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. coldasStone
    Apr 15, 2014
    10
    Excellent!! Dark Souls 2 improved than Dark Souls 1 actually
    and smooth Frame was Good than Dark Souls 1
    im Love so much FromSoftware
    i found lost memory that playing ghost n goblins
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. verglia
    Mar 31, 2014
    10
    The horror,the depth,the secrets,the bosses,the darkness,dragons,skeletons,loot,''you died','you died'' -again,and again,again...The joy and rewards when you move forward,the even bigger diff then dark souls 1,the pve,the pvp,the co-op,The story on items,walls,in the air.The world that is so dark has the most beautifull soul that i've seen in my life.This game is for us with souls toThe horror,the depth,the secrets,the bosses,the darkness,dragons,skeletons,loot,''you died','you died'' -again,and again,again...The joy and rewards when you move forward,the even bigger diff then dark souls 1,the pve,the pvp,the co-op,The story on items,walls,in the air.The world that is so dark has the most beautifull soul that i've seen in my life.This game is for us with souls to give,not for casuals,but that's true love for the players,other companies have a lot to learn from 'from' .Dark souls has great pricelles soul,thank you 'from',you are Leonardo da Vinci of our time.… Expand
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. caustly
    May 12, 2014
    3
    Thought I'd give this a try, despite how much I disliked Demon's Souls. This game suffers from the same problem for me; too much repetition. While most seem to enjoy this about the game, as see it as a challenge, I find it boring. You die often, and upon dying you have the repeat the same 30+mins of game play over and over again (though while fewer HP). Aside from this, there isn't muchThought I'd give this a try, despite how much I disliked Demon's Souls. This game suffers from the same problem for me; too much repetition. While most seem to enjoy this about the game, as see it as a challenge, I find it boring. You die often, and upon dying you have the repeat the same 30+mins of game play over and over again (though while fewer HP). Aside from this, there isn't much going for the game. The story is minimal/uninteresting, and there isn't anything particularly special about the game aside from it's difficultly. That being said, if you enjoyed Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, you'll likely love this too.… Expand
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. BergZ
    May 27, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a epic game ! Dark souls 2 is a game RPG-ACTION with Darkness theme , the best thing in the game is a insane difficulty presented in all game!… Expand
  12. SimonEl
    Sep 25, 2014
    10
    They are all tens, but playing this made me realize that demons souls is a 12. Hardcore, and penalizing, but so we'll integrated that it becomes part of the game. The atmosphere is like nothing else you've ever played. If you haven't played demons souls play it first, but the entire series is worth it.
  13. lenzkol
    Sep 27, 2014
    10
    When you pick up any Dark Souls games, make sure your girlfriend and your friends know you will be absent from any social engagement for at least a month. That's how addictive the game is. The graphics have improved but really who cares? We've had so much hype on "pretty" to look at games with not substance lately. Dark Souls delivers in the core game play and mechanics. Its been coined "AWhen you pick up any Dark Souls games, make sure your girlfriend and your friends know you will be absent from any social engagement for at least a month. That's how addictive the game is. The graphics have improved but really who cares? We've had so much hype on "pretty" to look at games with not substance lately. Dark Souls delivers in the core game play and mechanics. Its been coined "A Game for Gamers' and that's exactly what it is. The best to date RPG and delivers an adrenaline rush comparable to FPS games. The first time I've felt challenged in this genre and first game I've bought on multiple Platforms 10/10

