Dragon's Dogma doesn't look nearly this good when you're playing it, but it's pretty damn fun.

There are a couple of reasons I decided to review Dragon’s Dogma. One, the game showed up, Brad threw it on my desk and said “you should review this.” So, well, there’s that--that’s definitely important.

But when my stack of need-to-play games begins to run dry, I (try to) fill that with a game I wouldn’t necessarily play, or a franchise I missed. It’s important to have personal experiences to confirm or disprove your expectations, and Dragon’s Dogma fit that well.

Hitman: Blood Money and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings were the same way, too. Since I’ve played both of those games, I’m now super excited for the next games from IO Interactive and CD Projekt Red. I couldn’t have said that with any confidence before--my options for future playing are now much wider.

Dragon’s Dogma has not turned me into a Monster Hunter fanatic, but it provided a window into what makes zealots out of those who do love Monster Hunter. Maybe Capcom has now tricked me into trying the next one? Hmm.

Hey, You Should Play This:

• Reprisal by Jon Caplin

Despite being a big ol’ fan of Peter Molyneux, I’ve never played Populous. Or Syndicate, really. This isn't about me, though. Stop it! That hasn’t changed since writing this sentence, but I’m one step closer, since I’ve played a game that doesn’t seem far off. Reprisal is a pixel-tinted Populous-style game from graphic designer Jon Caplin that is, if nothing else, really stylish. The game’s tutorial doesn’t do the greatest job of explaining what the hell is going on by the time the tutorial disappears, but click around enough and it’ll all start to make sense. Plus, it sounds so good!

• Amnesia: The Dark Descent by Frictional Games

I’m finally going to play Amnesia: The Dark Descent this weekend. Or so I've told myself. Pray for me.

You Should Read These, Too:

• Respawn's West And Zampella Sound Off On Upcoming Activision Lawsuit by Andy MacNamara for Game Informer

No, I will not be attending the trial between Activision and former Infinity Ward employees. Plans were discussed, but the logistics of hanging out in Los Angeles for a month didn’t make sense for a great many reasons, and while I’d been lead to believe there might be a stream for media to watch, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Ah well. There will be plenty of reporters at the trial, however, and if you’re looking for how former IW leaders Jason West and Vince Zampella will be handling themselves, read Game Informer’s interview with them that’s...mostly with their lawyer.

• Editorial: 38 Studios and the Dunkin Delusions by Alexander Sliwinski for Joystiq

It’s weird to be the reporter at the center of a big story. That was the case for me with the implosion at Infinity Ward, and it seems Joystiq reporter Alexander Sliwinski found himself in a similar position with 38 Studios. He’s written a heartfelt story about his time hanging out in a Dunkin’ Donuts near the 38 Studios offices, providing the emotional perspective of the reporter that’s often left unsaid. Sliwinski may assume a little too much about the psychological state of the 38 Studios employees he’s observing, but what he witnessed is fascinating. A sad tale from all angles.

And Some Other Stuff:

• Someone has presented their ultimate theory on LOST. I haven't read it yet, but LOST!
• Microsoft's former director of policy and enforcement for Xbox Live, Stephen Toulouse, criticizes Blizzard's public statements regarding "hacking" of Battle.net and Diablo III.
• Our friends at 8-4 are working on the Japanese version of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP.
• There is a working calculator in Minecraft, and it's totally insane.
• The Masters Voice is a wonderful short film. Can't wait to see how it's turned into a feature.
• Folks have asked about my blue shirt with the purple skeleton--it's made by a guy named Max Capacity. You should buy his stuff. All of it is rad, and his Tumblr is really entertaining.
• There's a growing number of in-game photographers, and they're producing beautiful material.
• Hideo Kojima is giving interviews again, and The Guardian has released some excerpts.
• Nobody thinks this Shadow of the Colossos movie is actually going to get made, right?