Dragon's Dogma 2 players are teaching their pawns life-saving skills

Dragon's Dogma 2 has finally been released and, by many's reckonings, is an early contender for Game of the Year. It offers up a huge open world to explore and "unparalleled, visceral combat," according to our very own Dragon's Dogma 2 review.

However, one mechanic in the game quickly distinguishes Dragon's Dogma 2 from its Soulslike competition, and that is the game's unique companion system, known as 'Pawns.'

Players create their own Primary Pawn and enlist other players' creations from The Rift, allowing them to create a balanced party filled with the best vocations.

These A.I. companions will accompany you throughout the game and learn as you continue to explore the treacherous fantasy world. The more you explore, the more your pawns learn, allowing them to help you out in some very interesting ways.

Take PureXbox's Craig Read, who revealed he had "subconsciously" taught his pawn to rush into danger in an attempt to bring back a fallen comrade. Once the pawn had got him to safe ground, Read could pull off the heal.

It's an act Read claims his pawn copied from his own game style.

Pawns can be shared online with the rest of the world so that other players can then hire your Pawn, equipped with both the gear and knowledge that you provide to it; in a follow-up tweet, @hellocraigo said.

"What's even more special is she's the only pawn in my party (a fellowship of mine and two other player's pawns) who shows this behaviour. She's truly my pawn and if you hire her on your playthrough, she'll do the exact same thing for you"

Another player, @XxiKGixX, shared a video of their pawn catching them as they fell from a ladder.

The Pawn system was first introduced in the original Dragon's Dogma and its subsequent re-release, Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen.

That system is largely still the same in Dragon’s Dogma 2—you still create your Pawn, choosing a vocation for them, and you can equip them with any gear you deem fit.

You’ll then fill out the remaining two slots of your party with two other Pawns, hireable from The Rift – essentially a Pawn Network – who will provide you with quest knowledge and information they have gained from their creator’s adventure.

In our recent review, we gave Dragon's Dogma 2 a perfect 10, calling it "gaming’s ultimate fantasy adventure," and praised the exploration within the open-world adventure.