Dark Souls II

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 3117 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,992 out of 3117
  2. Mixed: 521 out of 3117
  3. Negative: 604 out of 3117
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  1. kallell
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    This game is incredible, easily one of the best I've ever played. Don't be fooled by all these "negative" reviews. I can't remember the last time I thought a game was a "10".

    I got this game this weekend, and have already put in 40 hours of gameplay. Most of the online "reviews" from consumers **** about the controls. While I can say Bandai (creators) could have done a better job with    This game is incredible, easily one of the best I've ever played. Don't be fooled by all these "negative" reviews. I can't remember the last time I thought a game was a "10".

    I got this game this weekend, and have already put in 40 hours of gameplay. Most of the online "reviews" from consumers **** about the controls. While I can say Bandai (creators) could have done a better job with the PC controls, this game is made to be played with a controller, and anyone following the series should know that by now. If if the pc controls were top notch/max customization, there is no way you could do this as effectively without having a controller in hand. All you need to do is plug in a WIRED xbox 360 (or third party) controller and you'll be set.The game shouldn't be voted on based on some of the issues it has using a mouse and keyboard. That's just ridiculous.

    This game continued to live up to the souls series and provided a plethora of new [brutal] bosses, hidden areas, and tons of completely open world exploration.

    The game is exactly how I thought it would be. I'm sick of the carebear gaming genre catering to whiny casuals who complain if a certain puzzle/boss fight takes more than two attempts. Games like this (cough WoW), makes it feel unrewarding and you always walk away feeling like the game was too short or you didn't get your monies worth.Furthermore, I despise having a linear path progression through a game; you just feel like you are being spoonfed and handheld the entire time. Having the ability to explore different areas, and have multiple "boss fight options" open to you any any given point keeps the game interesting.

    You will die, period. The sooner you accept this the sooner you will start to enjoy this game. Sometimes bosses will take 30+ attempts to down in order to get the mechanics right. Sometimes you'll be invaded while fighting other NPCs. Sometimes you'll fall victim to a trap and plunge to your death. All these parts are what make up a great game.

    Again, overall, this is easily one of the top 10 games I've ever played in my life. If you want a challenge and want to actual feel that a sense of accomplishment after beating a boss, get this game.    … Expand
  2. Glgh
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    This is an improvement over what had already been an excellent first Dark Souls game.
    Somewhat brighter that it´s predecessor, Dark Souls 2 is a game that is just better looking and has better performance on PC, when compared to console versions.
    Combat has been improved and so have some other things related to both technical an artistic issues. This one is a MUST HAVE for every action    This is an improvement over what had already been an excellent first Dark Souls game.
    Somewhat brighter that it´s predecessor, Dark Souls 2 is a game that is just better looking and has better performance on PC, when compared to console versions.
    Combat has been improved and so have some other things related to both technical an artistic issues. This one is a MUST HAVE for every action RPG games fan.
    There have been some bugs, and it is just unbelievable how angry people just cast random votes without having actually seen the game.    … Expand
  3. arktor
    Apr 27, 2014
    10
    i don't get all these negative reviews here. the game is great. everything i love in the dark souls 1 - but more. and runs better, much better. i love this game.
  4. DangerMX
    May 1, 2014
    10
    The game has been updated on Steam (PC), work for all now, no justification for this score by the HATERS, the game is beautiful, graphics is modest, but nothing to panic (I liked) no border-aliasing, full FPS, good textures, and the game-play is REALLY GOOD on PC's, continues with the essence of Demon/Dark Souls. For me this game is EPIC... Battle, grade and equipment system is the mostThe game has been updated on Steam (PC), work for all now, no justification for this score by the HATERS, the game is beautiful, graphics is modest, but nothing to panic (I liked) no border-aliasing, full FPS, good textures, and the game-play is REALLY GOOD on PC's, continues with the essence of Demon/Dark Souls. For me this game is EPIC... Battle, grade and equipment system is the most complex in the game EVER, the story-line (Lore) is amazing, the enemies are so hard! But I found easier than previous, nothing to spoil the game! Do not listen to any of these bad reviews below, buy the game and then tell me it was not worth it! Buy ORIGINAL and have no such problems!… Expand
  5. TommyTanker
    May 13, 2014
    10
    Thinking of buying Dark Souls 2 for PC? Buy it. Simple as that. I never played DS1 so I waited anxiously for the game to be released on Steam on the 24th April. Since then I have logged 160 hours of game play. I will say that again so its clear. I have logged 160 hours of game play since the 24th April. Thats how immense it is. It has what we gamers want - REPLAYABILITY and DIFFICULTY. ItsThinking of buying Dark Souls 2 for PC? Buy it. Simple as that. I never played DS1 so I waited anxiously for the game to be released on Steam on the 24th April. Since then I have logged 160 hours of game play. I will say that again so its clear. I have logged 160 hours of game play since the 24th April. Thats how immense it is. It has what we gamers want - REPLAYABILITY and DIFFICULTY. Its not made for dumbed-down audiences or kiddies. Its a great combination of online and offline play too. The storyline is epic. To think you would pay the same price for Dark Souls 2 and Dragon Age 2 - you cant even begin to compare. Dark Souls 2, has loads of content, hundreds of hours of re-playablity and its challenging.

    The majority of 0 scores here are Assassin Creed mouse click spammers who are upset about the Keyboard / Mouse porting. I went onto Steam community and downloaded a simple keyboard mapping script - problem solved. Dont let these kids put you off. I felt a thousand times more ripped off buying BF4, Dragon Age 2 or Hitman Revolutions than this piece of Art. Well done Software - great game.    … Expand
  6. Red781RuM
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    Do NOT Believe all the negative feedback from these raging morons. The game works perfectly and the online features have never been so fast. The game is meant to be played with a controller, and it's a pretty hard game so yes you will have a bad time playing with mouse+kboard (Get a 360 controller, the game is worth every penny... And really, you shouldnt even try without a controller)Do NOT Believe all the negative feedback from these raging morons. The game works perfectly and the online features have never been so fast. The game is meant to be played with a controller, and it's a pretty hard game so yes you will have a bad time playing with mouse+kboard (Get a 360 controller, the game is worth every penny... And really, you shouldnt even try without a controller)
    This game is just amazing. Pure hardcore RPG with unique online features and engaging difficulty like rarely seen before.
    If you are a teenager who smashes his controller everytime you get killed in CoD ; Do NOT buy this game.
    If you desire a challenge, epic boss fights, and a world you can never forget, you have to try it.
    While it may be far from easy, the game is so rewarding. It is a masterpiece, nothing less.
    All the negative reviews come from angry gamers who either can't launch the game or can't play with keyboard, so they rate a game 0/10 without even playing it... They are pathetic and you shouldn't bother those reviews. While no game is perfect, this game is the closest one I can possibly think.    … Expand
  7. Tarnak
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    I've had NO PROBLEM at all with this game on PC. It doesn't need a fix like the first game. It looks great and runs at 60 fps (and there is not really any point to going higher... this isn't counter strike. Overall it's way better than the first one, a lot more diversity for monsters, areas, weapons and armors. Online is a lot better, it takes me under 15 seconds to summon someone. OnlyI've had NO PROBLEM at all with this game on PC. It doesn't need a fix like the first game. It looks great and runs at 60 fps (and there is not really any point to going higher... this isn't counter strike. Overall it's way better than the first one, a lot more diversity for monsters, areas, weapons and armors. Online is a lot better, it takes me under 15 seconds to summon someone. Only thing bad is the hitboxes (which will surely be fixed soon), and that bosses are not as epic as DkS1 bosses are. I don't get why everyone are complaining. THIS ISN'T A GAME THAT CAN BE PLAYED ON KEYBOARD AND MOUSE! Even if it was a perfect port, there are way to many things to be performed to play with mouse and keyboard and have everything under your fingers.… Expand
  8. rasto4ek
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    This game is good. Its really good peace of art, game design, combat system and addictiveness. As any game it has some cons. It does not have the cutting edge graphics, people say there are some problems with launching. But, there will be fixes soon and this game is not about graphics.
    Oh, there are some **** that give 1 or even 0 for not a appropriate mouse keyboard support. Kids, there    This game is good. Its really good peace of art, game design, combat system and addictiveness. As any game it has some cons. It does not have the cutting edge graphics, people say there are some problems with launching. But, there will be fixes soon and this game is not about graphics.
    Oh, there are some **** that give 1 or even 0 for not a appropriate mouse keyboard support. Kids, there is no better way to play DS than pad.
    I give this game solid 8, but because of some **** that can't think logically and are throwing with Ones and Zeroes, I give it 10    … Expand
  9. bobbypie67890
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    Unspeakable. For starters, customization is worth every second you put in it. The game plays amazing. I have an AMD FX-8120, 2x Power color AX7870 in Crossfire-X, and 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600Mhz RAM. It runs at 60 FPS. For all you people who are giving the game a zero because it won't launch, look up a solution and you aren't supposed to review a game until AFTER you play the game.Unspeakable. For starters, customization is worth every second you put in it. The game plays amazing. I have an AMD FX-8120, 2x Power color AX7870 in Crossfire-X, and 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600Mhz RAM. It runs at 60 FPS. For all you people who are giving the game a zero because it won't launch, look up a solution and you aren't supposed to review a game until AFTER you play the game. That's why the critic's score is high.… Expand
  10. KaXaSA
    Apr 27, 2014
    10
    This is a 'good port' the game was actually ported from pc to consoles and not the other way around, the mouse controls are better but you need to disable things like auto cam and mess with the mouse sensibility imo you should just use a controller instead.

    While I don't really like/ agree with these score systems the 5.6 score is not fair at all, anything below 8 is bs just ignore them :p
  11. Panhodny
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    Please do not believe the negative feedback from players who (as they themselves admit) have often not even played the game! The game is fantastic, looks much better than on consoles (understandably), even though the graphics still look a bit downgraded from the pre-release pictures. Due to the inherent variability in PC optimization, I obviously cannot speak for everyone, but so far IPlease do not believe the negative feedback from players who (as they themselves admit) have often not even played the game! The game is fantastic, looks much better than on consoles (understandably), even though the graphics still look a bit downgraded from the pre-release pictures. Due to the inherent variability in PC optimization, I obviously cannot speak for everyone, but so far I didn´t experience a single bug or crash and the game runs constant 60 frames per second without a single hiccup. Overall, the port seems to be working perfectly fine and offers all the adavantages of PC gaming. The game should, however, be definitely played with gamepad - it was never designed for keyboards and its nature would have to be fundamentally changed in order to accommodate for such change. Don´t whine and praise the sun!… Expand
  12. Jonatikkan
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    The first Dark souls game was amazing but, as we all know, it had terrible defects. The most important was the online aspect,with failing summonings and the pvp, laggy as hell. The second one, the technical aspect: 30 fps? C'mon!

    But you know what? They fixed it! And I don't mean just an upgrade, I mean the online works perfect now. The pvp system is much more balanced and diversed.    The first Dark souls game was amazing but, as we all know, it had terrible defects. The most important was the online aspect,with failing summonings and the pvp, laggy as hell. The second one, the technical aspect: 30 fps? C'mon!

    But you know what? They fixed it! And I don't mean just an upgrade, I mean the online works perfect now. The pvp system is much more balanced and diversed. Whatever your style of combat is it will be fun to use and effective.
    The game runs at 60 fps and looks great, not as well as expected but much better than in consoles. And anyone knows that modding can help the game to look much more beautiful.

