Dark Souls II

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1317 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 976 out of 1317
  2. Mixed: 153 out of 1317
  3. Negative: 188 out of 1317
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  1. Nataraja
    Feb 9, 2015
    5
    This game is only for those who consider themselves hardcore and enjoy the challenge of long winded battles and unresponsive controls. If you don't mind dying many, many times so that you can memorize the actions of mobs then this game will appeal to you. It was not so much the dying but the level of punishment for dying (reducing your maximum health) that I was so opposed to. I don'tThis game is only for those who consider themselves hardcore and enjoy the challenge of long winded battles and unresponsive controls. If you don't mind dying many, many times so that you can memorize the actions of mobs then this game will appeal to you. It was not so much the dying but the level of punishment for dying (reducing your maximum health) that I was so opposed to. I don't mind challenge but when the challenge is at this level, to reduce your health upon respawning as a punishment in addition to dropping your souls is over the top. I would be far more likely to spend the effort to over come the obstacle if I were not punished to the point where additional failed attempts would provide even less leeway and bring about a quicker death.

    The story is done well. The lighting is NOT well done. The textures are muddy and archaic. The game is not very accessible and appeals to a particular type of player. Simply put, I don't find the game to be fun or entertaining. Its more of a chore than something that I find enticing.

    I know that some people enjoy very difficult challenges and will bang their head against a boss until they beat it. For them this game will be a must play. There are very few challenges out there like this and if you are masochistic and like to deal with over powered bosses that way over stay their welcome (at least for me) then this game will be a gem.

    I do hope that Bloodborne will be more accessible. Watching the play through that has been recorded during the Alpha it certainly appears to have more variety in the combat and tactics and be more accessible.

    I can only give it 5 out of 10 - for the writing, voice acting and soundtrack.    … Expand
  2. SLURM187
    Mar 22, 2014
    10
    I just beat Dark Souls 2 after 47 hours of play and I must say...This is a great game. It was challenging and rewarding. I never felt like I was getting screwed over. If I died, it is because I did something wrong, and not the fault of the game or its mechanics. The length of the game was on par with where I thought it would be, and the new game plus adds even more depth (when I startedI just beat Dark Souls 2 after 47 hours of play and I must say...This is a great game. It was challenging and rewarding. I never felt like I was getting screwed over. If I died, it is because I did something wrong, and not the fault of the game or its mechanics. The length of the game was on par with where I thought it would be, and the new game plus adds even more depth (when I started new game plus, I immediately ran into a brand new enemy type in Things Betwixt).

    First of all, there are a few changes that some people have been critical of. One of them is the fact that your maximum health bar goes down every time you die. The way that you remedy this problem is by consuming the human effigy item that find throughout the game. People have complained that these effigies are too few and that this change from Dark Souls is frustrating. I will tell you that at the time that I beat the game, I had 33 human effigies in my inventory and I used at least one before every boss to maximize my health bar. These effigies are found on many enemy types, and can be found for purchase in at least 3 different areas. I felt like I was finding too many of these items.

    Another thing people have been critical of is the difficulty of some of the bosses...THIS IS DARK SOULS!!! If you want a casual experience, do not play the game. What separates Demon/Dark Souls away from other games is the difficulty level. I actually felt that Dark Souls was much harder than 2, but that is just my opinion.

    As far as the graphics issue that people are complaining about, if you have a problem with the graphics on a PS3 or 360, then wait until it comes out on PC and play it on that. Surely the textures will look better and you can pop your graphics hard on in your pants. I never once thought the graphics were an issue. I thought the game looked creepy and beautiful at the same time. The frame rate was fantastic and ran very smoothly. I would rather have slight downgrade in graphics for a top notch experience, but that's just me.

    To sum it all up, this is a great game. If you love difficult games, or RPG's that don't baby you through your gaming experience, then this game is going to make you very happy. If you like to find fault in everything, complain about difficult games because you can't smoke a J and then casually play, or rip your hair out when you are not playing the most amazing graphics running on the world's fastest super computer. then go play Titanfall or something, and leave the real gaming to the real gamers.    … Expand
  3. Gilgamesh
    Mar 30, 2014
    10
    Just an awesome follow-up to the amazing DS1. If you're patient and want to experience extreme satisfaction in a game this is for you. Not for the easily discouraged or thoughtless gamer.
  4. H1P1
    Mar 15, 2014
    8
    The game doesn't quite live up to the standard of the original but there's still plenty here to like. The main reason is that your success in DS2 is a lot less reliant on skill despite Fromsoft making the game harder. As far as negative aspects go the hit detection is shocking - many deaths result in the enemy hitting thin air. Another problem is that the invincibility frames for rollingThe game doesn't quite live up to the standard of the original but there's still plenty here to like. The main reason is that your success in DS2 is a lot less reliant on skill despite Fromsoft making the game harder. As far as negative aspects go the hit detection is shocking - many deaths result in the enemy hitting thin air. Another problem is that the invincibility frames for rolling have been greatly reduced to the point of feeling non-existent. Surely this can only reduce the amount of viable builds and reduce your flexibility in playing the game. More importantly though it's a kick in the face to players who put skill into mastering this high risk tactic especially for PvP and PvE now many light shields no longer have 100% damage reduction.. The last main flaw is that enemies stop re-spawning to prevent farming. To me this makes no sense because no one liked farming in the first place - receiving the item was your reward for hours of mundane work. Now it's a major set back in achieving your desired weapon and hampers experimentation with weapons and tactics due to item scarcity.

