Dragon's Dogma demo thoughts: A very welcome surprise

 Though in the 90s, the concept of the Japanese RPG (like “Chrono Trigger” or “Final Fantasty”) was the dominant form of game in the role-playing game genre, that notion has changed significantly in the past few years in America. Currently, the Western style of RPG, made popular by games like “Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” and “Fallout 3,” is the most popular form of the genre on the market. 

Aspects of the WRPG, like being able to freely roam a large, interesting open-world environment coupled with free form battles and all manner of side activities and quests that can be pursued at the player’s pace, set these games apart from JRPGs, which feature linear gameplay and story, turn-based combat and are heavy on dialogue. Recent games like “Kingdoms of Amular: The Reckoning” and “The Witcher 2” have been well-received critically and the genre only seems to be gaining steam. It only makes sense that a Japanese company would eventually see the trending popularity of the WRPG and attempt to make a game in that style and “Dragon’s Dogma” from Capcom is that game and it’s, actually, pretty good.

The team working on “DD” for Capcom is comprised of people who had previously worked on capcom titles like “Resident Evil,” “Devil May Cry” and “Breath of Fire” and the influence from those titles is easily recognizable in its combat system, storytelling and visual style. The combat is heavy on hack-and-slash action and is very reminiscent of “DMC.” The inventory system is very similar to “RE” and, though I wasn’t able to tell from the demo, the final game will allegedly have elements of survival horror too (though, like I said, I can’t tell how). While “DD” definitely feels like a Japanese-developed game, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially considering all that they managed to do to make the game feel and play like a WRPG.

"Dragon's Dogma" features colorful, detailed environments as well as huge enemies

                                           

The demo features two missions to play (one of which is basically just a boss battle) as well as giving you access to its extensive player customization options. You can pick from one of numerous classes, such as Warrior, Mage, Ranger and Strider, with each offering a slightly different set of proficiencies and abilities (though the details of each weren’t explained or made very obvious, that I saw anyway).

The combat in “DD” is much more action-based than, say, “Skyrim” and its here that the “DMC” influence is most obvious. Player’s move fluidly around the battlefield and chaining together combos is quick, easy and the animations are very smooth. Capcom did an excellent job giving attacks and movement a certain amount of weight - not so much that actions feel slow but enough that your attacks feel powerful and heavy. An on-screen button layout (in the bottom right), similar to “Assassin’s Creed,” helps to remind or inform the player of all possible actions, such as examining your surroundings, picking up items, or what attacks are available from your current stance. For instance, holding the Left Button will bring up your shield to block and the attack buttons initiate different, shield based attacks. Holding the Right Button will similarly allow you to perform various moves with your weapons. Also, switching between weapons (if you’re a ranger, for instance, with daggers and a bow) is quick and easy, allowing you to stay focused on the fight at hand.

Grappling onto and riding larger enemies is a unique and interesting aspect of the combat in "Dragon's Dogma"

The most interesting part of combat, though, is the ability to grapple onto larger enemies. In the demo, you’ll fight against a griffon and a chimera, two large, ferocious, dangerous beasts. In “DD” you’re able to grab onto the leg of a larger enemy and hoist yourself onto it, allowing you to climb around on it and attack specific areas. The tactic, which is reminiscent of “Shadow of the Colossus” and boss battles from “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow,” adds a unique layer to the combat that most action games have yet to explore – let alone RPGs. In an interview, the game’s director Hideaki Itsuno said, “In a lot of action games, with big enemies the tendency is just to have you hacking away at the shins. You don't get the full effect of fighting a giant boss. With this game you can climb all over it. If it has a body part, you can attack it.”

Also, like most RPGs, “DD” features a party system, though its slightly different than other games. The player will have one constant NPC ally that they can design at the start of the game who will always be present. Other party members can be added and these guys are known as “Pawns” and are also customizable as well as upgradable. NPCs are actually quite talkative and surprisingly don’t just offer up the same, tired one-liners over and over again, instead providing helpful tips for battles or how to defeat a boss. Though, their babble can get a bit overwhelming at times as, in the demo alone, I was often forced to read what new NPCs were saying to me because I couldn’t hear what they were saying over the sounds of my pawns talking to no one in particular.