    The next big thing for FromSoftware is to venture into a MMORPG with this gameplay and you will snatch all the constituency from WoW, Skyrim & the very promising Dragon Age.    … Expand
  14. nyquist75
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    THE game for adults to play without feeling like an over-grown kid messing about with toys. Same goes for the rest of the series and hopefully upcoming Bloodborne!
  15. 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
  16. dj_cole
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    To save you some time I'll start with this: if you enjoyed or didn't enjoy the first Dark Souls and, to a lesser extent, the spiritual progenitor of Demon's Souls you will probably feel the same way about Dark Souls 2. Dark Souls 2 is a little less punishing, a little less dreaery and slightly more upbeat at times but is the same basic experience of learning through trial and error.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The game has great replayability. After each game you can start over with the game changing a little, with slight changes in the world and carrying over gear and progress. The game is an immense value, worth a definite buy.    … Expand
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. darksoulskorean
    Feb 6, 2022
    0
    This game is not bad. It has its own pros and cons. But this is by no means worthy of such a high score. Higher than DS1 and DS3? Come on, critics. You guys are suck and just spoiled it. Now no one will pay any attention to what you flirt with.
  20. Dukay66
    Mar 19, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls 2 is the most rewarding and challenging game I have ever played in my life. It barely ever strays from greatness and for good reason. Prepare to die.... again.
  21. Umaro67
    Mar 17, 2014
    5
    A poorly executed game overall that falls tragically short of what was shown off in playable builds before the game's release. The thrill of surviving against insane odds is still there, and really the only thing that isn't botched in this sad follow up to Dark Souls. The first thing that really baffled me about this game is how poor the framerate is. It constantly struggles, and oftenA poorly executed game overall that falls tragically short of what was shown off in playable builds before the game's release. The thrill of surviving against insane odds is still there, and really the only thing that isn't botched in this sad follow up to Dark Souls. The first thing that really baffled me about this game is how poor the framerate is. It constantly struggles, and often falls into single-digit territory. If you are fighting more than 2 enemies at once, it's worse than a stop-motion movie from the 30's. Combat as a result feels unresponsive and laggy. There is a perpetual sense of disconnection with the character, they do not move naturally, actions like attacks or evades do not always happen exactly when you expect them to leading to blamelessly getting hit or killed by enemies. The lock-on system is still terrible, even more problematic given the streamlined ranged combat new to this game. The level design is confusing, each area almost seems randomly connected to the next and none of them have anything to do with each other, thematically, narratively, or gameplay-wise, it's like a bunch of ideas were thrown on the cutting board and the designers just went with whatever looked best and strung them all together with ladders, a big door, or maybe a tunnel. The torch is unnecessary and essentially annoying because it takes your shield. I also had to look on the internet just to figure out how to even use it. The interface is still clumsy, and still uses those terrible lists assigned to the D-pad you have to scroll through (one-way only) while being attacked or chased or what-have-you just to perform an action as basic as drinking a potion or casting a specific spell. I just started reaching over with my right hand to switch items/spells so I could do it while moving. On top of all this, the game is more difficult than either predecessor and combines the death penalties of both previous games into a side show of arbitrary punishments: slashing your max life (which also lowers your humanity, since in this game you are a zombie...of course) for every death in addition to losing acquired souls (which are used for everything). Which wouldn't be such a nuisance if I didn't die so often from bad game design and troll-like sucker-punches (enemies who spawn right behind you at bad moments, and don't make much of a sound). At this point I think I would rather just play more Demon's or Dark souls, than spend anymore time with this technical mish-mash. I would say this game feels like a 4, but it gets a 5 for at least sticking to its guns of outrageous difficulty above all else. Too bad none of the ideas panned out, this could have actually been a masterpiece.… Expand
  22. 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
  23. str85
    May 17, 2014
    0
    The feeling when you waste 50 hard earned euros on a masochistic nightmare.
    If you're a hardcore gamer that plays games to escape reality, enjoy a good story and fun game play, don't get this ....abomination.
    story is lacking, game play is unrewarding and only meant for 14year olds that have time to spend 60h per fight and find that funny, graphics are 2006 (well not surprising when it's    The feeling when you waste 50 hard earned euros on a masochistic nightmare.
    If you're a hardcore gamer that plays games to escape reality, enjoy a good story and fun game play, don't get this ....abomination.
    story is lacking, game play is unrewarding and only meant for 14year olds that have time to spend 60h per fight and find that funny, graphics are 2006 (well not surprising when it's played on a console)    … Expand
  24. 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
  25. GunnerFire
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    the legend never stop, i think souls series is the best series ever made(even more then ME series),be sure to buy it for PC, this time the consoles are the port
  26. anomander
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    This is not the best RPG history, this is not the best action game history. This is the best game in the truest sense. Imagination, fantasy, exploration and investigation of detail and stacking your own story. These players Mass Effect or Skyrim could never understand. Dark Souls II is a continuation of refined work of art.
  27. 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
  28. 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.
  29. FyreMagi
    Jul 30, 2014
    10
    I enjoy the game, but I extremely dislike the spell (Hex) Affinity. It's extremely overpowered now, as i have over 2,000 health (2,533) and I get one-shot by it. If only FromSoftware would nerf it...
  30. 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
  31. goodterling
    May 6, 2014
    0
    Literally the most overrated game ever. The combat system is a clunky, simplistic throwback to the bad old days, and it controls like a sloth on quaaludes. The drab graphics look like they're from 1998. The idea that this game and Arkham City share the same score is a sick joke.
  32. i_L_Gunnerz
    Mar 22, 2014
    10
    takes everything good from the past two games, polishes & expands them, & presents them perfectly with rich visuals, sounds & series best atmosphere.
    The world seems more sorted now, connected yet different, open & larger, & bonfire quick-travel ties it brilliantly.
    The types of enemies has increased, so has weapons-items & number of NPCs. Bosses are still unique & intimidating. From    takes everything good from the past two games, polishes & expands them, & presents them perfectly with rich visuals, sounds & series best atmosphere.
    The world seems more sorted now, connected yet different, open & larger, & bonfire quick-travel ties it brilliantly.
    The types of enemies has increased, so has weapons-items & number of NPCs. Bosses are still unique & intimidating. From Software have maintained quality while increasing quantity!
    Apart from dual-wielding & sorcery getting boosts, combat's unchanged. Equally difficult, yet rewarding. Now smoother & somewhat accessible.    … Expand
  33. Ramiro1992
    Jun 3, 2014
    1
    This game is terrible. is even more bad than the first one, abysmal gameplay, i will not recommend this garbage, please stay away, the graphics look like a ps2 game, this game is a disaster, the combat is very REPETITIVE, the enemies attack and moves always in similar ways, people who like this game are 40 years old virgins who can't even beat it because it's extremely difficulty, thisThis game is terrible. is even more bad than the first one, abysmal gameplay, i will not recommend this garbage, please stay away, the graphics look like a ps2 game, this game is a disaster, the combat is very REPETITIVE, the enemies attack and moves always in similar ways, people who like this game are 40 years old virgins who can't even beat it because it's extremely difficulty, this game is not even worth try it.
    One of the worst games of 2014.    … Expand
  34. SpawnCap
    Apr 19, 2014
    4
    Game not even as enjoyable as first two games. Do battle on small pathways and wrong step and fall die, fall die, fall die. Other games had some areas like that but not everywhere you turn. Graphics in parts of game are subpar compare to previous games. Do your self a favor and by Demon Souls. Greatly disappointed in this release of the series.
  35. SOUR_11b
    Mar 13, 2014
    10
    this game is awesome. the only reason i didnt give a 10 is, wheres the thief class??? WTF?
    bandit? adventurer? deprived?? come on now.............
  36. bosconian87
    Apr 5, 2014
    10
    When Demon's Souls first-arrived in 2009 (I first played it in 2010, when it finally arrived in the UK), at long last a prayer of many a true gamesplayer had been answered: a game that was hard, yes, possibly even really tough at times - but it was rewarding, the difficulty added to the tension, you were never 'sold-out' with cheap moments or annoying difficulty spikes, and every momentWhen Demon's Souls first-arrived in 2009 (I first played it in 2010, when it finally arrived in the UK), at long last a prayer of many a true gamesplayer had been answered: a game that was hard, yes, possibly even really tough at times - but it was rewarding, the difficulty added to the tension, you were never 'sold-out' with cheap moments or annoying difficulty spikes, and every moment the game gave you was truly well-considered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Utterly unmissable    … Expand
  37. Cilvyenn
    Mar 21, 2014
    10
    This is the first Dark Souls game I've played in this series and I'm now convinced I need to go buy the first one. I was a bit weary of paying $65.00 for a game I new nothing about so I did a lot of research and what I found was nothing like I had ever seen before. I found that tons of reviews of the previous versions is that they were extremely difficult, challenging and rewarding. I alsoThis is the first Dark Souls game I've played in this series and I'm now convinced I need to go buy the first one. I was a bit weary of paying $65.00 for a game I new nothing about so I did a lot of research and what I found was nothing like I had ever seen before. I found that tons of reviews of the previous versions is that they were extremely difficult, challenging and rewarding. I also found that this game isn't for everyone and it's mostly for hardcore gamers. I had to take this challenge and I'm so glad I did. I don't think I've ever had a game that challenges you on the level like Dark Souls 2 does on a consistent basis. From the very beginning, you are tested in your ability to properly block, evade, or roll while finding the right time to attack your opponents. There are countless situations where you need to stop and plan ahead of how you will proceed. You may have to pull one enemy with an arrow while jumping down to evade another and kill two demons below you all at the same time. You also must fight bosses that are extremely tough and it may take quite a few deaths to learn their patterns and figure out how to beat them.

