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. Idiotbox_uk
    Mar 13, 2014
    9
    See the full review @ http://www.idiotbox.co.uk/dark-souls-2-review/

    First off I’m going to start this off with a warning; you will not enjoy this game if you are a casual pick-up-and-play-wow-this-game’s-easy sort of gamer. This is a game designed by hardcore gamers for hardcore gamers and it is a job well done indeed! They say you should start as you mean to go on and Dark Souls II    See the full review @ http://www.idiotbox.co.uk/dark-souls-2-review/

    First off I’m going to start this off with a warning; you will not enjoy this game if you are a casual pick-up-and-play-wow-this-game’s-easy sort of gamer. This is a game designed by hardcore gamers for hardcore gamers and it is a job well done indeed!

    They say you should start as you mean to go on and Dark Souls II seems to take that idea and run with it! The word epic gets splashed around allot these days and I try not to overuse it but this is deserving of such a title, it is one of the most captivating and beautiful looking videos I’ve seen in a long time. They could make a movie out of it and I would watch the ever-loving crap out of it! At times I was actually struggling to decide whether the scenery was actual footage or just ridiculously well animated, either way it was something special. Now allot of the time when a game kicks off with a spectacle of an opening video the game fails to live up to expectations and while the visuals in the game are not quite as stunning as the video they are still absolutely nothing to be scoffed at! The backdrops especially are almost works of art and considering that one moment you may be wandering through a dank, claustrophobic and overgrown forest and the next you find yourself in a huge, open and bright ocean-view area it transitions perfectly and feels somewhat natural and right!

    The gameplay itself is a relatively straight forward system but whereas most games give you a tutorial to start with and hold your hand while you practise Dark Souls II doesn’t have time for you **** nonsense, it gives you a brief tutorial covering the basics and a rough idea about what your main goal is and then… Well that’s it actually, then you’re on your own to explore, to fight and to die (you will die, you will die over and over again)

    Let’s talk about death shall we? It’s no secret that Dark Souls wants to kill you. They outright tell you in the introduction that you’re going to repeatedly die and then laugh about it. Something which they fail to mention to you however is that every time you die you not only lose all the souls you’ve collected but you also lose a piece of your humanity and become a mere husk of a man. Not only does this mean that your body starts rotting away it also means that every time you come back to life you return with a smaller health bar, this carries on until you decided that you miss your humanity enough to use a human effigy to make yourself whole again. Sounds pretty simple right? Nope! Human effigies are a rarity so I personally found myself very begrudging to use one to restore myself. This adds a decent dynamic to the game as you have to weigh up whether you want to carry out struggling through with a half-sized health-bar and use the effigy when you desperately need it or use it now to become pretty again and then run the risk of being boned later when you meet one of the bigger meaner enemies.

    The world itself is actually a relatively linear one with only one real main bath to the goal but it is done in such a way that there is always an extra route you can take or a location you can explore off the beaten track. This makes it feel like an open worlder and it genuinely does feel vast. Add to that the fact that absolutely everything wants to kill you (and is very good at doing so) then it adds excitement into the exploration side of it as you never actually know what you’re going to stumble across or how deadly it will be. My first example of learning the hard way was right at the start of the game in a forest that is generally only inhabited by the undead who are fairly easy to kill, I noticed a create down by the water so I thought I’d go attack it thinking it would be as easy as the undead. I hit it once and it picked me up and bit my head clean off in one fell swoop…

    This was 10 minutes into the game…    … Expand
  2. daveprince13
    Mar 11, 2014
    9
    Having played only Dark Souls I loved it. I purchased the game a good year and a half after it had come out and was a little disappointed that most of the gamers and secrets were already spoiled. Encounters were with guys that had maxed their character out or what have you. Dark Souls 2 I'm on day 1 and it's everything I could have hoped for. While you have to progress a bit before gettingHaving played only Dark Souls I loved it. I purchased the game a good year and a half after it had come out and was a little disappointed that most of the gamers and secrets were already spoiled. Encounters were with guys that had maxed their character out or what have you. Dark Souls 2 I'm on day 1 and it's everything I could have hoped for. While you have to progress a bit before getting into the covenants (real means of invading or helping players) it's not that far in and you'll gladly play the game to get there.

