Dragon's Dogma

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 477 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 380 out of 477
  2. Mixed: 55 out of 477
  3. Negative: 42 out of 477
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  1. Zagor
    Jun 5, 2012
    10
    I loved Skyrim, I have spent more than 400 hours between the PS3 and PC version, but Dragon's Dogma gameplay mechanics are far superior. This statement alone offset all the somewhat negatives points about the game (i.e. menus, graphics and no fast travel). Do yourself a favour and experience it first hand. If you get this game you will contribute to the high possibility that Capcom will doI loved Skyrim, I have spent more than 400 hours between the PS3 and PC version, but Dragon's Dogma gameplay mechanics are far superior. This statement alone offset all the somewhat negatives points about the game (i.e. menus, graphics and no fast travel). Do yourself a favour and experience it first hand. If you get this game you will contribute to the high possibility that Capcom will do a sequel, where they will address the current shortcomings.… Expand
  2. SoGayGames
    May 24, 2012
    7
    With the exception of the Pawn System, which is easily the most unique aspect of Dragon's Dogma, there isn't anything in this game that the average RPG fan hasn't seen and done several times before. With that in mind, one can imagine this title would be most fun for an audience that hasn't played a lot of video games before, and who'd be satisfied by completing menial tasks and repeatedlyWith the exception of the Pawn System, which is easily the most unique aspect of Dragon's Dogma, there isn't anything in this game that the average RPG fan hasn't seen and done several times before. With that in mind, one can imagine this title would be most fun for an audience that hasn't played a lot of video games before, and who'd be satisfied by completing menial tasks and repeatedly grinding over low-level goblins, spiders and thieves. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you have played Final Fantasy, Demon's Souls or especially the far better (yet oddly quite similar) Kingdoms of Amalur, you're not going to be blown away by Dragon's Dogma. Both titles are easy to pick up and play, but Amalur's weapons, storyline and combat offer a lot more reward for their mastery. Dragon's Dogma was a day-one purchase for this Capcom enthusiast, but with so many other great titles out there no rush is warranted to pick this one up.… Expand
  3. Bamboodpanda
    Jun 4, 2012
    10
    I'm about 90 hours into the game and still haven't beat the game. I mean, I totally could, but there is so much crap to do its out of control. I think to myself "I could go get that magic ring for that guy, or I could go see if that super awesome boss has re-spawned and get some more great loot." I can't say enough good things about this game. It's everything I love.
  4. ikaru2
    May 29, 2012
    10
    Hey Guys, how's it going?
    I gave skyrim a 10 and I am just trying to be fair giving dragons dogma a 10,why?
    well,so far I played the game 40 hours,and it's already better than skryim.
    Dont believe the hype,or the fanboys,decided for yourself.
  5. kgamer
    May 31, 2012
    10
    It might be annoying backtracking through the landscape and fustrating for dumb pawns who repeat the same thing.But sheer joy of playing drangons dogma is great.The boss fights are spectacular and one of the best i seen.It is a great game.
  6. Treznor
    Jun 6, 2012
    10
    When I installed the game and came to the main menu I thought this was going to be the most awful game set in a fantasy world ever. I mean what were they thinking when they chose that laughable 80â
  7. roverhigh
    Jun 9, 2012
    10
    Two words! Dragon's Dogma. Not Dark Souls. Not Skyrim. DD stands alone as truly, a masterful rpg. So much negative is said about the story. The story begins (and ends) with epic cutscene[s]. The "true" ending can leave some people scratching their heads, but I for one loved it. Some of the in game cutscenes are awkward, having little to zilch to do with the story. The game would be justTwo words! Dragon's Dogma. Not Dark Souls. Not Skyrim. DD stands alone as truly, a masterful rpg. So much negative is said about the story. The story begins (and ends) with epic cutscene[s]. The "true" ending can leave some people scratching their heads, but I for one loved it. Some of the in game cutscenes are awkward, having little to zilch to do with the story. The game would be just as good without it, but I still commend them for incorporating it just to have that change of pace rather than none at all. Then it hands it over to us as the "role-player" to fill in the gap...create our own story. Brilliant! Isn't that what role-playing is? Graphics...amazing. Certainly true when it comes to epic boss battles. Key word EPIC! Non-stop, fluid, fun combat. Ranks near the top, if not the top, combat of any rpg or any great action game, which certainly says alot for an rpg. As beautiful and enrossing Skyrim's atmosphere was, DD's combat is just that. I've played this on the PS3, and trust me, the slowdowns when it comes to big battles, actually works to its advantage. A beautiful flaw just like Cindy Crawford's mole. Bad analogy? Who does not recall an epic, action-adventure movie in which a scene was not slowed down to dramatize