Over a decade after the original, Dragon's Dogma 2 will finally release later this month, bringing a new adventure for the Arisen - one chosen to challenge the dragon, who begins the game by plucking out the heart of the protagonist. The new Capcom RPG follows them and their controllable Pawns on a journey across the game's vast fantasy world to become rightful ruler. Screen Rant recently got to spend three hours with the upcoming game, which showed off an impressive amount of things players will have to explore and experiment with.

In many ways, Dragon's Dogma 2 almost feels more like a simulation than an outright RPG - there's main plot threads to pull at, but there's great freedom as well. Unlike the last Dragon's Dogma 2 preview, which focused on the basic vocations Archer, Thief, and Fighter, this session was equally divided between two advanced classes: Mystic Spearhand and Magick Archer. These drastically different fighting styles did a great job of showcasing the wide array of ways players can approach their journey across the huge in-game world.

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The World Of Dragon's Dogma

Almost immediately into the preview, the Arisen was met with several available side quests, like chasing after a man's grandson who'd been carried off by wolves. There are many time-sensitive quests present throughout the world like this one, where the plot proceeds with or without the player; in this case, arriving too late would mean the boy had already perished. This is one of many elements that makes the world of Dragon's Dogma 2 feel alive and dynamic, and so many extra quest options really incentivizes exploration and reinforces the idea of player freedom.

When venturing between quest points, the wilderness surrounding civilization is diverse in its creatures, and dynamically changes with weather and a day night/cycle. From the terrifying amphibious lizards that inhabit waterways to the huge griffins that fly in the mountains, the world is full of enemies that each have their own unique aesthetics and fighting styles. There's also a myriad of secrets to discover, like caves, tombs, and treasure across the map, and it's easy to get caught up in simply wandering around.

Playing As Mystic Spearhand

The Mystic Spearhand is a class that centers around a combination of melee and magic, using spells to knock enemies off balance and then swooping in for devastating attacks. This vocation is especially satisfying to perform combos with, like a mix of moves that imbalance the enemy, then pull the Arisen towards them to deal blows that hurt unsteady foes more. There's also a bit of telekinesis in the mix, allowing for throwing of nearby objects, and smaller enemies can even be lifted and thrown into each other, which is endlessly entertaining.

This portion of the preview began with the Arisen having to disguise themselves in order to enter Battahl, a city intended for Beastren - a feline race - only. This was achieved through a trip to the local scrap store, where players can have forgeries made and acquire assorted other underhanded goods. After purchasing a Beastren mask, the Arisen was able to enter and got a tip to investigate Rockmouse's Burrow in Bakbattahl. Although the segment ended before arrival, the journey still showed off a solid variety of enemies and locales as well as a few side quests - mostly escort missions.

Playing As Magick Archer

Magick Archer is almost the antithesis of Mystic Spearhand, all about dealing damage at a distance whenever possible. The Magick Archer's different techniques come from the use of various arrows, like the fiery Flame Fang Arrow which explodes on impact and the Remedy Arrow for healing allies. These types are paired with shooting techniques, like firing several at once or giving the player direct control over the arrow. The latter is an especially fun mechanic - steering an arrow through tricky obstacles and managing to hit an enemy is incredibly satisfying.

The Magick Archer segment of the Dragon's Dogma 2 preview largely took place in a mine shaft called Digger's Ruins, where the Arisen and their party were hunting for Glimmercoal to restore an important sword. The glowing resource was easier to see with lanterns off, creating a wonderfully spooky ambiance and several hilariously unexpected enemy ambushes in the dark. The cave walls were great for showing off the vocation's Ricochet Seeker arrows, which are designed to bounce around tight spaces, and made taking on the cave's boar-like creatures much easier.

Pawns In Dragon's Dogma 2

Pawns have really improved since the first Dragon's Dogma, with inventive AI that makes smart, sometimes surprising decisions during combat. Pawns are also incredibly useful outside of fights - players can issue commands like having pawns lead to a quest point, and they'll also notice things like ladders and secret passages of their own accord based on their background. During the many monster slayings throughout the preview, they consistently made choices that helped the group eke out a victory, and there are many diverse pawns wandering the landscape ready to be recruited, making switching up the party easy.

Final Thoughts On Dragon's Dogma 2

From scaling giant rock monsters to throwing lizards into one another, this preview really showcased a wide array of enemies and the many ways players can choose to fight them based on vocation and party. The game's advanced classes really provide a lot of room for fun combos and experimentation, and the three hours spent with it was barely enough time to explore what the world has to offer. With nearly endless freedom in a world that's truly alive, Dragon's Dogma 2 will have a lot for players to explore when it releases later this month.

Dragon's Dogma II

Platform(s)

PC , PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X

Released

Developer(s)

Capcom

Publisher(s)

Capcom

Genre(s)

RPG

ESRB

M for Mature

Prequel(s)

Expand