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. 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.
  2. 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,.
  3. 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
  4. BloodyRandy
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    If you were dissapointed in Bloodborne, hopefully this will help you put your faith back into From Software. This game isn't Mayazaki but perhaps that's a good thing since he hasn't done anything that great since Dark Souls. This is easily the most assessable of all From Software's titles and a good start. It has all of the armor sets and weapons from the first game plus a slew of newIf you were dissapointed in Bloodborne, hopefully this will help you put your faith back into From Software. This game isn't Mayazaki but perhaps that's a good thing since he hasn't done anything that great since Dark Souls. This is easily the most assessable of all From Software's titles and a good start. It has all of the armor sets and weapons from the first game plus a slew of new ones, beautiful designs and bosses. Overall this is basically a love letter to Dark Souls fans that's above average and could be arguably the most fun of all souls games.… Expand
  5. 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
  6. 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!
  7. SileSixEcho
    Aug 16, 2015
    10
    The best game from 2014 is even better now. There are still some locations that are not designed that well but the really beautiful places like heides tower of flame or majula make up for those few let downs. The gameplay is even more amazing in full hd with 60 fps and I like that they changed the enemy placement and added some challenge. Great atmosphere, rewarding gameplay and tons ofThe best game from 2014 is even better now. There are still some locations that are not designed that well but the really beautiful places like heides tower of flame or majula make up for those few let downs. The gameplay is even more amazing in full hd with 60 fps and I like that they changed the enemy placement and added some challenge. Great atmosphere, rewarding gameplay and tons of things to do. This is not a game for everyone, but everyone should try it out and give it a chance. Some will burn in anguish, some will praise the sun!… Expand
  8. theeDarkhorse
    Feb 23, 2018
    10
    Was hoping this elusive little game would show up at our local store. And despite the odds, a copy showed up. Couldn't get past one third of Dark Souls 1 or 2 or Bloodborne
    Just stopped playing because theres never a moment when youre on top of the game. It's a constant struggle and theres nothing driving you to continue. Unil i played Dark Souls 3 and my ten year old nephew put    Was hoping this elusive little game would show up at our local store. And despite the odds, a copy showed up. Couldn't get past one third of Dark Souls 1 or 2 or Bloodborne
    Just stopped playing because theres never a moment when youre on top of the game. It's a constant struggle and theres nothing driving you to continue. Unil i played Dark Souls 3 and my ten year old nephew put thousands of my first batch of souls into health whilst i implored him not to. I never had to level up my health again. And i managed to beat the game. I was taught how to play by a ten year old. With my newfound confidence i picked this up and am absolutely in love. I hadn't realised you could use boss souls to pick up boss weapons when i initially tried playing the ps3 version. But you can, just like in Dark Souls 3! And given this game has more bosses than all the other games, thats a lot of exotic weaponry. The graphics and lighting have improved with the jump from DX9 to DX11. But it's inconsistent. The lighting and shading on metallic armor in Majula for instance looks fantastic but elsewhere may not look so great. The 60fps feels fluid and the sense of wonderment is as strong as ever. I strongly recommend obeying the brightness setting rule because torches/sconces play a role. And yes, all the DLC is on the disc. No unlock codes.. Enjoy Top tip: Level up your health first!    … Expand
  9. 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
  10. chr1so
    Dec 27, 2017
    10
    The first Dark Souls game was possibly my favourite game from the previous gen, and this one improves on it, mainly in terms of graphics and fluidity. A must play
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. RhaZo
    May 28, 2015
    10
    Harder, better and stronger.
    This game is masterpiece and the remaster is the best Fromsoftware has to offer.
    Many hours of gameplay, online and offline, harder fights and a bigger and more complex game than the glorious Bloodborne.
  14. Joker92
    Jan 15, 2016
    10
    I was late to the party, so I only have this on PS4. That needs to be said, because the poor reviews mostly came from people that had it on the previous gen, and then ignorantly got it on the new gen too expecting a vastly different product. Myself, having experienced the PS4 version for what it is and not having that saltiness can honestly say this game is fantastic. Played Demon and DarkI was late to the party, so I only have this on PS4. That needs to be said, because the poor reviews mostly came from people that had it on the previous gen, and then ignorantly got it on the new gen too expecting a vastly different product. Myself, having experienced the PS4 version for what it is and not having that saltiness can honestly say this game is fantastic. Played Demon and Dark Souls, and can say without a doubt that the series is doing good at improving in each instalment. The graphics comments do confuse me, and lead me to believe that those people probably do not have a 1080p display. The jump in fps from the other instalments is good stuff too, especially in pvp.… Expand
  15. seburo
    Jan 13, 2016
    10
    I just write to compensate for the f*ckheads that punctuate with 0s games that haven't even played. Regarding the game, I've just played for 20 hours but I'm already in love. Awesome exploration, great designs and fun combat. It's also true that characters are shallow and the cutscenes awkward but it's really a great RPG. Truly unique and gorgeous! :)
  16. hoppypoppy1
    May 21, 2015
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is challenging, fun, and addictive. Boss fights are already a thrill as it is, but with the challenge that comes with DS2 bosses I'm always put at the edge of my seat! I have already played 50+ hours of this game and I'm not even close to being done with it yet. The combat is slow at first but as you advance, get better weapons and upgrades and level up, it begins to speed up.Dark Souls 2 is challenging, fun, and addictive. Boss fights are already a thrill as it is, but with the challenge that comes with DS2 bosses I'm always put at the edge of my seat! I have already played 50+ hours of this game and I'm not even close to being done with it yet. The combat is slow at first but as you advance, get better weapons and upgrades and level up, it begins to speed up. Would recommend this game to any one who loves a little bit of a challenge. PvP is fun, Having friends or randoms come and help you with boss fights is really fun as well. Great game 10/10.… Expand
  17. Wrede
    Apr 27, 2015
    10
    I love Dark Souls/Demon Souls/Bloodborne so I loved this.
    Rearrange Dark Souls 2:s enemies. Block/change some paths. Add some npc:s and enemies. Add All 3 DLC expansions woven in to the main game and you get "Scholar of the first sin".
    All together a new expirience for a Dark souls veteran.

    Praise the sun bros and damsels!
  18. Lion7
    May 7, 2015
    10
    Amazing game. One of my absolute favorites. A game that doesn't hold your hand, doesn't baby you throughout the experience, and expects you to die, while taunting you with the deaths of thousands around you. It's a game you'll either love or hate, but worth a try. Rent or borrow before you commit.

    UPGRADE? I did. The graphics are a great improvement, the fact you can summon more    Amazing game. One of my absolute favorites. A game that doesn't hold your hand, doesn't baby you throughout the experience, and expects you to die, while taunting you with the deaths of thousands around you. It's a game you'll either love or hate, but worth a try. Rent or borrow before you commit.

    UPGRADE? I did. The graphics are a great improvement, the fact you can summon more phantoms than before is awesome, and finally, the developers have changed a lot of the enemy placement so that the game feels a lot fresher. I've definitely died a few times in places where I was thinking "it's safe here, there aren't any enemies".

    GAMEPLAY: It's brutal. There's no good way to describe it if you're new to the series, because there are very few games like this in today's market. Fights even with basic enemies are unforgiving and you WILL die in this game. Lots of times. This is not a blind hack-and-slash; it relies a lot on gauging enemies and adapting your tactics.

