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. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. aikoyamamato
    Mar 12, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is a glorious lovechild of both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. It provides the best of both worlds while remaining exceptionally challenging and rewarding. The world is dark, dangerous and full of atmosphere, carrying on Dark Souls' seamless areas. Every area is connected in some way and it gives incredible depth to the world. Funny enough, however, it is in this point exactlyDark Souls II is a glorious lovechild of both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. It provides the best of both worlds while remaining exceptionally challenging and rewarding. The world is dark, dangerous and full of atmosphere, carrying on Dark Souls' seamless areas. Every area is connected in some way and it gives incredible depth to the world. Funny enough, however, it is in this point exactly that we see one of Dark Souls II's small flaws.

    While the world is seamless and vast, you are allowed to 'quick travel' from bonfire to bonfire with no restrictions. This is a convenient service, and indeed might be considered necessary by many, but it detracts from the large world it helps you travel. One of the challenges of Dark Souls was trying to make your way out of a challenging area that you just conquered. In Dark Souls II this is not present, as you may simply use a bonfire to escape the area to safety.

    This removes some of the challenge from the game and can make the world seem smaller than it really is. While there is definitely a lot of exploration to be had in Dark Souls II, many players will probably not have a chance to see it all in favor of traveling from bonfire to bonfire to progress the game. With some restrictions set in place, such as requiring an item or souls to use the quick travel, there would be more incentive to travel large distances on foot and it is my hope that FromSoftware takes this to heart for the next installment.

    In true Demon's Souls style leveling your character has also changed. No longer do you level at any bonfire; you must now speak to a certain character every time you wish to level. While many will miss the ease of leveling at any bonfire, this system adds more to the world and makes you truly feel like you are getting stronger.

    The combat in Dark Souls II is an improvement over the first games and adds some much needed changes. Dual wielding in combat is viable in skilled hands, and archery finds itself more useful as well. Most of the controls have carried over, with some small variations (such as the 'dash jump'), making it easy to pick up and play the game if you have played any of the games before. However, combat is not without its annoyances.

    The addition of the 'Adaptability' statistic is an illustration of one of the new annoyances added in Dark Souls II. Raising your Adaptability stat increases some of your resistances but, more importantly, your Agility. Raising your Agility affects the 'speed' of your animations. What does this mean? If you have little Adaptability, and your agility is low, there will be a 'delay' between swinging an attack and your next action. This may not seem terribly bad at first, but if you are fighting more than one enemy and you attack one of them you may find yourself not having enough time to react to an attack from another. It makes fighting multiple enemies extremely frustrating as you have very little chances to attack with no fear of retaliation.

    Despite this small annoyance combat is fresh and fun and requires a great amount of skill to get the most out of. This is very noticeable in healing items, actually. The Estus Flask from Dark Souls has returned but a new addition is the Lifegem. Lifegems have much quicker animations than the Estus Flask but restore health over time, slowly, rather than all at once. This sounds simple at first, but requires a tactical mind to get the most out of. The difference between using an Estus Flask or a Lifegem is a matter of life and death.

    Lastly, Dark Souls II has an incredible sound track and sound effects. This is immediately noticeable on the Title Screen, boasting a very nice song. The ambient sounds as you travel as well really help set the mood and it is easy to get lost in the world. Each enemy is given life as they are all given sounds to completely fit their character.

    Overall, Dark Souls II is a worthy successor to the games before it. Indeed, its flaws are small enough that it might even trump them both.    … Expand
  7. Jakallov3
    Mar 17, 2014
    9
    Visuals: 8
    First thing you will notice is that the visuals look great, and it now runs at a solid 30fps, and sometimes more in areas that don't have much going on (Caves for example). Models and animations got improved a lot, remember when you pressed random in Dark Souls and Demon Souls and your character looked like an alien? not anymore, although some faces may look a bit awkward, but    Visuals: 8
    First thing you will notice is that the visuals look great, and it now runs at a solid 30fps, and sometimes more in areas that don't have much going on (Caves for example). Models and animations got improved a lot, remember when you pressed random in Dark Souls and Demon Souls and your character looked like an alien? not anymore, although some faces may look a bit awkward, but it still looks great (I would've liked a bit more options on customization but that's just my opinion.)

    Sound: 9
    Some of the sounds from Dark Souls are still present (bonfire, entering a new area, etc.) and for me its great to hear those familiar sounds back. The soundtrack is what shines in DS2, great music and each soundtrack is unique (loved the one from the Flexile Sentry and the Old Dragonslayer).

    Gameplay: 8
    Having over 400 hours in DS1 and 200 on DS, the game feels completely fresh, but at the same time the formula stays the same. Combat in DS2 is now a bit slower, but more fluid and makes me want more and more! Controls stay the same, which is great, no big change there.The leveling system is now different and more balanced, want to max out endurance and carry Hovel's and roll around with infinite stamina? nope! It is now more complex than the last two games (Maiden in Black memories anyone?). The dying penalty is now painful, is a bit annoying and makes me yell at the screen every time I die, but reminds me how bad it is to die and play more carefully instead of just sprinting through the whole level. However I feel that magic is a bit more OP than in previous games, especially in PvP. Multiplayer seems a bit broken when it comes to matchmaking in PvP, but these don't kill the experience.

    Lore: 9
    Again, DS does not make its storyline very obvious, is mysterious, making me think what is happening, exploring, reading item descriptions and talking to the different characters is key to understand what's going on.    … Expand
  8. Gitgud
    Mar 11, 2014
    9
    I was apprehensive, how come Namco pull it off 3 times in a row? They did.

