The open-world action role-playing game "Dragon's Dogma 2" (ドラゴンズドグマ 2) developed by CAPCOM was officially released on March 22, 2024, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. This latest installment of the series, which has been 12 years in the making, emphasizes the "fantasy world simulator" that allows players to freely adventure in a vast world, offering each player a unique experience. In this report, we will focus on the trial playthrough from the beginning to the middle of the game to introduce the charm of this title.

In the vast world, each player will have their own unique story.

In "Dragon's Dogma 2," players control characters known as "Arise," warriors whose hearts have been stolen by dragons, embarking on an adventure in the vast world alongside "Pawns" from other worlds.

Players can customize the appearance and even the personality of their Pawns, and there is a unique system that allows them to exchange and borrow Pawns with other players online. The journey woven together with created Pawns and those borrowed from other players will create unique memories. Since receiving positive feedback from players in past titles, there has been considerable support for this system.

The protagonist of the game, who has lost his memory, is forced to labor at a certain excavation site. What exactly happened in his past?

In the long-awaited "Dragon's Dogma 2," gameplay designed using physics simulation has evolved significantly. For example, players can destroy bridges to make monsters fall, cause dams to burst and trigger floods, or use terrain differentials to push monsters off cliffs, enabling actions that most players can imagine. The "fantasy world simulator" mentioned by the game director, Hideaki Itsuno, in previous interviews can be realized through these elements.

Related article: Creating a "fantasy world simulator"! "Dragon's Dogma 2" aims to be a game that people want to discuss with others.

The protagonist of this game is an Arise whose past is shrouded in mystery. While normally there should only be one Arise in the world, there exists a figure known as the "Arise King" in the human kingdom of Belmont, raising questions about the situation. Additionally, Belmont borders the land of the Beastmen, Batal, and tensions seem to be rising everywhere. Amidst the turmoil between Belmont and Batal, players will embark on a completely free adventure.

Recovering past memories, the game's protagonist confronts a dragon in a border village, becoming an Arise after having his heart consumed.

In the kingdom of Belmont, there sits a figure known as the Arise King on the throne, but there should only be one Arise in the world at a time. Who is the true Arise between the Arise King and the game's protagonist? Or perhaps, have the rules of the world already changed?

"Dragon's Dogma 2" emphasizes allowing players to play their roles themselves, a design direction evident from the very robust character creation system available at the beginning of the game.

In addition to common design options like physique, height, eyebrows, and nose height, there are also options for "action amplitude" and "posture tilt," allowing players to create their own unique protagonist and main Pawn (a Pawn that will continuously follow the protagonist). Moreover, players don't need to adjust these detailed options; as long as they continue to choose a look that matches their impression, they can gradually narrow down the character creation process. For first-time players, it's recommended to start with this method to get a feel for character creation (other aspects such as physique, hairstyle, and facial features can be redesigned by spending in-game currency).

From humans to Beastmen, various types of characters can be created.

The world of "Dragon's Dogma 2" is beautiful and vast, with distractions such as enticing treasure chests, meaningful statues, eerie ruins, and unexpected monster encounters on the way to designated caves. This often leads players to become absorbed in the present adventure, forgetting their original goals. Such occurrences are commonplace in the game, which can almost be described as a buffet of adventures. In addition to the rich quests expected in the game, there are frequent unexpected events, battles with NPC characters, and other surprising situations that make the experience very enjoyable.

Time progresses in real-time in the game, with day and night continuously alternating. Nighttime is dark, making movement difficult without a light source. Players must traverse dangerous paths and even battle monsters in these conditions, with the lantern they carry acting as a lifeline.

Because of this, seeing a light in the darkness brings relief. However, what constitutes a "light" can have various outcomes. While village lights or campfires are welcome sights, sometimes players may encounter the eerie glow of goblin torches or strange lights of unknown origin.

Here, I'd like to share an interesting anecdote. While traversing the mountains at night, I spotted a faint glow and eagerly approached it, only to find a figure resembling a knight standing amidst the light. Initially, I thought it was a uniquely styled Pawn, but upon closer inspection, I realized the knight had no head and was holding what appeared to be its own head, emitting the glow.

This "Specter Knight" immediately attacked our party without a word. Expecting a tough battle, I persevered, hoping to survive until daylight, as it seemed like the specter might be vulnerable then. True enough, as dawn approached, the Specter Knight vanished into the sunlight. This sequence of events truly embodied the fantastical style of the game and remains one of the most memorable experiences for me.

When reminiscing about playing "Dragon's Dogma 2," it's hard to stop. Despite already spending over 20 hours in the game, I still haven't fully explored its entirety. There are still parts of the map left unexplored and many formidable monsters yet to defeat. However, the experiences shared in this report, along with the personalized memories accumulated, undoubtedly indicate that there are many more thrilling experiences awaiting in the game.

Director Itsuno described this game as one that "makes people want to discuss with others." I can already envision awakenings around the world sharing their perilous journey memories with each other after the game's release.