This game literally just came onto my radar a few weeks ago and it’s already become a game I’m going to keep a close eye on. If the open-world environment is interesting enough and if there are lots of quests and content to be had, “DD” very well could be the template for all future JRPGs and would easily find a place in my collection.

Saints Row 3 mini-review: Stimulation overdose

(And yeah, I know it’s technically “Saints Row: The Third,” but I’m not calling it that)

A game like “Saints Row 3” is hard to quantify. While it offers tons of content that amounts to hundreds of hours of gameplay, a majority of that content will seem like exceedingly familiar territory. Though the gameplay is incredibly fluid, the characters and environment colorful and vibrant and features a ridiculous array of high-tech weaponry and vehicles with which to cause mayhem, the framework of the game beneath that luxuriant coat is really no different from any “Grand Theft Auto” or previous “Saints Row” title.

I had purposefully avoided “SR3” for some time now. I had already played “GTA4” along with both its DLC pack - “Lost and Damned” and “Ballad of Gay Tony” - and from everything I saw, “SR3” would offer really nothing more than a re-hashing of those games. Obviously not an exact recreation, but with both series being so close in content and execution I was worried that playing “SR3” would quickly become boring, bordering on tedium. After playing a good bit of “SR3” I can safely say that even though it goes out of its way to throw realism out the window, if you’ve played the typical sandbox criminal-sim (like “GTA” or the previous “SR” games), you’ve played “SR3.”

That’s not to say that “SR3” isn’t fun because if you like mindless carnage and destruction, you could do a lot worse than this title. It seems like almost every aspect of “SR3” was designed to let you become a walking, smack-talking one-man army as quickly as possible and let you loose on an unsuspecting world. When a game opens with a bank heist that results in a massive shootout, hundreds of casualties and numerous aircraft (helicopters and an airplane) being destroyed, you quickly realize that subtlety will not be on the menu. However, once the spectacle of these over-the-top heists and destruction wears off, you’re not left with much as the story of “SR3” is as insane as it is forgettable.

The leader of the Saints (left) takes on numerous Luchadores

You once again resume your role as the leader of the Saints, a criminal enterprise that has grown so large that they’re now basically celebrities in the eyes of the media and ordinary citizens. Along with familiar faces like Johnny Gat, Pierce and Shaundi, you aim to take over the city of Steelport. In order to do that, you’ll need to knock off the three top gangs that currently run the city, the Luchadores, Deckers and Morningstar. Along with story missions, there are also a wealth of other activities to be found around the city like the series standard Insurance Fraud or the activity “Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax,” a reality TV game show where you’re tasked with navigating a maze of treacherous obstacles, dispatching minions dressed like mascots and collecting power-ups for more points, weapons or health. You’ll also have plenty of Saints Book missions where you’ll find the standard assassination missions, car collection missions and other random challenges to keep you occupied.

Along with earning reputation points (XP) to unlock new abilities, you can buy property that will earn money as you play which can be spent on unlocking said abilities, new weapons or new clothes for your character. And with numerous different clothing stores to choose from, you can make your character look as ordinary or as outlandish as you wish.

Still, at the end of the day, all the outrageous antics, ridiculously weaponry and vulgarity that “SR3” possesses still isn’t enough to top the “GTA” series. Though, with “SR3,” THQ has done an excellent job to finally infuse enough originality and absurdity to distance itself from Rockstar’s king of the sandbox series. There is also tons of DLC packs out for “SR3,” though I haven’t checked any out (and doubt I will) but offer plenty of new content to keep fans coming back for more.