    One or two areas look pretty poor and unimaginative, but the gameplay makes them interesting. The rest of the game looks amazing, and will look even better on PC.
  9. 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
  10. kiwijman
    Mar 14, 2014
    9
    I really like this game but i feel like it could've been better if the old director had stayed. still worth playing though especially if you liked the first like me
  11. 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
  12. Axlyss
    Mar 15, 2014
    9
    People complain too much yes you can make the enemies respawn after you kill them to much i want spoil it but you get the item 25-30% through the game.... Graphics are fine From soft doesn't have all the cash big devs do they cant create a new graphics engine or rent one and market the game with it. Your lucky you got a dark soul sequel. The game is fine with hit box errors (no worse thenPeople complain too much yes you can make the enemies respawn after you kill them to much i want spoil it but you get the item 25-30% through the game.... Graphics are fine From soft doesn't have all the cash big devs do they cant create a new graphics engine or rent one and market the game with it. Your lucky you got a dark soul sequel. The game is fine with hit box errors (no worse then the beginning of dark souls 1) Lore is good and graphics are stunning in some areas. NPCS are cool,

    The bosses are tad forgettable but so were Dark souls and Demon souls.. I've beat demon souls over 9 times and do not remember 80% of the bosses.. Graphics do not make a game i can still pop the legend of zelda majoras mask in and have a really fun time.    … Expand
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. hiwasafari
    Mar 24, 2014
    9
    Dark souls 2 is a great game worth buying and playing. The gameplay feels much like the dark souls with some minor adjustments. Nothing to complain about in terms of gameplay and because the game is very fun to play. This game runs smoother than previous ones and you wont have frame rate issues like dark souls 1 ( blight town). The graphics feels sligthly better than the previous games butDark souls 2 is a great game worth buying and playing. The gameplay feels much like the dark souls with some minor adjustments. Nothing to complain about in terms of gameplay and because the game is very fun to play. This game runs smoother than previous ones and you wont have frame rate issues like dark souls 1 ( blight town). The graphics feels sligthly better than the previous games but its not that much of a diffrence. I dont know why people are complaining about graphic downgradges because graphics are not that important in this types of games, sure it nice with awsome lighting and so on but in this types of games , grahics dont matter so much. The game is what you expect it to be for a Soul game so every fan of the previous game should get this. I dont know if it was me who were prepared for this game than previous ones but I felt it was easier to complete this one. It could be that i was more experienced with the game mechanics and so on but I fel this one was easier.
    Even if this game has improved a lot from previous entries in the series , I felt it lost some things on the way. There a lot of bosses in this game and I mean a lot!, but few of them is as impresseive as dark souls 1 bosses. A lot of them had similiar behaviours and attacks and were easy to predict. There were some cool ones but overall I felt dissapointed with some bosses and I left wanting more. Another issue I had with this game was the world. Dark souls 1 was so beautiful made, everything part of the world was connected with each other and you always found new places, secrets and so on even after 100hours.This game world was huge but it did not have the same mystery as the world in dark souls 1.I think the fast travel system made the game easier and made the world feeling apart, the diffrent places were not connected to each other like ds1.
    After all the game is really good, I only had issue with bosses and the world, this was my opinion and I bet there are other who thinks diffent, overallt this game is worthy of the soul series and I cant wait to dive back into world again even If i have played for 100+hours    … Expand
  16. Jake_theRipper
    Mar 18, 2014
    9
    The most balanced game yet, a blend of both demon and dark souls yet feels ever more refreshed. Levels show enough diversity and graphics are updated. Combat is fair and punishing at the same time, always leaving you the option to go elsewhere in case of the challenge proves too much, bosses are easier yet some feel re-skinned. No soul glitch in which level 700's invade you making it allThe most balanced game yet, a blend of both demon and dark souls yet feels ever more refreshed. Levels show enough diversity and graphics are updated. Combat is fair and punishing at the same time, always leaving you the option to go elsewhere in case of the challenge proves too much, bosses are easier yet some feel re-skinned. No soul glitch in which level 700's invade you making it all about fairness.… Expand
  17. chris4ever04
    Mar 13, 2014
    9
    There's really nothing more to say other than you MUST play this game, its perfection... the only reason why it didn't get a 10 from me is because of the half life depletion I don't like it even though it makes the game harder it really takes away from the exploration.
  18. Leftovers
    Mar 17, 2014
    9
    First just want to say I gave the game a 9 out of 10 for the simple fact nothing should get a ten. Always something you can find wrong. This game i would say its the graphics are the only thing wrong with is game. The fighting system is not really better then the first Dark Souls but it is different in a way that makes if challenging for season vets to the game, but not to difficult forFirst just want to say I gave the game a 9 out of 10 for the simple fact nothing should get a ten. Always something you can find wrong. This game i would say its the graphics are the only thing wrong with is game. The fighting system is not really better then the first Dark Souls but it is different in a way that makes if challenging for season vets to the game, but not to difficult for new comers. The game still has its hardcore stat management that I personalty love. The huge open world of the game also is fun to explore. You never know what or who you might find on the other side of a waterfall or cliff. Plus NBG added a fast travel right at the beginning of the game. The death counter in the early parts of this game was a great touch.This is quickly become my favorite game franchise to-date. I encourage you to attempted this game if you like great action rpg. You will not be disappointed, just don't give up and remember count on death.… Expand
  19. 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
  20. Feeder16
    Mar 19, 2014
    9
    Absolutely stunning game which is almost a continuation of the last game.

    I noticed a few people have mentioned the graphics, which do look a little worse than the previews. Possibly due to compression at the end of the development. That said if you are playing this game just for the graphics then you shouldn't bother as its all about the gameplay.
  21. iwatanana
    Mar 20, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great multiplayer, excellent challenge for the hardcore gamers, and more makes this a perfect sequel to the original. The only complaint I have with this game is a certain death penalty encountered in the game that decreases your max HP every time you die. Well this is avoidable, it is difficult to do so, and will get annoying. But it is a minor problem, and the good points of this game greatly makes up for the bad. A great game, and here's hoping for more!… Expand
  22. Owen9456
    Mar 23, 2014
    9
    Such an improvement over the first IMO. The combat is so much smoother then before, you are always very much in control of your character. Everything feels miles better, I can actually get into PVP now, and there is just such a great feeling playing this game that wasn't quite there with the original. Its hard enough to make you think, but never makes you break your controller... mostly...Such an improvement over the first IMO. The combat is so much smoother then before, you are always very much in control of your character. Everything feels miles better, I can actually get into PVP now, and there is just such a great feeling playing this game that wasn't quite there with the original. Its hard enough to make you think, but never makes you break your controller... mostly...

