Dark Souls II

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1483 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,133 out of 1483
  2. Mixed: 182 out of 1483
  3. Negative: 168 out of 1483
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  1. 3ls0ul
    Mar 7, 2023
    9
    Este juego aún no lo eh jugado o completado, así que pondré una reseña y nota diferentes cuando lo haga.
  2. shenkenhigh
    Feb 14, 2023
    9
    Keeps up with atmospheric aspect of the game, that's a big yes. But adaptability stat and mechanics overall...it's just baldly stupid
  3. AnderzinhoLoko
    Feb 12, 2023
    10
    Mudou Muito do Primeiro Dark Souls para esse, Eu Amei esse Jogo assim como amei o Primeiro, eu acho o primeiro mais Redondinho, Mais Perfeito, esse jogo é um milagre da Direção de Yui Tanimura. Salvou o Game.
  4. Ragenx12
    Jan 28, 2023
    10
    Me pillo cuando pase un año con depresión y me rescato de las tinieblas. 10/10 aunque me perdí y no supe donde ir y nunca lo termine pero Dios juegazo. Jefes dificiles, entorno interactivo y un desafío que decidí tomar.
  5. Joe2539
    Jan 2, 2023
    10
    Very Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
  6. hector_bcn98
    Nov 11, 2022
    8
    No, no está al nivel de la leyenda del primero, pero... podría haberlo estado de alguna forma? No. Sigue siendo un juegazo.
  7. Gabitoxico
    Nov 10, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. DEMASIADO BUENO. Realmente me encantó el juego. FASCINANTE LA AMBIENTACIÓN Y LA JUGABILIDAD… Expand
  8. dr-kenobi
    Sep 6, 2022
    8
    A lot of players hate it, but I think it still offers loads of fun. Sure, the mechanics feel very different from those that were made by Miyazaki, but still, it's pretty good. And of course, you don't suffer less
  9. SilentLev
    Aug 31, 2022
    8
    В ретроспективе отсутствие Миядзаки в проекте, как мне кажется, пошло сиквелу только на пользу. Продолжение великой первой части в конечной трилогии выглядит подобно сиквелу Silent Hill. То есть, наиболее отличной от остальных частей, что и делает эту игру более самобытной и от того более интересной.В ретроспективе отсутствие Миядзаки в проекте, как мне кажется, пошло сиквелу только на пользу. Продолжение великой первой части в конечной трилогии выглядит подобно сиквелу Silent Hill. То есть, наиболее отличной от остальных частей, что и делает эту игру более самобытной и от того более интересной.
  10. DarkwingSchmuck
    Mar 14, 2022
    8
    With a different director at the helm, Dark Souls II isn't quite as expertly crafted as its predecessor, though it is still a deep, challenging action RPG in its own right. It's bigger, longer, messier, and at times more frustrating than fun; opting for quantity over quality with the most bosses in a FromSoft game, as well as the most generic. There are also times when it mistakesWith a different director at the helm, Dark Souls II isn't quite as expertly crafted as its predecessor, though it is still a deep, challenging action RPG in its own right. It's bigger, longer, messier, and at times more frustrating than fun; opting for quantity over quality with the most bosses in a FromSoft game, as well as the most generic. There are also times when it mistakes throwing as many enemies at you at once as it can for "difficulty."… Expand
  11. Kumasimc
    Dec 28, 2021
    10
    While often criticized for its departure from Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2 is one of the most brilliantly conceived sequels in ages. Rather than try to mimic the first entry, or create excess lore where none existed (or was needed), Dark Souls 2 looks at the actual universe it resides in and thoughtfully creates a unique space. In the world of Dark Souls there are endlessWhile often criticized for its departure from Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2 is one of the most brilliantly conceived sequels in ages. Rather than try to mimic the first entry, or create excess lore where none existed (or was needed), Dark Souls 2 looks at the actual universe it resides in and thoughtfully creates a unique space. In the world of Dark Souls there are endless cycles, civilizations rising and falling, each cycle likely thousands of years (if not more). Rather than try to “follow up” directly from the end of the first entry, Dark Souls 2 launches many cycles into the future, and tells a more personal story of King Vendrick, the land of Drangleic, Lady Nashandra and an ill considered war with the Giants (not too mention Vendrick’s mad brother Aldia, though he is more elaborated upon in the Scholar update). While traversing the world, unraveling the story of this dying land and your place in it, bits of the existing universe are expanded upon, making it both a fresh new story, and exciting for those looking for more answers from the first game. Mechanically, DS2 changed quite a few things, they created a new parry/riposte, updated multiplayer and the requisite new stats and balancing. In addition to minor adjustments, they also added the brilliant new Bonfire Ascetic mechanic, effectively allowing you to put certain areas of the game into a forced “New Game Plus” for extra challenge, as well as hidden benefits. The “New Game Plus” also received extra love, and is not just “more difficult with some stronger versions of old rings” like the first entry. There are real changes to the world that I won’t spoil here. The game is also massive. Even without the DLC, Dark Souls 2 is large in scope and well worth price of admission, but adding on the 3 huge DLCs just makes this one of the best gaming packages ever. Also to note, the Scholar of the First Sin and the original Dark Souls 2 have completely different item/enemy layouts, that create different pacing and routing. Most prefer the Scholar version (which also has the DLC packed in) so that should be the obvious choice, however for those who can’t get enough, playing through both versions makes for a fascinating replay that will keep you on your toes. All in all, Dark Souls 2 has often been on the receiving end of a lot of hate (criticism, fair enough, but also hate, absurdly). Many joked it was the “B” team (despite most of the original development team working on it), which is an insult to the talent at From Software. Ever since, it seems they’ve been scared to release a game that didn’t say “Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki” for fear of undue backlash. If you read the credits, however, their subsequent games always actually list multiple directors. And since Miyazaki is the president of the company, I would hazard a guess that he mainly oversees most games, while others “direct” them (much like he did here). It’s unfortunate that not having his name on Dark Souls 2, front & center, seemed to set so many people off, considering how From Software has proven as a whole to be an utterly formidable talent, and a groundbreaking game developer. All told, if you’ve been curious about this entry, but have been turned off by tales of it being “garbage” and not a real “Souls” game, I would kindly insist you reconsider. There are groups of people who aren’t fans surely, but there are many, many of us who unabashedly call it an utter masterpiece.… Expand
  12. nurfedx
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best Games known to mankind.
    From Software is a safe heaven for the Gaming community.
    Especially in times where big Developers dissapiont us with theyr fraudulent intent.
    Praise the sun!
  13. SolaireMengao
    Sep 16, 2021
    10
    Escaping the "god fighting" system, Dark Souls II brings a more human experience, with a vast word and even surpassing the original game.
  14. Elkiolo
    Aug 21, 2021
    10
    El juego es una obra maestra. El problema con el mapeado es lo de menos tomando encuenta lo perfecto que es el resto del juego.
  15. Meme-City-Mayor
    Jun 21, 2021
    8
    Pretty good, although way too hard and easy in several areas. It's got a pretty good story and it's got some pretty cool concepts within the areas, so I feel like 8/10 is a good score for the game.
  16. G0jiman
    Mar 12, 2021
    9
    I must admit I was a little edgy at first about the feel of the new engine that was made for this game when I first played it back in 2014 but I think that may have been a good thing. It meant that I had to rethink everything I knew about how Dark Souls generally felt when I played it i.e. a new challenge for me, which kept things from going stale by averting my expectations. Also theI must admit I was a little edgy at first about the feel of the new engine that was made for this game when I first played it back in 2014 but I think that may have been a good thing. It meant that I had to rethink everything I knew about how Dark Souls generally felt when I played it i.e. a new challenge for me, which kept things from going stale by averting my expectations. Also the game's Three Crowns of Kings dlc's are pretty good with the amount of content they each offer.… Expand
  17. michealmyles
    Jan 20, 2021
    8
    This game is a Dark Souls game, yes. But keep in mind that its from Studio B, A different studio that From Soft, the developers of the original series. I suppose they pawned this game to a different studio so they could work on the seminal masterpiece which is Dark Souls III. The experience coming from Dark souls I to II seems foreign. The colour palate is more bright and vibrant, overallThis game is a Dark Souls game, yes. But keep in mind that its from Studio B, A different studio that From Soft, the developers of the original series. I suppose they pawned this game to a different studio so they could work on the seminal masterpiece which is Dark Souls III. The experience coming from Dark souls I to II seems foreign. The colour palate is more bright and vibrant, overall its a lighter experience visually. The combat system and summoning system is the main flaw of this game. It greatly disappointed me, yet I persisted, because well - its Dark Souls! It has to be good. And that it was - in its own unique way. I think the game was meant to appeal to the more casual audience. The world is HUGE, I mean huge, especially with the DLC. There is an incredible amount of content in the game. I don't think the story is very interesting. I don't think the sound is on par to the other souls series games. With all that said, I'd would still recommend. Its a good game and for what you pay you have a fun and rewarding experience, which is the whole point.… Expand
  18. soahknam
    Jan 18, 2021
    10
    This game is a master piece, again fromsoftware show us a perfect work, you need play this.

    Story: 8
    Game play: 10
    Music; 10
    Visuals: 10

    Personal score: 10 A master piece !!
  19. prussii
    Dec 31, 2020
    10
    Despite the hate on this game, this is my favourite. I have so many memorable moments with this game. This is a big leap in comparison to the 1st game.
  20. TheFr0st
    Dec 22, 2020
    8
    This an absolutely beautiful game. My 150 hours in Dark Souls 2 was amazing. It has some frame rate issues on ps3, and not graphically advanced as other games in 2014. But it's still one of the best games I've ever played, 8 out of 10.
  21. mythiiix
    Dec 17, 2020
    10
    FromSoftware are masterminds for making this game, Thank You Hidetaka Miyazaki for this masterpiece!
  22. Siralfon
    Nov 16, 2020
    8
    Un gran juego de la saga souls . Odiado por la mayoría por la ausencia de miyazaki . Aunque tiene algunos fallo en el diseño de niveles , es el souls con mejor comunidad online . Y eso se nota
  23. Afrinecks
    Nov 4, 2020
    10
    This is the besto Dark Souls - Why?

    First of all - It's different from the other ones, makes an outstanding work driving you nuts through the new mechanics of game play and game menú, it feels fresh and brings things that DS1 and DS3 doesnt have like enemies disappear after you reach the time beaten them - this makes farm for souls even harder and makes you twink twice the way you are    This is the besto Dark Souls - Why?

    First of all - It's different from the other ones, makes an outstanding work driving you nuts through the new mechanics of game play and game menú, it feels fresh and brings things that DS1 and DS3 doesnt have like enemies disappear after you reach the time beaten them - this makes farm for souls even harder and makes you twink twice the way you are going to spend those souls

    makes even hard and painful to die and loss souls - i love this    … Expand
  24. AlexvaderII
    Sep 16, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls 2 cuenta con un gran combate estratégico en el cual tendremos que enfrentar enemigos difíciles. Desde el inicio hay que ir con cuidado para no morir aunque si morimos no hay problema este es un juego de probar nuevas maneras de afrontar el reto aunque a diferencia del primero creo que mejoraron los combates jugador vs jugador por consiguiente jugador vs NPC.

    La ambientación y    Dark Souls 2 cuenta con un gran combate estratégico en el cual tendremos que enfrentar enemigos difíciles. Desde el inicio hay que ir con cuidado para no morir aunque si morimos no hay problema este es un juego de probar nuevas maneras de afrontar el reto aunque a diferencia del primero creo que mejoraron los combates jugador vs jugador por consiguiente jugador vs NPC.

    La ambientación y diseño de niveles esta bien pero lo pudieron mejorar ya que algunos escenarios podremos observar algunas incongruencias que no nos dejaran indiferentes, el juego cuenta con muchas trampas en todo el mapa y esto hará que estemos muy alerta a lo que se avecina siempre. Hay gran cantidad de enemigos y todos son diferentes y agresivos pero tendremos una gran variedad de escudos para protegernos y armas que podremos mejorar bastante y de diferentes maneras para que las adecuemos según creamos que sea lo mejor para derrotar a tal enemigo. Adicionalmente obtendremos hechizos, magia oscura que es una novedad en esta entrega y piromancias que básicamente lo resumo en magia estos se obtienen de diferentes maneras los mas fáciles son de pago con almas dentro del juego pero serán los mas básicos, al final de cuentas esto hará los combates muy divertidos y variados.

    Algo que hace especial a este juego es que desde que encontremos nuestro primer ítem nos revelara partes de la historia del juego como un gigantesco rompecabezas, ya que la misma se narra atreves de los NPC´s que nos encontremos en el camino las pocas cinemáticas y los ítems así que aquí todo es importante.

