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Not so hot take: Dark Souls 2 is not a good video game
- Thread starter UF_C
- Start date
after a certain number of kills (around 12-15) the enemies won´t respawn anymore, but you can use a bonfire ascetic in this case and they will come back stronger
Dark Souls 2 has probably the most promising start of any of the 3, as once you reach Majula you're presented with about 3 different paths to take that are each viable in their own way... Although getting down the well might take some grinding for the cat ring or extra health.
It's just that once you start navigating the areas themselves you realize the level design and enemy placement just... isn't as well thought out as the first game's. It's a very "quantity over quality" game that has some truly great areas and bosses (particularly in the DLC) but which also features some of the absolute worst the trilogy has to offer. I mean for Gwyn's sake, one of the bosses is a fucking walrus demon that attacks by pathetically rolling at you, while another is basically Sif but with 5 toxic rats dropped in to artificially boost the difficulty. The Shrine of Amana basically requires you to get out a bow and start sniping as there's no realistic way to deal with the barrage of magic missiles and tanky enemies coming your way if you try to run through it. And the "puzzle" of figuring out how to burn a windmill to drain a boss room of poison by BURNING THE METAL PART is utterly nonsensical.
Granted I still think DS2 is a good game. Great even, if you consider the sheer quantity of areas and bosses to be a plus regardless of inconsistent quality or are able to look past the lesser parts to enjoy the legitimately great ones. But it's also the one game of the 3 I don't really have any urge to return to. Wading through all the shit in that game to get to the good parts feels more daunting than it's worth to be honest.
It's just that once you start navigating the areas themselves you realize the level design and enemy placement just... isn't as well thought out as the first game's. It's a very "quantity over quality" game that has some truly great areas and bosses (particularly in the DLC) but which also features some of the absolute worst the trilogy has to offer. I mean for Gwyn's sake, one of the bosses is a fucking walrus demon that attacks by pathetically rolling at you, while another is basically Sif but with 5 toxic rats dropped in to artificially boost the difficulty. The Shrine of Amana basically requires you to get out a bow and start sniping as there's no realistic way to deal with the barrage of magic missiles and tanky enemies coming your way if you try to run through it. And the "puzzle" of figuring out how to burn a windmill to drain a boss room of poison by BURNING THE METAL PART is utterly nonsensical.
Granted I still think DS2 is a good game. Great even, if you consider the sheer quantity of areas and bosses to be a plus regardless of inconsistent quality or are able to look past the lesser parts to enjoy the legitimately great ones. But it's also the one game of the 3 I don't really have any urge to return to. Wading through all the shit in that game to get to the good parts feels more daunting than it's worth to be honest.
Why does it feel like we get one of these threads at least once a month?
There is an argument over some of the design decisions relative to other games in the series, but for me personally it's my most played Souls game and I find it an excellent game on its own merits.
There is an argument over some of the design decisions relative to other games in the series, but for me personally it's my most played Souls game and I find it an excellent game on its own merits.
Lol what? As someone who played vanilla DS2 and hated it... this actually sounds pretty fun, I might get SOFTS.
To be fair, this is the same series where killing a hydra makes a Golem spawn who has a girl in it which lets another Golem spawn later who drops an item which lets something grab you through a portal into the past where the first Golem was lol.
I played the PS4 version and OP's description sounded just like it. =P
I don't mind the Pursuer boss showing up again, though; I thought that was a cool concept.
Scholar of the first sin is amazing, its so dense with enemys and uncovering secrets is even more thrilling than in the other games. Its extremely flexible in terms of playstyle and in terms of progression path, plus Majula is the greatest hub in the series. Im not sure its my favorite souls game, they all excel in different aspects, but I love it.
He came back in the sunken castle lava level and Drangleic castle even in vanilla didn't he.
Just finished SoTFS last month. Fantastic game. I didn't care for some of the redundancy or the disjointed world. But the game was a blast to play.
This. Dark Souls II is a great game, is it as good as the other Souls titles? Probably not but all this "it's bad" or "hot garbage" is such rubbish on almost every level. Superman 64 is a bad game, Dark Souls II is great, just not perfect.
Edit:
Just saw this after I posted. I like you.
