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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. OmegaTavo
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    Amazing game. Even if you played vanilla DS2 the changes in this one will make you feel a new experience. I would love a remaster of DS1 but this one doesn't disappoint,.
  2. DarthPadme
    Apr 7, 2015
    0
    I love Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, but this is a very, very poor cash grab that adds very little to the game. Yes, you get a paltry discount if you already own DS2 and/or the DLC, but the fact is, this is what you paid for when you bought the PC version a year ago, but they dumbed it down to gain parity with the consoles. I am so sick of this underhanded tactic from developers, and myI love Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, but this is a very, very poor cash grab that adds very little to the game. Yes, you get a paltry discount if you already own DS2 and/or the DLC, but the fact is, this is what you paid for when you bought the PC version a year ago, but they dumbed it down to gain parity with the consoles. I am so sick of this underhanded tactic from developers, and my score is a reflection of that. There is no excuse for such low and unnecessary tricks to be used to make money. If they had released this product in this way at release, it would have spoken for itself. As it is, they took a year to add basic DX11 polish (which was already in the PC demo build) and make a convenient DLC bundle. Sorry FromSoft, but you get two big fat middle fingers for this garbage.… Expand
  3. yahtzee301
    Feb 25, 2018
    3
    The Dark Souls project is in new hands, and the assessment is to determine if the new team can deliver, and expand on the dream of the original. We see much of the same elements of the first Dark Souls within this successor, and Dark Souls is one of my all-time favorite games. Then why did I give it such a low score? Well, it's because of one major flaw. One of the most well-documentedThe Dark Souls project is in new hands, and the assessment is to determine if the new team can deliver, and expand on the dream of the original. We see much of the same elements of the first Dark Souls within this successor, and Dark Souls is one of my all-time favorite games. Then why did I give it such a low score? Well, it's because of one major flaw. One of the most well-documented perks of Dark Souls is its crushing, yet fair difficulty. If I die, I know that it was because I screwed up and that I can improve next time. What Dark Souls II fails to realize is that difficulty is not what made Dark Souls so popular. The result is a game that is crushingly difficult, yes, but unfair and irritating to the player, and I don't play video games to feel irritated. Enemies are placed in groups so that ganking cannot be avoided, weapons feel like they're made of wet toilet paper, and that damned health-drain mechanic that lowers your maximum HP upon death. Everything is this game is a sloppy stand-in for difficulty, and it leaves me uninvested and unwilling to continue forward. Losing to a boss in Dark Souls made me want to start again as quickly as possible. Losing to a boss in Dark Souls II makes me want to turn off the game and switch to something else. In the long slogs between bosses, I'm so paralyzed with boredom from death after death, and that's nothing to take away from the horrendous hit-boxes. It surprises me that, even after three years of run-time, the hit-boxes haven't been fixed, because it's inexcusable. Looking at the game as a whole, it's not too bad, better than most games that came out of 2015. But we know FromSoftware can do better because Dark Souls is one of the most fully-realized games of all time. So if we look at the game as a successor to the original, it's so annoyingly bad that I wonder if the developers had any idea what they were doing. Its only redeeming qualities are the bosses that I found at least somewhat enjoyable and certain areas that reminded me of the original Dark Souls. And when your only redeeming quality as a sequel is what reminded me of your predecessor, you have some serious work to do… Expand
  4. SemenTheGreat
    Jul 29, 2016
    7
    I don't really know where I stand on this game. While I think it's good, it has quite a few obvious flaws. While Dark Souls 2 offers the best pvp in the series, and good dual-wielding mechanics, it fall short everywhere else compared to other games in the series. The combat feels clunky and unresponsive, dodging is an absolute pain due to the games questionable hit boxes, level design isI don't really know where I stand on this game. While I think it's good, it has quite a few obvious flaws. While Dark Souls 2 offers the best pvp in the series, and good dual-wielding mechanics, it fall short everywhere else compared to other games in the series. The combat feels clunky and unresponsive, dodging is an absolute pain due to the games questionable hit boxes, level design is very straight forward. There are some bosses in the game that really stands out, like the looking glass knight and fume knight, but the game relies too heavily on ganks to simulate some kind of boss difficulty. A part from that, I can't really dislike the game. I had a blast playing it.… Expand
  5. Cafe_8bits
    Apr 5, 2020
    6
    Dark Souls 2 its a good game, and i had fun playing it single and multiplayer. But still its the worst Souls game in the franchise, its game design has many flaws that i think are sins to the souls formula, like artificial difficulty enhancement, and some changes in the enemies patterns to easy the experience for some players. (Like make enemies disappear if you kill them 12 times)
    The    Dark Souls 2 its a good game, and i had fun playing it single and multiplayer. But still its the worst Souls game in the franchise, its game design has many flaws that i think are sins to the souls formula, like artificial difficulty enhancement, and some changes in the enemies patterns to easy the experience for some players. (Like make enemies disappear if you kill them 12 times)
    The atmosphere and plot of this game are great, one of the best of the series for me, but in the end its design flaws took the best ot the experience for me.
    The multiplayer works very well, with few exceptions, and adds too much into the game.    … Expand
  6. SimonD00
    May 23, 2017
    8
