TheCongressman1
Member
Pvp adds good replay, but NG+ feels kind of pointless. I want experiences to vary rather than numbers to change.
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Namco's Dark Souls 2 marketing: "We're treating this as a massive, massive AAA title"
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
Pvp adds good replay, but NG+ feels kind of pointless. I want experiences to vary rather than numbers to change.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
I think it's a futile endeavour that's gonna cut into profits and potentially endanger the franchise.
No quest markers, no regenerating health, no flashy arrows on the ground to guide you, punishing gameplay... Have you seen casuals play the game? They get stuck on the asylum demon.
A huge campaign will just flood the market with used copies unless they dumb it down.
No quest markers, no regenerating health, no flashy arrows on the ground to guide you, punishing gameplay... Have you seen casuals play the game? They get stuck on the asylum demon.
A huge campaign will just flood the market with used copies unless they dumb it down.
I did that to a friend too. Another guy and I were helping a friend of ours on his first play through and it basically ended up being us carrying him through half the game till I realized how pointless this was and stopped.
That magical feeling of exploring and learning new things can only happen once.
RSLAEV
Member
Gat damn, I missed this before- laughing my fuckin balls off over here.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
Play different styles, challenge yourself.
I'm about to finish the game without using shields and only some crappy starter pants for armor (hulk cosplay). Not being able to use shields changes the game completely if you are used to the blocking play style.
njean777
Member
I run pyro but never use my pyro spells unless I am invaded. I run full dex pyro, but rely on my weapons and shield more then my spells. Never buff my weapons either.
Lost it at 420 Blaze It.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
You should try casters, they demolish the game. My sorc made a joke out of the game's hardest stuff. Spells are awfully expensive tho.
Man, Dark Souls is anything but predictable. Yes, I'm aware enemy locations and such stay the same, but I've never adapted fully to certain boss fights (Artorias), there are still battles which I would much rather not play, and going into human form with the looming problems of PvP (given that I tend to play builds that are bad for PvP), the game hasn't gotten old yet. Yes, I know what's coming around the corner, but that doesn't mean it's bad or has no replay value.
Replay value is in the base mechanics and exploring what's there. This game is made for that. And it's wonderful for it.
Open Source
Banned
It's a rather obscene metaphor for such a mainstream publication, no?
njean777
Member
I tried sorcerer but ended up not liking the play style. I will go back to her one day, but for now I am trying to beat my NG++(ps3) and running my pyro (pc) through another playthrough.
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
You better be worried, since they control the paychecks.
TheCongressman1
Member
Compared to other games, yeah there is a ton of replay value, but that's if you:
1) Enjoy speedruns/ difficulty runs
2) Like PVP and play online
I want the world itself to be more dynamic, that's all. I think that's the last piece that would make this absolutely timeless. So, yeah, I'm not ripping on the game. It's one of my all time favorites, that's why I'm being critical.
Ghost_Protocol
Member
Guys, they just mean pouring money into things like that awesome VGA CG trailer. That thing probably cost a lot.
If you want to draw reasonable conclusions, sure. Wouldn't you prefer to use this as damning evidence that Dark Souls II is now Gears of War, though?
Phife Dawg
Member
Oh god, they will dumb it down, invest in corny live-action trailers and stuff and after it fails to set the charts on fire, triple A style, they will swiftly kill off the franchise.
Can't wait for the Inception horn!
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
Worst part about it is that the KINGS OF OVERPRICED DLC (bandainamco) are in control of this. AAA obviously means DLC UP THE ASS.
BOHICA gentlemen.
/semi-joking but genuinely concerned.
BOHICA gentlemen.
/semi-joking but genuinely concerned.
It is just that so many games have been 100% destroyed right after such marketing that make people sceptical
We will see, of course is premature to come to conclusions without seeing the game, but sure is a reason to worry a lot
Phonomezer
Banned
$10 for 10 Humanity.
I have always worried when From became buddies with Namco that something bad might happen. I hope my fears aren't put to reality. If anything happens with Dark Souls II that gets the community pretty peeved, I wouldn't put it past the idea that Namco did something. Weren't they the ones who shoved Hidetaka Miyazaki out of leading development for this game?
Parakeetman
No one wants a throne you've been sitting on!
I wouldnt say buddies, more like got bought out.
If sony was smart they never should have let go of the series.
Could highly see that happening.
Forget there being a bunch of unique sets in the game, its going to be buy most of them as micro transactions now! (also can see this happening)
Since regardless of what folks think, its the publisher that makes the decisions on these things and not the developers. They just follow orders, or else no coin in the purse.
I'm imagining this but more Dark Souls like:
So.... Nirolak..... how was it? Tasted good?
Phife Dawg
Member
Too true.
Why do you invest heavily into marketing? Because you want to sell more of your product. "Widening the net" as the guy said. In order to sell more of your product you must broaden your target group, make it more accessible. I mean they hope to attract some Skyrim players.
