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.
  31. Apjay
    Feb 5, 2015
    5
    This game was a huge step down from the original dark souls and all I can say is it felt rushed. The developers claimed better graphics, more polish. Instead it's big, bland and frustrating. I put 120 hours in the original and loved everything about it. DS2s world had really no exploration at all to it, just clear this area move on to the next. There was no believable slow emergence intoThis game was a huge step down from the original dark souls and all I can say is it felt rushed. The developers claimed better graphics, more polish. Instead it's big, bland and frustrating. I put 120 hours in the original and loved everything about it. DS2s world had really no exploration at all to it, just clear this area move on to the next. There was no believable slow emergence into the next world, just your clearly in the lava stage now... From an elevator... That took you all the way up... From a windmill...? Much of the enjoyment of the original was just exploring this vast world and looking for surprises. For the first 30 some hours of DS2 there was nothing. Funny enough that some of the few issues from the original were either still there or made worse by new rules implemented. They can rerelease DS2 on Xbox one and say it looks better now all they want. They should have waited and put out a clean game than to lie about DS2 and disappoint fans of this series… Expand
  32. FlabbyCastle
    Apr 12, 2017
    4
    If you are a hardcore fan of the first game you may find this one very disappointing. Just a little about me, I have over 600 hours on DS1 (DS is dark souls) and at least 100 on DS3 by now so I have experience and I'm not totally spewing nonsense. I have also done many challenge runs in both including things like no shield, no estus, fat roll, and other runs (still haven't done soul levelIf you are a hardcore fan of the first game you may find this one very disappointing. Just a little about me, I have over 600 hours on DS1 (DS is dark souls) and at least 100 on DS3 by now so I have experience and I'm not totally spewing nonsense. I have also done many challenge runs in both including things like no shield, no estus, fat roll, and other runs (still haven't done soul level 1 cause I am a scrub). I love this series and mainly PvE (player vs environment) cause PvP doesn't really appeal to me.

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

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

    Conclusion: I fell like the design behind the original was lost and changed to just be hard/unfair to live up to the first being called super hard/unfair. To be honest I felt while there was some stupid BS in the first with the lag and cruddy hitboxes it was still a relatively fair game with universal mechanics that put you and the enemy on more fair terms whiles still managing to be incredibly difficult. Still it's not the worst game ever but definitely not a great one either. If this is your first souls game you may actually enjoy it a lot, but hardcore DS1 players probably won't. You may also want to have the wiki open 24/7 cause it gets confusing as hell.    … Expand
  33. mixxalot
    Jun 13, 2016
    9
    At first it was very frustrating getting used to dying so much but after watching some walk thru guides and trying different things it got easier but still quite difficult game! Very rewarding, great huge world to explore, amazing visuals for last generation systems and the lack of cutscenes was nice as I hate games that are full of dumb cutscenes. Great story tons of RPG options to craftAt first it was very frustrating getting used to dying so much but after watching some walk thru guides and trying different things it got easier but still quite difficult game! Very rewarding, great huge world to explore, amazing visuals for last generation systems and the lack of cutscenes was nice as I hate games that are full of dumb cutscenes. Great story tons of RPG options to craft a character and large weapon magic system. Have not played DS1 but will have to play it after this and Demon Souls. Worth it for cheap price I bought under $10.… Expand
  34. StrategosLC
    Aug 7, 2016
    9
    I had a ton of fun with this game. Everything about is oozes quality. Decent replay value also helps this game immensely, in my opinion.

    Pros: - Great graphics and performance - Controllers on gamepad feel responsive - Interesting bosses and enemies - Good replay value - Multiplayer is fun (when it works) - Excellent aesthetics and tone (plus writing and lore if you delve into it)    I had a ton of fun with this game. Everything about is oozes quality. Decent replay value also helps this game immensely, in my opinion.

    Pros:
    - Great graphics and performance
    - Controllers on gamepad feel responsive
    - Interesting bosses and enemies
    - Good replay value
    - Multiplayer is fun (when it works)
    - Excellent aesthetics and tone (plus writing and lore if you delve into it)

    Cons:
    - Bad keyboard + mouse controls
    - Laggy and buggy multiplayer
    - Archery feels like an afterthought    … Expand
  35. Tubey
    Mar 11, 2022
    4
    The 'black sheep' of the Souls series of games. A 'Marmite' title that you'll either love or hate - but then I honestly can't understand how anyone COULD love it.

    For me, compared to DS1 and DS3, this is a terrible game. Uninspired level design, terrible enemy placement, drab grey environments, lacklustre mob design. It is totally forgettable too, which is possibly it's greatest sin -    The 'black sheep' of the Souls series of games. A 'Marmite' title that you'll either love or hate - but then I honestly can't understand how anyone COULD love it.

    For me, compared to DS1 and DS3, this is a terrible game. Uninspired level design, terrible enemy placement, drab grey environments, lacklustre mob design. It is totally forgettable too, which is possibly it's greatest sin - Souls, at his best, is majestic; not just the core series, but Bloodborne, Elden Ring, all feature high points that have your jaw hitting the floor. DS2 has nothing, not an ounce of wonder to it.

    Souls games also live and die by how good it's heavy but fair combat design is; DS2 is lacking in that area too. There's little weight to it and everything feels that tad bit delayed. It's not bad, but just... uninspired.

    That really is the word to describe the whole game - uninspired. It suffers from being a marked downgrade on the first game, and the devs knew it too, with DS3 basically ignoring DS2 altogether and using the first game as the base instead.

    But not only is it a bad Souls game, I honestly think it's just a pretty bad game altogether. I now know after the fact that the game had a hellacious development cycle, and boy does it show. My advice would be to play literally any other Soulsborne game by From Software instead of this; they're all dramatically superior.    … Expand
  36. somethingguy912
    Jan 29, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the second of about 4 different games that I've been completing, and the longest that I've covered to give my final review. If you've seen my review of Dark Souls 1, this review will ape some of the ups and downs with it. Ultimately, it is as good as Dark Souls 1, some parts better than it's predecessor, some parts worse.