Gaming on the Cheap: Dungeon Siege 3

The fantasy, action-RPG video game landscape is packed pretty full these days. With “The Witcher 2” coming soon for Xbox 360, Capcom’s “Dragon’s Dogma” on the horizon and many still traipsing through the beautifully rendered woods of “Skyrim,” gamers have plenty of opportunity to indulge their inner warrior, pick up a broadsword and go questing. “But wait,” you say, “Those games are all open world, what if I want a more focused story experience? Oh and I’m poor.” And to you I’d say, “Stop being so picky if you’re poor. And also, you should probably check out ‘Dungeon Siege 3’ for the Xbox 360.

“Dungeon Siege 3” follows in the footsteps of games like “Diablo” or the more recent title, “Torchlight,” in that it is an action-RPG that features real-time, hack and slash combat. Though earlier “DS” titles featured automated combat where players input commands in real time (akin to “Knights of the Old Republic”), this iteration features real time combat that at first seems like a typical hack-and-slash brawler, but actually requires a bit more timing and patience to really excel at.

Though I know that the “DS” story is a continuing saga, I’m not sure how much this title relates to previous games, so I’ll just stick to the story as I experienced it. Player get to pick one of four heroes – Lucas, Anjali, Reinhart and Katarina – who are among the last remaining descendants of the 10^th Legion. The Legion, for centuries, had been a just and peace keeping force in the land of Ehb, settling conflicts and disagreements the courts could not. However, a woman named Jeyne Kassynder accused the Legion of murdering the former king of Ehb in an effort to usurp his power. After having converted the Azunite Church to her cause, Kassynder waged a bloody war against the Legion, slaughtering nearly every remaining member. Now she has set her sights on taking the throne of Ehb for herself, by force, and the player must embark on a quest to not only restore peace to Ehb but also avenge those who have been killed by Kassynder. The story is kinda generic in terms of other fantasy games but easy to follow even if you’re unfamiliar with the series.

The story is 15-16 hours long which can be extended with DLC (the only pack I saw available is 800 MS points called “Treasure of the Sun”). There is no competitive multiplayer but “DS3” can be play cooperatively online with up to three other players or with another person on the same console.

Lucas (center) is one of the most powerful characters in the game

Leveling your character up in “DS3” is a bit different from other action-RPGs I’ve played and I’ll admit, was a bit confusing at first. XP goes toward earning levels where you can unlock new abilities (new combat and defensive powers, every few levels), proficiencies (upgrading your abilities, every level) and skills (passive abilities that power up your character, every level). Each character has two separate weapon sets (Lucas uses a sword and shield for quick strikes and a greatsword for broader, powerful strikes) and you can unlock up to three abilities per set. Holding the block button lets you activate defensive powers that will heal you, increase defense or recharge your focus meter (what allows you to use abilities). Each ability has two proficiencies, but, each proficiency can only be leveled up five times so you’ll have to choose which aspects get more upgrades. For instance, Lucas can do a radial attack move called “Earthrending Strike” with his greatsword. This move’s proficiencies are Tremor (20% chance per rank to knockdown enemies) or Magnitude (increases the distance the attack travels per rank). I chose to upgrade Magnitude a bit more than Tremor so my attack hits more enemies but still has a chance to knock them down. This system, though confusing at first, lets players customize their character to their own style of play.

Using your abilities can also be slightly confusing at first as well. Combat abilities require focus to perform, which you can think of as a mana/magic meter, with regular attacks filling up the focus meter. However, using defensive abilities requires power orbs (displayed below the focus meter) which require using focus attacks to refill. Over time you’re granted more power orbs (only start with two) and they’re given to you at seemingly random times (you don’t earn these through levels).

But “DS3” isn’t all combat as there are many NPCs that you can speak to on your quest. Unlike “Mass Effect 3,” the “right” dialogue options aren’t always obvious and you’ll have to choose your responses carefully. Your speech choices also have an effect on your companion, as your responses have a positive or negative impact on your influence over them. Although, your influence with your companion seems to only relate to an Achievement as having lower or higher influence doesn’t seem to have any effect on how the story plays out.