the experience...braveheat, gladiator, lotr, etc. I'm glad to see that the people who have invested hours into this game actually are the ones who truly appreciate it for what it is...a classic. Possibly a cult classic. Just like any great love, give it a little time and patience, and it'll be worth it. 100+ hour into this game and I'm still enjoying the ride. No fast-traveling?!...give me a break... I can now fast travel to 8 different locations...possibly more...anytime i like, but I won't spoil it. It just takes some time and patience is all. This game has Soul!! A beautiful, subtle, satisfying soul. Not really a perfect 10, but damn near there for all its boldness, its epicness, it's mystic, it's Cindy Crawford's beauty flaw. Here's to a sequel, or prequel...Dragon's Philosophy, Dragon's Religion, Dragon's Mayan 2012 Doomsday anyone? 9.1 !!!!!!… Expand
  8. Pete_Digital
    Aug 10, 2012
    0
    mess of a game that simply doesn't know what it wants to be. There's comfort in how compulsive it can be, but that factor doesn't magically turn Dragon's Dogma into anything other than a flawed
  9. Cartteros
    Jun 13, 2012
    3
    This game is, IMHO, a HUGE disappointment.
    CAPCOM delivered everything, but nothing that I was expecting from Dragon's Dogma.
    I played it for a couple hours and I just couldn't play more. First, the graphics. It SURE isn't good-looking. If you're kind enough, you can say it's a very polished PS2 game. The character models are terrible, despite of the monster's nice visuals. There's a very    This game is, IMHO, a HUGE disappointment.
    CAPCOM delivered everything, but nothing that I was expecting from Dragon's Dogma.
    I played it for a couple hours and I just couldn't play more.
    First, the graphics. It SURE isn't good-looking. If you're kind enough, you can say it's a very polished PS2 game. The character models are terrible, despite of the monster's nice visuals. There's a very annoying thing that almost drove me crazy about Dragon's Dogma: There are ALWAYS two black stripes, at the bottom and top of the screen. It's curious because it's not a movie, so why the hell are always those stripes on? Take note that they're ALWAYS in the screen, and not only in the cinematics.
    Speaking of cinematics, it's another bad point of Dragon's Dogma. They just seem... hollow, emotionless and unattractive. The voice acting is dreadful, just like that. The soundtrack throughout the game goes from epic songs to japanese rock, what really sucks. I think japanese rock doesn't fit the game, you know.
    The gameplay is fun, really feels like an Action-RPG, but it alone can't save this game. The pawn system seems exciting at first, but when you first meet your pawn companions, you change your mind. The pawns are extremely annoying! They don't really stop talking and their coments are a pain in the ass. Always obvious things that you've already noticed.
    Dragon's Dogma is a mess of a game and I didn't expect such a thing. It's too bad that I have picked Dragon's Dogma over Max Payne 3.    … Expand
  10. denvise
    Jun 10, 2012
    10
    Game of the year right here, it has it all, amazing combat, godly graphics, great OST(when there is music, much of the game is silent).
    And it's long about 40-60h depending on how much side quests you do etc, the story might not be the best ever but it does the job, the cinematic in game clips are the some of the best ever, specially when you consider the customizable characters you can    Game of the year right here, it has it all, amazing combat, godly graphics, great OST(when there is music, much of the game is silent).
    And it's long about 40-60h depending on how much side quests you do etc, the story might not be the best ever but it does the job, the cinematic in game clips are the some of the best ever, specially when you consider the customizable characters you can make from scratch.    … Expand
  11. JDnator
    Jun 4, 2012
    10
    I haven't been addicted to a game like this since i was in school. i feel like an excited kid again. its FANTASTIC. one WARNING, the graphics are terrible. get over that trivial fact however and this is the best darn game i have played in a LONG time. there is no online play as such but that doesn't matter because i think that what they have done with the network features on this game areI haven't been addicted to a game like this since i was in school. i feel like an excited kid again. its FANTASTIC. one WARNING, the graphics are terrible. get over that trivial fact however and this is the best darn game i have played in a LONG time. there is no online play as such but that doesn't matter because i think that what they have done with the network features on this game are too GENIUS!. I could put it into words but wouldn't do it justice, i think its just best that every one buy this game and find out for them selfs. CAPCOM I SALUTE YOU.… Expand
  12. platguy4
    Dec 28, 2012
    8
    Dragon's Dogma is certainly not what I expected. The main story is excellent, unpredictable, and altogether a solid reason to play the game. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are pretty good, and there are memorable moments throughout the game. The online exchange of 'pawns' - a system where you enrol another players inferior to your cause - is intuitive and adds variety and interest toDragon's Dogma is certainly not what I expected. The main story is excellent, unpredictable, and altogether a solid reason to play the game. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are pretty good, and there are memorable moments throughout the game. The online exchange of 'pawns' - a system where you enrol another players inferior to your cause - is intuitive and adds variety and interest to the quest.