    To begin, The Gameplay aspects of DS1, as good as they were, are even more refined in DS1. Dark magic, a aspect that was introduced as DLC in DS1, is now a fully fledged out mechanic in DS2 and sometimes a more viable choice of class. Duel Wielding, something impossible to do in DS1, can now be done with 'power stancing' with either any identical weapon or weapon type (spears, daggers, etc.). Other than the Miracle builds getting a cut as a result of a certain Lightning Spear being too OP at launch, you have much more freedom in terms of building your ideal character. If you make a mistake with your stats, as you often would in DS1, DS2 offers a means to ReSpec your build so you can put misplaced points elsewhere. Spells can be restored with Amber, Twilight or Wilted Dusk herbs, rather than having to return to a bonfire, and warping to bonfire's is immediately available as compared to needing to achieve it later on (and definitely more organized in comparison). However, there will be certain gameplay changes that will throw off people who have played DS1, as with me. For starters, the leap animation is not as flighty as it was in DS1, causing missed ledge jumping and unneeded deaths. Fall damage is considerably more extreme compared to DS1, as well as the damage that poison can do, so if you jumped down that pit in Mejula thinking you'd survive (without the cat ring), you'd be wrong. The biggest contention by far is the choice of including 'lifegems' that for some makes the game better in comparison to only have one reliable source of healing, and to others it breaks the idea of being careful in gameplay. to be pragmatic, they do try to offset the fact that you can stack 99 lifegems with ease by making it heal very slowly over time, as well as Estus (compared to it being instantaneous in DS1), they reduced the maximum amount of Estus to 12 rather than 20, and they slowed the process of drinking it compared to DS1, which I personally feel is just enough to keep the game going in terms to being careful with your choice of healing. Not to mention the use of spam in the game, which is perhaps why the choice to include lifegems was a necessity than a boon. As for the world itself, I really like how interconnected each of the areas were in DS1, but with DS2, that is definitely one fault of the game. None of the areas really connect to each other, other than Mejula, and some areas just straight up collide with one another, such as with Aldia's keep with Drangleic Castle. the world of Drangleic feels like a tree with branches that never jump over one another, which doesn't give me the sense they wanted to build a realized world first over making a gamey game. The story also is on the cutting room floor, as with DS1, as it not only relies on the conjecture based 'get all the items to get any amount of context to the world, but also relies on the same analogy of overall entropy from DS1. DS2, in fact, perhaps DS2 is even more vague in terms of your goals as a hollow who literally jumped into a wormhole through another world. Unlike Frampt, who gave you the name of the person to kill and the general area, the Emerald Herald in DS2 just tells you to 'get four mighty souls' and expects you to fill the blanks. Unless you talk to a cat of all things will you actually get some better context, but how you would know that and why you would even infer from it is beyond me, which is a crutch of many of the dark souls games. The only reason that I had more enjoyment with DS2 compared to DS1 is merely because I had prior experience with the souls games, even if some of the changes in DS2 are jarring Multiplayer, both PvP and Combat, have definitely improved from DS1, even if there are some faults. No more fiddle **** around with connections that may or may not work, in fact, they have ways in which you can better connect to friend and foe alike, with the name-engraved ring or the delicate string for example. New Game Plus offers considerably more replay value with DS2 compared to DS1 as well, with new invasions, enemies, and pickups to find throughout the various areas, but as for the DLC, that falls in the wayside in terms of playing them in NG+. Overall, DS2 is a satisfactory experience, even if it jives with some fans of the Soulsborne series, with some needed improvements that did carry over to Dark Souls 3, and some faults that are better left on the wayside, which is why I can't give it a better or worse rating than Dark souls 1.    … Expand
  37. Wheresmyseme
    Jul 25, 2014
    5
    Great for bosses. That is about it, the game still plays almost exactly the same as the previous two, people will claim that there is new content such as power stance and Hexes, those people are wrong, there is nothing really new.
    The only real difficulty of the game still comes from poor animations and mechanics, if you get hit by someone returning to their default stance after you avoid    Great for bosses. That is about it, the game still plays almost exactly the same as the previous two, people will claim that there is new content such as power stance and Hexes, those people are wrong, there is nothing really new.
    The only real difficulty of the game still comes from poor animations and mechanics, if you get hit by someone returning to their default stance after you avoid there attack, the animation of their movement will inflict as much damage to you as their attack would have.
    Multiplayer is still 50/50.
    There is still not a decent story line.    … Expand
  38. electriclight41
    Jan 14, 2015
    10
    I never thought I would enjoy the Dark Souls games, as I hate dying or losing. I still wasn’t quite sure I did when I played about half of the original Dark Souls. Then I started playing Dark Souls II, beat some guys I thought were impossible… and it clicked. The desire to level up just one more level, beat just one more boss and discover just one more area is intoxicating. And man, theI never thought I would enjoy the Dark Souls games, as I hate dying or losing. I still wasn’t quite sure I did when I played about half of the original Dark Souls. Then I started playing Dark Souls II, beat some guys I thought were impossible… and it clicked. The desire to level up just one more level, beat just one more boss and discover just one more area is intoxicating. And man, the difficulty level is high, but satisfying. The only knock I would have on the game is stupid people invading my world. Aside from those rage-inducing moments, I had an awesome time from the beginning to end. My only regret is not being able to beat that dragon…… Expand
  39. splasher
    Jun 10, 2015
    10
    Dark Souls 2 may be a little difficult to get into at first (especially for players new to the series) but those that stick with it soon find a title which not only amazes but also rewards gamers for their determination and persistence, If I had a top ten list of favorite games this would easily be on it.
  40. barbone3
    Aug 22, 2022
    9
    After finishing it on PC and Xbox one, I just had to try the Xbox 360 version of the game. And to my surprise...it doesn't look like a 360 game at all, sure it drops in frames sometimes but the graphics are phenomenal on the 360.
  41. Krawbeard
    Sep 27, 2014
    9
    Now in my review for the first one I will say I was a bit quick to jump the gun and never truly give this game a chance.

    My mind has changed in this new installment (and after giving the first one a second run) This game is what the direction that konami should've taken castlevania to besides that god of war wannabe garbage. The game mechanics are smooth and the challenge is real.    Now in my review for the first one I will say I was a bit quick to jump the gun and never truly give this game a chance.