Yup yup yup, all of this. Terrible terrible awful game
If we lived in a world where all games were like the other Souls titles I would agree, but the fact of the matter is that this was my first game in the series and it stood out to me for being amazing and more rewarding than most other games I play. I think saying DkS2 is downright a bad game is a way oversaturated notion of how it pales compared to other souls games.
Thanks for the reminder I should probably play some Dark Souls 2 again. It's crazy how as incredible as the first game was they got progressively better with each sequel.
OP
OP
Saying it is not a good game is not hyperbole. If I said it was the worst game ever made, or the worst game in the universe, that's hyperbole. I believe it's not a good game because it's controls are weak and the mechanics make the game not very fun for me, which makes it a bad video game to play. That's not hyperbole.
I can understand people putting Dark Souls II as the third best one of the series, but a bad video game? No.
I think you haven't played bad video games OP.
I think you haven't played bad video games OP.
I think Dark Souls 2 is the weakest game in the series, but not for the reasons you've listed. It comes across as though you personally had a hard time getting through the game, and blamed the game instead of what you were doing wrong.
Actual problems were how bland the level design could be at certain parts.
Actual problems were how bland the level design could be at certain parts.
"It's way more rpg focused" is such a wacky excuse for how the game controls like a drunk deer on ice on stilts. Considering the moment-to-moment gameplay DS2 was nothing more than a huge step back from DS1 and Demons Souls. Having to pump 15 levels of Adaptability just to have barely tolerable i-frames is not roleplaying.
Witcher 3 controls like ass but at least it makes up for it in every other area. DS2 really does not.
I have no idea how I've played over 200 hours of this.
Witcher 3 controls like ass but at least it makes up for it in every other area. DS2 really does not.
I have no idea how I've played over 200 hours of this.
This again.
I remain what I said, lore-wise DS1 is by far the best, but regarding built variety and MP, DS2 is untouched on this.
In fact, I feel the DS series went on a decline regarding quality, since DS3 is a piece of shit I won't be playing again. They tried to re-do DS1 due to fan complains of DS2 and ended with a mess of a game that feels more like Bloodborne than DS.
DS1 is my favorite, but to this day, DS2 is the game I had more fun with.
I remain what I said, lore-wise DS1 is by far the best, but regarding built variety and MP, DS2 is untouched on this.
In fact, I feel the DS series went on a decline regarding quality, since DS3 is a piece of shit I won't be playing again. They tried to re-do DS1 due to fan complains of DS2 and ended with a mess of a game that feels more like Bloodborne than DS.
DS1 is my favorite, but to this day, DS2 is the game I had more fun with.
Man, the thing that made me put that game down (after LOVING DS1) was how they tinkered with the roll and parry mechanics in a way I couldn't adapt to.
I think if you put enough points into a skill it helped with the roll, but I could NOT get the parry system to work like DS1.
I think if you put enough points into a skill it helped with the roll, but I could NOT get the parry system to work like DS1.
it's a huge improvement over the vanilla game if you ask me. and the DLC is the best Dark Souls there is.
I just finished II for the first time and I think my biggest gripe outside of movement feeling loose was that it just doesn't seem to faith aesthetically 75% of the time.
As someone who goes through these games once I don't really get much of the deeper complaints the Souls vets have like enemy placement. Shits still going to hit me either way no matter where they're put and at times there are parts that feel like bullshit in all the games for me.
That said, the Remaster of 1 was my excuse to actually play it for the first time and then move on to 2, and since I got 3 in the humble bundle a few months back I am actually plaything through that again and going in order, my two gripes stand out so much. The movement in 3 just feels so fucking tight compared to 2. Then when you look at the tone, design and atmosphere of 1 and 3, it's just so clear that 2 sticks out like a sore thumb.
As someone who goes through these games once I don't really get much of the deeper complaints the Souls vets have like enemy placement. Shits still going to hit me either way no matter where they're put and at times there are parts that feel like bullshit in all the games for me.
That said, the Remaster of 1 was my excuse to actually play it for the first time and then move on to 2, and since I got 3 in the humble bundle a few months back I am actually plaything through that again and going in order, my two gripes stand out so much. The movement in 3 just feels so fucking tight compared to 2. Then when you look at the tone, design and atmosphere of 1 and 3, it's just so clear that 2 sticks out like a sore thumb.
