Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1451 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,013 out of 1451
  2. Mixed: 281 out of 1451
  3. Negative: 157 out of 1451
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  1. OmegaTavo
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    Amazing game. Even if you played vanilla DS2 the changes in this one will make you feel a new experience. I would love a remaster of DS1 but this one doesn't disappoint,.
  2. SimonD00
    May 23, 2017
    8
    Great environments and a huge amount of content makes exploring the world of dark souls II very fun and rewarding, but the combat is some what sluggish, kind of like your moving in water. Dark souls 3 and bloodborne are both superior in terms of combat and dark souls has the best level design so in this amazing series dark souls II is a mediocre game but in the grand scheme of things thisGreat environments and a huge amount of content makes exploring the world of dark souls II very fun and rewarding, but the combat is some what sluggish, kind of like your moving in water. Dark souls 3 and bloodborne are both superior in terms of combat and dark souls has the best level design so in this amazing series dark souls II is a mediocre game but in the grand scheme of things this is a great game that will challenge you more than pretty much any other game out there. Be sure to pick this up but play the other ones before this one. 8,5/10… Expand
  3. BotBearGaming
    Mar 9, 2017
    8
    The Souls games hold a very strong spot in my heart as they are now sitting towards the top of my favorite games of all time. So without further adieu my thoughts. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin is my third run through of Dark Souls 2 and it was just as fun as the first time. The game is different enough with enemy placements that I feel it isn't just another port though that isThe Souls games hold a very strong spot in my heart as they are now sitting towards the top of my favorite games of all time. So without further adieu my thoughts. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin is my third run through of Dark Souls 2 and it was just as fun as the first time. The game is different enough with enemy placements that I feel it isn't just another port though that is what it is. To me Dark Souls 2 is a little weaker than Dark Souls 1 and 3 but that doesn't mean it is a bad game. Many improvements were made with the mechanics and combat but the overall design of the world and enemies is a tad bit slacking compared to the others but if you are looking to jumping into the Souls series be sure not to skip over this one.… Expand
  4. ViniciusBrito
    Aug 8, 2018
    8
    This version of the game doesn't have much additions in relation of the playstation 3 one, it isn't a remastered or a remake, but they did changed a few things here. The enemies are repositioned, so as some items, i could say that it is worthy if you liked the game in the first launching, this version contain all the DLC's, and the three one's that they launched are great, some even sayThis version of the game doesn't have much additions in relation of the playstation 3 one, it isn't a remastered or a remake, but they did changed a few things here. The enemies are repositioned, so as some items, i could say that it is worthy if you liked the game in the first launching, this version contain all the DLC's, and the three one's that they launched are great, some even say that the three combined are better than the game, i'm not sure about that, but surely it is great, the best bosses are there, the most memorable ones are there, so if you never played the dlc's before, go after this version because it is certainly worth.… Expand
  5. Suspect_Danny
    Jul 6, 2015
    8
    Dark souls 2 is an amazing but very challenging game. It looks very nice and has great gameplay. The game can be very unfair in parts with problems with hit boxes and you may need to look on YouTube for some parts but definitely worth the buy
  6. Rumblefish
    May 22, 2015
    10
    This game is incredible! I haven't touched Bloodborne since Scholar was released.

    I really disliked DS2 when it first came out but after 115 hours of Scholar, I'm completely converted. I think this is now, not only the best game by From that I have played, it is probably the best RPG I've ever experienced too. The variety of armour, weapons, spells, miracles, hexes and pyromancies    This game is incredible! I haven't touched Bloodborne since Scholar was released.

    I really disliked DS2 when it first came out but after 115 hours of Scholar, I'm completely converted. I think this is now, not only the best game by From that I have played, it is probably the best RPG I've ever experienced too.

    The variety of armour, weapons, spells, miracles, hexes and pyromancies is staggering. Each is unique, beautifully designed and useful in the game. The story is fantastically deep and ties in with that of the previous game, if you know how to interpret it (see the Vaadividya YouTube channel and the Fextralife wiki for help with that).

