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. M9ki
    Mar 26, 2014
    8
    An amazing display that the old generation can beat some of the new generations creations.This game has great potential and in fact beats all the next games if not most of them. If your struggling in dark souls take my strategy after you fight the enemies in a area go back to bonfire and fight the same enemies till they stop regenerating this makes the game 10 times easier, although theAn amazing display that the old generation can beat some of the new generations creations.This game has great potential and in fact beats all the next games if not most of them. If your struggling in dark souls take my strategy after you fight the enemies in a area go back to bonfire and fight the same enemies till they stop regenerating this makes the game 10 times easier, although the main point is if you die and lose souls your screwed every time you die and lose souls your only making it harder on your self.

    Maki.    … Expand
  2. ERB
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    Obviously one of the best game this year. The game is awesome even though they made it more difficult this time. The game is fun and the story is amazing. This game is so difficult that I think I can finish the whole game in 100 hours or more. There are many to explore in this twisted world Of Dark Souls 2. It is fun to adventure the world and the graphics and environments are beautiful. IObviously one of the best game this year. The game is awesome even though they made it more difficult this time. The game is fun and the story is amazing. This game is so difficult that I think I can finish the whole game in 100 hours or more. There are many to explore in this twisted world Of Dark Souls 2. It is fun to adventure the world and the graphics and environments are beautiful. I know that in this game you will die countless times but even if it is frustrating, that is what makes this game so great. This game is has the most rewarding moments in gaming history. Because the enemies in this game is so difficult to beat that when you beat them you will have this mysterious beautiful feeling that is coming into you. That is right it feels really great when you beat them.

    This game is really amazing and a must buy game for all gamer around the world especially for fans of this game. A great improvement upon the original and more rewarding moments, this game deserves a 10/10 score from me.    … Expand
  3. Type4101
    Mar 13, 2014
    5
    Forced "Player v. Player" annoyances significantly detract from what should be an improvement on the Dark Souls formula. While the theme of the series has always been about difficulty, the previous games always felt fair, and at least offered options to avoid some of the more annoying aspects of the game, like unfair PvP invasions. Even though many fans complained about the PvP of theForced "Player v. Player" annoyances significantly detract from what should be an improvement on the Dark Souls formula. While the theme of the series has always been about difficulty, the previous games always felt fair, and at least offered options to avoid some of the more annoying aspects of the game, like unfair PvP invasions. Even though many fans complained about the PvP of the earlier game, the developers inexplicably upped the ante in DS2, forcing PvP at all times (with no option to avoid), even for those who want no part in it. This results in an annoying situation where players must chose between unplugging their internet connection and playing offline--removing some of the most compelling aspects of the multi-player experience, like the ghostly messages left by other players--or being subject to merciless torture and annoyance. Added to this is a new, ultra-brutal death penalty that permanently reduces your health each time you die (save for the rare item that can restore it), which can leave you in a state where you are unable to continue in the game because you are too weak from being killed by invaders. The end result is that this new version of Dark Souls intentionally alienates players who mostly enjoy a challenging single player experience, instead adding MMO-like guild features, and social clubs. Dark Souls 2 seems like it wants to be enjoyed by only a select type of player (aggressive PvP junkies and griefers) and is less of a game for it. A simple option to play with online message features but avoid PvP would be wonderful, but the developers appear to have no interest in that. Avoid this game unless PvP is what you are about, because that is what Dark Souls 2 is about.… Expand
  4. sabaothkelly
    Jul 30, 2020
    0
    Dark Souls 1? Masterpiece.
    Light Souls 2? What a PIECE of TVRD, ¡seriously!? There are too many enemies and bosses doing ♥♥♥♥ that is just just random, absurd or jank. Honestly, it's just barely above "Lords of the Fallen" trash mechanics.
    Dark Souls 3? Amazing.
  5. DevilDjinn
    Sep 29, 2014
    5
    Don't let the high scores fool you!
    This sequal is a huge step back from the previous title. The overall feel of this installment leaves alot to be desired. Poor level design, no sense of direction or urgency, artifical difficulty coming from the way of broken game mechanics, terrible matchmaking mechanics (see soul memory) Unnecessarily tedious task like leveling up, bad hit    Don't let the high scores fool you!
    This sequal is a huge step back from the previous title. The overall feel of this installment leaves alot to be desired. Poor level design, no sense of direction or urgency, artifical difficulty coming from the way of broken game mechanics, terrible matchmaking mechanics (see soul memory) Unnecessarily tedious task like leveling up, bad hit detection/phantom hits, certain gear so over powered, you would be stupid not to use it effectively removing any customization. Unusable weapon classes because of horrendous move sets (im looking at you reapers) forgettable bosses all feeling the same....... the list goes on.
    On a brighter note, i may be describing it as a horrible game, but it still trumps other rpgs out there.
    Being a massive fan of the soul series i was immensely disappointed by this sub par sequal, they have fixed several balance issues associated with the first games, but have created a myrid of other issues.
    spend any serious amount of time playing this game and the cracks will begin to show.    … Expand
  6. SolaireBR
    Nov 11, 2019
    0
    Its "ok" if its yours first game, but terrible if you think about dark souls 1 and 3, ds2 is a disapointtment
  7. SUPERFLY
    Mar 22, 2014
    7
    Dark Souls 2! Praise the Sun.... errrrr not so much.

