Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

 Xbox One
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 302 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 212 out of 302
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 302
  3. Negative: 42 out of 302
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  1. sabaothkelly
    Jul 30, 2020
    0
    Dark Souls 1? Masterpiece.
    Light Souls 2? What a PIECE of TVRD, ¡seriously!? There are too many enemies and bosses doing s**t that is just just random, absurd or jank. Honestly, it's just barely above "Lords of the Fallen" trash mechanics.
    Dark Souls 3? Amazing.
    Sekiro? Very Good.
  2. munir
    Sep 22, 2016
    10
    After playing Dark Souls 3, I look back to DS2 and notice it was the only one that could really take a step further from Demon's Souls formula.
    All the organic movements; more straightforward less tricky bosses; complex parry-ripost system; more dragon, less dark environment...
    Being the black sheep isn't all that bad, eh?
    My favorite soul game, by far.
  3. Benjiib
    Dec 28, 2016
    7
    after playing dark souls 1 i feel like it took a step back, broken mechanics no point in multiplayer and just bad level design, i felt dark souls 1 had it done perfectly level design was good,
    dark souls 2 is not hard it just throws multiple enemies with weird hit boxes and staggering hits that only work half the time?
    square box rooms with no rendering and grey scale areas feels    after playing dark souls 1 i feel like it took a step back, broken mechanics no point in multiplayer and just bad level design, i felt dark souls 1 had it done perfectly level design was good,
    dark souls 2 is not hard it just throws multiple enemies with weird hit boxes and staggering hits that only work half the time?
    square box rooms with no rendering and grey scale areas feels backwards and dull.
    had so many patches because it was broken beyond repair.    … Expand
  4. BonkTrap
    Oct 16, 2018
    6
    BY FAR the worst dark souls in the franchise, animations are choppy, some bosses are too easy and some are just unfair. too many bosses, its clear that its not the same team that made the game, it feels very different from the first installment, if you are on the edge of maybe skipping this one, skip it, its not worth your time
  5. Cstriker01
    Jan 8, 2016
    9
    A continuation and proper sequel to Dark Souls, however this remastered/complete version with all the DLC is truly a different experience then Vanilla Dark Souls 2.

    Enemy placement has changed, difficulty is GREATLY ramped up (big plus), and the DLC are some of the best Dark Souls levels ever in any souls game. The jump to 1080p and 60fps are fantastic, and the issues at launch with    A continuation and proper sequel to Dark Souls, however this remastered/complete version with all the DLC is truly a different experience then Vanilla Dark Souls 2.

    Enemy placement has changed, difficulty is GREATLY ramped up (big plus), and the DLC are some of the best Dark Souls levels ever in any souls game. The jump to 1080p and 60fps are fantastic, and the issues at launch with weapon degradation are patched up and fixed. Amazing weapon variety and armor sets, fantastic combat that to me was better then the first Dark Souls.

    I do knock a point off (could have been 10/10) for a couple of small issues. First the level design was a step back from Dark Souls. Dark Souls had fantastic set design and world connection. You would actually see places in the distance that you would visit later, or discover different connecting paths, taking you back to other areas. It made for amazing exploration! Dark Souls 2 has great exploration still, but that connectivity between the world and the different zones is gone in favor of branching paths. This becomes REALLY apparent when you go from Earthen Peak to Old Iron Keep...play the game and you will understand. Second issue is the use of Soul Memory instead of Soul Level for PVP. This was Pseudo fixed with a ring that would absorb excess souls, but that is a cheap fix to just patching it out.    … Expand
  6. vizzle311
    Jun 23, 2015
    9
    This game and this franchise are just one of a kind. The design is so unique in that it combines intense challenge with truly gratifying reward. I get very frustrated when I die or lose in video games but once I figured out what the designers intended with the game, it stopped getting to me so much.

    Dying is almost considered a skill in Dark Souls and sometimes it is an advantage b/c    This game and this franchise are just one of a kind. The design is so unique in that it combines intense challenge with truly gratifying reward. I get very frustrated when I die or lose in video games but once I figured out what the designers intended with the game, it stopped getting to me so much.

    Dying is almost considered a skill in Dark Souls and sometimes it is an advantage b/c you can make suicide runs to get awesome items. The catch is if you are patient, you find that the designers will give you occasional respites and provide awesome gear when you least expect it. You will battle and struggle and then all of sudden BOOM two hidden treasure rooms and a bonfire. This is just a feeling that other RPG's (action or otherwise) don't provide.

    You can take on each level as you see fit and there are mutliple paths forward. Just when you feel like a badass, you run into a whole new type of enemy who PWNs you back to the stone age. This is a great example of what this game provides: OPTIONS. You can not only equip almost any type of weapon you can imagine, but you can two hand it for a totally different move set. Or you just roll with your trusty shield, which the game finds ways to take away from you more than once.

    The atmosphere and way the story is revealed is just icing on the cake.