While there are four characters to choose from, Lucas seems the most likely choice for a main character, for a few different reasons. First, he and his family are directly tied to the story of “DS3.” Not only because he is the youngest descendent of the last Grand Master of the Legion but for other reasons that are revealed as the story progresses. He is also the most likely, and best, choice for protagonist because he is the most powerful character in the game. Being that he is the only true melee fighter of the four (Reinhart is a mage and uses magic, Katarina uses firearms and Anjali uses a staff but also heavily relies on magic) his power is unmatched by the other three. By the end of the game, I had Lucas dealing well over 1,000 damage per critical strike and was usually mopping up everyone on screen (also because, as the most powerful, Lucas tends to draw aggro more often).

Lucas deals with a number of undead enemies in the "Treasure of the Sun" DLC

I’ve really enjoyed “DS3” for a number of reasons, the foremost being that any game that drops tons and tons of loot for me to acquire is like crack to me – I just can’t resist the allure of what great item might be still out there, waiting for me to find it. On top of that, the combat that comes between me and my loot is also pretty fun. At first, the combat seems like it emphasizes button-mashing but once you get later in the game (and especially in the DLC), the difficulty ramps up and you’ll want to stay on your toes, being careful to block, dodge and attack when the opportunity arises to be successful. Also, along with up to four-player online cooperative play, “DS3” lets a second person take up the role of your constant companion offline. “Couch co-op,” as offline, single console multiplayer has come to be known, is a feature most game developers tend to overlook but is still a big selling point for many gamers and it’s great to see games that actually take advantage of it.

The land of Ehb is large and sprawling but thanks to a quick and easy to use quest/navigation system, you’ll never be at a loss for what to do or where to go. While there is a minimap for you to get your bearings, there isn’t a world map. But, being that “DS3” is story-driven and most of the quests and adventures are presented to you without the need to search them out, having no world map isn’t a very big problem. I also wanted to point out that menus in “DS3” are relatively streamlined so you can quickly access your inventory, quests and light up a path to your next objective with the press of a button.

While the landscape of Ehb is beautifully rendered and colorful, nothing about the environments really stands out. Not that you really get a chance to take in the environments, either, as the camera in “DS3” isn’t very cooperative and you spend most of your time looking at the floor instead of the colorful landscapes. The character models, on the other hand, possess a very high level of detail and the appearance of characters changes when new weapons and armor are applied.

My biggest complaint about “DS3” is definitely the camera. Similar to “Baldur’s Gate,” the camera only features two views – a high up, zoomed out view that gives you a slightly good idea of your surroundings or a closer view that’s still positioned high up, giving you a good view of your character but not much beyond their immediate vicinity. Though it moves easily enough from left to right, it’s very limited in the vertical view that it gives you, moving up and down only slightly. So even though the characters are highly detailed and visually impressive, you don’t get much chance to study their detail.

Hopefully we’ll see more DLC for “DS3,” but I’m not holding my breath. Since its release in the summer of 2011, there’s only been on DLC pack released (“Treasures of the Sun”). Though the DLC only offers a few extra hours of gameplay, there are a ton of new items to be had, a large new environment to explore and tons of new enemies to fight. On top of that, it seems to have been designed to play after or near the end of the game because the enemies in the Aronai Desert do not play around and will mess you up big time if you aren’t prepared.

Though “DS3” doesn’t do anything to redefine a genre or stand out too much from the crowd, it remains a solid action-RPG offering that fans of the genre will no doubt enjoy immensely. If you’re not already a fan of the game type, “DS3” won’t do anything to sway your opinion. But if you’re looking for a fun, intense action-RPG the kind you usually only find on PCs, you’ll definitely find something to like about “DS3.” Since it came out almost a year ago, you’ll definitely be able to pick up this game for relatively cheap. I found it used at GameStop for $20 but I’m sure you could find it for even cheaper online.