The BIG Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Retrospective

Thanks to MANSCAPED for sponsoring today's video! Get 20% OFF + Free International Shipping + 2 Free Gifts with my promo code "SUPERRAD" at mnscpd.com/SuperRAD
Dogma balls.
Into Free by Bz ► • B'z / Into Free -Danga...
Twitch ► / superradlemon
Twitter ► / superradlemon
Discord ► / discord
Patreon ► / superrad
Thumbnail ► / ghostalebrije
If I got anything wrong or there are any errors, PLEASE check the pinned comment first to see if I already corrected it, thank you!
Timestamps:
Intro - 0:00
Prologue - 8:10
Cassardis - 11:52
Vocation Intro - 18:43
Exploration - 27:32
Gransys - 30:55
Pawns - 33:10
Side Quests - 39:52
End of Stage - 47:02
Advanced Vocations - 51:56
Gran Soren - 58:58
Forgery - 1:01:27
Fast travel - 1:04:42
The Everfall - 1:08:26
A Troublesome Tome - 1:12:33
Land of Opportunity - 1:15:51
Escort Duty - 1:20:01
Of Merchants and Monsters - 1:22:09
The Cypher - 1:25:02
Seeking Salvation - 1:30:01
Meeting the Duke - 1:34:14
Royal Order Quests - 1:36:26
An Innocent Man - 1:37:00
Arousing Suspicion - 1:38:55
Witch Hunt - 1:44:02
The Conspirators - 1:52:29
Rise of the Fallen - 1:54:37
Nameless Terror - 1:55:33
Griffin's Bane - 1:58:07
Trials and Tribulations - 2:01:35
Bad Business - 2:04:04
Pride Before a Fall - 2:04:35
The Wyrmkings Ring - 2:07:55
Honor and Treachery - 2:09:32
Duchess in Distress - 2:11:36
Deny Salvation - 2:12:43
Tainted Mountain - 2:14:26
Post Game - 2:24:29
Dragon Forging - 2:25:42
A Warm Welcome - 2:26:35
The Ur Dragon - 2:31:42
Hardcore and Speedrun Modes - 2:34:55
Bitterblack Isle - 2:38:05
The Seneschal - 2:57:15
Conclusion - 3:10:17
Patreon - 3:13:10
A large portion of the ideas and themes I express are based off of the literary work done by Yuval Noah Harari. Things like the critiques of capitalism, or the ideas of happiness and how we perceive it.
In particular, I would highly recommend reading "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind".

[@SuperRADLemon]

Thanks to MANSCAPED for sponsoring today's video! Get 20% OFF + Free International Shipping + 2 Free Gifts with my promo code "SUPERRAD" at mnscpd.com/SuperRAD Corrections: 1. There are some gender-locked armor sets

[@Steezy_Method]

Hey Rad,I'm about to start doing content on KZbin,any chance you could tell me what tools you use to animate,and edit your video? Mostly an intro,and funny little cartoon people in between segments,and text overlay like your ending credit roll. I can give you my email or whatever if you'd.rather discuss there. I admire your talent and personality so much,and I figured you'd actually read this. Thanks a bunch!

[@SuperRADLemon]

@@Steezy_Method hi I use Adobe premiere and Audient mostly :)

[@Steezy_Method]

@@SuperRADLemon thanks a bunch,yeah I guess I need to drop some money lol. But love your content,keep it coming 😊

[@kmdgaming6039]

There is something that I noticed early on in the video that needs to be addressed. Grigori is not actually the Dragon's true name, simply the name that is given to him by Salvation's leader. The Dragon's true name is unknown, and never referenced in the game at all. A lot of people mistake the name spoken by Salvation's leader as the Dragon's true name, when in reality it is simply what they refer to him by and is meant to show the true ignorance (and possibly arrogance) of even the Dragon's most devout and/or delusional worshippers.

[@AsaelTheBeast]

Just FYI. Golem Talismans are very resistant to slashing damage, and entirely immune to magic. Blunt is better- to such an extent that it can actually be more efficient to remove your weapons and punch the damn things. If you can use maces or hammer, you can kill them pretty quick- in fact Metal golems can be felled with less risk than normal golems because you can kill them without being within their range. Throwblast and dragon spit also work. The golems own melee strike can ALSO damage Talismans- so if you feel confident in your ability to bait the golem, it makes things lot faster. Also, if playing sorcerer, two spells have physical components. Bolide and Glicel (Just use short cast with bolide- the more advanced forms only increase the number of projectiles, but you only have two guaranteed strikes per target). Exequay also works on them, but you'll need a lot of stamina. All of these can target the tree talisman. The easiest way to kill the tree Talisman for fighter or warriors is to get pawns to do it- and the easiest way to get your pawns to attack it is to stand under it while the golem is far away. Basically. start at the middle and work your way to the talismans opposite of the tree talisman, then sprint back to stand under the tree talisman. If it's a ranger, they should be able to kill it semi quick because bows do bashing damage (for some reason). Mystic knights can use a staff to target it, then switch to their primary weapons and use great cannon to kill it. Alternatively, it's possible to jump off the Golems head and strike the thing, but this is tedious, difficult, and not worth it at all.

[@shadowmar]

Hilariously enough, evicting the family from their home is actually the good ending because if you let them keep their house, the kid's parents will die in the post-game but if you evict them, they'll be safe in the refugee camp.

[@diegochaves5573]

Which makes me realize Fournival is a god beyond the Seneschal that predicted the entire event and tried to save the family while keeping things a secret

[@TheRealCHIMShady]

Based landchad looking out for his peasants

[@copyninja8756]

Didnt even know you could let them stay

[@KingRat543]

@@copyninja8756 Yep, you can give Fournival 80k for the property..

[@dr.calibrations7984]

@@diegochaves5573 Fournival is the best beloved and he's such a GIGACHAD that he let's himself get captured and "is afraid" of the gobbies because he knows that you have to slay the dragon and save the universe.

[@lethargicwizard]

DD's character creation is unique for an RPG in that it lets you make yourself a fat person, and on top of it not being a joke choice, it has mechanical benefits (heavy characters are harder to knock off their feet). It's nice to see

[@Starlitsoul0359]

You also get an increased carry weight! The different body arm and leg shapes even have different carry weights and stats as well! Though personally I always go with a small scrawny build, not hobbit level but still shorter than the average. The faster stamina regen paired up with fighter’s sinew more than makes up for all of the downsides of being smaller. (Also that faster run speed is GODLY. Can’t go anywhere without it.)

