Dragon's Dogma

[Raimun]

I can't believe I've missed this one.

The game is just awesome. I don't think I've ever played a computer- or video game-RPG with such a good combat system. I'm always having a blast when you need both head and guts to win a fight.

Granted, the story is nothing special, there's no fast travel and the game is not exactly easy but I still like it. That way, it's kind of like Diablo but fighting is actually fun and looks cool. You'll be doing combos and special moves, dodging, looking for weak points and CLIMBING DRAGONS!

Fighting giant monsters has never been so exciting. :smallcool:

[Calemyr]

I can't believe I've missed this one.

The game is just awesome. I don't think I've ever played a computer- or video game-RPG with such a good combat system. I'm always having a blast when you need both head and guts to win a fight.

Granted, the story is nothing special, there's no fast travel and the game is not exactly easy but I still like it. That way, it's kind of like Diablo but fighting is actually fun and looks cool. You'll be doing combos and special moves, dodging, looking for weak points and CLIMBING DRAGONS!

Fighting giant monsters has never been so exciting. :smallcool:

Yeah, the bigger monster fights are definitely the best draw for the game.

There is a fast-travel system, but it's very expensive and only really comes into play in a second play-through. There are these pylons you can place wherever you like, and ferry stones will take you to the capital or any pylon you've set up. Since there's only one pylon available the first run through, it's not all that useful, but the second time through you can buy enough to set up your own fast travel network.

Just... just be careful who you get too chummy with. The game doesn't distinguish between platonic relationships and romantic ones, so the game just assumes your character's love interest is the one who likes you the most at the time, and people automatically like you a little more every time you talk to them. My brother and I didn't realize it on the first playthrough, so we ended up with the innkeeper in the capital. Yeah... that *really* didn't go as planned.

[Raimun]

Just... just be careful who you get too chummy with. The game doesn't distinguish between platonic relationships and romantic ones, so the game just assumes your character's love interest is the one who likes you the most at the time, and people automatically like you a little more every time you talk to them. My brother and I didn't realize it on the first playthrough, so we ended up with the innkeeper in the capital. Yeah... that *really* didn't go as planned.

... Ok. Suddenly, I had this urge to talk more with Madeline.

So, the number of conversations started is what counts? I've heard gifts count too. Kind of weird system, anyway.

[Giggling Ghast]

I just about bust a gut at one video I watched where the Arisen ended up with the Court Jester Feste as his love interest.

I've heard of people who ended up with that little girl Symone as their love interest. That s**t is hilarious. :smallbiggrin:

[Hiro Protagonest]

There's also the fact that you can have a romance with the baroness (the only possible romance option, and not even all that great), even get a sex scene, and then the game shows you at the end making out with whoever has the best score anyway.

How romance is handled in this game is awful. You could at least give us a "gay/bi/straight" option at chargen!

[Tome]

There's also the fact that you can have a romance with the baroness (the only possible romance option, and not even all that great), even get a sex scene, and then the game shows you at the end making out with whoever has the best score anyway.

How romance is handled in this game is awful. You could at least give us a "gay/bi/straight" option at chargen!

A 'not interested' option would also be great, personally. Why would I waste time on romance when there are dragons to slay?

That said, there are certain sidequests that count towards affection too, usually associated with the more developed characters who are obviously intended to be love interests. I believe the intent was for the value of these sidequests and gifts to be large enough to outweigh the hundreds of times you talked to the the innkeeper and the random escort quests you've done.

Evidently, someone messed up there.

The combat, particularly against the big monsters, is spectacular though.

If anyone finds themselves really in desperate need of a fast-travel option, I think my character was a high enough level that I could probably send someone a few waystones if they wanted. I think I also had some spare end-game weapons and gear lying about if anyone wants them.

[Zevox]

I can't believe I've missed this one.

The game is just awesome. I don't think I've ever played a computer- or video game-RPG with such a good combat system. I'm always having a blast when you need both head and guts to win a fight.
You should give the Devil May Cry series, God of War series, and Bayonetta a try then. Dragon's Dogma's combat is basically a combination of their gameplay style, the monster-climbing system from Shadow of the Colossus, and a magic system.

The giant monster fights in particular are uniquely well done though, that is definitely true. Particularly the Dragon and Hydra fights, which are the best I've seen anywhere.


Just... just be careful who you get too chummy with. The game doesn't distinguish between platonic relationships and romantic ones, so the game just assumes your character's love interest is the one who likes you the most at the time, and people automatically like you a little more every time you talk to them. My brother and I didn't realize it on the first playthrough, so we ended up with the innkeeper in the capital. Yeah... that *really* didn't go as planned.
In particular, I would strongly advise against doing the Duchess' side-quests at all. They are horribly written and guaranteed to max out your relationship score with her unless you actively try to lower it (requires using non-lethal attacks on her, like punching or throwing objects at her), so unless you max out someone else first, she'll end up as your love interest. Which, well, if you're like me you wouldn't want after seeing her quests.

Also... don't expect much from the ending. Things get weird and don't make too much sense once you get there.


... Ok. Suddenly, I had this urge to talk more with Madeline.

So, the number of conversations started is what counts? I've heard gifts count too. Kind of weird system, anyway.
Conversations, gifts, and side-quests related to the character (usually acquired from the bulletin board) raise their affection for you. Each semi-major character has a gift that is their favorite and raises their affection more than others, which you can look up on the game's wiki if you're interested.