    There are around 40 boss fights in the game - it's huge!!! Furthermore, the world of Dranleic now actually looks beautiful too. And of course, the replayability is limitless as you can try to collect items only available in New Game +, experiment with different builds and enjoy online combat.

    This game is now a masterpiece and I would recommend it to all lovers of RPGs anywhere. Even if you were initially disappointed when it was first released, you really should love this new iteration of DS2.

    p.s. I read in a review by another player that the controls are sluggish and jerky. The point is that your character changes dependant on the weight of the gear they are carrying and what their physical attributes are. I have found the controls to be practically perfect throughout.    … Expand
  7. Slevin310
    May 2, 2015
    8
    I said if they had done something to fix Soul Memory and provided players with the means to cap characters I would change my review. Well I had to wait for an expansion but yeah I'm just happy to have it. The Souls series is by far my favorite game series of all time. Yes, even surpassing my favorites Fallout and Witcher. I was a bigger fan of Demon Souls and Dark Souls, looking past theI said if they had done something to fix Soul Memory and provided players with the means to cap characters I would change my review. Well I had to wait for an expansion but yeah I'm just happy to have it. The Souls series is by far my favorite game series of all time. Yes, even surpassing my favorites Fallout and Witcher. I was a bigger fan of Demon Souls and Dark Souls, looking past the framerate issues Dark Souls was still a gem of perfection in the action adventure genre. No game ever came close to that sense of fear, exploration, reward and challenge the Soul series provided. Not since Devil May Cry 3 have I taken a game seriously.

    I find myself going to DkS2 wikis and inputting my character builds I make, interacting with the fanbase to discuss PvP strategies and even creating walkthroughs. Because it's simply fun, I enjoy making builds and debating on strategies, because this game warrants that kind of attention. It's like Dungeon and Dragon level of dedication and character classes. You make characters and face REAL danger. If you don't pay attention to what you're leveling up, you can easily ruin an entire playthough and be stuck with a bad character. But when you get that character right, and you put your knowledge behind it you can accomplish things that will actually make other players envy you. This game rewards you for taking it seriously and actually putting in work to become better.

    You will not reach the higher ranks of the Brotherhood of Blood covenant through some exploits or cheats. You must defeat 500 players, if you lose in a duel it will remove a point. That is some serious dedication, but you will be rewarded with a special character color when summoned as well as a powerful fire spell. The bright red glow of your character tells others you've accomplished one of the game's most difficult task. Defeating bosses and beating the game while in the Company of Champions covenant is hard, but other players will prove to be your most challenging foe. And to say you've reached 500 kills in PvP is a bragging right not many people will have.

    It blends single player and multiplayer like no other game before it. You could be breezing through an area only to be invaded by another player, or having a seriously difficult time getting through an area and summon a helpful co-op ally to aid you. Should you both kill a boss and accomplish your goal you'll both be rewarded.

    Immersion in Dark Souls 2 is second to nothing. This game will really make you feel like you're the one in danger. You'll be traveling down a dark hallway, low on health and supplies, too far away from your last bonfire to give up and you've never been to this location before. Your touch makes an outline of a shadow up ahead and you stop dead in tracks to observe. A normal foe? Or your next death? Getting to close will trigger a fight you might not be prepared for, but you inch forward trying to make out the enemy that lays beyond the glow of your torch. You have two choices; sneak up and attack the enemy as quick as possible, or head back to reclaim your health. Both choices have their consequences for the enemy may claim your life, but the bonfire will respawn the enemies before it. This is where the game truly shines.

