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[psychotron]

So you stopped playing DS2 to play DS3 and haven't played DS1. Ok I guess.

My last gen systems were sold when BB came out, so SOTFS was my only option at the time. I bought the BC version as soon as it released on XB1, so I'll be going back to that as well.

That and I also don't get that people rush through an entry to play the new one at release(not buying into the "discovering with the communitie" nonsense either in this internet age).

Nonsense? I played Bloodborne at launch and it's not nonsense at all. Helping each other out through a tough spot is much more satisfying than reading a guide. It's a great feeling when the game has just released and the community is so alive.

 

[JustSomeone]

Enjoy the best souls game!

 

[Red Liquorice]

Enjoy the best souls game!

This should be fun.....

 

[Ulysses 31]

Nonsense? I played Bloodborne at launch and it's not nonsense at all. Helping each other out through a tough spot is much more satisfying than reading a guide. It's a great feeling when the game has just released and the community is so alive.

What relevance does that have with rushing/quiting a game to play the new one? Can't speak for BB yet but the DS1 and 2 bossfights don't really need a guide to figure out IMO. You can always try to help someone else without using a guide, wether the community is a day or a year old makes little difference.

 

[Iva Demilcol]

OP, How dare you enjoy the games in the way you want?

 

[psychotron]

What relevance does that have with rushing/quiting a game to play the new one? Can't speak for BB yet but the DS1 and 2 bossfights don't really need a guide to figure out IMO. You can always try to help someone else without using a guide, wether the community is a day or a year old makes little difference.

When did I say I was rushing? I'm being very thorough, which is why I stopped playing, rather than sprinting to the end. I also said "tough spot", not a boss specifically. If you don't see the benefits of playing Souls games at launch, that's your loss. I had a great time playing through 3 at the same time as the GAF community.

 

[psychotron]

OP, How dare you enjoy the games in the way you want?

Lol. The nerve.

 

[Easy_D]

I realized that later, lol. I was just so used to them being boss gateways on Bloodborne that I avoided them at first. Now the game makes a lot more sense. Weapon durability was something else that threw me off at first, but now I keep two good weapons and alternate, resting at fires to restore durability.

I fucking love how you just came to the conclusion that you could have two upgraded weapons and a backup just in case rather than complaining about the durability system. Good on ya op.

 

[Ulysses 31]

When did I say I was rushing? I'm being very thorough, which is why I stopped playing, rather than sprinting to the end. I also said "tough spot", not a boss specifically. If you don't see the benefits of playing Souls games at launch, that's your loss. I had a great time playing through 3 at the same time as the GAF community.

You didn't but you replied to me when I made to comment about people rushing because a new game was coming out soon because they want to "discover with the community", though.

 

[Banana Aeon]

How different/better is Scholar compared to DS2 vanilla? I only have vanilla and I want to know if the game I have is a gimped version compared to Scholar.

It's far worse. Every area in Scholar is worse than Vanilla.

I enjoy DS2 Vanilla.

 

[Manu]

It's far worse. Every area in Scholar is worse than Vanilla.

I enjoy DS2 Vanilla.

What.

 

[Easy_D]

It's far worse. Every area in Scholar is worse than Vanilla.

I enjoy DS2 Vanilla.

This statement is objectively wrong since the DLC areas are exactly the same .
Anyway I mostly prefer SotFS, with *one* exception so far, that being the asshole area known as Iron Keep. But that area was asshole in the original game as well so..

And all you really have to do to get past is to be calm and not panic when the knights rush ya.

 

[Freeman76]

At this point DS2 must have more LTTP threads than Alien Isolation, if not it must be close.

The OT is still on the first page of community as well, so fuck knows why we get LTTP threads all the time, especially with this gane which so many people fight over lol

 

[Ferr986]

This statement is objectively wrong since the DLC areas are exactly the same .
Anyway I mostly prefer SotFS, with *one* exception so far, that being the asshole area known as Iron Keep. But that area was asshole in the original game as well so..