[Tome]

So all this talking has prompted me to get the game out of storage again.

And I noticed some new DLC.

Firstly, there's a free DLC that adds a Hard Mode and Speedrun Mode to the game. Hard mode is apparently pretty disappointing, as all it does is ramp up gold drops, double stamina use (except for running, thankfully) and make you take more damage. High level players will still be dropping Chimeras in a matter of seconds, much to my annoyance.

Next, there's a major expansion coming on April 25th called Dark Arisen. I am very intrigued by this.

Beyond that a slew of minor DLC for extra quests and equipment exist. From all reports, none of it is really worth purchasing.

There's also official word that a sequel is in the works - hopefully they get better writers on board for that, or at least correct whatever mistake lead to the horrendous trainwreck that is the writing behind the current game.

[Raimun]

You should give the Devil May Cry series, God of War series, and Bayonetta a try then. Dragon's Dogma's combat is basically a combination of their gameplay style, the monster-climbing system from Shadow of the Colossus, and a magic system.


Oh, I've played some of them, particularly God of War. I said that when you compare combat in RPGs, Dragon's Dogma takes the cake. For example, fights in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion are hardly as fun and intense. :smallsmile:

[Zevox]

Oh, I've played some of them, particularly God of War. I said that when you compare combat in RPGs, Dragon's Dogma takes the cake. For example, fights in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion are hardly as fun and intense. :smallsmile:
True, there definitely aren't enough action-RPGs that learn from actual action games like Dragon's Dogma does. The only other I know of is Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which suffers from being pathetically easy to break. Dragon's Dogma does get too easy once you level up enough, but for the most part it's a worthy challenge if you don't deliberately grind.

[Raimun]

So, now I'm having "conversations" with Madeline to raise her Affinity. It works but it's kind of tedious compared to my first Drake slaying (at lvl 27, wooo! \,,/) I had just before doing this. :smalltongue:

Edit: I'll be intimidating the innkeeper and blacksmith after this. This is a weird game.

[Zevox]

So, now I'm having "conversations" with Madeline to raise her Affinity. It works but it's kind of tedious compared to my first Drake slaying (at lvl 27, wooo! \,,/) I had just before doing this. :smalltongue:
That's actually quite impressive. I was around level 40 when I finally took down the Drake for the first time, and not because I didn't find it until then. (I actually thought it was the Dragon when I first found it... an impression not helped when I ran from it, it followed by flying, and then killed my entire party with fire breath from the sky.)

I wouldn't recommend trying to raise affinity just by continuously talking to someone, honestly. That's the slowest route. Just do her quests (and Madeline does have them), and look up her favorite gift and give some to her whenever you have them to spare. Eventually she'll have a pink aura around her head when you talk with her, which is how you know your relationship is maxed out. As long as it stays maxed out (and it won't lower unless you attack her or screw her over on her quests) and she was the first one you maxed, she'll automatically be your romance when that kicks in.

Though, just to make sure you're aware, don't expect much from that "romance." It basically amounts to you saving her from the Dragon, then getting a very brief scene together afterward, and her moving in to your house (back in the first town) for the post-game. And no, her moving into your house doesn't affect a thing other than her location. Again, the writing in this game is rather bad.

[Raimun]

That's actually quite impressive. I was around level 40 when I finally took down the Drake for the first time, and not because I didn't find it until then. (I actually thought it was the Dragon when I first found it... an impression not helped when I ran from it, it followed by flying, and then killed my entire party with fire breath from the sky.)


I'm currently Magick Archer (only to get Regeneration) so it helped. Basically I just grappled&slashed the Drake's heart with my daggers, shot it to the heart with 6xShot and when it started flying, shot it down from the sky with 10xShot. I also had a Mage and Sorcerer with Ice-spells. Still, my main strategy was to I run all over the place like a squirrel. :smallsmile:



I wouldn't recommend trying to raise affinity just by continuously talking to someone, honestly. That's the slowest route. Just do her quests (and Madeline does have them), and look up her favorite gift and give some to her whenever you have them to spare. Eventually she'll have a pink aura around her head when you talk with her, which is how you know your relationship is maxed out. As long as it stays maxed out (and it won't lower unless you attack her or screw her over on her quests) and she was the first one you maxed, she'll automatically be your romance when that kicks in.

Though, just to make sure you're aware, don't expect much from that "romance." It basically amounts to you saving her from the Dragon, then getting a very brief scene together afterward, and her moving in to your house (back in the first town) for the post-game. And no, her moving into your house doesn't affect a thing other than her location. Again, the writing in this game is rather bad.

I noticed that. I stopped shortly after I heard that sound whenever I talked to her. No one else makes that sound. That means she's a special girl. :smalltongue:

... Seriously, I'm only doing this because I don't want to end up with an innkeeper or a blacksmith. So, I guess I'll just give Madeline all gift-items until she's maxed.

[Zevox]

I'm currently Magick Archer (only to get Regeneration) so it helped. Basically I just grappled&slashed the Drake's heart with my daggers, shot it to the heart with 6xShot and when it started flying, shot it down from the sky with 10xShot. I also had a Mage and Sorcerer with Ice-spells. Still, my main strategy was to I run all over the place like a squirrel. :smallsmile:
Yeah, Magic Archer was what I was when I beat it the first time too. Surprisingly good class, and that sextuple-ice-arrow attack is amazing for the fire Drake.