    Combat is beyond anything I've ever seen. Two hand a weapon, one hand weapon one hand shield, bows, staffs, flame casting, whips, swords, greatswords, axes, hammers, claws, fist weapons, spears, halbreds, katanas, twinblades, curved blades, dual wielding weapons, chimes and daggers. So many different types of weapons, so many weapon choices for each category. And you choice what you'll wield. You make your character to use what's best for you. My Ninja Sorcerer Assassin couldn't be anymore awesome if I tried. Katana duel wielding a staff... that's just the surface ,too. The combat requires practice. Strategy and thought will be your great tools. No one button combos, you have a multitude of attacks to use. Rolling weak attack, back dash attack, running attack, parry attack, backstabs, strong attacks and jump attacks. You must study an enemy's attacks before fighting them, running into battle with no knowledge of your enemy and wildly swinging attacks will get you killed. In PvP you must size up the player and see if they have a pattern to their strategies you can use to get in for a hit.

    Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin fixes a lot of issues in the first edition. This allows players to focus much more on the game, rather than stare at their Soul Memory forever worried of going over their level up. I can't recommend this game enough. It's an action adventure RPG we've been waiting for. It's an homage to classic retro games and their brutal difficulty. It's an immersive experience. It's... DARK SOULS BABY! Get in there!

    (Oh right uhm, there's new stuff in SotFS. Torches are actually more important now to see. SM was changed. They've added in new monsters in areas. They've made the game look and run better!)    … Expand
  8. Tinge81
    May 24, 2015
    10
    Don't expect to pick up a Souls game and think it's going to be an easy ride. FromSoftware do not hold your hand nor do they wrap you cotton wool. What they do is submerge you in some of the most imaginative, challenging and rewarding worlds you will ever encounter.

    If your a new-comer to the series then your in for a treat with this game, patience is key, so don't fret if you die a    Don't expect to pick up a Souls game and think it's going to be an easy ride. FromSoftware do not hold your hand nor do they wrap you cotton wool. What they do is submerge you in some of the most imaginative, challenging and rewarding worlds you will ever encounter.

    If your a new-comer to the series then your in for a treat with this game, patience is key, so don't fret if you die a lot; believe me it's all part of the experience.

    For the Souls veterans you will appreciate the enhanced gameplay the next gen has to offer and the different layout in some places is an extra bonus.

    Feeling fresh and nostalgic at the same time, with the added DLC to explore and conquer as well DS2:SOTFS is well worth the £40.    … Expand
  9. bosconian87
    Apr 16, 2015
    10
    I loved Dark Souls 2 when it first arrived a year ago, and even though it clearly had faults (too much in it and a very scant plot) there was also the genius parts to it: the game was hard already, but by the player's own decision to take-on tasks non-essential to the plot it suddenly became tougher and the new game+ additions were by far the most rewarding of all the 'Souls games so far.I loved Dark Souls 2 when it first arrived a year ago, and even though it clearly had faults (too much in it and a very scant plot) there was also the genius parts to it: the game was hard already, but by the player's own decision to take-on tasks non-essential to the plot it suddenly became tougher and the new game+ additions were by far the most rewarding of all the 'Souls games so far.

    I don't think I really need to explain myself - I loved Dark Souls 2 upon its arrival, and spent too many hours playing it.

    A year-on from the PS3 version I played, I now have indulged in the PS4 version. For the uninitiated, here are the additions:

    -60 frames per second 1080P graphics.
    -The whole game has been reworked, with more plot, new characters, enemies shifted across the spectrum of the whole game, and gameplay has been given a major overhaul.
    -Up to 6 players (online players and NPC's) in a single summoning session.

    The graphics are lovely and smooth, in fact they are better than the PC version of last year!! Yes, the game is a year old (and it has aged a little in terms of graphics) but trust me, the enhancements do work and it just looks about the best it can. The sound has not changed, but it didn't need to and its the same awesome music combined with the breathtaking sound effects that are the norm for FROM soft.

    In terms of gameplay, to say this is tougher than the first Dark Souls 2 incarnation is perhaps not fair - 'different' is certainly a fairer term. Enemies haven't been just 'swapped around' to try and mix things up, they've been intelligently placed, meaning that whereas seasoned players cannot be complacent, newcomers will enjoy the experience a great deal too. Of particular note is the fact that certain events are not easily reachable now and you will have to work for them (but please note, its dealt with fairly). Coupled with the new strains of the plot, this makes for a very compulsive experience.

