Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 144 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Game Cover
Not quite content with improving the graphics and lumping in the downloadable content and calling it a day, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin feels like From Software's definitive vision for the game.
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"Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin" is the definitive edition of the game with all previous content and additions. It offers a renewed challenge with altered enemy placement and a new NPC invader, providing a different experience for even returning players. This immersive journey takes place in a breathtaking, dark world filled with intense emotional reward and formidable tests of resolve.

  • PC
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  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 144 reviews
graphics13 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin offers vastly improved graphics and performance, making it visually stunning compared to its predecessor.
  • The game features a fair yet challenging gameplay experience, with new enemy placements and additional content that keeps the experience fresh for both veterans and newcomers.
  • The inclusion of all downloadable content in one package enhances the overall value and provides a wealth of exploration and challenges.
  • Some players find the enemy placements excessive and frustrating, leading to moments that feel unfair and detract from the enjoyment.
  • The game lacks the interconnected world design that was a hallmark of the original Dark Souls, resulting in a more linear experience.
  • Certain mechanics, such as the hit detection and character movement, can feel clunky and detract from the overall fluidity of gameplay.
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics in the PS4 version of Dark Souls II have received a significant upgrade, showcasing improved visuals, lighting effects, and a smoother 60fps performance compared to the original. While some areas remain bland, the overall aesthetic is praised, with notable enhancements in animations and environmental details, making it a visually appealing experience for both newcomers and returning players. However, it is acknowledged that the graphics may not reach the heights of other titles like Bloodborne, but they still represent a marked improvement over the previous generation.

    • “The graphics were great; a great game to display the difference between the PS3 engine and PS4.”
    • “The updated graphics and lighting effects are really noticeable and the 60fps is another huge plus.”
    • “Now back to the game, haven't completed it yet but these are my views - the graphics are simply amazing compared to the last gen version and the 60fps makes it that much better.”
    • “This game is subpar to the original in many ways (graphics, animations, enemies, level design), but the biggest issue to me is atmosphere.”
    • “I used to play the original Dark Souls... which I could've sworn had better graphics than this... huh?”
    • “Of course the graphics weren't as good and the gameplay was worse, but I'm glad I bought it.”
  • gameplay26 mentions

    The gameplay of Dark Souls is characterized as "hard but fair," with a focus on mechanical depth and replayability, though some players find certain mechanics, like hollowing and item durability, to be tedious and anxiety-inducing. While the core gameplay remains consistent, subtle changes and improvements, particularly in graphics and multiplayer, offer a refreshed challenge that may take time to adjust to. Overall, the series continues to shine in its gameplay design, despite mixed feelings about specific mechanics.

    • “Dark Souls has been described as a 'hard but fair' type of game in terms of its gameplay design.”
    • “Gameplay is where the series really shines.”
    • “The mechanical depth is unrivaled to this day and it's more replayable than Elden Ring.”
    • “I'm still not too far into the game, but that's mostly because it has some severely irritating mechanics on top of the normal sense of difficulty one can expect from the Souls series.”
    • “I personally play this series expecting to die and to meet difficulty, but this mechanic adds an extra layer of anxiety and tedium that does nothing to benefit the game.”
    • “Again, one could argue that this helps the immersion and makes you carefully calculate all of your actions, but I find these mechanics just add unnecessary layers of tedium to the game that drive me away rather than pull me in.”
  • story25 mentions

    The story in the Dark Souls series is characterized by its deep, minimalist approach, requiring players to explore and piece together the narrative through item descriptions and NPC dialogues. While Dark Souls 2 is noted for having a thinner and more vague plot compared to its predecessors, it still offers a rich world that rewards exploration. Overall, fans appreciate the challenge and the unique storytelling style, though opinions vary on the strength of the narrative across the different titles.