    Al final el juego tiene buenos combates contra jefes muy espectaculares, gran historia, pero la ambientación no llega a las cuotas de la primera entrega. Es divertido a mas no poder, y con componentes online y como el primero aunque ya no innova tanto en este aspecto siempre podremos ayudar a jugadores que ni siquiera conocemos o podremos quedar de acuerdo con nuestros amigos o podremos estropearle la aventura a otros jugadores invadiéndolos y estropeando su avance, esto se escucha sencillo pero hay unos "PACTOS" que haremos dentro del juego con NPC´s que nos darán recompensas según lo que decidamos hacer o ayudar o eliminar a la persona online.

    Al final esta es una buena entrega pero algunos defectos mencionados hacen que no sea perfecto aun así es un gran video juego.    … Expand
  25. storygamer
    Sep 2, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls II is an epic experience and follows the path of its predecessor. You get a rock heavy gameplay, challenging but always fair. The atmosphere is brilliant dark and intensifies the mystic story. Modern classic, must play!
  26. Dachman
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    At first I didn't like the game. But after I completed it two times I can say, it's not as good as the first part, but still it's a great game. It denies some ideas of the original game, but at the same time deepens some other. It widens the game world and moves the story to another place, still connected to Lordran. Anyway I can recommend the game to anyone no matter whether you playedAt first I didn't like the game. But after I completed it two times I can say, it's not as good as the first part, but still it's a great game. It denies some ideas of the original game, but at the same time deepens some other. It widens the game world and moves the story to another place, still connected to Lordran. Anyway I can recommend the game to anyone no matter whether you played the original game or not.… Expand
  27. LOTHRIC
    Aug 8, 2020
    9
    الجزء الثاني كان ممتازا كلعبة وكان متوسطا كسلسلة له قصة مبدعة لأبعد الحدود وعالم جميل ونظام قتال متقن ومتنوع ولكن كان يعيبه الزعماء الكثيرين بلا فائدة ولايظل سوى زعيم او اثنان في الذاكرة
  28. DouchebagUncle
    Jun 26, 2020
    9
    (Mar 2, 2017)

    This was one of my weirdest yet greatest experiences on PlayStation 3. My first 7 hours were terrible since it was something new for me and the weakest enemies kept killing me. I even thought about regretting my purchase. After two weeks, I played it again and started to understand its mechanics. My deaths were less frequent and I was able to defeat the first bosses and    (Mar 2, 2017)

    This was one of my weirdest yet greatest experiences on PlayStation 3. My first 7 hours were terrible since it was something new for me and the weakest enemies kept killing me. I even thought about regretting my purchase. After two weeks, I played it again and started to understand its mechanics. My deaths were less frequent and I was able to defeat the first bosses and continue with the game.

    I like the way it tells its story by separating it between most of the land's NPCs. The visuals and artistic design are amazing and the gameplay is very good. If you did not play the previous Souls installments like me, you are going to have a rough time during your first hours, but you will eventually start to advance and enjoy it.

    Dark Souls II is hard, demanding and sometimes unfair. Most bosses are great but there are too many, some of them are a joke and two can one-shot you. The satisfaction for defeating a hard boss or area its fantastic. I also like being able to revive bosses (and make them harder) to get new items or more souls. Some areas can be very challenging but I like exploring them to find weapons, armor and items. Sometimes it can be a horror game because of the tension of dying when you have to recover your souls. I love Majula as the hub world because it feels like a small town in which you are safe and can rest. I also prefer that DSII lets you decide when you want to start New Game+ after beating the final boss.

    Probably the worst thing about this game is the incoherence between some areas. For example, Earthen Peak has a big windmill whose top is completely destroyed. After defeating the boss, you access an elevator that takes you to the Iron Keep, which is surrounded by lava. Also, in Shrine of Winter there's a long tunnel that leads you to Drangleic Castle and suddenly it's nighttime and is raining. It seems that the level designers were split into various teams with no communication between them.

    I didn't play co-op or PVP that much but the only thing I'll say is that the matchmaking system is dumb. Soul Memory, really? Despite that, it's quite fun to humiliate bosses with a friend when both of you are OP after dozens of hours.

    The three DLCs and its bosses are good, but the main problem with them is that there's a lot of recycled enemies, which is also an issue with the base game's bosses turned mini-bosses. The DLCs' areas are also harder, which is fine except for the frozen hell of Frigid Outskirts.

    I had a great time with this game. It's very replayable, most bosses are great and defeating the hard ones is very satisfying. It took me a while to beat the game (54 hours) but I replayed it instantly to get more powerful and experience the challenge of NG+. It's probably the worst -or less good- Souls but it introduced me to one of my favorite franchises and that's what makes it special.    … Expand
  29. Leandro5an
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    Gran cambio de Dark Souls 1 al 2. Los DLC son espectaculares. Ese juego no debería tener DLC pagados. Este juego debió ser como Sekiro, un juego completo.
  30. AlvaroK95
    Jan 2, 2020
    9
    El mejor Dark Souls, solo por debajo del padre Demon's Souls, que aun con sus fallos brinda una aventura memorable.
  31. Kiatzu
    Dec 5, 2019
    9
    Beat the game several times and still love it. Some changes that were made are just not as good as they were in Dark Souls 1. For example enemies respawning only up to ten times ( except using a Bonfire Ascetic, which makes the game harder) and the worst pvp system I've ever seen in a game like this. Just to mention two things. Still an awesome game though.
  32. nsroehl
    Feb 15, 2019
    8
    Good game, the weakest of all the Souls games in my opinion. Very similar to other games, just something is missing. I think it could have been better if it had a stronger connection to the first Dark Souls game. Don't get me wrong, it is still fun to play and DLC has some great worlds to explore, but the story is meh. The only interesting part is the big reveal of the end boss andGood game, the weakest of all the Souls games in my opinion. Very similar to other games, just something is missing. I think it could have been better if it had a stronger connection to the first Dark Souls game. Don't get me wrong, it is still fun to play and DLC has some great worlds to explore, but the story is meh. The only interesting part is the big reveal of the end boss and where they came from. Combat, enemies, and bosses are still great. Check it out.… Expand
  33. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    Legendary game, play it, this game changed my life for good, all I have for this game is LOVE.
  34. ViniciusBrito
    Aug 8, 2018
    8
    Three years after the first dark souls game, the so expected sequel finally came out. The story is one more time about the fire, that can extinguish and your journey will make you choose between that one more time, the throne or the life and fire. The lore of this game is very nice, but it definely not so rich as it's predecessor, it is way less interesting as the other but not even by farThree years after the first dark souls game, the so expected sequel finally came out. The story is one more time about the fire, that can extinguish and your journey will make you choose between that one more time, the throne or the life and fire. The lore of this game is very nice, but it definely not so rich as it's predecessor, it is way less interesting as the other but not even by far it is bad, it is actually pretty good. I really like how these games keeping telling the story by it's details, like items descriptions or npc conversations, that really like it makes the story be detailed like in a book, and that is definely a point of appreciate, even that it isn't original here, but it is here.
    The gameplay in this game had a little change up, dark souls 1 was more of a tough movement, in this one it is way more faster, the response of the commands work better, as they supposed to, but generally it didn't had much new aspects, it is pretty much the same but improved, there isn't new commands or new stuff to do. But they are very functionals, they don't fail.
    The artificial intelligence in this game was kind of lame, like in some moments the enemies do some really dumb moviments.
    There is one thing that i loved and for me that really make a big difference and a unique aspect for the game, wich is that all the places were connected, it had a wonderful map, in this one it actually isn't anything like that, you don't have those shortcuts anymore, it feels way more like a straight place to go, but you can choose wich one to go first, also are some places that you can only acess using the bonfires.
    Bonfires that now have way to much of them, from very nearby places, wich makes the game very easier.
    This game have way to many bosses as well, it is not a problem a game to have a lot of bosses, the thing is that almost none of them are memorable, some of them felt to be just like from dark souls 1 game and not very innovating, don't get me wrong, they aren't all bad, mostly of them are pretty cool and definely have some nice battles, but there are some that just not even feel like they are bosses. One thing that i liked abou the boss fights, is that in some of them, you can do some things in the scenario before the fight, for example, in a place full of poison, you can cut it off before the fight to make it more simple, that was a pretty good implement. One thing that they romoved wich i didn't liked very much, was the tails arms, when you cut a tail and you get a weapon, this was a nice challenge.
    The scenarios still pretty good, i gotta say that some of them didn't felt very detailed as it could, maybe some of the are way to dark, but generally it does have some pretty places.
    One thing that i liked very much, is that when you moved to the new game +, now the game change, it does have new enemies and that surely is a good thing, there is a item now that can make one specific place get to the new game +, just to get a soul or some item, that makes the difference.
    Another thing i'm not so sure as well, is that they changed the online aspect, for people be able to summon, it ain't with the level anymore, now it is with the amount of souls that you got during the whole game, that really is a bad thing, because it makes things harder to manage for them you be able to play with friends.]
    But even with a lot of flaws the game certainly have a big universe and a very diversity of enemies, with different ways to work against them, there are several different ways to play this game, you can complete it oftentimes and each one be different, using different ways, and that is great. There are different ways to use weapons now, there are very more creatives move sets than dark souls 1, and you have more ways to play than the first one as well, in the sense of what to do.
    There are some quests that are pretty cool, some of the npcs are memorable.    … Expand
  35. Ricardsouza
    May 31, 2018
    10
    Ignore the obnoxious part of the fanbase. This game is the best DS so far, almost as good as Bloodborne.

    It brings so much variety: different viable build options, interesting new mechanics, map secrets, sidequests, beautifully designed gear and equips with hidden effects, beautiful locations... the list of perks goes on and on. Listen to the gaming critics on this one, not the dumb    Ignore the obnoxious part of the fanbase. This game is the best DS so far, almost as good as Bloodborne.

    It brings so much variety: different viable build options, interesting new mechanics, map secrets, sidequests, beautifully designed gear and equips with hidden effects, beautiful locations... the list of perks goes on and on.

    Listen to the gaming critics on this one, not the dumb fanboys who apparently wanted a murky ass pitch-black darky screen with no gameplay clarity.    … Expand
  36. badgerryan19
    Jun 19, 2017
    9
    A continuation of Dark Souls. Another well crafted game from From Software. They are easily making themselves as one of the best companies working today. With challenging combat, intriguing story, and superb bosses this game will last you hours upon hours.
  37. Ishi123
    Feb 17, 2017
    8
    Dark Souls 2 was my first Souls game, so keep that in mind as you read this. As a person who had avoided the Souls series at all costs due to the seemingly rabid fanbase it had acquired over the years, I was skeptical about delving into what was supposedly only for "harcore" gamers. And the marketing campaign certainly didn't help. However, one day I chinned up and went "screw it", andDark Souls 2 was my first Souls game, so keep that in mind as you read this. As a person who had avoided the Souls series at all costs due to the seemingly rabid fanbase it had acquired over the years, I was skeptical about delving into what was supposedly only for "harcore" gamers. And the marketing campaign certainly didn't help. However, one day I chinned up and went "screw it", and picked up Dark Souls 2, and I never went back.

    Dark Souls 2 isn't as good as the original Dark Souls, I'll put that right out there just to be completely uncontroversial, however, in and of itself, it is still a fantastic game overall. I could go on and on about how I took my first tentative and frightened steps into the Dark Souls world, facing death at every turn, dying over and over again and wanting to give up all the time. But that's the thing. I never did. I didn't give up, even though at times I wanted to. The game is just as gripping as the first, refusing to let me go and telling me that I'm better than that. It'll gut punch me then say "you can take it", because I damn well could, even when I thought I couldn't, and it took me taking it to prove it, time and time again.

    The game's level design is... lacking. They're basically straight lines, let's not kid ourselves, here. But they still do look rather nice. Some places look downright gorgeous, so much so that I didn't really mind the fact that they were just straight gauntlets of enemies. Despite that, Dark Souls definitely did have better level design. Larger, open ended, and shortcuts abound. You won't get that here.

    Combat is more refined, that's for sure, for better or for worse. Dark Souls combat worked in a way, and Dark Souls 2's combat works as well, just in a different way. Veterans of the first game will say it feels awkward and someone like me, who went from 2 to 1, will say that Dark Souls's combat feels awkward. However, I do prefer 1's combat to 2. It feels more refined for what it's made for. It works better for what it's built around than 2's is for what it's built around... if that makes any sense. Also, PARRYING IS POSSIBLE IN 1.

