enough but fighting the massive boss monsters like cyclopes, griffins and dragons is one of the best gaming experiences one can have. It's Shadow of the Colossus on steroids, with you and your pawns tackling these massive beasts together, climbing them to stab them in their weak spots while archers and mages provide support from a distance or cast devastating spells, and all of this while epic orchestral themes make you feel like the ultimate badass hero. And finally there's a crapload of unique items which are just fun to collect and upgrade and allow you to give your characters a really unique appearance. Anyone interested in a more exciting action-oriented take on the genre has to give this game a try.

DD:DA is an open-world action RPG where you complete quests and fight monsters. There is crafting, and a story, but you don't have to focus on them unless you want to. The levelling systems are just complex enough without being overwhelming. The game rewards you for paying attention to what options are available, but you don't have to study a massive game system to have fun. One thing that makes Dragon's Dogma unique is its class ("vocation") system. Your character can play as a mage for a while, shift to being a warrior, and then shift to something else. On the way, you pick up statistic boosts ("augments") you can still use after you switch vocations. Some skills also transfer. This improves the variety of play, and gives you a reason to try out different play styles. Of course, if you'd rather stick with one vocation and become a monster at one thing, you can do that too. Monsters are tough at first, but they do not level up with your character. That means you see the results of building a stronger character as you go. Monsters that were threatening early on become one-hit kills. But there's plenty of world to explore, and VERY tough monsters can be found if you go looking for them. You build a party with the pawn system, including one sidekick you can name, train, and keep with you for the whole game. Pawns are helpful without getting in the way. They make suggestions, but you can tell them to shut up if they get annoying. They learn how you play so they can assist you better. In practice, this is wonderful! The variety of body types available in this game means you can create a physically varied party, or narrow it down to one type if that works better for you. This helps greatly with immersion. My only real gripe so far: you'll travel and re-travel areas of the map repeatedly, no matter how carefully you place your portcrystals. This is the most fun I've had with a RPG since the Risen series. Highly recommended.

But the pictures looked interested and I could not, for some reason get this game out of my head. So I looked up some youtube reviews and then some lets plays, and then, some articles about it. I decided to take the plunge still not knowing much but still being interested for whatever reason. Boy am I so glad I did. I am 48 hours into this game and it is really satisfying, I would even describe it as meaty. The fights are challenging but still rewarding. It took me almost an hour to defeat a boss with multiple life bars. Afterward, my fingers were incredibly painful and I let out a gasp, I didn't even realize I was holding my breath at the end. 48 hours into this game and I have no idea if I am even halfway done or what my next quest should be, there is soo much to do and to see. You can actually fail quests, I had no idea those flowers would wilt that quickly. I get the same feelings here that I do for Skyrim. This is incredibly replayable, that is, however long it takes me to actually finish this game and I see myself playing this all over again. I hope there is a second one coming out, It's ridiculously addictive and It's been three days since I last slept but I had 5 cups of dounle expresso, I can't feels my legs, and I'm PUMPED to play again.

I suppose back when Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen released it may have been better at the time. But I can't help but compare it to other open world RPGs that have released since then. An unfair comparison yes, but it is what it is. Pros: + Decent gameplay + Stable game engine + Complete content package (DLCs, etc.) Cons: - AI intelligence very limited (biggest complaint) - AI commands very limited (Go and Come) - Uninspiring story - Dated graphics - Combat gets repetitive (if the same class is used throughout game) - Unexciting loot (9/10 times it's material that will never be touched) - Overworld itself is small in scale