When it comes to new triple-A video game releases, sequels bring in the cash for developers. So when a publisher decides to take a risk with a new IP (that’s “intellectual property” for any noobs out there), it’s big news.
Capcom today took the wraps off of Dragon’s Dogma, a new IP that puts you in the shoes of a dragon slayer in a vast, open world. First thought that came to my mind: the title Dragon’s Dogma sounds like a medieval ripoff of Assassin’s Creed. But it doesn’t look like the two games have much else in common.
Dragon’s Dogma is a new action franchise, where you play as part of a three-person team who sets out to find and destroy a dragon. The game takes place in a free-roaming world, which you can explore at will while you attempt to find that pesky dragon. The game is built on Capcom’s “MT Framework” engine, which is also used in Resident Evil 5 and Lost Planet 2. The lands are well populated, and you’ll encounter endless numbers of NPCs and mythical creatures like goblins and griffins to fight.
Dragon’s Dogma will live or die based on its combat mechanics, and Capcom claims that this is a major focus of its development. The people behind Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry 4 are creating Dragon’s Dogma, giving the action a highly stylized feel, as you can see in the trailer above or this gameplay vid:
Capcom says that the main focus in combat is on where you hit the enemy and how you react to their attacks.
Your two partners will fight alongside you, and they’ll learn new abilities and characteristics along the way by observing you in action. Yet they fight completely independently, with no need for your control. There’s more than just action, though, with exploration, interactions, and crucial decisions to be made.
Dragon’s Dogma will arrive sometime in early 2012. Check out the first screenshots from the game below.