    One flaw I've found with Dark Souls 2 is that the enemies don't respawn after a certain amount of kills. This discourages farming and that was one of my favorite aspects of the old game. Farming humanity from the rats in the Depths was awesome to me. Especially with my high leveled gear and moves.

    The game is a 9/10 for the reason stated above. I really wish that there was some place I could do my grinding...    … Expand
  3. artorias11
    Mar 12, 2014
    9
    1 thing to say, Darth Maul Sword.

    Positives: Ok so its not a light-saber, but it is a dual sided sword you can swing around like Darth Maul. That alone should be reason enough to pick up this game not to mention the massive amount of content that follows. This game is a mixture between Demon's/Dark souls while at the same time having elements that are singular to this 3rd game, like    1 thing to say, Darth Maul Sword.

    Positives:
    Ok so its not a light-saber, but it is a dual sided sword you can swing around like Darth Maul. That alone should be reason enough to pick up this game not to mention the massive amount of content that follows. This game is a mixture between Demon's/Dark souls while at the same time having elements that are singular to this 3rd game, like the aformentioned dual blade. You can fast travel between bonfires which act like the archstones in Demon's souls but are free to explore the open world like in Dark souls as well.

    This is not only the most massive iteration of the series, its also the best graphically almost as much of a leap as between the first 2 games. Its also the most well crafted of the three. The themes make more sense in this game. Where can you find titanite, well its in a cavern as it should be. And the places you explore are much more varied and awe inspiring, even more so than the original Dark Souls, (and that's saying something!).

    There are about 10 times more bosses in this game which are also much more creative and varied. There are better and more variation in weapons and combat. The armor/character/enemy designs are better and the combat itself is more challenging since you can't just spam back stabs anymore. Its amazing how this game seems to top its predecessor in almost every aspect.

    Negatives:
    Its definitely the hardest of the 3. frustratingly so at times
    The only gripes I have are that hidden walls are no longer just there for you to find, and instead you "pay" to reveal hidden areas with a certain item in the game. Also the fact that you can fast travel is actually a bit disorienting since you often forget where the various sub-paths are located. Also some of the actual progress in the game is done by exhausting every dialogue from NPC's which can be a bit confusing and forces you to listen to their (sometimes not so interesting) conversations. Also just in general the NPC dialogue is not as good as it was in dark souls, but that's probably the only thing that is worse.

    Overall this is definitely the best of the 3 Souls games, and offers more than enough new mechanics to satisfy even the hardcore Dark Souls veterans. A must buy for fans of the series. Because Darth Maul Sword.

    9.5/10    … Expand
  4. 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
  5. Anthony_Oreo
    Mar 13, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls 2 delivers an immense world full of challenging obstacles and bosses. The graphics display is quite beautiful compared to Dark Souls. Things such as health penalties, which reduce health upon each death (until health is restricted halfway), prove to make the game challenging but doesn’t get in the way for a person like me to enjoy the game (it can also be undone so don't worry).Dark Souls 2 delivers an immense world full of challenging obstacles and bosses. The graphics display is quite beautiful compared to Dark Souls. Things such as health penalties, which reduce health upon each death (until health is restricted halfway), prove to make the game challenging but doesn’t get in the way for a person like me to enjoy the game (it can also be undone so don't worry). In order to defeat enemies, figure out their patterns and attack when there's a viable opening. Boss battles are challenging so be prepared to die. Take a break every once in a while to prevent frustration builds up. For those coming into this game with no experience in Demon Souls or Dark Souls, I highly advise playing those games as well in order to adapt to this game, especially in terms of combat. Overall, I highly recommend this game and I’m sure many of you will find some enjoyment out of this experience.

