I had no plans to immerse myself in the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2, especially after the failed experiment with Baldur’s Gate 3. I think it’s a great game, but it didn’t quite click with me and was enough of a setback for one season. However, replaying Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands left a void that only a great adventure could fill. And that was how I began my adventure as Arisen.
Anyone related to the world of video games has heard about the controversy related to the game, so I don’t want to deviate down those paths. Suffice it to say that my experience on PS5 has been very positive, except for some small details that affect my mood, so to speak.
I don’t know what genius thought of putting the running action on two different keys on the controller: the L3 joystick (something logical) and the Circle button, which is used to interact with objects, collect loot and greet/talk to NPCs . Chatting or picking up objects near cliffs becomes a risky sport. And the best thing is that “Talk/Run” is the same action on the controls, so you can’t separate it. It reminds me of the Naughty Dog specials with The Last of Us.
Roles in role-playing video games and other hobbies
My misadventures in Dragon’s Dogma 2 have less to do with running and more to do with collecting items during exploration. It is an action that becomes a true moral dilemma when they find themselves within NPC properties. All open world video games do it and I have a particularly negative memory of it. Assassin’s CreedFor example.
Much of the blame lies with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 3, New Vegas and Fallout 4, where taking many of the belongings of the world’s inhabitants is considered a crime and can lead to paying fines. Even to jail! This mechanic really resonated with me and since then I have applied this moral mechanic in all my role-playing experiences.
I don’t usually have this consideration with hostile NPCs, although I admit that I have made exceptions when it involved very personal and/or important objects for them. I remember a couple of Starfield enemies who earned my respect and I didn’t desecrate their corpses, even though I knew their equipment was valuable. Needless to say, there are no exceptions with civilians, much less with allies.
This brings me to my first 10 hours in Dragon’s Dogma 2. It’s a role-playing video game, so I role-play… and I tend to be insufferably inflexible in this matter. The first camp was not a challenge, but I almost gave in to temptation in the little village of Melve. I could see potions and other items through the windows of the houses, items that would have come in handy during my adventures through the woods.
The point is that nothing happens if you go in and destroy everything. I did a little test in Vernworth after a Manual Save and not even in a capital there is a theft system (and if there is, I’m a terrible thief). In fact, I remember talking to the blacksmiths and seeing my Pawn brazenly enter the shop to open a drawer by the back door. I didn’t find it very funny and he took me out of the role-playing immersion a bit, but I think that being an accomplice to theft and not a thief is a middle ground that I can accept.
I hope no one misunderstands me: I’m not saying it’s a negative thing. Dragon’s Dogma 2 or any other video game (The Wicher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin’s Creed, etc.), much less do I expect most of you to share my self-imposed limitations. They are video games and there is no right or wrong way to play. However, I was excited to share this little hobby out of curiosity and I want to see how many like-minded souls I can find.
My plan is to play Dragon’s Dogma 2 based on this moral limitation, so to speak. I already did it with Starfield and it didn’t go at all bad for me. I know that I am going to lose many significant objects and I do not rule out role-playing theft when it involves something of capital importance. After all, everything has to belong to someone. Even so, I would like at least video games with such a strong role-playing component, as is the case, to include a theft system. What do you think? Are you one of me or do you not give importance to this matter?
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