    As far as positive aspects the locations and visuals are improved and the world feels a lot more mysterious. Some of the music is really great and it would be nice to see them have music playing during more gameplay as it really adds atmosphere to the game. 4 ring slots - YES! And plenty of cool new weapons, armour and CAPES!! They do some really cool flashback things in game which i think really added to the story and I'd like to see them incorporate more of this in future games.

    All of this makes a solid game however you'll still leave the game with a feeling that DS1 was more fun and rewarding to play, despite the many improvements that could have been made to it. Many of the changes were in favour of PvP play, but it feels like Fromsoft is forgetting that the game at heart is a PvE experience.    … Expand
  5. OThePestO
    Apr 15, 2014
    9
    Aside from a few minor bugs and some pvp issues, the game is great. I've only played Demon Souls prior to this and I would say it's just as fun. However, I think the game could have been made better if it had a low 150-200 level cap, instead of a near infinite one. This would have greatly made PvP better and added to the longevity of the game.
  6. shprea
    Jun 25, 2014
    9
    The original Dark Souls stands not only as one of the best games of the last generation, but perhaps one of the greatest games ever made. Its atmosphere, gameplay, and difficulty made it an experience unlike any other before it. In this regard, Dark Souls II had large shoes to fill. Thankfully, FromSoftware’s latest entry into the series successfully rekindles the magic of the first gameThe original Dark Souls stands not only as one of the best games of the last generation, but perhaps one of the greatest games ever made. Its atmosphere, gameplay, and difficulty made it an experience unlike any other before it. In this regard, Dark Souls II had large shoes to fill. Thankfully, FromSoftware’s latest entry into the series successfully rekindles the magic of the first game by advancing its gameplay and accessibility.

    One excellent aspect of Dark Souls II is its gameplay. The Souls series is known for its impeccable mechanics, and Dark Souls II is no exception. Everything from swordplay to sorcery maintains its high level of detail and complexity. However, these mechanics have been greatly polished, allowing the gameplay experience to be far smoother. These refined controls are accompanied by the traditional and crippling difficulty of the series. Throughout a playthrough, a player will encounter seemingly insurmountable obstacles that test his or her desire to win. The game is also peppered with confrontations with opponents vastly superior in strength, size, and tenacity.

    To many people, this difficulty may seem tedious and unappealing. However, the difficulty is what makes the game special. Every failure is the player’s fault, and the game centers itself on learning from defeat. Some of the most exhilarating and fulfilling moments in gaming come from finally besting an enemy after hours of seeming defeat. The fulfillment felt from each victory makes Dark Souls II a remarkably satisfying game to play.

    On a technical level, Dark Souls II far surpasses its predecessor. The original Dark Souls struggled to maintain a decent frame rate, and at certain areas the game became nearly unplayable. Dark Souls II, however, is able to run smoothly, never once dropping below 30 frames per second. The improved frame rates, coupled with the reworked graphics, ensure that the game is the series’ most technically sound entry. These enhancements allow the difficulty of the game to stem from actual obstacles rather than unintended technical problems.

    The most interesting aspect of Dark Souls II is how it delivers its story. Rather than being presented directly to the player, the narrative is presented subtly. Players are dropped into a world with minimal background information and instructed to piece the big picture together themselves. The lore of the game comes from the enemies fought, locations visited, and items collected. This approach to a narrative makes the game world feel far more natural, as though it existed for thousands of years before you first enter it. And while the melancholy tale of the rise and fall of the kingdom is Drangleic is admittedly less interesting than that of the original Dark Souls, it is still a story worth uncovering.

    As a whole, Dark Souls II is superb. FromSoftware has succeeded again in making a punishing yet fulfilling game. The main problem with Dark Souls II, however, is that it doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor. While Dark Souls II is more accessible and easier to play, it feels more like a game and less like a true experience. The original Dark Souls was remarkable in both design and atmosphere. The creativity and enjoyably depressing nature of the original produced a remarkable experience unlike any game made before it. Dark Souls II does not live up to this mold. It tries very hard to rekindle the magic of its predecessor, but in doing so it fails to find its own identity.