    Oh, by the way. This game is not meant to be played with keyboard and mouse, get a controller. Why? Is not only due to the interface, with some upgrades for keyboard and mouse control, but also the gameplay. Don't nerf yourself and get a controller.    … Expand
  13. abowman
    May 6, 2014
    10
    Sucks a lot of people are having issues with this game... but i've had none. that being said I do own a PC gaming pad for games such as these as I know they're not worth playing without one. This is easily one of the best RPG experiences i've had. Solid game.
  14. SolomonRed
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    Loving everything about this sequel.
    The people complaining about the graphics should look at the recommended specs, it was made so the majority of PC's would have no problem running it. FromSoftware even clarified that they want the game to look good but not be unattainable to mid range users.
    My experience so far has been nothing but flawless. Beautiful character models and landscapes    Loving everything about this sequel.
    The people complaining about the graphics should look at the recommended specs, it was made so the majority of PC's would have no problem running it. FromSoftware even clarified that they want the game to look good but not be unattainable to mid range users.
    My experience so far has been nothing but flawless. Beautiful character models and landscapes all around.
    Game-play wise the controls are consistently responsive, when I die I usual know it was because of a flaw on my part not the game. By the way I am playing on a gamepad, the way Dark Souls is meant to be played.
    This would be a 10 for me but due to the apparent very vocal minority of players having issues on their set-ups, it could likely use some minor fine tuning.    … Expand
  15. SirPFS
    May 1, 2014
    8
    You guys just went full hollow... never go full hollow.

    If you guys think that the port is horrible, take a look at the first game, and please think again. The port is not perfect, but damn, way better than the first one. And improvements deserve a highscore. And yes, this is Darksouls, you have to play with a controller, like any Souls game. The game is unfair, you'll be angry    You guys just went full hollow... never go full hollow.

    If you guys think that the port is horrible, take a look at the first game, and please think again.
    The port is not perfect, but damn, way better than the first one. And improvements deserve a highscore.
    And yes, this is Darksouls, you have to play with a controller, like any Souls game.

    The game is unfair, you'll be angry when the boss will do a 360 just to target and beat the cr*** out of you. This is how it works.

    I saw some minor bugs in my 2 playthrough i've done so far, but nothing gamebreaking.

    There are indeed some things that could have been better, but this game dont deserve the crap you are giving it.    … Expand
  16. Darvinius
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    Absolutely brilliant Game. Easy to learn hard to master . On my PC System it´s running perfect without bugs . Thanks From Software for this Pearl of Game :)
  17. airyimbin
    May 1, 2014
    10
    10/10 Would die again. Game in comparison to the console versions is highly superior in every way. Mod from durante also helps as well with and increase in graphical fidelity.
  18. awais142
    May 2, 2014
    9
    You know what.. i made a mistake this game is actually damn fun, ive stated mechanical problems and graphical problems but there so much rewarding experiences in the game that make you forget all that stuff. Hell even the controls on mouse and keyboard took me 2-3 hours to get used to, i cant imagine using a controller now. This game is damn exciting and i have to admit i did exaggerate,You know what.. i made a mistake this game is actually damn fun, ive stated mechanical problems and graphical problems but there so much rewarding experiences in the game that make you forget all that stuff. Hell even the controls on mouse and keyboard took me 2-3 hours to get used to, i cant imagine using a controller now. This game is damn exciting and i have to admit i did exaggerate, but the games endless loot rewards and coop is so damn fun. Wielding a giant cloud strife style buster sword has never felt like an actual greatsword. Great game, forget my negative past posts they are irrelevant now. Ignore the haters, i know i was one but this game has truly got me hooked after playing few bosses.… Expand
  19. Rennn
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    This is a great game.
    The people rating it down apparently believe games are primarily a graphics and UI showcase with a playable demo attached. They're so stupid they make my brain hurt.

    Epic game.
  20. notagamer
    Apr 27, 2014
    10
    the game is great it is exactly what you expect from the sequel of dark souls. it is a little easier than the first one but even been easier than the first is a pretty fun and hard game
  21. OliverGrau
    Apr 29, 2014
    9
    BEFORE YOU JUST SCROLL FURTHER DOWN THE REVIEWS, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS:

    Hello everyone, I'm your average Joe gamer, who plays a bit of everything and I'm open minded for all games. However, after the stale port from the first Dark Souls game, I wouldn't even touch Dark Souls II with a grill fork. How did I obtain the game then? Well, my girlfriend and I was joking around and    BEFORE YOU JUST SCROLL FURTHER DOWN THE REVIEWS, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS:

    Hello everyone, I'm your average Joe gamer, who plays a bit of everything and I'm open minded for all games. However, after the stale port from the first Dark Souls game, I wouldn't even touch Dark Souls II with a grill fork. How did I obtain the game then? Well, my girlfriend and I was joking around and I somehow made a joke about wanting Dark Souls II one day. Well, 1 hour later I recieved a Steam gift from my girlfriend. I wasn't really too happy about and I was almost inclined to play it, as she had paid a great deal of money for it.

    I went in the world of Dark Souls 2 with a negative perspective and I wasn't too happy about Dark Souls again letting me down on the lack of 'tutorial' in terms of key bindings. However I changed that rather quickly in the settings and got it setup as I like it. I began diving into the deep combat and I died countless times and became very frustrated, yet I wanted to try again after losing every souls I had obtained (the curreny of the game) which you lose upon death. However, when I finally succeded I felt as a god, no one could take me down, the satisfaction were... Immense. I have never felt such satisfaction by succeding in a game. Though there were times I wanted to quit, I began using the tools the game provided for players to help one another through co-op or messages (guidance) which players leave behind for others to use. A great implementation to the game. I dived even deeper in the game and soon I had played for about 10 hours and it felt like minutes. I began praising the art, the visuals and the dark mood of the game - even though the textures aren't state of the art, the game began to become pleasing to the eye. The puzzles came together I saw the whole picture. Dark Souls wasn't just a frustrationg pile of trash, it was a glourious piece of art, even though it's rough around the edges, it's still one of my favorite games ever played. It deserves 10 in my opinion, but staying objective it has to be a 9, as there are some things to improve upon. I highly recommend this game to every RPG fan who is tired of the lack of difficulty in their games.    … Expand
  22. Rogyapa
    May 5, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's Demon Souls 1.5 |(which isn't necessarily a bad thing). For people who didn't get to play Demon Souls but played Dark Souls you're probably in for some nasty bumps. Losing health each time you die (with the effect only being reversed by using a human effigy/ being summoned and helping another player defeat a boss) is the biggest change from Dark Souls. The level design is more like Demon Souls in that there's a main hub world and all the other worlds are connected to the hub.

    Pros: +Excellent enemy designs
    +The game has some standout environments (Majula, Forest of the Fallen Giants, Iron Keep, No-Man's Wharf)
    +Tons to explore
    +Retains the ambiance/atmosphere of previous games

    Cons: -Some areas are just plain cheap. There are a few bonfires where enemies are directly positioned outside (Straid's Cell, The Sinner's Keep bonfire, one of the Earthen Peak bonfires).
    -The game sometimes relies on overwhelming you with enemies to increase the difficulty (which limits certain playstyles like dual wielding at times).
    -Keyboard and mouse controls are doable but not great. I'd recommend a controller.
    -The guard break is changed from a kick to a swipe with your weapon (which is much slower and way shorter range). This sucks for regular gameplay but makes PVP less of a kicking match :P
    -Still basically a console port :(    … Expand
  23. Commodent
    May 2, 2014
    10
    This game is fantastic. I did not play the first game, as it was so horribly optimalized PC, but with this time the studio has done a magnificent job. Yes, it does have Xbox icons, but this is no problem as all the keybindings are listed up in the settings. The controls feels very natural, too, although some people seem to disagree. It does have minor issues, but the atmosphere,This game is fantastic. I did not play the first game, as it was so horribly optimalized PC, but with this time the studio has done a magnificent job. Yes, it does have Xbox icons, but this is no problem as all the keybindings are listed up in the settings. The controls feels very natural, too, although some people seem to disagree. It does have minor issues, but the atmosphere, performance, the challenging gameplay and sense of achievement makes this one of my biggest favorites of all time. 10/10 - no doubt!… Expand
  24. James26
    May 4, 2014
    10
    The game is great and if you liked the first one there is a good chance you will like the sequel. A few changes to the overall game but nothing that really alters it too much.
    They changed humanity to "Human Effigies" and I don't believe being human effects your drop rates or anything anymore since there are no ways to stack human effigies.
    Becoming hollow now decreases your HP and you    The game is great and if you liked the first one there is a good chance you will like the sequel. A few changes to the overall game but nothing that really alters it too much.
    They changed humanity to "Human Effigies" and I don't believe being human effects your drop rates or anything anymore since there are no ways to stack human effigies.
    Becoming hollow now decreases your HP and you can be invaded while hollow.
    Co-op is great and improved greatly over the old GFWL crap from the first game. It is much easier to play with friends once you acquire a certain ring.
    The world seems larger but I'm not sure if it actually is, I think the number of areas is similar to the first game. Instead of being all linked together, DS2 has a much more linear progression following different paths from the main hub in Majula.
    Most of the complaints I've seen here have to do with the keyboard and mouse control configurations. Unless you have a condition where your brain has turned into glue this shouldn't take any more than 10-20 minutes. Funny enough that is about how long the tutorial area lasts.
    Also most of the bugs I've heard about have been fixed since launch. I personally pre-loaded the game and played it on launch day without any issues, so there is a good chance if you aren't playing on some outdated paperweight that you won't have any problems.    … Expand
  25. zachser
    Apr 29, 2014
    9
    This is a well made sequel to the Souls series. It runs a lot smoother on the PC than it's predecessor did and it actually feels like they put some care into making it run on the PC properly unlike the port of Dark Souls. The combat feels polished for the most part, different routes were balanced out a bit better (melee, sorcery, ranged, etc) to bring them closer together, the difficultyThis is a well made sequel to the Souls series. It runs a lot smoother on the PC than it's predecessor did and it actually feels like they put some care into making it run on the PC properly unlike the port of Dark Souls. The combat feels polished for the most part, different routes were balanced out a bit better (melee, sorcery, ranged, etc) to bring them closer together, the difficulty curve is much nicer (no Anor Londo wall in this one), and many of the environments are beautiful to look at. There is a nice blend of Dark Souls and Demon's Souls for this game, using the best of both worlds and improving upon both of them. Death carries a higher punishment than previous games, but at the same time perseverance is rewarded a little more. Dying costs you a percentage of your max health (down to a minimum of %50 I believe) but can be reversed by helping someone else beat a boss in their world or using a human effigy (I think I had about 40 of those by the end of the game). Once you kill an enemy so many times it will stop spawning upon resting at a bonfire or dying, both to stop constant grinding of a zone and to help players who keep dying a lot.

    Keyboard and mouse controls are not optimal like many people are saying, however there is no way that they could actually make that happen. Dark Souls 2 uses every button on the controller to play, including the D pad and L3, which puts it at using 14 non-movement or camera buttons. If you use your mouse for the camera and the two mouse buttons for attacks (can't use more than that for default controls because not everyone has more buttons than that) then you have sixteen buttons you have to somehow manage to keybind in a usable way (14 + 4 for movement - 2 for the mouse attacks). There is no way to actually do that where it feels intuitive, especially for a game like this where you have to be able to use most of those at a moments notice.

    Overall this is definitely a well made game and I believe it is getting a lot of flak for an undeserved reason. It is a rewarding game that gives one a great feeling of accomplishment when any boss is beaten or a zone you were having trouble with is passed and while it is certainly not made for the casual crowd, it is a good title for those of us who truly enjoy gaming.    … Expand
  26. Srjbutcher
    May 4, 2014
    10
    A beautiful challenging game that will push you to your limits. It's a difficult game, but nothing worth doing is ever easy.

    It's actually much easier than the first, but with graphical improvements, a very active multiplayer community, and the same great gameplay, this game at least matches its predecessor. Some people are having trouble with keybindings and such, which i don't    A beautiful challenging game that will push you to your limits. It's a difficult game, but nothing worth doing is ever easy.

    It's actually much easier than the first, but with graphical improvements, a very active multiplayer community, and the same great gameplay, this game at least matches its predecessor.