    Dark Souls 2 is here and I’ve been playing it solid since release and I have a question.... where is the game I was expecting? I mean is this really it? This isn’t the game I saw advertised in all the promotional material. That game was beautiful! This game is not, hell this game doesn’t even look as good as the first. Oh, and then    Dark Souls 2! Praise the Sun.... errrrr not so much.

    Dark Souls 2 is here and I’ve been playing it solid since release and I have a question.... where is the game I was expecting? I mean is this really it? This isn’t the game I saw advertised in all the promotional material. That game was beautiful! This game is not, hell this game doesn’t even look as good as the first. Oh, and then there are the technical issues like covenants that don’t work and no poise in PVP. That’s right I said “NO POISE IN PVP” (Dark Souls players will understand the importance of this). I could go on about the changes in the games structure to a semi open world that never quite lives up to the interconnected glory of the first games design, or the pacing and placement of boss encounters that are used far too frequently so that they end up losing the uniqueness and sense of accomplishment that they held in the first game, but let’s not go there. These major issues aside, is there an enjoyable RPG experience to be had? Yes there is. Will some of the issues be addressed with patches at a later date? Yes they will. Has Namco Bandai / From Software disappointed, disrespected and alienated a large number of their loyal fan / customer base? Oh, hell yes. If you are new to the Dark Souls series please don’t start with this game. Instead play the original and far superior title. Also, this game is getting over rated by fan boys. Please don't be sucked in by 10 out of 10 scores.    … Expand
  8. BlackIronYangus
    Jul 1, 2014
    3
    Dark Souls was and is my favorite game of all time, so when I heard about the sequel I was ecstatic. At first I loved the game and adored the changes they made from the original, but slowly I started to see the cracks. The bosses were mostly boringly easy (compared to the original) and seemed dull and generic. Most of the bosses could be circled around and stabbed while they ineptlyDark Souls was and is my favorite game of all time, so when I heard about the sequel I was ecstatic. At first I loved the game and adored the changes they made from the original, but slowly I started to see the cracks. The bosses were mostly boringly easy (compared to the original) and seemed dull and generic. Most of the bosses could be circled around and stabbed while they ineptly attempted to hit you, and the bosses that weren't easy were stupidly hard. For example, there is an optional boss in the game called the Ancient Dragon. This is the worst boss in the game. He kills you in one hit with a fire attack that covers most of the battle area. To attack him you must bait a specific attack of his and then sprint at him only to poke his feet, taking about one sixty-fourth of his health away, and then sprint back and hope he doesn't hit you with his fire. That is to get one or two hits. Now, I'd be fine with this if it was a completely optional boss that was made to be practically impossible, but this boss drops an item you need to kill another optional boss who otherwise has stupidly high defenses.
    Overall, the game's main problem is that it's Dark Souls 2. If it was a game from another company with another title, I'd be great. But altogether it falls far short of its predecessor. It lacks the same reasonable challenge that Dark Souls 1 had. The areas and enemies in the original were diverse and strange, but the enemies in Dark Souls 2 were all boring and just seemed like re-skinned versions of the same old thing. This game was a major disappointment to me, and should disappoint anyone who played and loved the original.