    Dark Souls II is a better game, but it is not a better experience.    … Expand
  7. houyi111
    Apr 10, 2014
    9
    A great sequel. The gameplay is similar to dark souls but with enough changes and improvements. The game has more places, bosses and weapons, etc. The graphic is not what they showed on E3 but it is good enough. I love the covenants, co-op and pvp. IMO, the game is easier than the first one because magic is so overpower. I enjoy this game, but for some reason I love the first game moreA great sequel. The gameplay is similar to dark souls but with enough changes and improvements. The game has more places, bosses and weapons, etc. The graphic is not what they showed on E3 but it is good enough. I love the covenants, co-op and pvp. IMO, the game is easier than the first one because magic is so overpower. I enjoy this game, but for some reason I love the first game more than this one.… Expand
  8. Teravexis
    Jul 18, 2014
    8
    Using familiar mechanics and style, Dark Souls is one of the best games of this year. Compared to the original however, the game doesn't feel as polished. Some areas have (no pun intended) no soul to them. You walk mostly in a straight line, with one few branching paths. I mean, it's still Dark Souls and by god there's a lot of exploring to do, but to me, it never felt interesting, notUsing familiar mechanics and style, Dark Souls is one of the best games of this year. Compared to the original however, the game doesn't feel as polished. Some areas have (no pun intended) no soul to them. You walk mostly in a straight line, with one few branching paths. I mean, it's still Dark Souls and by god there's a lot of exploring to do, but to me, it never felt interesting, not even slightly. Dark Souls 1 featured a world that was interconnected and exploring this world was really satisfying: Finding all kinds of shortcuts or finally reaching that area that you couldn't get to before was amazingly satisfying. In Dark Souls 2 however, this feeling is mostly absent, probably because of the lackluster level design.
    Now don't get me wrong, I loved playing the 50 hours I put in Dark Souls 2's story, but replaying the game never really occurred to me. I didn't want to go through the game again with a different build or approach, something that Dark Souls 1 really well.
    In short, Dark Souls 2 is a fantastic game, but isn't a masterpiece like it's predecessor. It solved some of the original's problems, while adding new ones too. It could've been so much more, it could've been another amazing adventure that we would cherish, but in the end, it simply didn't. It's...forgettable.    … Expand
  9. JustBenjy7
    Mar 23, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is fantastic. Like all games, it does have its flaws; the controls not always respond the way they should is the one I have noticed the most, but this doesn't take much away from the experience. DkSII certainly feels like it flows better than its predecessor, and combat feel more dynamic, if slightly unfamiliar at first. Like DkS, it is fair, challenging and rewarding, butDark Souls II is fantastic. Like all games, it does have its flaws; the controls not always respond the way they should is the one I have noticed the most, but this doesn't take much away from the experience. DkSII certainly feels like it flows better than its predecessor, and combat feel more dynamic, if slightly unfamiliar at first. Like DkS, it is fair, challenging and rewarding, but will not hesitate to try and punish you for doing something stupid, like attacking the ogre in the first area. Other major improvements, in my opinion, include the inventory system, the message system, and the hollowing system. The loss of a percentage of your total health not only works well in the world and the story, but gives you a stronger incentive not to die (as if you needed one). Not to mention the fact that it is even more rewarding to beat a boss when your maximum health is at 50%.

    In summary, DkSII has many improvements over DkS, and is a fantastic game, if you're up for a challenge. But like DkS, it is not for the faint of heart or the short of temper.    … Expand
  10. zmmby
    May 7, 2014
    9
    Okay, so i've finished Dark Souls II now. I haven't played any other games from this company and i was curious indeed about what's the hype about. The difficulty etc.

    I landed on level 141 and the whole game took me around 60hours to complete. Story: It's nothing that will catch your eye. Its about King Vendrick that cursed you, and your seeking the four giant souls to blast him    Okay, so i've finished Dark Souls II now. I haven't played any other games from this company and i was curious indeed about what's the hype about. The difficulty etc.

    I landed on level 141 and the whole game took me around 60hours to complete.

    Story:
    It's nothing that will catch your eye. Its about King Vendrick that cursed you, and your seeking the four giant souls to blast him down. In the game, you will experience around 5 cutscenes (which is good).
    I didnt care for the story at all, the world and all the enemies are already consuming ur attention.

    Gameplay:
    Here is where the game shines, it has some flaws around the hit box, and sometimes you can get glitced, example: I kited a dragon and when i went thru a cave, his flame breath killed me from the side which wouldnt happen realistic. But hey, other than that the gameplay is flawless. You have super combat with an impressive shield/sword combat or an ranged class. Enemies are just swinging giant swords, casting magic and knives at you. It's beautifuly done and i applaud From Software for doing this. Their work is very impressive and i havent seen such a wonderful combat system in a while within RPG-genre.

    Graphics:
    For me, its all about the inside. (^^) but for some people who really depend on graphics, Dark Souls have their biggest flaw here, or well the only flaw that i would say. The game isnt really pretty. It looks like it's been made in 2012, or heck even later then that. Skyrim is more beautiful on all places, even tho it's alot older. I didnt care about that, but im giving you guys a hint.

    Tho the game have some beautiful enviroments and the arts of the enemies, trees, bosses are just phenonemal. When you play the game, you can already tell from the first hours that they havent put all their effort here. It's clear that they went old-school hardcore and did all the work on the details of the game instead of the shallowness of graphics.

    Audio:
    Beautiful songs, haunting and even tense sounds. They have it all covered. Your feelings will adapt to the songs of the situation since they have covered so nicely, you can tell when your getting scared, chased or just "chilling" around. It's alot like Skyrim. They really depend on the situation and i love it alot. Haven't noticed anything bad.

    Difficulty: You dont have any options in the start of the game, it's only one difficulty. (Which is "normal" i guess?)
    Me myself prefer a challenge, and i have probably died around 200-300 times under the first round of the game. I would suggest playing this in a calm state of mind because other than that, your gonna rage alot. The thing i like is that the game itself isnt really hard, it just takes alot of effort, concentration and focus on enemy patterns. It's like what they mentioned here in one of the Critic Review: You gotta let Dark Souls 2 devour you first before you can devour it, and it pretty much sums it up.

    You will die alot, and only because of your own mistakes and not because you ended up in a glitch or something and that's what i like. You die, take a deep breath and think for yourself: "What did i do wrong?) And thats the beauty of this game.

    Anyway, here's a quick review from me. I wont bother with spellings or anything else. I think you got the point.

    Pros:
    Amazing combat
    beautiful and fitting sound
    enriched area's of mystic items, hiddens paths etc.
    Bosses with unique spells and patterns, alot of items and weapons.