    My mind has changed in this new installment (and after giving the first one a second run)

    This game is what the direction that konami should've taken castlevania to besides that god of war wannabe garbage.

    The game mechanics are smooth and the challenge is real. Honestly my biggest enemy besides my own stupid choices would be gravity.

    I've learned after playing both DS games that I've been spoiled over the years with the easy difficulty of how modern games are. This game will teach you patience and how to overcome obstacles like in the old school NES days.

    I mean imagine castlevania symphony of the night and if konami kept that darkness and challenge and moved forward into the future with it... well from software did that with the "souls" series.

    It may not be castlevania but its what we've wanted that series to do for us today.

    Its no skyrim and people making comparisons need to know its like comparing an apple to a hotdog.. I mean really... 2 different things here buddies.

    The PVP is great and co op is also a plus here.

    You can invade others worlds and mess up their day ohhhh joyyyyyy my favorite
    but they can do it to you.... damn... but fun!!!!

    DLC is fairly priced and adds even more fun unlike todays games that just give you the unfinished bits of a game just to make extra money.

    The souls series is keeps that Nintendo tradition going on when it comes to good quality games.

    However it lacks in a few areas... in which to be honest isn't that big of a deal kinda like a really big pizza with one bad topping on it... its not a big deal if you eat around it.

    It lacks in the communication area.. yeah you can do all sorts of gestures but online you can only private chat there is no party chat which is a bummer if you have 2 people you are co oping with and would be nice to talk trash to people you beat in PVP vs sending them a message.

    Also the invading part upsets me because due to how difficult it is to get effigies I will pretty much say if an invader defeats you then you lose your humanity.

    Also ghost damage on PVP is a big no no and sometimes has me rage quit or how op a spell caster is.. sometimes it seems like there are hackers but its not too often... Some weapons hitboxes (spears) in pvp is a little retarded op....

    Like I said its not much to ruin a game but its enough to keep me from giving it a 10.

    This game is one of the few games out there today actually worth its price, and the replay value is high.
    if you get bored you can cosplay a character. Heck I did a faith caster with a sword and he looked like trunks from dragon ball z. you can cosplay almost anything just look it up on youtube.

    Good game and thank you from software. I apologize about my last review on the first one... I was ignorant of the awesomeness then and spoiled from typical shooters    … Expand
  42. davidgoliath
    Sep 29, 2014
    8
    I originally gave this game a nine, but the further I played it, the less I loved it...

    The game is excellent, for me it takes the original that little bit further... It's not less, or more difficult, its just different. Obvs this game is a lot easier if you utilise the multiplayer aspects. As with the first there's loads of enemy variation, weapon variation, great RPG elements etc. The    I originally gave this game a nine, but the further I played it, the less I loved it...

    The game is excellent, for me it takes the original that little bit further... It's not less, or more difficult, its just different. Obvs this game is a lot easier if you utilise the multiplayer aspects. As with the first there's loads of enemy variation, weapon variation, great RPG elements etc. The story is a little less ambiguous than the first, but who cares right, just kill loads of ****

    I guess the only thing that lets this game down for me is the further you get into the game, the more it feels like a rushed project, or that they added more areas to make it bigger than Dark Souls, with a detriment to graphics and gameplay. There was a sandy area which i just didn't like at all. I guess the game tends to drag a bit, after all, 40/50 hours if not more without reaching the end game is pretty long.

    Overall Dark Souls 2 is definitely an improvement on the original, and one of the better games of the last generation.. If you like a challenge, RPGs and killing monstrosities it's a must buy.    … Expand
  43. anggadaz
    Oct 27, 2015
    9
    This game is adventure role playing game. This game has not life bar or life point if player had hit, player will die. The game graphic id good. Overall the game is exciting to play.
  44. jdizzy
    Apr 9, 2014
    7
    They tuned up the combat from the previous installment and it really rewards players for exploring every nook and cranny. They tried pandering to the suggestions and ended up dropping humanity and replacing it with effigies. The armor and weapons are no longer that cosmetically pleasing and pvp is still unbalanced. Ganking is still a problem among all online players. They need betterThey tuned up the combat from the previous installment and it really rewards players for exploring every nook and cranny. They tried pandering to the suggestions and ended up dropping humanity and replacing it with effigies. The armor and weapons are no longer that cosmetically pleasing and pvp is still unbalanced. Ganking is still a problem among all online players. They need better matchmaking so low-levelers aren't going against new-gamers+7. They made menus easier to navigate but the screwed up some mechanics such as item durability. All items wear out faster now and the Pharros' lockstone system is awful. You might want to stay in Anor Londo a bit longer. They took away choice when it came to the ending and there is no memorable npc's. All the bosses are rehashed with new paint and are similar to many of the bosses from the previous game. Upgrading and enchanting weapons is now a difficult and obscure process. An iffy sequel to say the least.… Expand
  45. jcarl663
    Feb 14, 2015
    7
    Not as good as DS1 as far as world building, but the raw combat mechanics, especially in PvP, are dramatically improved. The characters are in most cases weaker, and the bosses in most cases are less creative and they seem to have this hard-on for humanoid monsters with big tracking overhead swings. Some of the bosses, however, are really great. It doesn't capture the feel of Lordran, butNot as good as DS1 as far as world building, but the raw combat mechanics, especially in PvP, are dramatically improved. The characters are in most cases weaker, and the bosses in most cases are less creative and they seem to have this hard-on for humanoid monsters with big tracking overhead swings. Some of the bosses, however, are really great. It doesn't capture the feel of Lordran, but it's more fun for the most part to actually play.… Expand
  46. stevenhearnn
    May 7, 2014
    8
    I've been excited for games before. I simply cannot wait for this game to come out! It looks incredible. I have no doubt that this will be just as challenging, if not (hopefully) more challenging than Dark Souls was. I am simply ecstatic. This game is on my must buy list for next year.
  47. Whutupribs
    Aug 7, 2014
    6
    I won't go too in-depth here, but they really messed this up. The first Dark Souls got it right, in that they found an excellent balance between difficulty and reward. This game has all the difficulty and more that Dark Souls had (although this time around it's difficult mostly because of the broken combat system), but it's almost like they left everything that was wrong witht hat game andI won't go too in-depth here, but they really messed this up. The first Dark Souls got it right, in that they found an excellent balance between difficulty and reward. This game has all the difficulty and more that Dark Souls had (although this time around it's difficult mostly because of the broken combat system), but it's almost like they left everything that was wrong witht hat game and broke everything that was great. It's not challenging, it's frustrating. It's not rewarding when you beat a boss, you're just relieved that you don't have to fight it anymore. It's not exciting, it's irritating. It just doesn't feel "challenging but fair" anymore, it feels like you're constantly at a huge disadvantage. Enemies hit you when they shouldn't, your weapons don't feel like they have any impact, and you never feel quite strong enough to have a chance. You're constantly being swarmed by enemies and you often have no way to protect yourself from taking at least a bit of damage. The healing system is screwed up, with HP recovery taking a painfully long time, time you just don't have in most situations. The game just feels like it's sucker punching you at every turn, and to me that's not fun or challenging, it's just annoying. You shouldn't have to play through an area 10 times just so you can find all the places the game is going to kick you in the nuts. All in all, it feels more like a "rage game" than a full production title. Dark Souls was an incredible game, a real feat of game design and a shining example of what a video game should be. I'd really like to know what happened here. They took a game that was tough but fun and took all the fun out of it.… Expand
  48. 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
  49. 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.
  50. 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
  51. enfilade
    Apr 10, 2014
    10
    Fair enough, it can't re-blow my mind as the original once did, but this bigger, and more improved Souls title certainly gives me the satisfaction that I needed.

