Do I Need to Give Dragon’s Arisen: Dark Arisen another Shot?
Every so often, I will write an article on my good website that demonstrates how my gamer cred should not be restored. I have spoken extensively about my inability to get into Hitman and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild. But there is another game I have been waiting for, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen. Is it now that Capcom has finally announced a sequel?
Dark Arisen is a game that has been on my to-do list for some time. However, I remember playing the original Xbox 360 game around a decade ago. I have no fond memories. I can remember the beginning of the game. It was a battle against a chimaera. Then, I made a terrible pawn, got my heart broken by a dragon, and finally, I felt frustrated as I escorted a merchant lad to the capital. I never got much beyond that.
It’s disappointing because Dragon’s Dogma was described in 2012 as an unholy fusion of Skyrim and Devil May Cry. This sounds like a match made in heaven. Dragon’s Dogma didn’t grab me, for whatever reason. Looking back, I think my second year at uni was hell. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is too hype.
Dragon’s Dogma and its Dark Arisen re-release have gained a cult following among RPG enthusiasts as one of the best-known and most appreciated RPGs ever. The game should be considered a giant in the genre’s history, alongside Skyrim, Dragon Age, and other greats.
This fan sentiment drove Capcom’s announcement of a sequel on the 10th anniversary. Given how sloppy Capcom is when celebrating cult classics (we still wait for a new Power Stone Dino Crisis, Darkstalkers Schools, Dead Rising, and many more), Dragon’s Dogma 2’s announcement was a great surprise.
This fan sentiment and the fact that Dark Arisen was re-released on Xbox One for just PS20 convinced me to purchase the game again many years ago. But, for some reason, it has fallen to the bottom of my pile of shame. Capcom’s gem in the rough, regardless of whether it was due to review games or a stacked schedule over the last few years, never had the chance to shine in mine.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s hype is even more exciting when Capcom confirms that it will be developed using the RE Engine. This engine has been one of the most versatile and flexible game development engines ever created. Capcom has used it on Resident Evil and Street Fighter 6. Devil May Cry 5. It is fascinating to see how Capcom uses it to create an open-world RPG.
Even with the announcement of a sequel Dragon’s Dogma is unlikely to have ever been on my radar again. It would have been easy to dismiss it as a game, but not for me. Since Elden Ring’s release, my curiosity has been piqued. Elden Ring was a revelation to me earlier in the year. To see people comparing Dragon’s Dogma and Elden Ring, stating that ER could be DD2, makes me curious.