    It feels a bit less chunky than the original, and it's a lot calmer and safer than Bloodborne. The only problem is that it suffers the weapon durability issue that the PC version did; weapon durability is tied into framerate, and since this new version now runs at 60fps compared to the old console's 30fps, your weapons break twice as fast. Still hasn't been fixed.

    STORY: What story? In all seriousness, the story is rather vague, its connection to its predecessor is vague, and the circumstances of your being here is vague. Just like the vagueness of the previous game.

    ONLINE: Unlike the previous game, you are not safe while Hollow. You can be invaded by other players at any time, especially in a few specific areas where you'll be tempted to unplug for a few minutes. Beyond that, I honestly recommend staying online at all times, and feel free to call in friendly phantoms to help you out when you see them. Playing alone is boring.    … Expand
  19. 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
  20. Birdie
    Jul 24, 2015
    10
    I spent around 400 hours with Dark Souls 2 PvP on the PS3.
    I bought this for the better frame rate and sharper graphics and 1080p HD, just to recreate my favourite character and continue doing PvP.
    I was surprised by a lot of changes. New areas for example and some rearranged or expanded ones. Some new loot. Enemies are exchanged for new ones and some tougher ones can be found    I spent around 400 hours with Dark Souls 2 PvP on the PS3.
    I bought this for the better frame rate and sharper graphics and 1080p HD, just to recreate my favourite character and continue doing PvP.

    I was surprised by a lot of changes.
    New areas for example and some rearranged or expanded ones.
    Some new loot.
    Enemies are exchanged for new ones and some tougher ones can be found earlier.

    But the best thing with this version is that the time it takes to load between places is drastically faster.
    It used to take 30 seconds to enter a PvP fight on the PS3 for example, now I can count to 8.
    It's the same with travelling between bonfires.

    PvP is as fun as ever and fight clubs is even more awesome now when you can be like 7-8 people at the same time. Less waiting time.

    The only things I can complain about so far is that they put like 20 dragon bros that attack you at the same time in the Dragon Shrine. It's possible to just run through but if you don't want to run it's quite hard.
    Secondly, they have removed a third of the enemies that have a rare drop of my favourite weapon. So I haven't been able to get it yet. Oh well. :)    … Expand
  21. Conscious_Gamer
    Jul 18, 2015
    10
    So coming straight from Bloodborne (as many of the reviewers are) I personally think that Scholar of the First Sin is a step up from the former. While bloodborne had beautiful architecture and a wonderful gothic feel to it, there were so many aspects I was let down by. For example, even though I played it only two months after release, summoning took forever and so did trying to invade.So coming straight from Bloodborne (as many of the reviewers are) I personally think that Scholar of the First Sin is a step up from the former. While bloodborne had beautiful architecture and a wonderful gothic feel to it, there were so many aspects I was let down by. For example, even though I played it only two months after release, summoning took forever and so did trying to invade. DkS2 on the other hand, is the exact opposite. You can literally be summoned for jolly cooperation (which is fantastic) literally moments after placing your summon sign down, and filling up your party size is very quick, allowing for unbroken gameplay and smooth transitions.

    As a returning fan of the original dark souls, I was at first a little let down by the graphics (as I expected an astonishing improvementl, as it seems like a lot of people are complaining about. However, about an hour after playing the game I realized that they did it on purpose, that it is a fantasy game after all and looks like one. Other improvements made are the differences. Being a fairly experienced FromSoftware player (as I have played through dks1 4 different times), it was pretty rarely that I died. However, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin takes your trained mind and flips it on you. Things that you rely on totally vanish or are made unviable. You go in not quite as fresh as a new player, but almost worst, with bad habits. Like joining a street gang after years of working for the police.

    For example, you only have 1 estus flask to begin with and it heals your hp over time, not instantly. The lifegems, while non regenerating, seem to be placed in perfect moderation to keep me wary to overusing them, yet just enough that I can keep playing the game smoothly (unlike Bloodborne, where you pretty much had to go back to Yharnam just to stock up on bloodvials every fourty five minutes, which really breaks your flow). I have yet to obtain a 100% block shield, as I am only about four hours in (and have made considerable progress), which prevents be from just blocking every little attack, and forces me to use a mixture of blocking and rolling.Backstabs and ripostes aren't instant (especially noticable when pvp'ing) And finally (I'm sure I've missed some) the lack of invincibility frames forced me to revaluate my entire strategy. I used to parry, instant riposte, then roll out of there, or wait for the heavy swing to backwards roll through the attack for an instant backstab. Well, my days of quick rolling through mobs are over, as now I have to think of a completely different strategy or my health will quickly dwindle and falter.

    Lastly, a lot of people are banging on it because they are used to Bloodborne and its system or the enemy placement is too unfair and hard and oooh i can't even run through an area because the enemies are too fast and the graphics look unrefined. Well I say grow a pair. FromSoftware is a company dedicated to making games that are different and unique. They are not satisfied with simply reusing old formulas *cough EA & Ubisoft and try different things. I for one loved the graphics, they were like nothing I'd seen in an AAA game in a long time, and they looked fantastic and fit the mood of a fantasy game like a glove. The lack of direction and having figuring out stuff by yourself is just another step away from the handholding that games nowadays are so fond of, and it makes it an incredibly unique and enjoyable game. Stopping being wussies about it and grow up.

    10/10, only by the game if your into a challenge that will test your skills and improve your outlook as a gamer.

    Praise the Sun! ^_^    … Expand
  22. axaxaxaKURWA
    Oct 6, 2015
    10
    I love dis game famz ther is a clear reson for it to beh called Dank Souls too ssuch quality game i would 100/10 recommend dis amazin gmea you ahould don8 and r8 8/8 m8 dont h8 appreci8
  23. SicknessInc
    Dec 14, 2015
    10
    This game is great! It's a real challenge.
    If you played the first Dark Souls (I never played Demon Souls) then you'll absolutely love this. The DLCs are quite a bit tougher though. Alone the Fume Knight butchered me about 50 times.
    The games is just plain fun.

    BUT BE WARNED: IT IS TOUGH AS NAILS!