    10/10 is no understatement with this game, it truly is the finest game ever produced. No amount of words can do this title justice, so I highly recommend you just buy it. If you can't enjoy it, then sell it on. It's not like    Fair enough, it can't re-blow my mind as the original once did, but this bigger, and more improved Souls title certainly gives me the satisfaction that I needed.

    10/10 is no understatement with this game, it truly is the finest game ever produced. No amount of words can do this title justice, so I highly recommend you just buy it. If you can't enjoy it, then sell it on. It's not like there is a monthly sub...    … Expand
  52. zanna777
    Apr 9, 2014
    10
    One of the best games of list years period. Always challenging with an excellent combat system and gdr progression. You 'll die a lot but always for your fault, who gave this game 0 is a casual player who think that he is immortal. In this game you must use your brain and your gamer skills to master it. Huge map with solid graphic, more fluid than the first episode. In ng + the challengeOne of the best games of list years period. Always challenging with an excellent combat system and gdr progression. You 'll die a lot but always for your fault, who gave this game 0 is a casual player who think that he is immortal. In this game you must use your brain and your gamer skills to master it. Huge map with solid graphic, more fluid than the first episode. In ng + the challenge continues with new enemies. A must buy but only for serious gamers.… Expand
  53. bcbmtb
    Apr 16, 2014
    5
    The game is great fun, however after logging 60+ hours it told me my save data was no good, even though I saved and quit properly. Play at your own risk!!!
  54. Kokoaaa
    Apr 17, 2014
    10
    Reason why this game is brilliant is not about graphics, story, or multiplay. Its is about true challenge. I already die more than a hundred times during boss fights. But everyone knows that It feels great when i killed a boss alone and when i found bonefire through the hella difficult monsters.
    Just shut up and buy this game and prepare to die.
  55. 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
  56. energyknight
    Apr 24, 2014
    10
    This is a great game that has always stuck to its guns.With this game being possible even harder than the others. The new idea of life gems and multiple bosses at once caps it all off
  57. TheStarbox
    May 2, 2014
    10
    Best rpg game of year.Game has very good atmosphereWhile you were playing game you can feel you are in game.Co-op system is the best co-op system ı have seen ever.
  58. Drastre
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    One of my top 5 favorite games I've ever played. The most polished and well crafted of the Souls games. But, if you don't like challenging games that don't hold your hand and are not linear, skip it. However, it's my game of the year.
  59. Xitra
    Apr 29, 2014
    6
    I very much love Dark Souls 1 and Demon Souls but I found Dark Souls 2 to be a BIG Disappointment. the consequences of dark souls 2 are nothing compared to Demon Souls. The bosses are easy compared to both Dark souls 1 and Demon Souls, there is forced pvp (i like pvp mind you) but the hit detection is complete garbage. Yes I do enjoy the fact that when you die your max health goes down butI very much love Dark Souls 1 and Demon Souls but I found Dark Souls 2 to be a BIG Disappointment. the consequences of dark souls 2 are nothing compared to Demon Souls. The bosses are easy compared to both Dark souls 1 and Demon Souls, there is forced pvp (i like pvp mind you) but the hit detection is complete garbage. Yes I do enjoy the fact that when you die your max health goes down but they ruined it by making the ring that lets you die but not become hollowed (thus pay 7000 souls and boom safe again...) they made weapons relatively ridiculous in this game and magic is bleh... I am on NG+ 15 right now... I found a boss you can repeatedly kill in less than 60 seconds and get 400000 souls for each kill... that's 1.2m souls in 3 minutes... when you see someone in havels armor and he is running and jumping and rolling at light/medium speed its not right... (seen it way to many times) but there are a few nice features for us dual wielders they gave us power stance and they gave us twin blades (woot woot lol) but otherwise if you are looking for a challenge look elsewhere its horriblw here.… Expand
  60. Wolfhound
    May 12, 2014
    8
    Lack of world connectivity -1/2. Lack of insanity inducing darkness -1/2. Also, I feel like the devs made a bad choice putting all of the path choices in the first half of the game instead of in the second half. It just gets a little boring towards the end and I found my only motivation being the promise of NewGame+. This is a pretty big problem and I felt it was necessary to removeLack of world connectivity -1/2. Lack of insanity inducing darkness -1/2. Also, I feel like the devs made a bad choice putting all of the path choices in the first half of the game instead of in the second half. It just gets a little boring towards the end and I found my only motivation being the promise of NewGame+. This is a pretty big problem and I felt it was necessary to remove another point -1. Despite these issues, Dark Souls II is an amazing game. The lack of connectivity is almost made up for how wide and open the areas are, although they do begin to lose their open feeling in the second half of the game. The combat is a good as ever and things like parrying, backstabs and criticals are so much harder to land in PVP. For those who love games with a heavy emphasis on combat and exciting gameplay, and who love games with a light dusting of discovery and exploration then this game is for you. Also there is an alternative for completing the game for players who would rather participate in PVP instead of playing through the areas. If this game were to do some things that the first game did I probably would have given it a 9 but if they had then it's likely that the gaming community would complain about it "not having innovation." Every game has its issues and this game is no exception, it's problems are small and don't make the game any less fun. The Souls combat is still as fresh as ever and the story and lore is still as hidden as its ever been. If you like a challenge then this is a must buy.… Expand
  61. Retro-Sapien
    May 7, 2014
    7
    While a good, solid game in its own right, "Dark Souls II" is ultimately somewhat of a step backward from its predecessor.