    Some people are having trouble with keybindings and such, which i don't understand. If you can't figure out how to change bindings or plug in a controller that works, maybe you shouldn't be playing computer games.    … Expand
  27. dragoltor
    May 4, 2014
    10
    Many of the negative reviews given are poorly thought-out and from people who obviously don't know much about souls games. The K/M controls ARE awful, but that is because it would literally be impossible to get the same amount of accuracy with the mechanics of rolling and such without using a controller. A CONTROLLER IS NECESSARY TO PLAY THIS GAME, and that isn't a bad thing. The gameMany of the negative reviews given are poorly thought-out and from people who obviously don't know much about souls games. The K/M controls ARE awful, but that is because it would literally be impossible to get the same amount of accuracy with the mechanics of rolling and such without using a controller. A CONTROLLER IS NECESSARY TO PLAY THIS GAME, and that isn't a bad thing. The game doesn't look bad at all, in fact it looks beautiful, and all of the lighting "problems" are done on purpose for the areas of the game that are MEANT TO BE DARK. this game is amazing, and the pc version is great.… Expand
  28. actualwave
    May 6, 2014
    10
    lol @ loosers who spent $70 on the game and cannot get a $10 controller.
    lol @ loosers who pirated the game to try and rage because it does not work.
    lol @ ppl who bought the game not even trying to understand it and whining "why its so rude to me raping my char aroung every corner" Before trying first game I knew it will be hardcore and it must be played with controller, so I've    lol @ loosers who spent $70 on the game and cannot get a $10 controller.
    lol @ loosers who pirated the game to try and rage because it does not work.
    lol @ ppl who bought the game not even trying to understand it and whining "why its so rude to me raping my char aroung every corner"

    Before trying first game I knew it will be hardcore and it must be played with controller, so I've spent $10 to buy Speedlink XEOX controller and 2 minutes of my time to make it playable with X360ce. Never played with controller before and never had a console -- I enjoyed every moment of the game. For Dark Souls 2 I already had a controller, same controller, and bought game first day it was available on Steam. Its enjoyable and beautiful and I experienced no problems at all.

    Thanks goes to From Software.    … Expand
  29. DominusKaiser
    May 17, 2014
    10
    A really good game,enjoyed it better than DS1,people giving it a bad score is because they can't outsmart the AI and die quite often or rage at the game,a score shouldn't be based on how much you suck at the game,now entering NG+ after 100 hours of exploring and getting items using Asctetics I can say I haven't found any game breaking bug or anything that made my experience less,as a portA really good game,enjoyed it better than DS1,people giving it a bad score is because they can't outsmart the AI and die quite often or rage at the game,a score shouldn't be based on how much you suck at the game,now entering NG+ after 100 hours of exploring and getting items using Asctetics I can say I haven't found any game breaking bug or anything that made my experience less,as a port is better than the last one DS1 had a Fps cap of 30 and it lagged around at the worst places expected,this one runs for me at a smooth 60 fps without any issue,people complaining their stuff run less needs to check their pc,friend of mine using a quad-core is getting better fps than the ones mentioned here and that should say something,only one point I didn't enjoy of the game was that the AI has homming attacks even with heavy weapons it's nothing that you can't dodge but sometimes it becomes annoying and cheap but it doesn't become anything that handicaps you from playing or becoming better at reading the patterns,as for the online play I enjoy it far more as it becomes more of an annonymous experience with PC on steam and not a hate mail war with under aged users or trolls which often could lead to frustration and could make the game annoying instead of enjoyable as it is now,and as far as I can tell we got a better game than the console counterparts running at better Fps and higher textures,as for the controlls I have seen too many people complaining about them,this game is a port it wasn't suppossed to be a full optimized PC game when the company said already they don't make PC games,we are even lucky that we got it,get a controlller,learn the keybindings and learn to play,I have seen far too many people on YT complaining that they can't "jump" when they don't even know the mechanic of the game or how jump is suppossed to work.… Expand
  30. gjmoss1
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    Nice game just what to be expected from a souls game yes the game is difficult and the graphics not as spectacular as I expected but graphics are not everything. i have had no issues or bugs with the game as yet so all seems to be good .
  31. 21-5-73
    Apr 26, 2014
    9
    I can tell you one thing for sure: this game won't give any pleasures.
    You will read stories of disappointment, of abysmal conversion, of horrendous key-binding, of near-to-non-existent controls....
    Well, it's all true. Most players will throw away their keyboards (keyboards!) with rage, others will cry for a refund, and others again will refuse to touch it till the patching. They will    I can tell you one thing for sure: this game won't give any pleasures.
    You will read stories of disappointment, of abysmal conversion, of horrendous key-binding, of near-to-non-existent controls....
    Well, it's all true. Most players will throw away their keyboards (keyboards!) with rage, others will cry for a refund, and others again will refuse to touch it till the patching. They will be all right.
    Very very few players like pain and anguish while playing.
    If you are, like me, one of them, buy this game, play it til you master it. And curse bad porting and bad controls, and bad devs who hate you. And suffer in pain.

    And die.    … Expand
  32. mrtbonesteak
    Apr 27, 2014
    10
    The first Dark Souls was a great game but an abomination on the PC. Namco only ported it to the PC because the demand was so great and they apologized beforehand for the bad port. Still, it was so extremely bad that this was no excuse. Only thanks to some community efforts did the game become playable on the PC, but the controls were still annoying when playing with a keyboard and mouse.The first Dark Souls was a great game but an abomination on the PC. Namco only ported it to the PC because the demand was so great and they apologized beforehand for the bad port. Still, it was so extremely bad that this was no excuse. Only thanks to some community efforts did the game become playable on the PC, but the controls were still annoying when playing with a keyboard and mouse.

    Dark Souls 2 is a brilliant game. I enjoyed it way more than the first one. It's bigger, harder, more enfuriating, more balanced and runs like a dream. I'm below the system requirements and it looks great while running extremely smooth. That being said, they still did a mediocre job at porting controls to a keyboard and mouse setup. It doesn't quite help that a lot of buttons and mechanics changed compared to the first Dark Souls. I do admit that I was a bit annoyed at first, but all I had to do was make an effort and think about a control setup that could work given the limitations of the control system and I was good to go. It's a disgrace that in this day and age the M4 and M5 buttons aren't supported though. Another bad thing are the preorder items. They are absolutly worthless. The other preorder extra's are nice, but I was hoping for some unique preorder items to use.

    Don't be discouraged by the negative reviews here. While I do admit that they could have done a better job with the porting of the controls, given some effort and tweaking they work just fine and rarely will you die because the controls are bad. They aren't completely customizable but enough so that you can't blame the controls when you die. It's a grand game and it's worth the extra 5 or 10 minutes to setup your controls and to figure them out. It's bigger, prettier, better and tougher than it's predecessor. The game is immense and has A LOT of great Boss fights, worth its money tenfold. Get it.    … Expand
  33. Valoisbr
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    An imersive game. You got to tube yourself with the game in order to fully comprehend what it is all about. On PC, some technical problems with control adaptations may disappoint, but yet, a masterpiece!
  34. bananapancakman
    Apr 29, 2014
    10
    First off, ignore every negative review from everybody, and to every IDIOT who is crying about how the keyboard controls suck, THIS GAME IS NOT MENT FOR KEYBOARDS, SIMPLE AS THAT. The developers even recommend using a controller if all those IDIOTS GIVING NEGATIVE REVIEWS just read the system requirements on steam THEN THEY WOULD REALIZE THAT THEIR ARGUMENT IS INVALID. this game is notFirst off, ignore every negative review from everybody, and to every IDIOT who is crying about how the keyboard controls suck, THIS GAME IS NOT MENT FOR KEYBOARDS, SIMPLE AS THAT. The developers even recommend using a controller if all those IDIOTS GIVING NEGATIVE REVIEWS just read the system requirements on steam THEN THEY WOULD REALIZE THAT THEIR ARGUMENT IS INVALID. this game is not developed for keyboards. also ignore all negative reviews saying that the game isn't booting, as of yesterday a patch has been released to fix all those issues and it does. those were the reasons why people would rate this game a 0, that is incredibly unfair and why you cannot trust most user reviews. THE ACTUAL SCORE THIS GAME DESERVES IS A 10 as it runs beautifully on pc. Don't listen to idiots… Expand
  35. cwilder06
    May 6, 2014
    10
    I can't speak to any problems with Steam as I've had none but am keenly aware so many of the negative reviews here are specifically related to people who had issues with getting the client to run after downloading through Steam.

    That being said, the game itself is everything a Dark Souls fan has come to know and love. At times there are very clear attempts to recreate certain areas of    I can't speak to any problems with Steam as I've had none but am keenly aware so many of the negative reviews here are specifically related to people who had issues with getting the client to run after downloading through Steam.

    That being said, the game itself is everything a Dark Souls fan has come to know and love. At times there are very clear attempts to recreate certain areas of the original. You will pointedly play the game and say "Oh, this is Blighttown Part 2, this is Undead Burg Part 2, this is Anor Londo Part 2, etc." Ordinarily I'd penalize a game for some obviously trying to reprise it's predecessor, but given just how great the original was "more of the same" is more than welcome. I don't think the game makes any leaps ahead of what the original provided, it just provides another hundred hours of a very similar experience. Generally speaking, your feelings about the original will be mirrored with this sequel. Sure, there may not be quite as many iconic bosses, though I think some of that is simply a function of the formula and tone is not as fresh as it once was - much like many things in life, something can only be "new" once. This is an absolute must play for any Dark Souls fan.

    For people who are unsure whether they would enjoy the series, I tend to think so long as you are willing to commit to it and put some time in on the admittedly steep learning curve you'll find a lot to love. While the first half dozen hours of this game are more approachable than the original they still aren't exactly welcoming. But that is part of what makes the longer journey that much more rewarding. Any individual disillusioned with the trivially easy games of this generation will find this a much needed breath of fresh air.    … Expand
  36. Barto
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    This game is meant to be played with a controller. If you don't have one or do not like this restriction, just don't buy it.

    That said, the game is amazing. It is an amazing sequence and has everything that makes the souls series great. Some may find it easier than the first one, but that does not make it much less of a challenge. The game is also not too demanding on hardware - I'm    This game is meant to be played with a controller. If you don't have one or do not like this restriction, just don't buy it.

    That said, the game is amazing. It is an amazing sequence and has everything that makes the souls series great. Some may find it easier than the first one, but that does not make it much less of a challenge.

    The game is also not too demanding on hardware - I'm able to play it well in low settings (but 1920x1080) in my laptop with a GeForce GT 525M. Those looking for beautiful graphics might not like it (although I do - in doubt check any video reviews or screenshots), but I'm in it for the game play, which is amazing.

    Those complaining about the slow movements are probably spoiled kids that do no have the patience to learn the game and cry whenever they die (which will happen a lot).    … Expand
  37. udmatador
    Apr 28, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls 2 is not for a casual gamer. I think half of the negative reviews are written without that in mind. The game is grueling at times and super rewarding at others. I recommend playing with a controller but the KB/M is much better than it was in DS1, but it still does not compare to using a controller. That's the only bad thing I have to say about this game so far and I'm 90Dark Souls 2 is not for a casual gamer. I think half of the negative reviews are written without that in mind. The game is grueling at times and super rewarding at others. I recommend playing with a controller but the KB/M is much better than it was in DS1, but it still does not compare to using a controller. That's the only bad thing I have to say about this game so far and I'm 90 hours in.

    This game is perfect for the gamer who doesn't need online games (though it's available and it's completely optional). This game reminded me how easy games have gotten these days. Dying can be extremely punishing in this game, so bring a helmet and nerves of steel. DS2 requires patience, persistence, and resolve. Don't buy this game if you're expecting some whimsical adventure through a dark world full of monsters and demons because you're not going to get that. The game play is good but requires timing and skill (though even with the most skilled hands you'll still get beat up and killed in the most unfair fashion even...so be prepared to deal with that lol).

    After everything is said and done I recommend this game for those who are not quitters or casuals. The gamer who likes to brutalize themselves and still pick themselves back up and complete the task at hand.

    this game get's a 9 because it's a well put together game and it's nice to see a title that really brings the skill back to the genre.    … Expand
  38. ReviewForDSII
    Apr 28, 2014
    8
    First, I'd like to start off by saying that this is a great game. However, I see that too many people are complaining about a bad PC port. I disagree with that. A friend of mine and I can both manage just fine with the keyboard controls. Also, the graphics are slightly better than console, which is a nice plus. It also runs at 60 FPS and 1080p no problem. My GPU runs so cool. It runs atFirst, I'd like to start off by saying that this is a great game. However, I see that too many people are complaining about a bad PC port. I disagree with that. A friend of mine and I can both manage just fine with the keyboard controls. Also, the graphics are slightly better than console, which is a nice plus. It also runs at 60 FPS and 1080p no problem. My GPU runs so cool. It runs at idle temperatures. That's a bonus for me.