    • “I wanted a game that is challenging but fair, a beautiful world that you can explore freely, and a storyline that makes one yearn for more.”
    • “I like the story; Dark Souls has a deep narrative, even if it is told via minimalism.”
    • “In short, for the story, you will get the most out of it if you explore, read up on items, and find all NPCs you can, exhausting their dialogue.”
    • “Dark Souls 2 throws you into a vague story that's honestly never really explained properly within its own lore (aside from the war with the giants, blah, blah a never-ending repeating cycle).”
    • “The plot is pretty thin, though the world is fleshed out by item descriptions and snippets of dialogue with NPCs.”
    • “With that point made, I think Dark Souls 2 may seem the most vague in the series as the first had the luxury of setting the story and the third provided the conclusion.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in Dark Souls II features standout tracks like the "Majula" theme, which is praised for its beauty, but overall, the soundtrack is considered less memorable compared to the original Dark Souls and Demon's Souls. While there are some good pieces and the sound effects enhance the experience, many players find the music to be inconsistent, with several tracks being forgettable.

    • “The 'Majula' theme in Dark Souls II is gorgeous!”
    • “The soundtrack is really good, and the environment is very different from Dark Souls 1, which was refreshing not to see those rage-inducing places again so soon.”
    • “Now while the game sounds great with all the sound effects, it has good music including a few wonderful pieces.”
    • “However, compared to the original Dark Souls, or even Demon's Souls, most of the music is forgettable.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as vivid and immersive, evoking a strong RPG feel reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy. However, some players feel it falls short compared to the original, particularly in terms of graphics and overall ambiance, with the main hub town being a significant contributor to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The atmosphere is so vivid, at times it may just be tangible!”
    • “The main hub town plays a big part in the overall feel and atmosphere in the game.”
    • “No atmosphere.”
    • “This game is subpar to the original in many ways (graphics, animations, enemies, level design), but the biggest issue to me is atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels like an RPG; you grind for weapons and levels like old Final Fantasy games before you move on.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, with users highlighting its mechanical depth and extensive content that surpasses even popular titles like Elden Ring. The PS4 version enhances this aspect further by reworking enemy and item placements, improving visuals, and including all DLC content, making it a highly engaging experience for players.

    • “This game offers great length and has tons of replay value.”
    • “The mechanical depth is unrivaled to this day, making it even more replayable than Elden Ring.”
    • “The mechanical depth is unrivaled to this day and it's more replayable than Elden Ring.”
    • “The PS4 (SFS) version actually adds a lot of replay value.”
    • “[Reworked enemy and item placement, improved visuals, all DLC content, replayability, frame rate].”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received positive feedback, with users noting a significant reduction in stuttering compared to the PS3 version. Enhanced graphics, improved animations, and overall smoother performance contribute to a more enjoyable experience, making it a worthwhile investment for both returning fans and newcomers.

    • “It's highly recommended to existing fans as the challenge ahead doesn't feel like retreading old ground, while newcomers will benefit from better graphics, smoother performance, and all of the available DLC in one convenient package.”
    • “When too much was going on with the PS3 version, I would notice stuttering.”
    • “One thing I did notice that I appreciated was less stuttering.”
    • “Featuring vastly improved graphics, animations, performance, all DLC content, and some minor changes to the game itself, this was well worth its asking price.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players express mixed feelings about grinding, particularly in relation to farming enemies for items. While some find experimenting with different builds during farming enjoyable, others feel that the process can be tedious and challenging, especially for newcomers who may struggle with the difficulty of certain areas.

    • “Overall, I'm not a big fan of having to 'farm' enemies for items.”
    • “You can remove the limit, but it makes the area hard for farming for those playing for the first time.”
    • “Farming issues: overall, I'm not a big fan of having to 'farm' enemies for items.”
  • humor2 mentions

    Players find humor in the game's mechanics, often leading to amusing misunderstandings, such as confusing health restoration with successful hits. This lightheartedness adds a layer of enjoyment to the gameplay experience.

    • “On a funny note, I was playing it after Bloodborne and found myself making the awful mistake of thinking that my health was being restored by my hits.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly and is visually impressive, with a wealth of content and challenging gameplay. The addition of new enemy placements and all DLC enhances the experience without compromising stability.

    • “Runs great, looks amazing, tons of content, and challenging gameplay.”
    • “New enemy placement keeps the game fresh and engaging.”
    • “All DLC added in, enhancing the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

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