    For all of the challenges you will face, this game is also incredibly rewarding! There are tons of gear, armor, and weapons for loot and upgrade. Do you risk a death to obtain an amazing ring? Or do you wait until your stronger and come back later? The beautiful thing is that it's all up to you! You have full customization options of your character and can choose from many different classes and play styles. I'm maybe halfway through and have found around 60 different weapons including: spears, swords, hammers, and bows/crossbows and around 10 different armor sets.

    As you make your way through certain areas, the fact that every single creature can literally kill you, this game has a way of instilling fear into you and I find that amazing! I find myself entering new areas with a certain hesitation and with my shield raised in case of an ambush, all the while my hands are literally trembling.

    I highly recommend Dark Souls 2 to any player who loves RPGs but wants to take it to the next level! You will experience fear, anger, excitement, despair, and then you will be rewarded, or die.    … Expand
  38. 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
  39. Schuback
    Mar 26, 2016
    2
    Not sure why everybody is calling this a true RPG experience.... There is a very weak or non-existent storyline. There is absolutely no immersion and no NPCs, no towns, and no interactions besides fighting. It's ultra linear and while props should be given to how challenging the game is, most of the time it's just a timing thing. You study how the enemy works by dying a few times, thenNot sure why everybody is calling this a true RPG experience.... There is a very weak or non-existent storyline. There is absolutely no immersion and no NPCs, no towns, and no interactions besides fighting. It's ultra linear and while props should be given to how challenging the game is, most of the time it's just a timing thing. You study how the enemy works by dying a few times, then time yourself to dodge, block and strike. Different enemies, different approach. It will be the same from start to finish. Boss fights will take alot of time but feel so satisfied after bringing one down. The combat is not fluid. It's just doesn't feel natural. Your character is like a skeleton. Without any meat. I dunno.... Something like that..

    The world is boring and you will feel alone all the time. Online component, almost non-existent besides some hints dropped by other players here and there. No co-op. So forget it, Your character doesn't talk. The music is like it's not there. And the graphics are quite bad to be honest.