    Cons:
    Outdated graphics,

    The NPC's didnt really interest me. The fact that some of them give you an item after 5 times you have spoken to them, dosent give you the motivation to actually listen and engage like you would do in Skyrim. And some of them have poor conversation-routes.

    Most of the things arent explained in the game, I had to check the internet for guides, walkthroughs and such cause the games dosent give you an path really. It just kicks you into this world and "bye".

    Wasen't really an issue for me, but for some people i can tell that it would be frustrating, also some of the inventory signs dosent have an explanation. I couldnt, or should i say i cant still tell what some of the icon stands for and i get that the game wanna make you explore it, but you have to draw the line somewhere. I would like to know what benefits my armor does and how it helps me.

    For those who like an RPG-Action with challenge, interesting enemys and bosses that WILL make you rage or even cry at some point. I recommend this. After i bought this, im gonna purchase the first DS and try it out.    … Expand
  11. PriceyPants
    Apr 23, 2014
    9
    Let me start by saying i love dark souls 1 and 2 but dark souls 2 has to be my favorite out of the two because of what it did to improve the combat and enemies in the game. The first thing i noticed when i was placed into the first area of the game was the great atmosphere of the game, It sets up a old island that was once beautiful but has been turned into ruins over time. Dark souls 2Let me start by saying i love dark souls 1 and 2 but dark souls 2 has to be my favorite out of the two because of what it did to improve the combat and enemies in the game. The first thing i noticed when i was placed into the first area of the game was the great atmosphere of the game, It sets up a old island that was once beautiful but has been turned into ruins over time. Dark souls 2 also gives the immediate sense of danger even before you get to customize your character because you start with nothing. The character creator hasn't improved though it still has the awkward default faces that can now have custom tattoos but non of this matters because most of the time you wont see your characters face because you are normally wearing a helmet. Combat has been improved dramatically over dark souls 1 you can now do a shield break to stagger and critical hit an enemy and backstabbing has become harder to do which makes the PvP more balanced and fair. That said PvP is now more rewarding and fun because of the reduce in lag and covenants like the rat king covenant let you summon grey spirits of other players into two certain locations that you can unlock traps. npc's and hidden path ways to kill your invader in easier ways. The locations in Drandeliec (dark souls 2) i find better than the those in lordran (dark souls 1) because they are more varied with their own specific theme and enemy types like the forest of fallen giants which houses zombies and giant knights with turtle Armour on their backs, and the gutter which is where all the dead body's and junk get thrown causing poison enemies to spawn down in the pits. Speaking of enemies the AI for most of the enemies has been improved where some will still jump to their death for no reason most and smarter with their attacks using them when you are more vulnerable and run back to heal while others move up to defend them. The bosses in the game are varied in difficulty where some are laughably easy and die in a few seconds some and incredibly hard and require help to beat them which is fine by me because i love a challenge but some were stupidly hard because of things you have to do before you enter the boss area like burn something so the boss arena isn't filled with poison that slowly kills you but heals the boss. Now i want to say some things i dont like about the game, the new system of losing your max health when you did up to 50% is good in theory but when it plays out it isnt fun because the only way to get it back is using a human effigy (which also lets you summon other players to help you) and at the start they are limited which caused me a problem because i had to grind for an hour to get one which i then summoned a person who was great enough to give me lots of Human Effigy but the max health thing seriously screwed me up on certain areas. Another thing which isnt really the games fault and this serves as more of a warning DONT KILL NPC MERCHANTS because you get a sinner status which lets players from the way of blue covenant to invade you as an arbiter and they are normally really powerful and spawn almost next to you giving them a huge advantage if you aren't ready. Another problem is near the end of the game it doesnt tell you what to do with this item you get and its really obscure what you have to do to get to the final boss im not going to say what you have to do but i needed to look it up after 5 hours of searching. On a closing note i would like to say that if you enjoyed demon souls or dark souls 1 get this game because it is the best one yet and i hope it gets a game of the year award from someone. Pros: difficult but fair (most of the time), PvP improved, Lag Improved, Creative areas and enemy design. Cons: losing health when you die with lack of human effigies on the map, doesn't tell you what to do most of the time, unfair PvP spawns in certain areas. Final Score 9/10… Expand
  12. javaleno
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    Quite possibly one of the best games I have every played in my life. I beat the game 8 times on my main file, and 2 times on my alternate file (made this file to play with my friend, who beat the game twice as well). But yeah, this game is just so damn unique. I love how challenging this game is, and I love the setting as well. If you love games with difficulties that are similar to theQuite possibly one of the best games I have every played in my life. I beat the game 8 times on my main file, and 2 times on my alternate file (made this file to play with my friend, who beat the game twice as well). But yeah, this game is just so damn unique. I love how challenging this game is, and I love the setting as well. If you love games with difficulties that are similar to the old SNES games, this is definitely something you will enjoy. Please buy this game, and the first Dark Souls, and Demon Souls, you won't regret it. It's an underrated game that people don't play because it requires patience, thinking, strategy, teamwork(if you summon other players), and pretty much skills that normal people don't really possess. Normal people nowadays enjoy casual games like COD, because there isn't any thinking involved. OH yeah, the multiplayer is so original, I don't know any other game that has a multiplayer system like the Souls games. You can summon other players via a sign place on the ground for bosses and for areas in the game. I think it's cool. It does get annoying when you get invaded though, but nevertheless, it is cool. This game has raised my standards to very high levels, which is good because I can save money on video games now.… Expand
  13. Lincs
    May 2, 2014
    9
    Easily one of the best and most rewarding games this year. Good follow up to Dark Souls 1, able to keep sense of danger, discovery, mystery, and high level of challenge that we all came to love. The only downside I feel I can pick out is the lack of a good story. In Dark Souls I felt the whole time like I was working hard and sweating during boss battles for a single purpose and all ofEasily one of the best and most rewarding games this year. Good follow up to Dark Souls 1, able to keep sense of danger, discovery, mystery, and high level of challenge that we all came to love. The only downside I feel I can pick out is the lack of a good story. In Dark Souls I felt the whole time like I was working hard and sweating during boss battles for a single purpose and all of the areas and bosses fed the main story. I think Dark Souls 2 lacks the sense of interconnectivity with the levels and bosses and you feel like you are just beating areas to, well, beat that particular area. Other than that, great game, great sequel.… Expand
  14. ColonelBeatle
    May 11, 2014
    10
    I am literally out of words, this game is a masterpiece just like the other souls games.
    in some aspects it is actually better. There is a fixed frame-rate, so no more fps drops. and the controls are more responsive than ever. There are some minor flaws, many enemies are re-used, little variation in boss fights and the plot is not quite as good as the first one. But these are such minor    I am literally out of words, this game is a masterpiece just like the other souls games.
    in some aspects it is actually better. There is a fixed frame-rate, so no more fps drops. and the controls are more responsive than ever. There are some minor flaws, many enemies are re-used, little variation in boss fights and the plot is not quite as good as the first one. But these are such minor flaws.
    Where the original Dark Souls was a 10/10, this is a solid 9/10. next time bring Hidetaka Miyazaki back to the souls franchise!!    … Expand
  15. Slevin310
    Mar 24, 2014
    8
    Now here me out on this, coming from someone who loves adventure RPG games yet looks out at the market which is full of military/sci-fi shooters I'm always happy to play a new game in the genre of Open World, Action Adventure RPG or sandbox. And as a huge fan of Dark Souls 1 I'm exciting about this game. I praise it's incredible atmosphere and heart pounding excitement when you finallyNow here me out on this, coming from someone who loves adventure RPG games yet looks out at the market which is full of military/sci-fi shooters I'm always happy to play a new game in the genre of Open World, Action Adventure RPG or sandbox. And as a huge fan of Dark Souls 1 I'm exciting about this game. I praise it's incredible atmosphere and heart pounding excitement when you finally beat a boss you've been having trouble with. However despite the amount of fun and awe-inspiring gameplay I have my issues with it. First and foremost if you action and adventure, buy this... it deserves your money and you'll feel as if for 60 dollars you were the ones who robbed them considering the absolutely amazing experience this game yields.

