• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Dragon's Dogma Demo Impressions

djfist

Member
The demo is pretty brief but I was pleasantly suprised. It's actually kind of awesome. It reminds me of a modern day golden axe or to be more accurate, a modern day D&D arcade. (doubt many of you know the latter) I'd totally play it if it weren't for diablo and max Payne both releasing the week prior. Maybe in a month or two...
 

Sephon

Member
I've been playing the PS3 and 360 demo now comparing, and I'll definitely get the 360-version, while the tearing is annoying, the drop in framerate is excruciating personally.

Then while comparing I "accidentally" left my pawn to die, and fought the Chimera alone... Man was that battle epic and terrifying, without any hud I had no idea how much health he had left. And I killed of the snake and goat in a minute, the lion-part took about 10 minutes, I've spent all my healing items, my screen was flashing red and my heart was punding like a motherfucker, I actually managed to get him down by pure perseverance.
Pure bliss... And to imagine that these fights are regular encounters in Dragon's Dogma makes me realise what kind of games I do like.
 

demigod

Member
Yes, doesn't it work like that in every game? Unless the sprint is like a dash move or something.

That's why it's stupid. It's hard to press down on L3 while you're moving it. You only need to hold down on the A button while moving in Dark Souls, much better.
 

NIN90

Member
That's why it's stupid. It's hard to press down on L3 while you're moving it. You only need to hold down on the A button while moving in Dark Souls, much better.

Though it's rather uncomfortable to move the camera with the right stick while sprinting in Dark Souls.
 
That's why it's stupid. It's hard to press down on L3 while you're moving it. You only need to hold down on the A button while moving in Dark Souls, much better.

I guess I just don't have trouble clicking in the stick while moving it. If I had to hold it in to keep running then I would have trouble with it but otherwise it seems fine to me.
 

Sephon

Member
That's why it's stupid. It's hard to press down on L3 while you're moving it. You only need to hold down on the A button while moving in Dark Souls, much better.

I completely disagree, I find it pretty effective to just push the L3-button while moving to toggle running, it's a simple push with the thumb you're still using to move the character and you don't have to keep holding anything efterwards like you have to do in Dark Souls.
That said, I don't have any problems with the button configuration in Dark Souls either, it's just that they're two different games and the different configurations works just as well for their intention.

Another question:
I keep reading comments/reviews that mention that the menu music is silly, and while I've heard from reviewer-copies that they had some jpop/rock type of music their, in my demo there's this ambient choir music, much like oblivion. And I have a hard time finding out how that is silly.
So anyone know what they're referring to when they say that the menu-music is silly?
 

B-Genius

Unconfirmed Member
Though it's rather uncomfortable to move the camera with the right stick while sprinting in Dark Souls.
Fortunately, I've been raised on PSP Monster Hunter, so any camera control is heaven when compared to the "claw".

Dark Souls has a lot of tight, constricted movements, and you only really sprint when you're familiar with an area's layout (by which time you don't need such precise control of the camera). When there's a lot of open space in a game like Dragon's Dogma, it's better to have a simple click sprint, so you can freely observe/admire your surroundings.
 

Papercuts

fired zero bullets in the orphanage.
I've never been a fan of clicking the sticks to run, doesn't feel right to me and I feel like that just kills the sticks faster. Either way there's pretty much no excuse to just allow people to customize how they like, always makes everyone happy.
 

sonicmj1

Member
That was vaguely sort of entertaining. The demo was very easy, but it provided glimmers of interesting possible depth. I tried the Griffin battle both up close and from a distance, and that was kind of cool. It was kind of hard to see how the game was exciting with the difficulty as low as it was. All the non-boss encounters were absolutely trivial.

I'm definitely turning off pawn subtitles and control hints if/when I get the final game, though.
 

Anteater

Member
Another question:
I keep reading comments/reviews that mention that the menu music is silly, and while I've heard from reviewer-copies that they had some jpop/rock type of music their, in my demo there's this ambient choir music, much like oblivion. And I have a hard time finding out how that is silly.
So anyone know what they're referring to when they say that the menu-music is silly?

This one I think, it's in the preview version or maybe the final game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCjIbfJ4rNc
 
Wasn't terribly impressed. Liked what they were going for but found the whole thing just clunky and chaotic as hell.

I know you can change things around in the options but the UI and the constant pausing due to the companion's moves are terrible.
 

monome

Member
The demo is pretty brief but I was pleasantly suprised. It's actually kind of awesome. It reminds me of a modern day golden axe or to be more accurate, a modern day D&D arcade. (doubt many of you know the latter) I'd totally play it if it weren't for diablo and max Payne both releasing the week prior. Maybe in a month or two...

I know, and felt the same. I would love the game to be a little more feisty though, but I'll take what I'm offered.

The architecture of this game + next-gen + more defined IP (or pay for D&D IP or another medieval fantasy IP) = mucho money.

I hope Dragon's Dogma makes bank, because if this is GEN1, I will suck GEN2 with a lot of appetite.

I like Dragon's Dogma japanicer design and controls better than those of Skyrim/Witcher 2.
 