[@2_572]

@@Starlitsoul0359 I did a bald white hobbit playthrough rocking a scholars green cape and a bucket helmet😂

[@InsightReasoning]

@@Starlitsoul0359being smaller doesn’t increase speed. It’s only stamina regen. Being larger increases non-sprint speed (around 30% faster jogging speed from shortest to tallest height), max stamina (not very much, around 100-ish from smallest to biggest), carry weight, and of course, bigger hitboxes for attacking and taking hits. The only benefit from being smaller is the stamina regen. However it’s actually monumental in difference. 35/s for smallest vs around 20(?)/s for biggest. It’s a huge difference if you have a playstyle that really spams abilities. But you can mitigate the stamina issue of big characters by packing more stamina curatives.

[@ThePsh07]

@@InsightReasoning Yeah, it seems the shorter characters APPEAR to be sprinting faster when they really are just using twice as many steps to move the same distance a taller character does.

[@217adaptiveperspective]

I think being heavy also makes it easier to pull down flying enemies

[@UpToSpeedOnJaguar]

the cutscene where griggori flattens the cult leader and his ensuing monologue are one of my favorite moments in gaming. His speech about up-jumped zealots is PEAK dragon's dogma.

[@rythmiccoma2809]

My man Grigori vanishes for 3/4ths of the game then drops on the cult leader and tells you "If you want to die I'll let you fight me." The sheer presence he commands and his insane size. He goes from a shadow looking over the actions of a nihilistic cult to saying to your face that all that matters is you, him, and the choice you make. Honestly my favourite villain

[@epicn00b]

@@rythmiccoma2809 he’s not a villain though😢

[@st.gennaro]

Main Pawn: 'Tis weak to fire! Me: throws this video at the enemy

[@JustSomeMemes]

I got the game expecting it to be good. I didn't expect it to be so addictive that I was speedrunning the game over and over just to dragonforge all my stuff. I'm sure most people who just wanted the resident evil 6 demo were pleasantly surprised.

[@camobranson09]

As a man who bought it for the RE 6 demo I can confirm that I was very pleasantly surprised. I didn't even end up finishing all 4 paths of RE 6 compared to playing through 2 playthroughs of this doing every side quest whenever I could. I never met the Senasha though so looks like I've got a reason to play it on PC!

[@ruquang89]

unlike the actual resi 6 lol

[@frankyaeger675]

I love it as much as I did back in 2012 there's still nothing like it to this day.

[@e-d3_4all0ut3]

Slave to a broken order. Dare you look upon the truth?

[@fourthhorsemendeath218]

Dragons's Dogma is one of my favorite games of all time. So much replay-ability in the world got me hooked

[@OlympusPublicAffairs]

Two things I'd like to note, one mechanical and one lore-related. The reason some fights in this game are very hard, only to become cakewalks after one or two levels is due to how damage and defense is calculated. Defense is a flat number, but a percentage. So if and enemy has 30 defense and you deal 31 damage, you will net only one damage (from what I understand, you'll never deal less than 1 damage). So if you level up and now deal 32 damage, you've essentially doubled the amount of damage you do, and so on as you level up. This is why some fights later in the game are steamrolls, the damage just isn't mitigated well enough for some enemies depending on your level. On to lore, you mentioned that dragons are essentially failed Arisen. I believe Grogori, as well as Great Dragons like him, are specifically Arisen that failed to defeat the Seneschal. I believe the lesser dragons (Drakes, Wyrms, and Wyverns) you can fight are instead Arisen that died before defeating Great Dragons, whether it's to the Great Dragon or even to a lowly goblin. Interestingly enough, the different lesser dragon types correspond with the different vocations, Blue Wyrms are mages/sorcerers, Red drakes are fighters/warriors, and Green Wyverns are striders/rangers. Their combat tactics even allude to this. Great video, Rad.

[@SuperRADLemon]

Great point about the dragons

[@2_572]

Age of mythology had the most awesome soundtrack love that game.

[@JusticeforLiberty]

Great point! Wyvern tears being different colors makes sense

[@Prohxyy]

​@@2_572finally someone else that loves age of mythology. Reliving my childhood with the extended edition put a genuine smile on my face.

[@effusivemind]

aren’t striders/rangers yellow in DD:DA?

[@Kogath]

Spotted my pawn making a goofy emote at 37:03 (and a bunch of other spots). Glad he could help you out!

[@RiinzL]

Damn what a coincidence 0lus a keen eye to spot that!

[@TwoWholeWorms]

Every gamer's dream, that. ^^

[@adamjdavis201]

I appreciate all of the attention Dragon's Dogma seems to be getting lately, and this video essay is one of the best examples of why it deserves it

[@rotisserieprotocol3582]

Dragon's MF Dogma.. this game has engulfed so many hours of mine that I was eventually able to beat the game within an hour of creating a new character. One of my favorite games ever and I'm glad to see you did it justice in this video. And remember, goblins are weak to fire!

[@beanemperor4166]

Do wolves in fact hunt in packs? Will I ne’er hit them swinging blindly?

[@reddie1705]

but what about when you snatch up a tusk that you break free? or when it attacks men with an... especial zeal? idrk man, seems like a crazy sitch to me tbh

[@2_572]

Masterworks all you can't go wrong. Come again!

[@eloquentsloth6080]

Okay, but have you tried severing the tail?

[@tommyllama4558]

HARPY!!

[@edryu9688]

I have spent so many hours on this game...I cannot believe there is so many things I missed like reviving Julien to get his shield. All these years later and it still surprises me, I hope that level of detail goes into the second game.