    All and all, such a great sequel. Only reason its getting a 9 instead of a ten is because of how the targeting controls have gotten me killed a lot, but that's my only gripe.    … Expand
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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
  31. 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.
  32. 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.
  33. 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
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. 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
  37. 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.
  38. 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
  39. 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
  40. 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
  41. 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!
  42. 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
  43. 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.
  44. 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
  45. Sceptic
    Mar 19, 2014
    8
    I love it,but can't help but feel that some things are a little off...The hit detection animations seem mildly out-of-time and there seems to be little farming opportunities.PvP has become suddenly annoying and the HP reduction system is baffling.The worst new thing is the finite enemies and the less than seamless world.It's still great,just not as excellent as the others.
  46. 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
  47. 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
  48. 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.
  49. Remall69
    Mar 15, 2014
    8
    Sigh...

    Why do FROM need to ruin Dark Souls? They had something great going for them. All I can say is, what the heck did they do to the respawn system?! It goes against everything that an RPG and Dark Souls 1 stands for. It's called a ROLE PLAYING GAME for a reason. You cannot farm EQUIPMENT from monsters anymore (goodbye RPG!), you cannot farm SOULS from monsters anymore    Sigh...

    Why do FROM need to ruin Dark Souls?

    They had something great going for them. All I can say is, what the heck did they do to the respawn system?! It goes against everything that an RPG and Dark Souls 1 stands for.

    It's called a ROLE PLAYING GAME for a reason. You cannot farm EQUIPMENT from monsters anymore (goodbye RPG!), you cannot farm SOULS from monsters anymore (goodbye RPG!), you cannot develop PLAYER SKILL by killing mobs a lot of times (goodbye RPG!).

    What this entails for the rest of us, FROM is basically forcing us to play ONLINE so we can get more souls from coop. (GOODBYE PLAYER FREEDOM). Those who play offline basically get the short end of the stick.

    Why FROM? Why!!    … Expand
  50. 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
  51. Yalingo
    Mar 13, 2014
    8
    Fromsoft have done it again! Dark Souls 2 is the game we were all hoping for. Brilliant.

    One of the changes I did notice more so than others, was my character is a lot slower to start off with. Slow to react, slow to recover and just generally sluggish all round. Took me a while to get used to and twitch reactions weren't coming into play as much as planning out my movements in advance.    Fromsoft have done it again! Dark Souls 2 is the game we were all hoping for. Brilliant.

    One of the changes I did notice more so than others, was my character is a lot slower to start off with. Slow to react, slow to recover and just generally sluggish all round. Took me a while to get used to and twitch reactions weren't coming into play as much as planning out my movements in advance.

    Frame rate still drops on my old PS3 in certain areas, but I do plan on switching to PC once it's out.    … Expand
  52. TiTaToverteef
    Mar 19, 2014
    8
    I'll be honest - it's not what I expected. The game itself is solid and brilliant, but for some reason it feels like something is missing. I'm about 20 hours in now with a sorceror but so far the scenery feels a bit repetive (fewer open areas, more corridors and traps). Also, the freedom to explore is limited more as early-game bosses are absolutely required rather than optional. RatherI'll be honest - it's not what I expected. The game itself is solid and brilliant, but for some reason it feels like something is missing. I'm about 20 hours in now with a sorceror but so far the scenery feels a bit repetive (fewer open areas, more corridors and traps). Also, the freedom to explore is limited more as early-game bosses are absolutely required rather than optional. Rather than going the brawn way, I decided to try my luck at a sorceror. How I wish I hadn't. the only way for a sorceror to progress is by finding trainers to learn them new spells (alongside with leveling stats). New staves are almost nonexistent in the early-game, forcing you to keep using the starter staff. It feels wrong, as the other classes get an abundance of weapons. When you finally get to a mage trainer, you purchase a few spells that bring you back on par. It feels bland and boring to have so little variety in weapons while others get plenty. I honestly don't know what FS was thinking, but it makes me feel more like I'm grinding towards the next trainer / boss soul rather than looking in every nook for that potentially awesome weapon.… Expand
  53. 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
  54. 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.
  55. 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
  56. 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
  57. 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.
  58. 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
  59. 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
  60. 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
  61. 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
  62. 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
  63. 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
  64. 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.
  65. 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
  66. 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.
  67. 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.
  68. 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
  69. 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
  70. 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.
  71. 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
  72. Makaveli
    Aug 18, 2014
    7
    Changing my review based on the hype train that I was on before.. I beat the game many many times.
    I will say that it isn't nearly as good as the first Dark Souls in my opinion..
    The world itself is really linear and some of which does not make sense ( elevator up to a volcano) It lacks the creative excellence of the world design from Dark Souls 1.. Dark Souls 1s world was expertly    Changing my review based on the hype train that I was on before.. I beat the game many many times.
    I will say that it isn't nearly as good as the first Dark Souls in my opinion..

    The world itself is really linear and some of which does not make sense ( elevator up to a volcano)
    It lacks the creative excellence of the world design from Dark Souls 1.. Dark Souls 1s world was expertly crafted so everything interconnected with each other and actually comparing the map viewer of these two games, you can clearly see that Dark Souls 1 was well thought out while Dark Souls 2 was not.

    The bosses do not compare to the first Dark Souls either. Most bosses are boring to fight, you can circle almost every boss without consequence . All bosses pretty well have the same move-set if you pay attention.

    Hitboxes are worse in this game than the first, and a game that is centered around its combat it has to be good, and in Dark Souls. Also, enemies spin/track you without moving their feet, it looks pretty bad.

    The game was just fan-service, I am also tired of people talking about difficulty as if that was the thing that made the series good... NO!.. Veterans of the series who watched interviews from Miyazaki would know that the series was never suppose to be about its difficulty, it was about overcoming a challenge and then being rewarded for it. They were very challenging games, but Dark Souls 2 tries too hard to be difficult just for the sake of being difficult. It is not a difficult game but you can clearly see that they tried to make it hard just by adding hoards of enemies that you have to fight, and most people will not fight them with melee so they cheese the hell out of these enemies, making it boring...
    In Dark Souls 1 you could cheese everything too, but you actually wanted to fight stuff int hat game, not like Dark Souls 2 where you either cheese an enemy or you just run passed everything.

    For people who like to manage their soul level ( which was a big part of Dark Souls and Demon Souls) are forced to level up or try and run from all enemies in the game because they do not want to increase their soul memory. For these people there is little to no reason to fight any of the enemies, or even help people with bosses.
    They broke their own mechanic of hollowing, you can now have a ring that if you die, you will not lose anything, Dark SOuls had this too but once it broke it was gone forever, Dark Souls 2 you could just keep repairing the ring which most people do and thus ruining the effigy system.

