Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
The PC port doesn't introduce much new and certain elements could be stronger, but Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen still shines as a uniquely enjoyable RPG.
Dragon's Dogma has a lot of flaws, but the gameplay, sound, and exploration (especially in the endgame and optional dungeon) are simply so good. If you're into action RPGs and think you can handle the obvious flaws, you owe it to yourself to experience just how good this distinctively Japanese twist on class based ARPG combat can really be.
Like many of the Western RPGs that influenced it, Dragon's Dogma is an uneven experience, but it's one that rewards patience and perseverance, and it's a bold argument for why Japanese developers should continue making RPGs, with or without the inspiration from this side of the Pacific.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a four-year-old game wrapped in slightly better visuals.
There’s no denying that it is rough in parts and really could have done with a full remaster rather than a straight re-release, but Dragon’s Dogma nonetheless remains a fantastically gripping role-playing experience that manages to straddle the divide between exhilarating real-time action and stat-based adventuring.
A fairly lacklustre remaster does nothing to diminish what makes Dragon's Dogma such a unique and memorable role-playing game. For fans of western style action RPGs it's a must play.
The game only offers a visual improvement but it still may work in a very specific scenario: discovering Dragon's Dogma to that audience who missed it in the first place during the last generation. The game has aged well though we still hope for a Dragon's Dogma 2.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Character customization, combat, and the weird story and brilliant end-game all make this one of my favorite action-RPG's of all time. Meanwhile, the Dark Arisen changes make the game somewhat more traversable and streamlined, turning a fun but frustrating game into something far more enjoyable. There's nothing really new here, but it's great to finally have the game on PC.
Industry Coverage
