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. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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/
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. Vigilem
    Mar 14, 2014
    9
    Great sequel. I had concerns at FromSoft's ability to produce a good sequel after how much praise Dark Souls got. Thankfully, they've delivered a hugely enjoyable game just like the first. They have combined mechanics from both Dark Souls and Demon's Souls to create a new experience which is still true to the series. Dark souls notoriously annoying multiplayer issues have vanished. TheGreat sequel. I had concerns at FromSoft's ability to produce a good sequel after how much praise Dark Souls got. Thankfully, they've delivered a hugely enjoyable game just like the first. They have combined mechanics from both Dark Souls and Demon's Souls to create a new experience which is still true to the series. Dark souls notoriously annoying multiplayer issues have vanished. The single player is as vague and puzzling as you would expect and there is tonnes of lore hidden in NPC dialogues and whatnot. FromSoft have created another stunning game world with beautiful background music. The level design is above anything else I have seen.
    My only criticism is that the textures are fairly low-res. If this game had been released on the PS4 with higher res textures then it would been a 10/10 rating from me.    … Expand
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. Chaeote
    Mar 23, 2014
    8
    I'm so glad I got this game. I never was able to get into the original Dark Souls, and I only played a little of Demon's Souls, but now, after I finish with this i actually want to go back and play those 2 more and really delve into them.

    It's what you would expect, slow, methodical, HARD AS HELL, but it's a great challenge especially once you start to understand the nuances. I still    I'm so glad I got this game. I never was able to get into the original Dark Souls, and I only played a little of Demon's Souls, but now, after I finish with this i actually want to go back and play those 2 more and really delve into them.

    It's what you would expect, slow, methodical, HARD AS HELL, but it's a great challenge especially once you start to understand the nuances.

    I still feel like I'm missing out on a few things, and at times it feels like my character is far weaker than he should be, even for this game, but I'm pretty sure it just has to do more with exploring and backtracking a bit in order to figure out.

    Only real issues I would have with the game, are a few minor glitches here and there, but the 2 big ones are the obvious graphical downgrade, which normally wouldn't be a big deal, but the game definitely looks muddy in some places.

    The other issue would be graphical slowdowns/lag at times, it hasn't really affected combat too much (I can't say it's ever killed me outright), but it's noticeable.    … Expand
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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)
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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
  31. 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
  32. 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
  33. 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
  34. 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
  35. 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.
  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. 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
  38. 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
  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. 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
  41. 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
  42. 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.
  43. 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.
  44. 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
  45. mythiiix
    Dec 17, 2020
    10
    FromSoftware are masterminds for making this game, Thank You Hidetaka Miyazaki for this masterpiece!
  46. 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
  47. 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.
  48. 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
  49. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    Legendary game, play it, this game changed my life for good, all I have for this game is LOVE.
  50. 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
  51. 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.
  52. 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
  53. 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!
  54. 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
  55. 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
  56. 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
  57. 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!
  58. 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.
  59. 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
  60. 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.
  61. 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 !!
  62. 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.
  63. 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
  64. 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
  65. 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.
  66. 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.
  67. 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
  68. 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.
  69. Joe2539
    Jan 2, 2023
    10
    Very Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
  70. 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.
  71. 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.
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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

All reviews »
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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