    I've kept this review short as I've reviewed it once and this time I'd like to express the following: this is well-worth the purchase if you enjoyed it first time around as much as I did, or if you feel like a challenge. The changes effectively null-out the complaints from last time and coupled with the overhaul of presentation and gameplay, make for a severely addictive game.

    On the PS4, Scholar of the First Sin is arguably the best remaster you can buy currently and more than worth the price of admission (or re-admission). Buy this as well as Bloodborne, and be prepared to lose yourself!!    … Expand
  10. rd1349
    Jun 23, 2015
    8
    I'm going to get strait to the chase, I'm a sucker for hard games, if one pops up my first reaction is usually challenge accepted.
    The game that started this was dark souls 2.
    Gameplay wise it's a great game the combat is unique in it's difficulty and in the fact that it keeps you coming back despite how much it can frustrate you. The combat is easily the most fun part of the game.    I'm going to get strait to the chase, I'm a sucker for hard games, if one pops up my first reaction is usually challenge accepted.
    The game that started this was dark souls 2.

    Gameplay wise it's a great game the combat is unique in it's difficulty and in the fact that it keeps you coming back despite how much it can frustrate you. The combat is easily the most fun part of the game.

    Graphics are nothing spectacular but they are good. Not much else to say in this department.

    Atmosphere is amazing. There is a constant feel of despair in the world which coincides with the plot. The same plot that needs a dedicated group of people working full time to properly figure out. So if you're looking to story, it's a very good one, but you might not even be able to tell till you look it up.

    Final verdict; 8 out of 10.
    Why eight out of ten you ask when all my reviews are 10s. Because I stick to reviewing games that I truly enjoy not that are definitively good. Dark souls 2 is marred by strange design choices and obtuse and unexplained plot devices. They game will often leave you lost and force you to look up a guide. It pains me to say it but Dark souls 2 is not an amazing game. It was good enough to be the only game in years that I've played through more than once but it simply is not a 10.

    For the the hardcore gamer this is your Meca. It is a game you must play and that you will land up in many favorite games lists.
    For the normal gamer this is a frustrating mess that will undoubtably put a fair number of you off gaming.    … Expand
  11. GodHades100
    Mar 3, 2016
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is an amazing game. Awesome gameplay. Huge open world. Every Ps4 gamer should have this game. Although it can be VERY CHALLENGING you will surely LOVE IT.
    Only drawback : 100% Addictive
  12. jiorl
    Jul 5, 2019
    8
    Despite the negative reception and reputation this game has garnered, it is a severely underrated Dark Souls game, and game in general (That said, DS1 is better in my opinion). Admittedly, it did take some time for the game to grow on me, as at the start i just felt that the environment. (forest of the fallen giants) was a bit bland and The Last Giant was an easy boss, but after theDespite the negative reception and reputation this game has garnered, it is a severely underrated Dark Souls game, and game in general (That said, DS1 is better in my opinion). Admittedly, it did take some time for the game to grow on me, as at the start i just felt that the environment. (forest of the fallen giants) was a bit bland and The Last Giant was an easy boss, but after the Pursuer boss i really started to like the game. For one, i really liked the gem system which went hand in hand with the flask system. I enjoyed the length of the game, and made the game feel like a massive adventure-more of an adventure than DS1 (sorry for the unpopular opinion), the DLC was superb, and the difficulty of the levels and the enemies in general was really challenging without being gamebreaking. There are some negatives though which irritated my though. One was the difficulty of the bosses. Most of the bosses in the base game were far too easy-in fact most of them were. The smelter demon, the darklurker, the pursuer and the ancient dragon are an exception to this rule. The enemy cpu's at times were sometimes broken, and didn't act how they should. There wasn't any memorable npc characters like the first game, and the level design at times wasn't very intuitive, and sometimes i got lost. Those faults still don't ruin the game for me in my eyes. and i think this game is definetly worth playing.… Expand
  13. ALSGATS
    Apr 7, 2015
    8
    "DARK SOULS II:Scholar of the First Sin" is one of the few successful remastered games for next gen consoles and if you haven't experienced this masterpiece on PS3, then you SHOULD do it on PS4. you're gonna have a lot of good memories after you beat the game, and after that you're gonna wanna replay over & over again.
  14. Caste
    May 1, 2015
    10
    It's the first 'Souls' I play and I am having a really nice time with this game.