    Side note: The graphics aren't terrible (Response to User: Deusex) and for those who gave this game
    anything as low as a 0(Deusex), then this game is not for you.
    .    … Expand
  6. gamerXBRgui
    Mar 15, 2014
    9
    this game is hard!
    ...........................................................................
    the graphics is not good...............................
  7. 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
  8. cemento74
    Mar 19, 2014
    9
    As any Dark Souls review should start, I must warn whomever it may concern that this game IS NOT for the ill-tempered or impatient. Dark Souls may be similar to Skyrim in the sense that they are both fantasy rpgs, but that is where the similarities come to a dead halt. You will die. It is part of the game, and if you cannot see the entertainment in devising clever play styles to outsmartAs any Dark Souls review should start, I must warn whomever it may concern that this game IS NOT for the ill-tempered or impatient. Dark Souls may be similar to Skyrim in the sense that they are both fantasy rpgs, but that is where the similarities come to a dead halt. You will die. It is part of the game, and if you cannot see the entertainment in devising clever play styles to outsmart your enemies, you will not enjoy Dark Souls II. It cannot be stressed enough how much of a hit or miss game Dark Souls as a series is. If you haven't tried it before, please look up gameplay footage before diving straight into the hellishly challenging world.
    Now to continue to the actual game. Dark Souls II is very much a sequel to Dark Souls; that being said, the graphics did not get very much better from the first Dark Souls (with the exception of lighting), nor has the formula to the game been drastically changed. Fans of the original will be ecstatic with Dark Souls II. Boss fights are cleverly designed (for the most part) to be challenging, but not completely impossible. The entire idea of Dark Souls is to overcome the overwhelming strength of enemies by exploiting their weaknesses, as mentioned before, some cannot handle the thought it takes to do such a thing. This is no Skyrim, there is no pausing the game mid-battle to use a potion. You will have to make the time necessary to heal yourself. The world of Dark Souls II is very expansive, featuring a myriad of environments that are very diverse. Each environment has its own quarks and secrets that will require a great deal of exploration (or youtube, a word to the wise though, this will strip a great element from Dark Souls that contributes to the challenge). If you invest into Dark Souls II, in contrast to what bias cry babies will tell you, you will be rewarded. There is no better feeling in a game than the ecstasy of finally defeating a boss that has annihilated you multiple times. There is a great deal of content here that will keep the most hardcore players hooked for dozens, if not hundreds of hours. This includes in game clans to join, pvp combat if thats your thing, a rewarding level up system, and countless items to be discovered and squandered, or carefully utilized.

    Breaking it Down:
    Dark Souls II is a gruesome, daunting, monster that will devour your very will and jeer as you attempt in futility to overcome overwhelming odds. However, where there exists great challenge, so does there exist great reward. Some will find it, some will fail miserably and rage in frustration.

    Graphics: Great vistas can be observed in Dark Souls, but up close, Dark Souls does not shine. The appearance of certain enemies will generate a primal fear in your heart, which is a great emotion evocation. Altogether I would give the aesthetics a 7.5 out of 10.

    Gameplay: Unforgiving challenge makes Dark Souls II one of the most rewarding games ever crafted, however, not everyone enjoys the brutality. Some elements of gameplay can lead to frustration, such as hits not registering, and in Dark Souls II, this is not okay when it occurs. Exploration elements will keep you busy for hours on end, and the secrets that you will find are cleverly placed if you can manage to find them. Altogether, gameplay gets a 9 out of 10.

    Sound: Eerie music will haunt you, but is bogged down by sometimes delayed audio. 8 out of 10

    Altogether I would give Dark Souls II a solid 8.5 out of 10 (Don't listen to the trolls who can't handle a game actually challenging your abilities)