    TL;DR: Not nearly as good as the first one.    … Expand
  9. ActuallyAmDolan
    May 8, 2014
    7
    Dark Souls 2 had a lot to live up to from the moment is was conceived following the smash hit that was its predecessor.
    And simply put, it does not live up to it. It doesn't have as interesting a world, as memorable boss encounters or as intriguing NPCs. It is probably the most dull of the entries into the Souls series.
    And yet, even at its worst, Dark Souls 2 still offers a better    Dark Souls 2 had a lot to live up to from the moment is was conceived following the smash hit that was its predecessor.
    And simply put, it does not live up to it. It doesn't have as interesting a world, as memorable boss encounters or as intriguing NPCs. It is probably the most dull of the entries into the Souls series.
    And yet, even at its worst, Dark Souls 2 still offers a better experience than most other games of this genre to the player. Though the difficulty level has certainly been toned down, the game play and online matchmaking are more refined than they ever have been.
    If you loved the first one as I did, you'll like this one.    … Expand
  10. SpyNanner
    Mar 13, 2014
    10
    Dark Souls II is a fantastic sequel. Everything is more polished and refined. The wonderful art direction, incredible enemy design, challenge and the great atmosphere make this game a must buy. This is not for the faint of heart however. You will die and the game requires patience. This doesn't mean it's for only the ''hardcore gamers'', no. It's for everyone to try out. You'll still haveDark Souls II is a fantastic sequel. Everything is more polished and refined. The wonderful art direction, incredible enemy design, challenge and the great atmosphere make this game a must buy. This is not for the faint of heart however. You will die and the game requires patience. This doesn't mean it's for only the ''hardcore gamers'', no. It's for everyone to try out. You'll still have a great experience, even if you somehow don't manage to finish the game up.

    Dark Souls II is visually stunning. The art style and varied environments keep the game feeling fresh. Even when you're ''stuck'' in a section of the game world for several hours even, you never feel like something is getting old. You constantly learn something new, whether it's a new attack pattern or a well hidden item.

    Just like it's predecessors, Dark Souls II is INCREDIBLY rewarding. Even for a Souls vet, like myself who's put around 2500 hours to both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls combined. You always feel like you're accomplishing something. No developer does it quite like From Software. Today's mainstream franchises feel like a waste of time compared to the Souls series. While, one might argue that the Souls games are mainstream now, with this being the third installment, it still haven't gotten old one bit. From always puts time, love and effort to their games to make sure they're polished and provide the best possible experience. Which probably is why the Souls series is my favorite of this past generation, and i'm sure other people think that as well.

    The gameplay is more or less the same. It's still the best combat system around only with some tweaks. Firstly, goodbye invincibility frames when rolling/dodging. This can make some of the first boss encounters feel a little odd, if you're coming from Dark Souls. You might say to yourselves ''THAT DIDN'T EVEN HIT ME!'' but trust me, it did hit you. The hit-boxes are really good in Dark Souls II. The parrying is a bit harder than in the first Dark Souls. It requires more timing and precision.

    The lore is still there to be find, even though the core story that you're playing through is explained to you by the various NPCs, the LORE is still there to be found and much speculation to be done.