    Graphics are not top-notch for a PS4, right, but that's not the main Gem of this title. The atmosphere, unforgiving gameplay and great online features are extremely well made.

    I strongly recommend it!
  15. Jollukka1
    Oct 28, 2015
    8
    This game is good, but very frustrating at start.
    Bosses aren't so impressive and you charterer feels clumsy.
    When you play it more, it's addictive. DS II was one of the best remaster on PS4.
    Don't miss it, because if you aren't played Dark Souls (original) you'll gonna be hard times with Dark Souls III.
  16. Allthat
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    This is a really good reason to play Dark Souls II again. You have to buy this game, especially if you missed out on the the Lost Crowns DLC. And don't worry about having to play through everything again because the enemy placement has changed so the whole game feels different. The best part is the remastered graphics which look absolutely stunning on new gen consoles.
  17. aqurban
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    The fact that From Software made some major, yet subtle changes to the enemy and item locations from the original version of Dark Souls 2, Scholar of the First Sin is an absolute blast even for returning players.
  18. mmrventricle
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    Ds2:SFS is visually impressive because it has improved texture quality as well as runs at 60fps. The developers also changed a lot of enemy placements and added a few new items and NPC so its not quite a carbon copy of the first game. It is harder than the original. Pick it up if you missed the original release, and if you are a fan of the franchise and has finished Bloodborne, it mightDs2:SFS is visually impressive because it has improved texture quality as well as runs at 60fps. The developers also changed a lot of enemy placements and added a few new items and NPC so its not quite a carbon copy of the first game. It is harder than the original. Pick it up if you missed the original release, and if you are a fan of the franchise and has finished Bloodborne, it might still be worth playing.… Expand
  19. lpsyco
    Apr 11, 2015
    10
    if you want perfection,good graphic engine and tactical gameplay...you can do fast roll to....buy ds2 HD
    you want better graphics
    but with a lot of frame rate and a faster gameplay,but with a lot of problems....buy bloodborn...simple as that

    darck souls 2 HD is old but is perfection....bloodbor in new gen....but is sometimes,a mess...

    adios,have fun
  20. sgy0003
    Apr 11, 2015
    10
    Game now days have way too much hand holding and are too easy. If you want a game that is punishingly difficult like the nostalgic games in the past, DS2 is the game for you. For anyone that is not familiar with the Souls series games, here's how the gameplay works; You kill an enemy, and collect their souls. Souls are used to level up, buy/upgrade gears, and sometimes used to cast spell.Game now days have way too much hand holding and are too easy. If you want a game that is punishingly difficult like the nostalgic games in the past, DS2 is the game for you. For anyone that is not familiar with the Souls series games, here's how the gameplay works; You kill an enemy, and collect their souls. Souls are used to level up, buy/upgrade gears, and sometimes used to cast spell. When you die you lose all the souls you have collected so far. You can go retrieve it, but die along the way you lose them permanently. There's no auto health recovery, no pause button, and not retry on the boss. All the enemies respawn when you die or use bonfires(which are the ONLY ways to have checkpoints, btw), and you have to kill them again

    You WILL rage. You WILL scream. You WILL throw your controller. But it'll get you just enough to make you want to try again. Every areas are very tempting to explore. Each bosses fights are unique and leaves players amazing sense of accomplishments when slain. The World of DS2 is full of rich lore. Every item and gears have their own story.