    Not the worst game I've played. But it's just same same same. From start to finish. Demon Souls, Dark Souls 1 and 2, Bloodbourne.... All the same with little to no innovation.. The new Dark Souls 3 is going to be same thing I bet. But hopefully I'm wrong. Hopefully. So to sum up, one word - boring.    … Expand
  40. altec101
    May 11, 2014
    10
    If you suck at video games, this will make you better at them. I'm not saying this from experience, but I became a more hardcore gamer after playing this game for 11 hours. But if you chuck controllers at T.V screens a lot, you shouldn't get it.
  41. pedrogarcia
    Apr 13, 2014
    10
    One of the best games of the generation hands down. Thank godness we have games like this, and not only all the Call of duty copy/paste miriad of games. I hope people discover the game thoroughly and so From Software can keep on developing games like this for the new generation.
  42. 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.
  43. seonsean
    Apr 1, 2014
    10
    this... game.. is... FREGGIN AWESOME!! this game feels both like demon souls and dark souls. even though the game still holds its name in the difficulty department, its much easier to get in to if you happen to be new to the souls series. im terrible at writing reviews so please disregard the poor quality, however i know when i come across a good game and boy, is this one of the best gamesthis... game.. is... FREGGIN AWESOME!! this game feels both like demon souls and dark souls. even though the game still holds its name in the difficulty department, its much easier to get in to if you happen to be new to the souls series. im terrible at writing reviews so please disregard the poor quality, however i know when i come across a good game and boy, is this one of the best games ever. it has more content than dark souls, more to do and such. its deeper and just pretty much perfect around. now lets see the pc version… Expand
  44. 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
  45. Playbobo
    Apr 14, 2014
    10
    Everything i expected from a new Souls game. Exhilarating combat, great level design and a story that isn't on the surface but needs to be explored and discovered by looking at item descriptions and the environment.I also like the new ways to up the difficulty throughout the game. Overall a worthy successor to the original.Praise the sun!! o/
  46. IamJam
    Apr 15, 2014
    10
    Now I don't generally rate games a perfect 10 but I'll explain why in just a bit. Here we have Dark Souls 2, I just finished Dark Souls 1 about a month ago thanks to this article I read about the most difficult games of all time and fair enough, Dark Souls 1 was there so I gave it a shot and the rest of my games are history. After a good 90+ gameplay of punishment and victories (more onNow I don't generally rate games a perfect 10 but I'll explain why in just a bit. Here we have Dark Souls 2, I just finished Dark Souls 1 about a month ago thanks to this article I read about the most difficult games of all time and fair enough, Dark Souls 1 was there so I gave it a shot and the rest of my games are history. After a good 90+ gameplay of punishment and victories (more on the punishment part) I finally finished the game and a few days later, Dark Souls 2 was out. I told myself that I was gonna give it a rest realizing that I was not ready to embark on another long journey but I got the game anyway and tried it for a few minutes and just like that, you've guessed it, minutes turned into hours and I was hooked like it was the original. Can't say its better but it has many improvements that makes it less punishing for the players but a few that makes it otherwise. Still it has the formula of having to try and try and learn from your deaths and be better and achieving that boss kill. People will probably argue about the game not being perfect so it doesn't deserve a score of 10 but games aren't suppose to be perfect, they're suppose to be fun. Be warned though, this game is not fun, not at least when you're constantly dying but it does make up for it when you're winning. Dying is part of the game so enjoy it.… Expand
  47. ch0c
    Apr 25, 2014
    10
    Quite possibly video game perfection. I actually started a meta-critic account to write this short review because I felt it necessary. It should rank one of the greatest video games of all time and I know what I'm talking about. I've been gaming since it pretty much began. (1986) Just when you think the game is wrapping up there's more and more and more and more. Sure its not aQuite possibly video game perfection. I actually started a meta-critic account to write this short review because I felt it necessary. It should rank one of the greatest video games of all time and I know what I'm talking about. I've been gaming since it pretty much began. (1986) Just when you think the game is wrapping up there's more and more and more and more. Sure its not a technological improvement over the previous in the series, however this one just gives you MORE, with a good story as well. Not one of those bled to death, read this, read that, cut scene here, cut scene there storyline. It doesn't FORCE you to care, because quite frankly, I don't. i think nearly all video game story lines are corny, have bad voice acting, and force upon you like a bad outbreak of herpes. Dark souls is the rare exception, an anti-story if you will, like a strange dream. Buy this game, and don't cry if you die lots, get stuck, etc etc etc. It just means you suck at video games and need to polish up your skills and thought patterns. Beat the game WITHOUT looking online at the wiki, trust me, its a rewarding experience. Then, when you are done, go to the wiki and see all that you missed, I guarantee you, there will be lots.… Expand
  48. 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
  49. Gatchaman49
    May 5, 2015
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is the Greatest RPG ever made. Everything that was wrong with Dark Souls was perfected in the sequel. Tons of bosses, pvp covenants, best looking armor, enhanced dual wielding. 10 out of 10. I probably have more than 500 hours of play time. Music is dope, graphics are sick. If I had to choose one game for the rest of my life, it'd be Dark Souls 2.
  50. sdwillie
    Apr 18, 2014
    0
