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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. panoszafas
    May 1, 2014
    0
    Those who play this as their first souls game....It's fun
    But compared to the previous two games this is just a cheap,uninspired imitation...end of story.
    Really surprised that so few people are saying this....It's soooooo obvious if you are a hardcore fan of the series. Looks like some completely different team tried to copy dark souls and demon souls without really understanding what    Those who play this as their first souls game....It's fun
    But compared to the previous two games this is just a cheap,uninspired imitation...end of story.
    Really surprised that so few people are saying this....It's soooooo obvious if you are a hardcore fan of the series.
    Looks like some completely different team tried to copy dark souls and demon souls without really understanding what made those games different and interesting.Huge dissapointment    … Expand
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. Bawaga
    May 1, 2014
    1
    I rarely come to Metacritc to do reviews but I had to warn all PC gamers out there. I can't believe I bought into the hype. My friends who have consoles were raving how good Dark Souls 2 was. WRONG. This game is a terrible PC port filled with bugs. The graphics are chunky, the voice acting sucks, and most of all it's really hard to play with a mouse + keyboard. I spent my first hourI rarely come to Metacritc to do reviews but I had to warn all PC gamers out there. I can't believe I bought into the hype. My friends who have consoles were raving how good Dark Souls 2 was. WRONG. This game is a terrible PC port filled with bugs. The graphics are chunky, the voice acting sucks, and most of all it's really hard to play with a mouse + keyboard. I spent my first hour rebinding keys over and over to get them to work somewhat. I would rebind the keys and game would still be somehow be mixing up the old bind with the new binds WTF. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

    The game is hard not because of the monsters but because it's very hard to control your own character. More than half of my deaths were caused because my character was not responding properly to the keybinds. If the enemy gets too close my character would sometimes swing his weapon through him and miss. WTF Too many clipping issues to count. I gave up after 5 hours of sheer frustration. Save your money and avoid this piece of garbage PC port at all cost.    … Expand
  7. 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
  8. EclipseEx
    May 1, 2014
    10
    Do not listen to the reviews that say that the game does not work as it has already been fixed. You will miss out on one of the best games available right now.

    The game looks fantastic on max settings.

    You will want to use a gamepad. Period.

    Your first death will likely come from three little pigs.

    Praise the sun!!
  9. 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
  10. superexplosive
    May 1, 2014
    10
    Before I begin this review there are some things I'd like to get out of the way:

    1. Being bad at the game does not make it a bad game 2. Not being able to run the game does not make it a bad game 3. This game should not be compared so closely to other RPG's like the oh-so-popular Skyrim With those three points cleared up, I find it satisfying to say that Dark Souls II is a    Before I begin this review there are some things I'd like to get out of the way:

    1. Being bad at the game does not make it a bad game
    2. Not being able to run the game does not make it a bad game
    3. This game should not be compared so closely to other RPG's like the oh-so-popular Skyrim

    With those three points cleared up, I find it satisfying to say that Dark Souls II is a fantastic game.

    Following its predecessor Dark Souls, this sequel brings the same "Prepare to Die" mentality that veterans of the series are familiar with. In fact, Dark Souls II returns this same attitude alongside new characters, weapons, area designs, game mechanics and polished graphics. Upon first startup (by the way, I had NO startup issues whatsoever) I got the "Me vs. The World" feeling that I knew so well from the previous game. Upon navigating the locations that surround Majula, I could see various enemies waiting to kill me, yet I felt so alone. This is a feeling that I am rarely presented with in any other game. Needless to say, I like it a lot.

    Certainly this wouldn't be much of a review if I only shared my praises for Dark Souls II.
    There are really only two minor hiccups that I would like to discuss, the first being the "no-respawn" mechanic. After killing an enemy 15 times in Dark Souls II, they cease to return to life upon your resting at a bonfire. As this was not the case in Dark Souls (the first), I think it should have been an optional mechanic. While it may help players that can't seem to overcome certain foes, it also hinders the collection of items from enemy drops. I found this personally irritating while trying to obtain all pieces of an armor set only to find that I could no longer kill the enemy that dropped those pieces. That being said, this problem can be solved fairly easily with the use of a Bonfire Ascetic. Although the ascetic will increase the difficulty of an enemy, this shouldn't be much of a problem for the seasoned Dark Souls player.

