Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Is a Great Expansion That Softens the Game's Edges

Capcom reusing the "Dark Arisen" subtitle for the sequel's expansion is a smart bit of signaling. Longtime fans know what it means: a loot-heavy, dungeon-focused expansion built around a new place to explore. This time the destination is Norgan, a frozen northern region that replaces the cursed island from the first game and offers a welcome change of scenery from the forests and deserts of the base game.

The expansion has plenty to offer. Relics, a new kind of generic gear, are found in chests and dropped by defeated enemies, then taken to appraisers who reveal their stats and, occasionally, special attributes. That creates a Monster Hunter-style loop of hunting tough foes, gathering loot, and returning to upgrade. Twelve repeatable Lost Rite Trials reward repeat visits with more gear and Offering Flames, which unlock new skills and stat boosts at obelisks. Raising the number of equippable skills from four to six may be the most noticeable combat upgrade. Norgan's weather also adds real pressure, with blizzards that blot out the minimap and block fast travel, and the environment can be used against enemies through falling icicles and snowballing boulders. The self-contained story is more engaging than the base game's, and the whole package runs more than 20 hours.

The catch is that many of the changes that make Dark Arisen easier to enjoy also soften what made the original stand out. The Eternal Ferrystone and portcrystals across Norgan let players skip most of the walking, and quests often send them back to the same hubs, so the open road rarely feels like a place for chance encounters. The new Interim Save lets players roll back at any time, which removes much of the weight from decisions and makes the Unmaking Arrow less final. Because these systems also affect the base game, the danger and consequence that defined Vermund and Battahl are less prominent there too.

Dark Arisen is still a strong expansion, and it is more approachable than the game it extends. Fans who loved the original's prickly, unpredictable design may find themselves missing it, though. It makes Dragon's Dogma 2 easier to recommend to a wider audience, but it also shifts the game closer to a standard action RPG.