    Conclusion: If you want a game that will bring out the hardcore nature deep within you, this is the game for you.    … Expand
  21. doczellstoff
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    I know everyone is complaining about the weapon durability issue and while it does call for some adjustment to playstyle I would just like to chime in and say that it adds to the gameplay. It boils down to the fact that usually in a souls game you end up with 1 or 2 weapons that you use consistently pretty much ignoring everything else. With weapons being broken after 15-30 enemiesI know everyone is complaining about the weapon durability issue and while it does call for some adjustment to playstyle I would just like to chime in and say that it adds to the gameplay. It boils down to the fact that usually in a souls game you end up with 1 or 2 weapons that you use consistently pretty much ignoring everything else. With weapons being broken after 15-30 enemies (depending) you are forced to branch out and keep a few on hand. I think it adds a little flavor.

    As for the rest of the game: graphics are great, 60 FPS is cool, new enemy placements made it fresh for me (500+ hours in first release). It's Dark Souls you either love it or hate it. Im going 9 cause nothing is perfect and DS2 had issues all of its own.    … Expand
  22. tr3472
    Apr 10, 2015
    9
    the good:
    it made by FROM SOFTWARE
    its a "souls" game
    super smooth

    the bad:
    it has taken over my life. if i am not playing it i am reading, talking or thinking about it.
  23. WeakOrbit
    Apr 9, 2015
    8
    This remaster is not without it's share of problems. The durability bug that makes weapons crumble after defeating a few enemies is a bug I had not experienced in my original play through. In saying that, this is my only real major gripe with Scholar of the First Sin. The already large ( some might even say bloated ) DSII package is increased with the 3 DLC packages as well as remixedThis remaster is not without it's share of problems. The durability bug that makes weapons crumble after defeating a few enemies is a bug I had not experienced in my original play through. In saying that, this is my only real major gripe with Scholar of the First Sin. The already large ( some might even say bloated ) DSII package is increased with the 3 DLC packages as well as remixed enemy design ( which to be fair makes a hard game harder, especially if this is your first time with a Soul's game) graphical improvements and much better co-op functionality with a increase to the number of players who can join your game.

    Overall it's easy to say that this is the definitive DSII package but it's a shame that the durability bug tarnishes an otherwise great RPG that only suffers from its association with Miyazaki's incredible Demon's, Dark and Bloodborne games.

    Pros
    +Huge amount of world to explore and content.
    +Wealth of weaponry and character choice. You can be a close range brute or spell slinger. Or both.
    +Good combat, slow and methodical
    +Improved Co-Op functionaltiy

    Cons
    -Durability Issue is a pain. Hopefully patched soon.
    -Remixed enemy positions not ideal for new players.
    -Hitboxes for player character are still huge resulting in dodging an attack still registers the HP damage.