    There is no fear of losing your souls once you get that ring and as I said before, most people will use it , as you can tell because every time I invade someone you hear their ring break when they die.

    The duel wielding/ power stance weapons are very cool and I'm glad they finally implemented it.

    Now, don;t get me wrong it is still a good game but Dark Souls 2 lost its "soul" and I can go on and on about the faults of this game, but I will leave it there. I still like the game but it just feels like it has hit casual status( not talking a but difficulty)

    --- I will note that this has nothing to do with "Rose tinted glasses" I played Demon Souls 1st and I enjoyed the first Dark Souls slightly better. I fail to see how anyone can think Dark Souls 2 is better. Dark Souls 2 has more content but half the quality, and I take quality over quantity any day..    … Expand
  73. Caestus
    Apr 23, 2015
    7
    While it is a good game compared to its predecessors it is a disappoitment. The riposte system is akward and the level design is not anywhere near Dark Souls.
  74. Tirekyll
    Jun 25, 2014
    7
    A good game, not the greatest, but good.
    The start is a little rocky, you quickly learn that Dark Souls 2 is entirely linear and some areas can't be accessed early in the game. That's fine and dandy though annoying when compared to Dark Souls and Demon Souls which allowed the player to choose the path they wanted to take.
    As you can tell by the rating though, it isn't all bad, or even    A good game, not the greatest, but good.
    The start is a little rocky, you quickly learn that Dark Souls 2 is entirely linear and some areas can't be accessed early in the game. That's fine and dandy though annoying when compared to Dark Souls and Demon Souls which allowed the player to choose the path they wanted to take.

    As you can tell by the rating though, it isn't all bad, or even close. The game maintains its difficulty from the previous two incarnations by FromSoft even though at times to a more casual gamer, some deaths seem cheap. The new menu layout is a huge upgrade from DS/DkS, however I personally find it a bit less twitchy.

    I don't really want to give much away, but I will say having friends for this game will make it a lot more enjoyable. If you can, do yourself a favor and get the limited edition of the game for some extra equipment that will save you a lot of frustration at the beginning of Dark Souls 2.

    Overall, my ratings are
    Gameplay: 7/10 I never had the issues most people seemed to, but it still felt a bit clunky on PS3
    Graphics: 9/10 The game looks really good compared to its predecessors
    Sound: 6/10
    Fun: 9/10 If you have friends, 6/10 if you don't
    Replayability: 2/10 I can't see playing this game again, beating it once alone is enough for me    … Expand
  75. ZacOfTheZombies
    Mar 12, 2014
    7
    Dark Souls 2 is a return to form a la Demon's Souls. DS2 combines many aspects of both of the Souls games into one strangely unique experience. As for the pro, the typical list can be read off of the other Souls games but this one comes with it's fair share of faults. The grafics that were shown in the beta and demos are FAR from the finished product and the net code is degrading at anDark Souls 2 is a return to form a la Demon's Souls. DS2 combines many aspects of both of the Souls games into one strangely unique experience. As for the pro, the typical list can be read off of the other Souls games but this one comes with it's fair share of faults. The grafics that were shown in the beta and demos are FAR from the finished product and the net code is degrading at an impressive pace. Given time, the later can be mended but the grafical decrease can not. Other than that, still a very fun ride.… Expand
  76. DreadLordAvatar
    Jul 13, 2014
    7
    Absolutely interesting, fun, worth the $60 (or $119 I paid for the statue edition). I've played this series to death, a huge fan of Demon and Dark Souls. Does it live up to it's predecessors? Unfortunately no. The story just isn't as intriguing, the changes are odd, and overall not as memorable. I don't have any interest in playing it over again, however, should it be ported to the PS4 IAbsolutely interesting, fun, worth the $60 (or $119 I paid for the statue edition). I've played this series to death, a huge fan of Demon and Dark Souls. Does it live up to it's predecessors? Unfortunately no. The story just isn't as intriguing, the changes are odd, and overall not as memorable. I don't have any interest in playing it over again, however, should it be ported to the PS4 I may give it another chance but it would need a graphics improvement (dark lighting - should have been in the PC version for bloody sake) and better gameplay mechanics/features. As a die hard fan of this series I can only grant it sadly a 7/10. However, it is still worth playing and experiencing for the exploration thrills and RPG challenges, despite the frustrating char/gear build and battle headaches.… Expand
  77. StllBreathnButY
    Mar 15, 2014
    7
    If it ain't broke don't fix it.

    That's the advice From Software ignored when making this game. Dark souls style may not appeal to a lot of people, but it was such a masterful game, damn near perfect. Dark souls 2 "refines" the experience with lots of changes to gameplay, balance issues, and lack of accessibility from the previous game. While playing DS2 it IS clear that From is on    If it ain't broke don't fix it.

    That's the advice From Software ignored when making this game. Dark souls style may not appeal to a lot of people, but it was such a masterful game, damn near perfect. Dark souls 2 "refines" the experience with lots of changes to gameplay, balance issues, and lack of accessibility from the previous game.

    While playing DS2 it IS clear that From is on top of every little detail about their game. The issues I have with this game are nothing that was overlooked, but rather, deliberate changes to the formula that almost completely ruin my enjoyment of the game. While they admirably address things from the previous game that seemed redundant or flawed, the changes they made create new problems in themselves.

    By far, the biggest issue with the game is the finite enemies. This is no doubt a measure that was implimented to stop people from grinding to get souls. After you kill an enemy a certain amount of times, they stop respawning. It seems like a glitch at first, until you notice the pattern. It feels like a slap in the face and goes against what the game is all about, to a degree. I legitimately killed enemies, died, respawned, and repeated, without making my way to the next bonfire. However, since I had killed the enemies enough times, they began disappearing, which made getting further easier, since there was much less in my way. I didn't feel like I earned it. The other issue with them disappearing is that I ended up losing lots of souls in the process. With enemies being finite, I now have to play every second of the game stressed out. If I lose some souls, those are souls I can NEVER earn back. So essentially you could run the risk of digging yourself into a huge hole that you can't get out of, forcing you to start over. This is a long game, having to start over is not fun at all. With finite enemies, this also complicates loot drops, a staple in RPGs. Now the loot is also finite. Farming titanite is a thing of the past. Now the decisions you make on upgrading your weapons are more stressful than ever, since it's not so simple to just go get more. DS1 kept the stress where it was fun, in the combat. I didn't have to fear that I was playing the game wrong and making things harder for myself hours down the line.

