Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen review

[112]

I'm on the Ps3 version and I've not noticed any pausing for access time, but then I'm new to the game. This has kinda gripped me latley I was planning on ploughing through Deadly Premonition this bank holiday weekend but I can't stop playing this... I've kind of wandered off the normal track and just gone on random walks having my ass handed to me constantly... There are a lot of issues I have like the amount of menus and instruction pop ups I need to read through to understand what's going on. To be honest I'm kind of confused with the combining of items and I sn constantly over encumbered. But there is something about the game...

I said earlier this game reminds me of dark souls and assassins creed. I take it back this is Fallout 3 minus the guns... And I spent over 100 hours on that game... This is not gripping me to that sort of level (not found a game since, that has) but its still got a hold on me and I just want to explore!

I'm trading in pawns like prostitutes, but I'm following the advice of others on here snd making sure they are at a similar level to mine.

I foolishly created my main pawn in the same way as myself, as when I was prompted to create it, I thought it was a similar situation to fallout 3 or oblivion, where you got a second chance to alter your character after doing tutorial missions... :/ ah well...

As always I went for tank mode... I luv me a good brawl problem is when fighting them ghost like elementals at night, I need to rely on my pawns...

Oh and the enemies are fricking huge! Has a bit of shadow of colossus in there with the climbing/scaling of creatures

112

Edit btw I notice a lot of flow down when engaging in battles with large enemies or when the screen is busy... Dunno if that will sway your decision to go for the ps3 version Daragon.

[Tobal]

Bitterblack Isle is defo lvl50+ but I would say you'll need multiple jobs if your to tackle it, as I found my soc isn't enough, was getting smacked around the massssssive eyeball so I went of to level ranger and magic archer, the latter is freaking brilliant.. its like playing panzer dragoon on the ground, im locking on to 10+ targets and shooting lightening everywhere.

One more tip, once you've maxed a job out try another as the core skills carry over all jobs and can assign skills from other jobs, so having levelled soc I can take the magical damage skills and slap them on to my magic archer which doesn't get them.

[chopemon]

112, you can change the vocation of yourself and your pawn at the inn in Gran Soren.

Glad you're enjoying it. This is my second time through and I just it. So much character and charm.

[112]

Thanks Chopemon, I've made it to gran soren and I've just done the quest at the pawn inn.

->Open Spoiler<-

I had no idea the tentacle enemy at the bottom of the dungeon was respawning infinitely, was there slashing away for ages... Not getting experience points...

Will see about changing my main Pawns vocation. Do I do this sitting on the chair or speaking with the inn keeper?

112

[jimtendo]

Will see about changing my main Pawns vocation. Do I do this sitting on the chair or speaking with the inn keeper?

Changing your pawns vocation is the same as talking to inn keeper, or other important NPC's capable of doing so.

Though when you're in the chair, you can change your pawns inclination. Whether you want them to challenge bigger creatures or small, or stay back or getting stuck in.
However, when your pawn gets hired by people, they also (over time) will change your pawns inclination. Mainly due to them spamming d-pad commands, so you'll have to keep on resetting them via elixirs, which can be bought.

[112]

Interesting... Jimtendo, the thought had not crossed my mind that my pawn would get hired by others... I do play online but I've turned off the option for others to jump into my game, as a felt this would ruin my experience somewhat when others could potentially spoiler certain surprises and challenges in the game.

112

[Tobal]

Online on/off is just for seeing other people pawns(not on your friend list) wandering around that you can hire up off the streets(there is a achievement for that), they're usually all are within a couple of levels of yourself.. I assume the game makes them up if you select offline.

[112]

Oh right... Maybe I should switch it on then. I can see what kind of weird creations are knocking about. Thanks!

I'm still very early on in the game, I'm at level 20, I see plenty more grinding ahead...

112

[112]

Spent a bit more time on this tonight and found I spent a ridiculous amount of time pissing about in my inventory, getting rid if items, equipping, healing etc...

I've taken on a large amount of side quests I'm still nowhere near progressing the main storyline. The problem I have is I want to do everything as and when it comes I become easily distracted by situations I happen to come across which sidetracks anything I was planning to do before. Also I've started to dislike the night as I can't see a bloody thing with my limited lantern.

I've managed to turn on the online bits and I've noticed more random looking characters floating around, but the system doesn't half access the server a lot more now, infact it auto saves a lot more too.

What I wanna know is when dismiss a pawn for another one, do the items they have collected during their time with you disappear? Also with the vocations what is the point of being a fighter when you can be a warrior, who hits harder?

I'm currently doing an escort mission which is very handy as it means I have an additional character with me who is SO much stronger than me and gives me a better chance at fighting enemies, I wouldn't normally last long at, a sporting chance

I've had to tear myself away as I have work in the morning, but I'm getting more involved

112

[Tobal]

Any pawns dismissed or lost in combat have their items sent to your inn inventory.

Fighter makes a best(pawn) tanks(sword/shield), can dawn all enemies to it and eat a ton of damage off the big monsters. Warriors dish more damage but can't take it off the bosses, but regular mobs they'll tank just fine. Later on you well definitely want someone who can tank be it yourself on fighter/mystic knight or a pawn on fighter.

[112]

I tore myself away from this last night to get some sleep, but I kind of left it on a cliff hanger as such... I was making my way back to Gran Soren when I spoke to the guard at the front who said someone was asking about the Arisen, then the camera pans away to the other side of the valley where a group of mercenary like individuals were waiting for me. Such a simple yet effective movie like cut scene which got me all riled up to take them on... I'm looking forward to taking them out soon!

I've accidentally made my way to bitter Black Isle but swiftly made my way back to the main game as I was ridiculously under levelled at level 30

112

[chopemon]

I finally nailed the side quest achievement so I thought I'd take my level 68 ass over to Bitterblack.

What a mistake that was. Can handle the normal enemies just fine then the first boss

->Open Spoiler<-

Grim Reaper

one shots me and my party. Seems like a wild difficulty spike. Going to see what I get out of

->Open Spoiler<-

The Everfall

then head back.

[fuse]

I've got a full review live elsewhere (shameless plug), but in short I was super disappointed with what Dark Arisen has added.

Bitterblack Isle is completely devoid of what made the original game fun, and is a drab, claustrophobic, inbalanced, linear hole in the ground. I really hope the team responsible for it are not the same team who will be working on Dragon's Dogma 2.

Chopes: he is not a 'proper' boss - rather one of many stupidly hard enemies that can be spawned at random in some locations to ruin your day. Run away from the fight and come back again and it probably won't happen again. Failing that, just stay alive for a while and he'll eventually leave you alone.

[112]

I've not played the original and dark arisen is my first experience, so I don't know what's changed other than bitterblack isle. But I'm really enjoying this... Git to ask though, is the game always SO bloody dark? I have to strain my eyes to view it even during the day in some of the locations that have high scaled buildings. Surely you can't be expected to use the lantern throughout most of the day as well...

I have to ask, is it worthwhile enhancing all armour an weapons you use? Because I feel like I'm always wanting to sell what I have and buy new stuff after a mission or so...

I really wasn't expecting to be drawn into this game but I'm am, for the most part, impressed with capcoms offering.

112

[Tobal]

Its usually worth doing(weapons certainly) and once your mid way through the game you'll have so many mats and money its become trivial to upgrade.