    Final thoughts
    It would have been nice to have the choice of playing the remixed version as well as the classic version. Apart from that if you're hankering for more punishing action after Bloodborne or want to venture into a grim dark fantasy then DSII is the game for you.    … Expand
  24. Dionysus777
    Apr 17, 2015
    9
    This game is an epic strategic tactical stat heavy dungeon crawler. It has it own unique style and mechanics compared to other dungeon crawlers and its an aquired taste that i find delicious.It runs way better than the souls games on ps3 and that was my main complaint with those.Plenty of game time and replay.It has its downfalls, mainly if you dont like it youll hate it type of game.AndThis game is an epic strategic tactical stat heavy dungeon crawler. It has it own unique style and mechanics compared to other dungeon crawlers and its an aquired taste that i find delicious.It runs way better than the souls games on ps3 and that was my main complaint with those.Plenty of game time and replay.It has its downfalls, mainly if you dont like it youll hate it type of game.And for the people about it being a cash grab, why would you buy it again unless you like it? This is 1 game you get a run for your money and your moneys worth, however would only recommend for hardcore dungeon crawler rpgers that want a unique game or gamers that aren't gona have a rage stroke. This is the first time ive bought this game and its chalk full of content for the price. Dont buy it twice unless its twice as nice.… Expand
  25. stamito
    Aug 1, 2016
    8
    I have to say this isn’t the master piece I was kind of expecting, BUT it is still a quite good game.
    Graphics are all right, which is fine considering the game wasn’t originally conceived in the next gen consoles. It is; however, very good and amazing on an artistic level, some locations are “wow”. The gameplay is also quite awesome in terms of mechanics. These are quite simple, but the    I have to say this isn’t the master piece I was kind of expecting, BUT it is still a quite good game.
    Graphics are all right, which is fine considering the game wasn’t originally conceived in the next gen consoles. It is; however, very good and amazing on an artistic level, some locations are “wow”. The gameplay is also quite awesome in terms of mechanics. These are quite simple, but the game itself is not very forgiving so you have to be careful or you’ll die. The difficulty is just right for me, although I understand it might be a little bit too much for some people. I, personally think is just the right difficulty and it achieves a lot more than just making the game “hard”. I think the fact that you have to be careful because you can die in any moment makes you think about how you approach enemies, which is nice for a change, as in most games you can basically just dive in the middle of a mob move a sword around a bit and be fine. I also think it adds to the atmosphere of the game; you are in a cursed, gloomy land. Hell! you should feel a bit tense about walking around in a place like that and the difficulty level achieves that, it gives you that tiny bit of extra tension you need, it makes you feel this cursed land is actually threatening and that you shouldn’t be there. The design of both dungeons and bosses is superb, it does not feel linear at all nor too overwhelming, and it is quite clever how they make you go back or retrace some times. Bosses are kind of easy compared to the dungeons itself which is funny and unexpected, but they all give you a decent challenge.

    The main criticism I have for this game is that I feel, being the game infamous (or famous) for being hard, the developers have tried too hard to make everything hard. I don’t have a problem with the enemies being hard, as a matter of fact I like it, but some design decisions seem just annoying to me. An example of this is the fact that the game throws you in the middle of nowhere giving you absolutely no clue about how the skills and stats work. Some people say it is part of the “dark souls experience”, I just think it is annoying and does not contribute to anything good. I respect those who like that, but me, personally, I don’t want to spend hours trying to guess what giving points to a specific stat does, potentially realising after X hours of game that I’ve been giving points to the wrong stat (yes, you can reset them I know, but still…). Finally, I feel there is an awesome lore behind this game but again, the way it is given to the player, although smart it is not very well designed in my opinion. Basically, this lore is very very very scattered and normally is given in very small chunks of info. I don’t dislike the fact that it lets a bit of room for interpretation, for example just by looking at the environment in a significant room you can theorise about how something happened. However, I think the basic lore could be given to the player a bit more digested, e.g. finding a kind of long document explaining something and, maybe, make the document hard to find rather than splitting it into 20 pieces of which you may find only 13. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea to give the lore like that, I just feel it could be better managed to find some kind of middle ground; the way it is at the moment made me feel a terrible lack of context at some points which is a shame because the deps obviously made a fantastic work with this universe.