    I can really recommend this. Just prepare to die. :D
  24. Freaxuk
    Jan 2, 2016
    10
    Why people saying this game is bad or not Bloodborne , ofc its not same game different play style, first off all this game is for people who like challenge and specific type of gameplay , for years i was avoiding dark souls series , but after i try Dark souls 1 , i just LOVE IT :) Dark souls 2 its amazing especial Scholar of the first sin , more enemys , more challenging and DLC all inWhy people saying this game is bad or not Bloodborne , ofc its not same game different play style, first off all this game is for people who like challenge and specific type of gameplay , for years i was avoiding dark souls series , but after i try Dark souls 1 , i just LOVE IT :) Dark souls 2 its amazing especial Scholar of the first sin , more enemys , more challenging and DLC all in one box :) Try and then LOVE it or LEAVE it :)
    if people say this game is not fair then remember one thing "its DARK SOULS" whole beauty of this game coz its not fair :D    … Expand
  25. mestriner1
    Jan 29, 2016
    10
    Um dos melhores jogos ja feitos até hoje, sem dúvida nenhuma. Estou no NG+ e apesar de toda dificuldade como todos dark souls voce não tem vontade de parar de jogar. Um jogo completo, onde vai encontrar ação, aventura, estratégia, terror e aquela dificuldade que faz voce voltar e querer jogar tudo de novo aprendendo com cada morte! Sensacional, que venha logo o Dark souls 3!
  26. trevor1981
    Feb 5, 2016
    10
    Incredible breathtaking game you’ll become addicted to. I can’t express how much I loved it. You have to see it to believe. It’s a shame they are not restoring the first Dark Souls for PS4, hopefully someday. I’d love to play it. Souls games are now among my top favorites. This game is huge, and I mean really huge, with plenty of places to explore, plenty of bosses to fight andIncredible breathtaking game you’ll become addicted to. I can’t express how much I loved it. You have to see it to believe. It’s a shame they are not restoring the first Dark Souls for PS4, hopefully someday. I’d love to play it. Souls games are now among my top favorites. This game is huge, and I mean really huge, with plenty of places to explore, plenty of bosses to fight and breathtaking design you will just want to stop and admire.
    Very challenging and will certainly affect your expectations from games you are to further play.
    The phenomenal Bloodborne was my first experience in souls’ games, and after finishing its’ Old Hunters DLC I realized I must get Dark Souls 2. Even with minor graphics flaws which could be improved, this game is still a masterpiece and one of the best games ever created.
    Good luck with your journey!    … Expand
  27. HMolinet
    Mar 24, 2016
    10
    Epic battles, longer content than predecesors, new and original game attributes. Story full of going and comings, places and hidden paths. To be a Fan a of Dark Souls is to be insanely in love with this game. One of the best games ever for all elements and difficulty and online experience.
  28. 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
  29. jtassassins
    Apr 4, 2016
    10
    Played Bloodborne, beat it several times, Thought i'd try DS2 before i moved on to Darksouls 3, I Havnt beat it yet but so far, I am not disappointed to say the least, 30+ hours into it so far. Amazing game overall, can't wait for DS3! :D
  30. Unicron35
    May 8, 2019
    10
    Dark Souls II for PS4 is a fun and addicting action RPG. The graphics are solid and the game performs flawlessly technically wise at 60 FPS. The story atmosphere and level design is excellent. The music soundtrack and voice acting is also excellent. The fighting mechanics are fluid and addictive.

    The character customization options are deep. The MP co-op is fun and will allow you to    Dark Souls II for PS4 is a fun and addicting action RPG. The graphics are solid and the game performs flawlessly technically wise at 60 FPS. The story atmosphere and level design is excellent. The music soundtrack and voice acting is also excellent. The fighting mechanics are fluid and addictive.

    The character customization options are deep. The MP co-op is fun and will allow you to progress through the game if you need help. Overall, Dark Souls II is my favorite of the series and I find the gameplay highly addictive. I definitely recommend it.    … Expand
  31. SvenL1975
    Aug 19, 2018
    10
    I always avoided starting the Dark Souls games because I heard that they were so hard and I get frustrated easily. When the remastered version of the first game came I out, I decided to give in and give it a try. The last six weeks I played through all three games, all of the DLC, every optional boss - everything. Then I started Bloodborne and was surprised how bad it was, but that isI always avoided starting the Dark Souls games because I heard that they were so hard and I get frustrated easily. When the remastered version of the first game came I out, I decided to give in and give it a try. The last six weeks I played through all three games, all of the DLC, every optional boss - everything. Then I started Bloodborne and was surprised how bad it was, but that is another story.

    So give the game a try. It's not that hard, it's just not easy. Expect spending a few hours on the Internet, looking up the backstories of some of the character, or get some things explained that are not that clear. You will get one of the greatest gaming experiences of all time.    … Expand
  32. Durand1981
    Aug 12, 2016
    10
    Dark Souls 2 was the best of all 3 in regard to combat, dark souls 1 was the best in regard to detail and story.
    Dark Souls 3 well that belongs in the dung pile, as its a crock of ****
  33. 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.
  34. DrDjango
    Sep 14, 2019
    10
    for me the soulsborne games are the best in the gaming history for now. never had auch an perfekt gameplay again... all of them are masterpieces.
  35. Rabensblut
    Sep 11, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. CONTAINS SPOILERS: Dark Souls II Scholars of the first sin is definitely a great journey... not only into the story, but into skills as well. It is important to use Your souls to 1, fortify Your weapon and gear, 2, update Your character, 3, learn from Your own mistakes with each death You die, 4, find the right gear and weapons and especially find and use the right rings (especially the ring that blocks hollowing on 75% is the most important thing in the game). Each time You die in a boss fight makes You crave to kill that bastard more and more until You beat him (hello smelter demon... ;) ). Some parts seem hard at first but when You choose the right approach You will really be surprised how the game is easy to play (take those buggers one by one ;) )… Expand
  36. franktze
    Sep 4, 2021
    10
    The best game ever!
    Really loves the whole souls game series. I really enjoy walking around and taking fights every day.
  37. Trevor9000
    Aug 14, 2018
    10
    This gem gets a ten just for the sheer amount of content packed inside. A thrilling, varied world, and enough sets, spells, and weapons to keep you trying different classes and combos for months!

    And like all the others, Dark Souls 2: SOTFS finds that perfect balance of combat, exploration, and challenging gameplay to keep its fans hooked from start to finish and beyond!

