Dragon's Dogma benefits from Dark Arisen's content, more closely approximating the type of play suggested by the game's atmosphere - congruence that was lacking from the initial release.

Dark Arisen content varies play; Interesting world begs exploration; Oppressive atmosphere; Lots of meat in inventory/equipment system; Great

Excruciating travel/backtracking in main game; Frustrating pace discourages exploration; Poor AI; Exhausting ally banter; Lack of combat intricacy and balance; Challenge feels unnatural

For as much as Dragon's Dogma is a new IP for developer/publisher Capcom, there's a lot about it that is strikingly familiar, not that's a bad thing. It shares a lot of Monster Hunter's DNA especially when it comes to boss battles.

AI-controlled party members hold their own in combat; Superb character and creature animations; Finely crafted open world

Poor escort mission NPC AI; Excessive NPC chatter; Bosses and forests do not mix

Dragon's Dogma is like a precociously intelligent teenager, in the sense that it has ideas beyond those of its peers, but struggles to explain itself. There's no better example than the game's rushed opening, which drops you into the armored boots of a warrior about to face a giant chimera.

A grueling; challenging world; Character classes with vastly different play styles; Designing combos rather than earning +1 Intelligence

Uneven visual presentation; Repetitious dialog; The steep learning curve

On Bitterblack Isle, there's always something nasty lurking in the darkness. Perhaps it's a ferocious wolf that snarls and charges, forcing you to run to safety or block its substantial weight.

Bitterblack Isle features lots of great battles with fearsome foes; Ominous atmosphere and pensive story enhance tension on the isle; Eternal ferrystone eases the burdens of long journeys; The main game remains a special thrill

The grueling final third of the new dungeon lacks any sense of balance or fun; Pawns require more babysitting than ever

A solid game that definitely has an audience. Might lack replay value, could be too short or there are some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

Note: Although I played through Dragon's Dogma to achieve a high enough level to compete in the new and dangerous lands of Bitterblack Isle, this is a review of new elements introduced with the Dark Arisen expansion. Be sure to read El33tonline's

* Line added in regard to trading items (4/25) The original Dragon's Dogma is well worth playing thanks to its developed sense of adventure and discovery, imparted by perilously long journeys and harrowing fights against foes with distinctive behaviors and exploitable weaknesses.

I'll keep this review simple. Pro's: A more in-depth character customization than in your usual RPG's. A very well done combat system. Ability to rent pawns. Monster graphic are really good. Con's: Bad graphics in general (Excluding the monsters) Mouths rarely move in sync with voices.

Neither Monster Hunter nor Dark Souls--but a great combination of the two.

Full; challenging experience; Simplistic; engrossing leveling/enhancing system; Innovative use of companions with other players

Deceiving auto-save function; No fast-travel; Some issues with companion compliance

"Dragon's Dogma is the worst kind of time sink, a game that feels like a waste of energy rather than recreation." ? 2013 Capcom. All rights reserved.

Exciting and interesting combat system when everything works

Awful environments; ghastly graphics; terrible controls; insipid story; abstruse mechanics; should I go on