    Item durability has been expanded and tweaked. Weapons, armor, and now rings have durability and will break from overuse or damage. In DS1, items breaking was sort of a non issue, as they took a long time to break and were simple enough to fix, since the souls to do it were always around. This time, they break REALLY fast, and cost you precious finite souls to fix. Plus you must progress a bit to unlock the blacksmith who can provide the service. In the early go of it, I nearly was left with no useable weapons, since I couldn't buy any yet and had broken some.

    Some features of the game that aren't meant to be hidden are needlessly obtuse. It took me a while to see how to activate torches, and I still choose not to use them because they don't last long and are hard to come by. I had to look online to find that I had the ability to post messages the WHOLE time, I just wasn't able to do it because I wasn't in living form. I don't play in living form because I will most certainly get killed, as that is the nature of dark souls, and the item needed to become living is hard to come by, once again. I also didn't know how to level up for a while, unfortunately. I didn't like how it has to happen through some weird lady.

    Now, when you die, you lose a portion of your max health, up to 50%, until you use a finite item to revert back to living form. It's stupid, stressful, and a$$ backwards. You die, and the game gets harder?

    Combat feels more cheap this time. So often you'll find battles where you're pitted against a group of enemies, which is always challenging, no matter how "weak" they are. DS1 rarely made you fight more than one or two at a time, if you were patient enough, allowing you to concentrate on the fundamentals. The very beginning woods section of this game was full of these encounters and was enfuriating. This, coming from a guy who beat dark souls. I know how to play.

    The game was made "more accessible" by including fast travel between bonfires and has a supposedly easier world structure to get started in. First, getting started was not easy at all. Like I said, the woods, which is first, were unbelievably aggravating, since you barely have any gear, and you get swarmed all over. I can't imagine that to be more accessible to a newcomer. Second, fast travel, it's does have its perks. It saves lots of time, but the gameworld is built so sprawling and disjointed. Nothing like the masterful interconnected puzzle that DS1 was. Plus having to go to the main hub area to level up and such is annoying.

    On a good note, the frame rate in this game is Super smooth compared to DS 1. At its best, this game IS great. But not DS1 great.

    I could say more, no more room.    … Expand
  78. Juras
    Mar 14, 2017
    7
    Good game but worst souls. Few things was nice like hex magic or visualization of breaking equipments. Others no, design was mostly boring, only few selected areas like Shrine of Amana has atmosphere, Too westernish in my opinion. And final version of game looks worse than beta (both played on PS3).
  79. BonalsII
    Apr 17, 2014
    7
    I really did not like the first two souls games. Demons Souls looked and played terrible. Dark Souls was a glitch filled mess, I literally got stuck in a tree within 5 minutes and couldn't continue without physically turning my controller off. This game is well made, I have played around 15 - 20 hours and haven't encountered a glitch yet. I like the fact that the enemies disappear afterI really did not like the first two souls games. Demons Souls looked and played terrible. Dark Souls was a glitch filled mess, I literally got stuck in a tree within 5 minutes and couldn't continue without physically turning my controller off. This game is well made, I have played around 15 - 20 hours and haven't encountered a glitch yet. I like the fact that the enemies disappear after clearing them out and, it avoids unnecessary stupid deaths and forces you to not over grind in a specific point and move on in the game. I know some people knocked it for being shallow and having empty characters, but at least you can get to the shallow empty characters without getting stuck in the environment. My only critique is that in order to play it you have to sit down and devote a significant chunk of time into it. It isn't fun playing for short periods of time, when you are playing you want to accomplish something in the game, be it beat a boss or enter a new area and that takes time.… Expand
  80. Carrottoes
    May 25, 2014
    7
    Having now spent over 100 hours in Dark Souls 2 I can firmly say that it is inferior to it's two predecessors in most every way imaginable. The map is atrocious, the enemies attacks hit you when you aren't near them, the online is terrible with the addition of soul memory. Two notable features which are neat on the outside looking in being NG+ having new items and Soul Vessels (the abilityHaving now spent over 100 hours in Dark Souls 2 I can firmly say that it is inferior to it's two predecessors in most every way imaginable. The map is atrocious, the enemies attacks hit you when you aren't near them, the online is terrible with the addition of soul memory. Two notable features which are neat on the outside looking in being NG+ having new items and Soul Vessels (the ability to reset stats) actually kill any hopes for multiple PvP builds which you could easily do in the previous games. Some of the bosses are okay but some are just an enemy in a small church. In NG+ the bosses apparently get harder however it appears that instead of changing the boss From just added more enemies in the boss area and called it a day. The story and overall atmosphere, which made Demon's and Dark Souls unique, is all but missing in this. Dark Souls 2 isn't a bad game, don't get the wrong idea I have had some amount of fun playing this but also frustration when I die from the poor hitboxes as well. If you've played the other games I recommend giving this one a try otherwise you should play the others and ignore this one.… Expand
  81. StrawberryFC
    Mar 14, 2014
    7
    After I pushed past the fact that the game does not look as it was advertised and has many more unacceptable framerate drops than in the original Dark Souls, I was able to find a game worthy, in the most part, of being part of the Souls series. Despite the games recent boost in popularity, From keeps the games challenge intact, and delivers another experience that you won't find reallyAfter I pushed past the fact that the game does not look as it was advertised and has many more unacceptable framerate drops than in the original Dark Souls, I was able to find a game worthy, in the most part, of being part of the Souls series. Despite the games recent boost in popularity, From keeps the games challenge intact, and delivers another experience that you won't find really anywhere else, poor graphics and all.… Expand
  82. SpongyTwinkies
    Apr 25, 2014
    7
    There is nothing memorable about this title. The worlds and characters that intrigued me in the first two games, Demon's and Dark Souls, are flat and uninteresting in Dark Souls 2. While some fans are still saying "Praise the sun!," a reference to Solaire of Astora from the previous Souls title, you probably won't hear anything being repeated for characters in this title. This game playsThere is nothing memorable about this title. The worlds and characters that intrigued me in the first two games, Demon's and Dark Souls, are flat and uninteresting in Dark Souls 2. While some fans are still saying "Praise the sun!," a reference to Solaire of Astora from the previous Souls title, you probably won't hear anything being repeated for characters in this title. This game plays more like devolved fan fiction, rather than trying to stand on it's own as an interesting new world.

