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. rAMZA
    Apr 25, 2017
    7
    Realy boring combat just hit and roll hit and roll, ill give it a 7 because it is still a good score, could have more difficulty options and a hc mode if character dies then its the end of it.
  2. dubloon7
    Jan 14, 2016
    7
    Dark Souls 2: SOTFS is a decent, and not great attempt at Souls gaming. The vanilla version on the PS3 is MUCH better, than this slightly modified attempt.

    The added DLC areas were a nice addition to the vanilla but MUCH more difficult than the remainder of the initial game: bosses were a joke, forcing the single-player to rely on MP, which is a total let down on the PS4 as you HAVE to    Dark Souls 2: SOTFS is a decent, and not great attempt at Souls gaming. The vanilla version on the PS3 is MUCH better, than this slightly modified attempt.

    The added DLC areas were a nice addition to the vanilla but MUCH more difficult than the remainder of the initial game: bosses were a joke, forcing the single-player to rely on MP, which is a total let down on the PS4 as you HAVE to pay for PS+ to play online to do this alone. Don't get me worong here, in my single playthru (NG) i tackled these areas around SL 150+ and still way too difficult. It was nice but fighting bosses became tiring and I was eager just to get the playing over with.

    Visuals: on my 32" LED HDTV i saw NO DIFFERENCE b/w the PS3 and PS4 version.
    Audio: Same as the vanilla PS3 version
    Controls: SAME
    Qualtiy: 7/10 for being a souls attempt game, but not enough *UMPF to keep me going.

    If you enjoy Demons Souls and Dark Souls 1, AVOID this game as it's the worst of the 3, and the entirety of it loses its steam halfway thru.    … Expand
  3. 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
  4. danphie_
    Jan 29, 2020
    0
    Only because of shrine of amana stupid annoying **** mages **** cancer hate this area
  5. Saamaan
    Apr 14, 2015
    1
    Man , I spend the money ! Put the Disk in PS4 , Loved the movie graphic !!! BUT GAME PLAY is using Super Mario Technology .

