Dragon's Dogma

Dragon's Dogma is an open-world action role-playing game developed by Capcom and released in 2012, which stands as the first installment of a now-cult franchise, recognized for its immersive dark fantasy universe and innovative gameplay, as shown by the journey of an ordinary protagonist whose heart, torn out after an attack by a legendary dragon, grants a supernatural power, at the heart of an epic quest for the hero to recover it while eradicating the dragon in a medieval world populated by gigantic creatures and ancient mysteries that revolve around him precisely once his adventure sets a 'dragon's dogma' in motion.

The gameplay relies on a system of 'Pawns', companions whose attributes are managed by an AI, which is configured by the player according to their preferences and trained to accompany them throughout their quest. The Pawns, drawn from the traditions of Japanese European-style fantasy, assist in combat and exploration by learning strategies usable for better efficiency in action. The vast, open and dynamic world calls for free exploration, rather than checking a map or following linear quests, recalling titles such as Skyrim or Gothic.

The combat, physical and dynamic, oscillates between beat'em all in the style of Devil May Cry and epic clashes bearing the same characteristics as Shadow of the Colossus, with emphasis placed on the expedition of a monster to climb, and group tactics. Dragon's Dogma's world draws inspiration from dark medieval fantasy, with imposing dragons, goblins or griffins, and ruined cities, serving as the backdrop for various adventures. Character customization is ultra-detailed, from creation in prison (in the story's opening scene), allowing the controller holder to be fully immersed. Despite a botched launch overshadowed by Skyrim, and lower sales, the game became a cult classic due to its scope and uniqueness, failing to immediately generate commercial success caused by the presence of Resident Evil at the time.

Under the direction of Hideaki Itsuno, already at work on Devil May Cry, Dragon's Dogma laid the foundations of a saga that culminates with Dragon's Dogma 2 (slated for 2024). Fittingly, it takes place in a coherent universe shared with the first installment, yet featuring a world four times larger. This hybrid RPG, likely to influence a genre fusing intense Japanese-style action with a vast Western world, thus spends more time filling hours of freedom facing increasingly unpredictable and demanding challenges.