Dragon's Dogma Official Playthrough Thread

[Karak]

Wherein CoG'ers tell each other stories about what occurs when they play with their pawns for too long.




What we know-

• Don't go out at night without a plan
• Classes have very specific weaknesses and strengths
• Gameworld size is mirrored in the caverns and dungeons almost 1:1
• Height/Weight make very real differences on your gameplay style
• Multiple layers of clothing and very impressive number of customizations
• Character Creator is outstanding
• No quick travel except for very rare 1 use items

What we don't know-

• Classes choice and how it effects the story
• Options to Romance NPCs not involved in the main quest
• Player impact on the gameworld in realtime
• Why the Warrior can't block?
  
  

Reviews
PlayStation Magazine FR - 18/20
Game Informer - 8.5
PSM - 8.5
Xbox World - 8.5
Play3 (DE) - 83%
LEVEL - 8
GamesTM - 8
GamePro (DE) - 79% PS3/78% 360
Edge - 7
OXM - 6
Play - 48%
Karak Inc(based on my super short time with it in a nerds gameshop 8.5

Why it may be special
The use of the pawn system instead of co-op is pretty controversial but also something that sets it apart from many other games.
The game world appears to be a mix of Demon Souls(nighttime difficulty and no level scaling), Skyrim style exploration, and Monster Hunter style GFX and exploration.
It has a very simple yet incredibly deep job style skill and class system. At first what appears to be, Ranger, Fighter, Magic-user branches out into a hybrid series of classes each with unique abilities as well as quests.
Male and Female characters are treated differently in the game. To the point that some will get quests others will not. Special skills allow for disguising yourself as the other sex.


Why it may be not so special
In my own short time with it, and mirrored by many reviewers, this is a game that pushes the consoles FAR past their limit with both consoles responding differently. PS3 drops to single digit FPS at times while the 360 stays solidly around 30 but has screen tear even if you take technical steps available to minimize it.
It is smaller than Skyrim, it does not have the feel of Demon Souls, and it isn't a Monster Hunter game. It is an original IP and will suffer the same drawbacks original IP's always suffer.

I am just waiting for my Gamefly email to come in.

[Karak]

Intangibles:
Some games have a particular depth, others have a unique gameplay style. One thing I can say about Dragon's Dogma is it has a real feeling of accomplishment even for the small things.

When you are traveling at night the darkness is maybe 5-6 feet in front of you magic is exploding as your pawns are trying to save you and you are filling your lamp because it just went out. The feeling of utter relief that washes over you when the lamp flickers to life can not be easily described. I mean true god damned joy because they made the night feel like you were thrown in a massive black sock with dangerous creatures and very occasionally from miles away you see light SOMETIMES.

[Purple Santa]

Karak inc should be Fun inc instead

I always enjoy when you get excited excited about a game.

I have the demo. I'll post what I think soon.

[Kelegacy]

I am still praying for a PC release. If not I will definitely give it a shot someday on consoles.

[menage]

I'm so buying this at one point. I love that it's a sp original ip which tries new shit. But seeing as my GF is due any day now I'm holding of on buying new games at the moment.

It will also be half price in a month or 2 or so

[Narradisall]

I tried the demo, and it I was left interested.

I won't be picking it up anytime soon though, and reading the comments here it doesn't sound like anyone else plans too.

Oddly enough, that's my main concern, that if lots of people do exactly what I'm doing, even if this game turns out to be one of those hidden gems, it'll end up a financial failure and no one will try anything new again for awhile.

Wait and see I guess.

[menage]

Don't know. Dead Space was the same and in the end pulled in enough fir a sequel. Same as Lost Planet. Longterm is where it's at. Heck even Rayman Origins.

[Karak]

Ya its a unique game. Almost no hype but already presold over 400,000 copies. So someone is buying it.

[Jason]

I'm one of the ones that preordered. I really enjoyed the demo. The videos I've seen have only made me want to play it more. It being a new ip is nice too.

[KamaItachi]

I preordered, I've been impressed enough with the scope, setting and demo to go all in. Plus I'll be getting bonus gear for me and my pawns.

Funnily enough, I think this is more compelling to me than Skyrim ever was.

[Purple Santa]

Originally Posted by Karak

So someone is buying it.

You underestimate the Karak/Fun inc. army/followers/rabid loons who trust your gaming taste There are a lot of us out there.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Purple Santa

You underestimate the Karak/Fun inc. army/followers/rabid loons who trust your gaming taste There are a lot of us out there.

Born ready to do battle. The army of Karak marches out...only to get lost because they don't have a map and each one expected the other to bring it!

[Deadend]

Boo, I'm not getting it from Gamefly, they didn't get my copy of Witcher 2 back in time.
I'm really hoping for a PC port, as even if I have to use a controller to play it, the fact it would be at a steady frame rate seems worth it, at least to see this unconventional take on the genre.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Deadend

Boo, I'm not getting it from Gamefly, they didn't get my copy of Witcher 2 back in time.
I'm really hoping for a PC port, as even if I have to use a controller to play it, the fact it would be at a steady frame rate seems worth it, at least to see this unconventional take on the genre.

360 is always above 30. Its the PS3 version that drops to single digits.

That being said I agree completely that a PC version would be all kinds of awesome!
They are pretty much on record stating there is no chance whatsoever of a PC version ever. Unless they make a sequel and then it would be the sequel that would come to PC.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by Karak

360 is always above 30. Its the PS3 version that drops to single digits.

That being said I agree completely that a PC version would be all kinds of awesome!
They are pretty much on record stating there is no chance whatsoever of a PC version ever. Unless they make a sequel and then it would be the sequel that would come to PC.

It sucks but I understand their reasoning, they don't want people sharing hacked, uber powerful pawns and they don't have the time/experience/funding to create an online system to prevent this. While I'm looking forward to the PC version of Dark Souls I know that legitimate players will have to disable the online features inside of a week to prevent hacked, super powerful characters from invading their game.

Mine is on it's way from Gamefly.

[Deadend]

Originally Posted by Grifter

It sucks but I understand their reasoning, they don't want people sharing hacked, uber powerful pawns and they don't have the time/experience/funding to create an online system to prevent this. While I'm looking forward to the PC version of Dark Souls I know that legitimate players will have to disable the online features inside of a week to prevent hacked, super powerful characters from invading their game.

Mine is on it's way from Gamefly.

I can just see it now in Dark Souls PC.. a Black Phantom that is invincible shows up and can do perma-death or something terrible.

Bummer about no PC version ever, I thought this was an MT framework game and thus portable, it could still happen if Dragon's Dogma can manage to become a sleeper hit, even though with Diablo 3 last week, it's hard to imagine that would happen.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Grifter

It sucks but I understand their reasoning, they don't want people sharing hacked, uber powerful pawns and they don't have the time/experience/funding to create an online system to prevent this. While I'm looking forward to the PC version of Dark Souls I know that legitimate players will have to disable the online features inside of a week to prevent hacked, super powerful characters from invading their game.

Mine is on it's way from Gamefly.

Ya I totally agree.

I hope this does as well as they are saying it appears to be(preorder numbers and so forth). A new IP trying this kind of thing with this large of a game and one that doesn't just fucking drop the ball is WORTH celebrating and rewarding a company for.

[bstiff]

Apparently, interesting things are happening to people's pawn's when they're rented out. On one of the boards, a guys says his male pawn returned dressed in women's clothes.

[Karak]

Played a bit this morning. Gonna be good days.

[Vermillion]

Went to pick up Ghost Recon, walked out with this as well. I don't have the 12GB to install it, so I'm worried about the tearing and loading on the 360. But I'm excited.