Sony can still produce a Demons SOuls 2 for PS4 and if they do it right would be reason enough for everyone to own the system
So, not all is lost for them
GenericBadGuy
Member
I don't understand some of the reactions here. Early news had the word Skyrim in it and people flipped out, then they saw the game footage and everything was fine.
Now they are clearly talking about marketing (which will probably be embarrassing no doubt) but people are repeating the process again. We will probably see footage at E3 that will calm everyone's nerves again.
Now they are clearly talking about marketing (which will probably be embarrassing no doubt) but people are repeating the process again. We will probably see footage at E3 that will calm everyone's nerves again.
nailbombxx
Member
This better not fucking touch the development of this game.
Does removing the man behind the first game qualify for that ?
Reminds me of what happened after the man behind FF7-8-9 left Square, one of the most loved series of all time ended with one of the worst games ever produced (FF13)
There are reasonable ways of doing that, though. Approachability and depth are not a zero sum game.
Not completely. From Software is still publishing the game in Japan, so it's not like they were bought out by Namco-Bandai and have completely lost creative control of the series.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
We are all worried about the sequel.
Myself I'm worried about the director's talk about having fewer enemies in the first half of the game. Running through things is easy enough as it is and by the looks of it the first half of the game will be nothing but a lap. If anything they should address how effective running is instead of making it easier.
Myself I'm worried about the director's talk about having fewer enemies in the first half of the game. Running through things is easy enough as it is and by the looks of it the first half of the game will be nothing but a lap. If anything they should address how effective running is instead of making it easier.
There was a rationale behind the decrease in enemies, though. He said it was to make sure people to by on their toes about hidden and lurking enemies, like the dragon skeleton and the cyclops behind the door. It's part of their broader plan to incorporate scenarios that bring up real life phobias, like tight space, heights, etc.
Honestly, I'd be very happy with an overall lower enemy density, given the enemies that are present are smarter and tougher. Even some of my favorite areas of Dark Souls could get pretty clusterfuck-y with enemies getting aggro'd because you stepped too close to a wall they were behind, small rooms full of enemies with wildly flailing area attacks, and random awkward lunge attacks that come out of nowhere. If there's anything Dark Souls can be fairly criticized for, it's completed areas where the guy in charge went nuts with the "place enemy" tool. Darkroot Garden/Basin, Demon Ruins, Lost Izalith, Crystal Cavern and the wooded area outside of it, etc.
"Well, to each his own. I chose my path, you chose the way of the hero. And they found you amusing for a while, the people of this city. But the one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying. In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually they will hate you. Why bother?"
Given they're not EA and other series are floundering some they'd probably keep going but slash marketing down to just above Dark Souls's next time.
China Dont Care
Banned
Buy Buy Buy
I have nothing wrong with a company wanting a bigger pool of players. But AAA games and Skyrim particularly are titles that are big because they're so open, so simple to grasp. Their complexities are numbed for the sake of accessibility and capturing the attention of all players. I don't mean to sound like I'm on a high horse here, but the reason the Souls games (and their granddaddy the King's Field series) are so admired by "niches" is because they're complex, take thought, and lots of consideration from the player. There's none of that press a button, something badass happens like in nearly every other non-Nintendo AAA games. They require intelligence from their players, because intelligence and thought was given to the mechanics. Trying to hit the AAA field, if we simply look at the titles we see as AAA, means making everything simpler, more shallow, and easier. This is the exact opposite of why people love From's games in the first place. Dark Souls was the antithesis to that culture of AAA games, but I fear Namco will damage that for the sake of making it fit in with the big leagues.
AHA-Lambda
Member
Oh God this is not good, Namco why do you keep wanting to publicly talk about messing with your winning formula? 
Oh God this is not good, Namco why do you keep wanting to publicly talk about messing with your winning formula?
...They're not. From Software has been very clear about where the design of the game is going, and it's not getting casual. This is strictly on Namco's end, about how they plan to promote and market the game. There are legitimate concerns with this as well, yes, but they're distinct from fears that the game is getting dumbed down.
Yeah, this is what I'm actually worried about. Demon's Souls' advertisement was non-existent and Dark Souls' was pretty modest, so I don't see a problem with upping the ante, but I really hope they don't go too far and dig a hole for themselves that can only be filled by unrealistic sales.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
That sounds very good in paper but considering even in those you call dense areas (which I don't agree btw) its easy to run past everything half of dk2 might be reduced to nothing but pretty walls.
I don't know if you tried but you can run from the last bonfire to the boss in all these areas without killing a single enemy except perhaps one golem but that one doesn't respawn.
Yeah, most of the places I mentioned actually aren't too bad when it comes to running. Where you have to worry are the Undead Burg and Blighttown, since they're replete with narrow passages dudes who lunge completely at random.
zerokoolpsx
Member
Accessible to Skyrim players? Uhh, fuck.
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