    There are plenty of other problems with this title: Lazy level design, illogical item progression, boring bosses (some that are nearly cut and paste from the previous Souls game), a story that really can't stand on it's own, and many other issues.

    The game is okay for a short while, but after three builds and one NG+, I called it quits with Dark Souls 2. I'm back to playing the first two games.    … Expand
  83. Zenzukai
    Mar 17, 2014
    7
    I'm going to say that this is way over rated. Not hard at all, I just run passed goons to bosses. Goons take too many hits and give you barely anything, plus they can one hit you like any boss. I bought the game because of reviews say so good and hard, same old game little different graphics, unneeded annoyances that don't increase difficulty as much as the perception of difficulty. II'm going to say that this is way over rated. Not hard at all, I just run passed goons to bosses. Goons take too many hits and give you barely anything, plus they can one hit you like any boss. I bought the game because of reviews say so good and hard, same old game little different graphics, unneeded annoyances that don't increase difficulty as much as the perception of difficulty. I die because ledges and bad camera angles.… Expand
  84. James_Russell
    Apr 21, 2014
    7
    I kept waiting for moments like:

    -the Asylum Demon dropping down minutes after starting the gane -the drake landing in front of you in the undead berg -the taurus demon running at you -barely making it to the first blacksmith -queelag appears -ringing both bells -iron golem -TARKUS TARKUS TARKUUUUUUUUUUUUUS -the rafters in anor londo -the archers -bulk and skull -Sif's intro    I kept waiting for moments like:

    -the Asylum Demon dropping down minutes after starting the gane
    -the drake landing in front of you in the undead berg
    -the taurus demon running at you
    -barely making it to the first blacksmith
    -queelag appears
    -ringing both bells
    -iron golem
    -TARKUS TARKUS TARKUUUUUUUUUUUUUS
    -the rafters in anor londo
    -the archers
    -bulk and skull
    -Sif's intro
    -fighting artorious
    -kalameet
    -getting your souls back after being rused by Seath
    -gwyn's fight and the music

    I could go on, but nothing grabbed me in 2 like those moments, I kept waiting for something big to happen but it never did. For me, there was a lot more content in 2, but a lot less substance.    … Expand
  85. Darkabisso664
    Aug 1, 2014
    7
    Dark Souls 2 is more of the first game when it comes to combat and feature; this adds more to different build through each playthrough as well as adding changes to new game plus. The narrative on the other on the hand is quiet shallow compare to the first. The game's story is hidden within item descriptions and NPC dialogue. It's a great way to tell a narrative but you won't understand theDark Souls 2 is more of the first game when it comes to combat and feature; this adds more to different build through each playthrough as well as adding changes to new game plus. The narrative on the other on the hand is quiet shallow compare to the first. The game's story is hidden within item descriptions and NPC dialogue. It's a great way to tell a narrative but you won't understand the settle hints the second game applies if you haven't played the first installment. Dark Souls 2 is also the easiest in the series and I suggest it for dark souls fans and new players.… Expand
  86. JMD
    Oct 30, 2014
    7
    I see below someone describing the game as "easily one of the greatest RPGs of the generation" when the game isn't even the best game in the series. In fact, its the least good of the three.

    I should follow that by saying that Dark Souls II is a good game. If your expectations were low, it will meet them. But as a fan of the series I was disappointed by how little it innovated upon the    I see below someone describing the game as "easily one of the greatest RPGs of the generation" when the game isn't even the best game in the series. In fact, its the least good of the three.

    I should follow that by saying that Dark Souls II is a good game. If your expectations were low, it will meet them. But as a fan of the series I was disappointed by how little it innovated upon the franchise. It seems pointless to praise the game as its virtually just a carbon copy of Dark Souls with a new locale and new enemies to fight. I can't give the game any NEW praise that I haven't already given to the previous two entries which are both superior.

    The game ultimately fails in three key areas.
    1 - The graphics that were displayed prior to the game's release are not the graphics you will see in the game. There are countless side-by-side screenshots that depict this. It's something that's becoming more and more common sadly in the industry, but in my opinion this was the worst case of it ever. I noticed it from the very moment the game started.
    2 - The bosses are all serviceable but are nothing we haven't seen before. They are by far the weakest bunch in the series and I struggle to name one from the game that I would put amongst the Top 10 Bosses throughout the series.
    3 - I wore the same piece of armour the entire game. I really have nothing to add other than that. This pissed me off so much. Part of an RPG is finding loot and equipping it. A piece of armour I found very early in the game was statistically unbeatable for my character class throughout the whole game. This deprived of a huge slice of fun from the first two games.

    Dark Souls II is a good game. If you liked the first two, buy it. But I completely scoff at it's Metacritic of 91. I really don't understand how it achieved that score. If we are to go by Metascore, it is the highest of the three games. And yet it's user score is the lowest of the three games. Why the disparity? Perhaps the hardcore fans were the ones that noticed the minor flaws, and not the reviewers.    … Expand
  87. Dionysus777
    Jan 30, 2015
    7
    If you guys would remove this please i thought i clicked on the first game i have not played this 1 ill get back to you if i ever get it connect the dots lalalalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
  88. JuanLuisGG14
    Mar 23, 2017
    7
    Truly a great game, when I started it i foond it to be extremely difficult, but after some hours i beat the first boss, and discovered the rewarding experience of it.
    Although that, many things aren't as memorable or cleverly designed as in the first t¿Dark Souls
    Bosses are kinda boring and the world feels generally lifeless. Lore is not as strong as in the first one, too. Gameplay is    Truly a great game, when I started it i foond it to be extremely difficult, but after some hours i beat the first boss, and discovered the rewarding experience of it.
    Although that, many things aren't as memorable or cleverly designed as in the first t¿Dark Souls
    Bosses are kinda boring and the world feels generally lifeless. Lore is not as strong as in the first one, too.
    Gameplay is better than in the first Dark Souls, but AI destroys it and makes it more as a rolling simulator or a "go to enemies back" one.
    7/10    … Expand
  89. vlankton
    Jul 11, 2015
    7
    This game is such a disappointment compared to demons' souls and dark souls. The combat is slow and boring. the colors are very brown and boring.I liked majula it was a very much like the nexus. The healing is slow and the estus flask was pushed aside. I'm not saying this is a bad game its a disappointing game.
  90. Wineneeder
    Dec 20, 2020
    7
    Having now beat the game, I can say this is really just a pale imitation of the first. Aping it with no skill or understanding.