And all you really have to do to get past is to be calm and not panic when the knights rush ya.

I would add Shaded Ruins on being better in vanilla, because in SOTFS it's barren as fuck.

But yeah, overall SOTFS is better in almost all areas.

 

[cireza]

Finished the game recently and had a lot of fun. At first, the increase in difficult felt a bit too high for me. Especially at Heide Tower.

But eventually, everything went well and the game is not that hard.

However, the DLC areas are way too difficult. I tried all three areas, at some places there are 5 enemies that attack you at once. I mean, WTF ? This is not Streets of Rage.

When playing 100% offline like me, DLC is a bit too hard. Not sure if I am going to try harder or give up on it.

 

[Ulysses 31]

When playing 100% offline like me, DLC is a bit too hard. Not sure if I am going to try harder or give up on it.

What about summoning phantoms to help out at bosses? >.>

 

[Ferr986]

Finished the game recently and had a lot of fun. At first, the increase in difficult felt a bit too high for me. Especially at Heide Tower.

But eventually, everything went well and the game is not that hard.

However, the DLC areas are way too difficult. I tried all three areas, at some places there are 5 enemies that attack you at once. I mean, WTF ? This is not Streets of Rage.

When playing 100% offline like me, DLC is a bit too hard. Not sure if I am going to try harder or give up on it.

Try to lure them one by one with a bow or some ranged attacks. Sometimes if you approach a pack of mobs extremely slow not evey of them will turn back to you.

And if everything fails... run lol mobs eventually stop following you.

 

[psychotron]

I fucking love how you just came to the conclusion that you could have two upgraded weapons and a backup just in case rather than complaining about the durability system. Good on ya op.

Thanks! I've really had no issues with durability at all. Used a repair powder once or twice by choice because I didn't want to rest and respawn enemies.

You didn't but you replied to me when I made to comment about people rushing because a new game was coming out soon because they want to "discover with the community", though.

I think people play how they want. I agree that you may cheat yourself with rushing, but shelving for a bit is fine imo.

This statement is objectively wrong since the DLC areas are exactly the same .
Anyway I mostly prefer SotFS, with *one* exception so far, that being the asshole area known as Iron Keep. But that area was asshole in the original game as well so..

And all you really have to do to get past is to be calm and not panic when the knights rush ya.

I used Iron Keep for farming. I literally can't find a single enemy there anymore because they stopped spawning, lol. Is it true it's one of the hardest areas? If so, that's awesome.

 

[Ferr986]

I used Iron Keep for farming. I literally can't find a single enemy there anymore because they stopped spawning, lol. Is it true it's one of the hardest areas? If so, that's awesome.

DLC is harder but it's probably the second hardest area in the base game (atleast IMO), due to a lot of ranged attacks in the same area (the room before and after the Smelter Demon).

 

[StMeph]

ill just resurect this thread, cant find any OT for SotFS.

How bad is your GAF/Google-Fu to not be able to find an OT?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1021069

 

[psychotron]

DLC is harder but it's probably the second hardest area in the base game (atleast IMO), due to a lot of ranged attacks in the same area (the room before and after the Smelter Demon).

That's good to know. As a mainly strength build, is the claymore viable throughout, or should I be looking for another weapon? Thanks.

 

[paragonpro]

My first souls game was SotFS. Looking back now after having played Bloodborne and DS1 I can freely admit that yes DS1 and BB are better games but I still love SotFS the most. It was such a great experience and will always be one of my favorites. Hope you have fun OP it is a really great game. Also, stick around for the DLC areas they are some of my favorite parts in the whole series.

Same boat. My first souls game and therefore its very special to me

 

[Jito]

From there I just kept exploring, running past enemies until I found another foggy doorway. Fuck it, I'll go in. Shit, it's a boss!!

Sad that there are people that actually play like this, running through areas and skipping all the enemies just to get to the next boss. Then they'll complain that it's too easy or some shit.

 

[Clear]

I would add Shaded Ruins on being better in vanilla, because in SOTFS it's barren as fuck.

