The release of Dragon's Dogma 2 is almost here (March 22nd), and many Arisen hopefuls still have burning questions about the game.
The Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network recently caught up with director Dragon's Dogma 2 game Hideaki Itsuno at Capcom 's offices in San Francisco, United States, to ask them a few questions about the upcoming RPG game .
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Capcom's Hideaki Itsuno talks and answers questions about Dragon's Dogma 2, including the game's frame rate, the new armor system, exploration , and classes.
Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette Journal/USAT Network: So my first question is one that a lot of people are asking online. Will Dragons Dogma 2 have the option for 60 frames per second (fps) on consoles?
Hideaki Itsuno, Capcom: For Dragon's Dogma 2, we will deliver an unspecified frame rate of around 30 FPS or above on consoles. For PC, it will depend on its specifications. However, for consoles, we are aiming for an unspecified frame rate of around and above 30 FPS.
RGJ/USAT: Does choosing between a human or Beastren character affect the story? Will there be multiple character slots or are we limited to one character and one save file?
Itsuno: The main story is the same for both, whether your main character is human or Beastren. However, some small details in terms of how your character progresses through the game and how other characters treat your character – these will differ depending on whether your main character is human or Beastren.
Regarding your question about multiple characters, the game does include a save slot. It's one character per player and one main Pawn per player. However, the appearance and attributes of both the main player and the main Pawn can be modified during the game by going to specific locations that allow for this option. Based on what we just mentioned about the slight differences between choosing your main character as human or Beastren and how other characters perceive you, the one thing you can't change is your main character's race, whether it's human or Beastren. This is the one aspect you won't be able to change because it affects how other characters perceive you.
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RGJ/USAT: There are a lot of games with large areas but nothing to do or they just send you on recovery missions with no story. How did you design the exploration to be interesting?
Itsuno: First of all, we put a lot of emphasis on map density. When you first visit a place, we try to design it so that you can see where you're headed, but there's no clear path. This is based on the idea that if you're going somewhere and you can see the road and it's just a straight road, it's not as interesting to go down the straight road. But if you can see where you're going but you're not sure how to get there, you get a little more excited. Like, Okay, how do I get there?
Also, in terms of arriving at a destination, we have prepared many different roads. We have also prepared focal points along the way, so that you have many options and it is difficult to explore them all at once. So even if you visit the same place, the enemies do not appear in the same way, but appear in different ways, so even if you visit the same place many times, it will provide value to the player.
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RGJ/USAT: Will there be a New Game Plus option like the last game? And will there be challenging endgame content like Bitterback Isle?
Itsuno: The ending of the game is something we can't comment on now because we don't want to spoil it, so please look forward to it.
RGJ/USAT: So, does that mean you can't answer any questions about whether Eternal Ferrystone will also return?
Itsuno: I don't know about that (laughs).
RGJ/USAT: What is your favorite class in the game and why?
Itsuno: Initially, Sorcerer was my favorite class, but lately, I've been enjoying Warferer.
Personally, I really enjoy multi casting, which is when multiple characters cast magic at the same time. You can do this with the Sorcerer and you can do this with the Mage, and it makes the spell more powerful if you cast it all at once. However, if you have a party of four Sorcerers, then healing becomes quite difficult. It can actually be quite challenging.
But if you make a party with a Warrior plus Mages, then you can heal while also multi casting. I find this idea really fun and exciting. But yeah, if you form a party like that, wolves and hobgoblins will clean up your party. It's really strong against bosses, though.
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RGJ/USAT: So far, 10 classes have been revealed. Are there more inventories than these?
Itsuno: So, for now, 10 classes have been announced and that's what we have planned so far.
RGJ/USAT: Are you able to talk about the changes to the armor system and the reasons behind them? It seems like it's been simplified. Has the underwear or clothing layer gone? Will there eventually be a transmog option? And will players be able to make gear defaults?
Itsuno: For Dragon's Dogma 2, we changed the armor system and simplified it with the goal of people picking different things to have more visual variety. They wanted to balance it so that people didn't always end up picking the same things.
In that direction, we added more variety and simplified the system. Instead of having internal and external, we split the equipment into upper body and lower body. We added helmets and capes. There are some defaults, but generally, what happened in the previous game at high levels was that people would go for the same type of equipment eventually. This time we made a conscious effort to create something where even at high levels, people would be encouraged to pick different things. So there would be some visual variety in what people were picking.
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RGJ/USAT: Does that mean everyone pretty much started using the same equipment and looking the same in the previous game?
Itsuno: Yeah, so because that was happening, we tried to do it very consciously so that as your character grows, the more variety you're encouraged to choose from.
RGJ/USAT: How are character stats determined in Dragon's Dogma 2? Are they primarily based on your class or level? Do players have more freedom to choose or assign them? Will they be resettable or assignable?
Itsuno: I think your question is asking how stats grow and develop, right? It works in a similar way. It's based on class. However, one of the things we tried to adjust is to make sure that you don't feel like your stats are tolerable. We made adjustments so that your stats don't stop based on your level. However, players won't be able to freely assign their stats.
RGJ/USAT: Will a character's body type still have advantages and disadvantages? If I make a huge character, will there be areas I can't get into?
Itsuno: So, in Dragon's Dogma 2, you won't have any situation where you can't get into a place because of your body type. However, body type will still have an impact on your character's stats or attributes. If your character is taller, then there will be attributes that match that. If your character is shorter, then there will be attributes that match that.
For example, body type can affect the amount of weight they can carry or how their stamina regenerates. Also, the length of their limbs affects how fast they move or the range of their attacks.
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RGJ/USAT: Will it still be possible to play with your Pawn? How much freedom do players have in designing their Pawn?
Itsuno: Yes, you can play with your Pawn. Also, one of the main themes of Pawns is their individuality. Based on what a Pawn is, you can imagine who created it, right? So that's something we've highlighted this time as well. The more features we have available, the more options players have to make their own Pawn unique, and we wanted to emphasize that.
RGJ/USAT: Will there be cooperative game types with other players?
Itsuno: There is indirect cooperation with other players. You can high-five other players' Pawns, for example. Other players' attributes will also be reflected in the Pawns so you feel like you're cooperating with them. Personally, I don't like constantly collecting items, so there are special attributes you can assign to Pawns, including one where they collect items. So those attributes from the Pawn's creator will be reflected in the Pawn itself.
RGJ/USAT: In terms of consumer friendliness, is there a need for a stable Internet connection? Will there be any microtransactions and if so, how will they be implemented?
Itsuno: The game can be played offline. However, to rent Pawns from other players, you will need to be online, and this is definitely encouraged.
In terms of microtransactions, Dragon's Dogma 2 has DLC like "A Boon for Adventurers," which will be available in the Deluxe Edition, but will also be available as DLC when the game launches. Some of the items include Rift Crystals and Wakestones, which are included in the Deluxe Edition and will also be released as individual DLC in limited quantities per account.
RGJ/USAT: How difficult or challenging will the game be? Will it be mostly like the first game? Do you have options to choose your difficulty? Have there been any balance changes compared to the first game for consumables like Throwblasts, which ended up being "broken"?
Itsuno: It's a pretty difficult game compared to the previous one.
Typically, difficulty is determined by factors such as time required, technique required, and knowledge required. We made a conscious effort to reduce the elements that depend on time required.
In terms of difficulty as an action game, one change we made is to put in a system that optimizes difficulty according to the player. We also feel like we successfully added some difficulty that people will enjoy in terms of role-playing elements that require you to play a character in a specific role.
Source: eu.rgj.com
