Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

 Switch
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 122 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 122
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 122
  3. Negative: 14 out of 122
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  1. MyOpinionOnThis
    Apr 24, 2019
    7
    Let me start with performance:
    The game performs well in docked, but undocked it can really slow down and decrease in FPS if there's too much with fire or magic going on.
    Handheld also has a problem that I don't see mentioned enough: enemies and NPC fade out at a specific distance and pop into view when they come near. Trees and rocks fading out is okay, but not NPCs/enemies... It's    Let me start with performance:
    The game performs well in docked, but undocked it can really slow down and decrease in FPS if there's too much with fire or magic going on.
    Handheld also has a problem that I don't see mentioned enough: enemies and NPC fade out at a specific distance and pop into view when they come near. Trees and rocks fading out is okay, but not NPCs/enemies... It's annoying. I know it's a sacrifice they had to make, but it still bothers me.

    Now to the game:
    This game is a great RPG. The combat is in my opinion very good once you get the hang of things as well as learning how to climb enemies properly. You can choose from several vocations that you can unlock and later change in the game, there's a vocation/playstyle for everyone.
    The story is maybe not the most deep or unique like you expect from RPGs, but it is in my opinion very interesting still.
    Pawns are the most interesting thing of the game. Your pawn starts off being a very annoying party member but they learn over time and become the best partner you can wish for... They just talk a bit much... I was very surprised when my pawn grabbed me and threw me to safety because I was surrounded... maybe because I did it so often with her she did the same with me?
    Gear matters. When you have weak gear you cannot damage enemies and the enemies do a lot of damage to you, so whenever you're in town you HAVE to upgrade your gear every chance you get.
    The game can be hard... It was hard for me for the first hours, but I learned quickly. The game becomes very easy if you invite other people's pawn to your party, so if it gets too easy, remove the strongest pawn in your party.
    The enemy variety is okay. I wish there were many more different kinds of enemies and not just different types of something. But overall it's okay. Every enemy type has its own weakness so you cannot fight every enemy the same way.
    The visuals are maybe not the prettiest. The world is a bit dull and not colorful, but I think that's because of the style of the game. This is really the only complaint I have about the game, but it's not a big deal.

    Overall the combat and the systems surrounding it are very good. The game is very addicting and I love it. Handheld performance is not the best but you can play just fine with it... However because it's not the best in handheld which I believe is why people will buy this version of the game for, I'll give the game a 7/10 rating. Otherwise I would give it a 9/10 rating.    … Expand
  2. spiked10
    Dec 16, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game but as usual graphics ,look like last gen game but i expected it on switch… Expand
  3. tripenfall
    Mar 28, 2021
    7
    I bought this game (physically) after hearing so much about it. Although I understood it was a Xbox 360 port I was initially a little disappointed that this version wasn't at a higher resolution and crucially, frame rate. From what I can tell the game runs at a locked 30fps and while it's steady at this speed a 60fps port would have been nice.
    The graphics look like they're from a decade    I bought this game (physically) after hearing so much about it. Although I understood it was a Xbox 360 port I was initially a little disappointed that this version wasn't at a higher resolution and crucially, frame rate. From what I can tell the game runs at a locked 30fps and while it's steady at this speed a 60fps port would have been nice.
    The graphics look like they're from a decade ago (wonder why?) and items can pop right in at your feet. You certainly won't be blown away by the visuals.... But....
    THIS GAME IS AWESOME!
    The character is fully creatable and then you get a pawn which is your companion. You can also pad out your party with other player's pawns and this is a great feature. The world gives you strong LOTR vibes and I was impressed with how vast it was. The game is delightfully weird and cryptic, the large enemies you can run into early make you feel weak and scared and provide incentive to level up.
    The best thing of all are the fights themselves and the ability to climb and scale your enemies. To be able to climb the leg of a cyclops and eventually stab the eye is one of the best times I've had in gaming for a long time.
    As long as you understand what this game and, and it's limitations you're going to love it. The dragon gets you right from the opening scene and it's fantastic to confront it later in the game. Highly recommended.    … Expand
  4. VaeylanStarsong
    Mar 19, 2021
    7
    Its aight, I'm spoiled by the combat in darksouls on switch, which I'd reccomend over this without a second thought. Best part is you basically can pimp out your braindead sub-normal lil helper dunce(pawns). But really it's ok if you are an old fan, someone who missed it back then like me and wanted to see if itd scratch that darksouls itch once u played it to death, or just want a big,Its aight, I'm spoiled by the combat in darksouls on switch, which I'd reccomend over this without a second thought. Best part is you basically can pimp out your braindead sub-normal lil helper dunce(pawns). But really it's ok if you are an old fan, someone who missed it back then like me and wanted to see if itd scratch that darksouls itch once u played it to death, or just want a big, albeit dimwitted game to get lost into. Over all. Play darksouls instead. Even skyrim prolly. But not a bad choice. On sale for 15 bucks alot wait for that.… Expand
  5. LTWasabi
    Jan 23, 2021
    5
    Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is an example of how to shoot yourself in the foot. It does a lot of things right. The combat, while it seemed awkward at first, is actually pretty good once one gets used to it. There is no auto aiming, except for some skills and it requires you to figure our enemies' weaknesses. What might seem like a damage sponge can get snuffed out pretty quicky if you knowDragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is an example of how to shoot yourself in the foot. It does a lot of things right. The combat, while it seemed awkward at first, is actually pretty good once one gets used to it. There is no auto aiming, except for some skills and it requires you to figure our enemies' weaknesses. What might seem like a damage sponge can get snuffed out pretty quicky if you know where and with what to hit. The core game play is pretty fun.

    So, why did I give a middling 5/10? I got 3 words for you, "Day-Night Cycle".
    The map is quite big and fun to explore. So what did the devs do? Make the whole game darker than the insides of their mom's cave every `30 mins or so. Think rain in Zelda:BotW except it's much longer and you play as a wingless bat with herpes.

    SO, what can you do if you want to explore at night and don't want to wait? You can rest at an inn. It's very very annoying to have to fast travel every flucking time it happens, 'cos fast travel is a 3-step hassle in this game. You don't have any portable fast travel items? Well then, you flucked mate.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019
13
#13 Most Shared Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. GameCritics
    Jun 21, 2019
    85
    Even though the spectacular combat in Dragon’s Dogma makes it seem like a successor to other Capcom fantasy beat-em-ups, the depth of its world design and surprising story twists make it one of the more fascinating games of its era. With a fantastic port for the Switch audience, it’s as if Capcom made a deal with a dragon and somehow came out the winner.
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  2. Universo Nintendo
    Jun 3, 2019
    80
    Dragon’s Dogma is one of Capcom’s most ambitious RPGs and it’s Switch version also impresses. It’s a great title to be played on the go, especially because the whole adventure can take up to dozens of hours.
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  3. Cubed3
    May 21, 2019
    70
    Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen has its rough spots, but it dreamed big. It has much better action in it than most others of its kind, and it won't push players into becoming a murder-hobo. This is Hideaki Itsuno's big Dungeons & Dragon's campaign, and he is the DM. Gransys is a sizeable world with a lot to see and do, and that can now be on the go.
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