    Honestly thinking about selling the Game ... :S
  6. kenmil
    Apr 12, 2015
    5
    If this is what "improved graphics" looks like, they must have been crap in the original. It feels like something from the 90's. Throw in the ridiculous jumping controls, the frustrating camera issues, and the fact that swords apparently break after running a dozen guys through, and you have a pretty ordinary game. It lives and breathes on its ability to make it hard, but that is achievedIf this is what "improved graphics" looks like, they must have been crap in the original. It feels like something from the 90's. Throw in the ridiculous jumping controls, the frustrating camera issues, and the fact that swords apparently break after running a dozen guys through, and you have a pretty ordinary game. It lives and breathes on its ability to make it hard, but that is achieved by nothing more than overpowered enemies at every turn, rather than anything at all thoughtful. The DS fanboys will love it, but serious gamers who have experienced quality games would do well to keep their wallets closed.… Expand
  7. 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
  8. Soules
    Apr 15, 2015
    0
    I give this game a score a zero out of 10.... thats hards to come by for me... and I absolutely love demon souls and dark souls even loved bloodborne! Now what really gives it such a low score is the fact its remastered for next gen when it just came out.... kinda... wierd... but ok.... ill bite.. then the no additional dlc just remastered dlc with some added npcs and bosses... ok ... notI give this game a score a zero out of 10.... thats hards to come by for me... and I absolutely love demon souls and dark souls even loved bloodborne! Now what really gives it such a low score is the fact its remastered for next gen when it just came out.... kinda... wierd... but ok.... ill bite.. then the no additional dlc just remastered dlc with some added npcs and bosses... ok ... not terrible I kinda enjoyed some of the new additions some I thought were stupid like bosses becoming npcs after awhile... kinda silly... but what really broke the rating bar was bugs..... usually games have glitches and bugs.. but darksouls 2 first sin embraces them... and I just find that to be poor design development and coding to be at fault and not an implement of harder difficulty if its a bug its a bug/glitch not something meant to give you a harder time... one such game breaking bug is weapon durability have fun never using the weapon you want in scholars of first sin where your weapons break after just a few hits! the original version of the game is not so bad its more forgiving with weapon durability and after careful research I have found it is indeed a bug....glitch. It was not intended to be apart of the game... weapons are suppose to break but not after 10 swings with any weapon... Im sorry but I find this remake to be in poor taste and not worth any sum of money past 5 dollars the original for ps3 holds for value as it stands as a complete unbroken game with real challenges. If your a masochist though go play scholars of first sin it will not disappoint you in the department of difficulty.. I love hard games but only if they are unbroken and meant to be hard I dont like hard games with game breaking glitches that go in favor of bosses and npc giving them more of a upperhand and you a handicap. Until this weapon durability glitch is fixed I cannot give this game more than a zero.. even with no bugs id give this game a 6-7 out of 10 because of it being copy and pasted to next gen and sold for the price of a new game.. all con artists ....… Expand
  9. thenoobbob
    Aug 5, 2019
    0
    I still dont get how people like this game. Its horrible. Get DS3, DSR or BB. DS2 is a dumpster fire.
  10. oldboy
    Sep 7, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! … Expand
  11. 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
  12. Kakashi2
    Oct 30, 2020
    0
    Ah, I really love this game. This title feels a little more like an RPG than the other souls games. This just really meshes well with what I like. I love dual wielding, the new game plus, and just a lot of random little things. DS2 is usually looked at like the black sheep of the souls series, to me though, it's my favorite.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. fijiboy
    Mar 22, 2016
    8
    great game. dark souls 2 makes a bunch of changes to the souls series, but still stays true to what makes the original great. gameplay is still challenging and rewarding and you will die ALOT. there are some things that were improved, but overall I feel that this was not quite as memorable as the original. the ability to warp to other bonfires is great, but not being able to level up atgreat game. dark souls 2 makes a bunch of changes to the souls series, but still stays true to what makes the original great. gameplay is still challenging and rewarding and you will die ALOT. there are some things that were improved, but overall I feel that this was not quite as memorable as the original. the ability to warp to other bonfires is great, but not being able to level up at any bonfire is kind of annoying, but I wouldn't say it effects the game that much, what does effect the game though, is how the world doesn't really intertwine with itself and doesn't feel cohesive like the first game. the world it a bunch of branching paths that just end instead of weaving into each other like the first and that was a bit disappointing. another thing that was disappointing was the bosses. dark souls 2 went with a quantity over quality approach this time with the bosses and is probably the biggest flaw about this game. You get the feeling that the developers really ran out of ideas when it came to the boss designs and fights in this one, many of the fights are simple mob fights, knights in armor, and actual 100% rehashes from the first game, with that being said there are some stand out bosses that were awesome, but with about 30 bosses in the game, half felt too easy and uninspired. other wise the rest of the game is great, the added death penalty of maximum health depletion feels a bit to harsh at first, but you simply get used to it. this game definitely is a worthy sequel but is not quite as good.… Expand
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. robomartion
    Oct 22, 2019
    8
    This is a premium gaming experience to be sure. Expect hundreds of hours of varied content. It's not perfect, and suffers in some aspects compared to the original entry such as lack of shortcuts between areas but offers such a diverse, sprawling and well rounded experience and is good in its own right, so it would be a shame to count it out on that. Dark Souls II is like a mega saga of aThis is a premium gaming experience to be sure. Expect hundreds of hours of varied content. It's not perfect, and suffers in some aspects compared to the original entry such as lack of shortcuts between areas but offers such a diverse, sprawling and well rounded experience and is good in its own right, so it would be a shame to count it out on that. Dark Souls II is like a mega saga of a back to back fantasy epic and is one of the best if not the best in the series.… Expand
  20. Termin8ter
    Feb 29, 2016
    8
    Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is a remastered improved version of DS2 for PS4 and Xbox One. The graphics have been given a fresh coat of paint, looking amazing. The gameplay is just as unforgiving as before, and this re-release adds all the DLC from DS2 and gives it to us here. Buy this game if you loved Bloodborne, or are looking for a challenging game.
  21. heatonx23
    Sep 9, 2015
    8
    I never played a previous release of this game (i.e. PS3 version), but if I had played this a year ago, I would probably give it a 9 or 10. Unfortunately, given the timing of my playthrough, I don't have much of a choice but to compare this game to Bloodborne. Maybe that's not entirely fair given that DS2 was designed for last-gen consoles, but even if I handicap DS2 to account for that,I never played a previous release of this game (i.e. PS3 version), but if I had played this a year ago, I would probably give it a 9 or 10. Unfortunately, given the timing of my playthrough, I don't have much of a choice but to compare this game to Bloodborne. Maybe that's not entirely fair given that DS2 was designed for last-gen consoles, but even if I handicap DS2 to account for that, it still doesn't come close to the experience Bloodborne provides.

    Let me be clear from the start though: I do love this game. I was extremely addicted to it and can't wait to see what DS3 has in store. However, I think the slower gameplay and wealth ranged attacks made DS2 significantly easier than Bloodborne, and I felt a much smaller sense of accomplishment beating it. I will also say the different areas and bosses didn't seem very connected to one another. I know From Software's games tend to have intentionally ambiguous story lines, but DS2 areas and objectives just felt very random.

    Overall, I really enjoyed this game. For the price, you get a ton of hours' worth of content, and like I said, had I played this a year ago my rating would probably be much higher. But to me, Bloodborne is a perfect 10, and I just can't put DS2 in the same league.    … Expand
  22. 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
  23. 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 .
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. BBQnaoplox111
    Mar 1, 2016
    8
    If you were to look at this as a conan the barbarian game with ds1 elements then itd be a 10 but because its a sequel to a masterpiece it suffers due to the standard it has set. Having said this the DLC content is 10/10 masterpiece status
  27. 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
  28. 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.
  29. 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
  30. 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
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

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