It’s Been A Wild Month For Dragon’s Dogma 2 Gamers

Followers of the authentic Dragon’s Dogma by no means dreamed the wonky fantasy RPG would possibly get a sequel. Over a decade later, Capcom delivered a successor that improved on the issues of the primary with out shaving off the sharp edges that earned it a cult following to start with.

Weeks after it launched, Dragon’s Dogma 2 hasn’t simply offered effectively, it’s been the proper breeding floor for enjoyable discoveries and unusual participant tales. It’s additionally been a lightning rod for debate, regardless of being one of many highest rated video games of 2024. Listed here are the ups, downs, and all the pieces in-between since Dragon’s Dogma 2’s launched on March 22.

Followers freak out over Dragon’s Dogma 2’s microtransactions

The sport’s Steam web page shows all of the issues you should purchase with actual cash, lots of that are included within the Deluxe Version. They embrace tenting kits, Wakestones, Portcrystals, and different in-game gadgets that save time and affect gameplay. Reviewers of the sport level out that a lot of the sources are earned simply sufficient simply by enjoying, however for some gamers the mere existence of the choice to purchase them seems like a corrupting affect. The paid merchandise for altering characters’ appearances will get modded into the sport on day one.

Steam critiques are a large number

Whereas early critiques had been glowing, the sport will get slammed on Steam. With a lower than 40 p.c constructive score in its first day, PC gamers complain about poor optimization. Efficiency points vary from glacial framerates in some areas to occasional freezes and crashes. A Capcom rep tells IGN forward of launch that it’s conscious of CPU points and is trying into them.

Gamers uncover the horrors of Dragonsplague

Dragon’s Dogma 2’s NPC companions, known as Pawns, are susceptible to a mysterious sickness known as Dragonsplague. If left untreated lengthy sufficient, it triggers a lethal transformation that may wipe out cities. “One of many pawns nukes the whole village due to Dragonsplague and I had no inkling in any respect that that they had caught it,” one participant reviews. “No voice traces, no feedback of staying away from them, no glowing crimson eyes. My save is now simply fucked due to this mechanic.”

One of many surest methods to identify the sickness is that if Pawns begin appearing rudely. Gamers pay attention fastidiously for any indicators of dangerous manners, whereas some kill their companions earlier than ever sleeping over at an Inn. The best method to do this is throwing Pawns into the our bodies of water inhabited by Brine, misty creatures that kill all the pieces they contact. In consequence, gamers begin hurling NPCs off cliffs en masse.

A Pawn pyramid scheme creates free cash

Dragon’s Dogma 2’s economic system is in all places, with issues like Ox cart rides between cities being comparatively low-cost, whereas haircuts value a whole lot, and rooms at Inns can value 1000’s. Happily, gamers work out an exploit for fast money involving sending Pawns out on quests on-line for issues like killing monsters.

By setting the hunt rewards for 10,000, different gamers can rent the Pawn and gather the bounty. Whereas the primary participant has to pay it out to ship the Pawn on the hunt within the first place, an countless variety of different gamers can hire the Pawn to snag the reward. The result’s that Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Rift dimension turns into flooded with free Pawn cash.

Dragon’s Dogma 2’s first patch provides do-overs

One of many weirdest issues about Capcom’s RPG finally ends up being the truth that there’s just one save file that continually will get up to date. Gamers can’t even begin their recreation over from the start till Dragon’s Dogma 2’s first patch on March 29. The replace additionally provides extra graphics choices for console, makes it simpler to get a home earlier within the recreation, and modifications the variety of Artwork of Metamorphosises that may be bought from 2 to 99.

Capcom takes pity on undesirable Pawns

A participant by the identify of MrFoxer on the Dragon’s Dogma subreddit notes that Capcom seems to be manufacturing synthetic gamers to hire out Pawns if no person actual is doing it. “You’ll be able to inform whether or not an precise participant rented your pawn by making an attempt to view their profile whereas taking a look at your pawn’s report,” they write. “If the choice is greyed out, it’s a ‘faux participant.’” Some followers are crestfallen. “Nicely thats good but in addition kinda unhappy since nobody needs to truly use our Pawn,” one writes. “Oof, 99% of my rents are greyed out,” writes one other. “Feels dangerous, however by no means thoughts.”

The server-hopping companions proceed to be one in every of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s most fascinating playgrounds. Pawns who’re rented out for actual begin returning to their gamers with rotten meals as followers attempt to devise methods to warn each other about potential Dragonsplauge afflictions. Different gamers prank each other by sending Pawns again with cast Ferristones as items.

The worst NPC within the land

Meet Martin, the human Justice of the Peace from Vernworth that everybody hates. He’s arduous to seek out, breaks quests, and is simply an all-around sack of griffon turds. Gamers can kill him after discovering him in Melve yelling at Ulrika for treason they usually do.

A one-hit kill “Unmaking Arrow” is a godsend

Survival might be robust in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Huge legendary creatures stalk you at each flip. However none of them can stand as much as the Unmaking Arrow, an merchandise so highly effective Capcom autosaves the sport after you utilize it. Not less than one participant managed to bypass this save-scumming safeguard utilizing cheat engine instruments and proceeded to kill all the pieces they got here throughout. Common followers debate one of the best vocations within the recreation. Many consider it’s clearly Mystic Spearhand or Magick Archer whereas others declare the bottom Thief and Sorcerer roles stay superior.

Gamers debate the sport’s friction

Dragon’s Dogma 2 limits quick journey, doesn’t allow you to absolutely restore well being except you’re on the town or have tenting tools, and severely limits the quantity of junk you may carry in your stock. The consensus is that the fantasy RPG is friction-heavy in comparison with different open world video games like trendy Murderer’s Creed titles, however much less unanimous is whether or not that’s all the time a good factor or often masks real shortcomings. The ensuing dialog is inconclusive however enlightening.

A second main patch nerfs Dragonsplague

After untold loss of life and destruction, the event staff decides to dial again Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Pawn illness. Along with being extra noticeable, the illness can be much less frequent. The April 25 replace additionally reduces how a lot NPCs banter throughout quests and removes outdated treasure chests from gamers’ maps, along with different fixes. What it doesn’t do is markedly enhance efficiency on PC.

Capcom shareholders get an surprising payout

Dragon’s Dogma 2 sells 2.5 million copies in its first 10 days the place the primary recreation took a complete month simply to promote lower than half that quantity. That brings the franchise’s lifetime complete gross sales as much as 10 million, pushing it effectively previous the cult standing it had beforehand loved for years. “Dragons Dogma 2 was launched within the fourth quarter and has carried out favorably,” Capcom introduced in a revision to its earnings forecast. It elevated its projected dividend per firm share by $.03. Not sufficient to afford an evening in Bakbattahl however sufficient that the corporate additionally will increase salaries for brand spanking new graduate hires.