Dragon's Dogma 2 is a better game because it makes fast travel a hassle

GamesRPGDragon’s Dogma 2Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a better game because it makes fast travel a hassleWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Capcom)

Hitching a ride on a harpy

Every RPG set in a massive open world expects you to spend a large amount of time exploring its multitude of nooks and crannies, but most of them also let you take a load off, zipping between previously visited locations instantaneously. Robust fast travel options have long been standard, but while they are undoubtedly convenient, they remove some of the magic of exploration. Not so in Dragon’s Dogma 2, however, where fast travel is a treat that must be earned.

(Image credit: Capcom)

Using an ox cart

Every time you try to skip a journey, then, there are some caveats. It’s a hassle. And that’s great! What makes these fast travel limitations a positive thing is the liveliness of the world you’re temporarily inhabiting. Even when you’re walking down routes you’ve explored a dozen times already, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter something new.

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(Image credit: Capcom)

Running down a path

The world is also full of wee environmental puzzles that might take some time to figure out. Or dungeons that you’re not yet prepared to tackle.

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As your knowledge and experience grows, the world becomes so much more accessible than the first time you wandered across it. Even those dungeons you do visit can be worth a second look. Where other RPGs might consider a dungeon cleared and then never expect you to set foot inside it again, there are plenty of reasons to revisit old haunts in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Monsters respawn after a couple of days, as do resource nodes, and everything you loot from corpses or mine from veins of ore can be used to upgrade your gear.

(Image credit: Capcom)

Climbing a dragon

I’m already on my second playthrough of Dragon’s Dogma 2, and I’ve been using fast travel a bit more than last time, mostly because I’ve been more direct in my adventures—less aimless wandering, more going to specific locations to do specific things. I’ve also got lots of ferrystones. But even now I’m frequently choosing to walk when I really don’t need to. And I’m still uncovering new things. But even if I wasn’t, I’d probably keep doing it, simply for the thrill of the fights.

Beating the snot out of monsters simply doesn’t get old when you have a combat system this dense and refined. Unlocking a new vocation that I’d been unable to get in my first playthrough has dramatically changed how I approach fights, too, which has in turn changed how it feels to explore the wilderness. The prospect of a long journey is an exciting one when you know you’re probably going to murder a dragon in creative ways during it.

There’s been a bit of pushback against fast travel over the last few years, but Dragon’s Dogma 2 shows that the solution isn’t simply getting rid of it. Convenience is good! And you actually need to have some reasons to ignore it. The Assassin’s Creed series, for instance, really wouldn’t support these limitations, because once you’ve wandered through an area a couple of times there’s little left to explore, and the fights quickly stop being challenging. This is not a one-size-fits-all solution. But for Dragon’s Dogma 2, it undoubtedly makes it a better game.

Beginner tips: Arise ArisenDragon’s Dogma 2 fast travel: Take an ox cartHow to start a new game:Start againDragon’s Dogma 2 pawns:Build your partyHow to change appearance: Makeover

Beginner tips
Dragon’s Dogma 2 fast travel
How to start a new game
Dragon’s Dogma 2 pawns
How to change appearance

Beginner tips: Arise ArisenDragon’s Dogma 2 fast travel: Take an ox cartHow to start a new game:Start againDragon’s Dogma 2 pawns:Build your partyHow to change appearance: Makeover

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The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals