In Dragon's Dogma 2, generally speaking, I want you to use a controller. The PC gamer in me may bristle at that command, but it is the year 2024. Most players will have a gamepad lying around somewhere, unless you are a wunderkind who can take on the Elden Ring with a mouse and keyboard. In that case, I fear for your strength.

Face buttons and a shoulder pad are as appropriate for third-person action RPGs as they are for fighting games, just as a mouse and keyboard are a necessity for first-person shooters. I don't make up the rules. But in Dragon's Dogma, you can pick up a flower and sprint with the same button.

This may bother you, or it may not bother you at all; I heard both from the PC Gamer team before a fellow writer pointed out that it could be fixed, and I'm passing that knowledge on to you now because it started giving me a headache.

Changing the sprint buttons is very easy and I suggest you do it as soon as possible. Select Button Mapping from the Options menu control. In the Inspection/Dash Settings (the name alone speaks volumes about the absurdity of this binding), set "Inspection Only" to "Yes."

This will allow you to examine and pick up items with the usual buttons, while also allowing you to sprint, God willing, by pressing down on the left analog stick. This is much preferable and the way most action RPGs have always done it! It's madness.