    The boss fights are still incredible, although some of them feel a little too similar to each other, they're still very well designed and deliciously challenging. Here's a hoping for a Next Gen Souls release somewhere down the line. Just take your time From Software!

    9.5/10

    I rated it a 10 on the score because of the awfully stupid user score system. It's like you're allowing moronic troll children to determine what games people should play. The user score for the Xbox 360 version just keeps going down, it's like one person keeps making accounts to give Dark Souls II zeroes because they have nothing better to do with their life. If you want to see what people REALLY think about the game go see the Playstation 3 section. (unless you're already reading this there, then good for you.)    … Expand
  11. Gerdygerk
    Sep 4, 2014
    1
    Difficulty and poor controls/ game play make me a very unsatisfied buyer. Games should be fun and no mind-numbing exercise in frustration. Shame on you Namco. I want my money back.
  12. traskular
    Mar 19, 2014
    10
    This is one of those games that will go down in history as a legacy and never die. It will be something you can play years from now and enjoy, not just some once and done waste of time game. With Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, Dark Souls II is one of the greatest games ever created.
  13. StllBreathnButY
    Mar 15, 2014
    7
    If it ain't broke don't fix it.

    That's the advice From Software ignored when making this game. Dark souls style may not appeal to a lot of people, but it was such a masterful game, damn near perfect. Dark souls 2 "refines" the experience with lots of changes to gameplay, balance issues, and lack of accessibility from the previous game. While playing DS2 it IS clear that From is on    If it ain't broke don't fix it.

    That's the advice From Software ignored when making this game. Dark souls style may not appeal to a lot of people, but it was such a masterful game, damn near perfect. Dark souls 2 "refines" the experience with lots of changes to gameplay, balance issues, and lack of accessibility from the previous game.

    While playing DS2 it IS clear that From is on top of every little detail about their game. The issues I have with this game are nothing that was overlooked, but rather, deliberate changes to the formula that almost completely ruin my enjoyment of the game. While they admirably address things from the previous game that seemed redundant or flawed, the changes they made create new problems in themselves.

    By far, the biggest issue with the game is the finite enemies. This is no doubt a measure that was implimented to stop people from grinding to get souls. After you kill an enemy a certain amount of times, they stop respawning. It seems like a glitch at first, until you notice the pattern. It feels like a slap in the face and goes against what the game is all about, to a degree. I legitimately killed enemies, died, respawned, and repeated, without making my way to the next bonfire. However, since I had killed the enemies enough times, they began disappearing, which made getting further easier, since there was much less in my way. I didn't feel like I earned it. The other issue with them disappearing is that I ended up losing lots of souls in the process. With enemies being finite, I now have to play every second of the game stressed out. If I loss some souls, those are souls I can NEVER earn back. So essentially you could run the risk of digging yourself into a huge hole that you can't get out of, forcing you to start over. This is a long game, having to start over is not fun at all. With finite enemies, this also complicates loot drops, a staple in RPGs. Now the loot is also finite. Farming titanite is a thing of the past. Now the decisions you make on upgrading your weapons are more stressful than ever, since it's not so simple to just go get more. DS1 kept the stress where it was fun, in the combat. I didn't have to fear that I was playing the game wrong and making things harder for myself hours down the line.

    Item durability has been expanded and tweaked. Weapons, armor, and now rings have durability and will break from overuse or damage. In DS1, items breaking was sort of a non issue, as they took a long time to break and were simple enough to fix, since the souls to do it were always around. This time, they break REALLY fast, and cost you precious finite souls to fix. Plus you must progress a bit to unlock the blacksmith who can provide the service. In the early go of it, I nearly was left with no useable weapons, since I couldn't buy any yet and had broken some.

    Some features of the game that aren't meant to be hidden are needlessly obtuse. It took me a while to see how to activate torches, and I still choose not to use them because they don't last long and are hard to come by. I had to look online to find that I had the ability to post messages the WHOLE time, I just wasn't able to do it because I wasn't in living form. I don't play in living form because I will most certainly get killed, as that is the nature of dark souls, and the item needed to become living is hard to come by, once again. I also didn't know how to level up for a while, unfortunately. I didn't like how it has to happen through some weird lady.