    A must play!
  38. Przemun1304
    Feb 15, 2019
    10
    This is the best part of Dark Souls for me. Game is so huge with all dlc. Have never being bored even 1 second.
    Strongly recommend to people who like chalanges !
  39. Milidante
    Sep 25, 2019
    10
    Best dark souls game in my opinion! Awsome and endless contents and unforgetable hard dlcs
  40. Ararat
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    Невероятно атмосферная, интересная, бросающая какой не какой челлендж. Говорят, что сюжет плохой и лежит на поверхности, так вот, что в этом плохого. Игра для меня является лучшей в серии. И самая длинная часть в серии (с учётом всех ДЛС)Невероятно атмосферная, интересная, бросающая какой не какой челлендж. Говорят, что сюжет плохой и лежит на поверхности, так вот, что в этом плохого. Игра для меня является лучшей в серии. И самая длинная часть в серии (с учётом всех ДЛС)
  41. Hackslashshoot
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    my favorite of the series !!!!!! killing an enemy multiple times will make it disappear and bonfire esthetic so you can farm bosses are 2 things in this game that are not in the others. You can buy a bosses armor after you beat them and you can upgrade armor. A lot of little things in this game make it unique compared to the others. Soul memory is a real bummer. No password to link upmy favorite of the series !!!!!! killing an enemy multiple times will make it disappear and bonfire esthetic so you can farm bosses are 2 things in this game that are not in the others. You can buy a bosses armor after you beat them and you can upgrade armor. A lot of little things in this game make it unique compared to the others. Soul memory is a real bummer. No password to link up with friends either. I don't mind going solo but it would be nice to run this game with friends.… Expand
  42. nurfedx
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best Games known to mankind.
    From Software is a safe heaven for the Gaming community.
    Especially in times where big Developers dissapiont us with theyr fraudulent intent.
    Praise the sun!
  43. LudexGundyr
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tiene mecánicas que son muy creativas, inclusive, revolucionarias para la misma saga de juegos de Dark Souls, una lastima que sea infravalorado, pero lo único de que peco, es de llevar la historia de Dark souls de otra manera. Es muy entretenido, banda Sonora excelente, tiene el mejor multijugador de la saga, una variedad de armas, armaduras y accesorios increíble.… Expand
  44. FoxJoy
    Jun 29, 2020
    10
    Dark souls 2 is the best of souls game I think. Thank you for great game and interest DLCs
  45. AsalCristian
    Nov 21, 2021
    10
    Me parece un juego INCREÍBLE. Es el primer Souls Like que me estoy jugando y por lo que llevo jugado, es un auténtico goce continuo. Es taaan satisfactorio matar a los bosses que lo repetiría una y otra, y otra vez. No entiendo las críticas que tiene este en especial. Pero si no lo has jugado aún, juégalo, hazme caso.
  46. Gabitoxico
    Nov 10, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. JUEGAZO. Realmente me encantó el juego. FASCINANTE LA AMBIENTACIÓN Y LA JUGABILIDAD… Expand
  47. Simpson_761
    Oct 8, 2020
    10
    It's just so long! This is probably my only "issue" with this game. The game is solid. If you haven't played it then give it a 20 hour test to see if you like it.
  48. BumPump
    Apr 12, 2022
    10
    I will never not recommend this game to anyone looking to get into the series. A significant portion of players were overwhelmed by the difficulty, but it's nothing short of the biggest and most expansive of the Dark Souls trilogy.
  49. 323
    May 3, 2022
    10
    Ds2 played an outstanding role between 1&3, If you want to make a trilogy and don't know how to design the second one. Whether you obsessed with worldview shaping, map design, or combat system upgrade. Ds2 is one of the best answer.
  50. Reydriar
    Nov 12, 2022
    10
    Best main hub atmosphere out of all fromsoft games. Also I wish they would bring powerstance from DS2 back.
  51. liorrubin1388
    Sep 6, 2023
    10
    This is one of my top 10 favorite games of all times.
    This is one of my top 10 favorite games of all times.
  52. AnderzinhoLoko
    Feb 12, 2023
    10
    Parabéns Yui Tanimura, Você Fez Milagre meu Fih!! Arrumou a Bagaça toda zoada e fez o jogo ser muito divertido, apesar das controvérsias Recomendo!
  53. TheSatanist
    Aug 17, 2023
    10
    After going for all the platinums on Console and also 100% all available Soulsbornekiro-Games on PC I was actually shocked that I spent most playtime in Dark Souls 2 and had to evaluate on this unforseen outcome :D While the game clearly strays from the path of DS1, DS3 and Demon's Souls it actually has an intruiging way of telling its story and a really nice pacing. Are there some boringAfter going for all the platinums on Console and also 100% all available Soulsbornekiro-Games on PC I was actually shocked that I spent most playtime in Dark Souls 2 and had to evaluate on this unforseen outcome :D While the game clearly strays from the path of DS1, DS3 and Demon's Souls it actually has an intruiging way of telling its story and a really nice pacing. Are there some boring bosses? Hell yeah! Are the graphics a bit cartoony? Yes they are! But the atmosphere delivered is just amazing, the gameplay is a bit different from the other FS-Games but also super fun. While the vanilla game would only deserve an 8/10 the by now complete game including the 3 DLCs is a straight up 10 of enjoyment.… Expand
  54. anonymity
    Nov 13, 2015
    9
    It ain't Dark souls 1 but dang is it good.........................................................................................................................
  55. 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
  56. Kaniya
    Apr 7, 2015
    9
    Easily one of the best remastered games for PS4/XboxObe. After going through BloodBorne for 45 hours playing Dark Souls II for the second time is just full of joy. I have to say it feels fresh, the textures and lightings are much better than PS3, enemy placement and some items placement have been changed, there are tweaks and improvements around every corner and all together they have madeEasily one of the best remastered games for PS4/XboxObe. After going through BloodBorne for 45 hours playing Dark Souls II for the second time is just full of joy. I have to say it feels fresh, the textures and lightings are much better than PS3, enemy placement and some items placement have been changed, there are tweaks and improvements around every corner and all together they have made Dark Souls II experience a fresh one. Aside of the brutal and fast nature of BB I have always liked the tactical battles in DS2 and its depth in RPG, there are tones of weapons and items to collects, tones of armors, magics and so on.
    Most importantly DS2 features Lost Crowns DLC, adding a good amount of gameplay ( around 15-20 hours max ) and as well as up2 6 player coop is another good addition to this package.
    With over 60 hours of gameplay, 40 boss to kill, additional story scope, new enemy placements, lots of other improvements i should say this is a must if you even played DS2 before.    … Expand
  57. Turbodowg
    Jul 24, 2016
    9
    I originally rated this game a 3 because it was broken and after playing BB it felt like a step back. They have since fixed the 'weapon brake' issue/bug and I decided to buy it again in a PSN sale. And finally I have got to enjoy the game it was supposed to be played and it is fantastic. Not my favorite in the Souls/BB series but still highly enjoyable, addictive and challenging.

    I'm    I originally rated this game a 3 because it was broken and after playing BB it felt like a step back. They have since fixed the 'weapon brake' issue/bug and I decided to buy it again in a PSN sale. And finally I have got to enjoy the game it was supposed to be played and it is fantastic. Not my favorite in the Souls/BB series but still highly enjoyable, addictive and challenging.

    I'm really glad they patched the game and I can now enjoy it properly. I'm having a lot of fun with the game. Some great locations, beasts and bosses. Another success in the DS series.    … Expand
  58. xKindred
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    Theres something for new and old players, definitely enough content to enjoy replaying this game through a few times again. I definitely recommend it.
  59. Markolius
    Jul 16, 2015
    9
    This game was quite the experience. Bloodborne was my entry into the From Software games and I immediately loved it. SotFS is a similar game in terms of genre and overall mechanics, but it's slower in terms of combat and progression and it's much more customizable in terms of inventory and loadouts. Like Bloodborne, I platinumed this game too. There's just something so addictive about theThis game was quite the experience. Bloodborne was my entry into the From Software games and I immediately loved it. SotFS is a similar game in terms of genre and overall mechanics, but it's slower in terms of combat and progression and it's much more customizable in terms of inventory and loadouts. Like Bloodborne, I platinumed this game too. There's just something so addictive about the combat and gameplay of these games. So frustrating and so satisfying. I learned a lot about how to be a better gamer in general and overall enjoyed the adventure. I hope for a Demon Souls or DS1 port to PS4 someday and I'm really looking forward to DS3. These FromSoft games are really a genre unto themselves. They play so smoothly. The adventures are terrifying, beautiful, and challenging. It's going to be weird not playing them for a good while, as everything else just pales in comparison. Playing the dungeons in Zelda A Link to the Past or Secret of Mana as a kid - these Souls games are what we imagined the future of gaming to be like. They really are a fine evolution.… Expand
  60. pongkrit03
    Aug 11, 2017
    9
    Dark Souls 2 SOTFS is still an awesome game despite the fact that it was released long time ago. With SOTFS version, the game looks so good in PS4. It has high resolution and yet run 60 FPS. I would say graphic alone is better than Dark Souls 3 or Bloodborne, which only run 30 FPS, though the DS2 art style may a bit dull but that is ok. Combining all 3 dlcs together, Dark Souls 2 has anDark Souls 2 SOTFS is still an awesome game despite the fact that it was released long time ago. With SOTFS version, the game looks so good in PS4. It has high resolution and yet run 60 FPS. I would say graphic alone is better than Dark Souls 3 or Bloodborne, which only run 30 FPS, though the DS2 art style may a bit dull but that is ok. Combining all 3 dlcs together, Dark Souls 2 has an very long length to play. Map designs are the most DIVERSE in all soul series. The boss's difficulty may be lower than those new games but in DLC, they are still merciless. Enemies along the way are not as easy as their bosses. With the decreasing in max hp every time after death, Dark Souls 2 is surely not easy game at all. This game also has various weapons and enemies. (the best in Soul game). I had played Dark Souls 2 vanilla a lot on PC, yet I bought PS4 version and still felt satisfied with PVE.