    Overall the game is really interesting and any RPG fan will relish in the numerous weapons, upgrades, and hidden quests on offer in this title. This is no short game either, with at least 30-50 hours of gameplay in one playthrough. It is the gameplay, however, that becomes a little tiresome. Until you finish the game there is no fast travel system, meaning that you will travel the same paths over and over and over and over again, often for simple fetch quests or in pursuit of some nominal objective. I can imagine the frustration for some when hours of gameplay are taken getting from one point to another when all the environment has been seen before - often several times.
    All that said I enjoyed the game massively and would urge any RPG fan to get involved, since the overall experience is engaging and novel. When the fetch quests are out of the way, the actual dungeon sections require skill and tenacity to complete, and reward you for your efforts. Furthermore the final sections of the game are remarkable and completely unexpected.
    I wish that the drawbacks of the game did not mar the experience, but there were parts where I truly felt I was doing time rather than having fun. highly recommended - but mind the gaps!    … Expand
  13. dominionator
    Jun 4, 2012
    10
    This is a under looked sleeper hit that needs to be put on display. Thats what I am trying to do with this reveiw. This definitly a great game. Its a blend of Demon souls, with dragon age companionship, and kingdoms of amular. Sure the cut scenes are generic but easily overlooked to the great open end world and open variety of gameplay. Just pick up and play the game, you wont beThis is a under looked sleeper hit that needs to be put on display. Thats what I am trying to do with this reveiw. This definitly a great game. Its a blend of Demon souls, with dragon age companionship, and kingdoms of amular. Sure the cut scenes are generic but easily overlooked to the great open end world and open variety of gameplay. Just pick up and play the game, you wont be dissappointed. At the end of the day a game most be fun to play and this one is.… Expand
  14. domak
    Feb 23, 2013
    9
    An absolute must-have for every Gothic-esque games fan out there. Amazing combat (never before have I seen greatswords done so good), good and positively surprising story, an abundance of gear and equipment and the pawn system makes this game a hidden gem. This is a REAL 60h minimum role playing game and you can't find many of those nowadays. Just like years before with Nier, the japaneseAn absolute must-have for every Gothic-esque games fan out there. Amazing combat (never before have I seen greatswords done so good), good and positively surprising story, an abundance of gear and equipment and the pawn system makes this game a hidden gem. This is a REAL 60h minimum role playing game and you can't find many of those nowadays. Just like years before with Nier, the japanese has once more proven that they CAN into RPG's and they're better at it than western companies(I'm looking at you, you abominable wretch Dragon Age 2).
    The biggest flaw of the game is horrible FPS at most times but it can be forgiven after you're "pulled in" by the game.    … Expand
  15. Watermelon789
    Jun 10, 2012
    7
    The story-line is very poor but what truly shines from this average game is the nice executed combat and interesting setting/world. If you can set yourself with this two stuff , then it'll probably make worth your time .
  16. MWesthoff
    Aug 22, 2012
    8
    I finished the game before rating it. If I had rated the game before I finished it would have been much higher. It starts off great and then fizzles out about halfway through. I realized that the equipment would never get any better shortly after seeing a hint box pop up saying that the really cool pawn armor could be purchased through the online store. Basically, all your stuff is asI finished the game before rating it. If I had rated the game before I finished it would have been much higher. It starts off great and then fizzles out about halfway through. I realized that the equipment would never get any better shortly after seeing a hint box pop up saying that the really cool pawn armor could be purchased through the online store. Basically, all your stuff is as good as it gets 3 hours into the game. The level 50 hired pawns look badass and you're still running around in a level 10 outfit all game long. The game only has one save game file so forget anyone else ever playing the game. The game cheap shots the hell out of you with its save system, for instance, one quest you have to catch a child then another similar quest throws you in jail (quest failed) check point save..auto save if you try to catch the kid. Starting the whole game over is the only option. Voice acting is good but everything else is sub-par. Small map, repetitive, linear, too much money, lack of equipment, lame crafting, skill sets max too soon. The fighting is pretty good and the game had some new ideas and was released without many bugs so I will give it an 8 but it really only deserves about a 7.… Expand
