Summary
Many action-RPG fans are currently immersed inDragon’s Dogma 2, the sequel to Capcom’s cult classic 2012 RPG. The crossover between them andMonster Hunterfans is likely significant, given that both series share an emphasis on bringing down massive fantasy monsters.Monster Hunterfans have some time to kill as well, with the next announcement forMonster Hunter Wildsexpected in summer 2024, and the game itself not coming out until 2025. PlayingDragon’s Dogma 2and replaying olderMonster Huntertitles should keepMonster Hunter Wilds’ hype alive until it’s ready to be shown again.
Monster Hunter Worldsaw a major resurgence in late 2023, but several months into 2024, many of the hunters involved are probably ready forDragon’s Dogma 2’s change of pace. With Sword-and-Shield, Great Sword, Dual Blades, and Bow users easily jumping toequivalent Vocations inDragon’s Dogma 2, Capcom’s efforts in sharing common DNA between its action franchises should be paying dividends. For all that the olderMonster Hunterfranchise has given toDragon’s Dogma, now is the perfect time forDragon’s Dogma 2to return the favor by lending one of its greatest strengths toMonster Hunter Wilds.
Whether it’s precise movement inOnimusha, slick combos inDevil May Cry, or tense counter hits inMonster Hunter, Capcom’s action games often produce lots of memorable moments that look great in social media clips.Dragon’s Dogma 2is just as proficient in this as the rest, as many players are already finding out. NPC responsiveness and nichetricks are thingsDragon’s Dogma 2prides itself on, and nowhere is this more evident than when a giant foe topples into a ravine to form a living bridge, saving the player valuable minutes of daylight travel time.
Fights In Dragon’s Dogma 2 Find Ways to Keep Feeling Fresh
Even more so thanMonster Hunter,Dragon’s Dogma 2rewards experimental approaches to combat whenever possible. A cyclops can be thrown off balance by the Arisen climbing on its head and stabbing its eye before a Pawn tackles its leg to briefly knock the beast out against a nearby tree. Compared to that, theenvironmental interactions that makeMonster Hunter Worldfeel alivelook primitive. Factoring in all the four-legged and flying beasts thatDragon’s Dogmashares withMonster Hunter, a picture begins to form of howMH Wildscould learn from the former.
Monster Hunter Wilds Should Copy Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Combat Spontaneity
It’s not confirmed whetherMonster Hunter Wildswill be open-world, but it looks to have the series’ largest hunting regions regardless. Environments like these would be ideal for the emergent interactions anddetailed AI thatDragon’s Dogma 2specializes in. Monsters will still have defined animations and attack patterns like always, but extra interactions could be snuck in while accommodating the varied terrain they might fight on.
Monster Hunter World, again, started down this path with things like water sweeping Rathalos off a cliff or Barroth falling into Diablos’ sandpit, but working such occurrences in as universal interactions inWildscould spice up many monsters’ hunts.
Environmental Interactions Could Be Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Gift To MH Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds’ potential weather gimmickcould be the key here, with monsters needing to struggle against stampedes, sandstorms, avalanches, and other phenomena just as much as the player. Things like sharingDragon’s Dogma 2’s specialized abilities to bring down flying monsters, or tricking longer ones like a charging Deviljho into pits to use as bridges, would work just as well inMonster Hunter Wildsas they do inDragon’s Dogma. IfMonster Hunter Wildswants to be the biggestMonster Hunteryet, then it should useDragon’s Dogma 2as a guide for doing just that.