    The change in directors is evident in the form of a weaker plot, inconsistent world-building, lack of variety in enemies, and aggravating changes in combat mechanics (such as increased enemy tracking) which come off more as difficulty for difficulty's sake rather    While a good, solid game in its own right, "Dark Souls II" is ultimately somewhat of a step backward from its predecessor.

    The change in directors is evident in the form of a weaker plot, inconsistent world-building, lack of variety in enemies, and aggravating changes in combat mechanics (such as increased enemy tracking) which come off more as difficulty for difficulty's sake rather than to offer a rewarding challenge to players. In addition, while not necessarily a problem, the obvious downgrade in graphics and lighting may come as a slight disappointment to fans.

    Overall, "Dark Souls II" is a flawed, yet serviceable entry in the "Souls" series, and the aforementioned issues are possibly just growing pains from the change in direction that will hopefully be ironed out in future installments.    … Expand
  62. SwagLowMuffins
    May 9, 2014
    8
    Absolutely amazing game. It's a lot of fun, but this time around it's really not as hard. Shorter, too. A lot of the enemies have the same archetypes and they got plain lazy on the bosses. But, it's still a Souls game and a lot of fun. I've put in so many hours into this game on Xbox, but when I got it on PC, the "PC friendly port" was nowhere to be found. Sure, there were a few mediocreAbsolutely amazing game. It's a lot of fun, but this time around it's really not as hard. Shorter, too. A lot of the enemies have the same archetypes and they got plain lazy on the bosses. But, it's still a Souls game and a lot of fun. I've put in so many hours into this game on Xbox, but when I got it on PC, the "PC friendly port" was nowhere to be found. Sure, there were a few mediocre graphics options but I still felt it was lacking. Maybe I've played too long and have got to used to the world, but in my opinion it could have been bigger, or at least not so linear. The game is definitely not perfect, but it's a lot of fun and is worth the buy.… Expand
  63. leonardo1281
    May 10, 2014
    7
    The main issue with DS2 is that it's a game with no soul ! It becomes repetitive way too soon, combat is flawed, rolling most of the time will be useless, throwing knifes do more damage than arrows (and won't consume stamina) making bows just trash. Warping right from the beginning really upsets immersion. Bosses are bland. The interconnected maze Lordran was is gone, Majula is aThe main issue with DS2 is that it's a game with no soul ! It becomes repetitive way too soon, combat is flawed, rolling most of the time will be useless, throwing knifes do more damage than arrows (and won't consume stamina) making bows just trash. Warping right from the beginning really upsets immersion. Bosses are bland. The interconnected maze Lordran was is gone, Majula is a rather straight road world.
    All in all, creators decided to "improve" things that were perfect. Only in certain aspects they succeeded.    … Expand
  64. thegamermaimer
    May 11, 2014
    8
    Lacks the originality and depth of the first game, but is still a great sequel that gives fans a lot more of what they love, while letting new players experience what Dark Souls truly is. This isn't to say the game is easy; in fact, subsequent playthroughs become near-impossible without some sort of NPC or online summon. so if your worried its too easy (or about that Teen rating) thenLacks the originality and depth of the first game, but is still a great sequel that gives fans a lot more of what they love, while letting new players experience what Dark Souls truly is. This isn't to say the game is easy; in fact, subsequent playthroughs become near-impossible without some sort of NPC or online summon. so if your worried its too easy (or about that Teen rating) then don't be, because its a punishingly hard and sometimes frightening game.… Expand
  65. slaystoned
    May 17, 2014
    10
    WOW! This game is amazing.... I have played Dark Souls for long periods of time in the past and surely enough this one is no different. DS2 is a huge step forward from DS in beauty, world size, and combat options. I see a lot of bad reviews from people complaining about this kicka$$ game, but that's because they are trying to play the game in odd/specific ways and then claiming the game isWOW! This game is amazing.... I have played Dark Souls for long periods of time in the past and surely enough this one is no different. DS2 is a huge step forward from DS in beauty, world size, and combat options. I see a lot of bad reviews from people complaining about this kicka$$ game, but that's because they are trying to play the game in odd/specific ways and then claiming the game is bad because they cant get it to work their way. Do no listen to the bad reviews, I read all of them and not one of them was even remotely accurate. I bet most of the bad reviewers did not even play the game based on the points they complain about... The bottom line is DS2 is a wonderful, beautiful , and addicting game with lots to explore and tons of bosses to slay. Grab a friend and play through some fantastic fights, me and my buddies have played together since the beginning and we are in NG+++ now and still loving it.… Expand
  66. Leonrageknight
    May 22, 2014
    10
    Well, don´t know where to begin, Dark souls 1 was the nirvana of games in 2011 with Skyrim, but this game, make you feel like what is supposed to be, a game, it's not hard, it's just what games is about, at least a good game, blood, sweat and tears. The experience beats any other category in Dark Souls 2.
  67. Icemastr
    May 24, 2014
    10
    One of my top five favorite games, 3 of which are Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls II. Dark Souls II is challenging, the combat is fun, and levelling and exploring the world is addictive. The game isn't for everyone, but once you get into it you will be sucked in.
  68. Porko
    May 25, 2014
    8
    No other game feels like the Dark / Demon Souls franchise. It is such a well polished game. The combat system is brutally satisfying, the visuals are beautiful, the music and sound effects help suck you into the fantasy world. The online system appears to work very well now. It does appear to be a bit easier now as the ability to summon other players to assist has become very easy.
  69. 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
  70. Tristian98005
    May 29, 2014
    10
    I love Dark souls 2. Anyways I like what it offered me. A fun co-op, a challenging PvP, some insane bosses. I would definitely suggest buying this game. I love how it challenges me unlike most games.
  71. Thebigham
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    Amazing game from the boss battles to world to the weapons. If you liked dark souls you probably like this game too. Its even harder then the first and adds even more content that will keep you coming back day in and day out for weeks. It is a must buy for anyone who likes a challenge and is overall an almost perfect game. From software hit it out of the park with this game and is quicklyAmazing game from the boss battles to world to the weapons. If you liked dark souls you probably like this game too. Its even harder then the first and adds even more content that will keep you coming back day in and day out for weeks. It is a must buy for anyone who likes a challenge and is overall an almost perfect game. From software hit it out of the park with this game and is quickly becoming one of my favorite games for the xbox 360 and its managing to keep me away from my ps4 and pc.… Expand
  72. JohnMPH
    Aug 14, 2014
    8
    A fantastic sequel to Dark Souls. It is a bit easier, due to the opportunity to fast travel from very early in the game, unlike Dark Souls. You probably won't find yourself throwing the controller at the TV in anger as much with this one either! It still provides a big challenge, and like its predecessor, every enemy can hurt you if you let your guard down. Very enjoyable and immersive.
  73. Zefrof
    Jun 7, 2014
    10
    This game has awesome pvp and pve with random people or friends, this and borderlands series are the only games i ever felt could have a second playthrough and still be fun. The only bad thing about the game is if you want to play with friends its kinda hard but its not made to play with friends. It has awesome weapons each one usable and unique for each and every person none linearThis game has awesome pvp and pve with random people or friends, this and borderlands series are the only games i ever felt could have a second playthrough and still be fun. The only bad thing about the game is if you want to play with friends its kinda hard but its not made to play with friends. It has awesome weapons each one usable and unique for each and every person none linear combat. All I have to say is its hard sometimes, (harder than any other game but you will find tricks to make it easy) very long, a lot of stuff to do and collect, you will feel proud, and 10/10… Expand
  74. WinkOrDie
    Jun 26, 2014
    8
    Although not breaking any barriers than its prequel Dark Souls 2 offers a lot of fun and difficulty. It is not a game that is frustratingly difficult or rage inducing. Each death is your fault due to lack of knowledge or just a miss timed roll. The game is a bit more forgiving than the first but the challenge is still there. As a seasoned player I died many times but got the hang of it theAlthough not breaking any barriers than its prequel Dark Souls 2 offers a lot of fun and difficulty. It is not a game that is frustratingly difficult or rage inducing. Each death is your fault due to lack of knowledge or just a miss timed roll. The game is a bit more forgiving than the first but the challenge is still there. As a seasoned player I died many times but got the hang of it the more I played.

