It’s been over 60 hours since I started my second playthrough of Dragon’s Dogma 2 to prepare for this review of the Dark Arisen expansion. I’ve replayed the game, conquered the threats found in the new region of Norgan, reached over level 180, and loved every minute I spent with this significant addition to the action RPG. Thanks to this expansion, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has become one of my favorite titles this year.
I played the sequel when it was released in 2024. My 3.5/5 review was weighed down mostly by performance issues, and quite frankly, the characters and story weren't the most entertaining. But story aside, that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the action RPG. For those who don't know, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is more of a reimagining of the first game rather than a full-blown sequel.
I’m happy I spent a few weeks replaying the original game before the expansion's release. As mentioned in our Respawn Monday series, recent updates and changes have made it a better game overall.
The ability to teleport more freely and the rock-steady 60 fps performance make it a more enjoyable game than it originally was. A simple addition of an item makes it more accessible without alienating or eliminating its original design, so it’s a win-win either way. Thanks to the recent updates, most of my issues with the game have become minimal. It's an adventure that allows players to step outside the norm of games like it. It also pushes you to figure things out yourself, with minimal handholding, something I sadly think is a rare occurrence in modern game design.
The base game alone is a complete joy for action RPG fans who love a twist, so for those who held off on picking up the game at launch, now is the perfect time to do so, especially with the release of the Dark Arisen expansion, which is a major addition to the overall experience.
Dark Arisen Makes the Base Game Trivial
The expansion becomes available relatively early in the game, but Capcom recommends that you be at least level 40 before heading into it. I literally jumped in the moment I hit level 40, and Capcom wasn't kidding about the difficulty. The difficulty spikes heavily the moment you set foot on Norgan's snowy ground, with barbarian-like enemies greeting you within your first five minutes in the Dark Arisen expansion. Each swing feels like it could take you down.
To be fair, I was playing my second playthrough on Hard difficulty, so that could have contributed to the early difficulty. Regardless, I enjoyed the challenge.
Once I killed a few groups of enemies, things started to stabilize, as the gear and experience you earn in the expansion are significantly better than what I had access to in the base game. In just a few hours, I went from level 40 to level 70. But leveling isn't that much of a big deal, as the stat increases are minimal. It's all about the gear, which quite literally makes any equipment from the base game completely obsolete.
In the Dark Arisen expansion, there's an entirely new looting system, as the enhancement mechanic from the base game is no longer present. Any loot you earn in Norgan rewards you with spoils that need to be identified by a character in the starting village you come across. This village serves as the player's hub to recruit new Pawns, buy items, pick up quests, and, more importantly, identify the spoils you find during your journeys.
These spoils work much like how you would visit Deckard Cain to identify items you found in Diablo 2. Each item can be any weapon or armor type and will randomly contain different stats and perks. The further you progress, the higher the level of spoils you'll find. The higher their level, the stronger the weapon will likely be for your character.
This system is nothing new, as we've seen it in other games, but it pairs nicely with Dragon’s Dogma 2. The anticipation of getting your first level 4 spoils that could contain your current Vocation's weapon does feel good, and the possible perks do make it hard to let go of some items. Capcom adapting this system reminded me why I loved games like Diablo and looter shooters. The possibility of finding unique gear pushes you to keep exploring and hopefully get a good combination of items that best suit your playstyle. Expansion items now come with unique perks that can even enhance class skills, making some Vocations much more enjoyable to play.
No New Vocations is a Bummer, but The New Skills are Cool
The Dark Arisen expansion doesn't introduce new Vocations (classes), but it does add new skills for each of the available Vocations. Honestly, this is a bit disappointing, as it would have been great to have more playstyles available for the Arisen. The new skills are great, but they don't fully change how each class plays. The overall concept of each one remains relatively the same; you just have flashier or deadlier skills to complement that class a bit more.
As for enemy variety, there are a few new additions, but nothing completely out of the ordinary. We still have giants that are slightly different, larger human enemies paired with wolves, and those annoying lizardmen that are somehow thriving in this snowy climate. The newer and more challenging enemies appear later in the expansion, but for a good chunk of its first half, you're fighting familiar enemy types.
I still had fun fighting them, as the frost giants can be dangerous, with some having weapons stuck in their arms or backs. This hints to players like me that we can jump onto their backs and yank the weapons out of their flesh. To my surprise, this turns out to be a weak spot, and removing the weapons deals considerable damage. We also have snowy ogres that, if they manage to grab you, steal all your spoils and run away to their cave hideout. Most of the time, these caves are filled with other treasures, so it's always worth chasing them down.
