Dark Souls II

More accessible, challenging, and rewarding than its predecessor, this is the Dark Souls sequel PC gamers deserve.

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In Dark Souls II, players traverse a dark and foreboding world filled with dangerous enemies and challenging obstacles. With a variety of weapons, armor, and magic to discover, players must carefully manage their resources as they uncover the story of the cursed kingdom of Drangleic. Intense battles and complex puzzles await as players confront brutal bosses and unravel the mysteries of the land. Prepare for a punishing journey where every victory is hard-earned.

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Play Modes

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,334 reviews

gameplay507 positive mentions

grinding149 negative mentions

gameplay
1,670 mentions
30 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Dark Souls II has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant learning curve and a variety of mechanics that can feel both innovative and frustrating. While some appreciate the refined combat system and the introduction of new features like dual-wielding and bonfire fast travel, others criticize the game for its clunky controls, confusing mechanics, and the punitive health reduction upon death. Overall, the game maintains the challenging essence of the Souls series, but opinions vary on whether these changes enhance or detract from the experience.
- “Dark Souls II is a strong sequel, mainly in its refined gameplay, but the feel of the world is a bit lacking.”
- “The gameplay is very similar to the first, however, the mechanics are different just enough where your Dark Souls 1 experience may not matter as much as you think it should.”
- “Some mechanics and design choices are flaccid and confusingly thrown in.”
- “The gameplay also shares the same formula of other souls games, emphasizing punishing, high-difficulty action RPG combat with significant weapon, armor, and stat customization.”
- “The gameplay is just so slow and the pathfinding is worse than Dark Souls 1 to boot, so there have been times where I've been walking along a pathway, suddenly my character slips and falls into a trench, I die because of bad geometry, I get punished thanks to the hollow mechanic and then whenever I'm on my way back the same thing happens before I can collect my souls.”
story
1,222 mentions
26 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of Dark Souls II is often described as cryptic and less cohesive compared to its predecessor, with many players noting that it requires significant effort to piece together the lore through item descriptions and NPC dialogues. While some appreciate the depth and subtlety of the storytelling, others find it lacking in engagement and clarity, leading to a sense of disconnection from the narrative. Overall, the game presents a rich world filled with intriguing lore, but its storytelling approach may not resonate with all players, especially those seeking a more straightforward narrative experience.
- “Dark Souls 2's story shares similar themes to the original, focusing on the corruption of power and how all monarchies are doomed to fall due to the greed of their rulers.”
- “The story is surprisingly digestible even outside of the infamous lore-heavy item descriptions, making this a pretty coherent tale of falling monarchies from start to finish.”
- “The story: I just love uncovering the story behind this one Souls game in particular; I won't spoil it too much, but it's a good story that's as old as time.”
- “Everything about DS2 feels second rate and rushed, from the level design, encounters, bosses, mechanics, progression, and story.”
- “The story is almost non-existent, though this is consistent with other games in the franchise, and it jumps around all over the place, hoping to cover it with the often repeated line '...without ever knowing why.'”
- “The story is vague just as before but this time, it teaches you that the world has fallen so far that no one even knows who or what came before; it's all been buried and replaced.”
graphics
971 mentions
31 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Dark Souls II" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant downgrade compared to its predecessor, "Dark Souls." While some appreciate the improved performance and smoother frame rates, particularly on PC, others criticize the dated visuals and inconsistent texture quality, often likening them to older console graphics. Overall, the game's art style is described as atmospheric and dark, but many feel it lacks the visual cohesion and detail expected from a modern title.
- “The art style of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is dark and atmospheric, with a gothic aesthetic that perfectly captures the game's setting.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the world is enormous, and the NPCs are interesting.”
- “The graphics are much improved from the first game and the combat feels faster and more responsive.”
- “The graphics felt like a downgrade from Dark Souls 1 in a lot of ways, and the bland environments were doing them no favors.”
- “The graphics are a joke, and if you were planning on playing on a keyboard and a mouse, you know, like you would on a PC, forget it.”
- “The graphics are very average, and the game would crash from time to time.”
atmosphere
255 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Dark Souls II" is described as captivating and immersive, with a mix of dark, melancholic, and sometimes whimsical elements that create a unique experience. While many players appreciate the game's distinct environments and atmospheric design, some feel it lacks the depth and interconnectedness of its predecessor, "Dark Souls." Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of tension and exploration, though opinions vary on its ability to match the atmospheric heights of the original.