[@robonerd125]

Nothing quite like creating a Mage, the squishiest class, throwing my pawns into the ocean, and taking a fistful of throwblast and as many mushrooms as the grocery store will sell me all the way to bitterblack isle (the mushrooms are to exequy any monsters that haven't seen me yet, once i become Sorc. with patience, and an ungodly amount of shrooms, i can kill anything)

[@beanemperor4166]

ONE DAY AGO? I was genuinely convinced this was made years ago, because most content about this absolute masterpiece are from like 7-9 years ago, I guess DD2 revived the fandom

[@-Nihilus-]

I remember checking for DD2 leaks at least once or twice or month for years before it was announced. The potential it has is actually insane

[@JayYoungs1992]

​@@-Nihilus- I honestly hope it's good. Dragon's dogma is my favourite game of all time

[@tommyllama4558]

@@JayYoungs1992 same, and capcom have been doing pretty good lately, which gives me hope

[@jonas1151]

We never died, we just slumber in silence, until there is need for the Arisen again.

[@tommyllama4558]

@@jonas1151 alright old ass dragon dude

[@guuppa]

It was my third try when Dragon's Dogma clicked and I can't exactly tell why. I finally got out of gran soren and everything felt natural but the urge to explore and experiment skyrocketed unlike my earlier tries. There's something weird going on with Capcom games and their "click" moments.

[@2_572]

Exactly. It feels like an awesome light hearted dark souls game honestly 😂👌

[@catzor4795]

@@2_572 Dark Souls is trash. Dragon's Dogma is way better, DD2 will put Souls-like into extinction.

[@2_572]

@@catzor4795 that is like saying Fortnite will put call of duty out of existence. One artist always learns from the other. But you cannot diss demon souls or souls games just because you suck at it. Both are inherently good but I myself appreciated dragons dogma more after playing demon souls and dark souls and Bloodborne and Sekiro shadows die twice, dragon's dogma is great change of pace and a light hearted demon souls game but with its own flavor but you can't deny it man. The creators drew inspiration from the souls borne games and oblivion. Maybe dark souls will in hand learn from dragons dogma and make the "From Software" walk without a stick up their ass, something that Capcom did really good they both are good companies 😁👍 The whole concept of Dragons dogmas story screams the Nexus concept from demon souls so don't kid yourself 🤣

[@2_572]

@@catzor4795 and what is also good about those "From Software" games are the huge bestiary of bosses and beasts you fight something that dragon's dogma lacked. Not enough variety of monsters but it was still hella good regardless I can't deny that.

[@malum9478]

@@catzor4795 wtf? lol gtfoh dork. dark souls isn't trash and has basically nothing to do with dragon's dogma, though DD could definitely do well with some souls influence. go back to reddit or wherever tf you came from

[@aidangoodwin7031]

I got Dragon's Dogma back in 2012 as a birthday gift from my parents. It's been my favorite game ever since, and while some games have come close to it, none have ever truly topped DD for me.

[@jeffvella9765]

DD is good but IMO Dragon Quest 11 leaves it in the dust. Not only turn based is more strategic than action RPG, but the story is night and day difference. Especially how it is presented and voice acted. EG: Even the loading screen gives you the "story so far" based on your progress in the main mission. DD excels in in mechanical depth but DQ11 excels in party combos and party building far more, which gives you a better sens of achievement for your character build.

[@diccchocolate416]

@@jeffvella9765 these are completekt different games lol. Why are you comparing them.

[@simongunther8414]

@@diccchocolate416 completely different? lol they both have dragon in the title

[@SL4PSH0CK]

I respect people playing early dragons Dogma with how terrible the UX and quality of life was.

[@EtienneLudor]

I loved the game throughout and made sure to go in blind, but when I went Mystic Knight I wasn’t sure how to fight aerial or high enemies till I slotted magic cannon and swung at it in frustration…..only to see that I’m launching homing attacks with the enchantment of my choice. Suddenly I realized everything can work with everything. It all made sense. I wanted more. The best feeling is when a pawn completes your combo. You feel… connected.

[@OlympusPublicAffairs]

Magic Cannon is bonkers. Buff with Abyssal Anguish and another elemental buff, set two cannons, and spam Fullmoon Slash. Combo melts everything.

[@Draliseth]

Did Mystic Knight stay your go to or has that changed?

[@EtienneLudor]

@@Draliseth honesty, I’m trying to do all of them to give them a fair shake, but ngl, I love the perfect blocking mechanic. I just… I went through some situations in other classes that I didn’t realize I was bruteforcing. TLDR, imagine going as warrior and then pommel bashing the Ur-Dragon because you didn’t have a ranged class lol. My worse problem as warrior was a metal golem and having to jump off it’s head to hit a floating target in The Everfall. I was genuinely surprised how hard it was to find a Pawn mage with holy, healing, and debuff, so I had to keep my pawn as healer. Made for some good farming though.

[@austins.2495]

These long-form essay style video game docs give me life

[@starwarsrocks1998]

I got this game years ago on an insanely cheap sale and was blown away. I had no expectations going in and it’s been one of the better surprises of the generation. Keep up the amazing content, my new favorite long form creator.

[@LdNidd]

I loved this video essay, and I think you covered the game really well. The only thing I think you really missed is that Daimon was created by Ashe's wish to be rid of the cycle, to "tear it asunder" in his own words. Thus he essentially became the devil to the Seneschal's god. The postgame and Bitterblack Isle show that there are multiple worlds all stemming from the Seneschal, each playing out the cycle endlessly. Daimon is unique because, like the Seneschal, there is only one Daimon, connected to the root of all worlds. Bitterblack is a small scale version of the rest of creation but it stems from Daimon and not from the Seneschal. The reason Daimon gets a second stage after your first battle with him is that Ashe's soul is acting as a kind of limiter, because part of him was still attached to Olga and Greta. Once his soul leaves, Daimon is simply a vessel for all the hatred and pain caused by the cycle, hatred and pain personified in the concept of the Dragon. The dragon that possess Daimon's body in phase 2 is implied to be the root of the dragon, the very essence that is the dragon regardless of who the dragon was or what world they came from. Anyway, you've got yourself a new subscriber. Thanks for the great content, and I look forward to what you make in the future. Now to watch your New Vegas video...

[@Enward420]

There are 2 tho... Daiman, who you fight in the first run of bitterblack isle, and Damion, who is limp, and says it with his chest. Its believed to be his pawn, the 2nd form at least.

[@LdNidd]

@@Enward420 Pretty sure it's just Daimon both times. The second time I believe Daimon is possessed by the spirit of the Dragon and the hatred of other Arisen who wanted to end the cycle. Very much a dark mirror of the cycle of the Seneschal.