    Game play is solid and feels like a Souls game should. Bosses are phenomenal and I feel like multiplayer works much better in this game than it has in the past. The only reason this game isn't getting a 10/10 from me is because they lied about the graphics and the controls in game still show the Xbox controller buttons. Still a great game to play with friends and by yourself. I definitely recommend it.    … Expand
  39. chr0nix
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    I just got gang-banged by Three Little Pigs.

    The Good: · Rogue-like and addictive atmosphere. · Everything has improved over the old versions. · Hardcore. · Awesome story. The Bad: · Hardcore (for people that don't like it). · Need a controller since keyboard and mouse is impossible to play with. · You will die. Final verdict: · If you like a challenge, you'll love this    I just got gang-banged by Three Little Pigs.

    The Good:
    · Rogue-like and addictive atmosphere.
    · Everything has improved over the old versions.
    · Hardcore.
    · Awesome story.

    The Bad:
    · Hardcore (for people that don't like it).
    · Need a controller since keyboard and mouse is impossible to play with.
    · You will die.

    Final verdict:
    · If you like a challenge, you'll love this game. One of the most addictive games I have ever played.    … Expand
  40. maximusgi
    May 2, 2014
    10
    It seems like every other user review mentions something about crappy keyboard controls and the rest mention being disappointed with the graphics or the game is too hard for them. CRYBABIES! Waaah.

    Seriously, if you aren't done breast feeding yet, you don't need to be playing this game. This game has console roots, so the fact that you are trying to play it with inferior kb and mouse    It seems like every other user review mentions something about crappy keyboard controls and the rest mention being disappointed with the graphics or the game is too hard for them. CRYBABIES! Waaah.

    Seriously, if you aren't done breast feeding yet, you don't need to be playing this game. This game has console roots, so the fact that you are trying to play it with inferior kb and mouse is ridiculous. Many steam games play better with an xbox 360 pc controller so why not take the time to invest in one.. This is NOT a first person shooter so stop treating it like one. Stop dogging the game over stupid things like kb and mouse controls.

    If you don't like the graphics, fine - I get that - it's not the best in the world and maybe it is a far cry from what was demo'd, but the graphics ARE better than the first game and I've not experienced any game bugs yet after hours of gameplay. Levels, enemies, and bosses are still very interesting and carry a lot of surprises which keep the gameplay fresh.

    And stop whining about the friggin difficulty for crying out loud. If you have played and beaten a Souls game before, you should feel right at home, but if you haven't, try going back and playing Dark Souls or Demon Souls and find they are just as difficult.

    This game is about doing things right the first time and paying close attention to every battle and every thing you do. If you play carefully, you will avoid a lot of the deaths and won't have as much issue with the declining life bar. If you play carelessly you WILL be punished. That is by design - if you don't like it go back to your Call of Duty garbage or your brainless, spineless shooter games that let you save the game every step or heal automatically back to full health every few seconds. Don't throw a game under the bus that is tailored to the hardcore gamers out there that enjoy a good challenge and don't expect to have the game completed for them on a silver platter. It's not your cup of tea - I get it. But it is BY DESIGN to be difficult.

    The controls are fine, graphics are more than serviceable, there is a lot of depth to the game, and a much more in depth character creation system than the previous game. If you don't like the 4 preset faces, then customize one of your own for crying out loud! The game DOES let you do that. And if you are trying to decide to buy the game based on the user reviews, keep in mind that if you filter out the nonsense 0 score reviews due to stupid stuff like convoluted kb and mouse controls and gamers that whine about the difficulty, the game would receive much higher scores.

    The critics got it right this time. Read some of those reviews, they much more closely represent what this game is about and are more thought out than so many of these user reviews are (I'm talking to you 0 review whiners - what I like to call the dumb masses). If you don't like one element of the game don't condemn the entire game, take off a point or two, but not 10.

    How can people take your review seriously when it is OBVIOUS you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. If you dislike the game and want to give it a negative review - fine - just intelligently explain your case and don't over criticize the game for adhering to its roots. And please do the rest of us a favor: grow up, wise up, man up (except for you lady gamers out there), or shut up.    … Expand
  41. AgonyEU
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    A brilliant addition to the series. DaS 2 managed to stun me after playing 500+ hours in DaS 1. Most notably it was the tight gameplay feel, variety of bosses, paths and weapons and armour selection. Covenants (albeit in need of patchfix) are really well done. I was worried that this game might be too easy for me after so many hours in Dark Souls but it managed to up the difficulty andA brilliant addition to the series. DaS 2 managed to stun me after playing 500+ hours in DaS 1. Most notably it was the tight gameplay feel, variety of bosses, paths and weapons and armour selection. Covenants (albeit in need of patchfix) are really well done. I was worried that this game might be too easy for me after so many hours in Dark Souls but it managed to up the difficulty and provide a challenge. Bravo, From!… Expand
  42. rafanerd
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    As you can see by the level of the negative "reviews" here, everyone complaining either:
    1) Refuses to use a joystick
    2) Have a crappy gpu Seriously, this game is a masterpiece on it's genre, just like it's predecessors (Demon Souls and Dark Souls). If you liked them, you can't go wrong with DS2, since it improve the previous installments in many ways. But if you don't, well, you    As you can see by the level of the negative "reviews" here, everyone complaining either:
    1) Refuses to use a joystick
    2) Have a crappy gpu

    Seriously, this game is a masterpiece on it's genre, just like it's predecessors (Demon Souls and Dark Souls). If you liked them, you can't go wrong with DS2, since it improve the previous installments in many ways. But if you don't, well, you won't like it cause it's basically more of the same.    … Expand
  43. Cloud981
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    Once again a masterpiece!!! Souls games are not about graphics or flashy effects,but about gameplay, which is again brilliant and best in class. Difficult and frustrating as always,it push you constantly to learn something new about your opponents,but it's that satisfaction and reward after the fight what makes this experience one of a kind. With graphics greatly upgraded over itsOnce again a masterpiece!!! Souls games are not about graphics or flashy effects,but about gameplay, which is again brilliant and best in class. Difficult and frustrating as always,it push you constantly to learn something new about your opponents,but it's that satisfaction and reward after the fight what makes this experience one of a kind. With graphics greatly upgraded over its predecessor (runs smoothly 60 fps on my average gaming PC on high settings),and other minor tweaks regarding gameplay is what makes it a worthy successor to one of the best games ever made!!! >>>TheGame is meant to be played with controller!!!… Expand
  44. IE33
    Apr 26, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls 1 was complete catastrophe on PC, game was lagging in some places for completely no reason, sad controls for mouse/keyboard users... So what about Dark Souls II ?

    It's totally different from previous DS port, game works flawlessly in full 60 FPS without any lags. Mouse/Keyboard controls? - They are fine but you will have to adjust them a little bit to your liking otherwise    Dark Souls 1 was complete catastrophe on PC, game was lagging in some places for completely no reason, sad controls for mouse/keyboard users... So what about Dark Souls II ?

    It's totally different from previous DS port, game works flawlessly in full 60 FPS without any lags.

    Mouse/Keyboard controls? - They are fine but you will have to adjust them a little bit to your liking otherwise everything is OK with controls and I'm really happy about that!
    There's also few graphical bugs that happen very rarely, personally I have encountered only one during my 8 hours of playtime in certain place.

    To sum up,
    I highly recommend Dark Souls 2 as it's a solid game with excellent port from console which is rare to see nowadays.    … Expand
  45. afex
    May 12, 2014
    10
    DS II is much better port than first one.Lightening can be fixed with mods.This game is total different than other ARPG, and here no light ways only hard.Everytime you dyie you learn something from your mistake and next time you behave more cautiously.

    P.s. dont listen crying babies who crying that game is to hard.Casuals must stay in facebook games and dont take hand on real players games.
  46. Indik47
    May 2, 2014
    10
    What a great game! Gorgeous world for exploration, tons of secrets, items and bosses to defeat. I can`t beleive From S did the same game third time - and it still plays fresh and crispy. Top job for sure!
  47. CrazyAntoha
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls II великолепен и невероятно крут,пожалуй одна из лучших игр выходивших когда-либо.Обалденный дизайн локаций,невероятно увлекательный геймплей и божественная музыка не дадут вам заскучать.На этот раз еще и хороший порт смастерили,60 фпс+1080 p это то чего не хватало прошлой части.Ну а те кто не доволен управлением с клавиатурой,просто глупцы,эта игра заточена под геймпад иDark Souls II великолепен и невероятно крут,пожалуй одна из лучших игр выходивших когда-либо.Обалденный дизайн локаций,невероятно увлекательный геймплей и божественная музыка не дадут вам заскучать.На этот раз еще и хороший порт смастерили,60 фпс+1080 p это то чего не хватало прошлой части.Ну а те кто не доволен управлением с клавиатурой,просто глупцы,эта игра заточена под геймпад и соотвественно играть в нее нужно на геймпаде.… Expand
  48. Cattington
    May 2, 2014
    10
    The game content is amazing. I've had no problem running the game, even on very low performance machine. While some people are having critical issues that are a shame, this is a great PC port in terms of graphical options and higher performance.

    A big issue that people need to be aware of is that this game does not control well without some kind of controller. When buying this game    The game content is amazing. I've had no problem running the game, even on very low performance machine. While some people are having critical issues that are a shame, this is a great PC port in terms of graphical options and higher performance.

    A big issue that people need to be aware of is that this game does not control well without some kind of controller. When buying this game make sure to keep that in mind. We all know this is a PC port, but the game was designed with a controller in mind, so use a controller, or be prepared for an uphill battle.    … Expand
  49. Shaggydogpoo
    May 19, 2014
    10
    An excellent streamlined (a.k.a. not filled with **** like Skyrim) Japanese RPG. Whereas the world may not be as well realized and some of the Miyazaki magic missing that was in the first game, the gameplay is functionally more solid and versatile and balanced than the first, with a PVP which works massively better than the first. All those saying the game is unfair: git gud. All thoseAn excellent streamlined (a.k.a. not filled with **** like Skyrim) Japanese RPG. Whereas the world may not be as well realized and some of the Miyazaki magic missing that was in the first game, the gameplay is functionally more solid and versatile and balanced than the first, with a PVP which works massively better than the first. All those saying the game is unfair: git gud. All those saying keyboard and mouse, is broken, I can tell you as a person who has beaten the game 12 times with keyboard and mouse in multiple styles of run and challenge runs: its not that hard. Quit your **** and git gud.… Expand
  50. KannedFarU
    Jul 1, 2014
    10
    I consider myself a casual gamer and I absolutely hate super difficult games. I don't have the time or patience for such things. And then I played Dark Souls...this game...even better than the first one.