    Bosses are... forgettable. If I had a dollar for every dude in armor boss in the game, I'd have at least 13 bucks or so. There is just one boss in the main game that I can remember off the top of my head. Even the final boss wasn't anything special. And the boss music is just as forgettable. I don't even hear the boss music in most cases... all cases, because it's just so boring and generic. Dark Souls 1 had amazing boss music that I can just listen to even when I'm on wikia or, oh, I don't know, writing a review for Dark Souls 2 on Metacritic, just to give a purely hypothetical example.

    Mechanically the game is fine, save for the two points I'm bringing up the mechanics for, and that's the completely broken hitboxes and the auto-tracking overheads. They say Dark Souls also has terrible hitboxes, but if that's true I didn't notice them nearly as much as I did here. Some enemies will hit you from the next room over a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I'd get flattened by a sword the size of a double-decker bus and I'd clearly see the sword a good 3 in-game feet away from me. If you're playing without a shield, God help you. And then there's the auto-tracking overheads, which approximately 100% of enemies, including bosses, have. When an enemy raises their huge impractical stick to whack you with, they will swivel like they're on a turntable in order to hit you while you're strafing, something I though was physically impossible because by then you'd just be performing a horizontal swipe, wouldn't you, turtle knight? But nooooo. It's actually not possible to strafe to avoid attacks in this game like it was in 1. You HAVE to dodge. No exceptions, they will hit you even if they have to spin right round, baby, right round to do it.

    The multiplayer is the Souls multiplayer. You know what that's all about, and the story is just as cryptic as ever, and does offer a different take on the Dark Souls lore. However, it's not quite as gripping as the first game's plot was, and I never really found myself engrossed in the lore when a lot of it just felt... forgettable. How forgettable? I'VE FORGOTTEN!

    All-in-all, the game is flawed, yes, but did I still have a ton of fun with it? Oh, Lord, yes, I did. For a Souls newbie, this game was the perfect entry point. It introduced me to the world, the combat, the nature of the game itself, the brutal bosses, and though not as complex as Dark Souls in any regard that I can think of off the top of my head or given several hours to come up with one, I'm still grateful to it for what it taught me, and giving me the confidence to go to Dark Souls 1 and give that a try. Without it, I would've never gotten into the Souls series and I would never have gotten to experience some of the best gaming moments I have ever had.    … Expand
  38. HopelessVoice
    Jun 2, 2016
    8
    I don't think it's as bad as some Souls purists like to say. Sure, the bosses are way too many and way too easy at times, but the levels for the most part still kept me entertained to the end. Also, it was the only Souls game that kept me interested in the PvP side of things, but that might just be me. It's also a really good entry point for those who think the first Dark Souls is tooI don't think it's as bad as some Souls purists like to say. Sure, the bosses are way too many and way too easy at times, but the levels for the most part still kept me entertained to the end. Also, it was the only Souls game that kept me interested in the PvP side of things, but that might just be me. It's also a really good entry point for those who think the first Dark Souls is too brutal in its delivery, as the game is in many ways a lot easier and traditional in its level design. I know of at least one who decided to give the first Dark Souls another whirl after actually beating DS2, so there's that. I found the sunset atmosphere in Majula particuarly pleasing as well, probably the most pleasing hub area in the whole series. A few major flaws, but still a fantastic game.… Expand
  39. amateurcritic2
    May 30, 2016
    9
    an amzing game by any tandards and the only reason this is getting a 9 is because i played dark souls 1 and demons souls before this and they were better in my opinion. There is still so much to do and its massive fun once you get into but i found that the little story there is was less interesting and i wa unhappy at not being able to chose my ending even thogh it was possible in the lastan amzing game by any tandards and the only reason this is getting a 9 is because i played dark souls 1 and demons souls before this and they were better in my opinion. There is still so much to do and its massive fun once you get into but i found that the little story there is was less interesting and i wa unhappy at not being able to chose my ending even thogh it was possible in the last 2 games. Once again though there is a not fun area to go through which they have done in all the games through the valley of defilement, Blighttown, and this time the gutter. If you have played all three games you will also know how bad these areas are and also that they are all the same. The main reason i did not enjoy it as the other games is that the bosse where less original and memorable and the game was easier which is the games main appeal. There are some improvements like more ring slots and power stance but theyre not much else compare to what dark souls 1 brought to the table from demons souls that ws the improvement i was hoping… Expand
  40. Nefastus
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is probably one of the best games I have played in the last years. It has all the things that made Dark Souls 1 good and improved over it. It has better control mechanics, what made the character more responsive than in the first game. The areas are vast and well developed, very distinct from each other. Some might say the world isn't interconnected as in the first Dark SoulsDark Souls 2 is probably one of the best games I have played in the last years. It has all the things that made Dark Souls 1 good and improved over it. It has better control mechanics, what made the character more responsive than in the first game. The areas are vast and well developed, very distinct from each other. Some might say the world isn't interconnected as in the first Dark Souls but I rather well done and unique areas. There are a lot of bosses and sub bosses all along the game and they never get to the point of being unfair or too easy.

    The PvP in the game is great, easily the best of all soul series, including Demon's souls and Bloodborne. It is more friendly to learn and also allows you to start doing it after you are done with the game story, as you don't get locked out of invasions after a boss is dead, that was the case in the first dark souls. The mechanics are vastly improved in the pvp area as well, with more weapon options and spells and a lot of the weapons have special attacks that make them unique. It also features arenas for the players that rather avoid invading/being invaded but still want to engage in pvp.

    Its a must have game.    … Expand
  41. Zidane_Mina
    Apr 5, 2016
    9
    The Sequel to one of the Best Action RPG's ever made, Dark Souls II Welcomes you to the ancient kingdom of Drangleic, quite a change of scenery compared to the abandoned Lordran from the previous game. Dark Souls II polishes its gameplay with propper care, and overhauls its user interface in smart ways to help players keep a good eye on its items and weapons. Combat is pretty much the sameThe Sequel to one of the Best Action RPG's ever made, Dark Souls II Welcomes you to the ancient kingdom of Drangleic, quite a change of scenery compared to the abandoned Lordran from the previous game. Dark Souls II polishes its gameplay with propper care, and overhauls its user interface in smart ways to help players keep a good eye on its items and weapons. Combat is pretty much the same as its predecesor, and so it's difficulty.

    Boss encounters are still the stars of this game, but i would be lying if i said i did not come across some dissapointing Boss dessign, or easy push-over of a boss from time to time, but the epic scale of the game, and its lengthy ride ultimately left me with a really good impresion. Level design, though, the game feels a little bit more linear than its predecesor: whereas the 1st Dark Souls presented its world in a closed well-thought intricate design, Dark Souls 2's Drangleic is more of an extended and spread out design, with some breaching paths: but nowhere as near as complex and thoght out as the first game.

    In the end, Dark Souls II is a worthy succesor to the series, even if its lore is a hit and miss, but stil falls behind the greatness of the 1st game.    … Expand
  42. Vashtor
    Jul 13, 2015
    10
    Best game of playstation 3, playing it for more than 160 hours and still enjoy...
    Nice gameplay, when you fight the Pursuer (boss) its easy to make you /quit. (tip!?) xD
  43. superdonkey
    May 27, 2015
    10
    i consumed this game like a hungry ant and it consumed me whilst hitting me over the head and we both loved each other. its great, i love the changes from ds1, i love the fast travel and the same so satisfying combat and the warm glow of beating a boss. i also sat in awe and watched two other player far beyond my ability beat some bosses for me whilst i cowered in the corner.
  44. Gatchaman49
    May 5, 2015
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is the Greatest RPG ever made. Everything that was wrong with Dark Souls was perfected in the sequel. Tons of bosses, pvp covenants, best looking armor, enhanced dual wielding. 10 out of 10. I probably have more than 500 hours of play time. Music is dope, graphics are sick. If I had to choose one game for the rest of my life, it'd be Dark Souls 2.
  45. MeKrika
    Mar 31, 2015
    8
    I've been meaning to re-do a reveiw for this game for a long time.The first time i reviewed it was when i played on PC and, well i don't really regret the score i gave it because it was such a shi**y port .So a few months after i was done with dark souls 2 on PC,i decided to pick up dark souls 1 on the ps3 since i heard it was leaps and bounds above dks 2,and the first time i played it iI've been meaning to re-do a reveiw for this game for a long time.The first time i reviewed it was when i played on PC and, well i don't really regret the score i gave it because it was such a shi**y port .So a few months after i was done with dark souls 2 on PC,i decided to pick up dark souls 1 on the ps3 since i heard it was leaps and bounds above dks 2,and the first time i played it i thought so too,i loved the game,so after a month or two after i finished dark souls 1 i said ''well screw it,i'm going to give dark souls 2 another chance'',and i'm extremely glad i did.Only that this time i was playing on ps3 with online mode,although invaders screwed up my progress a few times it wasn't really an issue i even made a few psn friends while playing coop,it was a joy.The hit detection problems are still an issue though,but having a ps3 controller and not some crappy third party one helps a bit.I even managed to finish the game this time around...4 times.Overall i initially gave it a low score because of the platform i was playing on and my lack of experience with the souls series.(excuse me for any grammatical errors)… Expand
  46. Nus
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Great game, well worth getting the wholly redone DS2 Remaster for PS4 as it changes the whole game making it so much better which they couldn't before.
  47. jamstu
    Feb 16, 2015
    9
    Awesome game! Tons of fun and the best way to get into the souls series. Exciting game-play interesting environments and enemies. An awesome game through and through.
  48. Muzzle131
    Jan 28, 2015
    9
    Alright so let's get this done. Is the game good? Yes. Is it better than DS1? Well that's your overall view on it and depends on you. So far from a gameplay view they improved many mechanics and smoothed gameplay ones, story is still pretty interesting sticking to the "You are an undead, forever without hope" as you helplessly try to find answers that may or may not be there. Another thingAlright so let's get this done. Is the game good? Yes. Is it better than DS1? Well that's your overall view on it and depends on you. So far from a gameplay view they improved many mechanics and smoothed gameplay ones, story is still pretty interesting sticking to the "You are an undead, forever without hope" as you helplessly try to find answers that may or may not be there. Another thing is the difficulty, however this is difficult to say it is difficult or not, if you've played Demon's souls than everything is pretty easy from that point, so basically if you've played other souls games than you already know how to approach this one at this point, still people still have difficulty and the community is also there to add more to this with their invasions.

    Even with all of these in mind the game may not be as good as DS1 in many eyes, as DS2 changes many things that was loved in DS1 such as going in circles finding interesting shortcuts and exploring. DS2 decides to be very different by being semi-linear (you get to choose how to go about this but you'll still end up in the same place) and many areas not really being creative and the ones that are don't necessarily make sense.

    Even with these in mind though the game is great! Not fantastic but still good. Add the DLCs and the game can hold up a torch with DS1. If you are a fan of RPGs than it's up to you to get this game, as it is one of the best and still challenging out there.    … Expand
  49. MetaRogue
    Nov 11, 2014
    9
    I'm new to the Souls games, Dark Souls 2 being the first of which I played, mostly because I couldn't get a hold of Demon's Souls or Dark Souls beforehand.

    The first 2 hours were unforgiving. I died many times and, foolishly, used too many Human Effgies. As time progressed I began to understand the game and found it to be, strangely, rewarding. I'm a huge fan of RPG's and this is a    I'm new to the Souls games, Dark Souls 2 being the first of which I played, mostly because I couldn't get a hold of Demon's Souls or Dark Souls beforehand.

    The first 2 hours were unforgiving. I died many times and, foolishly, used too many Human Effgies. As time progressed I began to understand the game and found it to be, strangely, rewarding. I'm a huge fan of RPG's and this is a savage beast. I didn't even know how to level up which didn't help. WHAT A NOOB!!!

    I haven't finished the game yet, so this review may seem premature, but I'm confident in the belief that it is a game for gamers. The only complaints I have are the inability to sell items.    … Expand
  50. dj_cole
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    To save you some time I'll start with this: if you enjoyed or didn't enjoy the first Dark Souls and, to a lesser extent, the spiritual progenitor of Demon's Souls you will probably feel the same way about Dark Souls 2. Dark Souls 2 is a little less punishing, a little less dreaery and slightly more upbeat at times but is the same basic experience of learning through trial and error.

    In    To save you some time I'll start with this: if you enjoyed or didn't enjoy the first Dark Souls and, to a lesser extent, the spiritual progenitor of Demon's Souls you will probably feel the same way about Dark Souls 2. Dark Souls 2 is a little less punishing, a little less dreaery and slightly more upbeat at times but is the same basic experience of learning through trial and error.