[@DarkHeroCC]

I had never heard about Dragons Dogma until it released on Switch and it has since become one of my favorite games. And now I'm beyond excited about Dragon's Dogma 2! I can only imagine what it must have felt like for old fans that have been with the game for all this time

[@jase276]

I've been following DD since the xbox 360 and DD2's reveal was like a dream

[@mo_musashi_284]

Just bought it for 4.99 on the Switch! This is my fourth time playing it. What’s your tag name ?

[@SL4PSH0CK]

I'm also lucky enough playing the later version of the game (Dark Arisen) with how tedious and hindering the quality of life and UX was.

[@MTG69]

How does it run on the Switch? I have it on PS4, but having it on the go, would be amazing. Has anyone played it on both systems, and could compare the two?

[@Zap319]

Its trash

[@zennistrad]

A three hour retrospective of my favorite action RPG ever!? Sign me the fuck up!

[@afilthy6digit839]

Dragons dogma is a fucking underrated gem of a game and I played it through childhood and will pick it back up every once in a while just for that hit of pure dopamine I get from the unique as fuck yet incredibly familiar and nostalgic high fantasy feel that reminds me of another important aspect of my childhood, that being lotr and it's honestly just an amazing experience from beginning to end

[@haydenmoore3045]

I always played it as a kid but I could never get past the part after getting the serpent head to gran Soren. I would just quit. So happy to pick it back up after this video

[@kenamada5451]

It's hilarious how absolutely destructive Magick Archer is, but you literally do not touch it till lv 200 if you dont want to mess your stats up for it. It is the only class where even if you're a casual player is a detriment to play and stick to early. You'll start to notice later in that you're doing almost minimal damage and it made people think Magick Archer was awful. But, it was the stat gain all along.

[@mixltv143]

lol touching that class earlier than 200 is a tease

[@Tommyvang187]

nahhh, stats are ok, Equipment buffs and them ITEM BUFFS is where its at, that stuff makes anything broken as hell. With just using 1 Magic rebalancer skill you will already cut off several levels of the difference between someone who farmed perfect stats by leveling with another class, and then only playing Magick Archer at the end, and with 2 Magic Balancer's you are already doing stupid ass damage, and then with any more, you are literally doing the same damage, and you can keep going, since it stacks crazy amounts of time (4), and there are ways to get Demon periapts in bulk in the game that further boosts magic stats another 4 times multiplicatively making pretty much anyone even if they did nothing but play fighter till level 200 be able to deal crazy damage as long as they had decent gear. Stats from levels don't matter nearly as much as gear and items did in Dragons Dogma because of broken stuff like this. With nothing but just throwblasts every class could clear BitterBlack just throwing items killing everything in the game. Dragons Dogma let you be Extremely Broken, and that's fine, and most importantly, fun.

[@evxl-]

RangerAids ftw

[@hugodogobob]

I was gonna reply about how the stats aren't important without mentioning magic rebalancer. Mainly because if you max magic with sorcerer, magick archer is too stamina intensive to make it worth while.

[@adamp6320]

You could just check in to see when you're about to level up and swap vocation out for a second to say Ranger to get the attack + magic + stamina boost then swap back in to MA after

[@TheSlammurai]

I don't typically use mods outside of Bethesda games, but the mod to restore Into Free as the main menu theme in Dark Arisen is something I installed almost immediately.

[@BonzerMrT]

The combat is all I’ve ever wanted from an RPG type game. The ability it run and climb things so openly was fun

[@howchildish]

3:09:23 I had absolutely no idea that if Aelinore was your beloved you get an different cutscene...

[@Kinnooooo]

i didnt realize that the game has a mechanic where the person u spoke to the most became ur love interest. my first playthrough my love was the blacksmith and he just dissapeared like 3 quests before fighting the dragon. so i couldnt upgrade or make any new gear... but theyre masterworks all you cant go wrong

[@reddie1705]

this comment section warms my heart so much! Me and my brother bonded so mucb over this game, and when he moved out and our father did real unsavory shit, we still talked and hung out at my grandmas and this was our favorite game to couch co-op (AKA I play the game, and he used his level-infinity experience to help make some interesting decisions we had never seen) and seeing so many people adore it as they do lets me know that I could really get a whole bunch of people into this game, and my brother deserves hella thanks for introducing me so young. I adore this game and you guys agreeing makes me so happy, thank you all for being so cultured and making me tear up with nostalgia 😌 E1: AND a SotC reference, another game we couched together and he helped me have a great time with??? I think I may have found a new mainstay channel E2: 30 minutes in, and it looks like I answered the last part of E1; yes, yes this channel is a new mainstay. I'm yet to see a point I'm undecided on in this video, nevermind disagreeing with. You've wrapped everything up in a format that matches how I personally feel so perfectly, I'm enamored. HELL, YOU EVEN KNOW MAGE IS BETTER THAN SORCERER (and I'm not even at the part where he explains why, let's see if his reasoning is Anodyne's accessibility) E3: answer to last one; yup. I knew because my brother warned me that before I made my mage a mage I'd end up wanting to keep him that class to keep anodyne and skills like that around rather than making him an offense mage. wow, this channel really does it's research and very obviously enjoys the games it reviews. keep it up!

[@hansschoefisch2200]

Liked the personal splash of experience about working in an electronics shop in the intro leading to discovery of the game.

[@purgatoriprytania5382]

This game's story and lore is criminally underrated.

[@el00morro00]

Very good and in depth retrospective. A few points to note: (yes I'm that kind of guy on the internet) Mages and sorcererers can do what is known as "spell synching," if You're tired of the long casting times get your pawn to be another sorcerer and equip it with the same spells as yourself ( you haven't lived until you get the offline Ur-dragon under a non ending rain of metors :). Fedel or whatever the name of the conspiration npc is, seems to be a blood relative, either a nephew or something of the sorts to the duke, hence his role at the court. Balsac's name is more likely than not, not pronunced as the english speaking joke inuendo of male genitalia, although it's funny as hell. This game is awsome in the questions, from a metaophysical/philosophycal points of view that it poses and I really commend you for pointing them out.

[@nikodokars8315]

I love this game. Honestly, playing it as a kid who barely knew english was.... Amazing. The dark dungeons, scary monsters and amazing combat. it was, is and will be a blast.