    An unworthy successor. Following two of the best games I've ever played high standards need to be met, and ds2 doesn't come close. While a great deal of it's failing can be traced to the same deeply flawed decision by the devs to make multiplayer opt out rather than opt in (present in both demon's souls and dark souls) it's disastrous implementation in dark souls 2 pales when compared toAn unworthy successor. Following two of the best games I've ever played high standards need to be met, and ds2 doesn't come close. While a great deal of it's failing can be traced to the same deeply flawed decision by the devs to make multiplayer opt out rather than opt in (present in both demon's souls and dark souls) it's disastrous implementation in dark souls 2 pales when compared to its greatest shortcomings. In both predecessors the threat of having some random fool/player/griefer drop into your game to ruin your day was always a threat and made the lack of pausing, safe zones asinine (level 3 knights shouldn't have to face off against a jerk wearing allant' s armor and a scraping spear, and I shouldn't come back from the bathroom standing next to a bonfire on top of my bloodstain) but now they've raised the bar and guaranteed to over with multiplayer. It's brilliant that the game hangs for a moment to let you know you're being invaded. Not so great when it happens again. And again. And ag... well it was happening again only while you were standing still with all those pauses the first person who invaded ran in for a backstabbing, and you're dead. Not to worry, because things could be worse, at least there aren't places where other players can pull you into their game over and over and over until your equipment is breaking and you run out of supplies and have to quit the area. Well, not before invasionland there aren't.
    As lousy an implementation as is the poorly conceived multiplayer, it shines when compared to the awful camera. The camera was great in demon's souls, doing exactly what I wanted when I wanted. It was till pretty good in dark souls, somewhat twitchy but for the most part it didn't make things more difficult. This time around the camera might be the toughest obstacle in the game. Movements is quick and crisp when trying to make fine adjustments and painfully slow when it needs speed. The cameras behavior being the opposite of what is required at nearly every given moment isn't difficult, it's lazy and frustrating. If that isn't enough, the camera is stellar when compared to the controller. The slightest touch might launch you into a full Sprint, or moving further and further off center may do nothing more than keep you moving at a crawl--until you suddenly take off running. I've also gained no appreciation for the way buttons and triggers work to *maybe* cast spells, use weapons or a shield--or do multiple things all at once, back out of one menu, then the apparent menu, then hop backwards off a cliff, all with a single touch.
    All three souls titles have flaws at their core. This game has failings evwrywhere.    … Expand
  51. 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
  52. 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
  53. KRAZYKID85
    Dec 26, 2014
    3
    This game would be good if it was not enraging to the point where it is no longer fun. The game consists of more trial and error than any game should. OP enemies (Not bosses, regular enemies that can kill you in 2 hits). Unfair combat, and by that I mean you are dropped into the game with crappy weapons and some of the first enemies you encounter can destroy you in 2 hits while your weaponThis game would be good if it was not enraging to the point where it is no longer fun. The game consists of more trial and error than any game should. OP enemies (Not bosses, regular enemies that can kill you in 2 hits). Unfair combat, and by that I mean you are dropped into the game with crappy weapons and some of the first enemies you encounter can destroy you in 2 hits while your weapon barely scratches them. You will end up saying "Screw it" and sprinting past all the enemies just to get to the first boss fight, in which you will not get any souls and now cant buy anything because you must kill enemies to get souls, and souls are used as currency. The first boss will overwhelm you with the fact that like the standard enemies, can kill you in 2 hits, along with the fact that at times you will not be able to dodge his attacks. I give this game a bad review because of the fact that the good RPG elements, decent combat and atmosphere, is ruined by the fact that you may be yelling at the screen within the first 10 minutes. By all means, if that is what you kind of games you like.… Expand
  54. Gamingking007
    Apr 5, 2014
    9
    I just want to say this is the best money I've spent in a very long time for a great game. I am an obsessed gamer and could probably open a shop with all the games i have. The mood of darks souls 2 just brought me into the goth/medievil heaven i loved when i played demons souls.The graphics are timeless and amazing. The gameplay is fluid and extremely realistic and i have to admit thatI just want to say this is the best money I've spent in a very long time for a great game. I am an obsessed gamer and could probably open a shop with all the games i have. The mood of darks souls 2 just brought me into the goth/medievil heaven i loved when i played demons souls.The graphics are timeless and amazing. The gameplay is fluid and extremely realistic and i have to admit that demons souls was more difficult and this felt a little less difficult but at the same time it lets you learn your flaws to do it over with a better idea of what to do. The only thing i would like a little more is definitely more cinematics because it feels like playing for a very long time without a progression of a storyline. An extended cinematic experience would have made you feel like even moving towards a greater goal. I am crazy about stories so for me this was the only flaw the game had. That is my only reason for going it a 9 and if you don't like this game it probably means your just not as good as us hardcore gamers!LOL.I really hope they make a dark souls 3 for PS4 because that will be one of the greatest moments in gaming history.… Expand
  55. JohnConnor333
    Apr 21, 2014
    10
    Amazing, amazing game. I'm in love with Demon Souls, Dark Souls,and now Dark Souls 2. What I find is that although I liked the level design of Dark Souls 1 more, I actually love the soul of dark souls 2. It's difficult to explain - but its as if Dark Souls and Demon Souls had a baby and named it Dark Souls 2. If you played them all you'll understand where I'm coming from. I beat theAmazing, amazing game. I'm in love with Demon Souls, Dark Souls,and now Dark Souls 2. What I find is that although I liked the level design of Dark Souls 1 more, I actually love the soul of dark souls 2. It's difficult to explain - but its as if Dark Souls and Demon Souls had a baby and named it Dark Souls 2. If you played them all you'll understand where I'm coming from. I beat the game in around 70 hours (I don't summon help, and not the best), and I"m already starting again to see what I missed in the first run.

