Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Reviews
Dragon's Dogma is a role-playing game that deserves to be appreciated. With so much content and depth, Dark Arisen is just as impressive as ever in the gameplay department. Few would've expected a Japanese developer like Capcom to release a "Western-style" action-RPG that could hold its own against the Elder Scrolls and Witcher series, but that's exactly what happened.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a game about moments. Encountering a brand new monster, obtaining a powerful weapon or when a Drake crashes your goblin slaying party with a storm of hellfire- all moments that are memorable and fun to experience. The issue is that getting to those moments are oftentimes an absolute slog of tedious stamina and weight management, battling the same group of wolves and bandits for the thirtieth time.
Despite Capcom's uninspired remastering, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen remains one of the best action RPGs of the last decade. Tight controls hold together thrilling combat, and the sense of adventure that the game exudes is almost unmatched. At its budget price, newcomers should definitely give the PS4 release a fair chance, while veterans will find a good enough excuse to begin the cycle all over again.
There is nothing quite like Dragon's Dogma, even four years later revisiting it, I feel it made strides other games have still yet to imitate. For those that already made the journey though, this PC port feels more like a gesture of good faith, than a reason to return to Gransys. Still for those that have forgotten the glory, or never gave it a chance, this is the version to own.
The strength of Dragon's Dogma lies in its combat and its combatants.
Dragon's Dogma is a great action RPG, especially as a first entry in the franchise. CAPCOM successfully married the Western open world RPG with an awesome combat system and a bit of Japanese flavor; if you haven't played it until now, the PC version offers enhanced graphics and frame rate. I, for one, hope to learn about a sequel very soon.
While the original issues are still present, what made Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen so special is here as well. Glorifying combat, organic progression, and a saturated world will keep you slogging through the occasional lull on your way to the heart of it.
Still, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a highly competent RPG and, who knows, maybe this release is a sign a sequel is finally on the horizon.
In Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen fans of the well-known adventure game for WiiU and Nintendo Switch will feel like at home.
Review in Russian | Read full review
The idea of enjoying Dragon's Dogma wherever I go makes me really happy, but if you have already played it you won't find anything else to justify a new purchase.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a great chance to play an unusual role-playing game. If you have already passed through the original game and its add-on, you are unlikely to find anything new here.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is not only a great role-playing game, but also one of the best ports to PC I've seen in some time. From an unlocked frame rate to perfect performance, the game hits all the right marks. It also helps that the game itself is enthralling because of its many departures from genre norms by providing players with a true sense of danger around every corner. Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen truly feels at home on PC with its in-depth gameplay and beautiful world.
Overall, if you can get over the "janky"-ness of the visuals, then you will definitely find an engrossing action RPG with some great systems. The story is a bit bland, but can be made up for with strong combat, excellent controls, an interesting class system, and a wide variety of interesting enemies.
Comprehensive and challenging RPG with great vassal system and weaknesses in presentation and technology.
Review in German | Read full review
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a unique RPG brought to life by its fantastic pawn system and enthralling fantasy world. Forming a ragtag clan of allies before taking on gargantuan monsters is always a blast, helping you feel like a true soldier among a land of unimaginable terrors.
Even in its remastered form, this expansion stands tall as a relatively focused and uncomplicated action experience.
Dragon's Dogma nails combat and adventure, though it misses the mark somewhat with its story elements. If you overlook the game's rougher edges, you're in for great over-the-top action and high adventure.
Despite a tendency to force the player to work through a number of repetitive activities Dragon's Dogma delivers innovative, action-packed boss fights and the occasional twist in the story to keep things interesting. Graphically Dragon's Dogma isn't doing anything special, but for a game originally developed on the previous generation of consoles it delivers a satisfying gameplay experience on the PC.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen mixes the well-worn and overplayed clichés of the genre with just enough new stuff to keep things mostly fresh. Its story may be completely disposable, but the world itself is fascinating. It also has the honour of being one of the best-executed ports I have ever played.