    The main problem, however, is the multiplayer. At this moment, it will be hard to find someone to PVP or COOP with because most of people moved to DarkSouls 3 already. On top of that, it use Soul memory to match players, and that is the most negative thing in Dark Souls 2 (for pvpers). Although, the fighting mechanic is great, PVP in Dark Souls 2 is not good at this state. For Coop, there are many NPC that you can summon if you could not pass some boss so no worry about that

    In sum, right now Dark Souls 2 SOTFS has a great satisfiying PVE, I would say greater than Dark Souls 3. , and with the very low price right now I suggest everyone who like this kind of games to buy without hesitation. The game is brutal of course, so if you are casual, just don't. For those, PVP bloodlust, don't expect PVP in Dark Souls 2 since It has very few players nowadays.    … Expand
  61. MaxPayneIsGod
    Feb 27, 2017
    9
    I took my time to drink it in. The SoFS updates are a huge improvement over the original version. The narrative is as ambiguous as ever but like the first one, if you take the time you'll find it. Enemy design is suitably FROM with some seriously grotesque creatures. Bosses are not as good as DS, there just hasn't been as much thought put into them this time round.
    DS2 is a lot more    I took my time to drink it in. The SoFS updates are a huge improvement over the original version. The narrative is as ambiguous as ever but like the first one, if you take the time you'll find it. Enemy design is suitably FROM with some seriously grotesque creatures. Bosses are not as good as DS, there just hasn't been as much thought put into them this time round.
    DS2 is a lot more "accessible". The ability to teleport from the outset makes progression significantly easier, but at the same time DS2 seems a lot bigger and the world is more complex. The environments are breathtaking, well the ones they've put the effort into. Its the gothic architecture that really blows me away.
    NPC and player summons are a huge help and I really enjoy this aspect of the game, especially when you're stuck on a tricky boss.
    I grinded my way through all 3 Crown DLCs, they didn't really add anything to the over all experience. There were some very, very cool ideas, especially in Crown of Sunken King. The bosses are utter monstrosities, each Crown has one who ups the stakes and difficulty each time.
    DS2 is not quite as good as DS1, only because its a sequel. It'll be a long time before I tackle DS3, the sense of relief I feel when conquering a Souls game is strange, its almost a bad thing, but overall I enjoyed it, each hurdle I overcame, I enjoyed it.    … Expand
  62. warlock7
    Apr 7, 2015
    9
    Love this game. Can't quite understand why people can't seem to tell if they're in the PC forum of the PS4 forum as it makes perfect sense complaining about the PC version and it's history rather than mentioning the PS4 version.
  63. 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
  64. 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
  65. 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.
  66. tempestuousfork
    May 25, 2015
    9
    It's good. Don't buy this game thinking that it will be like Bloodborne, because it won't be and it isn't. In reflection, it's imperfect, but is still worth it.
  67. DrakeGarrison
    Aug 26, 2015
    9
    Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin includes the 3 previously released DLC packs - Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the ivory King - along with additional features. All versions of the game include the following features (Existing Dark Souls II owners will receive a patch to implement these elements): Additional NPCs added for an enhanced storyDark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin includes the 3 previously released DLC packs - Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the ivory King - along with additional features. All versions of the game include the following features (Existing Dark Souls II owners will receive a patch to implement these elements): Additional NPCs added for an enhanced story experience. Parameter adjustments for improved game balance. Augmented item descriptions. Improved online matchmaking functionality. [Bandai Namco]… Expand
  68. fallouts
    Oct 27, 2015
    9
    I could go on and on about this game. I got it AFTER my first From Software experience playing Bloodborne and this game is even more impressive in scope and substance. The graphics are not as fantastic as Bloodborne as it is a port, however they are still gorgeous and the framerate makes things all the more impressive. Also, the multiplayer system in this game is MUCH better than inI could go on and on about this game. I got it AFTER my first From Software experience playing Bloodborne and this game is even more impressive in scope and substance. The graphics are not as fantastic as Bloodborne as it is a port, however they are still gorgeous and the framerate makes things all the more impressive. Also, the multiplayer system in this game is MUCH better than in Bloodborne (although still not perfect). I won't go into detail, but bottom line is that if you are looking for a challenging and fun experience that is filled to the brim with content, then this is the game for you!!!… Expand
  69. fabriciodestro
    Sep 10, 2015
    9
    Excellent remaster. For people like me, who never got into DS before, it's the chance to get the game and the additional content in the same package. The 60 fps certainly helps the dynamic. For people who already played this on the previous generation, it may not be worth the price.
    The location of some enemies and items were changed purposefully, to appeal to old players, but I think    Excellent remaster. For people like me, who never got into DS before, it's the chance to get the game and the additional content in the same package. The 60 fps certainly helps the dynamic. For people who already played this on the previous generation, it may not be worth the price.
    The location of some enemies and items were changed purposefully, to appeal to old players, but I think this is not enough for a new purchase.
    If you never got this for 360 or PS3, it is a must-have, however.    … Expand
  70. reviewer2015lol
    Nov 7, 2015
    9
    A good game . It's hard but fair. Great gameplay. Good progression and a lot of content. Improved graphics, all the dlc with amazing bosses and good area. Try it and you will be not sad of your purchase .
  71. Strelok_VSOP
    Mar 21, 2017
    9
    Крутая игра, провел в ней не одну сотню часов. Много боссов, правда самые крутые только в DLC.
    Хорошая и крепкая атмосфера, неплохой ЛОР. Рекомендую!
  72. praisethesun11
    Jan 27, 2016
    9
    TLDR Pros and Cons to follow.
    This game is fantastic in every way. It's not better Dark Souls (1) but I will do my best to keep that aside. Dark Souls 2: SotFS is a challenging game where you level up a character from nothing to achieve greatness. It's incredible to think about the journey that your level 82 Swordsman has been on since he/she first set foot in Majula. The story is    TLDR Pros and Cons to follow.
    This game is fantastic in every way. It's not better Dark Souls (1) but I will do my best to keep that aside. Dark Souls 2: SotFS is a challenging game where you level up a character from nothing to achieve greatness. It's incredible to think about the journey that your level 82 Swordsman has been on since he/she first set foot in Majula. The story is excellent and I once again applaud FromSoft for intelligently hiding it in environmental clues, item descriptions, and short lines of dialogue. The combat is tough but always fair, and the boss battles are exhilarating. In my opinion, the sense of accomplishment you feel after taking down a tough boss and tagging the next bonfire is unmatched. With a few exceptions, the bosses are imaginative and varied, and each fog gate makes your stomach drop. Speaking of fog gates and fear, PvP is back and better than ever. While there are still some obvious balance issues, there is infinitely more PvP build variety than in previous FromSoft games, however lag is still present and is a major hindrance to the appeal of PvP. On the other side of things you have co-op. In SotFS it seems slightly easier to find people to play with, but I cannot recommend doing so. Dark Souls: SotFS is meant to be played solo. For you first play-through do yourself a huge favor and unplug your internet connection, don't look up anything, and just explore. Do the same for Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Thank me later.

