Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

 Xbox One
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 51 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 51
  3. Negative: 8 out of 51
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  1. Xbox_Alive
    Jan 2, 2018
    8
    I spent many hours on the original game a few years ago, so I was looking forward to the remaster of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen. Thankfully the game has aged well, and while it may not be a stellar remaster in some areas it’s still a very good RPG. The open world is packed to the brim with quests and things to do, and the best thing is that the world feels alive. There are a number ofI spent many hours on the original game a few years ago, so I was looking forward to the remaster of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen. Thankfully the game has aged well, and while it may not be a stellar remaster in some areas it’s still a very good RPG. The open world is packed to the brim with quests and things to do, and the best thing is that the world feels alive. There are a number of quests for you to partake in and they have managed to make the quests have a good variety to them. You will however have to do quite a bit of backtracking in the game and that can be frustrating, but the combat and battles you take part in will eventually make you forget about the backtracking. The character progression in the game is brilliant and in fact I forgot how good it was. There are number of classes to get to grips with and this adds even more replay value to the game. Speaking of replay value the game will keep you going for hundreds of hours and the amount of content can be breathtaking at times, which is awesome. The game also rewards you for playing and exploring, and it rewards you by offering you a mysterious story that’s interesting throughout. The presentation side of the game is something I was a little disappointed with. I expected to see some improvements to the visuals and sound design, but unfortunately the remaster fails to hit the mark here. At the end of the day if you’re a fan of the RPG genre and you’ve never played Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen then I fully recommend you to purchase the game. It has an almost endless amount of content and it takes the tried and tested RPG formula and turns it into a memorable experience. I have played the game twice now and sunk many hours in, and it’s that good that even if you’ve played it before I still recommend you to buy it again.… Expand
  2. General_ODell
    Jan 26, 2018
    8
    Dragon's Dogma is, overall, a fun game. The combat easily makes up for the majority of the game's flaws, as it is quite possibly the best combat system I have experienced in an RPG. Encounters feel truly epic, as giant monsters can be climbed and attacked at weak points, mages and sorcerers can cast incredibly devastating spells, and dragon combat especially puts Skyrim's combat to shame.Dragon's Dogma is, overall, a fun game. The combat easily makes up for the majority of the game's flaws, as it is quite possibly the best combat system I have experienced in an RPG. Encounters feel truly epic, as giant monsters can be climbed and attacked at weak points, mages and sorcerers can cast incredibly devastating spells, and dragon combat especially puts Skyrim's combat to shame. The graphics are good - not groundbreaking, but there are many beautiful sights to behold, regardless. The pawn system also allows for interesting additions to combat and quests which are completely missing from other RPGs, and I hope it is improved and implemented in the future. Pawns, with the right inclinations, are a true blessing in combat, and for a beginner, they can guide the player to specific locations throughout the world and assist in quests. However, the pawns can act downright idiotic at times. One moment, you will be amazed at the pawns working synergistically in combat with yourself to bring down a massive beast, and the next, you will be dumbfounded as a pawn walks off a cliff and gets sent to the rift. As far as the setting/world goes, it is a high medieval Western setting with magic. I personally consider the setting to be more interesting than the main storyline, which can often be bogged down at points, leading to plot twists or climaxes of the story occurring without the proper buildup. Side quests granted through the game's Notice Boards are incredibly basic: kill x amount of monsters, give NPC x item, or escort NPC. The kill quests and gathering quests can often be completed without actively seeking to complete a quest, but they are still nothing to write home about. Non-notice board quests are better, but often lack depth or try to impose a sense of urgency which simply doesn't exist. Traveling throughout the world can also be amazing or amazingly dull, depending on how much you enjoy walking everywhere. The game has items called "portcrystals," which can be placed in any exterior location and act as a fast travel point, as long as a player has a consumable "ferrystone." Even with strategically placed portcrystals, however, you will find a large portion of your game time spent walking through the same areas and fighting the same monsters. There are also certain odd design decisions, such as only allowing one save file. I understand that the developer may have wanted the player to go through the game realizing their actions have long-lasting consequences, but it is still a limit, nonetheless. While the player may choose to switch vocations throughout the game as long as they visit the NPC responsible for doing so, stats gained through leveling up are tied to the specific vocation the player had when they leveled up. This makes switching vocations less favorable as the player grows in strength, as a player who has spent dozens of levels as a mage will find a drastic decrease in power should they switch to a melee class. Overall, however, this game is fun to play, and every victory against a massive creature feels like an accomplishment, something other games often seem disappointing.… Expand
  3. Metaphysical10
    Jul 26, 2019
    10
    My review will assume that you are familiar with the basic mechanics of the game which can be learned from the tons of online reviews from major videogame publications. That being said, this game offers an experience that is unique:
    1. Amazing combat
    2. Deep character customization 3. Pride of Other players affirmations when they rent your pawn (NPC character you develop that is available    My review will assume that you are familiar with the basic mechanics of the game which can be learned from the tons of online reviews from major videogame publications. That being said, this game offers an experience that is unique:
    1. Amazing combat
    2. Deep character customization
    3. Pride of Other players affirmations when they rent your pawn (NPC character you develop that is available to be. used by other players).    … Expand
  4. yourartteacher
    Jul 1, 2018
    10
    I'm going to be honest; I have not bought or played this game. I noticed one of the negative reviews was supposed to be a 10, and the game looks pretty good from everything I've seen. So, I'm trying to rebalance this score for these guys. They obviously worked hard and metacritic is important in reviewland.
