No Goblins Were Spared in Dragon’s Dogma II: A First Look at the Upcoming Action RPG

My level 15 Beastren fighter had one goal in mind – to eliminate every goblin that crossed our path in the world of “Dragon’s Dogma II”. Joined by my party, Max the mage, George the archer, and Sara the thief, we made quick work of any goblin unfortunate enough to stand in our way. As a fighter, my strength allowed me to lift rocks and hurl them at the creatures, sending them flying. If a goblin dared to raise a shield, I simply grabbed it and tossed it into the brine. I dispatched goblins effortlessly, earning the hypothetical approval of the Goblin Slayer.

During my hour-long demo at Capcom’s TGS By the Bay event, I got a taste of the combat in the upcoming action role-playing game. One notable feature is the important role played by Pawns. In my case, Max, one of my Pawns, had knowledge of the land and guided us through dense forests and hilly terrain. The environments were beautifully crafted, offering a sense of realism. The world was teeming with goblins, people fighting goblins, and even hobgoblins. I helped a passer-by, who thanked me and went on their way.

While the majority of our encounters were with goblins, we also came across a formidable cyclops. Climbing and scaling its body, we aimed for its weak spot – the head and eye. Throughout the fight, the Pawns provided assistance, with Max healing and buffing my sword. Sadly, the fight attracted a Griffon, which swiftly targeted and killed poor Max. I managed to bring her back to life after dealing with the Griffon.

As the day turned into night, the enemies grew more powerful and aggressive. We hurriedly set up camp after dispatching a Saurian, where we could chat with our Pawns and cook dried meat. The complexity of the game was enhanced by the day and night cycles, as different NPCs wandered the world at different times of day.

Following the quest marker, we finally reached the mine where goblins had taken up residence. Equipped with a lantern to navigate the darkness, we cleared out the underground, evading goblin traps and mining for ore. The intricate and multidimensional level design required careful exploration and battles with goblins. I discovered treasure chests and items, but had to redistribute some gear to my pawns due to being overloaded.

One of the highlights of “Dragon’s Dogma II” is the artificial intelligence of the Pawns. These AI-controlled characters proved to be helpful and never got in my way. Players can have one main pawn that accompanies them throughout the campaign, while also being able to hire additional Pawns. The experiences gained by these Pawns can be shared with other players, creating emergent forms of play and new strategies for defeating enemies.

“Dragon’s Dogma II” has yet to receive a release date, but it is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.