    Quite simply one of the most original game franchises around and if you like action RPG's with great atmosphere and great gear, you'd be INSANE not to give Dark Souls II a try.    … Expand
  7. JRoobs1
    Dec 7, 2015
    7
    Okay, so here's the issue with Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. In terms of how the game looks and plays it's much better than the original and is great overall. The only problems I had with the game regarded how the game is set up in terms of what a Souls game should be. If you loved the first Dark Souls game you will more than likely be disappointed by either version of Dark SoulsOkay, so here's the issue with Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. In terms of how the game looks and plays it's much better than the original and is great overall. The only problems I had with the game regarded how the game is set up in terms of what a Souls game should be. If you loved the first Dark Souls game you will more than likely be disappointed by either version of Dark Souls 2 even if you still enjoy Dark Souls 2. The NPC interactions aren't even half as interesting and worthwhile as the first game and more often than not it just involves someone helping you with a boss fight and then giving you their stuff. Also, the "mini-bosses" in Scholar are an absolute joke. I almost wish they would have kept it with almost no mini-bosses at all like the original Dark Souls 2. All they did was add weaker versions of previously defeated bosses to areas later in the game, rather than actually develop strong and intimidating "mini-bosses" like the Hellkite Dragon of the original Dark Souls which was tougher than some actual bosses in that game. Despite the additional enemies in Scholar, the game is still not nearly as tough as the original Dark Souls which is something that I as a fan was also disappointed by. All in all, I still enjoy the game and play it constantly I simply just wish it stacked up more against the original Dark Souls game and hope that as the series continues the games do NOT drift further and further away from what I and many others originally fell in love with in Lordran.… Expand
  8. ahussainn98
    Jun 3, 2015
    10
    Awesome game! As soon as I purchased this game I got hooked on it! I have not stopped playing it since, it is so addicting. The first level was so fun and easy to complete! it was simply amazing! I have almost completed the game, The quality of the game is perfect! 9/.10
  9. Slevin310
    May 2, 2015
    9
    I said if they had done something to fix Soul Memory and provided players with the means to cap characters I would change my review. Well I had to wait for an expansion but yeah I'm just happy to have it. The Souls series is by far my favorite game series of all time. Yes, even surpassing my favorites Fallout and Witcher. I was a bigger fan of Demon Souls and Dark Souls, looking past theI said if they had done something to fix Soul Memory and provided players with the means to cap characters I would change my review. Well I had to wait for an expansion but yeah I'm just happy to have it. The Souls series is by far my favorite game series of all time. Yes, even surpassing my favorites Fallout and Witcher. I was a bigger fan of Demon Souls and Dark Souls, looking past the framerate issues Dark Souls was still a gem of perfection in the action adventure genre. No game ever came close to that sense of fear, exploration, reward and challenge the Soul series provided. Not since Devil May Cry 3 have I taken a game seriously.

    I find myself going to DkS2 wikis and inputting my character builds I make, interacting with the fanbase to discuss PvP strategies and even creating walkthroughs. Because it's simply fun, I enjoy making builds and debating on strategies, because this game warrants that kind of attention. It's like Dungeon and Dragon level of dedication and character classes. You make characters and face REAL danger. If you don't pay attention to what you're leveling up, you can easily ruin an entire playthough and be stuck with a bad character. But when you get that character right, and you put your knowledge behind it you can accomplish things that will actually make other players envy you. This game rewards you for taking it seriously and actually putting in work to become better.

    You will not reach the higher ranks of the Brotherhood of Blood covenant through some exploits or cheats. You must defeat 500 players, if you lose in a duel it will remove a point. That is some serious dedication, but you will be rewarded with a special character color when summoned as well as a powerful fire spell. The bright red glow of your character tells others you've accomplished one of the game's most difficult task. Defeating bosses and beating the game while in the Company of Champions covenant is hard, but other players will prove to be your most challenging foe. And to say you've reached 500 kills in PvP is a bragging right not many people will have.

    It blends single player and multiplayer like no other game before it. You could be breezing through an area only to be invaded by another player, or having a seriously difficult time getting through an area and summon a helpful co-op ally to aid you. Should you both kill a boss and accomplish your goal you'll both be rewarded.

    Immersion in Dark Souls 2 is second to nothing. This game will really make you feel like you're the one in danger. You'll be traveling down a dark hallway, low on health and supplies, too far away from your last bonfire to give up and you've never been to this location before. Your touch makes an outline of a shadow up ahead and you stop dead in tracks to observe. A normal foe? Or your next death? Getting to close will trigger a fight you might not be prepared for, but you inch forward trying to make out the enemy that lays beyond the glow of your torch. You have two choices; sneak up and attack the enemy as quick as possible, or head back to reclaim your health. Both choices have their consequences for the enemy may claim your life, but the bonfire will respawn the enemies before it. This is where the game truly shines.

    Combat is beyond anything I've ever seen. Two hand a weapon, one hand weapon one hand shield, bows, staffs, flame casting, whips, swords, greatswords, axes, hammers, claws, fist weapons, spears, halbreds, katanas, twinblades, curved blades, dual wielding weapons, chimes and daggers. So many different types of weapons, so many weapon choices for each category. And you choice what you'll wield. You make your character to use what's best for you. My Ninja Sorcerer Assassin couldn't be anymore awesome if I tried. Katana duel wielding a staff... that's just the surface ,too. The combat requires practice. Strategy and thought will be your great tools. No one button combos, you have a multitude of attacks to use. Rolling weak attack, back dash attack, running attack, parry attack, backstabs, strong attacks and jump attacks. You must study an enemy's attacks before fighting them, running into battle with no knowledge of your enemy and wildly swinging attacks will get you killed. In PvP you must size up the player and see if they have a pattern to their strategies you can use to get in for a hit.

    Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin fixes a lot of issues in the first edition. This allows players to focus much more on the game, rather than stare at their Soul Memory forever worried of going over their level up. I can't recommend this game enough. It's an action adventure RPG we've been waiting for. It's an homage to classic retro games and their brutal difficulty. It's an immersive experience. It's... DARK SOULS BABY! Get in there!