[@christhethinker6791]

Im guessing the old english didn't help

[@felishiakat]

one of my favorite games. I'm shocked there is still a thriving community for this game, makes me happy.

[@DragonsDogmaEnjoyer]

I've fallen in love with this game ever since I played the demo in 2012 and still play it to this day. I'm so glad it's gotten more love and recognition over the years. Love seeing the online community getting more active after the sequel announcement.

[@wyattwebb6963]

A neat little tidbit, Maximillian's reaction changes depending on his affection level. If it's high, he will feel betrayed and tell his soldiers to take you in. If it's low, he will be much more aggresive and tell his soldiers to bring you in dead or alive.

[@Shad0wj3ster567]

When i found this game, i was kinda miserable, living with my step dad who wasnt the kindest person and I just was struggling with teenage life. But he did let me play on his playstation and xbox and stuff when he was at work or very early in the mornings before he was awake. He had various games but one in particular i never saw him play and id pass by it and hear its music along with a short gameplay demo that used to be on playstation 3 when you hovered over the game. So i decided to try it. Little did i realize i would he plunged into one of the most engaging and amazing games ive ever played and will remain my favorite franchise of all time. The ability to climb monsters, the fantasy, the elements of greek mythology, the armor depth, everything. It was one of the most fun and challenging games i played before dark souls and that was before i got into the dlc which only made me love it so much more. If i had to be stuck with one or two games for the rest of my life, id happily pick dragons dogma 1 and now 2 as well. If anyone who hasnt played this masterpiece and is reading this, I implore you, dont deprive yourself of this experience. It may not be for everyone but if you can make it click, youll have found yourself a gem.

[@izzy4bitney]

RIP my 600+hour Magic Archer elven child, whose save file was corrupted on Bitterblack Isle :( It broke my soul. Made my way back here as a refresher for DD2! Can't wait to play it in March!

[@earthbound_one]

Sorry that happened to you. I feel your pain, losing data can really hurt. Your character can live on again in DD2 though, but backup your save data this time!

[@mistman_161]

The most unfortunate thing about this game is that much like another one of Itsuno's games (DMC 4) it was unfinished. There was a good bit of cut content including the fact that, originally, the battle against the Seneschal was supposed to take place ON THE MOON. Also, there was supposed to be a hub area where multiple Arisen (actual players) could interact. Hopefully, Itsuno will have the opportunity to make the actual, full game he's always wanted to with Dragon's Dogma 2.

[@okiemax]

Less than 20 days til we truly find out

[@lorecow88]

The sequel was equally cut down. Arguably more, even.

[@mansifacio5458]

When I searched "Dragon's Dogma analysis", I thought "it'd be great if there was one 5 minute nostalgia rant about the game" and was blown away by the fact that there were multiple hours long analysis/ retrospective videos exploring the game. And this one specifically is not just a great retrospective but also a great explanation of nearly every aspect of the game. You didn't just touch on some obscure things present in the game but you went in depth on some things I didn't even know were present in the game. Your explanation of the different vocation and their scaling also helped me discover which vocation fits my playstyle, which I'm ashamed to admit I didn't manage to discover before. And I really liked how you didn't just touch on the complex story but also explained it really wel, instead of doing what most people do and just calling the story bad and bare bones. You took the time to think about the game extensively, which I find genuinely impressive. I didn't even know all the ways the forgery mechanic can affect the outcome of certain quests and was surprised to find that in this game, actions do have consequences, at least I was surprised at the extent at which they do. I genuinely didn't expect anyone to take their time and make such a high quality video about this game, analysing it in great detail while also managing to be funny. And when you said "the game isn't that hard..." I kinda scoffed, before you finished the sentence with "...if you take your time", which I definitely felt called out for because my playstyle was very hot headed 😅 Your videos are masterworks all, can't go wrong with them And never forget: wolves hunt in packs

[@potprince2169]

I always keep one at a healing spring to save on healing after battle and keep one on my lawn so I can place it wherever I was when I went to the spring

[@daevenville7114]

Funnily enough, NOT helping the family get evicted is the better ending since that way, they won't get eaten up by the ground when post game happens.

[@travisleonhart3371]

Idk if this will be a unpopular opinion or not but dragons dogma 2 I believe in it’s current state is worse than the original feel like it’s missing too much that the original has

[@thefraser5131]

I loved this game and am excited for a sequel. Regrettably I didn't really use the pawn or magic mechanics at all because I was determined to beat the entire game as a solo melee only gigachad, and while I did beat the game, I never played the dark arisin dlc.

[@davisbicheiro]

I saw this and clicked right away! DD:DA deserves more love and we NEED a second game. PLEASE CAPCOM!!

[@eugeniahawkins4747]

I may need to double check, but I'm pretty sure they recently confirmed Dragons dogma two. I'll edit this comment once I double check. Edit: From what I'm seeing, yes.

[@davisbicheiro]

@@eugeniahawkins4747 Ty, i don't need anything else in life anymore

[@dime7267]

I absolutely love this game. It may have it's full moments, but when the hype stuff comes through you just feel compelled to keep playing.

[@protojager]

Assassin feels like the absolute best class, it uses all the best weapons, has abilities that act as a straight up counter like you're playing old Assassins Creed, climbey climb.

[@MisterCups]

Love this game from top to bottom, 500hrs in and no ending in sight. Thanks for the lengthy video this game deserves.

[@ProfessionalNamielleLewder69]

I love the way Dragon's Dogma utilizes the connection between protagonist and antagonist since it's not something I've seen a lot of. Usually, the primary driving force behind your assault against the enemy's forces is either your allies or some higher power. In Dragon's Dogma, the one offering you the motivation, courage and wisdom to defeat the main antagonist... is the main antagonist. The citizens of Gransys and/or your "Beloved" may be _a_ driving force urging you to fight but it's Grigori himself who gives you all the tools and necessities to take him down. And it's not like the bumbling villain who accidentally gives the hero his own weakness, no. Grigori does this intentionally as he serves a purpose far bigger than himself, and doesn't care if he dies by your hand as long as the job is done.