    The second slight issue that I found with this game was the fact that sorceries have a ridiculous damage output. As I went to fight the Guardian Dragon boss with two phantom magic-users, I was a bit disappointed to see that such an epic looking dragon was destroyed within under a minute. I am inclined to believe that this is related to the power of the spells rather than the weakness of the boss (at least in this case). Casting may get annoying in PvP as well, but it can be contained if you know how to properly fight close-ranged.

    All in all, I will give Dark Souls II a 9.5/10 (rounded my score here up to 10).
    As a past fan of the Souls series, I definitely consider this entry worthy of its title and would recommend it to any gamer willing to put in a little effort and maybe some tears.    … Expand
  11. mogy142
    May 1, 2014
    3
    How the hell are people enjoying this abomination of a game? They go around telling people it a 10/10 game, do they even know what 10/10 stands for? It means a perfect game with no flaws, apparently theres no flaws with Dark Souls 2 then? Get real and open your eyes. The graphics suck and are so dull for a 2014 game, it looks like a dog **** on a disc.

    Here are facts about lazy    How the hell are people enjoying this abomination of a game? They go around telling people it a 10/10 game, do they even know what 10/10 stands for? It means a perfect game with no flaws, apparently theres no flaws with Dark Souls 2 then? Get real and open your eyes. The graphics suck and are so dull for a 2014 game, it looks like a dog **** on a disc.

    Here are facts about lazy gameplay mechanics that you cant deny out of your ass. Any kind of decision you make in this game when in combat, stamina is consumed based on what you do, which is great because it secures that decision, but when you make a decision realistically, for example to correctly dodge an enemy or boss's attack and that boss/enemy's body is auto aiming towards your every exact location your going to dodge and land in in precisely, Its like the developers didnt want you to dodge, so shield yourself right? then your stamina gets destroyed and enemy can hit u even more easier. How can you honestly have fun in a game that has every enemy/boss's attack animations land with 100% accuracy (even the slow swinging attackers) in every move you make and leave you with 1-2 hits at most before you get clobbered by the enemy ?

    its not the difficulty, its the lazy mechanics, you 12 year olds that are giving this 10/10 wont understand what the difference is between correct and well thought out hard mode difficulty and lazy hard mode. Here ill summarize in the following scenario:

    Well thought out difficult setting: A boss has made the decision to attack, he attacks me and its too late for him to swing in your exact direction since I dodge right on time, he has left his back vulnerable therefore i can attack more then twice before i back off, so the boss turns around and does a different attack making me wonder how to dodge but i try anyway and just as he attacks, i roll and his attack hits the area that was originally targetted.

    Current lazy difficult setting: A boss has made the decision to attack, so right as he does, I dodge but his body is still auto aiming towards me as hes landing his attack instead of landing it where he should of missed originally. His back is almost never vulnerable, after he ends his attack animation, i have 1 or 2 attacks at most to do to him, as he recovers fast enough to repeat the combo again while auto aiming his every move towards my dodging points, so really all I find myself doing is running from him so much im too busy to notice when to attack.

    Oh yea real fun difficulty you got there, have fun with these cheap gameplay mechanics which you are too blind to understand the clear differences in.    … Expand
  12. 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
  13. xveganroxx
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    This is the definitive Dark Souls experience. Yes, you will die, sometimes seemingly unfairly. Yes, you should use a 360 controller. Yes, people will invade you and stab you in the back. No, if someone tells you "Try jumping for treasure!" off a cliff, you shouldn't. No, you can't play it on a 2005 Celeron with onboard graphics. Yes, this is the most immersive and rewarding modern actionThis is the definitive Dark Souls experience. Yes, you will die, sometimes seemingly unfairly. Yes, you should use a 360 controller. Yes, people will invade you and stab you in the back. No, if someone tells you "Try jumping for treasure!" off a cliff, you shouldn't. No, you can't play it on a 2005 Celeron with onboard graphics. Yes, this is the most immersive and rewarding modern action RPG experience available. Get it.… Expand
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. tritium_3
    Apr 30, 2014
    0
    Did the critics actually play the released PC game? or did they get some other version? because if they actually played the PC released game on steam, and still think the graphcis are "rich", then they are clearly delusional. Huge graphical downgrade. game looks nothing like the e3 footage. Game was clearly rushed and not tested. GUI is clunky, controls are trash, gameplay is choppy,Did the critics actually play the released PC game? or did they get some other version? because if they actually played the PC released game on steam, and still think the graphcis are "rich", then they are clearly delusional. Huge graphical downgrade. game looks nothing like the e3 footage. Game was clearly rushed and not tested. GUI is clunky, controls are trash, gameplay is choppy, graphics are unbearable. Hey from software, THIS IS 2014, why does your game look like its from 2005? Completely unacceptable to have a game that is 10x worse graphics than its previous game released in 2010. what the **** were the developers doing? why release a game this horrible? dark souls 1 was a masterpiece, Dark souls 2 is a get rich quick scheme from FROM software to take advantage of the tremendous legacy of Darksouls and the dedicated fan base. they completely disappointed me, and many other people with releasing this pile of ****. Critics are either bribed from the software companies, or they clearly havent played the Steam released version of the game at all.