    So reader, there is one last question I must leave with you: are you ready to die?    … Expand
  9. 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.
  10. davidgillen
    Mar 23, 2014
    9
    Takes everything that was good about Dark Souls and then makes it better. Much larger world, many more items, in games choices you can make in game to make the game even harder. It was my most anticipated game for 2014 and certainly lives up to that. I didn't give it a full 10/10 because there are a few things which I dislike. Secret doors, some you need to press 'A' to find, others youTakes everything that was good about Dark Souls and then makes it better. Much larger world, many more items, in games choices you can make in game to make the game even harder. It was my most anticipated game for 2014 and certainly lives up to that. I didn't give it a full 10/10 because there are a few things which I dislike. Secret doors, some you need to press 'A' to find, others you need to melee to find. A standard mechanism for all would be nice. Also, enemies de-spawning after dying 15 times is annoying, especially if you're looking to farm items or souls. And finally the OST just does not live up to the epicness of the music from the first game. I was still playing the first game in the weeks before this was released, and no doubt the disk for this will stay in my XBox for many months to come.… Expand
  11. SadoMiso
    Mar 24, 2014
    9
    The game is really close to perfection. Very good mix of the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. Of course, they can do more on the technical side - especially mouth animation etc, that why only 9 not 10 pts. Overall, I really like most of changes in the game system. I already spent about 30 hours in the game, and I hope to spend in the world of Dark Souls II much more.
  12. ichewonbagels22
    Apr 2, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is by far the most difficult Souls game to date. That being said it is not for everyone, however as a Souls fan since the original Demon's Souls on PS3 this game does not disappoint.
    I will admit the game took a little while to actually get to the difficulty level I am accustomed to in a Souls game, however looking back at these beginning sections I think it was nice to    Dark Souls II is by far the most difficult Souls game to date. That being said it is not for everyone, however as a Souls fan since the original Demon's Souls on PS3 this game does not disappoint.
    I will admit the game took a little while to actually get to the difficulty level I am accustomed to in a Souls game, however looking back at these beginning sections I think it was nice to learn the ropes again myself. This is also a very good portion of the game for newcomers to the series.
    The boss battles in this game are by far the best in the series, each boss made me realize the flaws in my character build and helped me focus on improving a different area of my character each time. Some bosses were so difficult I had no choice but to call in for help.
    Speaking of help! The greatest improvement to this game from the last has got to be the multiplayer. Not only does it actually work this time, but it seems more people understand the mechanics now and it is much easier to find people for some PvP or assistance on a boss.
    I only had one bad thing to say about the game and that is the structure of the world. I felt it was not as cohesive as the original Dark Souls or even Demon's Souls (which did not even feature an entire connected environment). I just felt like there were too many dead ends and they should have connected areas better than they did, it just felt a little too linear.
    However, this game was so great in every other area I didn't dwell on the world structure too much. Overall Dark Souls II has great melee action with tons of different playing styles to choose from. They added tons of new spells, weapons, and armor that keep PvP very interesting and tough for even a veteran player like myself. Also the combat feels more refined than ever, with bosses that can kill you in 1 to 2 hits I feel like it had to be. Overall, if you are thinking of RETURNING to the series, this game has everything you could possibly want from a Souls game. However, I do feel that maybe the first Dark Souls is the best for newcomers to the series.

    PROS:
    - Improved Combat (Magic and Melee)
    - Challenging bosses
    - Improved AI
    - Plenty of Secrets
    - Great Online!
    CONS:
    - World is seems like it was "Frankensteined" together
    - Some enemies seem too familiar from previous installments    … Expand
  13. NDeBus
    Apr 20, 2014
    9
    This game is probably one of the best games that have been released in a while. Dark Souls 2 is even more challenging then it's predecessor Dark Souls. The difficulty makes it so this is not a game you can run though but rather plan and feel more accomplished in the long run. Even though dying could be frustrating, it also acted as a learning experience to help you plan your next attempt.This game is probably one of the best games that have been released in a while. Dark Souls 2 is even more challenging then it's predecessor Dark Souls. The difficulty makes it so this is not a game you can run though but rather plan and feel more accomplished in the long run. Even though dying could be frustrating, it also acted as a learning experience to help you plan your next attempt. These games, even on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, look gorgeous. From the enemies to the scenery everything looks amazing and make you want to explore every area in the game. Also worth mentioning is that in Dark Souls, there were a frame rate issues but in Dark Souls 2 these are almost nonexistent. Dark Souls 2 also comes back with covenants with even more ways to play online. In Dark Souls, I felt that in covenants, you were either summoned for co-op or invasion. In Dark Souls 2, covenants are even better. Covenants have different options other then co-op or just invasion. Some let you not only invade but also dual other members in the same covenant. Others let you join in co-op play to help others or be protected if invaded and one even makes the game harder. Covenants in Dark Souls 2 can really tailor to what a player may want in online and offline play which is a nice touch.Unfortunately, this game isn't perfect. I believe there are some flaws, such as the loss of max health while hollowing is a bit overboard, making the game unnecessarily difficult at times, but it's not so bad.