I'll always be a freak in the community when it comes to these games.
I feel like DS1 and Demon Souls are honestly horrible games, and the rest goes BB (god tier) > DS2 (great) > DS3 (okay). I would never try to convince anyone to feel differently though -- so much of what makes a DS game good to someone is their first experiences (of success), and that shit gets pretty much ingrained in you.
I feel like DS1 and Demon Souls are honestly horrible games, and the rest goes BB (god tier) > DS2 (great) > DS3 (okay). I would never try to convince anyone to feel differently though -- so much of what makes a DS game good to someone is their first experiences (of success), and that shit gets pretty much ingrained in you.
No man, you don't get it. Build variety! You can make a build with a roll that doesn't work if you want.
Curious. I'm replaying DS1 with a friend currently. What is it about DS2 MP that makes it better than the MP in DS1?
The game is amazing. Is just inferior to the first one (in some aspects is the better of the series.. ..) . I don't understand the hate
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The high amount of variety on builds that can work.
DS1, as good as it is, is dominated by few "meta" builds.
Also, the arenas dedicated to MP were fun and easy to find, the lava bridge is a memorable place for epic matches.
Also, the netcode was far better on DS2 that allowed smoother connections.
The PvP duels were more entertaining than hanging around the bonfire after Artorias and going for laggy backstabs with a small handful of builds.
Interesting. But for co-op play, is there a noticeable difference? More zones to drop summons or stuff like that?
The PVP was the best in Dark Souls 2. The most balanced, controlled the best, wasn't spammy like Bloodborne or DS3 but didn't have the glitchiness of DS1. It was really good.
Is far easier to do Co-Op on DS2 thanks to a ring that allows you to choose a deity, and you can pair with only people with such deity, so it is pretty easy to set up with friends.
Also, maybe a bit annecdotal, but I had far less issues connecting with other players on DS2, while on DS1 I had a ton of connection problems.
I agree. I've picked up SotFS when it released on PS4 and found it damn impossible. I beat Bloodborne a few months before I picked it up the first time and started a game. Couldn't get used to the movement of the character and would get destroyed by enemy mobs. I attempted it again after I beat Dark Souls 3 and the same thing. I'll try again after I finish Dark Souls Remastered (on the Bed of Chaos). I really really want to like it and hope it finally clicks with me. I've never played vanilla Dark Souls 2 btw so I can't comment on that.
OP
OP
So, in an effort to retry the game for the 8th time I'm going to do a few things differently:
1. Level ADP immediately
2. Look for the ring that prevents alot of health bar loss before dying.
3. Download the mod that makes movement a bit better.
Let's talk about starting classes. I usually go deprived so I can build around the weapons that drop, would you DS2 lovers suggest something else?
What other stats should I prioritize that helps getting through the early game?
Let's make DS2 great again people. Open to any and all suggestions.
1. Level ADP immediately
2. Look for the ring that prevents alot of health bar loss before dying.
3. Download the mod that makes movement a bit better.
Let's talk about starting classes. I usually go deprived so I can build around the weapons that drop, would you DS2 lovers suggest something else?
What other stats should I prioritize that helps getting through the early game?
Let's make DS2 great again people. Open to any and all suggestions.
I can get if people like certain aspects of 2, but praising 2 and calling 3 garbage? That's the most baffling thing I've read all day. 3 just feels so much better to play, 2 handles like chunky crap.
You've had 7 tries and never once did #2 before? It's fairly early, IIRC.
People need to stop being hyperbolic here and remember that people who actually work on those games come read some threads sometimes. Dark Souls 2 is a good game. You hurt game devs by being this hyperbolic. If Dark Souls 2 is a bad game, then what are 90% of the other games ? Come on now.
its development was seriously troubled and rushed. The director is aware of all the issues and I give him all the credit for managing to put out what they did.
Because deep down you know that it's an awesome game, I'd say. ;)
OP
OP
I never knew such a ring existed. I try not to use wiki's while I play Souls games. But in an effort to improve my opinion of the game I'm willing to break that rule only slightly.
How far did you get in those 7 attempts? I happened into it my first play through.