    Great environments and a huge amount of content makes exploring the world of dark souls II very fun and rewarding, but the combat is some what sluggish, kind of like your moving in water. Dark souls 3 and bloodborne are both superior in terms of combat and dark souls has the best level design so in this amazing series dark souls II is a mediocre game but in the grand scheme of things thisGreat environments and a huge amount of content makes exploring the world of dark souls II very fun and rewarding, but the combat is some what sluggish, kind of like your moving in water. Dark souls 3 and bloodborne are both superior in terms of combat and dark souls has the best level design so in this amazing series dark souls II is a mediocre game but in the grand scheme of things this is a great game that will challenge you more than pretty much any other game out there. Be sure to pick this up but play the other ones before this one. 8,5/10… Expand
  7. HansJoerg1
    Oct 12, 2019
    2
    Boring Story, repetitive gameplay. Overall an extremely disappointing experience.
  8. Sunykamey
    Jan 11, 2018
    5
    I just have to give this game a bad rating due to high inconsistency with enemies and bosses. All enemies are deadly but some are just unfair with regards to their placement in the map which gives me the sense that they have only been placed between "normal" enemies to infuriate and frustrate the player. Armorer Dennis in the forest of fallen giants, do I need to say more?! This mischief II just have to give this game a bad rating due to high inconsistency with enemies and bosses. All enemies are deadly but some are just unfair with regards to their placement in the map which gives me the sense that they have only been placed between "normal" enemies to infuriate and frustrate the player. Armorer Dennis in the forest of fallen giants, do I need to say more?! This mischief I can't support.… Expand
  9. SasukeFuumetsu
    Mar 21, 2018
    5
    O pior Souls. O jogo mais parece off-topic do que um jogo que segue a cronologia de DS1 e DS3, a ambientação do jogo é boa, trilha sonora boa e uma boa vida útil, mas acaba perdendo feio em design de inimigos, milagres e magias de outros jogos da série, armas e várias outras coisas. O jogo é mediano, no geral.
  10. DinoBeam
    May 5, 2020
    6
    This game has alot of cool aspects to it such as atmosphere and art design, but ends up feeling like a slog. This game feels incredibly long with much less interesting level design than the original Dark Souls. Also, half the time to try to sprint it doesn't register.
  11. BotBearGaming
    Mar 9, 2017
    8
    The Souls games hold a very strong spot in my heart as they are now sitting towards the top of my favorite games of all time. So without further adieu my thoughts. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin is my third run through of Dark Souls 2 and it was just as fun as the first time. The game is different enough with enemy placements that I feel it isn't just another port though that isThe Souls games hold a very strong spot in my heart as they are now sitting towards the top of my favorite games of all time. So without further adieu my thoughts. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin is my third run through of Dark Souls 2 and it was just as fun as the first time. The game is different enough with enemy placements that I feel it isn't just another port though that is what it is. To me Dark Souls 2 is a little weaker than Dark Souls 1 and 3 but that doesn't mean it is a bad game. Many improvements were made with the mechanics and combat but the overall design of the world and enemies is a tad bit slacking compared to the others but if you are looking to jumping into the Souls series be sure not to skip over this one.… Expand
  12. ViniciusBrito
    Aug 8, 2018
    8
    This version of the game doesn't have much additions in relation of the playstation 3 one, it isn't a remastered or a remake, but they did changed a few things here. The enemies are repositioned, so as some items, i could say that it is worthy if you liked the game in the first launching, this version contain all the DLC's, and the three one's that they launched are great, some even sayThis version of the game doesn't have much additions in relation of the playstation 3 one, it isn't a remastered or a remake, but they did changed a few things here. The enemies are repositioned, so as some items, i could say that it is worthy if you liked the game in the first launching, this version contain all the DLC's, and the three one's that they launched are great, some even say that the three combined are better than the game, i'm not sure about that, but surely it is great, the best bosses are there, the most memorable ones are there, so if you never played the dlc's before, go after this version because it is certainly worth.… Expand
  13. LordOMO
    Jun 15, 2019
    6
    I have a love/hate relationship with this game. On the one hand i can appreciate it as a massive and atmospheric dark fantasy role playing game, on the other hand i can't overlook its shortcomings (some being imherent to the dark souls series and some affecting specifically this game in the series).
    At its best you get the pure Dark Souls experience: mystic medieval castles with hidden    I have a love/hate relationship with this game. On the one hand i can appreciate it as a massive and atmospheric dark fantasy role playing game, on the other hand i can't overlook its shortcomings (some being imherent to the dark souls series and some affecting specifically this game in the series).
    At its best you get the pure Dark Souls experience: mystic medieval castles with hidden paths, challenging enemies and a large set of tools to overcome the challenges on the way. But to get there you have to deal with clumsy controls and huge variances in quality which effects visuals sound and unfortunately also gameplay. I've put many hours into the game but always have to deal with frustration along the way to get to the good parts (especially the DLC areas are 10/10 high quality but its a chore to get there). Here are all my gripes with the game:
    - controls suck. Especially in the beginning of the game everything feels bad because you actually have to level up a stat that improves your dodges. But even later on there are issues with the targeting system and with inputs seemingly not being read. Also movement in general feels clunky
    - some of the level design and enemies are very questionable (e.g. enemies that can snipe you from the other side of the map, or levels with blocked paths that you can never open)