    Unlike Dark Souls 1 you won't feel so alone now that you can write messages in the ground for other players to see in their world, either warning them of something up ahead or expressing your joy for beating a boss and seeing as they couldn't be reading your sign unless they beat that same boss and got into the area he was closing off some messages will tell you "Good job!" The multiplayer aspects are being hounded on for being complicated and not very reliable but they do work. If you want to Co-Op online with a friend you'll need a few things in game to do so. But being invaded by another player can happen to you (not during bosses) so it makes the game a bit more scary. But you could also summon another player into your world for help, either with a boss or a tough enemy. There are PvP areas that automatically connect players invading covenants. It's fun and provides a fun activity away from the main game, also helping others or invading others will actually give you rewards.

    Anyways the game is amazing, it's down right incredible. Is it my favorite game? No but it a game I'd love to see more of. This is the game I point to when I see a bad game and say "This is how you make a good game!" However about those issues I mentioned... this game is not harder than Dark Souls 1 but it's just as difficult. What does that mean? Well when a game is hard it means the enemies and challenges you face are tough. Difficult on the other hand means the enemies and challenges wouldn't be so tough but game mechanics make it much harder than it actually is. For example, you roll - it takes away a massive chunk of stamina and it doesn't make it so you evade an attack unless they the hit completely missed you, so you waste stamina and still get hit. Healing with a Lifegem has the character only use one hand to do so but for some reason the other hand holding a shield won't block you while this animation is playing out and you also move slower during this so if you get hit you won't heal but the Lifegem will still be gone. Healing with Flask (main heal) makes you stop moving completely and drink which can be interrupted, and considering how long it takes the character to drink you better be far far away and hope the enemy doesn't have a closing in attack (they all usually do). Dying means you are penalized and you lose a percentage of you maximum health and it cannot be healed or fixed without a certain item. You can't summon someone if you've lost any % of your health, so you'll use them to get max health on bosses as well as summon so they run out quick. You cannot level up at a bonfire anymore you have to go back to the main city, which is rather annoying. The controls don't feel as sharp and tight as they did in Dark Souls 1. And your hitbox is way bigger than you are.