  17. Zyn
    Jun 3, 2012
    9
    If you're still on the fence about this game and so you're here to see what people think about it, just check those who gave this game a negative score. Most of them simply don't know the game. Maybe they should stick to shooters or casual games. Now this my take. For the graphics, the textures aren't too good up close, maybe due to the hardware limitations (I'm playing on Xbox 360). ButIf you're still on the fence about this game and so you're here to see what people think about it, just check those who gave this game a negative score. Most of them simply don't know the game. Maybe they should stick to shooters or casual games. Now this my take. For the graphics, the textures aren't too good up close, maybe due to the hardware limitations (I'm playing on Xbox 360). But most of the time, it's really forgivable. Character models are great especially since you can customize not just the face, but also the arms, torso, the legs, the gait, height and weight. That's really not common in RPG's. And not only these things are aesthetic, they also affect gameplay. You can design your characters to look pretty much about 80% of how you want them to look like here. There are also lots of equipment you can dress them up with. Effects are really nice and these not limited to just spells. Status effects also look great here. I once entered a cave behind a water falls, and I was surprised to see that my party got soaked in water. And again, not just for aesthetics. Being wet made us less vulnerable to fire. Environment lighting is also great. Day/night cycle isn't also for visuals. At night, the game turns into somewhat a medieval Resident Evil with the undead suddenly getting out of the ground below your feet. Most monsters become more aggressive at night too. Nighttime is actually more dangerous here so especially in the early stages of the game, you'll be forced to stay inside the city walls at night, and wait till morning to venture out for quests. Combat feels great -- fast, and really intense. Unlike in other games like Skyrim, you don't hack or shoot giant opponents at the shin. You can't do that if it were real right? In Dogma, you can scale large monsters, hack their head, neck, back, arms to disarm them, you can shoot a cyclops' eye, burn flying monsters' wings to make them fall.. these things are possible in Dragon's Dogma and not in others. There's also the pawn system which have already been detailed by others. It's basically you create your own NPC sidekick and then share them with others. Your party of 4 is composed of you, your main pawn, and 2 pawns by other players. The main pawn levels with the player, the support pawns don't but they get to learn about the quests, world, and beasts that the party encounters. Pawn behavior and speech can be tweaked by its owner. This system I think is better in some ways than a full multiplayer. Pawns are loyal and helpful, and not selfish as other players. EXP is gained fairly by the whole party, so you can play support and not worry about not getting the EXP. There are 3 basic classes, the usual Fighter, Mage, and Strider(Rouge/Archer type), then 3 other classes with stronger offense but forgoes defense, and 3 more classes which are hybrids. You can switch classes anytime in towns.Crafting here ain't as complex as others, but most (if not all) items you can pick up has a use. Some may not seem so at first, but you can combine them with others. Like for example, a fish. When you first pick it up, it's fresh. After a while, it becomes sour which also modifies some of it's effects. A few more hours, it becomes rotten. If you don't want it to spoil, you can place it in a container. Controls are also above average. One of the things which I find a bit lacking is the world. Yes, it's open and you can go pretty much anywhere you want, but there really isn't much anywhere to go to. There is only one big city, and one small village. Most of the other places are forts, dungeons, plains, a huge inaccessible body of water, and tons of unclimbable mountains. The first time you check on the map, it may appear as huge as Skyrim's, but once you get to explore more you'll see that most of it is inaccessible. I think it would be more fun if the world was more lively with more cities, with NPC's in their routines. In Dragon's Dogma's map, only about 5% is civilization, 50% is hostile zones, and the other 45% is a no-walk zone. The design of the world is justified by the lore. It is set in Gransys, I don't know if it's the name of the whole world or just the continent it's set in. A dragon and an Arisen, who's destiny is to battle each other, appears once after some generation, which have then damaged the land greatly. I think this must be why progress must be difficult in this world. The story, which I won't spoil here, is cliche which is really the weakest point of the game. But it's fairly enough to keep you going. DD presents major plot points with cutscenes, something you don't get in most open-world RPG's like Bethesdas'. Overall, it's a great game with flaws. I'd give it a 10 for the fun, but 9 overall for the faults.… Expand
  18. shuakiddo
    Aug 28, 2012
    7
    La review completa en http://gameshock.vg/plataformas/xbox360/dragons-dogma-review/