    Pros
    +Graphics, music, and overall atmosphere
    +Excellent story
    +Fantastic combat, progression, and build variety
    +Large selection of weapons, unique armor traits, and spells/sorceries/hexes
    +Imaginative bosses
    +PvP improvements
    +Skill point respec items

    Cons
    -blank (I can't really think of anything big that I disliked about the game)
    -Sorcery is overpowered in PvE
    -PvP lag
    -Frozen reindeer (you'll see what I mean)    … Expand
  73. 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
  74. caiobruno007
    Jan 17, 2020
    9
    Por ser o mais odiado dentre os fãs de Souls, pensei que seria um game fraco, mas estava totalmente enganado.

    É o maior Dark Souls disparado, que possui a maior quantidade de conteúdo. Trouxe diversas mecânicas novas e melhorias. Essa versão Scholar corrigiu muito *o game comparado a versão padrão. É o Dark Souls mais bem otimizado pra consoles, o único defeito grave dele é ter mantido o    Por ser o mais odiado dentre os fãs de Souls, pensei que seria um game fraco, mas estava totalmente enganado.

    É o maior Dark Souls disparado, que possui a maior quantidade de conteúdo. Trouxe diversas mecânicas novas e melhorias. Essa versão Scholar corrigiu muito *o game comparado a versão padrão. É o Dark Souls mais bem otimizado pra consoles, o único defeito grave dele é ter mantido o sistema de Soul Memory, que acaba por limitar bastante o multiplayer.    … Expand
  75. frederik1478
    May 6, 2022
    9
    It's more a sequel to Kingsfield than dark souls a Demon's Souls but it's still a really good game and refreshing if you're just played the two . not as good as demon souls a dark soul 1, but it's still a good game and I would have full Hartley recommend it.I would say that this game has more ignoring difficulty than demon's Souls and dark Souls 1 it just feels more mean I just doesn'tIt's more a sequel to Kingsfield than dark souls a Demon's Souls but it's still a really good game and refreshing if you're just played the two . not as good as demon souls a dark soul 1, but it's still a good game and I would have full Hartley recommend it.I would say that this game has more ignoring difficulty than demon's Souls and dark Souls 1 it just feels more mean I just doesn't feel right sometimes when you die… Expand
  76. 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.
  77. CamyVero
    Jun 25, 2023
    9
    Un juegazo. Eso es lo que es Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. En su día jugué la versión normal del juego en PS3. Hacía poco que había terminado el primer juego y el 2 me pareció un poco más fácil, pero igualmente disfrutable. Esta versión, aparte de la evidentes mejoras de rendimiento, ajusta la dificultad, especialmente al principio. El cambio de configuración respecto a laUn juegazo. Eso es lo que es Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. En su día jugué la versión normal del juego en PS3. Hacía poco que había terminado el primer juego y el 2 me pareció un poco más fácil, pero igualmente disfrutable. Esta versión, aparte de la evidentes mejoras de rendimiento, ajusta la dificultad, especialmente al principio. El cambio de configuración respecto a la posición y cantidad de enemigos y que son más resistentes realmente hace que cueste al principio, pero al ir creciendo, como todos los juegos, esta curva se hace más llana y es cuando se empieza a disfrutar de los fuertes del juego.

    Lo mejor de estos juegos es su impecable ambientación. La fantasía oscura cobra vida en la saga Dark Souls y este juego no es la excepción. Todos los escenarios, los bosques, las mazmorras, las criptas, los torreones, castillos y catedrales son hermosos y desolados. Un mundo caído en una terrible maldición, muerto y suspendido en el tiempo, sumido en un eterno bucle del que no se puede salir. Qué ha ocurrido en esos reinos, antaño prósperos, ésa es nuestra misión. Averiguar porqué estamos sumidos en ese caos ordenado que es la maldición de los no muertos.

    En lo técnico podemos decir que en PS4 gráficamente el juego se ve fluido y detallado, pero algo desfasado, algo normal al ser una remasterización de un juego de una generación anterior. Aún así los 60 fps a 1080p son constantes y no he encontrado ni un solo bug en las casi 50 horas que me ha durado la historia principal. He jugado el juego en modo desconectado, no he interactuado con nadie para terminarlo ni me he enfrentado a sombras humanas, es un juego que sigue funcionando bien en este aspecto, pero prefiero la experiencia en solitario y es, de cualquier modo que se mire, un juego espectacular.

    En cuanto a mecánicas tenemos lo de siempre en un souls-like. Se trata de un juego con un combate directo, pero extremadamente táctico. Hay que calcular los golpes, los esquives, las animaciones para recuperar vida. Un mal paso y estás muerto. Vuelta a empezar desde la hoguera (punto de control) anterior. Tu misión a corto plazo siempre va a ser explorar para encontrar la siguiente y así certificar tu avance invirtiendo las almas ganadas (experiencia/divisa). Y los jefes, en esta entrega quizás no hay jefes imposibles, aunque morirás en alguna batalla, es cierto que es más fácil que el anterior. Sin embargo el diseño e imaginación volcados en ellos son dignos de mención.

    Recomendadísimo, un juego de sobresaliente. Cualquier amante de los RPG de acción debe jugar las 3 entregas de esta saga. Yo ahora voy a ir a por el tercero.    … Expand
  78. AlexvaderII
    Sep 16, 2020
    9
    Dark Souls 2 cuenta con un gran combate estratégico en el cual tendremos que enfrentar enemigos difíciles. Desde el inicio hay que ir con cuidado para no morir aunque si morimos no hay problema este es un juego de probar nuevas maneras de afrontar el reto aunque a diferencia del primero creo que mejoraron los combates jugador vs jugador por consiguiente jugador vs NPC.

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

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

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

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

    Al final esta es una buena entrega, mucho mejor que el juego base debido a sus DLC's que nos darán mas horas de diversión, y que hacen que el juego termine de convencer a los fans mas acérrimos a la saga Souls. Si vas a comprar el juego compra esta edición con DLC´s. Tengo que mencionar que es una lastima que no se puedan corregir los diseños de niveles de esta entrega para que tenga un puntaje perfecto porque los añadidos de las expansiones son de lo mejor.    … Expand
  79. ZXSth
    Sep 4, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. *Note: I am reviewing SotFS as someone who did not play Vanilla DS2.

    In hindsight, when compared to its peers, Dark Souls 2 seems like the odd Souls game out. Where it lacks its predecessor's knack for interconnected locales and expansive environments, it has a level of depth when it comes to the mechanics of character customization that cannot be rivalled by any of its contemporaries. Even Dark Souls 3 lacks this game's power stance mechanic, allowing you to wield two weapons of your choosing and use them simultaneously. While power-stancing isn't always possible, it is probably the best implementation of dual-wielding I have ever seen in an action-RPG, hands down.