    Anyway, this is a really good game and it is excellent, but for it is not masterpiece because of some of the stuff I mention above. For those complaining/worried about the difficulty, I’d like to say that if you play it with a friend (being one of you a tank) the game will be like 1000 times easier, more even if you summon npcs (which you can do in almost all the bosses). This makes the game a lot more accessible to those who don’t want to die that much.    … Expand
  26. starburns
    May 26, 2016
    9
    Although it may not look like dark souls, I assure you, it is. brutal difficulty, myriad of weapons and armor, and a strong cult following all still maintain in this sequal to the dark souls masterpiece. As far as how it handles and combat, it still keeps the same hack-n-slash play-style that its always had. The emphasis on blocking over dodging is still there, and a similar structure isAlthough it may not look like dark souls, I assure you, it is. brutal difficulty, myriad of weapons and armor, and a strong cult following all still maintain in this sequal to the dark souls masterpiece. As far as how it handles and combat, it still keeps the same hack-n-slash play-style that its always had. The emphasis on blocking over dodging is still there, and a similar structure is upheld. Dark souls takes place in a different world with different and unique enemies and npc's, and the world design is as fantastic as ever. One thing that limits the exploratory foundation of the game, and something that was increased in this game that was not so prevalent in the original is fast travel. Fast travel is allowed right out of the gates in dark souls 2, and also allows you to teleport to any and all bonfires that you have discovered. I feel that this somewhat lessens the difficulty and fragments the incredible world design. Speaking of difficulty, dark souls 2 has plenty of it, but one feature in particular seems to push the difficulty to a level that seems almost unfair instead of just plain hard. Every time you die, your overall health bar goes down. Meaning that every time you die, you have less health than you did the life before. This feature will continue to affect you until it has drained your health bar down to half. That's, admittedly too far. The only way to counter this is to use a human effigy, which is like a humanity in the original DS. The problem with that is that, until much later in the game, human effigies a frickin hard to come by. Nonetheless, The early game bosses are significantly easier than in the original dark souls, so you should be able to make out of the first area with relative ease.

    The final verdict of dark souls 2 for me is that it doesn't necessarily capture the look or feel of dark souls souls, but it does capture the essence. That means that everything you loved from the original, as far as mechanics is concerned, returns in DS2. That being said, new features are also added like teleporting and loss of health on death. Some new mechanics are debatably good and others are arguably too much. As far as PvP is concerned, it's still the same laggy mess that it was in DS, but that didn't effect my grade of the game because it's not something I've ever cared for.    … Expand
  27. mrpeanut332
    Mar 9, 2016
    8
    i would buy this game if you love a challenge and you love a good fun adventure i wouldn't say the graphics are great but they aren't terrible. If you buy this game yo will definitely get your moneys worth great game
  28. Mistwalker_94
    Mar 10, 2017
    10
    I Fukkin luv this game!!! Sure the first one is better but this remaster is awesome! It doesn't make the game look all that much better but it runs like silk it is so damn smooth! Bloodborne and dark Souls 3 wich I also love is not dat smooth.
  29. WiskeyJack
    Mar 18, 2017
    9
    This has to be one of my favorite games of all time. It was my first time playing the Dark Souls series as I hadn't tried the first game.

    I am not a fan of how the weapons wear down over time, but it is manageable.
  30. XV_
    Apr 24, 2018
    8
    A great game, doesn't have the heart and the soul of the first one but is not by any means a bad game. Although I think this one is kind of unfair with the lesser enemies (attack animation resets almost instantly) and also you need to grind a lot or at least more than the original.

    The included DLC has the the most difficult battles, that said, they seemed they were designed to be    A great game, doesn't have the heart and the soul of the first one but is not by any means a bad game. Although I think this one is kind of unfair with the lesser enemies (attack animation resets almost instantly) and also you need to grind a lot or at least more than the original.

    The included DLC has the the most difficult battles, that said, they seemed they were designed to be completed by a party, otherwise it will take a long long time (I was at lvl 170+ and my damage was a joke compared to theirs), its important if you want to solo this game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PS4 Game of 2015
24
#24 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
36
#36 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Gaming Nexus
    Jun 23, 2015
    90
    Whether you're new to Dark Souls II or played it on older consoles, Scholar of the First Sin is worth revisiting. This PlayStation 4 collection features the original game, along with the three expansion packs.
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  2. The Digital Fix
    Jun 5, 2015
    90
    Going backwards from Bloodborne feels almost archaic, and it takes some time to settle into that once familiar gameplay. However Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin offers the chance to revisit that still fantastic and familiar world with a slight twist to proceedings and a respectable face lift.
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  3. GameOver.gr
    Jun 2, 2015
    100
    The changes have made this edition slightly more difficult, but the core of the game remains true to the superb game design of the original.
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