    If you are looking for a new game to get put this on your list because this game is a must get for anyone looking for a great game as well as a challenge.    … Expand
  14. SepiDN
    Apr 23, 2014
    9
    Dark souls 2 delivers. It's better than DS1 and it's better than demon's souls.
    Ds2 has the same feel and same game mechanics that DS1 has but everything is little bit enchanced.
    And a lot better curve on the difficulty of the game. DS1 became easy towards the end since your character got stronger. In DS2 you will find out that the bosses get harder and harder some occassional easy ones    Dark souls 2 delivers. It's better than DS1 and it's better than demon's souls.
    Ds2 has the same feel and same game mechanics that DS1 has but everything is little bit enchanced.
    And a lot better curve on the difficulty of the game. DS1 became easy towards the end since your character got stronger. In DS2 you will find out that the bosses get harder and harder some occassional easy ones but still.

    + Better death penalty system
    + More bosses
    + better flask system
    - Some bosses feel pointless

    If you have not played the earlier games of the serie then you need to know that:
    The games graphics are not the top of the old consoles but still has lots of beatifull scenes in it. They have actually focused on the gameplay instead of the graphics. same as with other games of the series. There is huge amount of stuff to discover and really great combat system. There's no room for mistakes when fighting bosses. The game has great re-play ability.

    There's not many challenging games these days but Dark souls 2 delivers on that part.    … Expand
  15. Voglaire
    Apr 25, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is difficult. In fact, it's probably the most difficult game I've ever played in my life, but I enjoyed every second of it.

    While off-putting at first, Dark Souls II pulls you in with it's exacting gameplay, brutal difficulty and rewarding bosses, every time I finally defeated a beautifully designed boss I felt I actually accomplished something, and I can't say that for    Dark Souls II is difficult. In fact, it's probably the most difficult game I've ever played in my life, but I enjoyed every second of it.

    While off-putting at first, Dark Souls II pulls you in with it's exacting gameplay, brutal difficulty and rewarding bosses, every time I finally defeated a beautifully designed boss I felt I actually accomplished something, and I can't say that for most games I've played.

    One of my only gripes with the game is that at times it is difficult to know where to go next, while I respect that they don't explain much I wish that they would have at least given me a general direction of where to go next.