[@aboveaveragecat4469]

I got this game a while ago but couldn’t really get into since I didn’t know what I was doing and wasn’t bothering to read quest descriptions or talk to people. Just recently I retried it and fell in love with it. I went into the game expecting just a monster hunting game where you get quests and explore the land to find the area and was not expecting to have a duel of fates with a dragon with deep philosophical questions and the like, where the actions and choices you make actually affect the world.

[@alexanderandersson8538]

You can also clip through locked doors including the Moonbeam doors in BBI except one using barrels.

[@ubermaster1]

I love this game but I funnily enough didnt at first, I bought it 3 times, the first two times were because I traded it in due to boredom. But then one day I bought it again on a whim and just randomly fell in love. To this day I dont know what finally made it click for me, but now its legit my comfort game.

[@Deoxys_Used_Mimic]

Once I learned the BBI Challenge strats from Vageta’s streams, can never play this game without going to BBI immediately ever again.

[@SnapuSwipe]

Ring of Perseverance? GOTCHA!!!!!

[@Deoxys_Used_Mimic]

I used to call The Dragon, “Grigori.” …now I call him “Gregory.” Woooooaaah… Watch out for *Gregory!* Honestly though, I kinda wish we had other options to deal with him, rather than just killing him or sacrificing the Beloved. On my first playthrough I felt like the Dragon was a pretty cool dude, and I didn’t *want* to kill him… only to feel even worse with how sad he looked when I did. Could you imagine if the Player could also scorn the Dragon’s Choice and get a Daimon ending too?

[@Browsley]

This was so incredibly well put together! Thank you for this and giving my favorite game even more recognition! I see I still have a lot to learn when it comes to retrospectives/talkthroughs!

[@shaneluke327]

F in the chat for Balsac

[@Enward420]

The fact you can walk out of the opening town, looking like an experienced badass (the fashion in this game out does anything DS, DS1 - DS3 and Eldenring) realy entices the player to see what else the game has to offer. And by god does it do so much, so well. The only thing i wish, which i know will be rectified in sequel, is a larger world. Oh, and maybe a crouch button.

[@moonlitdescent3555]

Definitely the best retrospective on Dragon's Dogma that focuses on the game itself.

[@TheMaerx]

Amazing stuff, I wasn't expecting this to be so thorough. The only thing you didn't touch upon was how the game is considered to be "unfinished" based off developer interviews, the artbook and Capcom's financial situation at the time. I'm confident Dragon's Dogma 2 is going to deliver because Devil May Cry 5 was everything I wanted and then some, this and the success of Monster Hunter World (another big budget AAA action RPG) means we're in for a treat.

[@Newdoom402]

“A bird perhaps?” is burned into my brain lmao

[@MrDadeadone]

About the Moon It was meant to be a large dungeon leading to the fight with the Seneschal and it's position in the sky was server side. It's one of many ambitious piece of content that was cut as it was apparently a single dungeon shared between all players along with a Endless Tower which probably became the Everfall as every loop was another player's world.

[@fourthhorsemendeath218]

Me during my first playthrough: *Sticking to the roads and only really traveled during the day* Me during my 17th playthrough: *actively running through forests at night for a good challenge*

[@Chronuz]

There are also some holes / pathways that you can't get through if your character is too tall. I love the immersion this game has.

[@thelordelric8424]

I fell in love with Dragon's Dogma instantly. I remembered seeing it in an issue of Game Informer and got it in late 2014. Oblivion and Skyrim had been my introduction to the concept of open world fantasy RPGs, but Dragon's Dogma's open world captured me. A small but more densely packed area with little rewards and secrets in nooks and crannies everywhere. Even when I only had access to Cassardis and the surrounding area I loved climbing and jumping around on the rooftops and finding items in unexpected places. Going out to the beach at night and seeing all the goblin bonfires. Even after all these years I can still find something new hidden around. There's a small cave near a bandit camp north of Hill Figure Knoll that I only discovered last year.

[@chlorgeistthegreat7890]

I just finished the full game the other day. Probably missed half the quests, and I still knew exactly what was happening just because I know berserks story. Actually insane that I didn’t miss a single beat.

[@deltadrag00n19]

fun thing i like about sors casting is the level three big spells are rituals meaning more sors can join in on the casting so you could build a party of all sors casters and they can blaze through the casting though I nomly only take the ice one myself for my pawn as I find it does the most damage then lean to the level one for thunder and level two for fire for quick casting

[@NobletheSavage]

Finally, KZbin has the definitive review of a great game. There are so many reviews on the platform that don't do this game justice with short videos and no telling of how the game came into being. Thank you for your masterpiece on a masterpiece.

[@0The_Farlander0]

GREAT video. I think you really hit all the important points and then some. The news of Dragon's Dogma II hit me like a freight train during Capcom's official video, and knowing there are still so many fellow fans of the (series? I can call it a series now, right?) has been a great thing to see. Wish you the best with all your creative endeavors, looking forward to seeing you out there in in some fashion in whatever world they decide to craft for us.

[@victoriousf.i.g.3311]

I remember picking this game up back when it released on the Xbox 360. I chose the Fighter class, went down a well, and got my s*** pushed in by some lizards right off the rip. I tried a few timed but just kept getting smushed. Deciding this wasn't for me, I put it down for a few months. Once I picked it back up, I noticed the shop selling low level goods to kit out my fighter. I progressed a little until I was able to get my own personalized pawn, came back, and trounced the scaly fiends. I learned to use my shield, my skills, and it all just clicked in that one moment. 10 years later, I still regularly have 8 hour jam sessions where I just beat on the Ur-Dragon over and over just for fun. I'll run the main quest just to see who I end up making out with in the false ending. Good times.

[@D1N5TY]

Damn, I'm glad I stumbled across this channel, what an incredibly underrated channel your long form analysis videos are some of the best and most thorough analysis I've seen. What a gift to see a said analysis of one of my favorite games of all time AND even learn some new things I have never seen before from it, can't wait for my next playthrough. Thank you Mr.RAD for the amazing content!

[@Creed329]

Amazing game, I got sold on how you can climb and grab everything, tried it with the griffin, it flew me so high I never made it down

[@Grandmastergav86]

The sequel trailer looks very promising, it really does. DDDA is a masterpiece, a real diamond in the rough.

[@magnum_opus1179]

I'm so glad this game is getting the love it deserves all these years later. This game always captivated me, I can't believe it's finally getting a sequel and it literally looks like just more of what made it so great to begin with just even more fleshed out and I honestly couldn't ask for more.