    - graphics and sound have some very bad moments. Sound design often feels fake as in "oh yeah this is a footstep soundeffect" rather than actually feeling real. And while the visuals can be stunning in some parts despite geometry and vegetation being on the lower end (especially the castles look great), other areas are just plain ugly, e.g everything looking flat and greyish without any interesting details.
    - there is an overabundance of items and weapons in this game with little differentiation between them. I'd much rather have less but more unique stuff than a lot of junk (e.g. 10 different healing items) cluttering my inventory
    - some enemies and bosses are very forgetable    … Expand
  14. Cap-radar
    Feb 18, 2020
    5
    Top game melhor versao pena que o meu ps4 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
  15. kekseD
    Mar 13, 2020
    7
    Главные минусы игры это дебильные хитбоксы и скорость игры, она очень медленная
  16. Dom007
    Mar 28, 2021
    6
    This is by far the more inferior version of DS2. There are hardly any improvements on the game outside of graphics and the game is just BS. Stupid enemy placements, stupid stone statue placements and infuriating run backs make this version so frustrating in a bad way. The PS3 version of SOTFS is far better.
  17. ZangBang
    Oct 24, 2022
    6
    65/100
    Dark Souls 2's map of Drangleic aims to be as structurally cohesive as Lordran, but ultimately lacks that same level of ingenious interconnectivity that made DS1's journey so engrossing. The branching pathways leading to the various corners of the world rarely intertwine, with a mostly streamlined progression that often halts exploration with awkward progression gating requiring a    65/100
    Dark Souls 2's map of Drangleic aims to be as structurally cohesive as Lordran, but ultimately lacks that same level of ingenious interconnectivity that made DS1's journey so engrossing. The branching pathways leading to the various corners of the world rarely intertwine, with a mostly streamlined progression that often halts exploration with awkward progression gating requiring a single resource, which makes the experience's flow much more jagged and tedious. Even the historical background of the kingdom of Drangleic seems to have less care put into it, with some areas not making geographical sense in relation to their position and extremely few meaningful NPC storylines to witness. Nonetheless, even after all of this, the Level Design itself within each zone can still be extremely engaging, even surpassing DS1 a couple of times, with a solid artistic direction that soaks the ambience in a gloomy melancholy, areas developing horizontally and vertically on multiple layers, hidden paths, environmental hazards and interactivity, and interesting enemy placements that challenge the player to master their reflexes and adapt to their surroundings in interesting ways, especially in the wonderful DLC areas. The variety might not be on par with DS1, but it's still excellent and elevated by a strong enemy variety. Just like in Lordran, the creatures inhabiting Drangelic are extremely aggressive and quick but have clear attack patterns with manageable timeframes, providing a fair, edifying challenge. The main issue is that DS2 has an unhealthy tendency of throwing multiple powerful enemies at the player at once, even when said enemy types don't mesh well together, leading to extremely frustrating, unfairly difficult scenarios, where the player has no choice but to awkwardly exploit the AI's aggro field. These instances do not occur so much that they ruin the entire experience, but frequently enough to make it significantly less fun, also because of a lesser combo variety when compared to DS1. Bosses are the biggest failure of the game, most of them are of significantly lesser quality than DS1 with simple attack patterns and extremely limited movesets, challenging but rarely truly engaging. This is true only for the base game though, as the DLC bosses are dramatically better, with interesting unique gimmicks, tight fast movesets and variegated attack patterns requiring different strategies and approaches.    … Expand
  18. BobsityJonesity
    Aug 20, 2022
    7
    A pretty good game that suffers from some really strange mechanical and design flaws which drag down what could have been a better game than the original. The game is bloated with bosses with a notable decrease in quality. Level design is near unbearable in certain places and makes the game downright unfun at moments. Even the DLCs are a noticeable decrease in quality compared to theA pretty good game that suffers from some really strange mechanical and design flaws which drag down what could have been a better game than the original. The game is bloated with bosses with a notable decrease in quality. Level design is near unbearable in certain places and makes the game downright unfun at moments. Even the DLCs are a noticeable decrease in quality compared to the originals, despite them still being some of the better moments of the game. The main thing that keeps dark souls 2 from being a worse game is the fact that it is built on an already sturdy foundation that the original dark laid out.… Expand
  19. Suspect_Danny
    Jul 6, 2015
    8
    Dark souls 2 is an amazing but very challenging game. It looks very nice and has great gameplay. The game can be very unfair in parts with problems with hit boxes and you may need to look on YouTube for some parts but definitely worth the buy
  20. Kamikazeshocki
    Aug 10, 2017
    7
    This is still a good game, yet I can't understand why it received those scores in comparison to all other Soulsborne games. I loved DS1, 3 and especially Bloodborne and their addons I have Platinum Trophy in the latter 2 of them and 200 hours in each title. Except for DS2.
    Reasons:
    - Level design is mediocre - Bosses are mediocre - When it came out it looked somehow worse than DS1 -    This is still a good game, yet I can't understand why it received those scores in comparison to all other Soulsborne games. I loved DS1, 3 and especially Bloodborne and their addons I have Platinum Trophy in the latter 2 of them and 200 hours in each title. Except for DS2.
    Reasons:
    - Level design is mediocre
    - Bosses are mediocre
    - When it came out it looked somehow worse than DS1
    - In summary it is often boring and tedious.

