The original Dragon’s Dogma released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This Capcom-developed game was equal parts Dark Souls and Monster Hunter with a dash of Shadow of the Colossus thrown in for good measure. The next year, Capcom released an enhanced and expanded version of the original game that featured a new area to explore, as well as several quality of life improvements to the overall game.
Now, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is coming to Steam with a slew of new features.
Customizable Everything
Thanks to the all-powerful personal computer, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen has the ability to be customized to the tee. The Steam release of the game offers full controller support and limited button remapping. So, that DualShock 4 controller you have? It’ll work. But what about that new Xbox One controller you just picked up? That’ll do. And that dusty old xbox 360 controller? I think you get the idea.
In addition to that, your powerful PC (experience varies by user) can run the game up to 150 frames per second, in resolutions up to, but not limited to, 4K. And thankfully, this PC port is as smooth as butter. Often, added resolutions can be worrisome in regards to aspect ratios, but fret not! The game features full-screen rendering without letterboxing on 16:9 monitors.
And of course, as a Steam release, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen also offers the full Steam experience including Steam Controller support, Steam Cloud Save, Steam Big Picture Mode, and, of course, trading cards.
All the DLC You Can Handle
This lovely re-release of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen also has the added benefit of including every piece of DLC every released for the original game. The robust character creator features a whopping total of 62 hairstyles (original and DLC combined). In addition to that, the game features the Eternal Freestone and bonus items/gear that include: Swordman’s Ring, Daggerist’s Ring, Staff-Bearer’s Ring, The Lion’s Spine, Robe of Enlightenment, Wavering Cloth, Vagabond Armor, Tiara of Enlightenment, Ruminator’s Monocle, Jester’s Cap, and Fiend-luring Incense.
Completing the first escort quest and reaching Gran Soren will unlock the following: Eternal Ferrystone, Set of Fop’s Trek Wear, Voldoan Armor, Priest Vestments, Lady’s Trek Wear, Queen’s Clothing, and Nun Vestments.
Quality of Life Improvements
The original Dragon’s Dogma released back in 2012. That four year window has allowed the developers to listen to the vocal Dragon’s Dogma community on how they could improve their game. Some of the improvements are of course, more drastic than others. But longtime fans will be happy to see that the in-game microtransactions known as Rift Crystals are completely gone. In addition to that, the Steam release of Dark Arisen features a fully-revamped fast travel system, as well as the ability to silence chatty Pawns (in-game party members).
And lastly, for the gluttons of punishment, you no longer have to beat the game to unlock the hard difficulty! So, if you’re daring enough, you can play the game right from the beginning on hard. But please be warned, this hard mode is actually a hard mode. You will die. A lot.
Unofficial Mods
It’s no secret that PC gaming has access to one highly-coveted feature console games typically lack: mod support. While the game lacks Steam Workshop support for mods, unofficial mods are a completely viable option for fans looking to change up their Dark Arisen experience. But, be warned, these unofficial mods may make the game unstable. Then again, that really is part of the fun, isn’t it? At launch, you can expect some minor mods, like shaders to change the game’s color palette, or even some character mods. But if you’re looking for something fancier, you may want to give it some time.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is shaping up to be one of the most promising PC re-releases in quite some time. Fortunately, the PC port is top-notch and runs smoother than the console version ever did. Couple that with all the awesome features for the Steam release and you’ve got yourself the formula for some good times monster hunting.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen arrives on Steam January 15, 2016.
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