Dragon’s Dogma 2 preview: A Magickal RPG for simulation fans

Dexerto was able to go hands-on with Dragon’s Dogma 2, the sequel to an underrated Capcom action RPG. Will this be the game that brings Dragon’s Dogma into the mainstream?

Last year’s announcement of Dragon’s Dogma 2 came as a delightful surprise to fans of the original.

While the game and its 2016 enhancement, Dark Arisen, received positive reviews, Dragon’s Dogma never reached the height of Capcom favorites like Resident Evil, Street Fighter, or even fellow action RPG Monster Hunter. Still, the publisher never fully abandoned the IP, releasing a now-defunct MMORPG in Japan and a 2020 anime.

That’s why I found myself curious to see what Capcom had delivered for the sequel. After all, many of the best games ever made are fantasy RPGs. Is it finally time for Dragon’s Dogma to step out of its cult status and become a mainstream hit? I was able to go hands-on with a near-final build of the sequel and see for myself how Dragon’s Dogma 2 brings the franchise into a new gaming generation.

The Arisen rises again

For those who have played the first Dragon’s Dogma, the basics of the sequel will be familiar. Set in another world, you play as the Arisen, a character marked by a dragon who travels with allies known as “Pawns.” The Arisen is fully customizable – with the character creator appearing to be at least as in-depth as that of last year’s Street Fighter 6 – though the demo had me stepping into the middle of the game.

I was able to spend time with two of the game’s classes, known here as vocations: Mystic Spearhand and Magick Archer. These are some of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s hybrid vocations, blending aspects of the starting classes to create something stronger, though more complex.

I’ll admit that these kinds of classes are not typically the ones I go for in single-player action games with AI companions. In preparation for this preview, I played some Dark Arisen and built a straightforward sword-and-shield Fighter. That said, I can certainly see the merits of these classes and particularly enjoyed playing as the melee and magick-wielding Mystic Spearhand.

Learning the movesets and how to best utilize them is a challenge. The demo certainly wasn’t long enough for me to really feel like I mastered either. With the Mystic Spearhand, you have access to melee and magic abilities that give plenty of versatility for attacking close up or from a distance.

Meanwhile, the Magick Archer can hit foes from a distance using different kinds of elemental arrows, on top of helping allies with healing arrows. These arrows don’t do much damage, but they always hit their mark, making them super reliable for targeting enemy weaknesses.

I definitely had more fun getting close to my foes – especially the large climbable ones – as the Mystic Spearhand. That said, I can definitely see either of these new vocations being monsters in the right hands.

Dangers in the night

Where Dragon’s Dogma 2 seems to shine over its predecessor is in its massive open world. I was only able to explore a bit, but both the towns and the wilds have a lot in store.

While the original could, at times, be hard to navigate, the sequel does a good job of blending additional guidance with natural discovery. The mini-map in the bottom corner and the ability to drop various, distinct waypoints are helpful, but the game still encourages you to explore and interact with the world rather than just running from point A to point B to complete a quest.

As an example, one quest I found asked me to help a man find his missing grandson, who was taken away by wolves. Rather than the man just telling me which way to go or a little dot appearing on my map, I needed to talk to the other townspeople to get more information first. Not everyone had something useful to say, but it fed into a loop where I was able to pick up some other quests in town.

On top of that, this particular quest was only available for a limited time. This gets to another aspect of Dragon’s Dogma 2 that I found quite compelling. As a Capcom explained to me, the developers approached the game like a simulation. Many of the game design choices, such as the day-night cycle in which different creatures appear – and get stronger – at night.

Even though it was just about a grandson being abducted by wolves, this particular quest really drove home something about this sequel. The world feels like it’s living and changing regardless of what I do (though obviously the Arisen’s actions are going to have some great impact eventually). Logically, the wolves aren’t going to wait to devour the boy until I’m nearby, so the time limit gave the quest urgency.

For transparency’s sake, I’ll admit I got distracted by a pretty strong Wight and did not manage to find the boy. That child will forever be in Shrodinger’s box, between the state of little boy and wolf food. For his sake, I’ll try harder next time. I did manage to take down the Wight without any other kids going missing. I’ll count that as a win.

A Dragon’s Dogma for a new generation

Playing this Dragon’s Dogma 2 after revisiting the original for a bit made it clear how much of a step forward this new title is. Most obvious are the visual and technical improvements, with the game’s graphics looking stunning and running smoothly on PlayStation 5.

While still an enjoyable game with great combat, much of the first Dragon’s Dogma feels dated. That makes sense, because it came out 12 years ago. I can’t really speak to the story or pacing based on my preview, but what I did experience makes me optimistic that Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be the evolution fans of the original have been waiting for – and perhaps what finally finally brings Dragon’s Dogma into the mainstream of fantasy action RPGs.