    You can really tell that Miyazaki did not direct this game. The core DS mechanics are there so it all "works pretty good" yet the DS flair is almost gone. I only completed this game for the sake of completing it. To my shame I did not even want to start the DLC allthough I heard it's way better than the main game. Some people think DS 2 is good because they focus on online PVP and are spending too much time dueling/doin builds. To me Dark Souls is not about that, that is just an extra feature. Though i consistently enjoy the seamless multiplayer invading stuff.

    I can't recommend this game for everyone or DS fans. You might wanna rent it first or get it cheap.    … Expand
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. bkeny2idie
    Feb 5, 2017
    4
    Does more wrong than right, so much so that it hurts the game on many levels. Waiting a year for a "better version" only split the dwindling community even further between three platforms and six games with three original and three scholar versions. Overall this is was a slap in the face to souls veterans and a cheap attempt to right a wrong.
  24. marikbat
    Mar 12, 2020
    0
    "How to transfer a good game to a new generation console according to Bandai Namco"
    Step 1 - select game
    Step 2 - forget the plot and common sense
    Step 3 - mix opponents and items thoroughly
    Step 4 - add a pinch of NG + in different places of the game ... although it doesn’t matter throw as much as you want
    Done, enjoy and have a new unforgettable experience
  25. 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
  26. ootinii
    Apr 20, 2015
    6
    Let me just say first that I'm a huge fan of From Software's games. This game has a lot of positive things, the frame rate is incredible, graphics and lighting are a definite improvement, the game seems to perform very well in most aspects. This leads me to my major problem with this new release.