Its easier to run through, but you also have Creighton & Vengarl events and several extra statues needing fragrant branches to unpetrify, on top what was there before. There is a ton of NPC activity in that area which I thought was a nice change of pace.

The thing I really like most about SOTFS is the amount of small mechanics in the game; all the stuff with torches, lockstones, fragrant branches, shade-type NPC's that have handy features like carrying torches/making light so you don't have to, events triggered by lighting braziers, etc

Coming back to it after DS3 makes you realize just how severely streamlined that game is.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Sad that there are people that actually play like this, running through areas and skipping all the enemies just to get to the next boss. Then they'll complain that it's too easy or some shit.

Some areas(in the DLC) to the boss justify just running through it, areas where you're getting sniped by unreachable mobs(if you're melee), getting debuffed into fat rolling, yeah it's just cheesy difficulty.

 

[psychotron]

Sad that there are people that actually play like this, running through areas and skipping all the enemies just to get to the next boss. Then they'll complain that it's too easy or some shit.

I had no idea what to do at the start, so I just bolted. Then I got my shit together and have been clearing areas before moving on. Much more satisfying. It's a practice that helped a lot in DS3. I learned a lot from my time with DS2.

 

[cireza]

What about summoning phantoms to help out at bosses? >.>

Bosses are not a problem. And I know the games very well, I finished all Souls games. But thanks

 

[Ferr986]

That's good to know. As a mainly strength build, is the claymore viable throughout, or should I be looking for another weapon? Thanks.

For the base game, totally, cleared the game with it myself (vanilla version).

For DLC I used DEX characters, but I see no reason why you won't be able to beat it too with it.

Its easier to run through, but you also have Creighton & Vengarl events and several extra statues needing fragrant branches to unpetrify, on top what was there before. There is a ton of NPC activity in that area which I thought was a nice change of pace.

The thing I really like most about SOTFS is the amount of small mechanics in the game; all the stuff with torches, lockstones, fragrant branches, shade-type NPC's that have handy features like carrying torches/making light so you don't have to, events triggered by lighting braziers, etc

Coming back to it after DS3 makes you realize just how severely streamlined that game is.

You're right, it just that it totally caught me of guard when the area full of Lion dudes was that empty.

To be honest, I think SOTFS introduced too many petrified dudes, but it's a minor annoyance.

 

[Clear]

To be honest, I think SOTFS introduced too many petrified dudes, but it's a minor annoyance.

I kinda liked it as its possible to get them all on a single playthrough, but only if you figure out the correct order (i.e. which statues reveal more branches). Its also nice as it gives you a reason to revisit early areas late on in when the enemies within have no real soul value.

The tutorial area being a great example of this, especially with the bonus red phantom being triggered by lighting every brazier.

 

[NEO0MJ]

I don't recall any other game has this many cheap amushes and enemie placements throughout any game. >.>

Also the enemie overhead slams have questionable hitboxes. >.<

 

[Carlius]

amazing game OP. dont let the gaf negativity put you down. after beating ng+ on ds3 i realized how good of a game ds2 is. a masterpiece with its own identity.

enjoyed itsd difficulty a lot more than ds3.

 

[Carlius]

Finished the game recently and had a lot of fun. At first, the increase in difficult felt a bit too high for me. Especially at Heide Tower.

But eventually, everything went well and the game is not that hard.

However, the DLC areas are way too difficult. I tried all three areas, at some places there are 5 enemies that attack you at once. I mean, WTF ? This is not Streets of Rage.

When playing 100% offline like me, DLC is a bit too hard. Not sure if I am going to try harder or give up on it.

do it man...the dlc has one of the best boss fights in the souls series. its very well worth the feeling of satisfaction

 

[Jake2by4]

Playing sotfs on ps4. Almost finished with everything and found this game enjoyable, a bit frustrating. Not as bad as people make it out to be.

