When Capcom dropped Dragon’s Dogma on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2012, few people expected that the house of Mega Man would turn in such an awesome hack and slash role-playing game that combined the grit of a Souls title with the open-world feel of an Elder Scrolls gem. But Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is not only an updated version of the 2012 original release but also one of the most solid games in its genre even today.
How to Download Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
To download the full game, simply click on the Download button located at the end of the review. You can get the game from Steam together with its Masterworks Collection Soundtrack.
The Game Review
Plunging players into a dark, medieval world with a day and night cycle that greatly impacts gameplay, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen puts your customized character and in-game pawns on a path that takes elements from the action of the Devil May Cry series and story inspiration from traditional fantasy fare.
Combat is intense and players will often spend as much time customizing and specializing their pawns as they will their main character. Learning how to work together effectively with your computer teammates is a huge part of the strategy in this JRPG and it is also where a lot of the gameplay depth can be found.
Of course, in the vein of most RPGs, this fantasy hack and slash still has areas where narrative and other things can be explored but a lot of the focus here is on the action. As stated earlier, the open-world concept allows for a day-night cycle that drastically changes the kinds of enemies you will encounter.
The night is an intense period and often throws some of the most dangerous creatures the game world has to offer at you.
Here, Capcom’s penchant for survival horror excellence shines through as the night is not only a tense time but also adds a bit of fright to it that you don’t typically find in a Skyrim or Witcher title. That’s because your character is actually quite fragile alone and, in tandem with the pawns, quite vulnerable in general.
Simulating what can best be described as a team-based tactical RPG at points, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen still has the character customization and leveling options traditionally found in a mainline role-playing game.
That said, the story is quite vague and can only be gleaned through intense interaction with the game’s NPCs and the world. A feat easier described than accomplished, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen does an amazing job at conveying seemingly unlimited vistas to the player that, while showing their age, nonetheless continue to impress.
Like most classic titles, the game is aging like a fine wine and the combination of the total package often overcomes any niggling issues here and there.
Like most Japanese role-playing games there is minimal hand-holding in Dragon’s Dogma and this is both refreshing and jarring to modern players.
Do not expect a guided experience but also do not come looking for an entirely emergent one either. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen occupies a unique space between linear tale and dynamic RPG that makes it a series that not only needs revisiting but also should be under consideration for future iterations.
