Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Catch-All

Right before the "His family murdered" title card the Arisen says he failed his wife and child, but I am pretty sure the Arisen in the game never had a family prior to the dragon showing up. So it is quite possible this is the story of Duke Edmun or some other Arisen. Although the woman right before that does look vaguely like Quina and the town is the same one you start in. So who really knows. It does look interesting thing.

I really should get around to playing this again. I only played it once on PS3 and never did any of the DLC stuff...

They could just be making up a background for the character. It makes sense to just have a blank slate protagonist in a video game so that the player can project themselves and their own personality onto that character. The story is what you make up in your mind.

Doesn't work so well for a passive medium like film or television, so just go ahead and make up a backstory for the character so they can be an actual character.

ccesarano wrote:

They could just be making up a background for the character. It makes sense to just have a blank slate protagonist in a video game so that the player can project themselves and their own personality onto that character. The story is what you make up in your mind.

Doesn't work so well for a passive medium like film or television

If only someone had told Reki Kawahara.

Anyone have any perspective they can share on any noticeable upgrade differences between the Switch and Xbox version of Dark Arisen? I completed the main game on Switch and my last save at the beginning of Bitterblack Island. I’m thinking about picking up with that save or starting fresh on Xbox. Thanks!
Chad

Thought I post this here. Dragon Dogma's 2 is a thing. If its half as fun and crazy as the first one it'll be great.

I feel like the first game, awesome as it was, was only half-boiled, even with the expansion. I hope since they're doing this one, and since games like Zelda BotW and Elden Ring/Dark Souls have been such huge hits, they'll do this one right. Both my wife and son are big into Elden Ring right now so maybe they'll give DD2 a shot.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I feel like the first game, awesome as it was, was only half-boiled, even with the expansion. I hope since they're doing this one, and since games like Zelda BotW and Elden Ring/Dark Souls have been such huge hits, they'll do this one right. Both my wife and son are big into Elden Ring right now so maybe they'll give DD2 a shot.

I share similar thoughts on the original, yes. It felt like their intentions were good, but the execution was not quite there. Maybe they'll nail it for the sequel, I hope!

True I do agree it was half baked. But I have a certain soft spot for janky but ambitious games. Same for vampire the masquerade and alpha protocol. The worst for me of the sequel was just a vanilla retired without any spark.

No, no, no. It wasn’t for everyone but the game was fully baked. Whatever you think was half baked was designed intentionally that way. Just not to your preference.

EDIT: Wrong thread!

This is GREAT news.

I played DD on Switch. I'd love to switch over to PC and try some of the mods. Do any of the mods/cheats allow you to upgrade your character and check off quests as accomplished? Bottom line is I'd like to start leveled up at the beginning of the expansion which is where my playthrough on Switch ended. I don't have the desire to play through the whole base game again.

Good news!

chooka1 wrote:

This is GREAT news.

I played DD on Switch. I'd love to switch over to PC and try some of the mods. Do any of the mods/cheats allow you to upgrade your character and check off quests as accomplished? Bottom line is I'd like to start leveled up at the beginning of the expansion which is where my playthrough on Switch ended. I don't have the desire to play through the whole base game again.

Good news!

There is probably save files you can download or cheat engine would work. You probably have to play until you unlocked advance classes though. I did that at level 1 once to skip base classes.

Good ideas. Thank you.

Absolutely loved this game. Out of interest for those who found it half baked what are some examples?

strangederby wrote:

Absolutely loved this game. Out of interest for those who found it half baked what are some examples?

I love the game too but I recognize there reasons the reviews are so mixed. The story pacing is weird. A big start with a lot of nothing in the middle then a big end. Most npc characters are flat and the setting is rather generic/dull. The ui is not great and lots of things mechanical are not explained well. Difficulty can be odd too. From very easy to lethal randomly. While the ai for pawns is loud and dumb. Pop in and graphical issues too.

That said for every complaint there something to love in the game. And it's so unique you really can't play another game like it.

I don't think it was half baked. I think it was a good first attempt from a company not known for this genre.

Grenn wrote:

I don't think it was half baked. I think it was a good first attempt from a company not known for this genre.

Perhaps half baked was too strong a term. A bit janky or flawed might be more accurate.

All this talk though is making me want to play it again.

I loved DD enough to buy it twice and can't wait for DD2, but it was definitely janky or something. The quests didn't work well, or story didn't flow, something - it's been years since I gave it dozens of hours. I could consider playing it some more, even.

Half-baked? Well, I did feel at the time that some of these edges might have been smoothed by more development time, yes.

For any who are saying "But look at all the great ideas in this game! It should have inspired legions of imitators, let alone a sequel!" I am also one of you! The game is both janky and brilliantly innovative.

I put ~30 hours into the game and while I don't necessarily think it was 'half-baked', I do feel like I missed what people love about the game. Part of it was almost certainly that I came into the game with incorrect expectations. Based on the look I was thinking Bethesda-game-with-better-combat, but that's not what they're going for at all. So despite enjoying the combat, the classes, and the pawn system as a way of building out a party, I ended up bailing because I found the world lifeless and a bit dull and the other stuff wasn't enough to keep me going.

Bought it (again) for the Playstation (again).

Me too... for the third time. I've done assassin and mystic knight playthroughs, so maybe magic archer this time?

Bought it for under $5 on Steam. Was dismayed at the render distance and then found the setting for it (among other quality boosts) in the options BEFORE loading a game. I have another 20 minutes before the kids should be waking up. The Lizards in the well just wiped my party. Time to go level up.

I blame you. I blame all of you. I reinstalled and started a new game.

Again.

Austin Walker wrote a great piece on the original, just published here.

master0 wrote:
Grenn wrote:

I don't think it was half baked. I think it was a good first attempt from a company not known for this genre.

Perhaps half baked was too strong a term. A bit janky or flawed might be more accurate.

All this talk though is making me want to play it again.

I thought we could be civil. I thought we could be friends. This will not stand. I shall destroy you when I get the...

Wait, sorry. I guess I'm conditioned to expect the worst when not wholly agreeing to an opinion online.

If anyone is my friend on whatever platform they play the game, you can hire my Pawn for free. It's lvl 200 with some good Bitterblack gear. I can also change the vocation on request.

"I don't really remember how combat works"
Murders rabbits. Slaughters wolves.
"... Wait..."
Spends 15 minutes whittling away at and absolutely destroying a cyclops with just a bow.
"Oh yeeeeah. That's the good stuff!"

I started a new game plus by selecting Hard difficulty and so far I'm slaughtering everything.

Maybe I could jump back in for another go. That Triple Tooth isn't going to swing itself, after all.

What's people's thoughts on the new game plus hard mode. I tried it as a mage but wasn't that into it. Being high level with crazy gear made it less interesting. And there was no difficulty. Wasn't too fond of mages as well. Cool attacks but slow and hard to aim. Archer was more fun for me. Maybe I'll try warrior.

Not been playing for long and already several people are hiring my pawn Zoomies. Must be a resurgence in interest.

Also SOAKED TO THE BONE!