[@averagejoe5145]

I've heard that Capcom was aiming for Western gamers who were fans of dark anime & manga titles like Berserk. I've also heard that (funnily enough) Capcom ended up catching an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT audience, especially in Japan: Monster Hunter fans. Apparently, bored Monster Hunter fans were looking for SOMETHING to play while waiting on the next game in the aforementioned series to be released! 😂

[@porgo61]

I'm so glad this game is seeing love like never before. I always tell friends that this is if Skyrim meets Shadows of Collosus and it just works so well. I only wish that if the second gsme comes, we get a much larger map. My personal opinion to this game is that the map just isn't big enough. There is so much yes but I feel very confined in it but the mechanic of walking with occasional port crystals does help it feel bigger.

[@evxl-]

The walking was cancer. We need mounts or something. The map was fine also but needed more life- you could tell it was a "J" RPG by it's design. I think they need vast scapes to explore and maybe different territories and questlines.

[@porgo61]

@@evxl- nice opinion

[@TheZanzibarMan]

I'm excited and scared about the sequel, it can't possibly live up to the first one.

[@evxl-]

Definitely will, keep in mind he said he was limited by the technology at the time- so imagine what he can do now. Secondly, us fanboys negelect the fact the ddda is not a complete game. They were supposed to add more. I want them to take their time so we can run (lmao) the breathe of the lands and sink another 1k hours into it.

[@TheZanzibarMan]

Just so long as we get more of what made the first one great I'll be happy, it's definitely a case of mechanics over visuals for me.

[@-Nihilus-]

I have full faith in Itsuno to more than deliver. It's probably gonna be one of the only games I ever pre order

[@d3sroy]

@@-Nihilus- same

[@riptors9777]

@@evxl- Sometimes being limited is for the better. Dont think we would have gotten quite the same result if they had implemented everything they wanted for Dragons Dogma. Shadow of the collosus type enemies wandering the landscape? Traveling to the moon? Elfs and dwarfs being part of the world? Dunno... sounds a bit iffy to me.... i liked Dragons Dogma more "grounded" aproach wich in turn made it more unique. And why would anyone be afraid of the dragons comming if you allready had gigantic titans running around smashing the place up?

[@0The_Farlander0]

About midway through the vid and I want to say I love it so far. On a more specific note, I found my interaction with symone really fascinating in terms of how it changed from my first playthrough when the game came out, and subsequent playthroughs more recently. I couldn't stand her, downright despised her the first time I played, and only grudgingly completed the quest in order to get the gold idol. Now though? I think she's a delight. She's such an entertaining and snooty little kid, and maybe it's just because I've become a parent that I see it differently, but the way she interacts with the world is completely understandable and has become cute instead of abrasive. I genuinely enjoy the sort of breather that the quest provides, a fun afternoon watching someone's kid and humoring their worldview. She's treated like a princess by her father and as such believes she is one, and I like to hope her time with the arisen is something she looks back on and appreciates as she grows older and wiser.

[@protojager]

Witchwood Port Crystal: I always place mine at the entrance of the Witchwood, it takes longer to get to Selene's hut that way, but it allows me to reach the bandit fort much quicker, then i place one on bloowater beach and in front of the shadow fort. Nice even spacing to easily navigate that entire region.

[@DMCDrake]

Daimons vortex attack can be avoided by standing behind any of the pillars also. Amazing video :)

[@RedDeadSed]

Such a phenomenal video, I played Dragons Dogma back in 2012 when it came out knowing nothing about it outside of having the ability to climb on monsters. I spent that entire summer getting to level 200. I beat the game countless times and I still remember beating it the first time and seeing the Arisen from the tutorial. And just going Wow holy shit. But that second time I saw my previous character and my mind was blown. Thank you so much for making this I truly love this game and your video made me remember why.

[@Dredgethemuck636]

I enjoyed playing dragon's dogma on the PS3 Back in the summertime of 2012. I've been gaming since the mid-80s And it's wild how far gaming has advanced since I was a kid. This is a spot on,Kick-ass review Huge thumbs up

[@olileung8251]

This was an incredibly detailed, well-thought out, and carefully constructed video. As someone who's recently picked up the game, this whole video was greatly appreciated due to so many things in the game being slightly unclear or outright not explained at all. Thank you so very much for taking the time to make this.

[@MrQwertyman111]

Great vid, was a blast to go through it! And yes, Dragons Dogma is a hidden gem. Got it close to its release and I remember how fun AND challenging it was to scale down Everfall, and finiding the Ur dragon. And then when the Dark Arisen expansion came out? The whole ne island, the new boss and the twist that there was a second form... Was blown away and I'm still impressed the dev deam was able to create such a great game with all the limitations they faced. So to anyone reading this, who for some reason hasn't played Dragons Dogma. Do yourself a favour, buy it as it's dirt cheap nowadays and play. You'll have a blast, just keep in mind it's a decade old oldie so you need to keep your expectations at bay. And grind. Grind alot, because once you beat Grigori, the world becomes much harder and if you're unprepared? You'll end up fighting a single pack of enemies (like the saurans at a river bank near Gran Soren on the way to the northern part of the world) , and get back to the inn to lick your wounds.

[@quwertzquwerty1545]

Amazing video. Learned a few things I didnt knew, like Reynards quest line. The game is amazing and regarding the metal golems: if you are a sorcerer you can also destroy the amulets. You just need time to cast the big boi spells. High maelstrom is able to move the amulets to it and with some throw bombs they are easy to clear. The sorcerer Icespell also deals physical damage, so that works as well. The aura on the amulets come from a mage or sorcerer hitting them with magic if I recall correctly. And in the end I always get selene as my beloved, cause she quite lit understands it. She knows what its like to turn human and to lose the arisen. Her line in the end is lowkey the best if you ask me.

[@forcommentpurposes]

The best part was finishing the game twice in a row without realizing you could teleport. (BBI included) lol. Edit: on my first time, i remember looking for those flowers (MoonGlow) all day, i was going bananas until it clicked on me, that maybe Moonglow can only be found during the Night (moon). It felt so great and rewarding.