    (Oh right uhm, there's new stuff in SotFS. Torches are actually more important now to see. SM was changed. They've added in new monsters in areas. They've made the game look and run better!)    … Expand
  10. PaulCharles
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    Simply amazing. I've actually beaten the game on the ps3 version, and did not hesistate to buy for Xbox One. The upgraded graphics look great, and they've changed enemy positions etc to make it feel fresh. I look forward to my next 100+ hours. THANK YOU FROM SOFTWARE!
  11. ManemanFTW
    Apr 18, 2015
    9
    i played dark souls over 500 hours and let me tell u. this version is the best one. they balanced a lot of the crap from the first game, repositioning enemies, weapons and finally some enemies are more frequent. They made the lore more accessible. This version has all the DLC´s making this game over 120 hours of gameplay (if you dont play the pvp at all) if you liked dark souls 1 or 2. buyi played dark souls over 500 hours and let me tell u. this version is the best one. they balanced a lot of the crap from the first game, repositioning enemies, weapons and finally some enemies are more frequent. They made the lore more accessible. This version has all the DLC´s making this game over 120 hours of gameplay (if you dont play the pvp at all) if you liked dark souls 1 or 2. buy this. make yourself a favor… Expand
  12. justin760
    Apr 10, 2015
    10
    I've never been sucked into and spat out so intensely from a video game. I played the original Souls game years ago when I was about 17 and didn't have the patience and will to acclimate to the steep learning curve and ended up trading it in two days after it was released, and only played maybe 60min. After hearing the insane amount of praise from critics and gamers I stepped up to theI've never been sucked into and spat out so intensely from a video game. I played the original Souls game years ago when I was about 17 and didn't have the patience and will to acclimate to the steep learning curve and ended up trading it in two days after it was released, and only played maybe 60min. After hearing the insane amount of praise from critics and gamers I stepped up to the challenge and bought this game.

    The level of difficulty can vary based on your commitment to playing it. At first it is definitely challenging, you will be crushed, stabbed, killed, pushed off cliffs, accidentally fall off cliffs, and completely owned in a hundred different ways hundreds of times. Evasion by rolling or back stepping is essential, whether your a melee fighter or ranged. Timing your attacks and evasion techniques is also a skill needed. You can grind/repeatedly kill then respawn enemies at the camp fire and make rounds to level up more if the challenge is too much and enough of this will make enemies and bosses much easier. Death is inevitable and you learn from each one, any confidence and security gained will be crushed over and over as increasingly difficult enemies are encountered.

    Gameplay is smooth and controls and animations/movement is realistic and exhilarating. The difficulty creates exhilaration and adrenaline rushes, you will get worked up in a good and bad way. Graphics are not comparable with other current games and they are definitely dated but the gameplay and combat system is fulfilling and entertaining enough to make you not even care.

    So far, 30 hours in I am maybe halfway through the game, more like 1/3 way through including DLC. Multiplayer PvE/coop is optional and a huge help if your stuck on a hard area/boss. Considering the depth of this open world, the plethora of weapons items and armor as well as possibilities to upgrade them embodies the typical dungeon crawler loot and item system you've come to enjoy very well. Character creation, interaction with characters in the game, and the deep intricacy of the world of Drangleic gives you an intimate connection to the enormous mystical world of Dark Souls 2. You will come to adore everything including the difficulty and unease from the atmospheric regions. It's why many critics consider it sadomasochistic in many ways.

    In short, if you like RPGs or similar genres (dungeon crawler, hack n slash, action/adventure) them this is a MUST own, especially if you haven't played Souls 2 already when previously released on last Gen consoles. As for returning players, it gives a reason to play again with the significant and small changes made... But personally if I have sunk in 60+ hours into a game I probably wouldn't pay 60$ to play it again. Because its still the same game, the changes are mainly insignificant and not enough to make it a new or moderately different experience. Don't listen to the people crying about capitalism and the "money hungry" ethics behind this re-release. If you don't want to pay for a game you've already played again, or don't have the money then shut up and don't hate on it, just don't play it. The critic that gave a 0/10 score purely based on this idea is in my opinion a troll and angry person and his words disgrace the game reviews community and brings the emotional motivations of all critics into question.    … Expand
  13. CaptainLansing
    Apr 10, 2015
    9
    An amazing remaster to an already amazing game. Game still keeps its hardness by changing things around enough to keep it fresh. I also never got the DLC, so that's a bonus!
  14. SamHallows
    Jun 24, 2015
    9
    After completing Dark Souls 100%, Demons Souls, Dark Souls 2 100% and Bloodborne 100%, i love From Software games, from the scream at your TV moments after the 10th death, or losing 100 thousand souls, to the overwhelming joy of finally killing the boss you struggled on for a few days. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin, has a different layout of enemies with some surprises waitingAfter completing Dark Souls 100%, Demons Souls, Dark Souls 2 100% and Bloodborne 100%, i love From Software games, from the scream at your TV moments after the 10th death, or losing 100 thousand souls, to the overwhelming joy of finally killing the boss you struggled on for a few days. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin, has a different layout of enemies with some surprises waiting around any corner. I zipped through this game 100% in about 40 hours this time around, but only because i knew what was coming. For any new player, you'll love it if you have the patience for it. Not as good as Dark Souls 1 or Bloodborne, but a very enjoyable game. Bring on Dark Souls 3!… Expand
  15. usualben
    Apr 19, 2015
    9
    First game in the series I have played... It's amazing. The first 5 hours of loosing my mind to death was bearable, maybe fun, but now I am able to actually look after myself its even greater. The thing that is missing from most action games is skill, in dark souls it's the center of everything. Almost every fight is a challenging encounter that requires brain and brawn. My advice toFirst game in the series I have played... It's amazing. The first 5 hours of loosing my mind to death was bearable, maybe fun, but now I am able to actually look after myself its even greater. The thing that is missing from most action games is skill, in dark souls it's the center of everything. Almost every fight is a challenging encounter that requires brain and brawn. My advice to mastering the combat is patience, then, when the time is right - unleash death. I'd play this game even if it had no point, story or objective because the combat is so fun. But, on top of that is the secrets, the places, the game itself and that aspect is just as strong as any other action based RPG. Get it.… Expand
  16. Joe_E_Dee
    Sep 16, 2015
    7
    Mediocre game with high difficulty. Not a game for casual players. If you have lots of time, and are passionate about gaming, dark souls 2 is a can't miss title. If you buy a game every few months and or play a few hours here and there, pass on it. The game was designed for the hardcore obsessive compulsive gamer.
  17. EdwardWalsh
    Apr 20, 2015
    10
    I never got the opportunity to play Dark Souls 1 or 2 for the xbox 360, so when I found out they we're releasing an optimized, DLC-Packed version of the game for Next-Gen platforms, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

