Summary
Just like in real life, when players inDragon’s Dogma 2do bad things, they are sentenced to prison. While it may not have the same exact consequences, this simple mechanic gives the game a ton of life, as players must tread lightly withinDragon’s Dogma 2’smany cities if they want to get out of it unscathed. But, while that may be an interesting mechanic, it does not feel fully developed here.
In games likeThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, prison feels like something that players want to actively avoid. But inDragon’s Dogma 2, it almost feels like a simple field trip players can take if they want a break from traveling. There really does not seem to be any major consequences, and it is pretty easy to escape any cell. Even though that does not ruin the experience, the prison system has so much more potential here.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Prison Feels a Bit Lacking in Consequences
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Prison System Explained
Most players will likely get arrested at some pointduring theirDragon’s Dogma 2adventure. Sometimes, players just cannot help breaking a law, either because they are curious about what will happen or they simply want to cause chaos. The game will respond by sending guards after them, and these guards will beat the player down until they are able to bind their hands. And once they successfully do that, they will drag them to the dreary cells of Gaol.
When players wake up in Gaol, they are met with a drab cell without any of their gear. While some games might let players live out their sentence,Dragon’s Dogma 2only gives players the option to escape. They can either bribe the guards, use a makeshift Gaol key, or punch the wall out. Then, they just have to run a certain distance away from the cell and their items are magically returned to them.
The Prison Should Have Been So Much More
This system seems to lack any sort of challenge, which takes the excitement out of it a bit. Guards will not really chase the player down nor will they remember players once they leave. UnlikeSkyrim, there is also no bounty hovering over players' heads and their gear is easily returned to them. All of that means is that prisoners kind of have it easy inthe world ofDragon’s Dogma 2, yet they could have been met with so much more.
Inan expansive open-world such asDragon’s Dogma 2, there was a ton of potential for an exciting lifelike prison system. Instead of feeling like a simple vacation, prison should have been something that players attempt to actively avoid. It should not only have been a bit of a challenge to escape from, but it should have also given players a bad reputation with other NPCs. Additionally, they should have been able to actually live out their sentence if they wanted to, because some people do not want the criminal life lingering over them. And repeated crimes should have meant longer sentences, so that players were less inclined to go down that path.
While Capcom would have had to find that delicate balance between making prison fun and punishing, the way it was implemented it here seems to lack both elements. It is just far too easy to escape from jail, and there are no lingering consequences for being arrested. Instead, players can simply unlock the doors, wander the prison, and get out without a care in the world. Even though it is far too late to fix the mechanic now, hopefully,whatever comes next forDragon’s Dogmacan spice this feature up a bit more.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Set forth on your grand adventure, Arisen!Dragon’s Dogma is a single player, narrative driven action-RPG series that challenges the players to choose their own experience – from the appearance of their Arisen, their vocation, their party, how to approach different situations and more. Now, in this long-awaited sequel, the deep, explorable fantasy world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 awaits.On your journey, you’ll be joined by Pawns, mysterious otherworldly beings, in an adventure so unique you will feel as if accompanied by other players while on your own adventure.All of these elements are elevated further through physics technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and the latest in graphics, to create a truly immersive fantasy world in Dragon’s Dogma 2.