    Dragon
  19. dpc
    May 30, 2012
    9
    As a relative new comer to RPGs (started with Oblivion), DD is a very good game. The start is admittedly slow, but once I got to the capital city, the game picks up immensely. Pros are the combat (very satisfying and fun), the graphics, fun quests and the world itself is immersive. Cons are the somewhat clunky menu system (checking out the map shouldn't be a chore) and the extremelyAs a relative new comer to RPGs (started with Oblivion), DD is a very good game. The start is admittedly slow, but once I got to the capital city, the game picks up immensely. Pros are the combat (very satisfying and fun), the graphics, fun quests and the world itself is immersive. Cons are the somewhat clunky menu system (checking out the map shouldn't be a chore) and the extremely repetitive comments you'll hear can get lame. But overall, an excellent adventure that is the perfect antidote to coming off of over 100 hundreds in Skyrim. And don't try to compare the two - enjoy them both as different takes on a similar theme. I'm lovin' it!… Expand
  20. paulinea
    May 22, 2012
    3
    I just do not like this game. The storyline is so boring, dialogues are stupid, and graphics average. And how about gameplay? Not bad, but it could be really better.
  21. DylanSchmidt
    May 25, 2012
    4
    I give this game a 2/5. I believe there is fun to be had somewhere in this game..but I could not find it and would definitely not recommend this game to anyone on a budget. The graphics seem good at first but I quickly noticed many texture pop ins and the draw distance is beyond awful. Voice acting sucks and characters are just boring.
  22. Cell1e
    Oct 26, 2013
    7
    I enjoyed this game a lot more since they have made some updates to allow for easy mode. Thank goodness as I am terrible at most action games in the first play through and I struggled with his game in my first try. I have played it again since the updates and have enjoyed it a lot more. Its worth a 7 I think. The pawns are a novel idea and the romance is crazy stupid but fun, certainly notI enjoyed this game a lot more since they have made some updates to allow for easy mode. Thank goodness as I am terrible at most action games in the first play through and I struggled with his game in my first try. I have played it again since the updates and have enjoyed it a lot more. Its worth a 7 I think. The pawns are a novel idea and the romance is crazy stupid but fun, certainly not that deep and meaningful but at least adds some interest. It was funny for me as a woman to find quite a lot of the female npcs falling for my female character and even a cut scene of rumpy pumpy!! Even though my character had bonded with a different npc...lol..cringe...blush.#
    The character creator is really good and I do like being able to change hair and make-up throughout the game, that's another reason I will be back to play this game again!
    The running from a to b and back to a again is quite tiresome however as is the 'beyond weird' end but I do think this game is worth a crack!    … Expand
  23. SonicChaos
    Nov 20, 2013
    2
    I have played kingdoms of amalur and elder scrolls and I was expecting this to be another good RPG to add to them... man was i wrong. The graphics are absolutely awful. The cutscenes are bad expect for the dragon, which looks amazing, the ingame models are an absolute joke and look like it shoulda been in a low budget PS2 game. I couldn't play this game for more than an hour before I shutI have played kingdoms of amalur and elder scrolls and I was expecting this to be another good RPG to add to them... man was i wrong. The graphics are absolutely awful. The cutscenes are bad expect for the dragon, which looks amazing, the ingame models are an absolute joke and look like it shoulda been in a low budget PS2 game. I couldn't play this game for more than an hour before I shut it off and uninstalled it. Even for free off PS+ I feel like I got robbed.… Expand
  24. The_Ommadawn
    Sep 17, 2013
    9
    I would love this game on the PC for two reasons. 1) the ability to zoom out and 2) graphical improvements. Other than that, DD is a very good game. It's not easy and takes serious strategy to play. It is also huge with tons to see. Sad part is there is no fast travel so journeys from one place to the next take time. This is good and bad. When it gets dark, bad things come out. If you setI would love this game on the PC for two reasons. 1) the ability to zoom out and 2) graphical improvements. Other than that, DD is a very good game. It's not easy and takes serious strategy to play. It is also huge with tons to see. Sad part is there is no fast travel so journeys from one place to the next take time. This is good and bad. When it gets dark, bad things come out. If you set out to say a castle way in the distance, if night falls you're in trouble. This sense of danger and urgency are unparalleled in any game I've played before. Combat is fast and action packed. It can be erratic with no sticky targeting system. Again, a good and bad thing. The UI isn't the best. It's poorly impletemented with multiple menus. I wish this could be patched. Exploration is excellent and the landscape varied. Not quite Skyrim but impressive all the same. Strangely, I'm enjoying DD more than Skyrim. Story and quests are standard stuff. Been done in every RPG since time began. The Pawn system is a standout feature and something I haven't seen before. Thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the game. As a video game, DD is well worth investing in. It isn't a hand holding affair and I found myself in the dark for the first few hours. Give it time and it gets better and better. It really could have been a true great of the modern generation. It falls short because of minor technical issues. Watch videos and read reviews.… Expand
  25. outlawvenom
    Oct 17, 2013
    9
    Graphically, I think this game needs improvement. The game play however is very solid. It's a game that takes a few hours of play to get to a point where the player can appreciate the work that went into it. I bring that up because I thought I made a mistake in my purchase the first couple of hours I played it. However, as you level up and get stronger, the world becomes more open to you,Graphically, I think this game needs improvement. The game play however is very solid. It's a game that takes a few hours of play to get to a point where the player can appreciate the work that went into it. I bring that up because I thought I made a mistake in my purchase the first couple of hours I played it. However, as you level up and get stronger, the world becomes more open to you, throwing in new challenges (mainly more monsters).
    I also enjoy the way you can stay as a particular class and gain specific permanent strengths to your character as that class that you can take with you when you switch classes.    … Expand
  26. phdr_vrba
    May 2, 2013
    9
    I have just started the Dark Arisen version, but since I have started the new game from scratch, it will take some time, before I'll be able to talk about its additions. So let me just go over some points of the original Dragon's Dogma, the best RPG game released in 2012, that I'd like to address.