    Piece of advice. Don't play this game. It will consume your life.
  51. coldasStone
    Sep 9, 2014
    10
    Very GOOD! i like Dark Souls Difficulty
    so i hope more hard difficulty to melee Character on next Dark Souls III or somthing
    just one problem is online Hack users.
  52. SenshudoTV
    May 13, 2014
    8
    This game took me around 2 1/2 weeks to finish. Off and on. It is definitely worth the money just for the amount of replayability after you beat it, the time it takes to beat it and the amount of depth, artwork and beauty they added into the game. I just beat it as of 5/11/14 and I hope you guys enjoy the game as much as I did!
  53. JLK88
    Aug 21, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls II has a fantastic visual art style with great atmosphere. The graphics have a unique touch that was familiar in Dark Souls 1. Music and sounds are spot on. The gameplay stays true to the first Dark Souls while optimizing it further. There needs to be more games like this.
  54. GenericCritic
    May 6, 2014
    9
    this game is a masterpiece, you people put a much biger score to that failure of a game called castlevania LoS 2, and that game came with worse controls and worst key binding that this one. i hope people just ignore you guys because in the future games like this wont even be on pc, and i will need to buy a console again just for nerds who cant even launch the game because of his sucky PCthis game is a masterpiece, you people put a much biger score to that failure of a game called castlevania LoS 2, and that game came with worse controls and worst key binding that this one. i hope people just ignore you guys because in the future games like this wont even be on pc, and i will need to buy a console again just for nerds who cant even launch the game because of his sucky PC and pirated OS, i never had any issue with the game (and i have windows 8,1), i played it on a hdmi port, on my gtx 770 sli and with my xbox 360 controller and everithing went fine, you people are the only who cant get a decent PC, i hope you all burn in hell, prayse the sun!.
    PD. and i can enhance the graphics thanks to enb and GeDoSaTo mod wothout getting vac banned    … Expand
  55. gabber01
    May 8, 2014
    9
    Seriously! Why do retarded, totally incompetent, fools allowed to even make a rating and comment in the first place??? You don't belittle and make a crap out of an almost flawless game because of your inability to control the game. Yes, the PC version still has its drawbacks, but with 5min of investigation you can make the game work exactly the same as the console versions, only with moreSeriously! Why do retarded, totally incompetent, fools allowed to even make a rating and comment in the first place??? You don't belittle and make a crap out of an almost flawless game because of your inability to control the game. Yes, the PC version still has its drawbacks, but with 5min of investigation you can make the game work exactly the same as the console versions, only with more sophisticated graphics and muuuch better frame rates! Shockers...! There should be an IQ test or something here.

    Anyways, the game is amazing! Personally I like DS1 more, but this sequel is still very, very good, even better in many aspects, but Iiii don't know, it's a subjective thing I guess :). Anyhow, it's a must for RPG/Dark Souls fans and a worth trying for anyone else with more than 70 IQ.    … Expand
  56. Ingrod
    May 18, 2014
    8
    I didnt enjoy Dark Souls 2 as much as I did enjoy Dark Souls 1, nontheless this game is worth its price. What I believe the worst downside was the downgrade from the graphics that was shown to us from the ones that were released, lightning completely downgraded, the one they showed was superb, I believe a lot of textures were changed too.
    Combat is as fluid and as good as you would    I didnt enjoy Dark Souls 2 as much as I did enjoy Dark Souls 1, nontheless this game is worth its price. What I believe the worst downside was the downgrade from the graphics that was shown to us from the ones that were released, lightning completely downgraded, the one they showed was superb, I believe a lot of textures were changed too.
    Combat is as fluid and as good as you would expect. Multiplayer was finally fixed, the one from Dark Souls 1 was unbearable although I didn't really like the use of Memory Soul when summoning friends, I had some trouble to play coop with a friend because of this. Keyboard + mouse controls were somewhat fixed from what I've heard although I would still recommend using a controller.    … Expand
  57. knarr
    Apr 26, 2014
    9
    I can't believe so many people are so negative about this release, while we live in an era in which so few decent games are released. I have 200+ hours in DS1 and I believe the developers really stayed true to the previous titles. In all ways this game is like a rough gem. You have to do some effort before you can enjoy it. As a new player you need to get used to the difficulty and lack ofI can't believe so many people are so negative about this release, while we live in an era in which so few decent games are released. I have 200+ hours in DS1 and I believe the developers really stayed true to the previous titles. In all ways this game is like a rough gem. You have to do some effort before you can enjoy it. As a new player you need to get used to the difficulty and lack of guiding and as a experienced DaS or DeS player you need to get used to the new feel of the controls. If you dont take the effort, you won't enjoy the game. I'd like to make a few points.

    First of all, Don't use key/mouse, use a controller. If you don't have any, buy one, this game is worth it. It might be ridiculous to buy a controller just to be able to play a game, but it's not. Buying a controller + this game is a way better investment than almost all games released past years in this price range.

    The second point I want to make is that if you're an experienced DS fan, don't expect that you can just jump into this game and play it like DS1 or Demon Souls. The controls are different, which doesn't mean they are bad. You just need to get used them again, like you always have to when you play a new game. I also had to get used and after a few hours a was starting to love the new controls.

    Third point. Don't use the pre order weapons. They break quickly (no, repair mechanism isn't broken, it's just the po weapons that break quickly), are ugly and are something that shouldn't be in Dark Souls. Dark Souls is about getting rewarded for overcoming seemingly impossible challenges and not about getting rewarded for buying the game early.

    Also, dont grind because of the difficulty, it'll ruin the experience. Just keep trying and trying and trying. You'll eventually get good enough to get to the next bonfire, even while having no more healing items and only half a health bar a the start.

    Surely the developers made some poor decisions, but a majority of these decisions only have a minor impact if you, as a gamer, make the right decisions. To the people with crash issues I would like to say: don't be so damn impatient. Just wait a few days like you waited years for this release. It will probably be solved quickly.

    The game has some issues but none of them are gamebreaking to me. To me, the game compensates with great content and gameplay. The only real complaint I have so far is the lighting downgrade which makes the use of torches unnecessary. Someone will probably release a mod sometime that fixes this problem so I don't really mind.    … Expand
  58. Ruzi
    Apr 26, 2014
    9
    I have not played any of the previous souls games, and I went into this game blind. I bought this game more or less due to the hype, and cause I've always been a rpg-fan.
    So did it it live up the hype? Yes, it did.
    I play with x-box pad on the pc, so I can't comment on the mouse keyboard controlls which seems to be an issue with most of the negative reviews. The graphics are not very    I have not played any of the previous souls games, and I went into this game blind. I bought this game more or less due to the hype, and cause I've always been a rpg-fan.
    So did it it live up the hype? Yes, it did.
    I play with x-box pad on the pc, so I can't comment on the mouse keyboard controlls which seems to be an issue with most of the negative reviews.
    The graphics are not very impresive, but but the art design is. The game is hard, really hard and it's frustrating. Whatever you do it feels like the game punishes you. But the gameplay is great. Combat is tense and lot of fun.
    I'm enjoying this game a lot.    … Expand
  59. enut_butter
    Apr 29, 2014
    9
    Ignore the negative reviews. This game, is great, and a fitting sequel to Dark Souls.

    First off, the performance, WOW. I've got a mediocre gaming rig, FX-6300, 8 GBS RAM, GTX 760, and even with everything maxed out I can't even begin to get the game to dip below 60 fps. Secondly, while the game has a few new mechanics that don't really play out like I wish they would have (namely    Ignore the negative reviews. This game, is great, and a fitting sequel to Dark Souls.

    First off, the performance, WOW. I've got a mediocre gaming rig, FX-6300, 8 GBS RAM, GTX 760, and even with everything maxed out I can't even begin to get the game to dip below 60 fps.

    Secondly, while the game has a few new mechanics that don't really play out like I wish they would have (namely the need for torches, I've only found one real area where I needed them so far and was hoping for more), they don't detract from the game at all. The game is fantastic, hard, rewarding, full of secret areas to explore and covenants to join.

    I haven't been this satisfied with a game since the original Dark Souls.    … Expand
  60. DrLlama
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    While it's unfortunate to see that some players have experienced problems with this game, my experience has been purely positive. The game looks good and runs really smoothly maxed out, and a good few hours in I really have nothing to complain about.

    The game itself is incredible and just as good (if not better) than dark souls 1. Maybe wait for patches (in the works) if you're    While it's unfortunate to see that some players have experienced problems with this game, my experience has been purely positive. The game looks good and runs really smoothly maxed out, and a good few hours in I really have nothing to complain about.

    The game itself is incredible and just as good (if not better) than dark souls 1. Maybe wait for patches (in the works) if you're concerned, but for me this is a winner.    … Expand
  61. pvthoch
    Apr 25, 2014
    10
    amazing game for the hardcore action rpg gamer no hand holding here questlog or quest marker controller its a must like all soul games
    gameplay > graphics allday
  62. Zaker
    May 2, 2014
    10
    I can't stop playing this game, open full of exploration, engaging combat incomparable to anything out there and dark fantasy atmosphere at its best, bit different than dark souls 1 but still the same...forget all the boys that can't setup mouse controls or are annoyed by the early bugs, you don't give this jewel of the a game a bad review because of couple bugs, there is just nothing onI can't stop playing this game, open full of exploration, engaging combat incomparable to anything out there and dark fantasy atmosphere at its best, bit different than dark souls 1 but still the same...forget all the boys that can't setup mouse controls or are annoyed by the early bugs, you don't give this jewel of the a game a bad review because of couple bugs, there is just nothing on the market similar to this experience… Expand
  63. Nathonas
    May 1, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls 2, in my opinion, is one of the best games of this decade and all time. I didn't get a chance to play the first one due to the problems of the PC port, but I assume it's much of the same. You could tell that the developers put SO MUCH work into this game, it is wonderfully complex, and not in a stupid way.

    I love that everything is about learning and getting better, and not    Dark Souls 2, in my opinion, is one of the best games of this decade and all time. I didn't get a chance to play the first one due to the problems of the PC port, but I assume it's much of the same. You could tell that the developers put SO MUCH work into this game, it is wonderfully complex, and not in a stupid way.

    I love that everything is about learning and getting better, and not about getting better gear as it is in every other RPG game. You have to be smart and always careful. Also, I love the level of little details like being able to use weapons in 1 or 2 hands, different weapons having VASTLY different playstyles and uses, the effects of gear on your roll speed, the effects of gear weight, etc. There is just so many little variables for you to play with and learn and customize in the way that you want.

    The leveling system is also unique in that you level through souls rather than experience, and gives you a great amount of customization. And of course the best feeling about a game is when you fail over and over (but knowing that it is your fault) and then finally succeeding.

    The atmosphere and the style of game is also incredibly unique. I love the dreary, dark and desolate atmosphere of the game. The fact that there are so few NPCs really adds to the atmosphere, and the NPCs add to the story really effectively. They don't feel like the stereotypical characters you see in every game. The whole premise of the souls is also incredibly unique and brilliant - you use souls for everything and it is a nice twist on the typical, overused ideas in other games - like the idea of Undeath.

    I would close by saying that DS2 is the first time in about a decade that I felt truly passionate about gaming again. Sure there were good games along the way like Mass Effect and The Witcher, but DS2 is on another level - it's like how I felt playing games like Diablo 2 or World of Warcraft for the first time. I put in 13 hours in the first day, despite dying probably 50 times just on the beginning part, because the game is that good.    … Expand
  64. Betvinga
    May 5, 2014
    10
    The controls for the keyboard are not perfect, but definitely improved considering how poor was the Dark Souls 1 port for PC (in the DS2 options menu, controls, graphics settings and so on are perfectly optimized for the PC version). The gameplay is gorgeous, the environments are detailed and very different between each others. Not too hard, the difficulty is a bit above average and itThe controls for the keyboard are not perfect, but definitely improved considering how poor was the Dark Souls 1 port for PC (in the DS2 options menu, controls, graphics settings and so on are perfectly optimized for the PC version). The gameplay is gorgeous, the environments are detailed and very different between each others. Not too hard, the difficulty is a bit above average and it will keep you busy for hours and hours.
    For sure one of the best games of the year.    … Expand
  65. Molec_man
    Jul 9, 2014
    10
    Wow... I've been hooked again! Dark Souls 2 is a great game. Yes... the soul memory system is a bit of a negative, but it was implemented to keep gankers from twinking low level toons (It still happens... but less). I recommend using an Xbox 360 controller. It makes the game so much easier to play and a much more enjoyable experience overall. I give this game a 10 because it doesn't giveWow... I've been hooked again! Dark Souls 2 is a great game. Yes... the soul memory system is a bit of a negative, but it was implemented to keep gankers from twinking low level toons (It still happens... but less). I recommend using an Xbox 360 controller. It makes the game so much easier to play and a much more enjoyable experience overall. I give this game a 10 because it doesn't give in to making things easy on the gamer. Is it as hard as Dark Souls 1? No. But, it still is not easy. And only the true hardcore go solo on every boss fight. Solo boss fights make this game frustrating but rewarding. The only thing I wish it had was more achieves for doing things the hard way instead of using summons.