    First and Foremost, without a doubt, this is by far the hardest game I have ever played. Words cannot describe the difficulty reflected in the Combat and AI in dark souls    I never got the opportunity to play Dark Souls 1 or 2 for the xbox 360, so when I found out they we're releasing an optimized, DLC-Packed version of the game for Next-Gen platforms, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

    First and Foremost, without a doubt, this is by far the hardest game I have ever played. Words cannot describe the difficulty reflected in the Combat and AI in dark souls 2. Imagine every enemy you encounter in a game hits like a final boss. Imagine an environment where every step you take has a chance of killing you. Imagine a game where every second you stand or wait, you get closer to unimaginable death. Imagine a game where you can't even pause. All of this, and more, is Dark Souls. It is true test of Skill and would only recommend it to Real Gamers and RPG lovers. That being said however, Dark Souls 2 is easily the best RPG i have ever played. All the frustration and rage you get from getting wrecked by a limping little demon who happens to hit like his sword was injected with a pound of fire-dragon steroids and the constant falling of cliffs like you're Helen Keller in the final round of Wipe-Out is absolutely worth all the adrenaline and happiness you from overcoming incredible boss battles and gathering superb loot.

    10/10. A MUST own RPG.    … Expand
  18. McGillotine
    Jul 2, 2015
    5
    I can never quite understand what i miss when playing Dark Souls for the rather short time i used to play this game, is it supposed to be immersive is it supposed to be breathtakingly innovative. Because when i look upon Dark souls 2 all i see is a game it is poorly developed an passed as a difficult game and without a doubt it is difficult because the mechanics are broken and satireI can never quite understand what i miss when playing Dark Souls for the rather short time i used to play this game, is it supposed to be immersive is it supposed to be breathtakingly innovative. Because when i look upon Dark souls 2 all i see is a game it is poorly developed an passed as a difficult game and without a doubt it is difficult because the mechanics are broken and satire doesn't even apply to this game as it takes itself seriously as a true innovation in gaming technology with a third sequel already in the works, When i first the original dark Souls i completed it in a matter of days and understood the absolute difficulty of the game to accomplish and upon instantly forgetting about the series i received the second one as a gift and to be polite played it to find it is virtually the same game with different environments appearing as though it is optimized for Xbox and PS2 formats and not the current generations systems they are currently being played upon. the only true highlight in this game however is the story which is very dark and grueling only off put by the sometimes off voice acting and eventual fact that no matter what you do in this RPG based game there is no good ending. Now in this review i don't intend to conflict with those who enjoy the game and am simply putting forward my view of Dark Souls II a game that could had simply been a lot better… Expand
  19. TheLastColossus
    Apr 11, 2015
    9
    I once seen a comment that said, "Any game in the Souls series that you choose to play first, you might feel its the best one of them all". that's how I feel about Dark Souls 2, it was my GOTY for 2014, I don't really compare the improvements to games like TLOU Remastered, but that 1080p/60fps is just wonderful, and its worth a purchase for people who didn't play the original version on PS3/X360.
  20. GainesvilleGuy
    May 15, 2015
    7
    Big fan of the original Dark Souls, but this game was not as good overall in my opinion. I give it a respectable 7, but by the end I just wanted to finish to get the achievements as I had completely lost interest. It was a tedious march by the time I finished. I have absolutely no desire to play again or to focus on PVP tuning.

    First, it was far too easy. I'm no elitist (although am    Big fan of the original Dark Souls, but this game was not as good overall in my opinion. I give it a respectable 7, but by the end I just wanted to finish to get the achievements as I had completely lost interest. It was a tedious march by the time I finished. I have absolutely no desire to play again or to focus on PVP tuning.

    First, it was far too easy. I'm no elitist (although am a pretty skilled old-school gamer) but the entire point of a Dark Souls game is the difficulty, and it just wasn't there this time. When I finally just wanted to beat the game I rushed through the final levels without a sweat. In original Dark Souls that would have been impossible.

    As for the story I like the way they approach it in the Dark Souls series. It is mostly about the vibe, the backstory that you uncover, and the tidbits left around to discover. But it was just more of the same. If I had never played Dark Souls I'd probably have enjoyed it more but there was nothing new here in my opinion.

    The multiplayer I've always thought was the absolute genius of Dark Souls. I still give them bonus points for that, it is very innovative. However, the messages have lost their sparkle after the 100'th "beware of rear use tongue" type comment next to a bent over corpse. Granted, they still provide good clues as to what to expect most of the time. The ghosts of other players makes it feel like you are playing with others even when you are not, and the ability to summon and be summoned is very cool. Unfortunately, summoning makes pretty much any boss fight absolutely trivial. Meanwhile, the PVP wasn't really that frequent at the levels I was playing which is kind of a waste. They should have figured out how to make PVP more relevant early on.