    Reason why DD never quite hit the mainstream is, I think, how incredibly dull the first    I have just started the Dark Arisen version, but since I have started the new game from scratch, it will take some time, before I'll be able to talk about its additions. So let me just go over some points of the original Dragon's Dogma, the best RPG game released in 2012, that I'd like to address.

    Reason why DD never quite hit the mainstream is, I think, how incredibly dull the first few hours of the game are. I was looking out for DD pretty much since first videos. My guts were telling me this is going to be Demons Souls big and they were ultimately right, but the first day or two I was playing DD, it felt like money flushed down the toilet.

    The game starts with short linear piece in shoes of another Arisen, who is predecessor to our own hero. Point of this piece is to get player familiar with compat controls, but they are simply too complex for that and ultimately your pawns will do most of the job on their own. Still you are likely to get the hang of it to some extent to enjoy the fight with the chimera at the end.

    The creation of our own hero follows and with all the options it is easy to kill an hour or two just with that. Then after a short fight and class selection you are thrown into the game in the small fisherman village of Cassardis (or something like that), which is about as dull as villages can get. Afternoon sun burns into everyones backs and who would really do anything in such weather. Short run around the beach will reveal another of DD's bigger flaws, which is overall level of detail of things, which is rather pathetic for 2012 game and the way props apper out of nowhere just a few meters in front of you is just sad. Thankfuly DD often manages to look strikingly beautiful anyways, mainly thanks to the suberb lightning.

    All in all before you get to create your own pawn, several hours are gone and hardly anything happens by that time. And it takes about a dozen hours before you get to capital city, get familiar with vocation changing, weapon enhancing, etc. and start taking on quests that will lead you to yet unknown parts of the land, which is where DD is in its best. So, yeah, the start could have been better.

    Exploration in Dragon's Dogma is a great thing you have to go places by foot and you can never be quite sure what kind of monsters you will encounter in those unknown lands. DD is not as hard as Souls series, but your survival in those encounters is nowhere near granted. Now if you are on your way to the fartherst regions of the map, you'll almost certainly not make it in before the night falls. And unlike in Skyrim, nights in DD are DARK. You won't see a thing unless you shine on it with something and lanterns give you just a few meters visibility. Nights are super dangerous with extra/tougher monsters being spawned and you just don't want to be out at night. I remember when I met my first Wywern it was in the middle of the night and boy were we screwed. There are actually small camps in the farther regions where you can get before sunset and spend the night in safety, but you have to find them first.

    Fighting. Enemy lock would be kinda handy, but you can do well without it. Each class/vocation has its set of skills and you can change those classes at will in the capital city. Passive skills transfer between classes so it is good idea to try them all to make your unique build. Fighting skills are well varied and while the number of skills you can select for use in combat is fairly limited (3 for most weapon types), there are some powerful combinations to be found for many different playstyles. Skyrim has absolutely nothing on DD in terms of combat and its dragons look like a big joke next to drakes, wyrms, wyverns of DD. And you can climb the bigger bastards and those who can fly will often get aloft with you on their back a will try to get you fall. Combat is simply fun and downright epic when it comes to bigger enemies.

