An epic open world, fascinating AI companions, impressive battles, and a very personal fantasy adventure: With these points, Dragon’s Dogma 2 aims to captivate its players on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. MeinMMO author Max Handwerk was allowed to try out for an hour how well this already works.
Last week, I participated in a preview event for the new RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2. I had never played Dragon’s Dogma before and barely knew what to expect. But after the first hour in the RPG, I am pretty sure that I will change that soon.
Dragon’s Dogma offers numerous features that I am already in love with:
- A vast open world with two nations.
- Numerous villages and large cities to explore.
- And in between: large and small monsters that will provide you with tough battles.
Here, you can choose from one of four classes that can be further developed throughout the campaign.
Additionally, there is support from up to three AI-controlled companions who assist you on your journeys. As a group of four that you can freely assemble – depending on which strengths and weaknesses you prefer – you set out to explore the world embedded in an exciting story.
“Live your own adventure” – this phrase came up early and should definitely be taken literally. Because Dragon’s Dogma 2 immediately tempts you to leave beaten paths and go on an adventure journey.
The best part is the impressive battles, but they are really tough
In the test, we were allowed to try out three different classes: a archer, a fighter, and a fast thief.
- The archer took enemies out from a distance.
- The fighter struck powerfully with the sword.
- The nimble thief dashed across the ground, dealing quick strikes and swift sword blows to the monsters, which was my personal favorite.
Furthermore, I was always accompanied by three AI-controlled companions who support you. Each has different abilities that can be effectively hurled at enemies. And that is necessary because it doesn’t take long until you encounter the first skirmishes in Dragon’s Dogma 2. The world outside of secured villages and cities is dangerous, and the game makes you feel that.
The enemies are tough: particularly the larger foes provide you with challenging battles with health bars that stretch from west to east and often pop back up three times in a row.
Especially exciting: It feels like you can encounter such beasts everywhere. I had just left the first village when I got into a fight with my three companions against a cyclops that was hanging out by a river.
The battle really made me sweat. Ultimately, the cyclops could not withstand the combined might of my companions and me, although it probably helped that the monster literally stumbled during the fight and fell off a cliff into the abyss.
This surprised me but I liked it very much: The environment in Dragon’s Dogma 2 plays an important role in battles, as I could now throw myself from above onto its head. In battles, it will also be possible to flood areas or cause bridges to collapse.
This is another interesting mechanic of the game: it allows you to climb opponents. You can simply climb onto the backs of physically superior foes and scramble about to attack their weak points.
However, this does not mean that you can mindlessly tumble around on the monsters. You need to pay attention to your own stamina and, on the other hand, be aware that the enemies will eventually figure out what you’re doing. A griffin that I was trying to climb over just tossed me off its back and sent me to the realm of the dead.
My personal final boss was a hairy, troll-like creature in a cave that simply refused to die. To be honest, I initially thought I had found a game bug, but no: the beast just had a brutal amount of health. Only after numerous ice shard attacks and lightning strikes from my companions, as well as constant pokes from my thief did it finally go down.
So prepare yourself for demanding, sometimes lengthy battles.
A dragon as big as the entire screen
Not at all going down was a giant dragon that filled the entire screen. “I’m not prepared for this,” shouted a character from the side and turned out to be right: some of my attack attempts were followed by a cutscene in which my character was appropriately roasted.
But this was not the end: After the dragon eliminated the fighter with its fire breath, it clawed at the character’s chest, impaled the heart, and devoured it in one bite. Brutal.
Afterwards, the dragon flew away, and my character awakened shortly thereafter as “The Awakened”. This was likely a glimpse into the past as well as a first taste of the story of Dragon’s Dogma 2: this dragon must probably be slain to fulfill your destiny.
Numerous exciting features and a spirit of adventure
Besides the battles, exploring the game world was on the agenda during the test hour.
We were advised early on to follow the main quest. However, the game constantly lures you in other directions. I frequently found myself going astray because looking into the distance made me eager to run in completely the wrong direction – which I do not mean negatively at all.
Rather, you think constantly: What is hiding back there?
An abandoned tower here, a nasty troll there, a mysterious cave around the corner, and an eye-catching bridge in the distance – I was constantly making mental notes of which places I would visit next. The game simply sparks curiosity and a spirit of exploration because you quickly engage in conversations with NPCs who offer you even more quests.
If you need help with decisions, you can simply send your main companion out to guide the way – and that is precisely what I did at some point. The AI-controlled companions are one of the most interesting features in Dragon’s Dogma 2: they not only help you vigorously in battle but also bring their own personality. They complain when you move too fast, celebrate when a hostile creature is slain, or give helpful tips on where you can find something useful.
Moreover, “Quest Knowledge” is an aspect that your companions can bring. If you have the right ones with you – and there is a lot to choose from that you can recruit – you will receive helpful tips on how and where you can complete a quest. They do not come off as stupid companions who you might use as item storage and cannon fodder but rather like full-fledged players who positively contribute to the gaming experience.
The interplay with the companions is a point that I would have liked to explore further. The possibility to set up camps and have a chat also arose and would have interested me.
But time was limited. I must admit: I would have loved to play on, because besides the tantalizing world and the first story bites, I also touched on many other features that I would have liked to explore further.
- The companion system seems extremely extensive and at the same time like the heart of the game.
- There is a day and night cycle, where the night is not only extremely dark but also exceedingly dangerous due to stronger enemies.
- An item crafting system is also offered by the game, in which you can combine different items into useful items.
Furthermore, I was only able to explore a tiny area of the open world, which immediately made me eager for more. The environments feel vibrant, and it seems there is something to discover at every second corner – whether it is a quest or an exciting location.
But after an hour, it was time to stop. For my part, I will definitely keep an eye on the game – because I am very curious about what else it has to offer.
The release date of the game is still open. It will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