    The power-stance mechanic is the single greatest example of Dark Souls 2's greatest strength - the freedom to fight however you wish. With the right stats, you can wield two gigantic, oversized hammers simultaneously, then quickly switch over to firing off magical bolts with a staff. This offers an abundance of replay value that few other action role-playing games have offered, from my experience.

    Where this game seems to be a bit more middling in comparison to its contemporaries is in its boss fights. The common criticism I have heard is that there are too many "big armoured dudes." And while there are many knight-like bosses - the Looking Glass Knight, Ruin Sentinels and multiple fights with the Pursuer come to mind - the most offensive bosses, I find, are the ones that remind me of Dark Souls' poorly designed Bed of Chaos. For example, fighting the Executioner's Chariot requires you to pull a lever in order to end a horse-drawn carriage's destructive ride around a skeleton-infested arena. This fight, though not mandatory, was tedious and generally unrewarding in comparison to the rush of fighting the aforementioned Pursuer, a fair yet challenging adversary.

    While I believe the bosses overall seem satisfactory for the Souls series, some of the other mechanics in this game make dying all the more brutal, punishing and more frustrating simply for the sake of it. The fact that each death shrinks your health bar means that multiple deaths being even greater frustration than they usually would. Additionally, the placement of multiple enemies within a small area ensures frustration, and a difficulty that feels less 'fair' than in either Dark Souls or Dark Souls 3. It would not be unfair to suggest that the layout of this game's areas are utterly infuriating. Plodding through the Iron Keep, in particular, served as one of the most frustrating experiences I have ever had while playing a video game.

    Overall, Dark Souls 2 lacks the same world-building as its predecessor or the refinement of its successor. It also feels unnecessarily challenging, especially if you choose not to raise your adaptability stat (which affects how long you are invincible for when rolling). But if you can manage to deal with its flaws, Dark Souls 2 will reward you with one of the richest action role-playing experiences (mechanically speaking) in any video game of its kind. Surely, the 2000+ hours I have put into it (possibly the most of any video game I have ever played) are clear evidence of this.    … Expand
  80. giannis2001
    May 1, 2023
    9
    Not much to say here, incredible game like the rest of the series.The world is visually stunning and very interesting to explore. It basically has most food aspects from the other games so obviously it will be great. However, there are some things I want to point out that may deterioriate the experience for some people. Those are:
    1)ADP Stat. The game is 10 times harder if you don't    Not much to say here, incredible game like the rest of the series.The world is visually stunning and very interesting to explore. It basically has most food aspects from the other games so obviously it will be great. However, there are some things I want to point out that may deterioriate the experience for some people. Those are:
    1)ADP Stat. The game is 10 times harder if you don't increase this.
    2)Enemy ganking. In some areas it feels like the place is overflowing with enemies, and strong at that. It feels somewhat unfair. Especially for a new player. Thankfully, there is the mechanic that if you kill an enemy 15 times it stops spawning.
    3) The combat feels somewhat slower and the roll happens with a delay. That is due to the fact that you can't cancel attacks, or animations in general.
    4) Very easy bosses (excluding DLC). These are the most annoying things, but they really didn't do much to ruin my experience, because I actually appreciated and loved this game on my second playthrough, contrariwise to my first one. Give this game and the series in general a chance. They are masterpieces.    … Expand
  81. MatthewDavisMed
    Jan 12, 2021
    9
    The full package for DS2 is truly an epic experience for PS4 and Xbox One owners. It offers the full package of the game with three fantastic expansions. Offering players the same brutal yet rewarding challenge, and a world that's just as incredible to explore. Even if some of the new features are still a bit annoying to deal with.
  82. Springhi
    Nov 14, 2019
    9
    The first game I played in Souls' series. Before I started the game, I just want to have a try and kill time since I had never heard of FROM SOFTWARE and Mr. Miyazaki at that moment. This game was not directed by Mr. Miyazaki, as I knew later, but most of the systems were inherited from DS1 to DS2, which made the gameplay still full of excitement. The shortcomings of DS2 were obvious, ofThe first game I played in Souls' series. Before I started the game, I just want to have a try and kill time since I had never heard of FROM SOFTWARE and Mr. Miyazaki at that moment. This game was not directed by Mr. Miyazaki, as I knew later, but most of the systems were inherited from DS1 to DS2, which made the gameplay still full of excitement. The shortcomings of DS2 were obvious, of course. The lack in complexity of map design, the structure and logic of the story, and many many boss fights without polish. However, they could not prevent me from being a real fan of FS. It was the first time I could be myself in a game. The simultaneous growth between me and my character strengthened this feelinig over and over again. The sense of substitution is one of the best in the games I have ever played. To me, DS2 is the game opened the gate of an entire new world.… Expand
  83. memokmo
    Sep 7, 2020
    9
    + Intelligent level designs
    + There are some reskin bosses but most of the bosses are uniqe and fun to fight
    + Great details and lots of quality content
    + Replayablity

    - Sometimes it's not fair

    I hate shrine of amana
  84. Moviegooner
    Oct 20, 2020
    9
    First Souls game I going to give a perfect rating, because of the lazy boss fights, that's also a plus Scolar has the most boss fights with dlc and some beautiful locations.
  85. Rode_games
    Jun 25, 2020
    9
    Un gran juego, no supera a su antecesor pero no se queda atras, esta vercion contiene todos los dlcs donde en mi opinion tiene jefes super épicos he inolvidables, lo unico que falla para mi es que algunas de sus zonas no coinciden por lo demas es muy disfrutable.
  86. DevilSurvivor
    Nov 18, 2021
    9
    After seeing the remaster of DS1, yeah, I much rather prefer this.