    With that said some of those things can be managed and worked around but controls will not, they'll give you problems if you rely on dodging moving and close range. Despite these problems they don't make the game unplayable, they don't make it broken. With some getting used to you you'll be fine. If Dark Souls puts you off because of the reputation as being harder than all hell, this would be the game you should try first as it's more friendly to new players. With all that said everything else about this game absolutely amazing. A true adventure the likes of which you've never seen in a game. I never immediately start a new game after being it once, I usually come back later but I beat Dark Souls 2 and jumped in right after cause I can't put it down. I love this game and wish I'd see more of it. Instead of games having players constantly rely on armor and weapons, making you only progress in the game for the story or better gear, Dark Souls has you rely on your mistakes and knowledge. They give you some of the best gear early as hell, the tools won't do it for you... it's up to you. The tools merely act as your distribution of skill, instead of being your only reason to victory. Where other games have you master combat within the first hour only to have you at a certain disadvantage to give a false sense of difficulty this game constantly throws you new challenges and has you learn with every hit taken and every death you have.

    8    … Expand
  16. sgy0003
    Jul 19, 2014
    9
    Alright, I'll try to cover almost everything about dark souls 2. Just like in DS1, every time you die you become a hollow. And trust me, this will happen A LOT. It also means you lose all the souls you have collected up to that point and lose bit of your max HP (You'll lose up to 50% of max HP). There's good news and bad news when you lose those souls. The good news is that you can goAlright, I'll try to cover almost everything about dark souls 2. Just like in DS1, every time you die you become a hollow. And trust me, this will happen A LOT. It also means you lose all the souls you have collected up to that point and lose bit of your max HP (You'll lose up to 50% of max HP). There's good news and bad news when you lose those souls. The good news is that you can go retrieve those souls from where you have died. The bad news is that if you die along the way, and I MEAN WHEN YOU ARE 1/4 INCHES AWAY AND YOU DIE, those souls will be gone forever. This is why entering white mist with large amount of souls is not a good idea, since there could be a boss behind it. This is why it is a good idea to spend those souls regularly on leveling up, buying new gears, upgrading those gears, etc. This way, you won't have much to lose. The boss fights are epic too. The music that cues when the fight begins perfectly matches the look of the boss. Some bosses are pretty easy, but I feel the difficulty of these bosses goes up way too suddenly. Every area accept for the first two have one or two bosses, and while one boss can be easy the other can be really hard, meaning you'll have to come back later after you level up more. The combat mechanic has definitely improved. The dual wielding is fully functional and you can create new combos with it. One of the common strategy I use is lock on, go around, hit it from side or back. Your rolling will be your life savior, and you'll need to learn to time the roll perfectly, or else you'll still get hit.

    As much as this game is punishingly difficult, that does not mean it feels rewarding. Entering new areas are very exciting, and every areas have something to explore. The first open area that you'll enter is called Majula, and when you enter this area It;ll take your breath away with it's gorgeous view. But that doesn't mean I like all the areas. Some areas are dark and it requires you to use the torch, and the lighting can be very annoying since your shadow goes everywhere. Also when you want to dual-wield, you have to drop the torch and go find nearest fire source to light it up again.

    Lastly, I want to mention that This game WILL annoy/make you rage. But it'll do that just enough to make you want to try again. You'll have mental breakdown at least once, but you won't have another one for a long time.

    Dark Souls 2 is a great game, with nice graphic (even on the 360) but it is still one of the hardest games I've every played. 9/10    … Expand
  17. Assassin8813
    Apr 28, 2014
    8
    Combining awe-inspiring environments, a fluid combat system, and limitless customization, Dark Souls II is truly the unforgiving successor to Dark Souls that hardcore fans have been dying for (over and over again).

    Doing away with the invincibility frames when rolling found in Dark Souls, Dark Souls II punishes players repeatedly for the smallest mistake that they were used to being    Combining awe-inspiring environments, a fluid combat system, and limitless customization, Dark Souls II is truly the unforgiving successor to Dark Souls that hardcore fans have been dying for (over and over again).

    Doing away with the invincibility frames when rolling found in Dark Souls, Dark Souls II punishes players repeatedly for the smallest mistake that they were used to being able to make in the first game. This is nothing but a blessing, as it forces a huge number of people to approach the game from a completely different angle and adapt to a totally new game, not just a reboot of the first Dark Souls. Of course, these same people will do nothing but b*tch, whine, and moan, complaining that this game is 'broken' and 'unplayable', but as Darwin said, "It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change."