- “The atmosphere of the Dark Souls world is hauntingly beautiful, and while playing, I get lost in the timeless world of Drangleic.”
- “The atmosphere is rich and the story is riveting.”
- “The atmosphere, side-stories, upgrades, solo and cooperative gameplay have given me more than enough reasons to dump an unhealthy amount of time into this game.”
- “However, it's important to note that some fans may find the art direction and atmosphere to be slightly less captivating compared to the first installment.”
- “The atmosphere is mostly nonexistent and the enemy designs are bland and forgettable like the soundtrack and characters.”
- “The world is completely uninspired and very few locations have the mysterious atmosphere pulling you along.”
replayability
190 mentions
51 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
Dark Souls II is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its vast array of weapons, armor, and spells, as well as its non-linear progression and engaging New Game Plus (NG+) features that alter enemy placements and introduce new challenges. Players appreciate the depth of character customization and the variety of gameplay styles, which encourage multiple playthroughs. Despite some criticisms regarding combat mechanics and linearity compared to other titles in the series, the game offers an extensive amount of content and replay value, making it a favorite among fans of the genre.
- “As all Souls games, this has an intricate and fun combat system, a cryptic but great story, great music, and tons of replayability due to the way every weapon changes the gameplay experience deeply.”
- “The non-linear progression up until the start of late game makes for excellent player freedom and replayability, but it's really hard to find your way around without a guide.”
- “This game has possibly some of the best replay value of anything on the market; right up there with Oblivion, Skyrim, and The Witcher in my opinion.”
- “The primary issue that prevents Dark Souls 2 from being replayable to me is that the combat sucks big time.”
- “However, the game is not very replayable in comparison to its predecessor, Dark Souls.”
- “It's a huge bummer because I consider PvP the ultimate end-game and the source of replayability, so this game's replay value has been greatly diminished.”
music
177 mentions
52 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, particularly the haunting and atmospheric tracks associated with locations like Majula, which many players find to be a standout feature. While some reviewers note that the soundtrack may not be as memorable as that of its predecessor, Dark Souls, the boss themes and ambient music still contribute significantly to the overall experience, creating a compelling atmosphere. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the consistency and impact of the music throughout the game, with some feeling it lacks the emotional depth found in earlier titles.
- “The best thing you can do in this game is just sit in Majula, listen to the music and the surf, and simply watch the beautiful sunset.”
- “Majula itself has really beautiful music; this also includes boss music, just plain epic!”
- “The soundtrack is simply amazing, from the first time you walk into Majula to when you hear singing in the DLC, everything is perfect with the ambiance.”
- “The biggest let down in this one is the soundtrack... it sucks.”
- “The music is forgettable, though the DLCs have some good tracks.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable, the level design and physics are a bit off, and the boss fights are a bit meh, but the total package is still a great game that definitely is worth playing.”
grinding
155 mentions
1 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Dark Souls 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating due to the game's mechanics that limit enemy respawns and impose a soul memory system. While some appreciate the slower pace of grinding for souls and items as a relaxing experience, others criticize it for feeling repetitive and unnecessarily punishing, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, grinding is seen as a significant part of the gameplay, but opinions vary widely on whether it enhances or detracts from the experience.
- “The weapons here are bountiful and almost all are viable; it isn't tedious to upgrade weapons, and leveling up happens so fast.”
- “This game's idea of challenge is killing you because of unpolished and unfair mechanics and then forcing you to waste your time grinding for an item for the privilege of using your health bar.”
- “The entire gameplay of Dark Souls 2 feels like I'm grinding in the painted world in Dark Souls 1, something which needs to be done but isn't enjoyable to do.”
- “It feels tedious, frustrating, and somehow managed to lose the charm the first game had, and in my opinion this has a lot to do with what they did to the parrying system.”
optimization
144 mentions
36 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received positive feedback, with many users reporting smooth performance at high frame rates, even on lower-end PCs. While some players noted issues with mouse and keyboard controls, the game is generally considered a significant improvement over its predecessor in terms of graphical performance and stability. However, a few reviews pointed out lingering bugs and control optimization issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Really well optimized for PC.”
- “The best optimized souls game for low-end DX9 and DX10 PCs.”
- “This is definitely more polished and optimized for the PC.”
- “I initially had a very negative opinion on this game, what with the somewhat poor optimization and issues I had to get through at first.”
- “Just a summary of my experience so far is that it's much buggier than I would have imagined, and I'm hoping to get a refund due to this being a poorly optimized game.”
- “This game is not, I repeat, is not optimized for PC.”
stability