    DO NOT BUY FOR PC.    … Expand
  17. BeanyUndead
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is a great game. It is let down slightly by the fact that the console-port is not as complete as I think many people would have hoped, but it is still extremely well executed. The mouse movement is smooth and attacks/actions are crisp and feel ‘weighty’. The only problem is that the ‘instructions’ the game provides, especially in the tutorial zone, are all console-commands,Dark Souls II is a great game. It is let down slightly by the fact that the console-port is not as complete as I think many people would have hoped, but it is still extremely well executed. The mouse movement is smooth and attacks/actions are crisp and feel ‘weighty’. The only problem is that the ‘instructions’ the game provides, especially in the tutorial zone, are all console-commands, making learning how to play a little tedious at first. But as YouTube offers numerous ‘getting started’ guides, this is not a big problem.
    The game masters atmosphere like no other, presenting a bleak and emotionally crushing fantasy world that looks as though it has reached the end of a very long history and is crumbling before time. The characters are well voice acted, the dialogue provided is excellent given the genre and effect the designers were going for and above all, it all comes together to form a deep and often surprising gaming experience. Combat is exceptional and challenging. Level design is simply inspired!
    The game is hard but with patience you can always master its challenges. Remember one thing! Anyone who gave this game a rating below 7 (which is the lowest score even the most critical reviewer could legitimately justify) is not being a good reviewer. They are allow their own highly specific problems dominate their opinion of the entire game because they are angry. It is an excellent game!    … Expand
  18. 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 :)
  19. Whitescreenop
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    UPDATE: The other review was negative,because the game didn't work.
    Finally the game it's working,(after the update) and All I can say,it's awesome,beautiful,incredible and more hard than before.
    The multiplayer finally get fixed,now the connection it's super-fast and really good,good job from software.
  20. KamranMackey
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls II is much better than it's predecessor Dark Souls. (I'm gonna be talking about the PC version in this review.) The PC port of the game is much better than the port of the original Dark Souls to the PC. The FPS limit in the Dark Souls 2 PC port has been lifted from 30 FPS in the original Dark Souls to a smooth 60 frames per second. From Software has also implemented a ton ofDark Souls II is much better than it's predecessor Dark Souls. (I'm gonna be talking about the PC version in this review.) The PC port of the game is much better than the port of the original Dark Souls to the PC. The FPS limit in the Dark Souls 2 PC port has been lifted from 30 FPS in the original Dark Souls to a smooth 60 frames per second. From Software has also implemented a ton of graphics settings, unlike the original Dark Souls where you had to download a tool called dsfix to change the graphics settings. The combat system in Dark Souls 2 is also a lot better than the original's. They have also added many more options to the Character Customization screen so you can customize your character even more than you were able to in Dark Souls 1. They have also added new weapons and a new balanced player progression system. Everything about Dark Souls 2 is awesome, and the PC port of the game is much better than the terrible Dark Souls 1 PC port. Highly recommend you grab this game on the PC. There are a couple issues with the PC port though but From Software and NAMCO BANDAI are working hard to fix the issues and there aren't even that many issues with the game. So go out and grab this game. It's worth every penny.… Expand
  21. invizo
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    Works flawlessly on a 780 GTX and 3rd Gen i7 system. Using a Dualshock 4 PS4 controller on a USB cable for my PC and it is in every way superior to the console counterparts. Game is well optimized allowing me 4x Supersample of 2560x1440 and it runs a solid 60 FPS. No crashes or hiccups as seen in the '0' score reviews; they probably have old hardware.
  22. backInBone
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    I'm now on half way of the game and can't help come and rate this a 10/10 before I finish it. It runs smooth and looks beautiful on PC. Also I don't see any problem with the keyboard&mouse control (for some actions it's even more convenient than using a gamepad). I feel all excited while playing. It's like I'm fighting in the game world myself, every single miss may lead me to death. I love it.
  23. 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
  24. Freeportaa
    Apr 29, 2014
    10
    9.5