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

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

    Anyways - I have about 100 hours logged in and I can easily see playing 100 hours more.    … Expand
  56. Nus
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Great game, well worth getting the wholly redone DS2 Remaster for PS4 as it changes the whole game making it so much better which they couldn't before.
  57. Iluvatar21
    May 31, 2014
    3
    Re-review: Dark Souls 2 is by far the best in terms of content and PvP but where it suffers (at the cost of the soul of the entire series) is in the enemies. Basically they are the same and to compensate for this the devs have added more of them, twisting the original Souls formula from 'fair because you learn' to 'overwhelming until you break through the wall or run away'.

    Dark Souls 2    Re-review: Dark Souls 2 is by far the best in terms of content and PvP but where it suffers (at the cost of the soul of the entire series) is in the enemies. Basically they are the same and to compensate for this the devs have added more of them, twisting the original Souls formula from 'fair because you learn' to 'overwhelming until you break through the wall or run away'.

    Dark Souls 2 is not a worthy sequel to the series and the hardship is not worth the time.

    =========
    HOW I RATE: 10-9 score: perfect or near-perfect don't exist; 8 score: one of the best games ever. Top score; 7-6 score: great but not one of the best; 5-below score: serious flaws.    … Expand
  58. 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
  59. DeusXCom
    Apr 3, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is an amazing sequel and a great fantasy journey through the murky, forgotten land of Drangleic. It might be the weakest chapter of the Souls series, but still better than anything RPG genre has to offer these days and still perfectly capable of consuming hundreds of your gaming hours.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In the end, DS2 has many problems (some could be easily avoided), but FromSoftware had a hard job of following up to one of the best games of all time and they created an amazing piece of work that is well worth the full score of - 10/10    … Expand
  60. 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
  61. wemelchor
    Apr 2, 2014
    4
    I wasted so many nights researching, waiting, praying this game was going to be good. I am a die hard fan of the first but I'll be damned if I let what was released slip by freely. part of the problem is that I was forced to buy this game on ps3. the ps3 is ancient enough. the game on it looks like the stone ages! I couldn't see half the crap in front of my face. all of the things theyI wasted so many nights researching, waiting, praying this game was going to be good. I am a die hard fan of the first but I'll be damned if I let what was released slip by freely. part of the problem is that I was forced to buy this game on ps3. the ps3 is ancient enough. the game on it looks like the stone ages! I couldn't see half the crap in front of my face. all of the things they promised they didn't even bring to the table. just another gimmick to please shareholders!!!!!!!! the new system is broken, unfair. died too much? new game! got to the second bonfire and I already don't know where to go. when they promised twice the map size they really meant it! **** running simulator, run 30 miles just to immediately die. there is nothing I enjoy about this game. it goes to show that sometimes an artist can only get the job done one time.… Expand
  62. 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
  63. BeardtobeFeared
    Mar 13, 2014
    2
    This game does NOT look like the one that was advertised. Google-search 'Dark Souls 2 Graphics Downgrade' and you'll see that we've been totally mislead on what this was going to look like - through screenshots and videos. It's a good game otherwise, but this isn't the game I dropped a 60 dollar preorder for.
  64. Glowguy
    May 30, 2014
    9
    From had some pretty high expectations to live up to with this title and they delivered. I'm a big fan of the series and this game is a very worthwhile addition. I was a little worried they would dumb the game down too much but this very much preserves the spirit of the previous titles. For me these games are all about perserverance and discovery. I never play with a walkthough theFrom had some pretty high expectations to live up to with this title and they delivered. I'm a big fan of the series and this game is a very worthwhile addition. I was a little worried they would dumb the game down too much but this very much preserves the spirit of the previous titles. For me these games are all about perserverance and discovery. I never play with a walkthough the first time through and I always miss some major things, but it just makes the next playthrough that much more enjoyable.

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

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

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

    Demons Souls is still my personal favorite in the series but Darks Souls 2 is a very close second. I hope they add on a DLC pack at some point because I will probably still be playing this by the time it comes around.    … Expand
  65. THE_COCONUT_MAN
    Mar 18, 2014
    5
    It would of made more sense if they called this game Demon's Souls II, because thats what it is, not that its a problem, 90% of the design philosophy originates from Demon's Souls, from the hub area to weapon crafting, to how you produce unique weapons and leveling up, all its really missing is Stockpile Thomas. Dark Souls II is a great game and mostly worth your time, it fills in a lot ofIt would of made more sense if they called this game Demon's Souls II, because thats what it is, not that its a problem, 90% of the design philosophy originates from Demon's Souls, from the hub area to weapon crafting, to how you produce unique weapons and leveling up, all its really missing is Stockpile Thomas. Dark Souls II is a great game and mostly worth your time, it fills in a lot of the blanks left with the previous instalment (dual wielding ect) but as far as production value and evolution for the franchise is concerned its 2 steps forward and 1 step back… Expand
  66. 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
  67. 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
  68. Zypher0A0S
    Apr 27, 2014
    4
    I'm writing this for the PC version only.
    Well the game is really good actually (like a 8-9).
    The 4 is because just like the first dark souls, the creators made the LAZIEST PC PORT EVER... AGAIN. The sad truth is given about a day, + the right tools, and even I with my mediocre self taught scripting skills could make this game work better for pc. What's your malfunction Dark Souls team?
  69. 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
  70. SolaireMengao
    Sep 16, 2021
    10
    Escaping the "god fighting" system, Dark Souls II brings a more human experience, with a vast word and even surpassing the original game.
  71. 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
  72. 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
  73. 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).
  74. 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
  75. WaffleFox
    Apr 24, 2014
    6
    Dark Souls 2 is much like its predecessors, Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. However this game allows for a little more exploration than the others. Constantly looking around every corner and trying to find hidden goodies is always a fun experience. The backstabbing mechanic has been changed too so there is a little more variety in the animations. Not much has changed really.

    While the    Dark Souls 2 is much like its predecessors, Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. However this game allows for a little more exploration than the others. Constantly looking around every corner and trying to find hidden goodies is always a fun experience. The backstabbing mechanic has been changed too so there is a little more variety in the animations. Not much has changed really.

    While the enemies and bosses were not all that challenging, the difficulty from this game derives from poor programming and clunky controls. I often find myself doing actions around half a second to a few seconds later after pushing the button. Can't say how many times I've seen enemies fire projectiles through walls or just slash through them and hit the player, too much to count is for sure. The thing stopping my arrows from hitting the enemy isn't their shields or armor, no it's invisible walls. Locking on to enemies can be a chore too, I find myself dying from the game forcing me to stop locking on and making me take all attacks in the back.

    The graphics in this game are nothing special. As a matter of fact, the textures are headache inducing and the same pattern is repeated over and over. Look at a wall and you will see the same rock pattern go on forever. This is used too often in the game and makes it look poorly made.

    Despite all these flaws, the game is still somehow entertaining. I enjoy fighting things up close and defending with my shield. When the controls do as I want, it is very fun. It's also exciting to get new gear and upgrade. Character progression always feels satisfying and rewarding.

