In the realm of high fantasy, where swords clash, magic crackles, and dragons soar, one might expect the inspiration for Capcom’s highly anticipated Dragon’s Dogma 2 to stem from the hallowed halls of classic literature or renowned role-playing games. However, the game’s director, Hideaki Itsuno, has revealed an unexpected muse – the open-world masterpiece, Grand Theft Auto V.
In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Itsuno candidly admitted that Rockstar’s critically acclaimed crime sim served as a “big inspiration” for Dragon’s Dogma 2. The director expressed his admiration for GTA V’s ability to seamlessly combine multiple gameplay systems, creating a sense of freedom and emergent gameplay that feels intentional, even in the midst of chaos.
“GTA V was quite a big inspiration for me on the level of how it manages to combine multiple emergent gameplay systems into a satisfying experience that feels free to the player in terms of their freedom of what they can choose to do,” Itsuno explained.
He highlighted the game’s remarkable flexibility, allowing players to engage with various in-game events and actions that can spiral out of control, overlapping with other areas and occurrences in the surrounding world. Itsuno marveled at how GTA V handles this chaos without crashing or forcibly ejecting players from one situation to another, instead allowing everything to mesh together in a way that feels intentional and cohesive.
Itsuno’s admiration for GTA V’s “intentionality in emergent gameplay and open-world design” has become a driving force behind Dragon’s Dogma 2’s development. The original Dragon’s Dogma was already renowned for its intricate systems, their intricate interactions, and the freedom it offered players. However, with GTA V as a guiding light, Itsuno aims to push the boundaries of emergent gameplay in the sequel even further.
“That kind of experience is something I’ve been aiming to provide in Dragon’s Dogma 2,” Itsuno stated, hinting at the ambitious scope and depth of the upcoming fantasy RPG.
As players embark on their journey through the vast and fantastical world of Dragon’s Dogma 2, they can expect a level of chaos and freedom that rivals the open-world mastery of GTA V. From epic battles against fearsome beasts to unexpected encounters that spiral into unforgettable adventures, Capcom’s latest offering promises to deliver an immersive and unpredictable experience that defies conventional boundaries.
With Hideaki Itsuno’s vision and the unlikely inspiration of GTA V’s controlled chaos, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is poised to redefine the genre, inviting players to embrace the unexpected and revel in the chaos that awaits within its fantasy realm.