    Now, when you die, you lose a portion of your max health, up to 50%, until you use a finite item to revert back to living form. It's stupid, stressful, and a$$ backwards. You die, and the game gets harder?

    Combat feels more cheap this time. So often you'll find battles where you're pitted against a group of enemies, which is always challenging, no matter how "weak" they are. DS1 rarely made you fight more than one or two at a time, if you were patient enough, allowing you to concentrate on the fundamentals. The very beginning woods section of this game was full of these encounters and was enfuriating. This, coming from a guy who beat dark souls. I know how to play.

    The game was made "more accessible" by including fast travel between bonfires and has a supposedly easier world structure to get started in. First, getting started was not easy at all. Like I said, the woods, which is first, were unbelievably aggravating, since you barely have any gear, and you get swarmed all over. I can't imagine that to be more accessible to a newcomer. Second, fast travel, it's does have its perks. It saves lots of time, but the gameworld is built so sprawling and disjointed. Nothing like the masterful interconnected puzzle that DS1 was. Plus having to go to the main hub area to level up and such is annoying.

    On a good note, the frame rate in this game is Super smooth compared to DS 1. At its best, this game IS great. But not DS1 great.

    I could say more, no more room.    … Expand
  14. Sweetew
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    I´m a souls veteran. I have played both Demon´s souls and dark souls, and i´m happy to say that i´m now also playing dark souls 2. I am currently about halfway through my game at the moment (30ish hours), and I am enjoying it immensely. I believe dark souls 2 to be the perfect match of demon´s souls and dark souls, and if you have played both, you will feel right at home here.

    Most of    I´m a souls veteran. I have played both Demon´s souls and dark souls, and i´m happy to say that i´m now also playing dark souls 2. I am currently about halfway through my game at the moment (30ish hours), and I am enjoying it immensely. I believe dark souls 2 to be the perfect match of demon´s souls and dark souls, and if you have played both, you will feel right at home here.

    Most of the design choices that are different from Dark souls, is great, but there are a few places which they shouldn´t have messed with: namely how repairing works now. But that´s a really small nitpick.

    all in all, this game is a masterpiece!    … Expand
  15. 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
  16. bbaladoss
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    This game is an absolute masterpiece; both the environments and enemies are beautifully designed, and when combined create a dark, immersive game world. Yes, it is challenging, but the euphoria that you experience when you defeat a tough group of enemies or a boss is second to none in my opinion.
  17. bocaperro
    Mar 13, 2014
    10
    Amazing work by from software.
    All things they can do better from first dark soul game they did it.Im a soul veteran, finished demons and dark souls a couple of times, and this is i think, the game that fans like me were waiting for.
    This is a demostration (as all souls serie), how a relly basic concept like a dungeon crawler, can be one of the most deepest and complex experience in a    Amazing work by from software.
    All things they can do better from first dark soul game they did it.Im a soul veteran, finished demons and dark souls a couple of times, and this is i think, the game that fans like me were waiting for.
    This is a demostration (as all souls serie), how a relly basic concept like a dungeon crawler, can be one of the most deepest and complex experience in a game. the world, the concept art, the mechanics, the history......all them are amazing.
    From software, i love you!!

