ELI RATES THE GAMES
By KCOW Weekend Warrior and Resident Madman Eli Smith

Dragon’s Dogma
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Rated M for Mature for…
Blood and Gore
Violence
Suggestive Themes
Nudity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You play as The Arisen, a hero stuck in conflict with a dragon who slaps  you to the side like a rag doll with an almost tired ease. Gameplay is fast paced, somewhat difficult to get used to, and exciting.  You have a choice between three classes and can choose to expand them to even more classes if you wish. Every class has its own skill set, and each different class provides a new experience. However, the jewel of the combat comes through as you fight and find yourself able to grapple onto larger enemies. Flailing helplessly as you attempt to climb up to a weak point (such as a Cyclops eye) adds a very entertaining dimension to the game.

At a certain point in the game, another dimension is added as you find yourself with a follower known as a “pawn”, or someone who is under your control that aids you in combat. You have the option of having a max group of four, including two other pawns. Your personal pawn is automatically uploaded to a server if you are online, allowing people from all over the world to use it at will. Sometimes, you are given a currency called rift crystals for your pawn, allowing you to purchase vanity items and customization options for your character and your pawn.  These elements aside, the game is still far from perfect. The combat sometimes has detection issues– you miss shots you are sure you hit. Also, the combat can be a little repetitive after a while.

Outside of combat, there are quests regarding the main story and various side stories. Another annoyance I had with this game: the walking distance. While you eventually get to the point where you can travel everywhere, at first you are forced to travel the walking distance of the world.   Sometimes, the distances associated with some of the quests are so massive that you feel like you are walking forever, having to halt every once in a while to fight. However, a big world isn’t really a bad thing, as it offers many different interesting areas that you can explore. Exploration is a big deal in this game, as it keeps you interested to see what is around the next corner.

Moving onto the story, I find it to be a little weak. “Man fights dragon in a fantasy environment” has been done before, but Capcom attempts to add its own spin to it that I feel is a little lame. Eventually you reach a “fate of the world” moment that completely throws you off. While it is an interesting twist, it’s one that’s overused by many companies.

The graphics are beautiful when you first observe without an eye for detail. There are varying landscapes and caves that are well designed and well lighted to set the ambiance of the situation. However, as you start to play the game more often, you start to notice a few glitches. Trees and creatures passing through things that they shouldn’t be passing through becomes a common sight, dampening the experience to some degree.

Finally, the sound is a little mixed. The creatures, the wind, and the ambience are well executed. Hearing the cry of a chimera for the first time is amazing and something that will stick with you in this game. But the music behind it is a little tired. The orchestra isn’t anything amazing. When you add the strange choice of a piano riff combined with some cheesy music you would hear as an intro for an anime,  the result is an odd audio experience.

So, while the gameplay is entertaining and exciting, and the quests and exploration give you something to do, this game is far from perfect. Add a strange soundtrack with some graphical glitches and some people might just pass the game entirely. But I gave it a shot, and so should you. The gameplay makes this an intense experience that is well worth a play through.

Final Verdict:
8.5/10