    Dark Souls II does away with the problems found in the first Dark Souls that people would continually exploit, making it so that in PvP, any hit on a player can be countered with a hit of their own. Only the most skilled and precise will be able to get away with hitting their target and coming off clean, something that was all to easy in Dark Souls.    … Expand
  18. subwaymonster
    Mar 13, 2014
    9
    Not as good as dark souls one in some areas while improving on it in others. The game still feels that really open feeling with multiple ways to go to the same place but with being a bit more linear on how you get there. Bosses are challenging but not as memorable as they used to be although there is a ton of bosses. Improved lighting and animations are the 2 most obvious changes inNot as good as dark souls one in some areas while improving on it in others. The game still feels that really open feeling with multiple ways to go to the same place but with being a bit more linear on how you get there. Bosses are challenging but not as memorable as they used to be although there is a ton of bosses. Improved lighting and animations are the 2 most obvious changes in graphics. Small things like not being able to level up whenever and the (imo) over punishing dying punishment which reduces your max hp stop this game from being a perfect 10.… Expand
  19. Sammule7856
    Mar 18, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls is a franchise that is rooted in its difficulty and the power of overcoming death. This by no means is a perfect 10/10 game but is pretty close. The minor changes are for the better except for the "hollowing" process where you lose max health with every death until you reach 50%. This game is amazing and has improved on the sequel in many ways. This is defiantly a game ofDark Souls is a franchise that is rooted in its difficulty and the power of overcoming death. This by no means is a perfect 10/10 game but is pretty close. The minor changes are for the better except for the "hollowing" process where you lose max health with every death until you reach 50%. This game is amazing and has improved on the sequel in many ways. This is defiantly a game of the year contender and one of my top 10 games ever.… Expand
  20. anthonylee
    Mar 22, 2014
    9
    Picked up the original on a whim last year, and immediately started searching for a sequel minutes after I finished. DS2 does not disappoint. FROM did a great job carrying over the style and core mechanics (I love that they kept the title screen the same), but the game does seem more user-friendly than the first, for better or worse. Finished the game in a week, I couldn't put it down.
  21. Andrea182it
    Mar 24, 2014
    10
    Ita.
    "Sequel" riuscito in tutto e per tutto. Un mondo immenso e tutto collegato, una libertà di esplorazione che ormai non si vede piu'. Questi ragazzi ci regalano, da ormai il vecchio Demon's Souls, delle pietre miliari che tutti gli appassionati del genere e di sfide devono provare.
    La difficoltà mette alla prova le vostre capacità di riflessi ed ogni scontro, anche quello con i Mob    Ita.
    "Sequel" riuscito in tutto e per tutto. Un mondo immenso e tutto collegato, una libertà di esplorazione che ormai non si vede piu'. Questi ragazzi ci regalano, da ormai il vecchio Demon's Souls, delle pietre miliari che tutti gli appassionati del genere e di sfide devono provare.
    La difficoltà mette alla prova le vostre capacità di riflessi ed ogni scontro, anche quello con i Mob piu' comuni, possono essere fatali. Per non parlare dei Boss: ce ne sono per tutti i gusti. Magie, armi, armature, piromanzie, Potenziamenti, NPC segreti, Tutto da scoprire e vivere ora dopo ora.
    Tecnicamente il Team ha fatto passi da gigante, ottime le aree aperte e chiuse con viste e panorami mozzafiato, anche se abbiamo dei pesanti cali di Frame in alcune aree, ma nulla di preoccupante.
    Per finire il sistema di crescita del personaggio, come sempre grazie all uso di anime, rimane simile al predecessore, solo per l aggiunta di una nuova caratteristica (Adattabilità); avete intensione di fare un guerriero con supporto magico? Prego accomodatevi.
    Videogiocatori angosciati che sognavate un altra sfida degna di nota? Dark souls 2 è qui tra noi e ci farà bestemmiare tantissimo!    … Expand
  22. Jub
    Mar 27, 2014
    7
    Part of me wants to rate this game higher, but another wants to rate it less.

    When I completed DS1 I had a genuine sense of relief. When I completed DS2 I was left thinking 'so is that it?'. I found the game far too easy - this might be due to spending so much time playing the first game but I'm not convinced. Even after completing DS1 seven times there are areas/bosses that I still    Part of me wants to rate this game higher, but another wants to rate it less.

    When I completed DS1 I had a genuine sense of relief. When I completed DS2 I was left thinking 'so is that it?'.

    I found the game far too easy - this might be due to spending so much time playing the first game but I'm not convinced. Even after completing DS1 seven times there are areas/bosses that I still find difficult. However, in contrast, I beat most DS2 bosses first try and most of the remainder second try. There were only a few that took more than 2 attempts. And this is with no soul farming - I just played through the game. I played mainly sword and shield and didn't use any magic of any kind.

    I was never a fan of the PvP in DS1 and so I was hoping there would be an improvement here. There isn't. After a few hours of the game I started playing it offline which I enjoyed more - as I was avoiding reading player messages anyway to add to the challenge.

    Improvements:
    -Smoother gameplay eg no more running on the spot trying to step over rocks.
    -Frame rate.
    -Controls.
    -Item/player menus.

