Summary
Dragon’s Dogma 2, the long-awaited sequel to Capcom’s beloved 2012 action-RPG, is a welcome arrival for fans of the IP, and a bit of a pleasant surprise, as there was a long period where aDragon’s Dogmafollow-up was anything but guaranteed. Unsurprisingly, hype forDragon’s Dogma 2is through the roof, and assuming the game lives up to expectations, it could be a sign of things to come for another fan-favorite Capcom series.
There was once a time whenDead Risingwas considered one of the bestand most promising IPs of its generation, standing alongside legendary Capcom franchises likeResident EvilandDevil May Cry. Indeed, the first two games in theDead Risingseries launched to critical acclaim, and despite some shortcomings, are generally remembered fondly. The series stumbled a bit with later entries, though, withDead Rising 3reviewing well but not reaching the cult-classic status of its predecessors. Then, due to a number of production complications at developer Capcom Vancouver,Dead Rising 4turned out to be rather disappointing, with fans criticizing its controversial portrayal of hero Frank West, as well as its general lack of creative direction and identity. This seemingly sealed the series' fate, asDead Rising 5went on to be canceled, and the future of the franchise seems uncertain.
Capcom Is Sticking to Its Classic IP
The fact thatDragon’s Dogmais getting a current-gen sequelalmost twelve years after its initial release is proof that Capcom isn’t afraid to bring back IP, even if they are two console generations old. Considering how popularDead Risingis, especially the first two games, it seems probable that the franchise could make a comeback at some point in the next few years, enjoying the same sort of revival asDragon’s Dogma.
Dead Risingis still a beloved IP, and its chaotic, no-holds-barred approach to combat, narrative, and sandbox gameplay make it memorable and unique amidst the flurry ofzombie gamesthat have been released in its wake. Despite the blow thatDead Rising 4delivered to the series' reputation, it seems that time has been kind to the franchise as a whole, and a new entry, be it a soft reboot or a direct sequel to one of the previous games, has a good chance of success. This is especially true if Capcom develops the game in its impressive RE Engine, giving the game the visual fidelity and attention to detail of titles like the modernResident Evilgames.
Dragon’s Dogma 2is the most recent example of a classic Capcom IP coming back to life, but it’s not the only one.Devil May Cry 5breathed new lifeinto a series that struggled following the poor reception ofDMC: Devil May Cry, andResident Evilmade one of the biggest comebacks in gaming history, chasing the controversialResident Evil 6with the stellarResident Evil 7and three well-received remakes. In both cases, Capcom managed to turn struggling IP into success stories by honing in on their most important elements and trimming aspects that are less valuable or haven’t aged well.
This is what could happen witha newDead Rising, whether it’s a reboot, remake, or something else entirely.Dead Rising 4, by most accounts, suffered from a lack of strong creative vision, but that game’s problems don’t have to define the franchise as a whole.Dragon’s Dogma 2doesn’t have the same messy legacy to contend with, but it does show that Capcom is willing to improve and support projects in franchises that have been dormant for over a decade, so it might prove that the company will take a chance on a newDead Rising.
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.
