With the recent massive Capcom hack, four years of upcoming releases have leaked to the public, including an apparent sequel to Dragon’s Dogma, the 2012 cult hit. While Capcom has avoided confirming the leak, it appears to be otherwise credible, with Dragon’s Dogma 2 allegedly coming in 2022.
Dragon’s Dogma is a hack-and-slash action RPG in which players explore a vast open-world and fight huge, terrifying monsters. After the player's village is attacked by a legendary dragon, they have their heart removed by said monster. The player lives, as they are the Arisen, a mystical figure destined to stop the dragon from accomplishing their apocalyptic goals.
Despite being well-liked by fans and critics alike, Dragon’s Dogma was far from a perfect experience. Here’s what Dragon’s Dogma 2 could improve on.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Can Improve The Story
Most fans of Dragon’s Dogma will likely argue that gameplay is the series’ strongpoint thus far, but nothing would be lost if more attention was given to the game’s narrative. The original Dragon’s Dogma had an emotional story with a number of characters given significant attention and development, but most critics agreed that the game’s execution of its story fell short of the mark.
Still, the attempt was there, and given the recent Netflix anime adaptation of Dragon’s Dogma, it’s clear that story is important to Capcom. The original game’s weakest point could be a great place for the sequel to improve, with better NPC and player character personalization as well as a strong, tightly-written main plot.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Can Improve The Combat
Easily Dragon’s Dogma’s defining feature, there are few games that have a combat system as satisfying and fun to play. With that said, as with anything, improvements can be made, though they should be kept simple as the groundwork is just so great. Dragon’s Dogma features nine incredibly distinct classes, called vocations, the player is able to play as. Fighting a two-story-tall troll as a greatsword-wielding Warrior will result in a very different gameplay experience than a mystical bow-wielding Magick Archer.
Each vocation has dozens of entirely unique combat abilities and augments that make every enemy encounter special. The sequel could further expand on the vocation system with new classes, combat abilities, and augments. Improving on what is arguably one of the best combat systems in recent years is a tall order, but is something that would need to happen with Dragon's Dogma 2 in order to keep the spirit of the original intact.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Can Improve The Multiplayer
In lieu of most standard multiplayer options, Dragon’s Dogma allowed players to share their companions with one another. Players are able to be joined by three AI-controlled companions, called Pawns, with one being of their creation and two from other players. Should the player’s Pawn go on a journey in another player’s game, they will receive experience and items.
This was a feature that set Dragon’s Dogma apart from other RPGs, and Dragons Dogma 2 would do well to continue expanding on its foundation. For example, Pawns in Dragon’s Dogma are limited to six of the nine available vocations, so having access to the full suite of classes would be a welcome addition. Expanding the relatively simple command system would also be a plus.
In addition to a more robust Pawn system, the game could expand multiplayer in other ways. Co-op has long been a desire for Dragon’s Dogma fans, and given that the game is often compared to the Dark Souls series, a similar co-op format would make exploring Gransys and taking down its many monsters all the more fun.
Despite releasing nearly a decade ago to relatively low sales, Capcom has kept the series alive without providing a true sequel. It was re-released in 2013 as Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, featuring numerous upgrades and quality of life changes, as well as a new massive dungeon to explore. It has since released on next-gen consoles, PC, and has been adapted into a Netflix anime. In addition, Capcom released Dragon’s Dogma Online in Japan in 2015, though its servers shut down in 2019.
The original Dragon’s Dogma is known for its incredibly fun Monster Hunter-esque combat and various unique gameplay mechanics. The game has its strengths, though its weaknesses contributed to it not reaching an audience as wide as it could have, and there are several clear steps Dragon's Dogma 2 could take to rectify that.