    It was alright overall but just didn't feel like the same experience as the first game and nowhere near as rewarding.    … Expand
  23. AlexFors
    Apr 7, 2014
    8
    Dark Souls 2 is a journey with a lot of deaths in it but, unlike other games were you die, death is a part of the game and story. The most famous thing about the souls series is the level of difficulty and that difficulty is still here. The first thing that you will notice is the graphics and there lackluster to say the least. The best thing about the graphics is the lighting effects butDark Souls 2 is a journey with a lot of deaths in it but, unlike other games were you die, death is a part of the game and story. The most famous thing about the souls series is the level of difficulty and that difficulty is still here. The first thing that you will notice is the graphics and there lackluster to say the least. The best thing about the graphics is the lighting effects but you don’t play Dark Souls for the graphics you do it for the gameplay and difficulty. The gameplay is not that different then Dark Souls 1, the biggest change is what happens when you die, every death brings down your max health and you can also warp to bonfires from the beginning. Let’s not forget about the story. You have the curse of the undead and have to face death many times before going hollow, but you hear of a place where you can find a way to heal your mind from the curse. Anyway you will face horrific challenges on the way. Dark Souls 2 is not for casual players and if you get annoyed easily don't buy it. For veterans of the series buy this game and be careful we don't want you going hollow out there. FIXED TEXT… Expand
  24. JeanZied
    Apr 30, 2014
    2
    Un jeu sans âme, une suite sans idées et assez moche, bien ennuyeuse, un titre faussement élitiste. Bref, ça n'arrive pas à la cheville d'un Skyrim par exemple.
  25. maiden987
    Dec 3, 2017
    5
    this game is cool BUT WAY TO HARDDDDDDDDDDDDD and thats not fun at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  26. BigZman95
    Sep 11, 2014
    9
    There are a lot of things about this game that are better than Dark Souls and Demon Souls, but there are also some that aren't as good. For instance, the atmosphere and the enemy design in Dark Souls II isn't as good as it was in the past in my opinion. However the wider variation of color is a nice change to the the mostly gray color scheme of the previous two games. Also, the actualThere are a lot of things about this game that are better than Dark Souls and Demon Souls, but there are also some that aren't as good. For instance, the atmosphere and the enemy design in Dark Souls II isn't as good as it was in the past in my opinion. However the wider variation of color is a nice change to the the mostly gray color scheme of the previous two games. Also, the actual gameplay of Dark Souls II is far superior to that of its predecessors. Combat is much more fluid, the AI is better, and the whole user experience as a whole is improved. If you have played any of the other games, it becomes apparent pretty quickly that Dark Souls II is a lot more user-friendly. Dark Souls II is a fantastic game that any fan of RPGs or action/adventure games should pick up. It's a refreshing change of pace from the typical offerings and offers a unique experience and feel that no other series has quite managed to catch.… Expand
  27. coral2dj
    Sep 16, 2014
    9
    This game is a great sequel to Dark Souls. I love it, the gameplay is great. I also love the combat. This game is possibly the best Souls game. Even though, I still play Dark Souls. I also play this game, and I yet play it more than Dark Souls. I have not expected large amount of haters complaining. Don't hate on this game just for one reason, if you hate on this game JUST for one reason,This game is a great sequel to Dark Souls. I love it, the gameplay is great. I also love the combat. This game is possibly the best Souls game. Even though, I still play Dark Souls. I also play this game, and I yet play it more than Dark Souls. I have not expected large amount of haters complaining. Don't hate on this game just for one reason, if you hate on this game JUST for one reason, you prove that you're a retarded 6 years old (sorry for offence), however, this game is tough, but don't give up, if you keep trying, you will never fail, like, NEVER EVER..… Expand
  28. JAubrey
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    Uno de los mejores juegos de la generación. Como tantos otros no es para todos los públicos y de ahí que haya jugadores frustrados por su dificultad e incapacidad de pasárselo poniéndole ceros justificando su inoperancia y falta de paciencia con el juego. Me ha durado 70 horas que han sido las másinmersivas de la generación juntó a Last of Us, Bioshock, Arkham Asylum, Mass Effect y algunasUno de los mejores juegos de la generación. Como tantos otros no es para todos los públicos y de ahí que haya jugadores frustrados por su dificultad e incapacidad de pasárselo poniéndole ceros justificando su inoperancia y falta de paciencia con el juego. Me ha durado 70 horas que han sido las másinmersivas de la generación juntó a Last of Us, Bioshock, Arkham Asylum, Mass Effect y algunas otras pequeñas joyas. Una maravilla que nadie que se precie como hardcore debe dejar pasar. 10/10… Expand
  29. lonedreamer551
    Sep 28, 2014
    10
    I have played both Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 multiple times. Both are excellent games that are designed for a player that doesn't mind taking his or her time to grind through a level. If you die, you start over without any of your souls (money/exp.). However, if you died, it was likely because you rushed or made a mistake. This game tries to teach the player and if you don't learn thenI have played both Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 multiple times. Both are excellent games that are designed for a player that doesn't mind taking his or her time to grind through a level. If you die, you start over without any of your souls (money/exp.). However, if you died, it was likely because you rushed or made a mistake. This game tries to teach the player and if you don't learn then prepare to die...a lot. This is not for the "COD" crowd or for anyone that rushes through games. I imagine those people are the ones giving this game low review scores.

    Dark Souls as a series uses a minimalist approach. Everything from the story to the music is given in a quiet way. Nobody just tells you exactly what is going on, you have to put the story together yourself using what dialogue is available and by reading item descriptions. The music is usually quiet or completely gone, in order to give you a sense of loneliness. The environment is built in a way to make you feel small. After all, you're not some big hero. Just an insignificant figure trying to survive the world.

    I cannot recommend this game highly enough to the right person. If you have some time to kill and want a challenging but rewarding experience, give Dark Souls 2 an honest try.    … Expand
  30. Retank
    Nov 30, 2014
    9
    This was not only a fun game and worthwhile playing, but it was also one of the most changing games I've ever played. This game will not only frustrate you but it will also make you wish you never bought it. But after your mixed emotions you will realize you want to play more. So all in all you will find it a life accomplishment to beat this game but it will make you a better gamer.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2014
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2014
4
#4 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. DarkZero
    Oct 9, 2014
    60
    Though it lasts a long time and provides a decent challenge, I think it really needed an extra push on top of what the game contains. I would describe it as just above average, but that’s as far as I’d go.
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  2. The Digital Fix
    Apr 2, 2014
    90
    Its over dependence on group battles, less interesting boss designs and a slightly more forgettable world let it down, but none of this is so severe that it stops it from becoming another superb entry into one of the best series of games of all time.
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  3. ZTGD
    Mar 25, 2014
    100
    If you have any interest in playing this game after reading this review, do yourself a favor and get it now. If you allow yourself to be enthralled with its atmosphere and game play you’ll become an avid fan just like me.
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