    Overall, this is a fun game for those who aren't reckless and aren't too serious. If you are serious and get frustrated easily, do not play this. If you enjoy exploring and pimping out your character with all kinds of new gear, this game should be right up your alley.    … Expand
  76. 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
  77. 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
  78. ompor
    May 4, 2014
    10
    Awesome game ,not great pc port . You will die and learn ,this games makes winning or passing a difficult place an amazing feeling that everybody should feel. If you get angry at call of duty or anything at all this is not a game for you (Btw call of duty sucks)
  79. 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
  80. Discalceate
    Apr 27, 2014
    6
    Dark souls is back. Only more dark soulsier. Now, I'm a big fan of dark souls, but forgive me if I think that a game should explain the mechanics of how it works itself, rather than require you to resort to an internet search to figure out what something means. And no, I am not talking about how to select a weapon, or a spell. They are explained, but why should I join "covenant A" or swapDark souls is back. Only more dark soulsier. Now, I'm a big fan of dark souls, but forgive me if I think that a game should explain the mechanics of how it works itself, rather than require you to resort to an internet search to figure out what something means. And no, I am not talking about how to select a weapon, or a spell. They are explained, but why should I join "covenant A" or swap it to "covenant B", what the hell do these covenants do?
    But that particular flaw pales in comparison to the "invasion" mechanic. Always a good idea, always implemented like a lib dem promise on tuition fees.
    Its a **** ****
    Being invaded illustrates entirely how developers fail to realise what utter **** the general public are. If there is some sort of "balance" mechanism involved, then whoever implemented it needs to retrain for another profession. Be prepared to be ganked by people with gear that outranks yours, or to be multiply invaded so that one can engage you whislt the other backstabs you and kills you in one hit. And, unfortunately, whilst you could avoid all that poorly balanced multiplayer bollocks in the previous games, this time you cannot avoid it by staying hollow.
    Dark souls is a perfect illustration of a fantastic mechanic, in need of a good game. Dark Souls nailed it, by forcing a poorly implemented multiplayer on what should be a fantastic single player experience, Dark Souls II is a step back.    … Expand
  81. Dachman
    Aug 12, 2020
    10
    At first I didn't like the game. But after I completed it two times I can say, it's not as good as the first part, but still it's a great game. It denies some ideas of the original game, but at the same time deepens some other. It widens the game world and moves the story to another place, still connected to Lordran. Anyway I can recommend the game to anyone no matter whether you playedAt first I didn't like the game. But after I completed it two times I can say, it's not as good as the first part, but still it's a great game. It denies some ideas of the original game, but at the same time deepens some other. It widens the game world and moves the story to another place, still connected to Lordran. Anyway I can recommend the game to anyone no matter whether you played the original game or not.… Expand
  82. 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
  83. SoulsFan2014
    Jul 4, 2014
    6
    First i'd like to say that i am a huge fan of the Soul's games. I've played demon souls for over 200 hours of gameplay atleast and dark souls 2 over 300 hours. Demon souls had a story that drawed you in and made you feel alone and scared for every turn you make some dragon may swoop by and burn you to crisps, just to have you restart over in soul form etc.
    Now dark souls was easy in    First i'd like to say that i am a huge fan of the Soul's games. I've played demon souls for over 200 hours of gameplay atleast and dark souls 2 over 300 hours. Demon souls had a story that drawed you in and made you feel alone and scared for every turn you make some dragon may swoop by and burn you to crisps, just to have you restart over in soul form etc.
    Now dark souls was easy in comparison to demon souls as now pvp is a huge integrated part of defeating bosses etc.. Now we have this acclaimed sequel to dark souls that is... Sorry was suppose to have new gen graphics and lighting system, then release comes around and we find out that it looks just as good as dark souls 1 if not a little worse. With that being said i also think its gameplay is very unfair even for a souls game, but thats the least important thing that has failed in this sequel. What realy turned me off was its plain story that trys hard to get you into it but falls realy flat. Ohh well story may fail but multiplayer has to be suberb right? wrong!!! I sold dark souls 2 after 100 hours of gameplay after i got tired of magic spammers and realy got pissed when i got stunlocked with a dagger in heavy armor!! Ofc theres many other pvp and multiplayer flaws out there but i aint gonna list them all or i'll be here all day.
    Well heres the flaws in this game, average graphics compared to its advertised new gen graphics, poor-average story and lots of pvp flaws. I'll rate this 6.5 as a not worth buying at full retail price, just buy it used and suck some hours out of it as it has no lasting appeal unless you like broken pvp and a at best average story. I promise renting it for a week will get you all the fun you'll get out of this sequel.    … Expand
  84. 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
  85. excelicious
    Aug 5, 2014
    10
    Thanks to this game, every other game out there looks amateurish and easy. Thanks to this game, I have experience the most amazing world of the souls series ever and the gameplay is to die for (pun intended). Sure you die A LOT, but death is used as a learning process and to think of different ways in order to win against your opponents. I love this game but at the same time hate it,Thanks to this game, every other game out there looks amateurish and easy. Thanks to this game, I have experience the most amazing world of the souls series ever and the gameplay is to die for (pun intended). Sure you die A LOT, but death is used as a learning process and to think of different ways in order to win against your opponents. I love this game but at the same time hate it, because once you play Dark Souls 2 or any of the souls series every other game will look easy and feel disappointing.… Expand
  86. 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
  87. lolcaked
    Oct 13, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is easily one of the greatest games of all time, the combat system is great. Very smooth and easy to control. The difficulty of this game really adds to the experience of playing because once you defeat the final boss. You feel very accomplished, then you see the ending. The ending was a really good ending because of the way the story played out. You end up at the The Throne of Want, without really knowing why. To link the flame so the curse will stop for a period of time, only to happen again. Overall this game is AMAZING.… Expand
  88. 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
  89. 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
  90. 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
  91. superdonkey
    May 27, 2015
    10
    i consumed this game like a hungry ant and it consumed me whilst hitting me over the head and we both loved each other. its great, i love the changes from ds1, i love the fast travel and the same so satisfying combat and the warm glow of beating a boss. i also sat in awe and watched two other player far beyond my ability beat some bosses for me whilst i cowered in the corner.
  92. 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
  93. 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.
  94. Vashtor
    Jul 13, 2015
    10
    Best game of playstation 3, playing it for more than 160 hours and still enjoy...
    Nice gameplay, when you fight the Pursuer (boss) its easy to make you /quit. (tip!?) xD
  95. Nefastus
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is probably one of the best games I have played in the last years. It has all the things that made Dark Souls 1 good and improved over it. It has better control mechanics, what made the character more responsive than in the first game. The areas are vast and well developed, very distinct from each other. Some might say the world isn't interconnected as in the first Dark SoulsDark Souls 2 is probably one of the best games I have played in the last years. It has all the things that made Dark Souls 1 good and improved over it. It has better control mechanics, what made the character more responsive than in the first game. The areas are vast and well developed, very distinct from each other. Some might say the world isn't interconnected as in the first Dark Souls but I rather well done and unique areas. There are a lot of bosses and sub bosses all along the game and they never get to the point of being unfair or too easy.

