Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen PC Port Reviews

Capcom has released Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen on PC, and based on the initial reviews on Steam and from the media, the RPG is receiving a relatively positive reception overall.

PC Gamer gives it an 81/100:

The PC port doesn’t introduce much new and certain elements could be stronger, but Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen still shines as a uniquely enjoyable RPG.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun goes scoreless:

What it offers though is a solid combat system backed up with enough different flavours, little moments of triumph, pats on the head and surprises amongst the very, very quickly familiar terrain to be compelling, like a big bowl of popcorn sprinkled with chocolate. It’s unfortunate that as a hybrid, The Witcher 3 does so much more with a lot of the same elements, including trying to make monsters worthy of respect and nailing the feel of being a wandering hero taking odd-jobs in a much prettier world, because it is ultimately the game that casts a shadow over both good and bad.

RPGSite gives it a 9/10:

I quite liked the console release of Dragon’s Dogma, but the performance issues truly obfuscated the brilliance of what’s at the heart of this game. I wasn’t one of those Dogma cultists before, but the PC release has made me into one. I hold my hands up to them – they’re right. It is one of the best games that nobody played, and this PC port is finally the right way to play it. Hopefully it finally finds a broader audience.

Examiner gives it a 4/5:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is an incredible game. The amount of content is incredible. The ability to control and mix up your character at any time is incredible. The variety in not only location but weapons, armor, and items are incredible. The ability to jump and grab a giant enemy, scaling it to stab it in the face while it thrashes about is incredible. You get it, now if you’re a fan of Fantasy RPG, saving the kingdoms from dragons and demons, and extremely satisfying gameplay from nearly every aspect, buy Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.

Gaming Nexus gives it a 9/10:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is not only a great role-playing game, but also one of the best ports to PC I’ve seen in some time. From an unlocked frame rate to perfect performance, the game hits all the right marks. It also helps that the game itself is enthralling because of its many departures from genre norms by providing players with a true sense of danger around every corner. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen truly feels at home on PC with its in-depth gameplay and beautiful world.

Twinfinite gives it a perfect 5/5:

What you essentially have here is a definitive edition of one seriously amazing action RPG. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen manages to live in the same vein as the Souls, sporting the darkness and challenges so many players have come to desire, yet forges an identity all its own. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen doesn’t adhere to a formula, it creates a sweeping experience, one whose strengths you won’t find elsewhere. The title’s move to PC, even three years in age, has made that fact shine once again.

GameWatcher gives it an 8.5/10:

Dragon’s Dogma is a great game that feels unique among fantasy RPGs thanks to its blend of mechanics and influences. Its flaws – repetitive quests and a somewhat aimless structure – don’t block out its enormous strengths. Its core combat is great, and fighting the game’s array of giant beasts is some of the most fun I’ve ever had in an RPG. And this PC version is absolutely the best way to play it.

HardcoreGamer gives it a 3.5/5:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a four-year-old game wrapped in slightly better visuals. It’s an incredibly hardcore RPG that features so many unique characteristics that other developers should seriously consider adopting. While it maintains its charm, there are elements that feel dated. The keyboard and mouse transition is done almost perfectly, but the overall controls still feel a little clumsy at times and the online functionality should have been more fully developed. We also ran into multiple technical issues, whether it was low audio levels or frequent crashes, despite the game running nicely on three-to-four year old hardware. There’s still a lot to like in Dragon’s Dogma as the time of day actually plays a vital role in adventuring, and the world is absolutely brimming with exploration and mythical creatures to battle. There’s nothing like grabbing onto a Griffin only for it to take off fifty feet into the air. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen for PC is a gem among the RPG genre, despite it being flawed in places.

OnlySP gives it a 6.8/10:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is definitely a game worth playing for action RPG fans and so is this particular release, at least if you happen to be a PC player who missed your first chance. The port definitely shows its console origins as well as its age, and it’s not a game you’d play for the story. What it is, however, is a huge and mechanically deep game with a whole, whole lot to do. The highly explore-able world with its terrifying nights, character customization, and tactical depth provide an almost intimidating amount of gameplay, and the boss-climbing, fast-paced combat is highly engaging. Just make sure you pick up a USB controller before you get too involved.

Attack of the Fanboy gives it a 4/5:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen may be a few years old now, but the new PC version is still a blast to play and offers a nice mix of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and From Software’s Dark Souls. There are dozens of hours of epic RPG action to be had here and while the complete package isn’t perfect, that doesn’t stop the experience from being a heck of a lot of fun.

And We Got This Covered gives it a 4/5:

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is still the same game as it was four years ago, with the same flaws and the same strengths. The good just about manages to outweigh the bad, in my opinion, but it does mean that I would only recommend the game to hardcore RPG gamers who perhaps have a love of the Dark Souls series or, as a more recent comparison, Bloodborne. At times exhilarating, at others laborious, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a grand adventure for those willing to look past its shortcomings.