    In terms of presentation Dark Souls 2 falls under the good, not technically great category much like its two predecessors. The world is rich and fun to look at with varying landscapes that range from jagged cliffs overlooking a sea to half destroyed castles to cavernous harbors. The enemies, especially the bosses, are a delight to see during combat. The sound effects are for the most part well done, and the voice acting is, again, mostly well done. The cast of characters in the world are well acted but occasionally speaking to an NPC they don't quite sound right. The sound effects are the same, weighty and well done, but occasionally just won't sound right, such as when you hit your weapon against a wall. While stylistically the graphics are well done, they aren't technically amazing.

    But the Dark Souls games aren't about the technical prowess of the graphics or the sound effects, they are about the sharp, responsive combat and hostile world that it takes place in. I have never encountered a game with the same level of responsiveness to what you want to do, or more accurately what you press on the controller. The responsiveness makes the game feel fair and balanced despite the challenge the world presents. Enemies are powerful and varied, forcing you to learn to adapt to each one as you encounter them. While the enemies are challenging, none of them are hard enough to prove frustrating once you learn how to deal with them. The game does a good job of feeling difficult while rarely crossing over into feeling unfair, DLC aside. At a certain point you learn how to beat the enemies, you have the responsiveness in the controls to beat them, and enemies are generally not dense enough for you to be swarmed if you're smart. The game is challenging, but gives you all the tools to succeed if you learn as you go.

    There are a good variety of weapons, armors and spells at your disposal to figure out how you want to play the game. To me, this is the games greatest strength. You can play how you want and how fits you. There are a variety of weapons that all act differently, various armors and shields with different bonuses and a magic system broken into three categories. There is the more standard magical spell fair, miracles which are lightning based attacks or support spells powered by faith instead of intelligence and hexes which are black magic spells that focus on death and destruction. As you progress you can gain more powerful legendary, unique items and spells and upgrade those and the more basic and legendary items and spells. There are also various stones that you are able to imbue items with later on in the game that allow those items to gain certain properties. From the interactions I've had with various people online everyone ends up playing differently, with their own gear and combat style preferences

    Online is well done, but very atypically. You are able to both help or hinder other players by putting down soapstone markings to allow players to summon you to help them in combat or you are able to invade the worlds of other players in an attempt to kill them and steal their souls. Invasions are a duel style combat where you can possibly steal whatever souls the other player has on them. Cooperation is rewarded through gaining souls alongside the person you are helping, which can be a great way to gather a lot of souls quickly by helping another player slay bosses. The interactions are combat focused with little communication unless you send a message outside the game to the other person which is possible since you see their username. The communications are generally friendly ("Hey, thanks for helping me") but can occasionally be nasty, but it's nothing a block user can't solve. Online has been thinning out, as it does with each of these games, as time passes so it's not as easy to interact with other players online.

    The story is fairly barebones and mostly communicated by speaking to NPC's and reading descriptions, as the series always has been, and somewhere along the line the story dissipates. You start off with a vague task of returning back to the world you know, but along the way that is lost in "doing stuff" to try to survive and progress. By the end of the game the goal you had is different from what you do and really there is little cohesion to the plot, though you probably won't notice.

    The game has great replayability. After each game you can start over with the game changing a little, with slight changes in the world and carrying over gear and progress. The game is an immense value, worth a definite buy.    … Expand
  51. Miuku
    Oct 14, 2014
    8
    Challenging but fair game, which has unique online features, and high replay value.

    I had no experience from previous souls-titles, so this concept was really fresh for me. Game forces player to think for strategies to engage enemies, and rushing leads often to death. This is one of many things in the game, that may be surprising for beginners of genre. So prepare to play this game with    Challenging but fair game, which has unique online features, and high replay value.

    I had no experience from previous souls-titles, so this concept was really fresh for me. Game forces player to think for strategies to engage enemies, and rushing leads often to death. This is one of many things in the game, that may be surprising for beginners of genre. So prepare to play this game with lots of spare time, and patience.

    But each time when you defeat a challenging boss,obtain new abilities/gear, or discover new area, the rewarding feeling makes you return to this game many times.

    Lengthy +40h campaign has many different areas, countless bosses, and different enemy types and secrets to keep the adventure fresh for the duration of whole journey.

    Few reasons why i can't give this game rating of 10, are following:

    -Music
    It's only played during boss fights and very few areas of game. Of course, lack of music may keep you at the edge of action and exploration, but I seriously think, that added music would enhance the atmosphere and world of Drangleic.

    -Story
    There really aren't any cutscenes which involve dialogue or action to tell the story for players, and your only option is to keep reading the lore of your equipment, from inventory menu, which is really a shame, because this unique world could easily have been the next middle-earth or Hogwarts.

    -Graphics
    Game may look really pale when compared to another titles released at the same year.

    -Lack of options for game settings
    If you want help from other players in online mode, prepare yourself for being invaded by other players. It would've been nice to have an option to only have co-op, and turn of PVP. And even if you're playing this game offline, you can't actually pause the game. This may be frustrating when you're in middle of fight, and your phone rings, but the action can't be paused, and you may end up dying, and being sent to last checkpoint, because lack of pause-function.    … Expand
  52. lolcaked
    Oct 13, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is easily one of the greatest games of all time, the combat system is great. Very smooth and easy to control. The difficulty of this game really adds to the experience of playing because once you defeat the final boss. You feel very accomplished, then you see the ending. The ending was a really good ending because of the way the story played out. You end up at the The Throne of Want, without really knowing why. To link the flame so the curse will stop for a period of time, only to happen again. Overall this game is AMAZING.… Expand
  53. nyquist75
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    THE game for adults to play without feeling like an over-grown kid messing about with toys. Same goes for the rest of the series and hopefully upcoming Bloodborne!
  54. lenzkol
    Sep 27, 2014
    10
    When you pick up any Dark Souls games, make sure your girlfriend and your friends know you will be absent from any social engagement for at least a month. That's how addictive the game is. The graphics have improved but really who cares? We've had so much hype on "pretty" to look at games with not substance lately. Dark Souls delivers in the core game play and mechanics. Its been coined "AWhen you pick up any Dark Souls games, make sure your girlfriend and your friends know you will be absent from any social engagement for at least a month. That's how addictive the game is. The graphics have improved but really who cares? We've had so much hype on "pretty" to look at games with not substance lately. Dark Souls delivers in the core game play and mechanics. Its been coined "A Game for Gamers' and that's exactly what it is. The best to date RPG and delivers an adrenaline rush comparable to FPS games. The first time I've felt challenged in this genre and first game I've bought on multiple Platforms 10/10

    The next big thing for FromSoftware is to venture into a MMORPG with this gameplay and you will snatch all the constituency from WoW, Skyrim & the very promising Dragon Age.    … Expand
  55. SimonEl
    Sep 25, 2014
    10
    They are all tens, but playing this made me realize that demons souls is a 12. Hardcore, and penalizing, but so we'll integrated that it becomes part of the game. The atmosphere is like nothing else you've ever played. If you haven't played demons souls play it first, but the entire series is worth it.
  56. aspentitan
    Aug 21, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls 2 is a fantastic game but is starting to morph out of the Demon's Souls concept and trending towards more tradition rpg gaming. It seems that Dark Souls is commercializing away from its original fans -This game reminds me of the original Diablo in a lot of ways....and that was a great game so I can understand some love hate depending what types of rpgs you like. What I wouldDark Souls 2 is a fantastic game but is starting to morph out of the Demon's Souls concept and trending towards more tradition rpg gaming. It seems that Dark Souls is commercializing away from its original fans -This game reminds me of the original Diablo in a lot of ways....and that was a great game so I can understand some love hate depending what types of rpgs you like. What I would like to say is that the Dark Souls series must evolve into something different, there is only so much combat to learn then the game would get stale so I do like many of the directions the developers took. In Dark Souls 2 there are a lot of changes to keep players from cheating and leveling up and backstab criticals seem fixed. I like a lot of the ways they are keeping cheating minimized: lore is really improving (as per players requests) and now we see various choices in using limited looted treasures. Farming has been hindered by having enemies only respawn so many times. Although this kills the toughness eventually I think its a good idea because you have only a limited amount of chance at certain rare drops then. I like the randomness the drops make and therefore this would cause different player builds which translates to more variety pvp. What is terrible in this game however is the programming. I really should not say terrible but the open world is fantastic, absolutely but some areas the enemies can hit through walls ect and that totally kills all immersion instantly. Target lock is still extremely broken. Magic is overpowed PvE but dreadfully weak PvP. Coop and invasions still reign in this game and many of the invasion aspects are fun however I find the spawn areas of the invasions are rediculously too close to yourself. If you are a magic user you have no time to change anything. As I said PvP and PvE is completely different and so invasions create a broken gaming concept without some time to change equipment or spells. The largest dislike of this game I have is the game is made harder by so much cheap and cheesy attacks and enemy ambushes it is almost comical. This ruins immersion as well and this game is dreadfully planned to cheese hard. Thankfully the large scope of the world, the puzzles, the loot and variety of enemies keeps it interesting enough to continue. Another broken area is summoning a friend, I don't know why but its harder to hook up with a friend, I presume so you can't cheat but then thats why people buy games I'd rather co-op than play with randoms so this is a problem. Cheating shouldn't be proactive in this sense, the game should be built to have everything remain fair and give the players tools how to deal with known cheats. For example the game already has stones to leave worlds and also send back phantoms so the problems of Dark Souls 2 on 1's were only broken because how close you spawned. Better spawn points giving the players choice to battle or not would have fixed this cheat through player intelligence. Two different types of White Stones in this game are therefore bad developer choices to limit friends playing together because of their own speculative natures and thats it So they killed a good concept because players are not using their stones but only because the spawn areas were to close, in sum bad developmental oversights.. Ok all said this is a fabulous game but it is heading in a different direction than Demon's souls. It is no longer linear and cruel but fair, it is more open and cheesy with lesser combat and more puzzling and randomness. One other thing I really don't like is this game is catering to a co-op initiative sure some people like this others don't want it. Choices!!! The bosses should all be beatable in every level alone some don't seem like they will be in ng+ or ng++. I think co-op bosses should be left to DLC as I want to own this game and play it 5 years from now as well and maybe that kills the 5th playthough for me. All in all a change I think had to happen and the result is still good but please lets fix the sloppy programming. Where could Dark Souls 3 go? How about bring back the theif and if he kills players he can win loots and if he loses he could drop loots and theifs job is to sell stuff to venders and accumilate score. How about mages and sorceries improve and they find their spells through puzzling into new hidden areas. How about mages find areas through teleportation that other classes without those spells cant get to and the only way in for other classes is invasion? And knights jobs could stay the same. You know if they improve lore and improve coventants and separate the immerive role of the characters you choose this game could be so much better...anyway, luv the game but still has areas to improve.… Expand
  57. McWhalen
    Aug 11, 2014
    9
    The souls series never fails to wow me. These games are in a class all their own and while I would say this game is the weakest of the series so far I still really enjoyed. Beautiful worlds, punishing but fair gameplay, and hours of depth.

    The introduction of immediate fast travel took away from the experience of a souls game. I never felt like I was on the verge of loosing everything    The souls series never fails to wow me. These games are in a class all their own and while I would say this game is the weakest of the series so far I still really enjoyed. Beautiful worlds, punishing but fair gameplay, and hours of depth.