[@lorenzmanalastas4839]

I remember in college whenever I felt down or stressed out, I'd boot up Dragons Dogma just to bully the tied up gorecyclops in BB Island. Had it not been for DD, I prolly wouldve gone insane. 10/10 mastaspiece.

[@solvistapp]

I got this game at launch and still play through it at least once a year. Unsure of what exactly hits so perfectly in DD but it will always have a special place for me.

[@TornaitSuperBird]

They're masterworks all. (This video is a masterpiece, I'm hype)

[@kingkaisa5728]

You cant go wrong

[@ositorga]

i bought the game day one on the 360 but had a struggle as i was still very much in a fight everything in my way (and to do all the billboard escorts) and the bandits in the way of finding quina in the witchwood burnt me out. it wasn't until i tried again when i got dark arisen on pc that i eventually realised that i can just run past them (as well as ignore the billboard escorts except for certain npc affection), it was at that point that the game clicked for me

[@nevisysbryd7450]

I appreciated a lot of this. There are some mistakes, though: 1) The Dragonforged explains that he chose to fight Grigori and lost, though apparently surviving the encounter. 2) The major complaint about Aelinore is that she spreads her legs for you at the literal drop of a hat. 3) Daimon's rift attack can be countered through anything that inflicts sufficient stagger. For swords and daggers, this is mostly limited to climbing on him, yes (although if you jump and time it, a Dragon's Maw combined with knockdown-boosting stuff can take him out of it). You can time longsword charge skills to hit just before the vortex locks you into the absorb animation, and you can shoot arrow skills and spells from a distance if you get enough starting distance. As for stamina, use curatives. 4) Awakened Daimon is made clear enough through surrounding content; it is Asche's curse and the accumulated grudges in the island that have now taken on a life of their own. It is something like an egregore, a literal animation of a rejection of the Arisen cycle and Eternal Return. 5) The deal with the cycle is not about the Seneschal running out of power, but out of the will to live. They all eventually succumb to a suicidal psychological exhaustion with a meaningless eternal existence and thus seek out and build up a replacement. 6) The failure to find a new Seneschal will not mean the end of the world; by available material, the Seneschal will remained trapped in their position indefinitely until a replacement is found (barring turning Godsbane on themselves).

[@ahtwo3237]

new vegas retrospective and now this all within two months, hell yeah

[@henco8716]

Damn man what a good watch. I killed Grigory last night for the second time (also my 2nd character). This game is truly overlooked. I will now be doing post game notice board quests and try to figure out how to "farm the everfall" as I want a high level character and then want to go wreck whatever is in Bitterblack Isle.

[@protojager]

Dragon-Arisen cycle: I could be wrong but I was always under the impression that THE Dragon, in this case being Grigori, was an Arisen who had beaten their own Dragon but failed to defeat the Seneschal. While an Arisen who failed to defeat THE Dragon became a lesser beast like a Drake or Wyvern, other people have also pointed out that the color variations in the lesser Dragons is evidence of that Arisen having been a particular vocation.

[@Crushbandido]

22:23 that chimera straight up drop on you from the tree

[@ThePawnedPawn]

Hoo! That was long, and a great listen. I'm enjoying how much love this game is still getting! 😃 Couple of fun things, by the by. Bitterblack Island is full of fun things, actually... @ 2:51:00 Fun fact: Ashe couldn't have made Olra his main pawn. Thanks to the Bestowal of Spirit (see Selene) Olra would have been human, and the Monument of Remembrance slabs suggest this as well. This is why Olra was able to be sacrificed without the possibility of resummoning her from the rift. @ 2:55:00 Funner fact: There's ample evidence to suggest that there were always two Daimons. One Ashe, the other an unknown entity that despised him but, despite being stronger, was unwilling or unable to dispose of him personally. This second Daimon actually helps you through a series of seemingly-unconnected notice board quests. It is not, however, Ashe or in any way directly connected to him. Best evidence suggests that Daimon 2 is actually Ashe's main pawn, going through Bestowal of Spirit as well as corruption from Bitterblack Island. It is not, however, an entirely new creature. Again, it was 'helping' you even while Ashe!Daimon was in charge. It was there all along, watching from the shadows.

[@feircy]

Amazing game, didn't get the recognition it deserved. I love the way stats and leveling work, the ability to transfer abilites over and min max stats, as well as the pawn system. So glad its finally getting the sequel it deserved. I do wish they hadn't changed the fire title song though lol

[@thealgerian3285]

2:27:30 The exact opposite was said to me by Ser Maximillian. He said he doesn't believe I'm a traitor, but he still has to follow orders.

[@augustusmuteb1336]

As far as mechanics go this game actually hit such a sweet spot between what makes this type of game fun and what it doesn't need. The climbing mechanic(walls and creatures) The weight and height of characters having meaning The grapple button(and being able to carry any enemy or npc) The casting of magic that seems more grounded because it's not instantaneous The lantern and how It's used as a resource that has to be managed and refilled Being able to fill empty bottles Weak spots that differ with every creature and make sense Boss fights that cut off halfway to be completed later, unless you can finish them right then and there The day night cycle that affects what you will encounter in the open world (and how dark the night time gets, because of course) Elemental effects and how they interact with everything (like drenching something in oil and setting it on fire, or how your lantern can stay on if the water is only knee deep) The pawns and how they don't just fight alongside you, they also fight in sync with you and can complete your combos or hold someone down or launch you into the air I could go on and on but this game really implemented a bunch of things that I've always played other games and thought "this game would be so much cooler if they added ABC" And the fact that Itsuno said this was his dream game, shows that those designs decisions were in a deliberate attempt to make the kind of game that is everything we wish other games would be like

[@Creynex]

The video was amazing. Some years back I tried it for a couple of hours and had fun but kind of got distracted from something else and didn't try more. So, watching your video made me really itchy to try it again and I will install it to give it another go. Thank you very much for your effort to make this massive video.

[@mugenzero007]

I literally had no idea the concept behind the lore was so deep!

[@zombiemanjosh]

"... there could be times you found yourself ambushed by the likes of a griffon..." That's actually why I stopped playing back on the 360, my own recklessness, a lack of autosaves out in the wild and a random griffon attack. 2 1/2 hours of adventure and loot gone in an instant to be dropped back outside the gates where I last autosaved, I was furious. Didn't pick the game back up for like 6 years.