    The game slightly lacks the depth its prequel had and the music is not as good, although it seems as if there is more variety in the tracks so that is a plus.

    Dark Souls 2 also makes you question the adventure you are on and gives you the task of filling in the blanks. That is what makes a good adventure because it is YOUR adventure. Every player will have their own unique experience which is something that is essential to the Souls series.

    This game has much better co-op than the previous entries in the series and I would be lying if I said I did not summon someone for at least one of the boss battles.

    Dark Souls 2 is a must and I would argue that it is a game for almost everyone. You do not have to have prior knowledge of the series and do not have to be an avid video game player to enjoy this game.
    Amazing game, epic experience!    … Expand
  75. 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
  76. TheFrostyPen
    Oct 8, 2018
    8
    This is what happens when the B team is tasked with making a sequel for A material.
    Don't expect anything new or compelling, but all the surface aspects of Dark Souls 1 are there. And there are the obvious technical refinements, but it's no Dark Souls 1. Not even close.
  77. 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
  78. 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.
  79. eenie
    Nov 17, 2014
    10
    BEST GAME OF ALL TIME!
    Pvp is a but unbalanced but man the game has some incredible bosses and locations!! ................................................................................
  80. Robo11
    Dec 26, 2014
    7
    Let me start with a disclaimer - It is very hard to review any sequel without comparing it to the original. So with that said let me say that Dark Souls 2 is a good game and it makes some mechanical improvements on the previous game. Just know that for the most part the combat system remains excellent and still has the same weight to it as the previous games in the series. However, itLet me start with a disclaimer - It is very hard to review any sequel without comparing it to the original. So with that said let me say that Dark Souls 2 is a good game and it makes some mechanical improvements on the previous game. Just know that for the most part the combat system remains excellent and still has the same weight to it as the previous games in the series. However, it certainly has flaws and takes several steps back in other areas when compared to Dark Souls 1.

    Story - I really don't know what to say about the story, the souls games have never been big on exposition but have always managed to deliver a simple, effective narrative which is enriched by scraps of lore you encounter through item descriptions. I get the impression that the narrative here was outsourced to a 15 year old goth. It seems to relish in being mysterious and dark for the sake of being mysterious and dark. Just know that you will have no idea what is going on until the late game, and once you do sort of know what is going on, the story introduces time travel before it's pantomime "it was me!" final boss and ambiguous ending. Regarding the lore (item descriptions) - all you will get is more ambiguous crap like "could this have been that?" or "perhaps that was this?" or "some people say that.....". Why craft a story when you can just plaster everything in meaningless ambiguity? or is it?

    World/Levels -unlike Dark Souls 1, this is not an open world game though it does a decent job of masquerading as one. This is highlighted by some of the ludicrous transitions from one area to the next (Earthen Peak to iron Keep). It's essentially a series of linear levels, each of which ends in a boss fight. Environments for the most part are good, though some are fairly drab looking, while others are a bit too video game-y (Iron Keep).

    Enemies/Bosses - Severe lack of variety in this department. Most enemies and bosses in this game are basically just some iteration of 'dude in armor' with few exceptions. This actually is reflective of a big problem with the game and perhaps it's biggest failing - there is a severe lack of creativity in this game in general.