    The introduction of immediate fast travel took away from the experience of a souls game. I never felt like I was on the verge of loosing everything that I worked for. When you can jump between sections so easily right off the bat you can cash in your souls at any time and the pressure is off. I would love to see another souls game with this little change reverted back to its origins.    … Expand
  58. excelicious
    Aug 5, 2014
    10
    Thanks to this game, every other game out there looks amateurish and easy. Thanks to this game, I have experience the most amazing world of the souls series ever and the gameplay is to die for (pun intended). Sure you die A LOT, but death is used as a learning process and to think of different ways in order to win against your opponents. I love this game but at the same time hate it,Thanks to this game, every other game out there looks amateurish and easy. Thanks to this game, I have experience the most amazing world of the souls series ever and the gameplay is to die for (pun intended). Sure you die A LOT, but death is used as a learning process and to think of different ways in order to win against your opponents. I love this game but at the same time hate it, because once you play Dark Souls 2 or any of the souls series every other game will look easy and feel disappointing.… Expand
  59. chrisse989
    Aug 2, 2014
    9
    To start out, this game is a worthy successor in the DeS/DaS series.
    Ambiance of this game is amazing, as well as all surprises that are awaiting you when exploring the world.
    There have been some (very good) evolutions in the gameplay mechanic too, especially when it comes to dual wielding and jumping compared to DaS1. The whole player summoning/invading experience has also been    To start out, this game is a worthy successor in the DeS/DaS series.
    Ambiance of this game is amazing, as well as all surprises that are awaiting you when exploring the world.
    There have been some (very good) evolutions in the gameplay mechanic too, especially when it comes to dual wielding and jumping compared to DaS1. The whole player summoning/invading experience has also been streamlined to perfection, nearly no technical glitches (as was unfortunately the case in Demon's Souls).
    Only thing I did not favor was the story and characters. You meet characters but there's not really a lot of evolution in them through the storyline compared to previous games (Ostrava/Praise the Sun). And for the story, half the time you come out of an area beating up enemies but having no clue on the background of the area or the enemy. This was already the case in DaS1 but here's area for improvement.
    But still, it's a relatively minor note, the game is well worth the time you spend into it, so highly recommended.    … Expand
  60. FyreMagi
    Jul 30, 2014
    10
    I enjoy the game, but I extremely dislike the spell (Hex) Affinity. It's extremely overpowered now, as i have over 2,000 health (2,533) and I get one-shot by it. If only FromSoftware would nerf it...
  61. Vanpire73
    Jun 25, 2014
    9
    Takes a little of each from the first 2 entries (yes, 2) and puts them together to form another gem. It's essentially just more of the same with more **** to do. It is certainly more accessible, but not from a difficulty standpoint. Weapon crafting, side quests, bonfire hopping are all made "easier" to accommodate all the **** that didn't buy the first ones because they only got a 8.9Takes a little of each from the first 2 entries (yes, 2) and puts them together to form another gem. It's essentially just more of the same with more **** to do. It is certainly more accessible, but not from a difficulty standpoint. Weapon crafting, side quests, bonfire hopping are all made "easier" to accommodate all the **** that didn't buy the first ones because they only got a 8.9 on Metacritic instead of a 9.1. Now go back and start at Demon's Souls if this is your first stop into the trilogy.… Expand
  62. hsapin
    Jun 18, 2014
    9
    Honestly, the game is not a good as the previous one, but it's still a fantastic game in its own right! Dark Souls 2 could have been something just as if not more special than Dark Souls 1 was, but I believe that due to the limited hardware they were working on, FROM SOFTWARE had to cut corners wherever possible which leads to some seemingly sloppy level design. The all too frequentHonestly, the game is not a good as the previous one, but it's still a fantastic game in its own right! Dark Souls 2 could have been something just as if not more special than Dark Souls 1 was, but I believe that due to the limited hardware they were working on, FROM SOFTWARE had to cut corners wherever possible which leads to some seemingly sloppy level design. The all too frequent bonfires that can be warped to at any time make the game far too easy, and soul memory based match making plagues the online... It feels like the game has too many half baked, or poorly executed, design problems.… Expand
  63. nonchalantgamer
    Jun 17, 2014
    9
    A great successor to Dark souls 1, Dark souls 2 improved upon an already great game. its still as tough as ever(in a good way) and the story had a bit more narrative but still had a piece it together approach to it. the visuals are stunning as always and the combat which is the heart and soul of the game is refined slightly making it even better. i love the new system they put in placeA great successor to Dark souls 1, Dark souls 2 improved upon an already great game. its still as tough as ever(in a good way) and the story had a bit more narrative but still had a piece it together approach to it. the visuals are stunning as always and the combat which is the heart and soul of the game is refined slightly making it even better. i love the new system they put in place with the estus flasks and the inventory IMO a better design finding shards and bone dust to build up your flask uses. the amount of content in this game is incredible ive out over 90 Hrs into this game and am still playing it. their is a lot to do and the NG+ is definitely worth a run through. the only thing i thought was better in DS 1 was the bosses had more scale to them and fights with them felt a little more grander then they did in this game and also there's not as much map continuity in DS2. in 1 it felt abit more connected with all the short cuts and different ways to enter an area. overall Dark souls 2 is a great sequel to DS 1....prepare to die again!… Expand
  64. Glowguy
    May 30, 2014
    9
    From had some pretty high expectations to live up to with this title and they delivered. I'm a big fan of the series and this game is a very worthwhile addition. I was a little worried they would dumb the game down too much but this very much preserves the spirit of the previous titles. For me these games are all about perserverance and discovery. I never play with a walkthough theFrom had some pretty high expectations to live up to with this title and they delivered. I'm a big fan of the series and this game is a very worthwhile addition. I was a little worried they would dumb the game down too much but this very much preserves the spirit of the previous titles. For me these games are all about perserverance and discovery. I never play with a walkthough the first time through and I always miss some major things, but it just makes the next playthrough that much more enjoyable.

    And there is a lot to play here. The game is massive and easily took me over 100 hours to complete. I think the amount of content here more than makes up for any lack of connectivity between locations. That was one of the major strenghts of Dark Souls but I think From just went in a different direction here and stressed additional content over an interconnected level design. I think the game looks fantastic so I was surprised to see so many complaining about the graphics.

    Most of the changes that From made for DaS 2 are a welcome addition. Dual Wielding was really nice touch and improves what was far and away the best action combat system in the RPG genre (although I wish they had put that in the tutorial because I was well over halfway though my playthrough before I even noticed you could attack with both weapons simulateously). Some of the bosses are a little lackluster (probably because there are more of them) but this game for sure has it's share of memorable and terrifying monsters - in fact that is one of the more noticable improvements over dark. souls where I felt they just recycled a bunch of bosses from Demons Souls. I've always been more of a PVE player but the multiplayer is a lot more fun for me now. The nerfed the backstab which was really infuriating in Dark Souls and I get invaded far less often in Dark Souls2. There are plenty of opportunities for PvP and it is more now covenant driven which is a direction I agree with completely. The voice acting and music are once again top notch.

    There are a few changes which I didn't care for. The major one was the ease with which you can warp between bonfires. I can see some need for it because the world is really large and there are less connection points, but they easily could have limited this in some way. I think you lose a little bit of the immersion when you can just warp anywhere you want at any time. The lore and mystery is a bit lacking compared to the prior games but let's face it - this series is pretty heavy on obsurity and story has never been a huge component of the game as it is more about piecing things together on your own. That element still remains but has been toned down.

    Demons Souls is still my personal favorite in the series but Darks Souls 2 is a very close second. I hope they add on a DLC pack at some point because I will probably still be playing this by the time it comes around.    … Expand
  65. mmrventricle
    May 29, 2014
    9
    You probably already know how notorious this franchise is for being hard. True, Dark Souls is not very enjoyable to ppl who can only handle cakewalk or even moderate difficulty. Bosses will most likely kill you in 1 to 3 hits depending on how tanky you are (and no that doesnt mean they only hit once each attack. take a full combo and you are dead), and lesser foes are also able to take offYou probably already know how notorious this franchise is for being hard. True, Dark Souls is not very enjoyable to ppl who can only handle cakewalk or even moderate difficulty. Bosses will most likely kill you in 1 to 3 hits depending on how tanky you are (and no that doesnt mean they only hit once each attack. take a full combo and you are dead), and lesser foes are also able to take off significant proportions of your health with their attacks. If you cannot utilize invincibility frames that comes with your dodge, Dark Souls 2 will most likely be punishing to you. But it is for the same reason that Dark Souls 2 gives so much sense of accomplishment when you do overcome the difficulty.
    Dark Souls 2 introduces a comprehensive customization system. Not only can you equip each piece of armor and weapon (left and right hand) separately, but there is actually a reason for ppl to try different setup rather than taking the biggest swords: heavy equipments make you slow moving and your stamina regen slower, and vice versa. There is a whopping amount of weapon types in the game, all of which are versatile depending on what play style you use. Dark Souls 2 also introduces the ability to respec skill points, which makes it possible to try out every weapon and play style.
    Dark Souls 2 is made to last. A single playthrough will easily take 100 to 150 hours depending how good you are at the game and how much farming you do, and because the gameplay is solid and can vary greatly with the use of different setups, there is actually reason to replay the campaign again in NG+ and I do recommend you do so should you go that far.
    Online play is integrated into the game, as you can find soapstones in the world other players have put down that you can interact with to summon them to fight with or against you.
    The world of Dark Souls 2 is frankly... quite dark and sufficiently interesting. The kingdom of Drangleic loses all its glory and tranquility as the undead curse falls upon this land. Map designs are pretty good, and the world feels alive.
    A few things Dark Souls 2 doesnt do so well in are its plot (it doesnt have much) and the mediocre character models and graphics. Other than that Dark Souls 2 is an absolutely amazing game every hardcore gamer must play.    … Expand
  66. BergZ
    May 27, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a epic game ! Dark souls 2 is a game RPG-ACTION with Darkness theme , the best thing in the game is a insane difficulty presented in all game!… Expand
  67. Legetic
    May 23, 2014
    8
    The game is mainly really good and i've spent a good 200 hours on it. I am a huge Souls fan and spent a lot of hours on Demon's Souls but mainly Dark Souls: Prepare to die edition. The problem is that i can't seem to get the same feeling with Dark souls II as i did with the first two first games. The story doesn't seem as rich and mysterious and in my opinion the pvp is not as good as DkSThe game is mainly really good and i've spent a good 200 hours on it. I am a huge Souls fan and spent a lot of hours on Demon's Souls but mainly Dark Souls: Prepare to die edition. The problem is that i can't seem to get the same feeling with Dark souls II as i did with the first two first games. The story doesn't seem as rich and mysterious and in my opinion the pvp is not as good as DkS 1 as many unintentional "features" like reverse roll and other things that made the pvp more interesting in the first game have been removed. I think that much of this "feeling"/ atmosphere issue is due to the game not being directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki anymore. Ultimately i can't see how this game could get higher rating than Dark Souls 1 or Demon's Souls so i can't give it over an 8. Overall i'd still say that it's probably one of the best RPGs that will be released this year.… Expand
  68. IceeInChrg
    May 21, 2014
    8
    Better than the previous Souls games in basically every way. Controls are more responsive, but you might not notice when it comes to dodging if you don't raise your agility stat. Melee is still king but magic and especially faith casters are more viable.
  69. dominionator
    May 14, 2014
    10
    The TRUE GAMERS GAME. Not for gamers that are NOT true gamers. I love the idea that if you want to find out who is a true gamer and who is not amongst your friends and co workers, this is the game to seperate the fake from the real, the boys from the girls. Fight or flight,
  70. altec101
    May 11, 2014
    10
    If you suck at video games, this will make you better at them. I'm not saying this from experience, but I became a more hardcore gamer after playing this game for 11 hours. But if you chuck controllers at T.V screens a lot, you shouldn't get it.
  71. Bul1pucky
    May 8, 2014
    9
    When I first heard of Demon's Souls I was drawn in by the difficulty. What I discovered was an interesting world and a game that punished for mistakes, but was never impossible. Dark Souls took that gameplay and placed in a larger world with lore that was always up for speculation.

    Dark Souls II is no different. You are placed into the world with no real understanding of who you are.    When I first heard of Demon's Souls I was drawn in by the difficulty. What I discovered was an interesting world and a game that punished for mistakes, but was never impossible. Dark Souls took that gameplay and placed in a larger world with lore that was always up for speculation.

    Dark Souls II is no different. You are placed into the world with no real understanding of who you are. You are told you have been cursed to die over and over again and that there is potentially a way to reverse this if you manage to find the most powerful souls in Drangleic.

    The gameplay is mostly identical to the original Dark Souls with a few additions such as duel wielding. The quick travel feature is available after you find the first two bonfires, and you are able to teleport between any of the bonfires in the game. This is a welcome change to those of us who have nightmares of backtracking through Blighttown in DS1.

    Bosses and terrifying enemies are the bread and butter of gameplay in a Souls game and this game does not disappoint. Giant mummy guards and statue-men pepper the landscape leading to a boss that will kill you again and again, until you learn it's patterns and stop making mistakes.

    The environments are varied and pretty great. From giant castles to poison filled valleys, each area evokes a sense of dread, followed by excitement as the exploration begins. The only gripe I have with the environment in this game is the way the areas in the game are connected. Most of them do not make sense and take away from the world as a whole. Again I make a comparison with DS1, which had a large world with clever pathways and shortcuts connecting them all together.

    The multiplayer in the Souls games is unique and there a few tweaks this time around. Matchmaking is based on Soul Memory (the number of souls you have collected throughout your entire playtime) instead of the actual Soul Level. this is alright to a certain extent as you will be matched with people who have put in about the same amount of time in the game as yourself. This does effect fight clubs however as most people will have maxed out characters instead of specialized builds that stick around level 150 or so. Coop is not effected so much though and covenants play a larger role in finding other players with the same multiplayer interests as yourself.

