From IGN · Jarrett Green · · 1m 40s
Dragon's Dogma 2 Expansion Review
Dragon's Dogma 2's Dark Arisen expansion offers vibrant enemies and deep exploration with new characters.
In brief
Dragon's Dogma 2's Dark Arisen expansion offers vibrant enemies and deep exploration with new characters. Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an engaging expansion with interesting characters, vibrant enemies, and a new area to explore. Originally reported by IGN.
Dark Arisen Expansion Review
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an engrossing expansion full of interesting new characters and vibrant enemies.
“An engrossing expansion full of interesting new characters and vibrant enemies.”
First Expansion's Legacy
The first Dark Arisen expansion fixed the base game's technical issues and added hours of new content.
“It has a well-lauded place in video game history as the expansion that 'fixed' the base game.”
Dark Arisen 2's Story
Dark Arisen 2 remixes themes from the first game without retelling it, focusing on a rumored second Arisen.
“Like in the first, another Arisen has been rumored to exist, something that shouldn't be possible and demands your immediate attention.”
Norgan Region
Norgan is a frozen mountain region with a single settlement and snowcapped cliffs.
“This takes you north to the frozen mountains of Norgan, a place that is largely abandoned save for the single settlement at its border.”
Story Structure
The expansion's story meanders with plot points sidetracked by side quests but avoids distraction.
“The expansion's story also meanders in similar ways to the base game, with plot points getting sidetracked by little tasks or other happenings.”
Norgan's Exploration
Norgan offers dense exploration with jagged peaks, underground caverns, and treacherous terrain.
“What it lacks in square footage on a map, it gains in a sprawling sense of height that stretches from its jagged icy peaks down to winding underground caverns.”
Navigation Systems
Portcrystals and climbing hooks improve navigation in Norgan's icy environment.
“The abundance of portcrystals scattered around the map is another navigational relief. There are more in Norgan than there are in Vermund and Bathall combined.”
Weather Challenges
Norgan's harsh weather causes blinding whiteouts that threaten to freeze players.
“Norgan's wintry winds often pick up, turning snowfall into blinding whiteouts that threaten to freeze you to death if you aren't protected by special winterized gear.”
New Monsters
Norgan introduces new monsters like baphomet-shaped demons and giant yetis.
“Giant yetis with gaping mouths that stretch the length of their bodies might be some of the most grotesque and memorable enemies in the series.”
Spoils System
Spoils are new gear that players can find and appraise for special abilities.
“Spoils, a new gear type that appears in generic shapes (long weapon, aegis, etc.) at first, but is revealed to be a usable piece of equipment when appraised by one of the new NPCs.”
New Skills
New skills and abilities for every vocation can be learned from obelisks in Norgan.
“New skills and abilities for every vocation can be learned from obelisks that dot the ridges and tundra in Norgan.”
Lost Rites Dungeons
The Lost Rites dungeons provide repeatable challenges and new skills for players.
“The Lost Rites dungeons range from short gauntlets of monster battles to sizable delves deep into danger.”
Verdict
Dark Arisen 2 offers a deep exploration experience with vibrant enemies and interesting characters.
“Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen's avalanche of new content is an icy salve for the burns left by a modern world full of incremental live-service updates.”
At a glance
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an engaging expansion with interesting characters, vibrant enemies, and a new area to explore.