    All that said, it is still a good game and worth buying if you're up for a challenge.    … Expand
  81. RealHelghast
    Sep 17, 2018
    7
    This game had a lot of potential. However, the developers added a new gameplay mechanic known as Soul Memory (SM). PVP connections are no longer based on soul level. Instead they are based on SM which are grouped into different tiers or levels which dictate who you can connect to. The primary reason the devs did this is to prevent people from getting gear, upgrading it, then griefingThis game had a lot of potential. However, the developers added a new gameplay mechanic known as Soul Memory (SM). PVP connections are no longer based on soul level. Instead they are based on SM which are grouped into different tiers or levels which dictate who you can connect to. The primary reason the devs did this is to prevent people from getting gear, upgrading it, then griefing players who aren't that far along in the game. However, this wasn't even necessary because players can still play in offline mode. Players can still invade or do co-op at a specific SM if they purchase the Agape ring which absorbs souls. However, souls are needed to buy items as they are the game currency. Eventually, you will progress beyond the SM tier you want to be in because you need souls to buy items. This will add to your total number of accumulated souls. Players need to micro manage their souls carefully by making frequent backups to online storage in case they die and lose all their souls. When you loose your souls, it's still counted in your SM capacity. Of course you can farm for items like in DS, but who want to do that? If I wanted to buy something in Demon's Souls or DS I would just farm souls which was easy and buy a stack of items. Another mechanic is the Effigy Doll which is like Humanity from Dark Souls. If you die, you lose 5% of your HP each time for a maximum of 50% of your health. So, the game really punishes you for dying. You can find Effigy Dolls to restore your humanity and total health, but they are rare. Also, as Demon's Souls and Dark Souls evolved into a franchise, it seems like the devs spend less time on graphics. The characters in Demon's Souls looked great. They looked a bit funny in Dark Souls. In Dark Souls 2 they look even worse. Dark Souls 3 is the worst of all. The environments have changed too. Demon's Souls environments made you feel like you were in the game. They couldn't even add moving clouds to DS II so you don't feel like the environment is immersive. A lot of the weapons and armor are not even usable unless you're going for low equipment load and a parry/crit hit build. Even then, most players just go half naked. I would have rated this game higher if it were for SM, Effigy Dolls and lackluster characters and environments. Weapons could have been better too.… Expand
  82. 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
  83. splitstream
    Apr 19, 2015
    10
    Dark souls 2 is an amazing open world rpg, you get tense battle's all the time if it's not pvp its the pve that takes to the limit and if its not hard enough you can go to new game + even the fact that you can get practicly invaded almost every where in the game makes it hard enouhg and if u feel like dieing is not your fould than guess again it is your fould
  84. 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.
  85. PeterAlexander
    Jan 7, 2016
    8
    Perhaps one of the most frustratingly agonising games I've ever played, but surely the most rewarding. This game is unforgiving, but that is the magic behind it. I found myself determined to finish levels and bosses for hours, such determination had me thoroughly hooked.
  86. DarkSouls1over2
    Aug 10, 2015
    6
    This game is so much worse than Dark SOuls 1, i cant even describe how much.
    First of all, if you have Dark Souls 1, keep playing it and dont bother with Dark Souls 2, because its difficulty isnt "hard" its compulsively hard, and this makes it worse than Dark Souls 1.
    In 1 you know you had to be better than the Enemy/Boss and you could easily defeat every boss , alone. In Dark Souls    This game is so much worse than Dark SOuls 1, i cant even describe how much.
    First of all, if you have Dark Souls 1, keep playing it and dont bother with Dark Souls 2, because its difficulty isnt "hard" its compulsively hard, and this makes it worse than Dark Souls 1.

    In 1 you know you had to be better than the Enemy/Boss and you could easily defeat every boss , alone.

    In Dark Souls 2 the bosses are pretty lame, are hard to beat alone and are just annoying.

    Dark Souls 2 is bad.    … Expand
  87. 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  88. pywrei
    Oct 15, 2015
    8
    Dark Souls, a game known to millions as probably the hardest, if not one of the hardest, games they have played. It breaks game norms, with different controls, as well as a different system made for enemies and allies, including fighting style and different steps you take to play with the allies. But it’s not the game’s mechanics that people are attracted to. This left me, as well as manyDark Souls, a game known to millions as probably the hardest, if not one of the hardest, games they have played. It breaks game norms, with different controls, as well as a different system made for enemies and allies, including fighting style and different steps you take to play with the allies. But it’s not the game’s mechanics that people are attracted to. This left me, as well as many others, very conflicted with our emotions. With the controls being a lot different then most, at some points players would be met with what seemed like an easy area, with low level enemies scattered about, then an enemy that the player had never seen before would swoop in and instantly kill players, most people would be left feeling defeated and angry enough to break their friend’s controller. But, when learned, the controls aren’t hard to get used to, and areas can be dealt with at a snail like pace with only some hiccups. Although the gameplay is very questionable, along with the difficulty of the game itself, the story is one that usually leaves players wanting more.
    Through eastern philosophies about the spirit, darkness within the human soul, and some unrealistically sized weapons, FromSoftware explains how a curse has befallen the world, which turns people back into stone. Through this process called hollowing, people in the Dark Souls universe, die, are reborn undead, and start to hollow out, losing their memories, then their sanity, along with their soul. Through a series of battles with people and creatures whom are much more imposing than the player character, the player tries to relight the First Flame with your own soul in efforts to counteract the curse affecting the rest of the world. It is definitely a fantastic game series, with good setting, great story, albeit hidden, and a questionable nice challenge to gamers looking for one.    … Expand
  89. DukeSilver
    Mar 24, 2016
    10
    Well I figured since Dark Souls 3 will be coming out soon I might as well replay DS 2 for fun. This game is nothing short of brilliant. (That goes for the whole Soulsborne series to be completely honest). Games these days are just too easy to learn and exploit. This is just so much more unlikely to happen in this game because it really caters to whatever play style you find the most fun. IWell I figured since Dark Souls 3 will be coming out soon I might as well replay DS 2 for fun. This game is nothing short of brilliant. (That goes for the whole Soulsborne series to be completely honest). Games these days are just too easy to learn and exploit. This is just so much more unlikely to happen in this game because it really caters to whatever play style you find the most fun. I don't know if one can really praise it for it's story, but I can say that the small things really add up, such as having to kill certain enemies in order enter certain areas and kill certain bosses. The game really flows, albeit a bit slower than the previous Dark Souls.… Expand
  90. Nefastus
    Apr 6, 2016
    10
    Dark Souls 2 is probably one of the best games I have played in the last years. It has all the things that made Dark Souls 1 good and improved over it. It has better control mechanics, what made the character more responsive than in the first game. The areas are vast and well developed, very distinct from each other. Some might say the world isn't interconnected as in the first Dark SoulsDark Souls 2 is probably one of the best games I have played in the last years. It has all the things that made Dark Souls 1 good and improved over it. It has better control mechanics, what made the character more responsive than in the first game. The areas are vast and well developed, very distinct from each other. Some might say the world isn't interconnected as in the first Dark Souls but I rather well done and unique areas. There are a lot of bosses and sub bosses all along the game and they never get to the point of being unfair or too easy.