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

    Its a must have game.    … Expand
  96. bkeny2idie
    Feb 5, 2017
    1
    Very huge disappointment for a souls game. Graphics aren't well done, changes from the core game were made without giving the community notice of the huge graphical differences, pve story and lore feels nonsensical even for a souls game, characters feel floaty and very different form either previous souls game in a negative way, pvp is corralled to a separate mechanic like arenas forcingVery huge disappointment for a souls game. Graphics aren't well done, changes from the core game were made without giving the community notice of the huge graphical differences, pve story and lore feels nonsensical even for a souls game, characters feel floaty and very different form either previous souls game in a negative way, pvp is corralled to a separate mechanic like arenas forcing duels while invasions are nearly non existent until you hit a certain tier much later in the games cycle, allowing new players an easy playthrough. Soul Memory makes multiplayer extremely frustrating for all involved. Overall a really disappointing game more so a disappointing souls game. if it were called anything else it would be a good game but doesn't meet the standards previous souls games have set.… Expand
  97. 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
  98. 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
  99. Kumasimc
    Dec 28, 2021
    10
    While often criticized for its departure from Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2 is one of the most brilliantly conceived sequels in ages. Rather than try to mimic the first entry, or create excess lore where none existed (or was needed), Dark Souls 2 looks at the actual universe it resides in and thoughtfully creates a unique space. In the world of Dark Souls there are endlessWhile often criticized for its departure from Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2 is one of the most brilliantly conceived sequels in ages. Rather than try to mimic the first entry, or create excess lore where none existed (or was needed), Dark Souls 2 looks at the actual universe it resides in and thoughtfully creates a unique space. In the world of Dark Souls there are endless cycles, civilizations rising and falling, each cycle likely thousands of years (if not more). Rather than try to “follow up” directly from the end of the first entry, Dark Souls 2 launches many cycles into the future, and tells a more personal story of King Vendrick, the land of Drangleic, Lady Nashandra and an ill considered war with the Giants (not too mention Vendrick’s mad brother Aldia, though he is more elaborated upon in the Scholar update). While traversing the world, unraveling the story of this dying land and your place in it, bits of the existing universe are expanded upon, making it both a fresh new story, and exciting for those looking for more answers from the first game. Mechanically, DS2 changed quite a few things, they created a new parry/riposte, updated multiplayer and the requisite new stats and balancing. In addition to minor adjustments, they also added the brilliant new Bonfire Ascetic mechanic, effectively allowing you to put certain areas of the game into a forced “New Game Plus” for extra challenge, as well as hidden benefits. The “New Game Plus” also received extra love, and is not just “more difficult with some stronger versions of old rings” like the first entry. There are real changes to the world that I won’t spoil here. The game is also massive. Even without the DLC, Dark Souls 2 is large in scope and well worth price of admission, but adding on the 3 huge DLCs just makes this one of the best gaming packages ever. Also to note, the Scholar of the First Sin and the original Dark Souls 2 have completely different item/enemy layouts, that create different pacing and routing. Most prefer the Scholar version (which also has the DLC packed in) so that should be the obvious choice, however for those who can’t get enough, playing through both versions makes for a fascinating replay that will keep you on your toes. All in all, Dark Souls 2 has often been on the receiving end of a lot of hate (criticism, fair enough, but also hate, absurdly). Many joked it was the “B” team (despite most of the original development team working on it), which is an insult to the talent at From Software. Ever since, it seems they’ve been scared to release a game that didn’t say “Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki” for fear of undue backlash. If you read the credits, however, their subsequent games always actually list multiple directors. And since Miyazaki is the president of the company, I would hazard a guess that he mainly oversees most games, while others “direct” them (much like he did here). It’s unfortunate that not having his name on Dark Souls 2, front & center, seemed to set so many people off, considering how From Software has proven as a whole to be an utterly formidable talent, and a groundbreaking game developer. All told, if you’ve been curious about this entry, but have been turned off by tales of it being “garbage” and not a real “Souls” game, I would kindly insist you reconsider. There are groups of people who aren’t fans surely, but there are many, many of us who unabashedly call it an utter masterpiece.… Expand
  100. 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.
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 69 Critic Reviews

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