    Goty for me    … Expand
  18. paddystudmuffin
    Mar 15, 2014
    10
    Got this game yesterday and it's great. Been playing it non stop probably 10 hrs already and I've only scratched the surface. Dark souls was an amazing game and this one easily follows suit. Graphics are nice and the controls are really responsive. This is what a 10 game is. I love the atmosphere as you edge forward bit by bit with your little shield up. It's great. PeopleGot this game yesterday and it's great. Been playing it non stop probably 10 hrs already and I've only scratched the surface. Dark souls was an amazing game and this one easily follows suit. Graphics are nice and the controls are really responsive. This is what a 10 game is. I love the atmosphere as you edge forward bit by bit with your little shield up. It's great. People shouldn't complain about getting killed here and there when in all challenging games you'll die a fair bit at certain points. The only difference with the souls series is you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Anyone who likes RPGs, solid combat, a fantasy setting, with fair challenging gameplay should lap this beauty up. It's a definite keeper!!!… Expand
  19. Vestar5
    Mar 15, 2014
    10
    everything you could ask for in a sequel. draws upon the best elements of dark souls and demon's souls in equal measure. Incredibly difficult and incredibly satisfying. This installment is less about finding the most broken items or the cheesiest strategies and more about mastering every tool the game gives you.
  20. 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
  21. LightningFoxHD
    Jul 19, 2014
    6
    While it's by no means a bad game; Dark Souls II, unfortunately, falls a long way short of the near perfect original Dark Souls. In terms of combat, world design, enemy design and boss design; Dark Souls II just doesn't live up to it's predecessor, or the hype generated prior to release. 10/10 for the cloth physics though :)
  22. drlowdon
    Mar 25, 2020
    8
    Despite fans concerns that Dark Souls II may be reined back to cater to a wider audience this sequel is every bit as difficult and addictive as its predecessor. What changes there are, such as being able to warp to any discovered bonfire from the outset, are mostly positive and certainly make for a less frustrating experience. The covenant system is also better implemented this timeDespite fans concerns that Dark Souls II may be reined back to cater to a wider audience this sequel is every bit as difficult and addictive as its predecessor. What changes there are, such as being able to warp to any discovered bonfire from the outset, are mostly positive and certainly make for a less frustrating experience. The covenant system is also better implemented this time around, as is the online aspect with summoning and invading others being a much more reliable experience.

    Exploring the game world, never knowing what may be around the next corner, is what Dark Souls is all about and From Software have delivered again in an adventure that offers well in excess of 50 hours of gameplay.    … Expand
  23. Rumblefish
    Mar 20, 2014
    6
    not quite on a par with my favourite game of all time, Dark Souls, but not bad. Sadly, there are a few issues in this instalment that mar the experience. the graphics are really quite bad, enemies appear to be superimposed on to the landscape at times and there are many areas where the screen literally tears in half horizontally as you turn the camera. The game is perhaps a little hardernot quite on a par with my favourite game of all time, Dark Souls, but not bad. Sadly, there are a few issues in this instalment that mar the experience. the graphics are really quite bad, enemies appear to be superimposed on to the landscape at times and there are many areas where the screen literally tears in half horizontally as you turn the camera. The game is perhaps a little harder than the first in some parts but the fact you can repair the ring of sacrifice means you never have to play as undead or ever risk losing any souls after death. Additionally, enemies disappear after you've killed them ten or so times, removing some of the challenge of reaching bosses in difficult areas.

    There is the option to respec which removes some of the importance of your levelling up decisions. The experience just seems a little more forgiving and less unique. there are also a few real annoyances. For example, every time you wish to increase a level you must warp to a certain bonfire and talk to the same NPC who will say the same four lines of dialogue. That can wear a little thin by the hundredth time. Also, you are now unable to see the stats and prerequisites of your items from they are in your lockbox. This means you must take everything out of the box in order to make comparisons. There seem less options to modify your.weapons and although streamlining this removed some of the confusion around upgrades, it has also removed some of the pleasure of fashioning a really powerful weapon. The controls are also not as tight in DS2, your character lurches about at the touch of the joystick.

    The world itself is not as cleverly intertwined as Lordran in DS1 and the story and characters are just not as intriguing or interesting as the first game.

    However, for all its foibles, DS2 remains an outstanding RPG with a lot of variety and dangerous places to explore. After 55 hours, I am still trying to finish the game and unlock its secrets. I have died, I have become exasperated, but I am yet to lose the urge to push on through the fog gate one more time. It's a rare game these days that can dish out heartbreak and euphoria in equal measure but Dark Souls 2 achieves this. It's not the all time classic that its predecessor still is but it's a damn fine game nonetheless.