    In my opinion, this is my first Game Of The Year contender for 2014.    … Expand
  16. LordDeathsama
    May 29, 2014
    9
    This game is tons of fun and a lot of content for you. Visuals look good for this console generation, nothing wrong about that. And yes I know, the E3 Trailer showed better graphics, but we all saw the newer in Trailer and in the Beta, that the graphics were already downgraded after like 2 months since the announcement. The gameplay is fantastic as always and the game is challengingThis game is tons of fun and a lot of content for you. Visuals look good for this console generation, nothing wrong about that. And yes I know, the E3 Trailer showed better graphics, but we all saw the newer in Trailer and in the Beta, that the graphics were already downgraded after like 2 months since the announcement. The gameplay is fantastic as always and the game is challenging enough to keep you motivated. The game also has a really smooth framerate. But the first one was a bit better, simply because this one seemed a bit rushed. Nether the less, this is a great game and you should buy it if you are into that genre.… Expand
  17. Kaye99084
    Jul 31, 2014
    9
    As a loyal dark souls fan I really enjoyed this game. Everything about this game gameplay, lore and combat wise was spot on. However I do have a few major gripes with the 'hardness' of this game. Don't get me wrong I'm good at dark souls and love a challenge but particularly towards the end of the game it seemed like the developers started using cheap tactics to try and and get me to toAs a loyal dark souls fan I really enjoyed this game. Everything about this game gameplay, lore and combat wise was spot on. However I do have a few major gripes with the 'hardness' of this game. Don't get me wrong I'm good at dark souls and love a challenge but particularly towards the end of the game it seemed like the developers started using cheap tactics to try and and get me to to rage and make the experience harder; I'm talking about things such as an ogre suddenly bursting through a wall without warning and killing me instantly or bonfires (which serve as checkpoints) being hidden under stairs or behind illusionary walls which I would miss unless I had previous knowledge of them Being there. Finally there seemed to be a lot more bosses which either outnumbered you, were uninventive such as a guy in a suit of armour or just damn right easy cough cough covetous demon. Overall despite its cheap tactics towards the end and some boring boss fights I recommend it.… Expand
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. swargo109
    Nov 5, 2014
    9
    Dark Souls II is one of the best games that I have ever played. It takes most of the things wrong with Dark Souls and fixes them. The graphics are drastically improved from the last title. The combat system feels more deep, with more weapons and more strategy needed to defeat enemies. I feel as though this entry is slightly easier than the previous game, yet not by much. As for the recentDark Souls II is one of the best games that I have ever played. It takes most of the things wrong with Dark Souls and fixes them. The graphics are drastically improved from the last title. The combat system feels more deep, with more weapons and more strategy needed to defeat enemies. I feel as though this entry is slightly easier than the previous game, yet not by much. As for the recent DLC that was released, the difficulty is increased to the level of Dark Souls. So if you like the difficulty of the first game, then do not hesitate to purchase all the DLC, especially Crown of the Ivory King. All in all, this game is a near masterpiece, with some small problems that can be very easily overlooked.… Expand
  21. tofusoup
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    Despite all the changes from previous games I still enjoyed the game. It took some getting used to with how some of the mechanics work, but overall good experience. It is much more forgiving then previous soul games. PVP is always a blast.
  22. Big_Bear
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    Don't believe any of the moronic reviews with 0/10 etc this is an outstanding, 9/10 game.

    Good - Its Dark Souls but much, much bigger, more armour, more weapons, more bosses more options, same great core gameplay. PvP is not as much of an unplayable lag-stab fest as it was in Dark Souls and this time can actually be fun. Some truly memorable areas and bosses as we expected. Bad - Not    Don't believe any of the moronic reviews with 0/10 etc this is an outstanding, 9/10 game.

    Good - Its Dark Souls but much, much bigger, more armour, more weapons, more bosses more options, same great core gameplay. PvP is not as much of an unplayable lag-stab fest as it was in Dark Souls and this time can actually be fun. Some truly memorable areas and bosses as we expected.

    Bad - Not quite as well put together area/level wise as Dark Souls. The larger scale has caused the graphics to suffer a little.

    Verdict - More of what was good in Dark Souls, an awsome game that provide thousands of hours of gameplay. Lol at 'gamers' who say its rubbish.    … Expand
  23. 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.
  24. Fedismo14
    Apr 18, 2015
    9
    Una gran secuela y sin duda una de las joyas del 2014, sin embargo no se salvo de las decepciones que este dio, pues a pesar de ser un buen juego no llego a lo que se esperaba.

    Pros: -Sigue teniendo un gran trasfondo. -una variedad de armas y armaduras mas grande. -una variedad de enemigos mas grande. -bajaron la dificultad para que fuera apto para todo publico. -añadieron nuevas    Una gran secuela y sin duda una de las joyas del 2014, sin embargo no se salvo de las decepciones que este dio, pues a pesar de ser un buen juego no llego a lo que se esperaba.

    Pros:
    -Sigue teniendo un gran trasfondo.
    -una variedad de armas y armaduras mas grande.
    -una variedad de enemigos mas grande.
    -bajaron la dificultad para que fuera apto para todo publico.
    -añadieron nuevas formas de jugabilidad.
    -mas NPCs.
    -mejoraron los FPS.
    -mejoraron el Online.
    -mejoraron en cuestión de RPG.

