Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 122 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 122
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 122
  3. Negative: 28 out of 122
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. FlabbyCastle
    Apr 12, 2017
    4
    If you are a hardcore fan of the first game you may find this one very disappointing. Just a little about me, I have over 600 hours on DS1 (DS is dark souls) and at least 100 on DS3 by now so I have experience and I'm not totally spewing nonsense. I have also done many challenge runs in both including things like no shield, no estus, fat roll, and other runs (still haven't done soul levelIf you are a hardcore fan of the first game you may find this one very disappointing. Just a little about me, I have over 600 hours on DS1 (DS is dark souls) and at least 100 on DS3 by now so I have experience and I'm not totally spewing nonsense. I have also done many challenge runs in both including things like no shield, no estus, fat roll, and other runs (still haven't done soul level 1 cause I am a scrub). I love this series and mainly PvE (player vs environment) cause PvP doesn't really appeal to me.

    Pros:
    Runs really well especially on PC compared to DS1
    Has more cool weapons and movesets
    Looks fantastic
    I'm not into PvP much but I have heard it's the best of the series
    DLC has cool bosses

    Cons: (I'm an overly critical fanboy who loves DS1)
    Disappointing bosses
    -many are recycled DS1 bosses that seeming had no effort put into to revamp them
    -many have terribly straightforward movesets that are boring to fight against
    -made more to be unfair and ganky then to be mechanically challenging
    Clunky gameplay
    -lack of invincible frames on roll (probably the most important DS mechanic) unless you level your adaptability stat which makes it feel like your wasting levels
    -feels like the character isn't doing what I am inputting on the controller
    -frequently doesn't switch weapons or use items when I am smahing the button (tried on multiple controllers even brand new ones)
    -has weird mechanics (long pivot animation to run away from enemy, guard break instead of kick)
    -terrible hitboxes (DS1 had them too)
    Confusing and annoying world
    -enemies have boring movesets and ridiculous tracking
    -confusing areas with no clear progression
    -emphasizes quantity over quality (a lot of gank bosses and hordes of trash mobs)
    Awful and confusing story
    -instead of making a cool story and leaving it up to the gameplay to make you feel like a helpless undead it just mocks you and spouts off about how your going to die a lot
    -opening cutscene and conversation with fire keepers laughing at you feels like the developers were getting off to the fact that they made a game that's purposely made to be rage inducing
    DLC made the core game worse
    -random enemy placement
    -now comes with more ganking hordes of annoying BS
    -still doesn't fix clunky gameplay
    -blocks previously open paths making areas less accessible (can be unlocked but only by expensive/hard to find items)

    Conclusion: Not the worst game ever but definitely not a great one either. If this is your first souls game you may actually enjoy it a lot, but hardcore DS1 players probably won't. You may also want to have the wiki open 24/7 cause it gets confusing as hell.    … Expand
  2. sabaothkelly
    Jul 30, 2020
    0
    Dark Souls 1? Masterpiece.
    Light Souls 2? What a PIECE of TVRD, ¡seriously!? There are too many enemies and bosses doing ♥♥♥♥ that is just just random, absurd or jank. Honestly, it's just barely above "Lords of the Fallen" trash mechanics.
    Dark Souls 3? Amazing.
  3. Agahnim
    Sep 28, 2016
    0
    I've played games since Atari was brand new. This is the worst flop game I have ever seen. I'm a relatively stoic person, but yes, I broke this piece of garbage right in half. A game designed only for you to die and waste what you have in game, and time in real life. Absolutely disgusting that these sociopaths can make a game like this and make money.
  4. Raslu
    Mar 5, 2020
    0
    I hate this game. Played DS1 and 3 for over 200 hours each but this is trash. Don't waste 40$. Clunky, slow, unresponsive and will purposefully piss you off. I wish I could say how I really feel after wasting 50 hours on this, but I might be thrown into jail. I spit on this Dark Souls 2.
  5. cchenders40
    Feb 19, 2022
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is an amazing and criminally underrated game. This version is the definitive version of that game as it includes all three massive DLCs. This game is absolutely worth your time.
  6. Sunykamey
    Dec 28, 2020
    6
    EDIT: I was playing first time with Champions Covenant thus everything was way harder that it should have been. That being said imo:
    I can only describe this game as follows...boring! It's a slog to play through. Gameplay is worse than any other in the series with excessive stamina management and weapon degeneration. Atmosphere is really subpar, enemy placement uninspiring and rather not    EDIT: I was playing first time with Champions Covenant thus everything was way harder that it should have been. That being said imo:
    I can only describe this game as follows...boring! It's a slog to play through. Gameplay is worse than any other in the series with excessive stamina management and weapon degeneration. Atmosphere is really subpar, enemy placement uninspiring and rather not thought through. A classic B team effort. The only persons to play this games are the ones that forced themselves to. Eventually, they "get good" and call others out for struggles they themselves had before they overleveled. However, they think themselves "better" while repressing their own faults. Games should be good not by having bad mechanics but by reliability. This game doesn't.    … Expand
  7. KONTROLLIOR
    Jan 13, 2020
    8
    Перевыпуск 2ой части получилось отличное, свет слал магче, текстуры менее стеклянные, отличная оптимизация для этой графики, больше всего меня порадовало, что scholar ни на рубль не дороже (в scholar все 3 DLS)
  8. 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!
  9. Bruterake
    Jul 22, 2021
    7
    Eu achei mais ou menos, tipo é bom mas, depois que eu vi eu joguei meio errado n fui corpo a corpo e o jogo ficou chato tipo ser feiticeiro em skyrim.
  10. Yassya
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    there is artificial difficulty for moments,more in ng+,there is a little lack of diversity in the move set
  11. WhiteAndromeda
    Mar 22, 2023
    7
    7 - Good game.
    [Xbox Series S]
    Pros: + Deep and intriguing lore. + Diverse locations, some of them are truly magnificent. + Locations' unique contraptions and mechanisms (mostly in DLC). + Various types of enemies and game situations and secrets across the map (traps, special items, and etc.) + Special boss battles conditions (not of them are great, but it adds variability). +    7 - Good game.
    [Xbox Series S]