    Great game... Great gameplay... Looking forward to replaying it several more times!    … Expand
  66. samuelmason900
    May 3, 2014
    9
    fighting with heids tower of flames boss dragon rider for 2 days and Forest of Fallen Giants boss The Pursuer for 3 days till haven't anyone this game getting more and more challenging.
    and good port nice polished visuals.
    Ill definitely defeat the bosses today
  67. yY2
    May 3, 2014
    9
    If you liked Dark Souls you will also like Dark Souls 2. Problems with PC version/game are:

    1. You will have to spend some time learning controls because everything in tutorial is explained in gamepad buttons. (if you have gamepad this won't be an issue) 2. Not much of PvP available before NG+ (coop mechanics are really awesome, and work well) 3. Many levels and bosses are recycled    If you liked Dark Souls you will also like Dark Souls 2. Problems with PC version/game are:

    1. You will have to spend some time learning controls because everything in tutorial is explained in gamepad buttons. (if you have gamepad this won't be an issue)
    2. Not much of PvP available before NG+ (coop mechanics are really awesome, and work well)
    3. Many levels and bosses are recycled from Dark Souls

    and things noobs complain about:

    1. game is too hard
    2. graphics sucks

    Can't wait for Dark Souls 3.    … Expand
  68. pristiq
    May 22, 2014
    10
    This game is so good, so well made, the lore is incredible, the customization endless. this game is the game ive been waiting for. no matter how bad the keyboard/mouse controls are, just play with a joypad.. its perfect.. love it.
  69. Diume
    May 2, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do want to give a fair view on the dark souls 2. Some people say it is hard so it is bad, and some say it is hard so it is great.
    It is important to point out no game is suitable for everyone, so do not trust other but trust yourself. I think Dark Souls II is great when compare to other BAD games like Ride to He__. Dark Souls sound track, environment, map design, ambush, attack move, level balance, shows what BAD game can not make it. The fun of Dark Souls is that you die so many times to beat a FKing boss but when you finally did it, it feels fking good. What improves form Dark souls 1 is the muti online and the half health thing. I know some of you think it makes the game soooo much easier BUT it is the point of Dark Souls. You can choose to be bad (invade other player), or play good (help other player beat boss). The game help finds you true self, be bad or be good?
    Overall, the level design is the best base on all other game(not include Dark Souls 1). I have not seen a single game would put so much effort to build a old-classic world while now people want to play Call of D__ or Battle Fie__ or Titan Fa__ these based-advanced-world setting. Namco Games is brave that to make Dark Souls 2. So my support of this game is not only for Namco but the entire game society, I do want more game that not like Counter Str___, Left _ Dead...

    IF YOU JUST PLAY THIS GAME FOR ONLY FEW HOURS, AND SAY IT IS BAD, DO NOT PLAY DARK SOULS 1, 2 and even 3.    … Expand
  70. Genova84
    May 3, 2014
    9
    Loving this game so far. Got it for the PC launch on 4/24 and I'm about 30 hours in.

    Initial hiccups with launching aside, the game runs great. I have not experienced any frame rate issues and I'm running it at 1080p with the highest settings available. That said, you need a controller. I suggest using an Xbox 360 or PS3 controller emulating an Xbox 360 controller. And then, well,    Loving this game so far. Got it for the PC launch on 4/24 and I'm about 30 hours in.

    Initial hiccups with launching aside, the game runs great. I have not experienced any frame rate issues and I'm running it at 1080p with the highest settings available.

    That said, you need a controller. I suggest using an Xbox 360 or PS3 controller emulating an Xbox 360 controller. And then, well, get over the fact that the prompts are for an Xbox controller. This game should not, under any circumstances, be played with a mouse and keyboard, very much like other console ports (the darksiders series comes to mind) should not be played with a mouse and keyboard.

    I will say that it's not as challenging as the Demon's or Dark Souls mainly due to the 3 player co-op. I soloed both Demon's and Dark a number of times, but this game has a different feel to it. Can't quite put my finger on it.

    To those complaining about running out of souls due to over-farming, I say this ... Boss Runs! After you beat a boss, use your white soap stones to join others and kill the boss again, and again, and again! This replay-ability is really nice and will easily get you all the souls you need. Also, assisting in defeating a boss will give you back your estus flasks, restore you humanity and repair any equipment, so you can run until your little old heart is content!

    I will mention a few drawbacks:

    1. The addition of being able to carry 6 weapons at once, all of which impact your equip load, was a dumb decision. I find myself only equipping the one weapon I want, so I can wear better armor and during a boss fight, running to corner to quickly swap out my weapons. Very annoying.

    2. The beginning of the game has been the hardest part for me. This was due to my only weapon breaking early on and not having the blacksmith unlocked to repair it. That was really, really dumb!

    3. Boss running, though rewarding, gets tedious when the master keeps dying ... I soloed the majority of the bosses first, and the assisted others and it's crazy how bad some people are at avoiding some of the more basic boss attacks.

    4. PvP - I suck at it. Where PvE is great, I feel that PvP is an unnecessary part of this game. I do like that there are areas for those who enjoy to tear it up, but it's simply not for me.

    If you liked the first two, or are looking for a challenge, buy a controller and get this game!    … Expand
  71. Raven25
    Sep 20, 2014
    10
    I am an RPG fan. This is by FAR the best RPG that I have ever played. I will never pick up Diablo, Skyrim, Neverwinter or any other simplistic hack 'n' slash again. This game is not for the faint hearted. It is HARD but very gratifying when you win.
  72. CriticoDubioso
    Apr 26, 2014
    10
    This review serves to address one simple question, is this a good console port? Yes, absolutely. Apparently, developers have taken the lesson from Dark Soul I launch. Perfect optimization, responsive controls, cutomziable control, excellent graphic qaulity taking advantage of modern PC enviornment. Running at 1000+ fps without any issue. Everyone, let's join me to praise the great successThis review serves to address one simple question, is this a good console port? Yes, absolutely. Apparently, developers have taken the lesson from Dark Soul I launch. Perfect optimization, responsive controls, cutomziable control, excellent graphic qaulity taking advantage of modern PC enviornment. Running at 1000+ fps without any issue. Everyone, let's join me to praise the great success of port to PC. Welcome to the dark soul community!… Expand
  73. JIord222
    Apr 25, 2014
    10
    Хм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруляХм ну ничё так игруля
  74. TennesseW
    Apr 29, 2014
    8
    Compared to the first game, this is major improvement, performance wise. My low end laptop could run it perfectly, with high settings (I turn off the shadow). This game does not have a good graphic at all, so if you're a graphic whore stay away from this game. The game play, in my opinion, is an improvement compared to the first game. No longer you could grind enemies for levelling up. ItCompared to the first game, this is major improvement, performance wise. My low end laptop could run it perfectly, with high settings (I turn off the shadow). This game does not have a good graphic at all, so if you're a graphic whore stay away from this game. The game play, in my opinion, is an improvement compared to the first game. No longer you could grind enemies for levelling up. It forces you to move forward, which is good in my opinion.… Expand
  75. cmoyano
    May 2, 2014
    10
    This game is awesome. I like it more than DS1, specially the second part of it. Using the mods such as ENB makes the game look amazing. Worried about that TGS trailer lighting not being there? its ok, find the desaturated mod on dark souls nexus and get it all back just the wa you saw it that day.

    I have been enjoying every second of the game for the past 60 hours and stil not even    This game is awesome. I like it more than DS1, specially the second part of it. Using the mods such as ENB makes the game look amazing. Worried about that TGS trailer lighting not being there? its ok, find the desaturated mod on dark souls nexus and get it all back just the wa you saw it that day.

    I have been enjoying every second of the game for the past 60 hours and stil not even half way done. been savoring every second.    … Expand
  76. Syndrome
    May 1, 2014
    9
    Game is great, using a pc-con so i don't have the flaws of controls. For those who sayed graphics are bad probrably have a PC value of under 800 or don't have any graphics card. might also be possible that they just have there settings on low and were to lazy to verify if you could put it up. 1080p resolution with 60 fps is pretty good compared to the consol 720p and 30 fps. loadingsGame is great, using a pc-con so i don't have the flaws of controls. For those who sayed graphics are bad probrably have a PC value of under 800 or don't have any graphics card. might also be possible that they just have there settings on low and were to lazy to verify if you could put it up. 1080p resolution with 60 fps is pretty good compared to the consol 720p and 30 fps. loadings screen are alot shorther then the console game. graphics are good, gameplay is good, storyline is good. Only problem is for people who are new to gaming, they might have alot of issues, but for people looking for a challenge. this is it. find the story to easy (ya wont)? then do player vs player. do not base your rating base on hearing reviews and being a sheep about it. buy it and play it. trust me it is worth it 100%. a problem for it not being 10/10 is the direction you are given, sometimes you may feel lost. and they have xbox controller buttons even if you are using a pc. but all and all a solid 9/10. sorry if bad english :) it is not my native language :) and my auto correct is not set for english :).… Expand
  77. Rendomg
    May 1, 2014
    9
    So, as a big fan of Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2, I'll give more extensive review that I can reply to anything I can if someone has a question.

    Short Review: Despite some of the more negative reviews, this really is an amazing game, this coming from someone who put over 350+ hours in Dark Souls (Steam + Xbox 360), and a great addition to the Soul series. It is still somewhat of a    So, as a big fan of Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2, I'll give more extensive review that I can reply to anything I can if someone has a question.

    Short Review:
    Despite some of the more negative reviews, this really is an amazing game, this coming from someone who put over 350+ hours in Dark Souls (Steam + Xbox 360), and a great addition to the Soul series. It is still somewhat of a console port, yes, the controls for PC aren't that amazing. But you can easily pick up a controller off Amazon or your local Gamestop (or something similar) for ~25 USD. The story is fantastic even the side stories are great , the graphics are fantastic, the gameplay is amazing, and I've already dropped 50+ hours into the game and I'm well into my way in NG+.

    Long Review:
    I'll review this game on some key points I think are fair when it comes to a game like this, you can agree or disagree, whatevers fine.

    Controls:
    Again, I will give some of the naysayers credit, it is a console port. The Key Bindings aren't amazing for PC, I have a friend who can use them, but they were hard to get used to, but if you played Dark Souls then this should be no surprise. There might be more support coming out later for PC key bindings, but I personally view this as a minor detail, seeing as you can buy a controller for the PC for ~25 USD.

    Graphics:
    Simply put, it's a beautiful game and is top notch in graphics, it doesn't look amazing like ARMA 3 (google screen shots of that game, it's glorious) but the graphics are still very good and a big step up from it's console versions as well as Dark Souls for PC. There's little details they have in the game that really just put it above many others for me, and what really makes me love this games graphics.

    Sound:
    The game sound, like the other Soul games, is great. The swords clanking, the WOOSH you hear when you parry someone, and the feeling you get when you hear that death sound from your enemies (or yourself, it is Dark Souls anyway) is unique and satisfying. The music is very fitting for every scene that there is music, and there's even some parts in the game where the ambiance goes above and beyond, and just immerses you.

    Story:
    I won't give away any spoilers, but the story is very good and you actually have a lot more direction in the game then you did in Dark Souls, at the beginning you might be a little lost but after you talk to some people, and you start to figure out how the game is supposed to be going it gets awesome and you start to really get into the game and can lose track of time easily. You'll find that the story keeps you driven to see what happens next and wanting to progress.