    Amazing game, near-prefect port makes a great game even better! I have not had a single crash or problem since I started the game up a number of days ago and I've already put 20 hours into it already. The port runs at 1080p @ 60fps with 2-3 second load screens on an i7 as opposed to 15-25 seconds load screens on the PS3 (which I've already put 200+ hours into that version). People    9.5

    Amazing game, near-prefect port makes a great game even better! I have not had a single crash or problem since I started the game up a number of days ago and I've already put 20 hours into it already. The port runs at 1080p @ 60fps with 2-3 second load screens on an i7 as opposed to 15-25 seconds load screens on the PS3 (which I've already put 200+ hours into that version). People who are having problems with game crashes at start up are in the VAST minority and FromSoft is aware and working on a fix. In fact, I believe they have patched it and it's working for more people. Others who've complained that keyboard and mouse being horrible are incorrect. Mouse + Keyboard DO take a while to setup but it's quite intuitive after taking the time to get acquainted with that setup and getting a feel for the combat (which can take time even on a controller). Yes, the button prompts use Xbox 360 icons and so do the stones in the tutorial, if you can get past this hump you will find the controls do work well. My personal preference is for a Xbox 360 controller or any game pad in general, that is the easier option as this game was designed for one and works great. As you can see the Metascore for this game is a 9.1. Critics who know what the Souls series is about give this game a great score. I believe people who don't like the game are casuals who didn't expect this game to be as difficult as it is or are disappointed that this game is not quite up to Dark Souls near-perfect standards and have cheated themselves out of a stellar experience. I've seen people walk into sequels (video game, movies etc) with incredibly high (unreal!?) expectations and get burned for it. If you've never played a Souls series game do some research, walk into this game with an open mind and you will have a good time.    … Expand
  25. abraxes
    Apr 29, 2014
    10
    It seem a lot of people are upset about the port not being as wonderful as they'd like. I suggest getting a controller (they're like twenty bucks... come on, guys) and get down to business playing this AMAZING game from From Software until your eyes start to bleed... Dark Souls 2 is a worthy successor to an incredible rpg that stands out in the crowd like the absolute gem that it is. IfIt seem a lot of people are upset about the port not being as wonderful as they'd like. I suggest getting a controller (they're like twenty bucks... come on, guys) and get down to business playing this AMAZING game from From Software until your eyes start to bleed... Dark Souls 2 is a worthy successor to an incredible rpg that stands out in the crowd like the absolute gem that it is. If you liked the first two, don't be fooled by people whining about the port-- we should be grateful to be able to play this on PC. DS 2 is everything I hoped for, and more.… Expand
  26. PcIsMasterRace
    Apr 29, 2014
    10
    As every Souls game it's
    "Hate it or love it"
    If u liked DS1 u will LOVE DS2.
    If u hate DS1 u will hate DS2.
    And don't play this Game without a gamepad, it's not mend to play with a Keyboard so accept it.
    it's the same as playing a FPS with a gamepad on PC.
  27. sniperlawless10
    Apr 29, 2014
    10
    I would give this a 9.8 this game dark souls 2 is a true dark souls game, I started with demon souls though that is the hardest one so far I am glad they made it a little more easier For the first playthrough it is a hard game even so, and if you want to make it even harder you can put a specific item at a bonfire and it will re spawn all the enemy npc in the area, if you killed theirI would give this a 9.8 this game dark souls 2 is a true dark souls game, I started with demon souls though that is the hardest one so far I am glad they made it a little more easier For the first playthrough it is a hard game even so, and if you want to make it even harder you can put a specific item at a bonfire and it will re spawn all the enemy npc in the area, if you killed their respawns 10 times. The bosses also come back after using that item so if you wanted to trade your boss soul for one of the 3 choices you have to get a spear or shield or bow you can do that as well. The Pc graphics are much better than the console version, After the tutorial you will see this excellent artistic area, the water is just drop down jaw dropping and the wind that moves the grass is even a better site, a lot of the levels have fantastic graphic quality. Even at 1600x900 it looks amazing, I can't say it has better graphics than crysis but it has better art. So I plugged it in my TV that is 1920x1080 and it looked even better, resolution changes everything. But then I heard about a tool called Gedosatotool it is a mod that is in alpha stage and it basically means that you can down sample and it is most compatible with dark souls 2 so far it did not crash my game. I set it to 3840x2160 and changed the Anti alaising to ultra and started the game. And boy does it