    The feel. This updated release of DS just feels clunky. In particular, character movement.    Let me just say first that I'm a huge fan of From Software's games. This game has a lot of positive things, the frame rate is incredible, graphics and lighting are a definite improvement, the game seems to perform very well in most aspects. This leads me to my major problem with this new release.

    The feel. This updated release of DS just feels clunky. In particular, character movement. One of the most important things to me when I play a game is how it feels, how responsive are the controls, how smooth is the movement. Unfortunately, the feel of this game is currently not good, not up to par. There is a strange dead zone in the movement when walking forward, and side to side movement is not smooth at all. It feels jerky at best. Moving from Bloodborne to this was pretty much intolerable. I am holding out hope that From will do something to at least make consistent character movement a reality in this remastered DSII, because as it stands currently, it feels like I'm trying to control a character who doesn't want to be controlled, which basically ruins the game's immersion. I look forward to updating this rating back to where it should be in the near future.    … Expand
  27. 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
  28. sabaothkelly
    Jul 30, 2020
    0
    Demon Souls 1? Legendary.
    Dark Souls 1? Masterpiece.
    Light Souls 2? What a PIECE of TVRD, ¡seriously!? There are too many enemies and bosses doing s**t that is just just random, absurd or jank. Honestly, it's just barely above "Lords of the Fallen" trash mechanics.
    Dark Souls 3? Amazing.
    Bloodborne? Godly.
    Sekiro? Very Good.
  29. alexaxa
    May 22, 2016
    7
    Only "Souls" game i did not finished. Something was missing but i can't find exactly why... Bosses seemed less epic, level design was not as good as DS/DeS/BB...
  30. drevil99
    May 12, 2015
    7
    Overall it's a good addition to the Souls series

    Good - Huuuuuge world! It would still be huge even if they didn't include all 3 DLCs - you rarely get invaded by other players in your first play through, that is before you reach Soul Level 150 - PvP and covenants can be fun, I enjoyed dueling other players on the bridge - great coop feature in this game, there usually are summons    Overall it's a good addition to the Souls series

    Good
    - Huuuuuge world! It would still be huge even if they didn't include all 3 DLCs
    - you rarely get invaded by other players in your first play through, that is before you reach Soul Level 150
    - PvP and covenants can be fun, I enjoyed dueling other players on the bridge
    - great coop feature in this game, there usually are summons available when you need them
    - you have just as much, if not more customization options compared to DS1.
    - no framerate issue (I hear this is a problem in PS3 version)

    Bad:
    - invasions can get annoying later in the game, as they happen often, even in hollow form, and therefore feel forced. Personally I started to play offline in NG+
    - the controls are clunky when compared DS1 and Demon Souls. For example there seems to be some awkward pause from the time you press L1 to block to the time you actually start moving
    - there are some really bad lag issues in PvP
    - no balance in PvP as game strongly encourages certain builds, spell casters and those who wield quick small weapons have the advantage; having a tank who wields an ultra great-sword is a definite nono

    Ugly
    - I am not impressed by the graphics. When DS1 came to PS3, it was ahead of it's time in terms of visuals
    - The atmosphere of dark melancholy that DS1 had, just seems to be missing in DS2, nor does it have that feeling of terror from Demon Souls. I can't quite explain it.    … Expand
prev
Page:

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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »