I don't write many reviews for games, but this one has earned the time to make one. I'll start off by saying that this game is a masterpiece. From storytelling, emotional impact, the journeys that you take with your party, and everything else this game has to offer. I have not gotten the old "RPG Adventure" nostalgia since my first time ever playing Skyrim as a kid. The amount of fun I have had with this game, even after 100% all achievements, is indescribable. Although I unfortunately never played the first Dragon's Dogma, I don't think that takes away the amount I appreciate this game by itself. This game has reminded me what a true adventure is supposed to feel like. The combat is fresh and fluid, and the world still continues to make me just stop and stare even from just a structural design standpoint.

All of the reviews about the performance are for the most part true though. Coming from someone who used to compete in FPS games and wanted more and more frames in every game, Dragon's Dogma II is quite the exception for me. Yes, 30-40 fps in cities is what you're probably going to get, but it surprisingly has not taken my immersion away at all, and the game itself has made up for it. But I do hope for future updates for that to get optimized more. For the micro-transaction reviews, I don't really see eye-to-eye with some of those, since it isn't advertised in game other than having the "Online Store" option at the main menu. And all items are easily obtainable in game anyway. I do see the point of it being slightly scummy with having the option nonetheless.

But regardless of what other people think, I'm glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews and let it stop me from playing this game that I absolutely adore now. And that goes for any game, if someone else doesn't like it, that doesn't mean it should stop you from trying it out yourself. Who knows? It might just be your favorite game.