I had to actually struggle with assigning Dragon's Dogma an 8 or a 9. That alone is a testament to how great the game is, because I don't give 9s too often.
Ultimately, what made me keep it an 8 is the overall lack of polish. Maybe it's because the game is dated, but overall, there can be some pretty frustrating setups that the game puts you through.
But let's get to the good. This game does a great job creating an interesting atmosphere with great gameplay. The story comes together nicely as well, which is a surprisingly great touch. In other words, the game is rough around the edges, but it's definitely got heart. The world brims with flavor, and the monsters are inspired and interesting. If there's anything that comes out most stale, it's the character development. But the thing is, the game delivers in a way that you don't really care all that much about its 'flaws'. In other words, everything congeals quite nicely, and its pros overwhelm its cons.
This game isn't going to appeal to everyone, but I found it to be rather solid and fun. Ultimately, I would recommend it to A-RPG fans.