    Gameplay:
    The gameplay is, as you might think, very similar to a lot of monster fighting games of this nature. Obviously it's going to be dang near the exact same as Dark Souls, with honestly, only one or two changes coming to mind. Going from Dark Souls to Dark Souls 2, (for you Dark Souls players), the parrying is a little different, it's a little harder to parry, you don't get as many infinity frames, but you can get more with a stat (hint!), and Guard Break is now a little harder to get as it has another use, which you'll find out eventually.
    PvE:
    The boss fights are all unique in their own way, some of the fights share similar traits that I've had my friends call "Lazy Design" but I personally don't see it too much, and just adds that much more challenge and I respect that in games. Each stat you might go with (Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, or Faith) is equal in their own way, though, I've been told that currently Dexterity is lacking at the moment, but there will probably some sort of fix in the near future.
    PvP:
    I exclude PvP from this review, strictly because it's across all of the platforms that it pertains to. In short, as someone who has been a tank, caster, ranged, and melee (str, haven't done much with Dex), I can say that PvP is somewhat broken at the moment. You can search on YouTube for Dark Souls 2 PvP videos, some of the things that you encounter in this game can drive you crazy and really make you saying "HOW DID I DIE TO THAT???" (if you're like me anyway) With more skill with the game, comes better survivability through which any Dark Souls player knows that, so if you get killed by an invader, don't get discouraged, it happens and know that you can probably kill them when you've played a little more.
    In short, again for PvP:
    Dark Magic is OP, and can 1 shot people
    Rolling counters Dark Magic as well as staggering the caster.
    Strength does a lot of damage.
    Backstab "fishing" is harder to do in Dark Souls 2 then it was in Dark Souls, so don't worry about that too much. Just gotta watch out for parries and guard breaks.

    Overall:
    This is an amazing game, and well worth the price tag, especially if you have a controller already. I strongly do recommend you use a controller for this game. If you don't have the money for a controller, than maybe hold off until you can get both.    … Expand
  78. metalic-surface
    Sep 19, 2014
    10
    incredible, awesome and a lot of great words about this shinny game. DS2 changed my game vision to another direction. Now the most games aren't interesting, so easy, so stupid by design. DS it's unique world

    don't read this negative **** DS2 is awesome
  79. EhhRicky
    Jun 19, 2014
    10
    Anyone giving this a negative review is playing it on the wrong system, this is a console game, not a computer game. on the ps3, it was awwwweeeeessssooommmmeee. So much fun.
  80. Dunge
    Jun 24, 2014
    8
    Pro: Gameplay plays very differently than any other RPG games. Tons of different monsters and items. Level design is awesome with tons of secret areas and small events at every corners. Game is very very long.

    Cons: Most rooms are just plain square rooms with a single brick texture tiled everywhere and a wood floor. Barely no story. Not enough information available in-game (REQUIRE an    Pro: Gameplay plays very differently than any other RPG games. Tons of different monsters and items. Level design is awesome with tons of secret areas and small events at every corners. Game is very very long.

    Cons: Most rooms are just plain square rooms with a single brick texture tiled everywhere and a wood floor. Barely no story. Not enough information available in-game (REQUIRE an online guide to play and to make any decision on items to use and path to follow)    … Expand
  81. TheBank
    May 12, 2014
    9
    This game is exactly as advertised. A unapologetic game that only get's harder as it does along. A lot of people here are asking for an easy mode. Guess what, it is on easy mode when you first start playing, this is dark souls, if you wanted something casual get hello kitty island adventure.

    Next a warning. DS2 is a controller based game. A lot of people complain about having to use    This game is exactly as advertised. A unapologetic game that only get's harder as it does along. A lot of people here are asking for an easy mode. Guess what, it is on easy mode when you first start playing, this is dark souls, if you wanted something casual get hello kitty island adventure.

    Next a warning. DS2 is a controller based game. A lot of people complain about having to use one. Get over it, get an xbox controller. Some might argue that a pc game should have better keyboard and mouse controls. I have to ask why? Since when has PC gaming been strictly done using a keyboard and mouse? Have you ever played a flight simulator before? Are you saying controller based games have no place on PC's? (like fighting games, or platformers?) The developers crafted a game based around using a controller, they ported it much better than the first game (which in all honesty wasn't that bad, especially when tweaked).

    Dark Souls 2 is more inviting to casual gamers than the previous games, but they didn't leave out the difficulty that the series is renowned for, it just unlocks later. To be honest, if anything, they added more content than ever before to achieve this.

    If you are looking for a hard hack and slash controller based game look no farther, this defines it.    … Expand
  82. Mister_Facepalm
    May 9, 2014
    9
    Another fantastic game by From Software, I must say!
    While the game's Mouse & Keyboard controls are still dreadful, the game plays perfectly with a game-pad (and I'd play it with a game-pad even if the keyboard controls were fine).
    The graphics are suitable and set the game world's atmosphere perfectly. Even though the graphics could have been somewhat better, especially on PC, the game    Another fantastic game by From Software, I must say!
    While the game's Mouse & Keyboard controls are still dreadful, the game plays perfectly with a game-pad (and I'd play it with a game-pad even if the keyboard controls were fine).
    The graphics are suitable and set the game world's atmosphere perfectly. Even though the graphics could have been somewhat better, especially on PC, the game runs as smooth as butter; I haven't crashed or frozen or even stuttered once on my 60 hour (so far) trek throughout Drangleic.
    Dark Souls II, like it's predecessor, has a wealth of content, in areas to explore; enemies to conquer; equipment to find and use, and play styles to suit your preferences. It also stays true to it's punishing nature, where it seems to try to put the player and enemies on a more level playing field, instead of the player being a walking army, taking on thousands without breaking a sweat, like many other games.
    In my experience, in comparison to Dark Souls I, bosses do seem to be somewhat easier, at least in the early areas; but this does not mean they are not challenging! Oh no, they still pose a challenge to the unprepared, but even if they end up being easier than you'd expect, From Software still makes a great effort to make the bosses (or even normal enemies) look intimidating!
    The game is designed to kill you, everything wants to kill you, and you will die, a lot. Much of the game is trial and error, so once you get used to how enemies fight, their attack patterns or spell uses, things become more manageable... but not easy!
    Online play and interactions are a huge part of Dark Souls. Other players, as well as you, can leave helpful, pointless, or potentially dangerous messages all around the world, designed to help or hinder a player's progress. You can also leave a 'summon sign' on the ground around the world, allowing you to be summoned into another player's world as a Phantom to help them in their travels, or with a difficult boss... or both! For the more sinister players, there is the option to 'invade' another player's world, allowing you to enter their game as a Dark Spirit and try to kill them. Each of these features are supported by in-game-world 'Covenants' (somewhat like guilds, but not really). These provide certain bonuses for completing tasks appropriate for each Covenant. For example: One of the covenants is focused on Co-op, so for each successful summon, and defeat of a boss, in another player's world, earns you an item which you can use to further your Rank in that Covenant, and be rewarded with items!
    The New Game+ feature adds even more to Dark Souls II (also just like Dark Souls I), with new items appearing throughout your second play-through, as well as certain enemies appearing in new places, and of course, increased difficulty. The NG+ feature (from what I've heard) can increase up to TEN times (the difficulty goes up each time too)! So if you really are some kind of crazy masochist, this game has it all!
    Stop reading this, and buy it now!!    … Expand
  83. Mugumaster
    May 11, 2014
    10
    Best game ever!
    I've enjoed it more than Demon Souls and Dark Souls 1.
    Hope they continue on this path and deliver us a Dark Souls 3.
    Every dollar well spent!
  84. alexil
    Oct 17, 2014
    10
    Though PC controls part is problematic, I like this game very much. This is not exactly my type of game, but I gave it a try and I'm not disappointed. It has exact amount of challenge that I needed. Victories are greately satisfying. Tremendous replayability level. This game has a soul. Great game.
  85. DiamondDD
    May 9, 2014
    8
    I wont be a complete fanboy and ooze all over this game, but it still an excellent entry into the franchise. I also should be disqualified as i havent finished it yet, but am at least 20+ hours into it (i take my time). Graphically not mind blowing but still very stylish and good looking. Game play still solid as the previous entries. Story still deep if you look for it. My one complaintI wont be a complete fanboy and ooze all over this game, but it still an excellent entry into the franchise. I also should be disqualified as i havent finished it yet, but am at least 20+ hours into it (i take my time). Graphically not mind blowing but still very stylish and good looking. Game play still solid as the previous entries. Story still deep if you look for it. My one complaint is the 4 boss souls ive killed so far really didnt feel that epic and certainly didnt feel as hard as Dark Souls or Demons Souls bosses did. But perhaps thats just experience.
    Any fan of the series will like this. An RPG fan that wants a challenge will like this. I dont think its as good as the first two, but its still excellent (and that feeling might just be since its not as fresh and new as the first two).

    Well worth your money regardless! PRAISE THE SUN!    … Expand
  86. Potitoman
    Jun 21, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls 2 is one of those sequels that while it improves on aspects of the original, it loses some of the magic in the process.

    The art direction seems less inspired than DS1. The monsters and bosses don't stick in your mind and the NPC's are, for the most part, fairly forgettable. DS2 does have a couple of notable bosses like the Demon of Song but for the most part they are just a    Dark Souls 2 is one of those sequels that while it improves on aspects of the original, it loses some of the magic in the process.

    The art direction seems less inspired than DS1. The monsters and bosses don't stick in your mind and the NPC's are, for the most part, fairly forgettable.
    DS2 does have a couple of notable bosses like the Demon of Song but for the most part they are just a variation of a knight in armour.

    The levels also fail to inspire. There are too many caves/castle settings, and for me at least, did not inspire a sense of wonder like DS1 did, and there seems to be a lot of repetition in themes from DS1 to DS2.

    Perhaps the biggest failing is the combat. It's not as fun as it used to be. Hit detection is a bit iffy and parrying is just unusable. No longer will you be parrying for laughs like in DS1.

    Boss fights are a mix bag of super-easy and borderline cheap. Don't expect unforgettable battles like the Capra Demon or Smough and Ornstein. A lot of them, specially humanoids, can be killed by sticking close to them, rolling on attacks and attacking while they recover from the attack. And then there is the Smelter Demon that hurts you with fire damage if you get close to attack him, then one shots you with his fire sword.

    I am a bit disappointed with this sequel, but DS1 was such a masterpiece and it left so much unspoken and up to interpretation that this game had little chance of duplicating the magic.
    The difficulty still there but this time it doesn't feel as balanced as it used to be. It's not there as an obstacle to master and overcome. Now it feels like it's there because that's what was expected of it. It feels synthetic and forced.

    I am being harsh. In itself, it is a very good game, just don't expect DS1 again.    … Expand
  87. Procsan
    May 9, 2014
    10
    TOP Game, every single Euro worth it, good and interesting multiplayer method and no problems on the PC version, but I think its unplayable without a controller
  88. mastershakez
    May 7, 2014
    8
    It's not as good as it's predecessors , but if you're hungry for that Souls experience you got from the last two games, this will at least hold you over until Beast Souls.
  89. MrPeters
    May 8, 2014
    9
    An excellent game.
    Huge improvements in both performance and appearance from Dark Souls.
    The gameplay is still great. Controls could be better when it comes to M&KB but I plugged in my controller and it worked perfectly. Hopefully they'll patch it a bit more and fix the issues other people are having but I'm a bit disappointed in that people keep screaming "Game crash, u suck,    An excellent game.
    Huge improvements in both performance and appearance from Dark Souls.
    The gameplay is still great.
    Controls could be better when it comes to M&KB but I plugged in my controller and it worked perfectly.
    Hopefully they'll patch it a bit more and fix the issues other people are having but I'm a bit disappointed in that people keep screaming "Game crash, u suck, everything is your fault no matter!" when it can usually be fixed on the user side.
    I highly recommend this game to pretty much everyone but I also suggest that you use a controller if you're going to play it, it's sadly the better way to play it so.    … Expand
  90. nima1990
    May 20, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A lot of people criticize why this game shows Xbox controller buttons but that is merely an excuse for just being a hater. Dark Souls II was one of the best action adventure games I've ever played. I don't consider it an RPG but that doesn't make it any less fantastic. The story involves you from beginning to the end and the visuals and character modeling is stunning, specially on PC. Combat never gets dull and the enemies are never the same in two different areas. The ending makes you think about why you did all that, just to sit on a throne locked in a cave? Dark Souls II shows many hollow concepts of life and it has a deep and meaningful narrative. It was leagues above the original Dark Souls in every way specially story-wise.… Expand
  91. DeusXCom
    May 9, 2014
    10
    Detailed review elaborating on the game itself is already written for the PS3 version, to which I've poured hundreds of hours into, so now I will just focus on the PC release, which is, without any sign of doubt the best version of this game.