now look better than ever it looks like the game play trailers that were out before down sampling really helps the game look 5 times better than what it is. This game is truly optimized for low end- high end gaming machines a mid end can run this game max settings 60 frames no problem. I am using a old processor back from 2007 called the Intel core 2 Q6600 quad core at 2.4ghz and a gtx 550ti graphics card and 4.5gb ram and the game runs 60 fps with the down sampling enabled. The controls are much better on keyboard and mouse than the previous dark souls game, you are allowed to change keybindings ect. You can also plug in a controller of your choice. I have plugged in my Ds4 playstation 4 controller and it worked like a blast I also downloaded the playstation controller texture pack mod so it replaces the xbox controllers buttons with playstation buttons. The gameplay is really remarkable, one little tiny mistake can get you killed, even against weaker opponents that seem harmless can sneak up to your back and kill you with one back stab, You have to be aware of your surroundings, otherwise you will die a lot. The boss fights are incredible, they are such a challenge especially when you have to fight through tough opponents to reach the fog boss area gate, where no bonfire will be present so if you die you will have to plow through them again and waste healing potions ect. But thanks to there limited re spawn once you go through it about 10 times they will stop spawning. The bosses fight very aggressively you will die a few times before learning there moves and predicting on what they will do next, one of the hardest bosses I though was hard to learn was the looking glass boss I do not look at tutorials and I ended up die about 20 times before being able to predict all his moves and finally kill it. The bosses are very smart and some of the tougher bosses will not allow you to summon npc phantoms which is awesome because I never use phantoms anyways or player help. the souls you gather from bosses can be than traded for their swords, shield, spears, bows ect... which all each have their own special attack that the boss used in the fight against you. The atmosphere of the game is amazing you will hear singing from npcs, awesome voice acting, Excellent music when your fighting bosses that are just epic. You will hear every sword swing that hits a rock or deflects off of a shield in its own way. You also get to level up your character according to how you want to play if you want to be a mage you specifically put most of your souls towards that or, range or melee you do the same to them. This game is truly a souls game that will last 60-100 hours through the first play through and after you beat the game you will get to play it again with all your gear ect.. and start all over with even more of a challenge and after that their is a another NG++ Which is even more difficult hard.… Expand
  28. 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
  29. GRiMtox
    Apr 29, 2014
    10
    While the first game was a really bad port and only enjoyable with a controller and the DSFix, the second part only requires the first one. This game is one of the best games ever made, so was the first one. The atmosphere, the gamedesign, the mechanics; everything is extremly well coordinated and makes this game to one of the best RPGs of all time. If you are frusttollerant and have aWhile the first game was a really bad port and only enjoyable with a controller and the DSFix, the second part only requires the first one. This game is one of the best games ever made, so was the first one. The atmosphere, the gamedesign, the mechanics; everything is extremly well coordinated and makes this game to one of the best RPGs of all time. If you are frusttollerant and have a fetish for dark places, this game is for you.… Expand
  30. khjir
    Apr 29, 2014
    9
    Well my first post on mc, only to soften damage, done by some silly people. :)

    The game itself is well, no questions here. But as far as PC port goes - let me say, graphics + mods, 60fps, somewhat not that bad menu browsing with partly mouse navigation and horrid console design - yep it's there. But now it's usable, not like first game. So get used to it or skip, really if menus do    Well my first post on mc, only to soften damage, done by some silly people. :)

    The game itself is well, no questions here.
    But as far as PC port goes - let me say, graphics + mods, 60fps, somewhat not that bad menu browsing with partly mouse navigation and horrid console design - yep it's there. But now it's usable, not like first game. So get used to it or skip, really if menus do anger you, don't even bother.

    now controls - first i was kinda 'meh'. tried it for few hours. and now i'm rolling :) with some minor tweaks to control scheme, no mods or etc. just give it a fair try, try to get used to it, and you will be ok :) again - not perfect, but really good. i'm finishing lost bastille now, but my achievement is = no man's warth with no deaths at all, with keyboard without any fancy stuff.

    so overall pc game is good, it lacks some stuff but nothing seriuos. game itself is fantastic :) ill give my 9 just because i'm not into 0/10 :)    … Expand
Page:

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
See all critic reviews »