    It's more Dark Souls, better in some ways, worse in others. I loved the first one, but for some reason this one stuck with me for longer and also felt more memorable.
  87. 18Xq8Rtutehc
    Aug 3, 2020
    9
    Incredible sequel to the masterpiece that Dark Souls is. The level design is as great as DS1, but the bosses are incredibly easier compared to DS1 and DS3. It doesn't make the title any lesser, though.
    Being a spellcaster is easier in this game than in its counterparts, but the combat works the same. I loved it from begining to end, including the DLC (best of the series).
  88. ylnylmn
    Jan 12, 2022
    9
    What a long game. I did everything to do in the game. It took 68 hours. It was good, nothing bothered me except the DLC bosses.
    If I had to compare it with Dark Souls 1;
    First of all, Dark Souls 1 was a shorter and more concise game. The story and characters were very good. The atmosphere and level design were better. But on the DS2 these are not well done. There are huge differences in    What a long game. I did everything to do in the game. It took 68 hours. It was good, nothing bothered me except the DLC bosses.
    If I had to compare it with Dark Souls 1;
    First of all, Dark Souls 1 was a shorter and more concise game. The story and characters were very good. The atmosphere and level design were better. But on the DS2 these are not well done.
    There are huge differences in difficulty level on DS2. The bosses in the normal game are very easy, but the bosses in the DLC are extremely difficult. It is very difficult to avoid damage by rolling in DLC bosses. You need to give the ADP skill to roll better, but the game doesn't tell you that. You have to give a lot of Vitality to wear a strong armor. Weapon durability is very little, it can be broken immediately. Estus Flask takes a long time to drink.
    DLCs ​​were good overall. But in some levels, the way to the bosses can be torture. Although some bad decisions were made, I enjoyed playing it. But it didn't fascinate me as much as dark souls 1.    … Expand
  89. RTCWFAN
    Jun 21, 2023
    9
    Was my first Dark Souls game on the Xbox 360 and replayed it on PS4. Great edition of an epic game. Overall rating: 8.8.
  90. punipuno
    May 28, 2021
    9
    great game, memorable bosses, silky smooth 60fps,feels infinitely replayable,soul memory sucks though
  91. NotMinhLe
    May 23, 2022
    9
    Fantastic game with extremely well crafted areas and challenging obstacles. The same goes for SOTFS as it does with "Dark Souls : Remastered", which is that it is NOT a must play for returning players that have already completed the PS3 version however this version does change up enemy placements and item locations for a subtle yet noticeable change. Personally, this game did notFantastic game with extremely well crafted areas and challenging obstacles. The same goes for SOTFS as it does with "Dark Souls : Remastered", which is that it is NOT a must play for returning players that have already completed the PS3 version however this version does change up enemy placements and item locations for a subtle yet noticeable change. Personally, this game did not disappoint me at all.… Expand
  92. MaxieZeus
    Sep 2, 2022
    9
    Not as polished as the first game but still one of the best rpg's ever with amazing combat and improved sorcery and miracles.
  93. Nevbear1206
    Apr 10, 2023
    9
    As someone who has defeated every boss and completed every aspect of this game, I can ensure that it is still an amazing title, even if it doesn't hold up to other FromSoft titles as far as consistent levels of balance and quality. Controls take some getting used to, several bosses are mediocre or flat-out bad, and the main story isn't as engaging as those of Dark Souls or Bloodborne. YetAs someone who has defeated every boss and completed every aspect of this game, I can ensure that it is still an amazing title, even if it doesn't hold up to other FromSoft titles as far as consistent levels of balance and quality. Controls take some getting used to, several bosses are mediocre or flat-out bad, and the main story isn't as engaging as those of Dark Souls or Bloodborne. Yet the world of Drangleic is huge and sprawling with an incredible hub in Majula. NPCs and covenants are also the best in the series, and there are some great weapons and spells to make for an incredible RPG experience with tons of content.… Expand
  94. MPK92
    Aug 31, 2023
    9
    Follows up on a lot of the greatness from the first game but kind of falters at times to deliver the same memorable experience. I think most things about it are good-great, but some of the map designs are a bit of a misstep to me and some of the boss fights could've been better. But overall a fantastic game with great DLC expansions.
  95. oldboy
    Sep 7, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! … Expand
  96. 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
  97. Juras
    Mar 14, 2017
    8
    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.
  98. Rox22
    Dec 14, 2018
    8
    Continuing on the Dark Souls bender, I had to try the second instalment. I never played the original version so I can only comment on this version.

    In many ways DS2 is both better and worse than the Original. Visually most of the areas are so much more detailed. But on the other hand they are also allot more contained and almost claustrophobic at times. The action is allot of fun    Continuing on the Dark Souls bender, I had to try the second instalment. I never played the original version so I can only comment on this version.

    In many ways DS2 is both better and worse than the Original.

    Visually most of the areas are so much more detailed. But on the other hand they are also allot more contained and almost claustrophobic at times.

    The action is allot of fun and the combat mechanics were greatly improved upon making combat feel allot more fluid this time around. However, allot of areas are just saturated with hoards, which just artificially spikes the difficulty levels. Whereas DS1 had much better enemy placements making the areas tough. but fair. DS2 can be a bit unforgiving in places with steep difficulty spikes coming out of nowhere. However, even with the erratic difficulty curves, it still is quite fun and challenging.

    Overall:
    Dark Souls 2 was allot of fun, but I can see why it is often regarded as the weakest of the series. But even as the weakest link, it's still a very good worth game worth having a go.    … Expand
  99. Jellybean15
    Jun 26, 2016
    8
    Remasters are the thing this generation, and Dark Souls is yet another franchise looking to bank off that cash cow before the market dries up. However, unlike other remasters, Scholar of the First Sin more than justifies its existent by being more than just a graphical upgrade, going so far as to include the three DLC expansions released, as well as redesigning the enemy placements toRemasters are the thing this generation, and Dark Souls is yet another franchise looking to bank off that cash cow before the market dries up. However, unlike other remasters, Scholar of the First Sin more than justifies its existent by being more than just a graphical upgrade, going so far as to include the three DLC expansions released, as well as redesigning the enemy placements to deliver a much more challenging experience than the original Dark Souls II, probably in order to shut up the critics saying Dark Souls II was easier. In essence, it's accomplishes this feat, but not in all of the right places.

    In terms of gameplay, the combat and exploration is absolutely no different from any other Dark Souls game. Challenging, slow combat with great distances between checkpoints and enemies that respawn upon death. Very par for the course. If you enjoyed the other Dark Souls games, there’s no reason you won’t like this one.

    However, Dark Souls II had its own variations from the first Dark Souls, and they’re still present in Scholar of the First Sin. Enemies eventually do go away after killing them enough times. Fast travel is now an essential mechanic because the world is no longer this intertwining web, but is instead a lot of linear levels going in different directions.

    The main thing Scholar of the First Sin claimed was to be a more challenging experience than Dark Souls II, and in this chase, it does accomplish just that. However, I can’t help but disagree with the way From Software went about this change. In some cases, the enemy layout has been changed and harder enemies have been put in places they weren’t before. However, there are also cases where the difficulty is artificially lengthened simply because the game simply throws more enemies at you, rather than increasing the difficulty smartly. The game is harder because of the increased enemy count, but I can’t help but feel it could’ve been done a little more creatively.

    As for the DLCs, I have nothing but praise for the Ivory King DLC. Awesome level design, fantastic bosses from beginning to end, an awesome conclusion and ending level, the Ivory King DLC does nothing but deliver. The same cannot be said for the other two.

    The Iron King is still a very enjoyable experience, but it also has some very frustrating level designs, mainly pertaining of lining up enemies on unreachable levels who fire pot shots at you the whole time you fight enemies below. While the two ending bosses Sir Alone and the Fume Knight are highlights, the Smelter Demon is little more than just a rehash of a boss previously used in Dark Souls II with higher defense and attack.

    It’s the Sunken King DLC that really falls flat. Uncreative bosses, tedious level designs, drab environments, frustrating enemies, and only one real boss as a highlight make the Sunken King DLC more of a chore to get through. I probably could’ve done without this one being thrown in to the package.

    Overall, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin accomplishes what it sets out to do, which is upgrade the graphical fidelity, include the DLC, and deliver a more challenging experience. While the game is harder, it’s not always because of smart ideas or even fairness, since cheap ranged enemies are a constant threat throughout the entire game. All too often, ranged shots from enemies I didn’t even know were in the area caused my death. Plus, while Ivory King and Iron King are fun additions, the Sunken King only brings the package down.

    It’s great for fans who love Dark Souls. If you haven’t played Dark Souls II, but liked Dark Souls, you should definitely play this game. For those who’ve played Dark Souls II but haven’t purchased the DLC, this remaster is enough of an excuse to replay it. If you’ve never been a Dark Souls fan, this game won’t change your mind, but it’s still a great package as far as remasters go.    … Expand
  100. 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
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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

All reviews »
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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