    In short, Dark Souls 2 isn't nearly as good and breathtaking as the original DS, especially the PVE, but it still contains so many qualities and    Detailed review elaborating on the game itself is already written for the PS3 version, to which I've poured hundreds of hours into, so now I will just focus on the PC release, which is, without any sign of doubt the best version of this game.

    In short, Dark Souls 2 isn't nearly as good and breathtaking as the original DS, especially the PVE, but it still contains so many qualities and it's still so much better than anything out there right now, that it doesn't deserve anything less that a full score. While being the weakest chapter in the souls series story-wise and PVE, DS2 has by far the best multiplayer aspect, especially Covenants and PVP, I haven't had so much fun with PVP in Souls games ever before and PVP gaming in DS2 can very easily consume hundreds of your hours full of combat fun.

    PC release is way more visually pleasing and beautifully crisp thanks to the hi-res textures. Those armors are just gorgeous and as much as the Souls games have never been about the graphics, after getting used to this hi-res beauty I couldn't go back to the smudged and muddy PS3 version. It's also much more fluid thanks to the doubled FPS from 30 to 60 and on top of that the loading times are at least 3 times faster as warping between worlds or connecting to the worlds of other players takes just about 3 seconds. PC is definitely the best way to experience this game and it makes a great game even better. All the hate on keyboard and mouse control is nonsense, just the opposite, they did a great job with options and incorporating these elements into DS2. Yes, it feels better to play all Souls games on a good controller because it was designed that way, but I have finished DS and DS2 on KB+mouse on all 7 difficulties without any problem and if you're good at it, the controls can be actually much more responsive and faster (doesn't change the fact that I prefer the controller for the "feels good" aspect :)

    The only problem with the PC version that I have is the community. In about 300 hours on PS3 and hundreds of PVP matches, I don't think I have ever run into a hacker. On PC however, just on the first NG playthrough 2 invasions into my world = both hackers with infinite health. Now it could be actually fun as I dealt with both of them by pushing them off the cliff, but this should be dealt with somehow as the Online aspects of this game are it's strongest part and this definitely damages the experience. Also the sense of co-op seems weaker, summoned phantoms are returning to their worlds all the time, running around like crazy and so on. The problem is the sense of no responsibility whatsoever coming from the lack of communication options directly in the game, so you cannot enlighten the noobs, or write to each other during co-op sessions. As much as I hated GFWL on the first DS, it provided the functional communicating option with other players you've played with, something you can't or very hardly can do on Steam, so some kind of internal private message option directly in the game would be really beneficial.

    Overall, Dark Souls 2 is a fantastic game and a worthy chapter in Souls series that excels especially in PVP and that's the reason I will play this for hundreds hours more, or until the just announced "Project Beast" is released :) 10/10    … Expand
  92. paul_
    Sep 26, 2014
    9
    Great game! But not without fails. Controls are awful, graphics are not so good at all but overall strong 9 from me. If you fan of hardcore RPG + hack and slash - grab it !
  93. Adamemnon
    May 10, 2014
    9
    The PC version of Dark Souls 2 is so much better than the console version that I honestly feel sorry for the fans that play that version, AS LONG AS YOU USE A CONTROLLER, as was intended.

    With its higher resolution, more detailed textures and 60fps frame-rate it's undeniable that it's the superior version this time around and it also appears to be very well optimised, since it runs    The PC version of Dark Souls 2 is so much better than the console version that I honestly feel sorry for the fans that play that version, AS LONG AS YOU USE A CONTROLLER, as was intended.

    With its higher resolution, more detailed textures and 60fps frame-rate it's undeniable that it's the superior version this time around and it also appears to be very well optimised, since it runs perfectly smooth on max settings on my 4 year old PC and on medium for my girlfriends old gaming laptop.

    The only technical issue is the crashing upon start up, which still happens sometimes for me. But what Souls fan cares about that when the game itself is beautiful and fun to play.    … Expand
  94. niinq
    May 7, 2014
    10
    I really don't see why this game has gotten any bad reviews. This game has been extremely fun for the hours and hours that I have put into it, plus the graphics are not bad, even though some may say they are because they're not as good as games such as Battlefield or Crysis. The plot is fantastic and gripping, just like the original Dark Souls. If you are concerned about it not living upI really don't see why this game has gotten any bad reviews. This game has been extremely fun for the hours and hours that I have put into it, plus the graphics are not bad, even though some may say they are because they're not as good as games such as Battlefield or Crysis. The plot is fantastic and gripping, just like the original Dark Souls. If you are concerned about it not living up to the expectations, then do not worry. You will not be disappointed with this game.… Expand
  95. BXCharizard
    May 8, 2014
    10
    Wonderful game!
    If you like to be challenged, this game is for you!
    Compared to the first, is much more beautiful and well crafted, portability is fantastic and the gam play is a bit more fluid. The technical part I would say flawless! (No problem for me). The difficulty is a bit lower than that found in Dark Souls 1, but you can change this by entering in a specific covenant or    Wonderful game!
    If you like to be challenged, this game is for you!

    Compared to the first, is much more beautiful and well crafted, portability is fantastic and the gam play is a bit more fluid. The technical part I would say flawless! (No problem for me).

    The difficulty is a bit lower than that found in Dark Souls 1, but you can change this by entering in a specific covenant or burning an item at the bonfire, which is essential for more experienced players = D

    It's prettier and better .. but still Dark Souls = D    … Expand
  96. KywPT
    May 9, 2014
    10
    Great game, in terms of game, is without a doubt the best souls game made, builds are richer, new stats make new game styles possible and dual wielding seems a lot more rewarding now, also shield nerfs just made the game a lot more then a block and attack game like dark souls was.

    In terms of graphics, You will have a blast, I really like the new zones and havent felt the not whole map    Great game, in terms of game, is without a doubt the best souls game made, builds are richer, new stats make new game styles possible and dual wielding seems a lot more rewarding now, also shield nerfs just made the game a lot more then a block and attack game like dark souls was.

    In terms of graphics, You will have a blast, I really like the new zones and havent felt the not whole map thing people have been talking about, and still think that the maps are great and you can still spend some time looking at all the beautiful details on the map.

    The online is just Ridiculously good now, if you played souls games you know you had to wait 3 hours to get a phantom after 200 trys and 50 summoned failed. Now if it fails it lets you know right of the bat, but it rarely does. THANK GOD FOR THAT!

    In terms of port it is way better, but the non availability of gamepad configuration and the the the usage of xbox keys on subtitles makes it feel like a port, but all the rest is just there    … Expand
  97. halberdman
    May 9, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls 2(DkS2) is an Action Game/RPG that relies on an extreme difficulty curve and respawn mechanic to provide the action with a special spice that you don't see in many games. Is it harder than Demon's Souls(DS) or Dark Souls(DkS)? I say, 'who cares?' A lot of arguments devolve into comparisons, but I found Dark Souls 2 to be a unique beast when compared to its predecessors.

    I    Dark Souls 2(DkS2) is an Action Game/RPG that relies on an extreme difficulty curve and respawn mechanic to provide the action with a special spice that you don't see in many games. Is it harder than Demon's Souls(DS) or Dark Souls(DkS)? I say, 'who cares?' A lot of arguments devolve into comparisons, but I found Dark Souls 2 to be a unique beast when compared to its predecessors.

    I could write a novel on Dark Souls, and a sequel on Dark Souls 2, but in the interest of brevity I will keep this short.

    New weapon movesets, new death system, new interactive scenery, new stats system, new damage system, it's hard to find a part of DkS2 that hasn't been taken down to scratch and reworked since DkS. This is both good and bad, as many new problems surface (estus healing power, weapon durability drop) and some old ones return completely unaddressed (Lag-stabs, curving arrows, enemy weapons phase through walls) to menace the intrepid soul who dares play this game. The fixed problems are possibly outnumbered by the new ones, but the game still manages to feel highly polished and playable almost all the time.

    Even with that, and the occasional facepalm over dated textures or stupid AI, DkS2 is a gem and you should play it right now. You will not find another game like it anywhere in the market (except DS and DkS obviously) and it gets so many things just right that you will find yourself sucked in for hours on end. The innovative multiplayer system simultaneously makes you hate, love, envy, and pity every other player in the game, and you will often end up seeing the same person multiple times as they advance in tandem with you. Some of the most rewarding multiplayer experiences I've ever had have came as a result of summoning some random person four or five times and the two of us getting to trust and know each other without ever talking(the game has no voice or text chat).

    Many negative reviews are citing terrible controls, bad console port, etc. And yes, this is a console port and yes, it does pretty much require a controller to play. The controller is so much more intuitive for the combat system that mouse and keyboard really doesn't have an opportunity to shine. If you are a PC purist who can't stand the idea of a console game on your shiny rig or can't pick up a 360 controller without going into apoplectic rage, you will not be able to get the most out of DkS2 and should probably go play Starcraft 2 or something.

    Pros:
    -death by lava, spider, fall, fire, poison, giant club, sickle, spear, sword, rocks, tree, ladder, teeth, water, chariot, etc.
    -unique, engrossing gameplay
    -clever presence/absence of music makes the soundtrack stand out when it is present
    -great voice acting makes the NPCs come to life (until you kill them)
    -beautiful graphics most of the time
    -fantastic multiplayer
    -New game+ adds extensive replayability

    Cons:
    -death by lava, spider, fall, fire, poison, giant club, sickle, spear, sword, rocks, tree, ladder, teeth, water, chariot, etc.
    -occasional graphics snafus
    -AI is dumb as a post stuck in another post stuck in a lobotomized hamster
    -lag in multiplayer, therefore tears ahead
    -message system combined with invasions allows trolls and griefers free reign
    -boss fights are a letdown compared to previous entries, with a few exceptions    … Expand
  98. Maslocho1488
    May 10, 2014
    10
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    10 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 1010 IZ 10, GOD 10 iz 10    … Expand
  99. Lancious
    May 17, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing! The graphics are amazing on a high setting. The controls are easy to learn and very effective. The game mechanics are amazing; if you role into the weapon you get hit (unlike darksouls1). Everyone hates hit because they are bad at it! It is supposed to be hard; if you dont like hard, your not a real gamer. All of you haters need to stop hating on what an amazing gameThis game is amazing! The graphics are amazing on a high setting. The controls are easy to learn and very effective. The game mechanics are amazing; if you role into the weapon you get hit (unlike darksouls1). Everyone hates hit because they are bad at it! It is supposed to be hard; if you dont like hard, your not a real gamer. All of you haters need to stop hating on what an amazing game this is. Dont hate because your bad!… Expand
  100. masterkiser
    May 27, 2014
    8
    When I went into this game i had doubts and in all honesty I hated it at first. but after i beat the last giant (first boss) I was Rewarded greatly and i started to enjoy myself. One of my only complaints are the Hit boxes I've Dodged attacks from enemies and still took damage luckily It didn't happen as much as I was afraid it would. Overall this is an awesome game and its worth everyWhen I went into this game i had doubts and in all honesty I hated it at first. but after i beat the last giant (first boss) I was Rewarded greatly and i started to enjoy myself. One of my only complaints are the Hit boxes I've Dodged attacks from enemies and still took damage luckily It didn't happen as much as I was afraid it would. Overall this is an awesome game and its worth every penny if you don't have it go out and buy it now! you won't regret it!… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2014
8
#8 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
12
#12 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. CD-Action
    Jul 23, 2014
    95
    This game’s playability puts to shame everything that’s been released for the new generation of consoles. [06/2014, p.54]
  2. PC PowerPlay
    Jun 6, 2014
    90
    The definitive Dark Souls II experience, the latest entry to The Souls series shines on the PC. [June 2014, p.50]
  3. Riot Pixels
    Jun 5, 2014
    80
    If you’re a fan of hardcore games, try Dark Souls 2. It is not as memorable as its predecessor, and yet it is still a phenomenal experience.
    Read full review
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