    My few issues aside, this game is amazing. It is not fair to compare this game to the masterpiece that is the original Dark Souls, but it cannot be helped. This doesn't take away from the fact that this is a great game that Souls and RPG fans alike can enjoy. I am on NG++ and i plan on putting many more hours in before I've had my fill.    … Expand
  72. benster56
    May 6, 2014
    8
    A very pretty and great game, gameplay wise. Yet it has one issue- it just doesn't FEEL like a Souls game. It is hard to describe. The bosses are either too easy or generic. Voice acting is great, the hidden walls and secrets are wonderful. Music is great. It was really just the bosses and some technological issues, like graphics and bad hitboxes on some weapons. PVP has someA very pretty and great game, gameplay wise. Yet it has one issue- it just doesn't FEEL like a Souls game. It is hard to describe. The bosses are either too easy or generic. Voice acting is great, the hidden walls and secrets are wonderful. Music is great. It was really just the bosses and some technological issues, like graphics and bad hitboxes on some weapons. PVP has some issues with it's structuring. Otherwise an enjoyable game that I would recommend to any Souls fan as it improves on some gameplay and lore. Also REALLY make you regret some decisions. Trust me.… Expand
  73. ompor
    May 4, 2014
    10
    Awesome game ,not great pc port . You will die and learn ,this games makes winning or passing a difficult place an amazing feeling that everybody should feel. If you get angry at call of duty or anything at all this is not a game for you (Btw call of duty sucks)
  74. Auktopus
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is everything I could ever ask for in a video game. There's always something new to discover, even long after the final boss is defeated, and the PvP is deep and rewarding. But what really grabs me is the absolute freedom, lore and very kingdom of Drangleic. It's so rich with depth, beauty and darkness that your journey through each massive zone will be quiet, harrowing,Dark Souls 2 is everything I could ever ask for in a video game. There's always something new to discover, even long after the final boss is defeated, and the PvP is deep and rewarding. But what really grabs me is the absolute freedom, lore and very kingdom of Drangleic. It's so rich with depth, beauty and darkness that your journey through each massive zone will be quiet, harrowing, rewarding and ultimately blissful as you leave your mark and become a part of the world yourself.… Expand
  75. Annoymous1
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    While most games tend to hold your hand throughout the game, this game release its grip and leaves you to journey out the beautifully designed world. Most games wouldn't do it as it seems a risk, but this game delivers a once in a lifetime experience or true hardcore gaming.
  76. GamergodsFail
    Apr 29, 2014
    9
    From Software took all the good things about Demon's Souls and Dark Souls and combined them to make one of the best sequels they possibly could. This time around, instant fast travel and despawning enemies can allow the game to feel more approachable to play, while still maintaining the game on a fairly challenging level. Although this entry didn't feel nearly as hard as the first two,From Software took all the good things about Demon's Souls and Dark Souls and combined them to make one of the best sequels they possibly could. This time around, instant fast travel and despawning enemies can allow the game to feel more approachable to play, while still maintaining the game on a fairly challenging level. Although this entry didn't feel nearly as hard as the first two, this has a steadier framerate, more fluent controls, more emotionally involved storyline, and a world that is roughly twice the size of Dark Souls 1. Although the main path of Dark Souls 2 felt around the same length, I think it just happened to have more optional areas and boss fights than that of 1.
    One thing that I really appreciated in this one was that New Game+ wasn't forced upon me immediately after the end credits were finished. It actually gives you the option to continue exploring the rest of the game and let's you decide whether or not you ever want to start New Game+ by visiting Majula's bonfire, I felt this game had way more freedom of choice because of this.
    But this game is still far from perfect. I've reported a few hit detection and auto-lock problems across my so-far 87 hours of total playtime. My biggest complaint was that there were a couple specific areas that forced me into PvP matchmaking, when all I want to do is explore the whole world in peace. I don't mind at all getting invaded at anytime, but when the game sets areas to automatically trigger invasions or send me to some other player's world the second I set foot in that particular area, I consider that a flawed design choice: forced multiplayer.
    Other than those issues, I think From Software hit all the right notes with this one. I know a lot of gamers complained about the graphics downgrade. First of all, this isn't next gen, and this still at least looks a little better than the last entry. And second of all, graphics alone have never been what made video games great. It's the gameplay. This is a fantastic game. It is head and shoulders above at least 90% of all the other games out on the market right now. It's a serious contender for a 2014 Game of the Year winner.

    9/10 - Amazing    … Expand
  77. KazuhiraMiller
    Apr 28, 2014
    9
    This game is difficult, hell, maybe even too difficult-IF you don't enjoy a decent challenge. If you have the brain the size of a pea and the courage of a lemming, quit while your ahead. This game will break your balls like your mother broke those eggs over the bowl when she made you eggs in the morning. You will die countless, countless, countless times and you will be filled with a bloodThis game is difficult, hell, maybe even too difficult-IF you don't enjoy a decent challenge. If you have the brain the size of a pea and the courage of a lemming, quit while your ahead. This game will break your balls like your mother broke those eggs over the bowl when she made you eggs in the morning. You will die countless, countless, countless times and you will be filled with a blood boiling rage that will spill out into your social life. You will lash out at your friends and family due your anger at the game, which can alienate you from life itself from the beginning! If your going to play this game, then I suggest becoming so sick that no one will want to be near you for at-least a week in a half(which is how long it took me to beat the game purposefully trying to speed through it) When you have achieved that, then prepare yourself for an incredibly rocky ride filled with loss, anger, depression, feelings of a overwhelming need to sob and a need to crawl up into a ball in the corner. However, be prepared for the INCREDIBLY OVERWHELMING sense of accomplishment and pride for when you conquer that boss fight, or that corridor your trapped in, ect. If you are willing to undertake this challenge, then this game is for you. If not, then avoid the game like the plague.… Expand
  78. ch0c
    Apr 25, 2014
    10
    Quite possibly video game perfection. I actually started a meta-critic account to write this short review because I felt it necessary. It should rank one of the greatest video games of all time and I know what I'm talking about. I've been gaming since it pretty much began. (1986) Just when you think the game is wrapping up there's more and more and more and more. Sure its not aQuite possibly video game perfection. I actually started a meta-critic account to write this short review because I felt it necessary. It should rank one of the greatest video games of all time and I know what I'm talking about. I've been gaming since it pretty much began. (1986) Just when you think the game is wrapping up there's more and more and more and more. Sure its not a technological improvement over the previous in the series, however this one just gives you MORE, with a good story as well. Not one of those bled to death, read this, read that, cut scene here, cut scene there storyline. It doesn't FORCE you to care, because quite frankly, I don't. i think nearly all video game story lines are corny, have bad voice acting, and force upon you like a bad outbreak of herpes. Dark souls is the rare exception, an anti-story if you will, like a strange dream. Buy this game, and don't cry if you die lots, get stuck, etc etc etc. It just means you suck at video games and need to polish up your skills and thought patterns. Beat the game WITHOUT looking online at the wiki, trust me, its a rewarding experience. Then, when you are done, go to the wiki and see all that you missed, I guarantee you, there will be lots.… Expand
  79. Voglaire
    Apr 25, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is difficult. In fact, it's probably the most difficult game I've ever played in my life, but I enjoyed every second of it.

    While off-putting at first, Dark Souls II pulls you in with it's exacting gameplay, brutal difficulty and rewarding bosses, every time I finally defeated a beautifully designed boss I felt I actually accomplished something, and I can't say that for    Dark Souls II is difficult. In fact, it's probably the most difficult game I've ever played in my life, but I enjoyed every second of it.

    While off-putting at first, Dark Souls II pulls you in with it's exacting gameplay, brutal difficulty and rewarding bosses, every time I finally defeated a beautifully designed boss I felt I actually accomplished something, and I can't say that for most games I've played.

    One of my only gripes with the game is that at times it is difficult to know where to go next, while I respect that they don't explain much I wish that they would have at least given me a general direction of where to go next.

    In my opinion, this is my first Game Of The Year contender for 2014.    … Expand
  80. NkayD
    Apr 22, 2014
    9
    There's no real way to describe this game. Sure, I could tell you that it's amazingly rewarding and deserves every single award it gets. I could tell you to give this game a chance because it's an amazing in-depth rpg that doesn't lose sight of what it's goals are. But truth is, Dark Souls 2 isn't like other RPGs, in fact, calling that is an injustice. Dark souls 2 finds a perfect lineThere's no real way to describe this game. Sure, I could tell you that it's amazingly rewarding and deserves every single award it gets. I could tell you to give this game a chance because it's an amazing in-depth rpg that doesn't lose sight of what it's goals are. But truth is, Dark Souls 2 isn't like other RPGs, in fact, calling that is an injustice. Dark souls 2 finds a perfect line between "barely scratching the surface," and "way too in-depth, maybe I should give up." It has a structured learning curve, and honestly, anyone could pick it up and understand exactly what is happening. It keeps everything simple, it has fantasy elements, there's no doubt, but it doesn't take it over the top creating it's own languages and having back stories and characters that need introductions and full books. Instead, the character don't really matter. You are the character, and your story is waiting. Go ahead, stumble, but learn from your mistakes and appreciate this game like I do.… Expand
  81. JohnConnor333
    Apr 21, 2014
    10
    Amazing, amazing game. I'm in love with Demon Souls, Dark Souls,and now Dark Souls 2. What I find is that although I liked the level design of Dark Souls 1 more, I actually love the soul of dark souls 2. It's difficult to explain - but its as if Dark Souls and Demon Souls had a baby and named it Dark Souls 2. If you played them all you'll understand where I'm coming from. I beat theAmazing, amazing game. I'm in love with Demon Souls, Dark Souls,and now Dark Souls 2. What I find is that although I liked the level design of Dark Souls 1 more, I actually love the soul of dark souls 2. It's difficult to explain - but its as if Dark Souls and Demon Souls had a baby and named it Dark Souls 2. If you played them all you'll understand where I'm coming from. I beat the game in around 70 hours (I don't summon help, and not the best), and I"m already starting again to see what I missed in the first run.

    Some complain of the controls. I think they expected to parry and defend themselves like they did in Dark Souls 1. But enemies are new, and have different movements. I had problems at first too - but learned their movements and can parry easily now.

    Some are complaining of the graphics. There are bland moments of darkness, but then your eyes are treated to beautiful scenery. You can't have the sweet without the sour.

    Anyways - I have about 100 hours logged in and I can easily see playing 100 hours more.    … Expand
  82. tortoos
    Apr 19, 2014
    8
    Let me open by saying that Dark Souls II is a plenty good game, so take what you hear here with a grain of salt. Firstly the game plays as you would expect having played the souls series before, and is a challenging game in many respects. However, there are problems I feel must be addressed. Starting with the campaign. The story in my opinion isn't nearly as strong as the original darkLet me open by saying that Dark Souls II is a plenty good game, so take what you hear here with a grain of salt. Firstly the game plays as you would expect having played the souls series before, and is a challenging game in many respects. However, there are problems I feel must be addressed. Starting with the campaign. The story in my opinion isn't nearly as strong as the original dark souls. It manages to be much more generic than the original, but if you're here for the gameplay this shouldn't be a problem. There are several bosses that rely on gimmicks to increase their difficulty instead of having actually challenging ai. In addition to this, several bosses are VERY similar to ones in the previous game. Not that that's a bad thing, but it does make you wish for some variation. The ideas on the whole feel less inspired, as we have more knight bosses than ever. Including one that appears twice, only this time with TWO of them instead of one. I feel like that's definitely a failing on the creativity front. But I'm going to address my biggest problem with the game now. It's multiplayer is heavily flawed. The new director seems to heavily dislike invasions, as invaders are punished harder than ever before. The host can heal, but you cannot stop them. They can usually roll out of the way, preventing any sort of reasonable punish. In addition, lloyd talismans are limited, and you cannot ever get an infinite invasion item of any kind. The PVP has several balance problems, including absurd levels of stunlocking, the inability to punish hosts from healing, and certain stats soft cap so early on everyone is going to have a very cookie cutter build. Weapons do not scale well at all, so you are essentially encourged to go to the soft caps for your stats, then enchant and buff your weapons with spells to get any sort of damage out of them. If you wanted to play a pure str/dex character, prepare to be disappointed. Not only are invaders punished, as the host will almost always have the advantage now, but they get nothing meaningful from actually invading. For the host, death is a slap on the wrist, as they can equip the ring of soul protection and lose nothing if they die. The invader however is doomed to an uphill battle, and faces constant invasions from this game's equivalent of the dark moon covenant, which becomes extremely tedious. If one of your main draws for the series is PVP and invasions, prepare to be extremely disappointed.

