Dragon’s Dogma 2 Hands-On Preview: A Familiar Yet Refined Adventure

While Dragon’s Dogma 2 stays true to its unique roots, fans hope for more innovation.

Released over a decade ago, Dragon’s Dogma was a breath of fresh air in the world of open-world action RPGs, offering innovative features like the Pawn mechanic and dynamic combat. With Dragon’s Dogma 2, Capcom seems committed to enhancing the franchise’s unique aspects. In my hour-long demo, I found that while the game retains its distinct charm, I yearned for more new experiences in this sequel.

The demo kicked off outside the kingdom of Vermund, granting me the freedom to explore and undertake quests. Pawns, AI-controlled companions, played a crucial role in guiding me and offering assistance. While the concept of Pawns is not new, their improvements in Dragon’s Dogma 2 made them more reliable and helpful in navigating quests and combat.

One memorable interaction with a Pawn involved teamwork to reach a distant treasure chest. My Pawn knelt down, allowing me to use her as a springboard to access the treasure—a small but impactful detail.

Combat in Dragon’s Dogma 2 remains similar to the original, with light and heavy attacks, along with a selection of skills tied to the left bumper. A new addition is the hit-stop effect, signaling vulnerable enemies for execution with a strong attack. This feature enhances combat’s brutality and weight.

The absence of a melee lock-on mechanic and dodge roll may not appeal to everyone, but it emphasizes strategic positioning, pawn assistance, and exploiting enemy weaknesses. It offers a unique combat experience that differs from the typical action RPG.

During multiple playthroughs of the demo, each session felt distinct. I encountered a Griffin one time, faced Saurians near a riverbank in another, and dealt with formidable bandits in a cave on yet another playthrough. The dynamic world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 rewards exploration with both danger and treasure, creating an exciting sense of adventure.

Despite these improvements, the demo left me with a sense of déjà vu. The skills, enemies, and combat scenarios closely resembled those from the original game. While Dragon’s Dogma 2 promises to deliver more of what fans loved about the first installment, I couldn’t help but wish for more innovative elements in the sequel.

In conclusion, Dragon’s Dogma 2 retains its unique charm and enhances familiar features, making it a promising continuation of the series. However, fans hope to see more innovation and new experiences when the final game releases.