The mark of a masterpiece expansion is that it becomes an essential part of the playthrough. Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty, The Witcher 3’s Blood and Wine, and Skyrim’s Dragonborn are some examples. Dark Arisen for Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be treated the same as those legendary DLCs I mentioned, and right now, you can get the entire experience at a great price.
For those unaware and currently missing out on one of the best RPGs in recent years, Dragon’s Dogma 2 puts you in the starring role as your own Arisen–a character whose heart has been eaten by a dragon and who is destined to defeat it. Sadly, someone else has taken the role of Arisen as a false leader, meaning you and your party (a main Pawn and some stragglers you hire from the Rift) have to deal with a variety of issues. That means proving the false Arisen is, well, false, as well as fighting a bunch of creatures and, inevitably, killing a dragon.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a mix of gameplay systems from other titles that, surprisingly, works extremely well. You have a more action-oriented skill system, and the Pawns add a layer of strategy based on the Vocations you hire (effectively, party roles). Bigger creatures require climbing up them à la Shadow of the Colossus before pummeling their weak spots and watching them crash. As a Thief, the bigger they are, the more fun it is to use Draw and Quarter on them. Trust me, it’s better to watch than describe.