    As a singleplayer game however it is fine. Not as good as the original, but certainly a solid game in most respects. What I do not understand however, is the design decision to make certain item sets nearly unattainable without hours of farming. This is a determent to the series, and has no place in the game itself.

    on the whole we have:
    - A poorly balanced PVP system that punishes players for invading
    - A more generic storyline than the previous games
    - a poorly balanced stat system that encourages users to spread their stats everywhere instead of specializing
    - a ridiculous item farming mechanic.

    however, despite this games myriad of problems, it is still a solid title if you're looking for a single player experience. Just don't expect it to be nearly as good as the last game. between the pvp being broken and skewed against the invader, to death being a slap on the wrist. I can't honestly claim this to be as good as dark souls or demons souls. However if you just want more of the series itself, than look no further.    … Expand
  83. wesker2012
    Apr 16, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls II improves on its predecessor by optimizing its mechanics and providing an even bigger world this time around. Tons more areas, enemies, npcs, and bosses. Dark Souls II like Dark Souls is a game you truly appreciate the more time you put into it. The longer you persevere in its world, the more rewards it will reveal. To truly understand its complexity and scale, you have toDark Souls II improves on its predecessor by optimizing its mechanics and providing an even bigger world this time around. Tons more areas, enemies, npcs, and bosses. Dark Souls II like Dark Souls is a game you truly appreciate the more time you put into it. The longer you persevere in its world, the more rewards it will reveal. To truly understand its complexity and scale, you have to fully experience the game in its entirety. I look forward to where From Software takes this series next! If you enjoyed the previous games, you will enjoy Dark Souls II. The reason I didn't give it a perfect score was because it didn't feel as memorable as Demon Souls and Dark Souls. Although its nice to see a developer put some much work into the game, it felt bloated and the game became exhausting to complete. Also, the last few areas of the game felt very random and out of place. Still, considering how much content is in the game, its amazing how much work the developers put into the game. If you are a fan of the series or mature dark fantasy, you will enjoy this game!… Expand
  84. JohnWitten
    Apr 15, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [Condensed]

    All in all, truth be told it is the atmosphere and not specifically the difficulty and challenge that makes the title a blast to play- although I am sure those other factors rank highly up there as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the greater sense of freedom I was given in my approaches to combat and exploration, as well as the rare helping hands reaching out to help as well. We are only a third of the way through this year's impressive games list, and yet I already feel as if Dark Souls II will maintain its large impact all the way through despite the stiff competition it will surely be facing. One thing is for certain: I'll still be playing it come next March. After all, I'm still playing the original!

    Concept: Explore a new yet familiar and similar setting- akin to the story and exploration of the first Dark Souls title, and embark upon a quest to rid the world of its misery and to gain power through it as you progress. Engage in challenging combat and experience an intriguing and engrossing story- experienced, not told.

    Graphics: Impressively detailed and varied, both in environments and character models.

    Sound: Between the epic scores for momentous occasions and stealthy segments to the general ambiance, the sound work is quite impressive and even the little creaks and tremors were impressively detailed in there fullness.

    Playability: The challenges will be difficult, yet it isn't anything that can't be overcome through patience and a general grasping of the firm handling of the controls set before you. After you establish a solid foundation, you'll progress slowly but surely regardless of overall skill. But that doesn't make it any easier on you or your character, be warned.

    Entertainment: This is not only a highly anticipated sequel but an amazing stand-alone title and it must be played to be enjoyed. Challenging yet fair, firm yet helpful at times. An impressively detailed and epic adventure in an expansive and deadly world.

    Replay Value: Very High.

    Overall Score: 9.5    … Expand
  85. coldasStone
    Apr 15, 2014
    10
    Excellent!! Dark Souls 2 improved than Dark Souls 1 actually
    and smooth Frame was Good than Dark Souls 1
    im Love so much FromSoftware
    i found lost memory that playing ghost n goblins
  86. IamJam
    Apr 15, 2014
    10
    Now I don't generally rate games a perfect 10 but I'll explain why in just a bit. Here we have Dark Souls 2, I just finished Dark Souls 1 about a month ago thanks to this article I read about the most difficult games of all time and fair enough, Dark Souls 1 was there so I gave it a shot and the rest of my games are history. After a good 90+ gameplay of punishment and victories (more onNow I don't generally rate games a perfect 10 but I'll explain why in just a bit. Here we have Dark Souls 2, I just finished Dark Souls 1 about a month ago thanks to this article I read about the most difficult games of all time and fair enough, Dark Souls 1 was there so I gave it a shot and the rest of my games are history. After a good 90+ gameplay of punishment and victories (more on the punishment part) I finally finished the game and a few days later, Dark Souls 2 was out. I told myself that I was gonna give it a rest realizing that I was not ready to embark on another long journey but I got the game anyway and tried it for a few minutes and just like that, you've guessed it, minutes turned into hours and I was hooked like it was the original. Can't say its better but it has many improvements that makes it less punishing for the players but a few that makes it otherwise. Still it has the formula of having to try and try and learn from your deaths and be better and achieving that boss kill. People will probably argue about the game not being perfect so it doesn't deserve a score of 10 but games aren't suppose to be perfect, they're suppose to be fun. Be warned though, this game is not fun, not at least when you're constantly dying but it does make up for it when you're winning. Dying is part of the game so enjoy it.… Expand
  87. ihatecheez
    Apr 14, 2014
    8
    the game is great! but if you're expecting dark souls "2" then this isnt it. it feels more of a hybrid of demon and the first dark souls thats a bit easier. its still fun though and it still plays like the others.
  88. PuckMan
    Apr 14, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is just like Dark Souls except bigger. Certain aspects like covenants and humanity have been simplified to make them easier to understand and the game is generally more user friendly in it's design choices yet it still retains it's brutal difficulty and air of mystique.

    The graphics are slightly compromised on ageing hardware but thankfully From Software made the right    Dark Souls 2 is just like Dark Souls except bigger. Certain aspects like covenants and humanity have been simplified to make them easier to understand and the game is generally more user friendly in it's design choices yet it still retains it's brutal difficulty and air of mystique.

    The graphics are slightly compromised on ageing hardware but thankfully From Software made the right decision to sacrifice detail for frame rate to ensure the game handles smoothly even if the lighting isn't perfect, boo hoo (sarcasm).

    Dark Souls 2 is not a perfect game, I could write a list as long as my arm about it's flaws (which are many but most relatively minor). Hell, it's not even a fair game. But that's sort of the point. It's the challenge and satisfaction of overcoming seemingly impossible odds to win. Even the cheapest of victories will have you punching the air in celebration.

    What it is though is an epic adventure which took me 80 hours to complete and I still don't feel as if I've scratched the surface. It's the best action RPG I've ever played. And although it may never win 200 game of the year awards it just might be the best game ever (so far).    … Expand
  89. Playbobo
    Apr 14, 2014
    10
    Everything i expected from a new Souls game. Exhilarating combat, great level design and a story that isn't on the surface but needs to be explored and discovered by looking at item descriptions and the environment.I also like the new ways to up the difficulty throughout the game. Overall a worthy successor to the original.Praise the sun!! o/
  90. pedrogarcia
    Apr 13, 2014
    10
    One of the best games of the generation hands down. Thank godness we have games like this, and not only all the Call of duty copy/paste miriad of games. I hope people discover the game thoroughly and so From Software can keep on developing games like this for the new generation.
  91. stevenhearnn
    Apr 10, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls II might is one of my favorite games. The new designs are very much improved from previous games. I would recommend this to all the gamers who love playing action packed games.
  92. chrisjones914
    Apr 9, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls II is a beautiful game and is much better than its predecessor! However, it is still uncompromisingly hard! Which for some people may not be a negative thing... but for me it is! Now i'm not saying I don't love a good challenge cause by all means i do! I just believe that games are supposed to be fun experiences that grab you, draw you in and connect you to the characters. WhenDark Souls II is a beautiful game and is much better than its predecessor! However, it is still uncompromisingly hard! Which for some people may not be a negative thing... but for me it is! Now i'm not saying I don't love a good challenge cause by all means i do! I just believe that games are supposed to be fun experiences that grab you, draw you in and connect you to the characters. When a game is as hard as the Dark Souls series it is fun at first and at many other points, but more often than not it frustrates and draws me out of the experience and that is not what i look for in a game! Still some people will find this appealing and to you I say go for it! Dark Souls II is not a bad game by any means... it's just not for me!… Expand
  93. MrFlankster
    Apr 7, 2014
    10
    If you even remotely liked either Demon Souls of Dark Souls, then this is a definite purchase. There is so much here to be had for $60. After "The Last of Us," I wasn't sure there would be another game worthy of a "10" rating... at least not on the PS3 or last gen consoles. This game is so incredibly difficult, but so satisfying when you triumph over an enemy that you attempted to kill 30If you even remotely liked either Demon Souls of Dark Souls, then this is a definite purchase. There is so much here to be had for $60. After "The Last of Us," I wasn't sure there would be another game worthy of a "10" rating... at least not on the PS3 or last gen consoles. This game is so incredibly difficult, but so satisfying when you triumph over an enemy that you attempted to kill 30 times before it. This is a true RPG. The great thing about this series, is that you can go back and play and replay the first Dark Souls and Demon Souls and still have that feeling of accomplishment. If you are an impatient gamer, then this game will temper you. Other game's difficulties are laughable at this point. This is the only RPG that truly makes you think about when and how to upgrade certain character statistics. Prepare to die... MORE. You have to love this game!… Expand
  94. Soulen
    Apr 6, 2014
    9
    If Dark Souls 2 seems easier. Its because you have gotten really good at Dark Souls 1. You understand how to win and you understand that death is part of the experience that makes victory all the more sweeter. The inclusion of soul vessels makes playing with builds on your first play through a deeper experience. And as you start new games or continue with new game plus you know how toIf Dark Souls 2 seems easier. Its because you have gotten really good at Dark Souls 1. You understand how to win and you understand that death is part of the experience that makes victory all the more sweeter. The inclusion of soul vessels makes playing with builds on your first play through a deeper experience. And as you start new games or continue with new game plus you know how to build your character according to your play style. In this regard the game can become easier because you become more powerful both through stats and your understanding of enemy patterns, However there are ways to keep the difficulty up. Bonfire aesthetics when used make the enemies in the area more difficult by turning it into essentially a new game plus and it stacks. I for example made a certain area new game plus lv 4 on my first play through. There is also a covenant that makes the entire game harder by increasing enemy HP and attack strength the covenant also removes summoning signs so you will have to kill bosses solo :). The rewards are awesome for this covenant .

    If you loved Dark Souls 1 there is no reason why Dark Souls would be a disappointment. It is essentially the same game but with more content and new play style approaches. The difficulty is player controlled once you master its initial difficulty.

    For new comers this game will be tough but not as seemingly impossible as the first.This is due to the fast bonfire traveling and the co-op covenants which make dealing with bosses, player invasions and clearing tough areas easier. The story is pieced together via npc scripts and the lore found on items. the world and items tells you the story, it inst presented to you directly. So if you approach this as a hack and slash action rpg that feeds you story line through a friendly and animated world you wont enjoy the experience. Because there is a overwhelming sense of despair leading on to nihilism that blankets the game from start to finish. Getting through it and uncovering the games secrets requires commitment and perseverance that ultimately leaves you feeling hallow even after you win, because you want more, only to realize that more is harder and your victory means nothing.

    The Bad: evading enemy attacks is unfair at times. The AI tracking is too good so good that at times i feel the game cheats in the timing of each attack. the longer the battle drags on the more unpredictable the bosses become. Since they can 2 hit or 1 hit you I feel that this is an aspect that adds an artificial difficulty to the game that will leave most frustrated. The soul vessels that allows for respecing sort of taking away from the element of making and experimenting with new characters. Since you get I 3 in your first play through it doesn't really make sense to start another hero and going through the motions.    … Expand
  95. SpaceyCasey
    Apr 6, 2014
    10
    This epic sequel offers more content than ever before, and the unique multilayer mechanics are truly working for the first time in the series.

    Pros: Melee is balanced with hundreds of viable weapon choices, simplified upgrading and crisp mechanics. Magic has 4 different paths with more options than ever before. Endless hours of fun PvP. Awesome enemy/boss design. Easiest Co-Op in the    This epic sequel offers more content than ever before, and the unique multilayer mechanics are truly working for the first time in the series.

    Pros: Melee is balanced with hundreds of viable weapon choices, simplified upgrading and crisp mechanics. Magic has 4 different paths with more options than ever before. Endless hours of fun PvP. Awesome enemy/boss design. Easiest Co-Op in the series. Great incentives for assisting other players. Many options for making the game harder if you find it too easy. Built from the ground up for re-playability with new traps, gear and enemies exclusively to NG+.