5. Take it with a pinch of salt

The demo's a great way to get a slice of the action and see what Dragon's Dogma looks like on your own TV, but it's not a great representation of what it's really like to play the game. The first bit of the demo is the full game's intro section, and this didn't impress us the first time we played. Dragon's Dogma takes about three or four hours to really show its worth, though that depends on how much you engage with it - using the powers and gear you've earned, exploring the world and surviving its dangers. Being dropped into a pre-built character is a good way to illustrate the game, but not the best way to truly enjoy it. Dragon's Dogma is about journey and discovery, and this closed-off demo doesn't really capture that. If you're left feeling disappointed, apply a pinch of salt.


http://www.oxm.co.uk/40905/features/dragons-dogma-six-things-to-do/
 

TheSeks

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.

Okay, I guess. But the whole time I was playing the demo, I kept thinking "why should I play this when I have Dark Souls to attend to?"

Don't get me wrong, I think Capcom's built a solid game. But the combat on the Griffin just was pretty poor because I could grapple onto the thing, but not chop it's wings off. And you have no indication you're doing damage to it other than that top bar. Unlike the "intro" section where they introduce that Lion/Snake/Goat thing and you (and the "pawns") take out the snake and goat head before focusing soley on the lion.

I agree with Trin: this game would benefit from co-op sorely. The pawns aren't bad, but they aren't that great for AI either. I guess I'd have to adjust to forcing them to heal me instead of them doing it, but if they can see me low on health why can't they do it themselves? :/

Also yeah, the slowing down the action to go "HERE ARISEN! SMACK THIS GOBLIN I GRABBED" is jarring in the action and the pawns talk too damn much for my liking.

I certainly won't be buying, but it isn't a bad game. Just needs certain tweaks. Mostly to the "limb damage" system if that's going to be there for more than one enemy.

Sooooo does the demo let you play as a Loli?

If you set her as the main character/Arisen, yeah. The first pawn you make only happens to be in the second area of the demo.
 

Pejo

Member
Enjoyed the Demo quite a bit. I feel the whole thing would benefit from controlling a bit more deliberately though. I'm not sure if the combat is deeper in the full game, but it felt very much like mash square to win a lot of the time to me, and as others have said, the difficulty was so low that any non-boss was just a complete waste of time.

Overall though great idea, I love the idea of damaging parts of the bosses to stop them from being able to do certain attacks, and i'm guessing this whole formula works out much better in a big environment i can roam around in.

Still not sure on when I will buy, but definitely will buy eventually.
 

RPGCrazied

Member
I seriously do not see major fps issues with the PS3 demo. I'd rather a game run at 22fps with no tearing, then a game that runs at 60 with tearing. Tearing in a game makes it really really ugly to me and generally do not play a game plagued with it. Really wish that developers had to vsync their games. I know they like to turn it off to achieve more frames, but whatever. I'll be getting the PS3 version as I thought it was smooth enough and no tearing.
 

Wanny

Member
I'm rarely satisfied from demos and betas. Heck, I wasn't even impressed by Diablo 3 this weekend. Surprisingly, I liked a lot what I saw in Dragon's dogma and now I kinda can't wait to get my hands on the full game.

They reached my hype level even with a weak demo. Thumbs up.
 

BHK3

Banned
Is there a way to just play the whole game alone? Hearing 3 people shouting and talking over each other while the game goes into "slow motion zoom in event cam" everytime a guy bangs his shield or holds someone is bloody annoying.
 

monome

Member
But the combat on the Griffin just was pretty poor because I could grapple onto the thing, but not chop it's wings off. And you have no indication you're doing damage to it other than that top bar.
I know of no action game that relies on real physics over damage management (Dead SPace is the closest but it's not a fun game ; its interest lies elsewhere).
Mashing and fighting is the joy of action games. If I actually cut things because I hold a sword and swords cut, the gameplay is boring. I like combos, meleeing, and feeling awesome. That fights are not realistic is a quid pro quo.
Don't know how long you've been playing games to suddenly feel damage bars take away from your fun.


I agree with Trin: this game would benefit from co-op sorely.
This is first game in a new IP, using action games mechanics while set in the broader RPG genre. It's already a pretty bold, and awesome, move.
I would like a DLC with co-op, that would serve as a proof of concept.
No need to repeat the RE5 level of bothering co-op.


Also yeah, the slowing down the action to go "HERE ARISEN! SMACK THIS GOBLIN I GRABBED" is jarring in the action and the pawns talk too damn much for my liking.
Doesn't turning the action camera "OFF" resolve the problem?


I want a Dragon Quest game with this level of action, yet something completely different.
This demo got me dreaming of a Dragon Quest game, yet true to the series but so different at the same time. Probalby mixing Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball, a fun, medieval, cutesy, actionny, magical, physical world.

This is probably blasphemy around here, but I played the demo straight after my first couple of hours with Witcher 2, and man--this game got me a whole lot more excited!
I feel the same, maybe you're an old school gamer with fond memories of Capcom Dungeon Brawlers games?!
 

