Any doubts aboutDragon’s Dogmabeing Capcom’s answer toThe Elder Scrollsseries were laid to rest when I arrived at Tokyo Game Show. Capcom perfectly knew what comparisons they were inviting when they brought thatepic ass dragonto their booth.
It’s still far too early to say how the game will compare toSkyrim, but the new features, locations and character creator shown at TGS have resparked my interest in the game.Dragon’s Dogmawas presented at E3 with a lack of focus that left me skeptical of the game, but now I’m starting to come around to Japan’s take on the Western open-world RPG.
The demo opened with a member of the development team showing off the character creator. It has all the features you’d expect out of a game of this type. It’s not as impressive asSkyrim, but it’s certainly better thanDark Souls. Along with all the basic options, you’re able to also choose posture, breast size (YAY!) and muscles. Finally, a Japanese game that at least gives you theoptionof not having all your characters look like hyper-sexualized, muscle-heads! You can also detail the face with scars, tattoos, make-up, wrinkles and freckles.
The developer proudly stated that every character in the game was made within the character creator. It certainly is impressive but there are some characters I came across that looked awfully fugly. Black characters tend to look strange in Japanese games andDragon’s Dogmais no exception — they look like pitch black and soaked in Vaseline. I guess you can’t blame a country where black citizens are scarce, but, even still, this is something the West got over a long time ago.
After the character was created, the player departs from a ship at a port town within the game’s medieval world. After getting a brief look at the citizens (who speak with British accents) and scenery, a dragon swoops down and starts to tear sh*t up. Just when I got on the edge of my seat and ready for some quality dragon time, the developer skipped to a different scenario.
Now we are in a different city hub, playing as a sorcerer. While you may start the game with a mage who has a focus on white magic, you will eventually level-up into an aggressive sorcerer. Even with some powerful spells, the sorcerer is a more defensive class that depends on its pawns to best its enemies.
Pawns are your party members you direct in battle, each of which can be fully customized and traded online. Players can even rate your pawns, give them gifts and trade for one of your own. It’s kind of like owning and trading virtual slaves. Okay, now I’m depressed … moving on.
In the spirit of TGS cosplayers, our female sorcerer is scantily dressed which is turning some heads in town. The equipment screen looks an awful lot like the one inOblivion, butDragon’s Dogmamakes up for it by adding in real-time clothes swapping. After buying some clothes, the player comes across a citizen who has something against cyclopses and wants one killed.
Using an item to transport to a cliff side, the player is now within the vicinity of the towering, one-eyed monstrosity. UnlikeSkyrim, magic inDragon’s Dogmarequires no resources. The power of your magic relies only on how long you charge it up, lending the game a more action feel (remember this is designed by the director ofDevil May Cry). One of the neat features of the game is that characters will climb up and defeat monsters as they cling on to their body (a laShadow of the Colossus).
Visually, the game has a very classic 1980sDungeons & Dragonslook that I adore. From griffins to golems and eyeball monster things, the world ofDragon’s Dogmalooks directly ripped from the pages of aDungeon Master’s Guide. My only problem with the visuals is the HUD, which overlays a button mapping guide. It covers a significant portion of the screen but can be disabled. It’s a necessary evil considering all the button combinations and configurations that change the layout, but it breaks the immersion.
If you said I could haveSkyrimorDragon’s Dogmaright now, I’d chooseDragon’s Dogma. I’m aware this might make me seem crazy, but I’m genuinely intrigued by this title.Dragon’s Dogmais an exciting unkown, where asSkyrimis just a prettier, retunedOblivion. Of course I’m going to pick-up and play both and will finishDragon’s Dogma‘s 60 hour campaign (eventually).