71 mentions
11 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and hitbox issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that the game runs well on lower-end systems and has enjoyable mechanics, others experienced frustrating crashes, connectivity problems, and inconsistent performance, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is seen as a "buggy mess" by some, while others appreciate its potential despite the technical shortcomings.
- “It's good, runs great on my old computer at a solid 60 fps.”
- “This version runs great and would perform well even on a lower-end PC. I can't see the new version being leaps and bounds ahead in graphics anyway, and the gameplay is going to be just as solid.”
- “The PC port is seriously not as bad as everyone is saying it is. All of these complaints are from the launch period, and every game has its launch problems. I am writing this on the first day it was released, and I have found no glitches within the game. There were some launch issues, but there was a fix for everything, and it literally took me around 5 minutes to fix it all.”
- “Clipping issues, buggy AI, character getting randomly flung around with no enemies in sight--the works.”
- “This game is a buggy mess at the moment; it barely starts, and when it does, oh boy, are you in for a nasty ride. Do not waste your money on this garbage before they fix all the bugs.”
- “Game is buggy and unplayable for me.”
emotional
59 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from intense frustration and heartbreak to profound rewards and nostalgia. While some players find the narrative and atmosphere less impactful compared to earlier titles in the series, many still appreciate the emotional journey and challenge it presents, often leading to tears of both joy and despair. Overall, the game is described as a rollercoaster of emotions, combining moments of deep connection with the lore and characters alongside punishing gameplay that tests players' resilience.
- “The unique old-school action RPG experience captivated the imaginations of gamers worldwide with incredible challenge and intense emotional reward.”
- “Even without being spoon-fed the plot, this story is emotional and memorable, amplified by the challenges you go through to progress.”
- “This game will bring you through the biggest emotional roller coaster of your life, although at first it is purely frustrating.”
humor
58 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as dark and situational, stemming from the frustrating yet amusing experiences players encounter, such as unexpected deaths and absurd enemy placements. Many reviewers find themselves laughing at the game's challenging mechanics and the community's humorous messages, while others appreciate the ironic contrast between the game's serious themes and its comedic moments. Overall, the humor is a blend of intentional design choices and the shared experiences of players navigating the game's difficulties.
- “There are so many funny cheeses you can do on the bosses, there are so many absolutely sadistic level design choices that honestly I can respect for how evil they are.”
- “You going to die... a lot... and in a way people will laugh at you... and it will be funny... many laughs were given.”
- “The game rewards persistence and has made death something unique: both hilarious and rage-inducing.”
- “I came, I saw, I died so many times it's not funny.”
- “-stop whining, it's not funny anymore.”
- “Unfunny review: wow, I keep dying; this game must be a Souls game.”
monetization
18 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many reviewers labeling it as a cash grab that relies on reused assets and fails to deliver on promises made in advertising. Players express frustration over the release of an "all-inclusive" version that segregates new players from the original community, and they feel that the overall experience does not justify the asking price. The sentiment is that the game's transition to a monetization-focused model has detracted from its quality and respect for the audience.
- “The DLC is a low-quality cash grab plagued by reused assets and zero creativity.”
- “From Software made a cash grab with this one.”
- “This is a disgustingly greedy cash grab by Bamco in an attempt to make people buy the same game twice in order to have the complete version.”
character development
17 mentions
29 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Character development in "Dark Souls II" receives mixed reviews, with some praising the variety of weapons and armor that allow for individual player expression, while others criticize the lack of compelling storytelling and character growth within the narrative. Although some players appreciate the balance and depth of character design, others feel it falls short compared to its predecessor, "Dark Souls." Overall, the game offers numerous possibilities for character customization, but opinions vary on its execution and integration into the gameplay experience.
- “One of the notable features of 'Dark Souls II' is its increased emphasis on storytelling and character development.”
- “The game contains numerous weapons, armors, spells, miracles, and hexes allowing players freedom and individuality in their approach to character development.”
- “Challenging gameplay and myriads of possibilities for your character development.”
- “I do not get why it is so popular: I have spent 2 hours pointlessly walking around a mediocre fanta-gothic poorly designed environment with no compelling story, no character development, very elementary gameplay.”
- “Lame story, no character development whatsoever (in terms of character growth within the story), horrible controls, wonky dialogue, and just overall misery.”
- “Has some nice improvements (like controls and graphics) and some new features are cool (new stats, torch) but I'm disappointed in the covenant system (broken) and the overall looks and level/character design of the game.”