    Crafting is an area of the game I am not quite happy with. All the equipment and enhancing are great, but there are literally tons of garbage lying just about everywhere and if you won't pick it up, your pawns likely will. It as annoying as it is useless since most of the stuff you can create you will never use. This area definitely needs a lot of cuts and streamlining.

    And that's about it. Capcom should streamline the whole crafting side of things, level-up the graphics detail and get pawns more variety in dialogues (see Zero Punctuation). Music is great, so is combat and overal atmosphere. You just have to be patient with the begining, those who hurry into action will spend too much time getting to it to be happy with the game.

    Dogma has a bunch of aforementioned loose ends, so it does not work as well as a whole as Dark Souls do, but if they take care of that with Deep Down (I am already pretty sure they didn't with Dark Arisen), the result is going to be pretty damn awesome.    … Expand
  27. melchaios
    Jul 14, 2013
    9
    Amazing dark fantasy RPG, combat doesn't have the finesse of Demons/Dark souls, but the availability of skills allows you to design all kinds of crazy combos and interesting tactics. Contrary to Elder scrolls and the souls series, gameplay is restricted to the job you choose (mage, fighter, etc) but you can change such job anytime you want, and some of the abilities from the job levelingAmazing dark fantasy RPG, combat doesn't have the finesse of Demons/Dark souls, but the availability of skills allows you to design all kinds of crazy combos and interesting tactics. Contrary to Elder scrolls and the souls series, gameplay is restricted to the job you choose (mage, fighter, etc) but you can change such job anytime you want, and some of the abilities from the job leveling system (augment) remain available even if you change vocation. It's a very addictive system in which you keep leveling different vocations to gain the best augments for your particular playstyle. Similar to other current RPGs, you also get unbelievable battles against huge monsters, and in this department, I gotta say Dragon's Dogma pulled it off perfectly. These fights feel visceral, grand scale, and brutal, with the special mechanic being the fact that you can actually climb the beasts and hack at weak spots similar to Shadow of the collossuss. My only gripe is the restricted Fast traveling system, hell, you don't even get a mount; but it's a minor issue, and I have to say it really gives it this special flavour of being on a long journey. A must have for Medieval RPG fans, and easily gets a spot in the Dark Epic Fantasy nirvana along with Demon's souls, Dark souls, and the elder scrolls series.… Expand
  28. mrnice
    Sep 5, 2015
    6
    Grand action that feels perilous, adventurous, unpredictable, intense, and fun. The randomness of such a wild open world can be frustrating, as the player is left to make the the right decisions and travel wisely. Some parts of the game can feel underdeveloped or 'stretched thin'. It's not the most polished or compact game, but halfway through the adventure, I feel confident in sayingGrand action that feels perilous, adventurous, unpredictable, intense, and fun. The randomness of such a wild open world can be frustrating, as the player is left to make the the right decisions and travel wisely. Some parts of the game can feel underdeveloped or 'stretched thin'. It's not the most polished or compact game, but halfway through the adventure, I feel confident in saying there are few adventures as action-packed and epic in gaming.… Expand
  29. dalmain
    Jul 29, 2013
    9
    Dragon's Dogma is far from perfect, but it's a heck of a lot of fun if you are an RPG fan. Perhaps the graphics don't look pretty enough or the map doesn't feel as big as say a Elder Scrolls game. The game can become easy after awhile, though it starts off challenging. Hmm..the lack of quick travel or pawns incessant talking can irk some people. These things are small deals. The big dealDragon's Dogma is far from perfect, but it's a heck of a lot of fun if you are an RPG fan. Perhaps the graphics don't look pretty enough or the map doesn't feel as big as say a Elder Scrolls game. The game can become easy after awhile, though it starts off challenging. Hmm..the lack of quick travel or pawns incessant talking can irk some people. These things are small deals. The big deal is that the game is enjoyable. This is a fast paced role playing game. With customization. Epic boss fights. Some of the best versions I've ever seen of some common fantasy monsters. It does feel like an adventure. I recommend it to any rpg fan.… Expand
  30. Lycanthropunk
    Oct 1, 2016
    9
    Let's get the obligatory Skyrim comparisons out the way first. I'm a huge Skyrim fan- when it came out I declared it the greatest game of this current generation. Sure, it's glitchy to the point of being oft unplayable, but with a game on such a huge scale it was never going to be as polished as a 5hr game like Modern Warfare! It simply was a great playing experience. Unfortunately for allLet's get the obligatory Skyrim comparisons out the way first. I'm a huge Skyrim fan- when it came out I declared it the greatest game of this current generation. Sure, it's glitchy to the point of being oft unplayable, but with a game on such a huge scale it was never going to be as polished as a 5hr game like Modern Warfare! It simply was a great playing experience. Unfortunately for all other RPG's it is now the game to match, or if possible, beat. It set the bar incredibly high and comparisons WILL be inevitable.