We then have the ice dragon Fimbl, the Fallen Dragon that spits undead, different undead enemies (Ghouls are the worst), to the firefly Gagana that feels like it can take on any firefly monster found in Monster Hunter. All of them do a good job of keeping the combat from feeling stale. Yes, there are plenty of enemies similar to those found in the base game, but their unique abilities add more flavor. They're not simply the same enemies in different colors. It initially looked that way to me, but once I started fighting them, I realized there was a bit of an adjustment needed on my part.
The Story of the Dark Arisen is a Better Tale Than Mine
The biggest surprise for me was the story that sets the expansion in motion. In Dark Arisen, you're told of another Arisen sighting in the far northern region of Norgan, and the false Arisen has taken action to find this individual, hoping to "deal" with these claims. As the actual Arisen, I went to investigate and hopefully find some answers.
What transpires revolves around a new character named Eir. It's a story that I happened to enjoy far more than the base game's overall narrative. It's more focused and provides context around the concept of Pawns and the never-ending cycle between the Arisen and the Dragon. The lack of political intrigue and the smaller cast of characters make it a tale that I found less likely to skip. It can still be convoluted for some, considering the overall concept of the Dragon's Dogma world, but this story handles it so cleanly that it's hard to find myself wanting to jump back into the base game and continue where I left off. With a satisfying gear progression and a better story, going back to the base game was a weird transition for me.
All the new additions and content found in the Dark Arisen expansion made my entire playthrough of the rest of the base game feel completely obsolete. No gear I find while completing the rest of the base game's main story will replace what I found in Dark Arisen. The moment I went back, enemies started dying with just a swing of my sword.
I feel like I'm playing on easy mode as there was a clear gap between the enemies from the base game and the expansion. Even the rewards don't feel all that exciting anymore. Having already experienced the main game, it was hard to find the motivation to continue, which is why I highly suggest new players enjoy the base game in its entirety, get close to the end, and then head to Norgan.
But I carried on as there's endgame content that unlocks later in the base game and is suited for players who have gone through the expansion. Lost Rites dungeons are spread across the game's existing regions and offer lengthy challenges that are very difficult, even for those who have finished the expansion.
These dungeons serve as the new endgame, with certain restrictions that make each challenge more interesting. For example, some require every party member to maintain a 'Very Light' weight status, suggesting that you can only bring a limited number of items. There's even one that limits the player to just two equipped skills.
It's a nice challenge that results in an enjoyable gameplay loop of hunting for the best gear and perk combinations possible for your preferred Vocations. We already have players who have reached level 999 and seem to be enjoying the gear grind.
Dark Arisen Shows the Best Side of Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen isn't a simple DLC pack; it's a true expansion. It's not a piece of paid content that adds a new game mode, a few weapons, or a new location that you can finish in one or two sittings. This is an expansion that can have you spending over 50 hours in the new area alone, with its own collection of hidden chests, secrets, and side quests to keep you busy. This doesn't even include the Lost Rites endgame dungeons mentioned above, which add even more replayability, even during the base game's final act.
It's a fine piece of content that elevates the overall experience of Dragon's Dogma 2, so much so that it overshadows the rest of the game. If Capcom looks toward improving the base game and its systems to better align with what the expansion offers, the game will be in an even better state. But for now, Dark Arisen is a fantastic addition that has what it takes to entertain even the most loyal Dragon's Dogma fans. This shows that the team has learned to fine-tune what makes the series special and apply those lessons to a new chapter that makes me hopeful for the future of the series.
Verdict: 5 / 5 (Exceptional)
PROS
Norgan is a massive snowy region filled with new challenges and mechanics
The Spoils system is familiar and pairs well with the rest of Dragon’s Dogma
Dark Arisen’s story is far more enjoyable than the original story
Endgame is challenging and has a satisfying grind
CONS
Expansion makes most of the base game’s content obsolete, including rewards
No new Vocations added to the game, just new skills that don't significantly change each class
What I’ve Played
*This review is based on a PS5 review copy provided to the reviewer
About the Author - Carlos Hernandez
Carlos Hernandez is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Too Much Gaming, where he writes about video games, reviews, and industry news. A lifelong gamer, he would do anything to experience Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time again and has a love/hate relationship with games that require hunting for new gear to improve your character.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen brings out the best in Capcom's action RPG with a massive new region, rewarding gear progression, challenging endgame dungeons, and a more focused story. It's a fantastic expansion, even if its improvements make much of the base game's content feel obsolete.