    Overall I thought this game was just kind of blah. I don't regret buying it, but I have no really fond memories of playing it and no desire to every fire it up again.    … Expand
  21. Hollified-Ninja
    Jul 20, 2015
    1
    this game is cheap crap blood and gore is a joke graphics are crap.get lords of the fallen its the true dark souls anyone who disagrees is a jack ass.crap crap cracrap crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  22. ncgalt1984
    Feb 1, 2016
    0
    I can't recall ever playing a game that was less fun that this game. The legendary difficulty of the game is the result of truly terrible controls. The camera will randomly change directions in the middle of fights or even while just running. Jumping is terrible. The graphics are meh. This game isn't brutally hard. It's brutally boring.
  23. LongSlayer
    May 18, 2015
    10
    I never played Dark Souls II on its original release in 2014, so I only have a perspective on the new release and experience from the first Dark Souls game. So far, Dark Souls II is my favorite game on current gen consoles. It's one of the best games I've played in a few years. I am in love with the entire set up of the game; every bit of it. This game is loaded with tons of content. TheI never played Dark Souls II on its original release in 2014, so I only have a perspective on the new release and experience from the first Dark Souls game. So far, Dark Souls II is my favorite game on current gen consoles. It's one of the best games I've played in a few years. I am in love with the entire set up of the game; every bit of it. This game is loaded with tons of content. The base game has loads of zones with lots of mobs and there are lots of bosses. The DLC adds a lot more of these. The overall atmosphere is stunning. Each zone is so diverse from one another. You'll look forward to exploring each new zone and sometimes you may never want to leave a certain zone. The story is very nonlinear. There's little direction on where to go in the game but this leaves lots of room for free exploration. Character customization is one of a kind compared to other RPGs. You can make any type of character you can think of, and it will be good. The gameplay is great also. Combat is really fun in this game, and gameplay is what keeps a person playing. PvP is pretty fun too that has the player invade other's games or duel them in arenas. This game runs at a very smooth 60fps and the graphics are truly amazing. This is another aspect that I love about this game. Even though this is another Dark Souls game, it has a different feel from the first Dark Souls. In the first Dark Souls, each zone was perfectly linked together that almost connected to one safe area. The player had to be constantly moving back and forth in zones until they got the ability to fast travel. I loved this format. It made me gain a deep liking to each zone since I would spend so much time in each. Now in Dark Souls II, you get to fast travel from the start. The map is not really formatted like a connected map and almost feels a little linear. It seems that once I get the treasures and beat the boss in a zone I'm done with it and never have to come back. The only other thing is the enemies. The bosses and mobs seem to be easier compared to the first Dark Souls. The game doesn't have the same notorious difficulty as the previous title. But the game is no walk in the park either. There have been several times where It's taken me a few tries to complete an area.… Expand
  24. TagGamer1122
    Jul 5, 2015
    6
    After putting in forty hours and having played and beat this game multiple times before its re-release, I can confidently say I absolutely hate this game! The movements are slow. The rolling has been gimped so you need to play with a shield. The enemies are grouped together in a huddle s fighting them one on one is nearly impossible. You can no longer run past the enemies, you have toAfter putting in forty hours and having played and beat this game multiple times before its re-release, I can confidently say I absolutely hate this game! The movements are slow. The rolling has been gimped so you need to play with a shield. The enemies are grouped together in a huddle s fighting them one on one is nearly impossible. You can no longer run past the enemies, you have to fight them so say goodbye to all those hours to just grinding. The game absolutely makes you play as a sorcerer since you will need to be able to do some crowd controlling so you'll no longer be able to play the solo-melee character. The game says it's fair but it's not. Not when multiple enemies stack on top of you UNLESS of course you're an overpowered Mage. The game did not age well. If you want a game that's truly fair and faster, then pleas bloodborne. There is nothing to see here. Wasted money. Wasted time… Expand
  25. Guikeroz
    Oct 12, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. O ds2 original é bem melhor que esse Scholar of the first sin. Muito sem logica, tentaram dificultar mais so atrapalharam no jogo. Uma completa decepção para a franquia.… Expand
  26. Napalmandkisses
    Nov 24, 2015
    1
    It was okay dark souls 2 was great but There was no point to releasing this game besides saying the developers released an unfinished game and heres the full version i bought this and was very disappointing but i should of known it was just the actual finished game
  27. CenkAlp
    Dec 30, 2018
    6
    Hikaye = 6
    Oynanış = 6
    Grafikler = 6
    Sesler = 7
    Keyif = 5
    Atmosfer = 8
    Süre = 8
  28. NoMaDXT
    Dec 8, 2016
    8
    A janky camera and sometimes unresponsive controls (no it wasnt my character build i checked) sometimes detract from this great game. I'd go A notch higher to 9 for this game but I feel like I should punish it as much as it punished me.

    The graphics arent amazing but its a fresh take on the old metroid vania game styles notorious for being overbearingly difficult and unlocking diferent    A janky camera and sometimes unresponsive controls (no it wasnt my character build i checked) sometimes detract from this great game. I'd go A notch higher to 9 for this game but I feel like I should punish it as much as it punished me.

    The graphics arent amazing but its a fresh take on the old metroid vania game styles notorious for being overbearingly difficult and unlocking diferent areas with items and skills. The difficulty its self leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment when you kill a boss that few games out their provide you with. You genuinely feel like baddass because man this game is difficult. But at the same time you are humbled becuase the majority of bosses will kill you twice if you're not used to the game series and you make a crappy build.

    If you pay attention to the stats and the way your equipment influences your character build it will make the game a LOT easier. Learn the game, read wikis interact with the community. And you will have more fun and struggle less.    … Expand
  29. socialist6
    Apr 18, 2016
    3
    Terrible game! Jumping? Swimming? Climbing? Grapping? None of that but **** of grinding in mostly narrow spaces. First you stun him with one hit, then hit to keep him stunned, but suddenly he is not affected. Avoid unless you are completely crazy about an okay upgrading and weapons system.
  30. DrZomboid
    Jan 18, 2017
    8
    I played original DS2 on X360, stuck with Sinner and gave up. Now on X1 I just finish the game. A lot more annoying than others souls game, some bad and ugly levels, but still good game.
  31. FairReview
    May 14, 2016
    10
    This was my first Dark Souls experience ( i still have to play I and III ), when i first played it, it sucked, i was so lost and confused, my first character's items got fu*** lol, so i was forced to make a new one...

    When i first arrived in majula i felt so empty and sad (in a good way) , beautiful and dead at the same time... The game is so immersive... (i never felt like that    This was my first Dark Souls experience ( i still have to play I and III ), when i first played it, it sucked, i was so lost and confused, my first character's items got fu*** lol, so i was forced to make a new one...

    When i first arrived in majula i felt so empty and sad (in a good way) , beautiful and dead at the same time...

    The game is so immersive... (i never felt like that before), when i met the Fallen Giant i panicked haha, like "WTF, i'm dead"

    The soundtrack is 8.5/10

    The game has TOO MANY dark places, and lazy to put effort into the details... graphics 8.7/10

    This game deserves an 9/10, but i'm giving 10 becouse there is too many haters...    … Expand
  32. GamingPoptartTV
    Mar 25, 2016
    7
    This game and the Souls franchise in a whole. Is a amazing game series dripping with lore that is more deep then most games do in years. I would say a good buy. There are some things I do have a grip with and thats the dumbed down difficulty for newer players and also the mundane enemy selection for DLC areas. To be quite frank they are carbon copy's just different skins. Store is what youThis game and the Souls franchise in a whole. Is a amazing game series dripping with lore that is more deep then most games do in years. I would say a good buy. There are some things I do have a grip with and thats the dumbed down difficulty for newer players and also the mundane enemy selection for DLC areas. To be quite frank they are carbon copy's just different skins. Store is what you can aspect from a souls game, telling you the core story while leaving it up to the player to piece the rest. Core combat is good and allows the player to play with multiple different builds allowing allot of replay-ability. I would rate this game a 7 out of 10 a above average game something that is new to the souls series should play. Then dive into what I call Dark Souls but thats a review for another day.… Expand
  33. SmithurstL
    May 4, 2017
    9
    I have played all but Demon's Souls (can't get it to run on an emulator), but this is the best, followed by the original. It improved vastly on Dark Souls 1's mechanics, and is stuffed with bug fixes.
    A few points:
    1) The durability is fixed. Look at he item info for repair powder. It describes the importance, and if you can't get from one bonfire to another without it breaking, you may    I have played all but Demon's Souls (can't get it to run on an emulator), but this is the best, followed by the original. It improved vastly on Dark Souls 1's mechanics, and is stuffed with bug fixes.
    A few points:
    1) The durability is fixed. Look at he item info for repair powder. It describes the importance, and if you can't get from one bonfire to another without it breaking, you may be doing it wrong.
    2) The bosses can be easy as hell or hard as ****. But they aren't complex and are a lot of fun. I have had no hit box troubles, including when I roll or block.
    3) Only some of the graphics aren't fantastic. Actually, the moss and lichen in the FOFG are the only textures I hate. Towards the late game, I don't care about area design, I'm far too invested in the game to notice box rooms, but it isn't nonsensical.
    4) Servers are the best, with a perfectly appropriate password system in regards to soul memory.
    5) The controls are just the same. If you complain about a lack of control options, then clearly you didn't play the first or shouldn't play any.
    6) Altered enemies and increased difficulty give a new feel, and you get the DLC for free.

    In conclusion, this game improved on DS1 and is therefore the best. Weapons only ever become powerful late game and it is much easier to upgrade and get materials. Parrying is actually a skill with a fantastic animation that gives you a feeling that you are awesome or you deserved to lose.
    DS2 is undoubtedly my favorite, and doesn't rely on nostalgia like DS3    … Expand
  34. Dperks
    Jun 11, 2019
    8
    While probably the weakest in the soul series this game is still a solid title that has a lot of content in fact maybe a little too much but that's not really a negative now is it
  35. Filmanwalt
    Feb 9, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I finished the game after about 41 1/2 hours (level 177) and got 410 success points. I still have a few optional bosses to do, but otherwise I tried as well as I could in the first round of the game to take a lot with me and try out. I played a warrior with a fat 2h weapon and used a bit of pyromancy (mainly to push opponents off cliffs).

    story

    I found the staging of the story very nice, a little more cutscenes were added. Basically, the storytelling takes place again mainly on the objects and individual conversations with NPCS. I think it's a bit of a shame that you can't follow the story so easily and that it takes a back seat, even though I'm very interested in the cart.

    Gameplay

    Again, the heart of Dark Souls 2. Let's start with the positive aspects, because DS 2 offers some quality improvements (but these also come with disadvantages). So you can travel quickly from beacon to beacon right from the start (it was pleasant for me). Later in the game you can even find a list that shows all potential beacons in an area (you still have to search), which makes backtracking a little easier.

    The game offers you many different healing options that you can actually farm. Although there were fewer Estus overall (looking for the broken pieces here was extremely fun), but life stones, divine blessings and much more. were more than enough healing.

    I also liked Majula as a compressed but important HUB. Funnily enough, I also thought it was cool that jumpers weren't skimpy here.

    Incidentally, Dark Souls 2 offers extremely different areas and a lot of content, because there are extremely many bosses and secret doors (I'm still proud to have found the Gargoyles).

    However, all of these aspects also have disadvantages and the most obvious one for me is the weak world building compared to its predecessor. At DS 1 it makes a "click" in the fire band shrine and you notice that all paths of the shrine can lead to pretty much all areas (more or less). DS 2, on the other hand, feels more like a series of areas without any real interweaving of the game world. For me, this loses a bit of the spirit of the predecessor, where the connectivity of the worlds really blew me away. The direct fast travel option reinforces this feeling of disconnection in the game world.

    Furthermore, the hit feedback, for whatever reasons, has been significantly worsened. In DS 1 I didn't hit the lock that often and sometimes you don't even notice that you were hit if you don't keep an eye on your hit points. It starts with the hit sound, which I didn't like at all. Some hitboxes also seem strange, it's hard to describe, but I didn't really have that feeling with DS 1.