  5. rpg_gamer77
    Dec 2, 2017
    4
    This game looks like a unfinished thing: A amazing world, great character criation, but the worst combat system ever, totaly a broken and bizarre progression ever seens in a game.
    Ahh, and have only character per accont, and ONE save for a RPG game is inexcusable
  6. ScoBoo
    Jun 2, 2018
    0
    I bought this game for a few buck's, and have been playing for hours. There are some issues with combat, but those are minor. The story is good. The monsters and quest are great. It's really cool when I find a gem like D.D. A must have R.P.G.
  7. NimbusFog420
    Jan 13, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very divisive and un-fun game. The graphics are garbage and the gameplay is pitiful at best. I would say this game is for those who don’t take friendships seriously..… Expand
  8. barbone3
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    This game has the best story an RPG player can ever dream for! Let's just hope that Capcom does a second chapter because that's what we need!
  9. osullivanalec
    Dec 26, 2018
    9
    All round great RPG, if it had mounts/& or/fast travel it would be a 10, having to walk absolutely everywhere in such a big world can be a chore after a while... I know there is fairy stones, but they're crazy rare.... Still, coming straight off Fallout 76 to a game like this one is a massive breath of fresh air... I'd put it up there with the best in this category.
  10. Shade71
    Jun 23, 2018
    10
    Spent over 1000 hours on this game back when it first came out on the ps3. Missed out on the dark arisen content the first time around though. Bought this one on the Xbox one X and it looks and plays flawlessly. The dark arisen content made it like a whole new game for me, still enjoying it a lot. So many classes to play with deep customization, the pawn system, so much gear and items,Spent over 1000 hours on this game back when it first came out on the ps3. Missed out on the dark arisen content the first time around though. Bought this one on the Xbox one X and it looks and plays flawlessly. The dark arisen content made it like a whole new game for me, still enjoying it a lot. So many classes to play with deep customization, the pawn system, so much gear and items, crafting, fun combat. This is one of my all time favorites. I was hoping by now Capcom would have made a whole new game but this is a real treat none the less.… Expand
  11. IronBuffalo
    Nov 16, 2018
    9
    An amazing game that because of will be a mega success when the untitled project which we all hope is part 2 drops. The class system is deep and allows for some amazing builds all while changing the gameplay so the world itself never feels repetitive. The end game is done well enough for a game that didn’t have the same budget as some triple A titles but holds its own against the best ofAn amazing game that because of will be a mega success when the untitled project which we all hope is part 2 drops. The class system is deep and allows for some amazing builds all while changing the gameplay so the world itself never feels repetitive. The end game is done well enough for a game that didn’t have the same budget as some triple A titles but holds its own against the best of them. Visuals are strong considering it was refreshed for the consoles and after an hour or so, feels just fine on an Xbox 1 X. Don’t worry about only having 1 character as molding the first one will take a bit of time. At any point, you can change your class to rank up while adding some of the abilities from classes you’ve already done to them. The end result is fulfilling. The end game boss will test your limits the first time you battle and by the end of your travels he will be putty in your hands. This is more of an indie feel, so dismiss negative reviews about combat. It is it’s own as when it was released, gaming was more refined as far as skills and timing went. Think Final Fantasy 11 vs 14. It will actually become a staple you look for in the future as there is something supremely refreshing about finally understanding that once you respect the games format, it’s bows before your awesome creation. If you want to plug it in and be on top by the days end, this is not for you. If you want to slowly stoke the forge while waiting patiently for the blade to emerge then this is it. In the end, the blade will be mighty, sharp and ruthlessly keen.… Expand
  12. xaviar_nl
    May 8, 2022
    7
    Very enjoyable RPG to play. The game does feel a bit dated (not a suprise, as it is a bit older), and story-wise is competent but not anything shocking or new.
  13. Lucho_dema
    Jul 22, 2020
    10
    Excelente juego, un clásico. Lo jugué 2 veces, en Xbox 360 y luego en PC, y lo di vuelta en ambas. Espero que algún día salga una nueva entrega, es mi sueño ya que son pocos los juegos como estos.

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
56
#56 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
77
#77 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Dec 12, 2017
    80
    Capcom's cult favorite is worth the attention of any RPG/adventure fan out there.
  2. TheXboxHub
    Oct 23, 2017
    80
    For those who have been curious about Dark Arisen and love old fashioned RPG’s, then this is a must buy. Yes, the quests can get boring and there is a big whiff of old generation about the experience, but there are tons of content for your money.
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  3. Generación Xbox
    Oct 22, 2017
    83
    As a remaster is no big deal but Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen brings us back a classic-style game, which focuses on the classics of the RPG group of adventurers. Monster hunts and dungeons, in a great adventure where the main story, although of quality, is only a pretext.
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