    Pros:
    + Deep and intriguing lore.
    + Diverse locations, some of them are truly magnificent.
    + Locations' unique contraptions and mechanisms (mostly in DLC).
    + Various types of enemies and game situations and secrets across the map (traps, special items, and etc.)
    + Special boss battles conditions (not of them are great, but it adds variability).
    + Several bosses are yet great, harsh and unforgiving with fast dynamic battles and curious movesets (mainly in DLC).

    Cons:
    - Many awful game design decisions:
    {
    — Parameter "Adaptability", which is needed to be improved to get enough IFrames;
    — Many important bonfires are too hard to find and unlocked only by using rare materials;
    — Long and sometime perilious runs for bosses (especially in DLC);
    — Illusion walls, which are unlocked by pressing a button, not on an impact;
    — Terribly long drinking estus animation;
    — Decrease of maximum health bar value to 50% after several deaths.
    }
    - Mostly flat and unimpressive music.
    - Most bosses design and movesets are primitive, therefore plenty boss fights are boring.
    - Poor main story and character development.
    - Too outdated graphics for the moment of release.    … Expand
  12. Vivvy
    Jun 26, 2020
    8
    People give this game a bad rap but in my opinion, the Dark Souls games are numbered from best to worst. This game may feel vastly different from the other games in the series, however, it is still a fun experience AND didn't go off the deep end and basically ruin core gameplay mechanics (like poise). In addition, it added the dual-wielding system, allowing you to use pretty much anyPeople give this game a bad rap but in my opinion, the Dark Souls games are numbered from best to worst. This game may feel vastly different from the other games in the series, however, it is still a fun experience AND didn't go off the deep end and basically ruin core gameplay mechanics (like poise). In addition, it added the dual-wielding system, allowing you to use pretty much any weapons together in both hands, and while it wasn't the best functioning system, it's a system that I wish had been fleshed out a bit more in the sequel, although in that case I understand why they dialed it back to only weapons that go together coming as a premade set. The shard system added an interesting twist to healing and this game added the name engraved ring, an important system for playing with your friends. Overall, I like Dark Souls 2, even though it feels aost like a different franchise entirely. It's not as good as DS1 in my eyes, but it is certainly better than DS3.… Expand
  13. Buszke
    Oct 3, 2020
    0
    Annoying, bad hit box, unfair overpower npc invaders. Never again..........
  14. punkblud
    Jul 31, 2020
    7
    I fully understand the hate, but somehow this is still one of the best games I've played. This game is very divisive amongst the fans of the series and for good reason, it suffers from a severe drop in quality as the next entry in the series with lackluster boss fights and mechanics. But where my opinion differs is in regards to the story. I think it went in the best direction it couldI fully understand the hate, but somehow this is still one of the best games I've played. This game is very divisive amongst the fans of the series and for good reason, it suffers from a severe drop in quality as the next entry in the series with lackluster boss fights and mechanics. But where my opinion differs is in regards to the story. I think it went in the best direction it could have as a sequel, since it focuses on the somber and inevitable consequences of the original Dark Souls' ending(s). It presents a new way to look at the choice the player is given in the original (Choosing to link the fire or ushering in an age of darkness).… Expand
  15. GlacebrousFrost
    Nov 16, 2020
    8
    a diferencia del 1 este tiene una ligera mejora con los combates esta mas enfocado al multi jugador muchas de mis set los pude conseguir casi de inicio subir de nivel es un mas facil puedes enfrentar a los jefes cuantas veces quieras gracias a las llamas de la advercidad no obtante sube su dificiltad, lo malo que esa dificultad es un poco artificial se supone que deben meter mecanicas paraa diferencia del 1 este tiene una ligera mejora con los combates esta mas enfocado al multi jugador muchas de mis set los pude conseguir casi de inicio subir de nivel es un mas facil puedes enfrentar a los jefes cuantas veces quieras gracias a las llamas de la advercidad no obtante sube su dificiltad, lo malo que esa dificultad es un poco artificial se supone que deben meter mecanicas para hacer los enemigos mas dificil no meter mas enemiigos eso es una dificultad artificial si quieresn hacer un musou haganlo pero no metan el nombre de dark souls 2, mi otro punto negativo pero este es personal que no alla metido el set de artorias eso es un sacrilegio para mi, pero mas alla de esos puntos negativos sigue siendo un souls no es mejor que el 1 ni mucho menos peor pero aun asi es un buen juego que me dio mas de 300 horas de juego, su puntuacion final es un 8 de 10.… Expand
  16. DPP1987
    Nov 3, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Malo,