    I don't want to particularly go into my reasons, so I will say that the Matthewmatosis "Dark Souls 2 Critique" youtube video really sums it up and coalesces my thoughts and raw feelings into something more tangible. Long, but worth the watch, even if you like    Having now beat the game, I can say this is really just a pale imitation of the first. Aping it with no skill or understanding.

    I don't want to particularly go into my reasons, so I will say that the Matthewmatosis
    "Dark Souls 2 Critique" youtube video really sums it up and coalesces my thoughts and raw feelings into something more tangible. Long, but worth the watch, even if you like the game.

    (mild optional boss spoilers)
    Some areas I must mention, that really stood out to me (well or stunk) were the -gauntlets- to the boss fights Ancient Dragon and Smelter Demon 2: This time he's Blue. Oh and Frigid Outskirts.. ugh.
    (mild optional boss spoilers)

    Anyway, there are some good ideas in this sequel, pretty areas, but a whole lot of bad, terrible ideas and retreads from the last game. A shame because I find the quality never quite dips to the rush job that the lord souls were in the first game, mostly, but is overall just weak.

    I did enjoy the game, I found some areas to be of good quality and I did like some of it.. just really, really hated the bad parts and poor design decisions w/r/t game systems, specifically the total souls level/multiplayer matchmaking

    I can recommend this, most of the truly horrible gauntlet sections are optional, the multiplayer is probably not a factor at this time.    … Expand
  91. Jvbcdtm3
    Nov 4, 2018
    7
    Lore:7
    Graphics:7
    Gameplay:7
    Mechanics:8
    Sounds:8
    Style:8
    Details:6
    The worst souls
  92. MasterMoonfire
    Aug 28, 2020
    7
    Dark Souls II may have had many new ideas but not all of them were executed too well in this game, Dark Souls II is a good game overall but not a good Souls game, it is the least enjoyable game in the series and a pretty big disappointment overall, awkward gameplay, artificial difficulty, and questionable control feel are the major problems. Dark Souls II does have really good thingsDark Souls II may have had many new ideas but not all of them were executed too well in this game, Dark Souls II is a good game overall but not a good Souls game, it is the least enjoyable game in the series and a pretty big disappointment overall, awkward gameplay, artificial difficulty, and questionable control feel are the major problems. Dark Souls II does have really good things though that keep the game from being bad, the world of Drangleic is amazing and visually stunning, the combat works, the soundtrack is really good, NPCs are interesting and memorable, interesting new mechanics like power stance and stat reallocation, it has a good new game plus, and build variety, but that's it, while it's not the worst video game sequel out there, it's definitely the weakest of the Souls series.… Expand
  93. CFMCritic
    May 15, 2021
    7
    Dark Souls II is the godfather part III of the franchise, it has some very good moments, boss fights, areas and a story that is so dark and fascinating yet it's messy in its designs and denies the discovery aspect of demon's souls and dark souls. Dark souls 2 is overlong and filles with unnecessary areas with bas design and boss fights. I wish I could give it a higher score.
  94. CnPx98
    Aug 18, 2022
    7
    This game is alright but it's probably my least favourite of the souls games I have played. Health supplies are basically never seen and every time you die you loose 5% of health making the part you got stuck on even harder the next time. It really doesn't make sense to have a mechanic like this in a game. How do you expect players to overcome something by making it worse. You get a stoneThis game is alright but it's probably my least favourite of the souls games I have played. Health supplies are basically never seen and every time you die you loose 5% of health making the part you got stuck on even harder the next time. It really doesn't make sense to have a mechanic like this in a game. How do you expect players to overcome something by making it worse. You get a stone that makes you human again but these are like hen's teeth. You get character creation but you'll just spend most of the game looking like Frankenstein.
    The graphics aren't amazing even for PS3 but I think from software wasn't huge at this point so fair enough. This game is clearly more for the die hard fans of the souls games otherwise you mite aswell just skip over it and play the newer better ones.    … Expand
  95. Ygs
    Jul 14, 2022
    7
    91 out of 100 unbelievable, this game is nothing but a copy of the previous version, it is much worse, lol, the design has completely regressed, a forgettable experience, fake souls fans, you keep buying the same game again and again, on the contrary, dark souls 1 was great
  96. Jerg4n
    Apr 7, 2023
    7
    Some questionable design choices make this an... interesting game. Most bosses feel lacking, the world design is weird, it is WAY more bs than it's predecessor and so on. I would've wanted to enjoy this game more, but it just felt llke an inferior Dark Souls 1 in every way. Being inferior to a masterpiece still makes it good, but doesn't make it less disappointing.
  97. mrnice
    Dec 1, 2014
    6
    Update: Having now played the predecessor, I found much of the lore, visuals, and even level concepts to be reused in DSII. It makes way less sense in terms of world design, and everything that seemed carefully thought out in Dark Souls seems thrown into II as "hey this idea could be pretty cool too!". Ultimately, Dark Souls is a more artful game. For this, I subtract one point from theUpdate: Having now played the predecessor, I found much of the lore, visuals, and even level concepts to be reused in DSII. It makes way less sense in terms of world design, and everything that seemed carefully thought out in Dark Souls seems thrown into II as "hey this idea could be pretty cool too!". Ultimately, Dark Souls is a more artful game. For this, I subtract one point from the score.

    ( written July 2014: )
    Even after nearly 50 hours, there were still a few optional areas to beat, plus multiplayer battles. That kind of longevity is impressive in such an intense action game. The areas are varied and offers many surprises. The game rarely moves focus from the action, however, and there are loads of action games for PS3, so I'm not sure DS2 is a standout. In terms of artwork and scope, it's phenomenal, but the story and the non-action gameplay could have been more expertly crafted and brought more into focus.

    One optional but significant puzzle was so unintuitive that I feel inclined to subtract a whole point for it. The whole non-combat part exists in the background and only pops up when you interact with the environment, or when the story takes a subtle turn. The game ended abruptly, beautifully but without much closure. There's a Youtube critique done by 'Matthewmatosis' which explains very well how DS2 is far from perfect. It contains spoilers, so I'm just gonna tell you that there are lots of little things, and that the story doesn't really make any sense apart from the very broad strokes. Oh yeah, and the bosses are similar, and pretty much all enemies require the same approach in melee, no strategies or variations required. Just dodge, strike and repeat, with an occasional healing item thrown in.

    Overall, the game is a pretty, bombastic, fantastic spectacle. But is that all we should expect from visual media, eye candy?... When it could be a problem-simulator, a laboratory, a true playground. Instead, it forces you through hours of slashing and bashing on similar objects. It pretends to be more serious and deeper than a CoD game, but in the end, it plays on the same strengths, which is to impress with spectacle. There could be a deep message in there, as well as some playful and curious mechanics. Maybe that stuff is just reserved for other genres    … Expand
  98. EverFortune
    Apr 4, 2014
    6
    I see a lot of tens across the board, but I don't really find that fair for a game with no story, battle animations that don't match up with enemies' hit range, and painfully long loading times (this is key due to the amount of times you will die). I'll grant that the landscapes are gorgeous, the weapon selection is vast, and leveling system is pretty gnarly, but that's not enough forI see a lot of tens across the board, but I don't really find that fair for a game with no story, battle animations that don't match up with enemies' hit range, and painfully long loading times (this is key due to the amount of times you will die). I'll grant that the landscapes are gorgeous, the weapon selection is vast, and leveling system is pretty gnarly, but that's not enough for anywhere near a perfect score.

    The fans of this game always try to make it out that if we don't like it, we just don't "get it" as if the fault lies with us, but if a game doesn't motivate me to keep pushing forward even though i just paid 60 dollars for it, some of the blame has to be with the game itself    … Expand
  99. asdasd33a
    Mar 29, 2014
    6
    for the game that features single hit death combat as main aspect it has way too many bugs and glitches. While Dark Souls 2 is a good game it has fallen far from the original Dark Souls and Demon Souls that featured close to flawless execution of all game mechanics.
    I can attest that after playing Demon Souls and Dark Souls that all of the deaths I have experienced in those games were    for the game that features single hit death combat as main aspect it has way too many bugs and glitches. While Dark Souls 2 is a good game it has fallen far from the original Dark Souls and Demon Souls that featured close to flawless execution of all game mechanics.
    I can attest that after playing Demon Souls and Dark Souls that all of the deaths I have experienced in those games were result of my bad input where as in Dark Souls 2 I constantly die due to some unknown practices that clearly should not be happening causing me much frustration.

    Here is a list of some bugs/glitches that I have encountered:
    1. dodging is not working properly when dodging just to get outside of hit range and successfully doing so hits still land while character is outside of hit range.
    2. enemy hit miss detection is very wonky. character gets hits while positioned directly behind enemy that is performing frontal attacks and gets still hit. like getting hit while trying to back stab spear man that is poking in the opposite direction.
    3. lock on. fighting multiple enemies and killing one and then getting killed because lock on would not auto target another enemy right in front of me on screen. (option is enabled)
    4. lock on. weapons swinging in the opposite direction or at angle instead of the target. causing miss. causing death. making some weapons unusable with lock on.
    5. enemies stuck in attack mode with infinite stamina and spam lock character in place till guard break and death.
    6. lingering damage after attack is over like steeping into clear air after dragon breath attack has ceased only to die.
    7. randomly respawning enemies without ever touching a bonfire.
    8. using ingame menu to quit the game and dying while that is happening result in character loss.

    Features that do not belong in souls series:
    1. areas featuring infinitely spawning enemies
    2. ledges with loot that cannot be exited without returning to bonfire by death or teleport
    3. jumping mechanics that constantly require to remove equipment to jump further
    4. dropping down makes character automatically roll resulting frequently in death
    5. low health characters build are punished by making some loot and some areas accessible only much later as fall damage is no longer percentage based and some puzzles require taking fire damage for extended periods of time.
    6. most of the boss battles are located in the rooms so small and bosses so large that it creates camera issues and leaves no space to strategically position causing death by constantly dodging into walls.
    7. a lot of boss battles now feature more than a single enemy that cheaply raises difficulty of the fight.
    8. boss rooms sometimes are riddled with edges that can be fallen to the death and other things that do not allow enough room for normal combat. half of the fight time is spent waiting for NPCs to reposition themselves so they can be safely engaged again. that completely destroys the flow of combat.
    9. some enemies/areas seem to require ranged combat only approach
    what I want to underline is that game features a lot of easy bosses made hard through cheap gimmicks

    Overall it would be a good game if it wasn't carrying on the legacy of previous two titles which featured close to perfect gameplay. Dark Souls 2 fails to achieve that perfection and thus disappoints me greatly.    … Expand
  100. Gamelore
    Mar 31, 2014
    6
    Compared to prior work, Dark Souls II is pretty awful. I feel bad that I waited 2 years and invested as much into it. I feel worse that the savior of traditional video game design sold out.

    - There is no character build specialization (there is abundant "respec") -- in one swoop, this completely removes the primary strategic level of the game. - Enemies not respawning removes most of    Compared to prior work, Dark Souls II is pretty awful. I feel bad that I waited 2 years and invested as much into it. I feel worse that the savior of traditional video game design sold out.

    - There is no character build specialization (there is abundant "respec") -- in one swoop, this completely removes the primary strategic level of the game.
    - Enemies not respawning removes most of the difficulty from regular areas catching you off-guard.
    - While at the same time, NPCs *DO* respawn, so you don't have to be careful around them.
    - Free, unlimited warping anywhere, right from the start, removing the challenge of layout memorization.

    The sad thing is these are all *features* the development team spent resources *adding* to the game. This isn't failure due to a lack of resources. This is intentional failure injected into the game by decision makers (i.e., making it more "accessible" to the much larger playerbase weened on post-16-bit games wanting fast content consumption, always-increasing "progress" and no developed appreciation for RISK AND IMMERSION): In other words, SELLING OUT.

    If you have not played a From Software title, do yourself a favor and don't introduce yourself to their work with this train wreck. The features vainly attempting to appeal to "new" players ironically make it unworthy to be a player's first exposure.    … 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.
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  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.
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