    Cons: The graphics were downgraded (but are still beautiful - for old consoles), hard skill caps mean you'll be wasting your points if you don't know what you're doing. Some lag in PvP. Voice acting is hit or miss. The music took a turn from the first two which effects the "souls" feel. Nearly absent rumble controls. The "soul memory" system frustrates many friends trying to co-op.

    - Lore is even more hidden than DS1, but there DEFINITELY IS a lot there, and there will be deep lore conversations to come.

    - Nearly all of the information online and even in guides is false, misleading or inaccurate. You truly know nothing about anything until you do it yourself. If you hear an item or build is overpowered, broken or useless - your personal findings are likely to be much different and more complex than what you had read. Therese just too much going on, too many variables. Even gameplay videos are misleading.

    - While the complexity may turn some casual gamers away, complexity leads to longevity for those who can't get enough of this game.

    After two 100-hour play-throughs, I'm trying very hard not to play my third character in anticipation for the PC release.    … Expand
  96. Gamingking007
    Apr 5, 2014
    9
    I just want to say this is the best money I've spent in a very long time for a great game. I am an obsessed gamer and could probably open a shop with all the games i have. The mood of darks souls 2 just brought me into the goth/medievil heaven i loved when i played demons souls.The graphics are timeless and amazing. The gameplay is fluid and extremely realistic and i have to admit thatI just want to say this is the best money I've spent in a very long time for a great game. I am an obsessed gamer and could probably open a shop with all the games i have. The mood of darks souls 2 just brought me into the goth/medievil heaven i loved when i played demons souls.The graphics are timeless and amazing. The gameplay is fluid and extremely realistic and i have to admit that demons souls was more difficult and this felt a little less difficult but at the same time it lets you learn your flaws to do it over with a better idea of what to do. The only thing i would like a little more is definitely more cinematics because it feels like playing for a very long time without a progression of a storyline. An extended cinematic experience would have made you feel like even moving towards a greater goal. I am crazy about stories so for me this was the only flaw the game had. That is my only reason for going it a 9 and if you don't like this game it probably means your just not as good as us hardcore gamers!LOL.I really hope they make a dark souls 3 for PS4 because that will be one of the greatest moments in gaming history.… Expand
  97. bosconian87
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    When Demon's Souls first-arrived in 2009 (I first played it in 2010, when it finally arrived in the UK), at long last a prayer of many a true gamesplayer had been answered: a game that was hard, yes, possibly even really tough at times - but it was rewarding, the difficulty added to the tension, you were never 'sold-out' with cheap moments or annoying difficulty spikes, and every momentWhen Demon's Souls first-arrived in 2009 (I first played it in 2010, when it finally arrived in the UK), at long last a prayer of many a true gamesplayer had been answered: a game that was hard, yes, possibly even really tough at times - but it was rewarding, the difficulty added to the tension, you were never 'sold-out' with cheap moments or annoying difficulty spikes, and every moment the game gave you was truly well-considered.

    Come the 'sequel' of sorts in 2011, Dark Souls, the game changed-up a great deal (goodbye world and character tendencies, hello open-world and covenants), and also introduced a new level of unpredictability to its core. It changed the formula for sure, shook-up Demon's Souls veterans like myself, but did it the right way.

    I played the beta of Dark Souls 2 last year, and experienced many of the changes that FROM software were implementing, but I never knew how much was being changed, until I first started playing the actual game.

    But I'm getting ahead of myself, first I wish to cover the presentation: the graphics engine has been overhauled completely, and it shows!! The levels, and characters throughout are much crisper, and whilst there are issues (the PS3 version can have slight framerate issues, and there are some rough textures here and there) the whole update compliments the varied locales, which whilst range from the fantastic to the largely dour and depressing, are beautifully lit and made to elicit the right kind of tension, not due to design error.

    The sound is wonderful!! Sound effects that you character, and the creatures of the areas you visit, are very slightly exaggerated, and whilst initially it can 'jar' the senses (it did for me) it again adds to the tension - at points in the game encounters can almost be pre-empted (perhaps assumed) just by the sound you would not expect. The music ranges from the thunderous (the boss encounters, as you'd expect) through to some utterly beautiful, and somewhat sad, pieces. If you can pick up one of the versions with the soundtrack as an extra, DO - trust me, you'll thank me for this piece of advice.

    As for the gameplay, FROM software have played the controversial card by adding some major gameplay twists: some of these come courtesy of Demon's Souls (and are hugely welcome by this player!!), and some come by themselves (no doubt influenced by the beta, and the fact that there will be a lot of newcomers to this series on this entry), but the gameplay twists, whilst small, do affect the game hugely in scope. These design choices all boil down to the fact that FROM software want you to take chances, want you to have fun, and not be bogged-down in endless hours of grinding, and they want you to find your own way to play the game. In a way, more than ever, being levelled-up and tooled to the infinite degree is no surefire guarantee that you'll sail through the game - no way!! Online has always been a mainstay of this series, and I think that once you've tried it, and been locked into a boss battle with others, that you won't play any other way!!

    One more point I must stress, to those that ask "has the game become easier?" I have to say a firm NO. Its been made accessible to newcomers, I have to agree, in many ways, but it still will challenge even the veterans.

    Dark Souls 2 is seriously superb. Its addictive, exhilerating, frustrating, compulsive and massively rewarding, and given that its possibly the last outing of this series on the PS3 or XBOX 360, you should play it. Its quirkier that Dark Souls, almost as great as Demon's Souls, and this early into 2014, I wouldn't be surprized if its one of the best games of the year come December.

    Utterly unmissable    … Expand
  98. DeusXCom
    Apr 3, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is an amazing sequel and a great fantasy journey through the murky, forgotten land of Drangleic. It might be the weakest chapter of the Souls series, but still better than anything RPG genre has to offer these days and still perfectly capable of consuming hundreds of your gaming hours.

    Level design... that reached the levels of pure genius in previous Souls games has been    Dark Souls 2 is an amazing sequel and a great fantasy journey through the murky, forgotten land of Drangleic. It might be the weakest chapter of the Souls series, but still better than anything RPG genre has to offer these days and still perfectly capable of consuming hundreds of your gaming hours.

    Level design... that reached the levels of pure genius in previous Souls games has been slightly reduced and it tries to compensate with quantity. In result, there is a huge chunk of content here, almost twice the size of previous titles, but while there are still some really nice locations (Brightstone, Heide, Dragon Shrine...) it just doesn't feel as impressive as cleverly interconnected world of DS1, where you were just blown away by the locations and felt that every little corner is there for a reason.

    Atmosphere... has been watered down a bit. Partly because of the level design, it's not as dark and terrifying as before, but also because of some wrong game design choices. Warping between bonfires right from the start just ruins the sense of traveling and it reduces the sense of danger. Remembering the times of original DS where I was stuck in The Depths, cursed with halved HP and with no way to get out of there, that feeling of horror and hopelessness is just gone, because Bonfires are now everywhere and you can easily heal and teleport to safety anytime.

    Bosses & enemies... suffer the same fate of Quantity > Quality as the locations. There are many of them, and some are quite cool (The Chariot, Ancient Dragon..), but those impressive epic battles of DS1 like Sif or Ornstein & Smough that would challenge me even for the whole day are just not here anymore. 3 honorable exceptions kind enough for actually kicking my ass and killing me a few times are Ruin Sentinels, Darklurker and Ancient Dragon. Thank you guys.

    Difficulty... surrounds every souls game notorious for their hardcore style. While still challenging, the challenge here is mostly optional, either by using Bonfire Ascetics or by joining a Covenant of Champions, that both strengthen the enemies. DS2 is definitely the most accessible for newcomers, nothing wrong with that, but all those review lines like "Harder and more difficult than ever" are just a total joke. The problem is that after a few kills enemies just stop respawning, so you can easily kill out everyone in the area and have a free cakewalk to boss, something you could never do in previous titles. Option to load yourself with neverending supply of lifegems also hurt a lot.

    Combat system... is still as intact as ever, but this has been mostly copied from the original, only with even more weapons and cool looking armor sets. Magic has always been more in a support role in Souls, it works great as a support in the form of miracles for clerics, or for the occasional fire apocalypse via pyromancy, but playing Souls games as a pure caster has always been a snoozefest.

    Graphics... are looking good. Coming from the hi-res PC version of Dark Souls 1, it's true the textures here are definitely low-res, smudged and simple in places, but at least the frame rate is constantly good and that's far more important. These consoles are 7 years old hardware, so it's understandable they had to sacrifice something. Definitely looking forward to the hi-res PC release.

    Music... is imo the least impressive from the trilogy and the biggest disappointment for me. Few nice tunes (Chariot, Credits), but mostly forgettable and with no real mood to set for those bosses. Music is going downhill in Souls series, amazing in DeS, really good in DS1 and it is just ok in DS2.

    Story & Characters... The lore and not so in your face story telling these games are known for is still here and it's amazing to put all the pieces together. Especially if you know the background story and lore of the original Dark Souls, so you can get all the references and historical connections. DS2 didn't disappoint, lots of different themes, throwbacks, brand new bunch of strange and interesting characters.. fully satisfied here.

    Covenant system and PVP... is one of the few improvements over the original. It's recommended to really try out all Covenants (you can switch between them without any problems or penalties). Those who prefer Souls games primarily for the multiplayer will be very happy. Specifically Bell Keepers and Rat King covenants has been the source of fun for countless hours.

    New Game+... is another significant upgrade along with the Bonfire Ascetic system, after playing through this game once, NG+ not only strengthens the enemies, but it adds brand new ones, changes things a bit, adds new spells/items and so on. This is a pleasant change and it improves the overall replayability a bit.

    In the end, DS2 has many problems (some could be easily avoided), but FromSoftware had a hard job of following up to one of the best games of all time and they created an amazing piece of work that is well worth the full score of - 10/10    … Expand
  99. tomn495
    Apr 2, 2014
    9
    This game easily deserves a 10 for it's sensational gameplay, but giving a 10 would just be unrealistic for anyone to come to the expecting. It has it's flaws in it's graphics and lighting but honestly, being a PC gamer, I'm amazed this game is on ps3 and running smoothly. I see people complaining about FPS but I have had very few hiccups during my multiple playthroughs.

    I'd recommend    This game easily deserves a 10 for it's sensational gameplay, but giving a 10 would just be unrealistic for anyone to come to the expecting. It has it's flaws in it's graphics and lighting but honestly, being a PC gamer, I'm amazed this game is on ps3 and running smoothly. I see people complaining about FPS but I have had very few hiccups during my multiple playthroughs.

    I'd recommend this game to anyone that enjoys a challenge. It's a lot less punishing in the way you are allowed a limited amount of soul vessels(assuming you don't use bonfire ascetic loopholes) to reallocate your the points you've put into skills, which in my opinion is a fantastic addition for veteran players and especially new players. People that accidentally choose dexterity at the start of the game will be able to reallocate to more useful skills such as faith or intelligence, as using melee only will equate to an even greater challenge.

    All up, this game is astonishing and a great sequel to a great game. The world is more vast than ever and shares much familiarity with Dark Souls, which I love. It's different, but it's changed for the better. I have no idea which one I love more, they're both fantastic games and I'll be hanging out to buy Dark Souls 2 on PC as well. Buy this game. Don't give up, even if you think you're stuck- you're not. One thing that you'll learn during Dark Souls is that there's always a way.    … Expand
  100. seonsean
    Apr 1, 2014
    10
    this... game.. is... FREGGIN AWESOME!! this game feels both like demon souls and dark souls. even though the game still holds its name in the difficulty department, its much easier to get in to if you happen to be new to the souls series. im terrible at writing reviews so please disregard the poor quality, however i know when i come across a good game and boy, is this one of the best gamesthis... game.. is... FREGGIN AWESOME!! this game feels both like demon souls and dark souls. even though the game still holds its name in the difficulty department, its much easier to get in to if you happen to be new to the souls series. im terrible at writing reviews so please disregard the poor quality, however i know when i come across a good game and boy, is this one of the best games ever. it has more content than dark souls, more to do and such. its deeper and just pretty much perfect around. now lets see the pc version… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PS3 Game of 2014
2
#2 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2014
1
#1 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 69
  3. Negative: 0 out of 69
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    May 11, 2014
    92
    Dark Souls 2 bears the torch of Dark Souls with honor. No mean feat! [Apr 2014]
  2. Gamers' Temple
    Apr 16, 2014
    96
    Even more amazing, and difficult, than Dark Souls.
    Read full review
  3. RPGamer
    Apr 16, 2014
    100
    At the end of the day, Dark Souls II uses more subtle changes to find its own flavor and place in the series as a whole, rather than reinventing the wheel.
    Read full review
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