    Si tuviera que clasificarlo en una palabra, diría que es un juego incoherente.

    A diferencia de su predecesor, Dark Souls 2 da la sensación de estar a medio hacer, o de parecer un nivel de super mario maker hecho por un aficionado de la comunidad.

    La dificultad está calibrada de una forma bastante casposa, más enfocada a crear situaciones injustas para el jugador, (como la mecánica del dichoso frasquito, que en lo que en el DS2 le das un trago al frasco, en el DS1 le das 14, formas una familia, y te pasas el juego convenciendo a la legión de huecos de que la violencia no es el camino para solucionar sus conflictos). Los monstruos están colocados aleatoriamente a saco paco, al mas puro estilo mario maker, con el pequeña diferencia de que a los que los colocaron alguien les pagó un sueldo por hacerlo. Está claro que en DS2, Miyazaki solo se pasó por la oficina para dar palmadas en la espalda a los becarios.

    Luego están los bosses que mueren de 2 magias, los que se caen por el pozo, y demás situaciones casposas. Luego está lo de las 7987988 invocaciones al más puro estilo pokemon.

    Historia entre mediocre y mala.

    Directico pa eneba que va.    … Expand
  17. Kau24
    May 6, 2021
    10
    Best game dark souls 2 lit scurr better than dark souls 3 git gud kakshejejes
  18. GahsLva
    May 19, 2021
    10
    This version,upgrade the first one,Aldia is really a good boss,Also now the lore is updated,i really enjoyed the three dlcs they're the best of souls series
  19. cheese-chasers
    Aug 27, 2021
    0
    my gameplay experience wasn't enjoyable at all, it felt like if you got dark souls remastered and 3 and squeezed out all of it's good values. the controls/ settings are archaic and personally required me to dig into the game files to be able to change my settings without hindering my gameplay. The story isn't related to dark souls 1 which allows this game to be skipped straight onto dark souls 3
  20. Andrewblank610
    Sep 28, 2021
    9
    In my opinion, the best of dark souls mechanics. DS3 and anything in the future could be better with power stancing and hexes being its own class of spells. While DS3 is obviously a much more beautiful and dark game, DS2 is definitely good in its own right. Don't let the complainers turn you away.
  21. miaumiau1111
    Dec 27, 2022
    0
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
    trash game
  22. Sifrit
    Mar 14, 2023
    10
    Best story in the series and best replayability by far. Aldia is unforgettable. Wonderful game!
  23. Avey123Avey
    Mar 19, 2023
    5
    Dark souls 2 is a very mixed bag of quality. Some sections, areas and enemies are pretty well designed. But other parts are truly terrible. You can never know what to expect on a first playthrough. The games combat system also just feels off compared to DS1. Easily the worst Fromsoft souls like game. It's an absolute mess of an experience. But with all that said there is some fun to be hadDark souls 2 is a very mixed bag of quality. Some sections, areas and enemies are pretty well designed. But other parts are truly terrible. You can never know what to expect on a first playthrough. The games combat system also just feels off compared to DS1. Easily the worst Fromsoft souls like game. It's an absolute mess of an experience. But with all that said there is some fun to be had with this mess.… Expand