'Dragon's Dogma 2' Release Date: Story, Gameplay, and More

Players will find themselves taking on the role of an Arisen once again, which is a hero marked by a dragon who that individual must rise up and eventually quell in combat. Slaying the dragon is a personal mission for the Arisen since their heart is stolen by that beast in the first place. That dragon is responsible for much of the world's destruction, which is why the people who fear it pray for its defeat (surprisingly, others look up to that fearsome beast as a god). Your journey to take down that daunting dragon will transport you to a wealth of fantastical lands, such as "Vermund" (the kingdom of humanity), "Batthal" (the kingdom of "Beastren"), and "Sacred Arbor" (the home of the elves). Of course, you'll run into a whole host of dynamic characters during Dragon's Dogma 2's epic adventure - some of those characters include Ulrika (a young woman who nurses you back to health after the dragon wounds you) and Menella (a Beastren cat/human hybrid who leads a collective of guards that protect the high priestess and her acolytes).

One of the more unique Vocations only your Arisen can master is the brand-new "Warfarer" combat class, which lets your character use every weapon and instantly switch between them while learning each skill tied to all those aforementioned Vocations. The only caveat that comes with using this class is that your Arisen will have lower base stats compared to the specialized strengths tied to the other Vocations. As you make your way through Dragon's Dogma 2's massive world, you'll run into "Vocation Maisters." These well-trained individuals can gift you with special tomes that help you unlock new Vocations or acquire unique skills known as "Maister’s Teachings." Before they do that, however, you'll need to deepen your relationships with each one to earn their approval before they pass on their valuable knowledge.

Just like the first Dragon's Dogma, this sequel will transport you across a massive seamless open world with all sorts of dangers lurking around every corner. With your Pawns by your side, you'll navigate it with your battle-ready Arisen as you confront enemies big and small. Speaking of big enemies, Dragon's Dogma 2 features a wide array of towering beasts that you can actively climb onto and hack at to do more lethal damage. Some of the larger beasts you'll encounter include a Cyclops, Griffins, and a ginormous bronze giant referred to as "Talos" (it'll take more than just climbing its limbs to take that particular enemy down for good!).

Fast traveling can be enabled through the use of "Ferrystones" and hopping into traveling oxcarts. You'll find yourself dealing with all sorts of hazards in the daytime and even more dangerous ones at nighttime as the world around you becomes pitch black. Along with exploring the great outdoors, there are underground locales you can venture through that contain unknown treasures (they also include high-level threats!). Prepare yourself for an epic crusade against the dragon that wronged you across the vast realms that make up the entirety of Dragon's Dogma 2's medieval fantasy world.