In a recent article, the author expresses frustration with the lack of easy fast travel options in the game Dragon’s Dogma 2. The director of the game, Hideaki Itsuno, had previously mentioned the intentional absence of traditional fast travel mechanics, emphasizing the importance of making travel a more enjoyable and dynamic experience. However, the author argues that the current system in the game does not achieve this goal, and instead hinders exploration and enjoyment of the game after nearly 20 hours of gameplay.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 does offer fast travel options, but they are limited and come with restrictions. Players can use oxcarts to travel between major cities once they have discovered them, or spend a rare Ferrystone stone to fast-travel between beacons on the map. However, these options are not always convenient or helpful depending on the player’s objectives, and it can be tedious to navigate the map without a more readily available fast travel system in place.
The author criticizes the game’s approach to fast travel, arguing that it does not effectively encourage exploration as intended. Compared to other games in the genre like Elden Ring or Skyrim, which offer more accessible fast travel options while still promoting exploration, Dragon’s Dogma 2’s system can be discouraging. The author recounts a quest in which they had to backtrack a considerable distance on foot, encountering the same enemies repeatedly, which detracted from the overall experience.
Despite the frustrations with the fast travel system, the author acknowledges the game’s appealing map design and potential for exploration. However, the cumbersome and limited fast travel options detract from the overall enjoyment of the game and deter players from investing in quests or revisiting areas due to the time and effort required for travel. The comparison to Fallout 76’s mechanics of charging players to fast travel further highlights the shortcomings of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s system.
Overall, the author expresses disappointment with the current fast travel system in Dragon’s Dogma 2, finding it to be more of a hindrance than a helpful tool in enhancing gameplay. The limitations and restrictions placed on fast travel detract from the exploration and enjoyment of the game, making it less appealing to invest time in quests or revisit areas due to the exhausting travel mechanics. It remains to be seen whether any changes or improvements will be made to address these concerns in future updates or iterations of the game.