    I'd give it 8.5 if I could.    … Expand
  24. 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
  25. grid10ck
    Jul 3, 2014
    10
    I am going to say first the the Dark Souls series is most likely my favorite game series, so this review will be a bit biased.
    When I first started the game, I will admit it was very confusing in comparison to Dark Soul's beginning. however with a bit of trial and error, a lot of luck and some dying, I soon came to enjoy the difficulty of finding your own path.
    Dark Souls continues to    I am going to say first the the Dark Souls series is most likely my favorite game series, so this review will be a bit biased.
    When I first started the game, I will admit it was very confusing in comparison to Dark Soul's beginning. however with a bit of trial and error, a lot of luck and some dying, I soon came to enjoy the difficulty of finding your own path.
    Dark Souls continues to do something that most games lack anymore and that is give the player a real challenge. Some may call it tedious repetitive work, but it really is a tough game to play and every time I go through the game I am met with another entertaining challenge once again.
    Multiplayer is a lot more entertaining and fun, as well as cooperative multiplayer.
    The story (if you look into the lore of the game from speculation on YouTube, my personal favorite is Vaati) you will find a story that is so intertwined within itself that you have to really look and delve into the game to uncover all the amazing secrets it holds. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who wants a fun challenge that you wont get in many other games out there.    … Expand
  26. CrimsonEwok
    Jul 6, 2014
    7
    Dark Souls 2 is a good game, but I feel it is a step down from Dark Souls. I'm not sure if others feel the same, but the way Dark Souls was connected by shortcuts It really made the world feel together. Some points in dark souls 2 don't make sense where they are placed and shortcuts are lame now that you can fast travel. The combat and how it plays feels similar enough to Dark Souls soDark Souls 2 is a good game, but I feel it is a step down from Dark Souls. I'm not sure if others feel the same, but the way Dark Souls was connected by shortcuts It really made the world feel together. Some points in dark souls 2 don't make sense where they are placed and shortcuts are lame now that you can fast travel. The combat and how it plays feels similar enough to Dark Souls so once I got used to it I had fun. Though I was letdown by the bosses in Dark Souls 2 which are mostly all re-skins of bosses from previous games with slightly different moves.So most the bosses felt kind of uninspired except for a few.A little more than half way through the game I was getting a little bored. Probably because I was expecting more.I still completed it, but felt it was missing something. The game was good and worth a purchase, but it is not amazing like Dark Souls.… Expand
  27. komreed
    Feb 14, 2015
    10
    One of the best games ever, it's brilliance outshines its minor flaws. If you play games to be challenged this is for you.

    If you want a game that will play it's self, buy it anyway and get your head examined!
  28. 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
  29. Jhonyteixeira
    Apr 18, 2017
    0
    Is one Big **** souls 3,Dark souls 1,Demon Souls art games!!But the Two...weak very **** Bosses,Easy dificult,This no dark souls thisis **** souls 2!!!!
  30. Raslu
    Mar 5, 2020
    0
    Worst game in the series by far. What a waste of 40$. Slow, clunky and unresponsive. I hate this game for wasting my time. The RNG will make you pull your hair out. Enemies are screwed and combat just isn't as good as in DS1 and 3 where it feels hard but fair. You feel overwhelmed all the time and its super frustrating! Almost all enemies knock you down or run you over with no effort. IWorst game in the series by far. What a waste of 40$. Slow, clunky and unresponsive. I hate this game for wasting my time. The RNG will make you pull your hair out. Enemies are screwed and combat just isn't as good as in DS1 and 3 where it feels hard but fair. You feel overwhelmed all the time and its super frustrating! Almost all enemies knock you down or run you over with no effort. I get sick thinking of my experience.… 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

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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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