Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen£7.95 at Amazon UK is a single-player RPG, with action-driven gameplay akin to Capcom's Devil May CrySEE IT and Monster Hunter£43.24 at Amazon UK series. It draws inspiration from classic fables and myths, setting the game in a world burdened with the return of a destructive red dragon. Its combat is flashy and engaging, and the open-world environments are rich with detail, but the quest-driven plot and sparse character development weaken what would otherwise be an interesting story. The RPG leveling stalls combat, as well, so you won't fight at your full potential until you've leveled your class sufficiently. These issues may turn off less patient players, but those hoping for a grand, long-lived adventure across an action-packed open world will find plenty to discover and enjoy. I reviewed Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen on PC, but it's also available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.

Of Dragons and Men
In Dragon's Dogma, you are an ordinary fisher from a coastal village who is cursed by a rampaging dragon for having the gall to stand up and challenge it. The beast plucks your heart from your chest and challenges you to face him if you want it back. This starts your adventure across the monster-infested realm of Gransys in search of the menace. The plot details the cyclical return of the dragon and the forces that manipulate the world from behind the scenes.

Unfortunately, Dragon's Dogma doesn't offer enough characterization to its central protagonists for the story to have notable impact. It's hard to sympathize with people you don't know or care for, after all. In addition, the dragon barely has any presence in the first half of the game. Aside from ruining a pier and goading you, the dragon doesn't cause much trouble. There are no villages ruined in the dragon's wake, and NPCs go about their lives and interactions, while only paying lip service to the dragon's existence. Once the game hits the halfway point, the plot picks up tremendously and characters start getting the story exposition they deserve. But, by that point, you may not care.

The storytelling does little to entice, so the only real motivator is your own wanderlust. Fortunately, the countryside is littered with dangerous monsters, including lowly goblins, towering Cyclopes, and man-eating chimeras. Exploring the game world your first time through is a particular treat, because of the game's spontaneous action. You could be escorting a knight NPC to an old fortress one moment, only to be thrust into a battle with a fiendishly powerful drake the very next. Monsters always get the jump on you, so Dragon's Dogma feels surprisingly dynamic. You're always rewarded with experience and gold for completing these engagements, so they're worth tackling whenever you can.

The Heart of the Matter
You choose one of three combat vocations at the start of the game: the sword-wielding Fighter, the dagger- or bow-toting Strider, and the magic-casting Mage. Once your character reaches level 10, you unlock advanced versions of these classes, as well as hybrid classes, each with unique skills and specializations.

Melee combat uses light and heavy attacks, but there are no real combos to memorize. Light attacks are quick and effective in most situations, while fierce attacks are slower, but have higher stun and shield-breaking properties. Mage classes share these, but they are less effective than dedicated melee classes.

Your second universal ability is the grapple, which really sets Dragon's Dogma apart from other action-RPGs. You can grab hold of stunned enemies to throw them around, or open them up to further attacks. Gransys is filled with massive monsters, and the grapple skill lets you climb these beasts to reach critical weak points.

In addition, each vocation gives you several techniques that can be used alongside your basic attacks. Fighters are slower and more defensive than other classes, but utilize powerful blade and shield skills to engage enemies in melee. The advanced Fighter class, Warrior, drops defense and evasion in exchange for powerful blows and crowd-control abilities. The lack of evasion and defense means that you need to keep moving to avoid enemies and set up the class' stronger attacks. All classes in Dragon's Dogma are fun to utilize, and let you play the game in whatever manner you see fit.