    And now the worst aspect of the game: the trash mobs. I played Scholar of the first Sin (I don't know if that makes a difference) but in some areas you just get littered with opponents (especially magicians and marksmen). This is not to be misunderstood, for me it is also part of the fact that the ways to the boss are a separate fight, but in DS 2 this borders on ridiculousness (e.g. fire DLC for the iron demon (slow magician + melee + shooter), Pirate bay, fire area with the Katana runners + archers). This is not my definition of a high level of difficulty, but you make it easy in level design, in that the difficulty should be to bombard the player with trash mobs. Unimaginative. What's even more pointless about the story is that the bosses are ridiculously easy by comparison. I didn't have REAL problems with any boss (only with the poisonous snake, but it was due to the hard mode with the poisonous soil that I messed up) and with the final boss I really felt ripped off.

    Graphics / presentation

    Basically the game has evolved and I really liked the look of both the bosses and the territories. I didn't have any technical problems either. There is nothing to complain about here.

    Conclusion

    Even if the impression was different, I had fun with Dark Souls 2. For me it is a bit weaker than Part 1 and therefore gets 7/10 life stones.    … Expand
  36. Caldan
    Nov 15, 2020
    5
    ⚠️57%
    I like the new and creative bosses but this game hasn’t really got too much new to offer.
  37. nurfedx
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best Games known to mankind.
    From Software is a safe heaven for the Gaming community.
    Especially in times where big Developers dissapiont us with theyr fraudulent intent.
    Praise the sun!
  38. CRM03
    Jul 12, 2022
    4
    I was honestly glad that I skipped over this game and continued to Dark Souls III during my first playthrough of the series, because if I didn't it would have left a poor taste in my mouth. It is pretty shocking just how much of a downgrade the second game is compared to the first. It's worse in every possible area. The bosses are terrible. The areas are terrible. The enemy design isI was honestly glad that I skipped over this game and continued to Dark Souls III during my first playthrough of the series, because if I didn't it would have left a poor taste in my mouth. It is pretty shocking just how much of a downgrade the second game is compared to the first. It's worse in every possible area. The bosses are terrible. The areas are terrible. The enemy design is terrible. The combat is terrible. The sound effects are terrible. It's a painful experience. I could spend hours talking about every terrible aspect of this terrible game. I honestly don't know how they messed it up this bad. Now, you might be thinking, "Why a 4". Well, not everything is completely horrible. The music is good and there are a grand total of two good bosses in the entire game with the dlc. That is Fume Knight and Sinh. Sadly, I couldn't bring myself to beat the last dlc, which is the Ivory King dlc. I have seen gameplay of the dlc's bosses and while they look moderately good, I can't bring myself to make it through the horrible level design. Sir Alonne has the worst boss runup in the entire series. So I will not be completing the last dlc. Maybe someday I will try the dlc again.… Expand
  39. falconhoof
    May 18, 2020
    3
    Classic dark souls. Little to no story feel to it, clunky and unresponsive gameplay, poor visuals. Games like this seem to get away with a lack of substance by simply being difficult.
  40. tantotonto
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    Para mi el souls mas divertido, mas variedad en todos los aspetos y mucha libertad a la hora de escoger camino, lastima de las animaciones y los jefes facilones, por lo demas increible.
  41. Kio22
    Apr 15, 2023
    6
    Just Finished my first blind playthrough of Dark Souls 2 and the DLCs after 68 hours, all i can say is wow... this is both the easiest and most unfair souls game at the same time. The story in this game is extremely simple and is not really that complex. The Characters you meet are actually really interesting and unique but also feel like wasted potential that could have been used for moreJust Finished my first blind playthrough of Dark Souls 2 and the DLCs after 68 hours, all i can say is wow... this is both the easiest and most unfair souls game at the same time. The story in this game is extremely simple and is not really that complex. The Characters you meet are actually really interesting and unique but also feel like wasted potential that could have been used for more side quests. The level design is not that great very few places in the main game stick out to me or are just frustrating. Majula, tower of flame, Dragon Aerie, Dragon Shrine, and Iron Keep only places that I liked aesthetically, however Iron Keep had an annoying level design and enemy placement. The DLC had three cool areas in Shulva, Brume Tower, and Eleum Loyce the last of which was also annoying to traverse twice. The other problem with most areas in Dark Souls 2 is they lack scale and a feeling of largeness. Probably the worst thing about this game is the bosses 90% of them feel the same or are just bad. Most bosses just have one big sweep attack like The Last Giant, Dragon Rider, Ruin Sentinels, Lost Sinner, and more or they reuse an area of effect burst like the Smelter Demons and The Rotten or they just throw a bunch of enemies at you like Skeleton Lords, Freja, Royal Rat Vanguard and Authority, and more. The game has only a few good Bosses that feel good and are challenging like The Pursuer, Executioner's Chariot, Looking Glass Knight, Velstadt, Fume Knight, Sir Alonne, and The Burnt Ivory King, only four of these are main game bosses. Another bad thing about the bosses is how almost every boss has some dumb gimmick that is supposed to help you with fighting them and is cool a few times but for most of the fights it is annoying or a waste of time. One the best things about Dark Souls 2 is all the different weapons and builds you can do which makes combat fun. The new mechanics hurt Dark Souls 2 more than they help it agility was a horrible addition and affects the game to much making it hard if you don't upgrade and too easy if you do. The torch mechanic was bad and made the game harder for no reason even if it was cool from time to time. Power stancing and dual wielding in this game is one of the best mechanics in a souls game. The combat is overall enjoyable but is slightly ruined by the terrible hitboxes of every enemy and boss in the game. I only died 9 times, 3 were to bow traps and the well in Majula, 2 were to the toxic rats in Doors of Pharros, only 4 felt legit to The Pursuer, Fume Knight, and once in Brume Tower. This is the easiest souls game funny enough, compared to 38 deaths in DS1, 55 deaths in DS3, and Elden Ring with 85 deaths (46 to Malenia so 39 rest of the game). In the end this is a mediocre game it's got the challenge and fun combat of a souls game with barely any good bosses, small feeling areas with no scale, mostly bad mechanics, a shallow story, wasted characters, and terrible hitboxes. Without the DLC this game is not good and I would give it a 4, but with the DLC it makes it slightly better even though the DLC makes similar mistakes with some of the bosses but also bring in some of the best along with cooler bigger areas to explore which bring it to a 6.… Expand
  42. Sanek2018ru
    Jun 22, 2022
    9
    Yes. This game is weaker than its predecessor. Bad bosses, bad locations, bad lore. Still, it's hard to mess up souls gameplay and it's an incredible pleasure to play mixed with frustration.
  43. Slothscriber04
    Sep 2, 2020
    9
    While not as great as the first game it still delivers a fair but difficult challenge to overcome. The graphical improvement in this edition are outstanding and are well- worth it if you have the standard dark souls 2 game
  44. Jetstar90
    Oct 6, 2020
    5
    Dark Souls 2 has often been referred to as the black sheep of the Dark Souls series. Scholar of the First sin edition cemented that with it's additions to the original title's game world. I have played through the game multiple times and gone through every area, defeating every boss in the game.
    DS2 SoTFS was put out to fix some of the things that players didn't enjoy about the base    Dark Souls 2 has often been referred to as the black sheep of the Dark Souls series. Scholar of the First sin edition cemented that with it's additions to the original title's game world. I have played through the game multiple times and gone through every area, defeating every boss in the game.
    DS2 SoTFS was put out to fix some of the things that players didn't enjoy about the base release. What it ended up doing was exacerbating them. Hitboxes don't work properly the majority of times, health recovery is laughably slow without leveling adp which isn't even clear to the player, there are more enemies than there should be in certain areas as well as bosses, the new forlorn addition can be more enraging than fun. There are many other things that make this game unnecessarily difficult and even remove the desire to replay the game. Most of that comes down to certain areas with the worst being in the DLC.
    The game does shine in it's beautiful environments and length. While the length does feel more artificial at times it still allows the player to see the world in less of a blur.    … Expand
  45. Andrewblank610
    Sep 28, 2021
    9
    In my opinion, the best of dark souls mechanics. DS3 and anything in the future could be better with power stancing and hexes being its own class of spells. While DS3 is obviously a much more beautiful and dark game, DS2 is definitely good in its own right. Don't let the complainers turn you away.
  46. Wally-Clogg
    Jan 4, 2022
    10
    Geat Souls game offering a new region and chacaters/Enemies/weapons/armour to enjoy.
  47. HexagOrange
    Apr 4, 2022
    10
    The most underrated souls game, maybe is not so well connected, the location of the enemies and the ammount of them is absurde sometimes, but this is far the best atmospheric souls ever, the soundtrack, the depressed atmosphere is perfect, and the story is feel more complex and decadent than dark souls 1, and is feel more different and unique than the rest of souls experiencies.
  48. IVANCHODB
    Jan 16, 2023
    4
    Sinceramente es un juego bueno pero se queda en eso . Dificultad artificial. Gráficos decentes y poco más..no hablar de la jugabilidad o la lógica del juego ya que es inexistente por decir. Y ni hablar de la hitbox ya que posiblemente se les quedó en otro juego ya que este no tiene sentido en lo más mínimo de lo que es , claro hablando de los enemigos ya que a tu personaje lo golpeaSinceramente es un juego bueno pero se queda en eso . Dificultad artificial. Gráficos decentes y poco más..no hablar de la jugabilidad o la lógica del juego ya que es inexistente por decir. Y ni hablar de la hitbox ya que posiblemente se les quedó en otro juego ya que este no tiene sentido en lo más mínimo de lo que es , claro hablando de los enemigos ya que a tu personaje lo golpea hasta el aire.… Expand
  49. goodgriff33
    Jul 11, 2023
    9
    Answer: 75 characters is between 10 words and 19 words with spaces included in the character count. If spaces are not included in the character count, then 75 characters is between 12 words and 25 words.
  50. SaberOfXebec
    Jul 25, 2023
    7
    Good:
    -Visual Design of the areas
    -Music
    -Atmosphere
    -Lot of cool armor and weapons