    Contras:
    -bajón en el diseño de nivel.
    -el diseño del mundo recibió un bajón de detalles.
    -mejoraron los gráficos, pero no dieron los que prometieron.
    -jefes que no tienen gracia.
    -se volvió mas fácil que su antecesor, le puse en ambos bandos ya que también perdió esencia la saga al momento de ponerlo mas fácil.

    Se noto un montón que habían cambiado de director, ya que falto muchas cosas del videojuego anterior cosas esenciales como el diseño de nivel y los gráficos anteriormente dicho. bien dije, es una joya del 2014 pero nada mas, me gusto pero al mismo tiempo me decepciono.    … Expand
  25. jjcc97
    May 22, 2015
    9
    The world of Dark Souls 2 was not connected as well as in Dark Souls, and many parts of the world seemed uninteresting. However, the amazing weaponry and gameplay, challenging bosses, and awesome pvp kept me coming back for over 150 hours.
  26. Obomrapaz
    Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Em vez de olhar as características do game, eu preciso elogiar esse excelente rpg (melhor que Dragon Age Inquisition) que MESMO SENDO DA VELHA GERAÇÃO É FODA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  27. RShackleford
    Oct 22, 2015
    9
    Sequels are hard to make, very hard. From did a stand up job here, the game is nearly as good as the first, and an ambitious game in it's own right. It takes balls to stick with making games that the biggest market (kids/many teens), won't want to play. The reason I give a 9 instead of a 10 is the bosses, I can't quite put my finger on it, but the magic just isn't there with some ofSequels are hard to make, very hard. From did a stand up job here, the game is nearly as good as the first, and an ambitious game in it's own right. It takes balls to stick with making games that the biggest market (kids/many teens), won't want to play. The reason I give a 9 instead of a 10 is the bosses, I can't quite put my finger on it, but the magic just isn't there with some of them. I certainly couldn't say that was so with the first game. So a 9 it is.

    Last but not least, the downloadable content for this game isn't some nickle-and-diming gyp job like many other games, it's actually better in parts and more challenging than the main game, and very much worth every dime, if you buy this game, BUY THE DLC!    … Expand
  28. Glacialangel
    Feb 11, 2018
    9
    This is a bit of a controversial opinion, but I think this is(mechanically) the strongest game in the trilogy. The story is by far the weakest, as it tries to focus more on individual characters rather than the setting, which is where Dark Souls shines the most. That said, some of the characters themselves are still written fairly well(Lucatiel is by far my favorite character in the entireThis is a bit of a controversial opinion, but I think this is(mechanically) the strongest game in the trilogy. The story is by far the weakest, as it tries to focus more on individual characters rather than the setting, which is where Dark Souls shines the most. That said, some of the characters themselves are still written fairly well(Lucatiel is by far my favorite character in the entire series). This game was the beginning of the end when it came to poise vs. roll spamming, but despite that it still felt the best to play. Bizarrely enough, I would call this game easier than the first, therefor I recommend playing it before the original.… Expand
  29. The_World_Eater
    Jun 12, 2018
    9
    An amazing game, but sometimes needlessly hard. All of the enemy types are unique which I love and the bosses all have a different move set.
  30. shenkenhigh
    Feb 14, 2023
    9
    As a part of Soulsborne universe, remarkable. But the game mechanics itself are very VERY terrible. Estus consumption in something meaningless with this pace of a game, you literally drink it A LOT, HELLA LOT longer than in other Souls Games. Rolls have a very little invincibility window...ridiculous. So the world, the atmosphere, the lore - remarkable. Game mechanics - disgusting. That'sAs a part of Soulsborne universe, remarkable. But the game mechanics itself are very VERY terrible. Estus consumption in something meaningless with this pace of a game, you literally drink it A LOT, HELLA LOT longer than in other Souls Games. Rolls have a very little invincibility window...ridiculous. So the world, the atmosphere, the lore - remarkable. Game mechanics - disgusting. That's why solid 8 out of 10… Expand
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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

All reviews »
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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