    So, a few hours into DD how does it compare? I've got to say it compares VERY well indeed, and in many ways actually surpasses it. Skyrim has a better story, soundtrack, and sense of tangible history. It's bigger and everyone bought it on the day it come out, so it became an event- for a good month it was all every gamer was talking about. But... apart from the obvious glitches aside, I was disappointed at how easy dragons were to slay, how small they seemed and how every identikit dungeon was well lit- there was no fear of the unknown. When I imagine stepping into dungeons I think about what's lurking in the shadows beyond my torchlight; having a sustained feel of dread at what lies ahead, and coming across monsters which are so formidable I wonder how on earth it's possible to ever win.

    And this is where DD surpasses the mighty Skyrim. Most monsters are a serious challenge. Smaller ones often hunt in packs and take you down, and the big ones are truly epic battles on par with Shadow of the Collolus. Your first encounter with a giant hydra is by and away the most spectacular piece of gaming I have enjoyed so far, and you really feel like you are tackling truly formidable foes (as opposed to taking down dragons with a few hits in Skyrim). It is very easy to die in this game and it truly adds a sense of trepidation to the game.

    I must mention the use of lighting in this game- it's incredible! Night time is dark. Really dark. And the dungeons pitch black. You really need a torch, and the sense of the unknown before you as your torch lights up ten foot in front of you is amazing (plus it simply looks amazing). Hearing the groans of the undead before you can see them really adds to the excitement.

    And then the piece de resistance: the pawns. Not only are they incredibly helpful, giving you advice they are also very proactive. Sure, a companion in Skyrim will wade into battle for you, and also follow a couple of commands, but here they find hidden objects comment on different places and if they have previous experience of a foe they will advise you how to take it down. They grab hold of smaller foes so you can run in and kill them, they try and distract them so you won't get attacked and best of all you can customize your main one and share him/her with other players online. This is the future of RPG gaming!

    Talking of customization- this is the best in any game I have seen. So many other games let you customize faces and clothes, but Saints Row aside, never their physique. If you want to play a 7' fatty you can, or a tiny waif and anything inbetween. Methinks there are going to be some very funny looking pawns online very soon!

    Overall the graphics are fantastic. The character models are a tad simplistic, but the environment, lighting and monsters are superb. You really get a feel that you exploring a strange land inhabited by the most fearsome baddies around.

    So, back to the comparison: DD has much much better combat, better NPC's, better lighting, much tougher and formidable monsters, a better sense of adventure (no one-hit-and-they're-down frost trolls for example) and an online community with the pawns. It's more akin to a free-roaming Dragon Age and a slightly easier Demon's Souls than Skyrim to be fair. Skyrim is still the one to beat, but Bethesda could learn a lot from DD. If the next Elder Scrolls had the intensity of combat, the atmospheric and realistic lighting and similar pawn system of DD then it would be the greatest game of all time. In the meantime, DD serves to be a worthy adversary and a fantastic game in its own right.

    Buy it people. You know you want to!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best PS3 Game of 2012
12
#12 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2012
15
#15 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
  1. Worth Playing
    Aug 13, 2012
    85
    This adventurer relished Dragon's Dogma's old-school sensibilities, which make it familiar territory that is expected on a PC instead of something from Capcom on the PS3. As players romp across a wide-open world filled with danger, titanic ruins and wonders, they'll realize that it's a rough, rewarding world, though its hardened edges may not be to everyone's cup of tea.
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  2. PlayStation Universe
    Jul 28, 2012
    80
    Neither Monster Hunter nor Dark Souls--but a great combination of the two.
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  3. PlaySense
    Jul 9, 2012
    85
    The graphics aren't state-of-the-art and the story isn't that well-told. That said, spectacular combat and a wonderful environment to wander around in save Dragon's Dogma from the purgatory of mediocrity.
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