    Bad:
    -Boss fights
    -Enemy placement
    -Enemy design
    -Level design
    -Healing system
    -Terrible movement
    -Back stab
    -Jump attack
    -Story
    -Agility
  51. TheNKZ
    Jan 22, 2023
    9
    Esse jogo é fantástico e maravilhoso! Esse é um dos melhores jogos já feitos na história da humanidade! Classes novas, armas novas, gráficos melhorados, DLCs incríveis, principalmente Scholar of The First Sin.
  52. TheBigTicket
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    This is my favourite Dark Souls game.
    Recently replayed it and it still holds up extremely well. This game has the best leveling system out of all Souls games and best build variety.

    Bosses are a bit easy compared to the levels but thats really the only complaint i have with this game.
  53. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    7
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! ds2
  54. Reuelcade
    Sep 6, 2023
    10
    This game is so good, but is Impossible to compare with first game or third game. But is good and more times is more cheap then other games

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Xbox One Game of 2015
25
#25 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2015
32
#32 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. X-ONE Magazine UK
    May 26, 2015
    80
    It's still one of the best RPGs out there at the moment, but the NPC invasions and enemy placement felt a little unbalanced this time around. [Issue#124, p.79]
  2. MondoXbox
    May 10, 2015
    85
    From Software brings back its game making the game even better without distorting it. The result is an even harder game, surely suggested while we're waiting for the inevitable sequel.
    Read full review
  3. ZTGD
    Apr 23, 2015
    90
    PC players that have already played the game and DLC are the ones that will maybe think twice before going through it again, while Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players will get the most out of it.
    Read full review
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