Fallout‘s Studio Design Director is apparently a huge fan of the new Dragon’s Dogma, and he’s not been shying away from making it known. Emil Pagliarulo is no stranger to the world of gaming. With his extensive experience in game design, his insights into the industry are always worth noting.
Lately, he’s been raving about Capcom’s latest RPG release, and one particular design decision has caught his attention.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Prioritizes Gameplay over Immersion, and It Works
In a recent tweet, Pagliarulo expressed how much he liked a sneaky design trick that’s used by the developers of Dragon’s Dogma 2.
🧵(1/2) I'm almost done talking about Dragons Dogma 2. Almost.
I love how the devs employ a classic sneaky design trick. Only occasionally, because you can only get away with it occasionally…
— Emil Pagliarulo (@Dezinuh) April 7, 2024
He specifically spoke about the use of text boxes for NPC dialogue in a game where all other dialogue is voiced.
They use text boxes for NPC dialogue… in a game where the all the other dialogue is voiced. When faced with the decision, “Do I not add new content because I can’t get the voice actor back?” the better decision is sometimes, “Constraints be damned – offer more gameplay!”
The replies to the tweet were filled with praise for the game.
A user agreed with Pagliarulo’s thoughts, stating that it’s fun when developers play around with these constraints and go above and beyond to provide more gameplay. It adds more to the player experience, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
I couldn't agree more. Or flat out change the voice actor for an established character anyway, and then suddenly reveal them as an imposter who killed the real person, and have the voice change be one of the in-game observations that the player is made aware of. More gameplay!😂
— SenjutsuSage (@SenninSage) April 7, 2024
One reply spoke about how the game was the only title to capture them the way The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim did back in the day, which is huge praise, considering how beloved the classic is.
DD2 has me by the hands the way Skyrim did when I first played it way back in 2012. It's hard to believe I feel like I'm a 15 year old again, but here it is!
— Vera Burd @ Looking for Work (@VeraBurd97) April 7, 2024
Judging by the reaction online after all of the discourse regarding the game’s infamous microtransactions, FPS issues, and single save slot died out, the new Dragon’s Dogma seems to be a hit among RPG fans.
If you were hesitating to try the game because of the issues mentioned above, Capcom released a patch to change things up and fix part of these problems. So, now’s your chance to dive in!
The Controversy Surrounding Fallout 76’s Design Director
While it’s nice seeing a professional in the industry praise another studio’s game so openly, the stories floating around Pagliarulo aren’t as wholesome. Pagliarulo worked on Fallout 76 as a design director and lead writer. After its troubled launch, he received much of the blame on social media.
Adding to the fire, Kotaku released a comprehensive report on the game’s development where developers revealed mismanagement from top executives, with claims that Pagliarulo showed little interest in the project.
Pagliarulo held similar roles for Starfield. He assured players that lessons had been learned from Fallout 76‘s launch, promising a smoother experience.
However, the game’s reception was mixed, and Pagliarulo faced criticism for dismissing negative feedback from players who wanted features common in modern RPGs. He claimed players were “disconnected from the realities of game developing.”
Do you think the criticism surrounding Pagliarulo is fair? What do you think about his opinion of Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s design choice? Let us know in the comments below!
