‘Dragon’s Dogma’ heading online
Published 5:55 pm Saturday, January 31, 2015
Do you like dragons?
I like dragons. I like hunting them in various video games like “Skyrim.” I like partnering with them in games like “Breath of Fire III.” I definitely like games that build a high-fantasy world that includes dragons.
That’s why Capcom’s announcement of “Dragon’s Dogma Online” last week has piqued my interest. The 2012 title captivated role-playing game lovers and earned generally positive reviews for its action-oriented, open world game design.
There was a lot to explore, once players got past the somewhat difficult limitations the game placed on characters. “Dragon’s Dogma” had players rely on several non-playable characters to help take down giant beasts, from cyclops to hydras, chimeras to cockatrices, and of course, dragons.
Despite a somewhat steep learning curve, the game proved addictive for me after a while. It’s a fun concept with a thought-out high fantasy universe, even if its plot was somewhat silly at times. It proved to be just as epic as any big-budget title and was a decent seller for Capcom.
Fans have clamored for a sequel ever since developers released a follow-up expansion, “Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen,” in 2013. There’s something viscerally satisfying about climbing a huge mythical beast in order to stab at it, a la “Shadow of the Colossus” or “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.” The “Dragon’s Dogma” series has found a good niche for that kind of gameplay, but it remains to be seen whether we’ll see “Dragon’s Dogma Online.”
The game is set to be released in Japan on Playstation 3, Playstation 4 and PC later this year. Developers say people will be able to form parties online to take monsters down. In addition, the game will be free-to-play, meaning Capcom won’t charge a monthly subscription fee.
However, there was no indication “Dragon’s Dogma Online” would come stateside. That’s a shame, as North American gamers embraced the title early on. “Dragon’s Dogma” is still considered one of the top RPG gems of the last generation and one would think a sequel would be a no-brainer for the U.S. market.
Here’s hoping Capcom makes another announcement about the game soon. Only with a U.S. release date, next time.