    The PvP in the game is great, easily the best of all soul series, including Demon's souls and Bloodborne. It is more friendly to learn and also allows you to start doing it after you are done with the game story, as you don't get locked out of invasions after a boss is dead, that was the case in the first dark souls. The mechanics are vastly improved in the pvp area as well, with more weapon options and spells and a lot of the weapons have special attacks that make them unique. It also features arenas for the players that rather avoid invading/being invaded but still want to engage in pvp.

    Its a must have game.    … Expand
  91. John-Doe
    May 1, 2016
    7
    If you are a fan of dark souls, western medieval fantasy from a Japanese game developers point of view or just want to play a game that kicks your ass at every corner than dark souls 2 is for you. The game has amazing visuals, smoother game play and not to mention, BETTER FRAME RATE than dark souls 1, to a brand new fan of dark souls who would start with this game, it is a good choice.If you are a fan of dark souls, western medieval fantasy from a Japanese game developers point of view or just want to play a game that kicks your ass at every corner than dark souls 2 is for you. The game has amazing visuals, smoother game play and not to mention, BETTER FRAME RATE than dark souls 1, to a brand new fan of dark souls who would start with this game, it is a good choice. However, long time fans of dark souls who have played dark souls 1 will be disappointed in the layout of the world as it is not interconnected so it doesn't feel like one huge place. Also, the soundtrack, although its good to listen to, its just not up to the same level from dark souls 1 as most music in dark souls 2 tries to sound like ornistein and smough. Lore is present but in smaller quantities and some are just not that interesting to read and finally the boss fights. The boss fights are still hard but most are just not that hard to beat. Aside from these flaws the game is still fun to play and if this is your first souls game, it can only go up from there.
    CASUAL GAMERS BEWARE OF SOULS GAME    … Expand
  92. TheInfamousMart
    May 3, 2016
    10
    I truly enjoyed this game. This iconic game was a true predecessor to the original dark souls. This is the perfect game for someone up to a challenge. Can't wait or DS III
  93. spudtat0
    Jul 6, 2016
    8
    I like Dark Souls 2, because I like the atmosphere of the game and enjoy playing as a knight who gets butt fked by some of the bosses. It's really fun, not as hard as people say it is, unless maybe if you play as deprived so that you're all naked and **** which is funny when you defeat lava satan as a hobo. If you think it's too hard, you can play as a mage and be a **** from like 8457648I like Dark Souls 2, because I like the atmosphere of the game and enjoy playing as a knight who gets butt fked by some of the bosses. It's really fun, not as hard as people say it is, unless maybe if you play as deprived so that you're all naked and **** which is funny when you defeat lava satan as a hobo. If you think it's too hard, you can play as a mage and be a **** from like 8457648 miles away and snipe the bosses to death so yeah. I think this game is actually better than the first Dark Souls, because at least I can run it properly on the pc. No but actually, I really want to play Dark Souls 1 cos it looks better in terms of the atmosphere and story.… Expand
  94. frederik1478
    Mar 28, 2023
    8
    I wanted to see the difference between the since of the scholar and the original and this feels more like a balance game, sadly without the DLC it also feels like it was not made finish.

    The game look good. It looks better than it does on the PS4 versions But sadly the FPS is between 60 and 20 so it's unstable at hell. The worst part of the game is every time a hitbox you think should    I wanted to see the difference between the since of the scholar and the original and this feels more like a balance game, sadly without the DLC it also feels like it was not made finish.

    The game look good. It looks better than it does on the PS4 versions But sadly the FPS is between 60 and 20 so it's unstable at hell.

    The worst part of the game is every time a hitbox you think should have hit don't it and they hit you when you don't think it should hit that is Dark Souls 2 biggest problem

    But I still enjoy the scheme it is awesome even if it feels much more floaty than dark souls 1 it still has a lot of its own charm and the world is interesting to play in and I would say that with the DLC it is almost as good as Dark Souls 1.    … Expand
  95. brendo214
    May 20, 2019
    7
    For each thing that this improved over Dark Souls 1, it messed up two more things.
  96. 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
  97. puchinho
    Aug 23, 2023
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dark souls 2 tiene como pilar fundamental el combate y, este a veces es muy molesta e impreciso. Los enemigos dan golpes que no tocan al personaje, el personaje falla golpes que parece que si tendrían que haber acertado... eso en un juego de este tipo puede ser frustrante, sobretodo contra enemigos algo exigentes.
    Después de eso, llegas a Majula, suena la música de fondo y se te olvida todo.

    Dark souls 2 ha hecho cosas que creo que deberían haber continuado en un juego de este tipo. El enfrentamiento contra enemigos acorazados en un pasillo de 2 metros de ancho crea angustia y te hace pensar como sortear al enemigo, porque quizás no sirva solo rodar. O la zona con estatuas que escupen veneno, con enemigos esperando para atacarte mientras te encargas de ellas...
    Quizás muchas zonas tienen enemigos de más, para incrementar la dificultad de esa manera, entonces es una pena, porque hay que correr para saltarse zonas y no te paras a disfrutar.
    A pesar de todo, no es un juego malo, pero su problema es que ha salido después de Dark souls...
    De todas formas es un viaje que os gustará experimentar, porque puede llegar a ser una aventura bonita y que os ayudará a conoceros mejor a vosotros mismos.    … Expand
  98. 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.
  99. knur
    Oct 9, 2022
    10
    Again a masterpiece. This one is the most packed with content from the trilogy.
  100. 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

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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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
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