Kolgar

Member
This is probably blasphemy around here, but I played the demo straight after my first couple of hours with Witcher 2, and man--this game got me a whole lot more excited!

After playing both scenarios, I've got a warm, gushy feeling about this game that tells me I'm buying it, playing it, and loving it soon.

The big creature battles are so damn epic, and the game is paced so much faster than what I've been playing lately (just wrapped up the main quest of Skyrim last week). It's a pretty fresh take on the genre and I'm looking forward to it.

My only question is WHY THE HECK isn't there online multiplayer for this? Me and two buds chatted on Live for 60 hours while playing through Skyrim separately, and it would have been gaming's gift from the heavens to be able to play through Dragon's Dogma together in a party.
 

Syril

Member
I couldn't find the options to make the pawns shut the fuck up. Salde was trying to hurry me along every five seconds. When I was fighting the harpies I was warned about their sleep ability over ten times. It's like having someone sitting over your shoulder trying to guide your experience so you don't miss anything so you can't discover anything for yourself. Is this what it's like for the press when they go to closed preview events?

The game under this feels pretty solid, but the demo ended just as I was starting to get used to the controls, so it's hard to say.
 

Ricker

Member
Decided to retry the demo,after my problems with the Griffon fight yesterday and got a better feel for the controls and all this time,so I might still get this afterall...one thing I am wondering though about the Pawns,when they zoom in on one of them and he is like all Silver,there is one guy that says,I will shoot you in the air...do I have to get near him and press the action button or jump button or something,because he never threw me in the air...
 

Elginer

Member
Really adore the demo but it is far to short. Cant wait for the full game, beautiful looking game with a pretty nice framerate on 360. The D&D influence is everywhere and it has the satisfying actiony combat Ive always wanted in a world like this.
 
I thought the game was really good and I enjoyed it, but the difference in frame rate on the PS3 and X360 demos are nearly night and day on my HDTV. The X360 version definitely has the smoother frame rate despite the screen tearing which doesn't necessarily bother me in the heat of battle. Graphics seem to be moderately close.
 

Ricker

Member
I thought the game was really good and I enjoyed it, but the difference in frame rate on the PS3 and X360 demos are nearly night and day on my HDTV. The X360 version definitely has the smoother frame rate despite the screen tearing which doesn't necessarily bother me in the heat of battle. Graphics seem to be moderately close.

The only time I noticed some screen tearing or vsinch issues on the 360 where in the flyby,like at the start of the Griffon section,besides that,like you said,I didn't notice any during the actual game from the demo anyway.
 

Cheech

Member
I thought the game was really good and I enjoyed it, but the difference in frame rate on the PS3 and X360 demos are nearly night and day on my HDTV. The X360 version definitely has the smoother frame rate despite the screen tearing which doesn't necessarily bother me in the heat of battle. Graphics seem to be moderately close.

Yeah, there is tearing, but it is intermittent. I played Dark Souls on my PS3, and I think Dragon's Dogma's frame rate is actually worse.

IMO, buy the 360 version of DD or don't bother.
 

Elginer

Member
Yeah, there is tearing, but it is intermittent. I played Dark Souls on my PS3, and I think Dragon's Dogma's frame rate is actually worse.

IMO, buy the 360 version of DD or don't bother.

Is framerate diff really that big? Havent tried ps3 version yet. Shame this crap is still happening with mp titles.
 
Yeah, there is tearing, but it is intermittent. I played Dark Souls on my PS3, and I think Dragon's Dogma's frame rate is actually worse.

IMO, buy the 360 version of DD or don't bother.


Yes, I am leaning towards the X360 version of DD since it seems like the frame rate was holding up much better even when the action got chaotic. I heard Dark Souls on PS3 had the better frame rate and graphics and bought that version, but I still wonder to this day if it was the better version of the game.
 
Is framerate diff really that big? Havent tried ps3 version yet. Shame this crap is still happening with mp titles.


Yeah, tell me about it. It's not terrible to the point where it is a deal breaker or affects the control, but I did notice more consistent drops during gameplay, especially when the fighting started. It seemed liked the X360 version was smooth during most of the gameplay and to me it felt more polished. Maybe it was my HDTV. I have 120hz with both systems. if you only have the PS3 version to choose from, the performance is still quite adequate.
 

Pie and Beans

Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
My X360 is as loud as a jet engine after any extended play and I fear its close to red-ringing after an alarming graphical glitchathon towards the end of the shitfest that is Ninja Gaiden 3, so will probably be electing to pick up the PS3 version of this. DMC developers, Playstation pad only seems right as well.

Although that also makes me wonder if you'd need Live Gold on the 360 version to access other peoples Pawns and upload your own.
 
Is there a way to just play the whole game alone? Hearing 3 people shouting and talking over each other while the game goes into "slow motion zoom in event cam" everytime a guy bangs his shield or holds someone is bloody annoying.

In the options you can turn off the "cinematic camera," but you'll still here the other shouting over each other.
 
So is this game open world or not?

The demo made it seem like it was setup in stages.

Did anyone try to run off into the forest during that Griffon fight?
 
Top Bottom