Dragon’s Dogma 2 Showcase Brings Back Memories of Shadow of the Colossus With Latest Reveals

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Capcom just brought its latest Dragon’s Dogma 2 Showcase to a close, but it still made sure to show off towering new enemies like Talos, a new vocation in the form of the Trickster, and more immersive RPG gameplay.

It was a short presentation that had its show stolen almost immediately when Capcom began to introduce fearsome foes like Talos, a giant statue capable of destroying its surrounding environment. It appears players can take Talos out by climbing around its body and striking weak points Shadow of the Colossus-style.

Talos is proof that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is bringing a gigantic scale to the series, but that’s not the only thing that’s new. While the world may appear similar to the original adventure, Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi says the sequel’s story takes place in “a parallel world.” As the Arisen, players will find themselves caught between the struggle of two kingdoms: Vermund and Battahl.

Meanwhile, Dragon’s Dogma 2 Director Hideaki Itsuno introduced us to one of the many quests we’ll encounter. This specific excursion follows the player character as they work with and befriend Elven siblings.

This section of the showcase was used to show off the Elven settlement known as the Sacred Arbor. Here, the Arisen might encounter NPCs that speak their own language that requires translation to understand. If the player has a Pawn nearby who understands Elvish, they will be able to automatically translate it.

“These Specializations that Pawns can acquire will make each of them more unique,” Itsuno said, “and hopefully more enjoyable to journey with.”

Dragon’s Dogma 2 release date revealed

Other new features highlighted in the Dragon’s Dogma 2 Showcase include first looks at a more robust character creator and the new Trickster Vocation. The latter allows players to fight with foggy illusions while providing buffs for Pawns. Itsuno says that this style of combat was made for those who prefer to do their fighting from the sidelines.

Finally, Capcom confirmed that Dragon’s Dogma 2 launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S on March 22, 2024. Of course, we already knew that thanks to a leak from earlier today.

Preorders open today, and there are a few options and goodies for buyers to choose from. In addition to the Standard Edition, players will have the option to pick up a Deluxe version of Dragon’s Dogma 2 that bundles the base game with 1500 Rift Crystals, the Dragon’s Dogma Music & Sound Collection, an Explorer’s Camping Kit, and six other useful items.

Those who preorder the standard edition will be granted access to the Superior Weapons set, which includes some shiny tools for the four starting Vocations. Preorders for the Deluxe Edition, meanwhile, come with the Standard bonuses as well as the Ring of Assurance.

For more on Dragon’s Dogma 2, be sure to check out our hands-on preview, where we came away saying, “If there’s one comfort that I can have as a fan of Dragon’s Dogma, it’s that Dragon’s Dogma 2 will offer up more of what I loved about that first game, and that many of those minor elements have been improved upon.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.