 

[Tain]

Reading up on SotFS, I never realized FROM added

Spoiler

the titular NPC and boss

to the vanilla version of the game. That's neat. Maybe I'll load up my vanilla save at some point, since I never played it and the final DLC area. Then again, I've been considering starting over and playing SotFS edition...

 

[KlytusImBored]

do it man...the dlc has one of the best boss fights in the souls series. its very well worth the feeling of satisfaction

Agreed. The sense of accomplishment I got from finally defeating the Graverobber/Varg/Celah trio and then the Fume Knight - I'll never forget. Still working on the last two bosses of the Ivory King.

 

[Jake2by4]

Agreed. The sense of accomplishment I got from finally defeating the Graverobber/Varg/Celah trio and then the Fume Knight - I'll never forget. Still working on the last two bosses of the Ivory King.

The ivory king can fuck off without the 4 knights

 

[ebullientprism]

SotfS DLC also has the best NPC invaders in the entire series. From the cheeky bastard that runs downstairs in the tower and hides behind enemies to the

Spoiler

one that invades you while looking like a white phantom

, its the closest the series has come to replicating human invasions. They even do gestures which I thought was absolutely fucking hilarious.

I will say this, for all the problems DS2 has (which are all overblown IMO) it still feels like its own unique Souls game. DS3 makes me feel like From looked at everything they did in DaS1 and tried to do the same stuff better and the game feels like a greatest hits collection.

 

[cireza]

do it man...the dlc has one of the best boss fights in the souls series. its very well worth the feeling of satisfaction

Alright, I will give it another try.

 

[Kyuur]

Strangely enough, I played Dark Souls 2 after Bloodborne and Dark Souls 1 without any problems. Going from 3 to 2 though? Weird af.

 

[psychotron]

So I'm trying to respec but it's telling me I had two less points in VIT than I actually do. Somehow I'm losing two points during the respec. Any idea why?

 

[Card Boy]

Is it worth doing the DLC? I just beat the main game, did all bosses from the main game except Ancient Dragon and Vendrick. I gave up on Vendrick even after 4 Giants Souls.

 

[SDR-UK]

Is it worth doing the DLC? I just beat the main game, did all bosses from the main game except Ancient Dragon and Vendrick. I gave up on Vendrick even after 4 Giants Souls.

The DLC is without a doubt the best part of Dark Souls II, so yes definitely give it a go.

 

[Novocaine]

Is it worth doing the DLC? I just beat the main game, did all bosses from the main game except Ancient Dragon and Vendrick. I gave up on Vendrick even after 4 Giants Souls.

Yes absolutely , it's great.

 

[Ulysses 31]

I finished the game and all DLC and I stand by those statements.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Yes absolutely , it's great.

Aside from the runbacks to Blue Smelter Demon, Grave robbers, Sir Alonne and King's pets yeah.

 

[Steiner84]

so, DS 2 Scholar is my first Souls game and my second soulsborne after bloodborne.
Im currently playing it and i guess im about half way trough, just cleared shrine of amana first try and am now in the undead crypt.
I have to say the game is great! At first I was a bit overwhelmed by the difficulty (no mans wharf streesed me out to no end - could only play for a short time before i needed some comfort in rocket league) but arround huntsman copse / Undead Purgatory the game opened up on me and im glad I didnt gave up on it.
To bad im playing it at the worst possible time and the online part seems absolutely barren since ds3 came out. Never got invaded and tried to summon someone 2, 3 times but havent seen a single soul sign from a non-npc..

 

[JustSomeone]

Is it worth doing the DLC? I just beat the main game, did all bosses from the main game except Ancient Dragon and Vendrick. I gave up on Vendrick even after 4 Giants Souls.

The ancient dragon is easy if you can cast flash sweat. Together with a flame quartz ring, his fire barely damaged me.
As for vendrick, the trick is to stay behind him, it's not always easy to pull, but it's doable, especially if you can bring down the ancient dragon

 

[Mike M]

Ancient Dragon can be baited into particular moves ridiculously easily. It's a little more tricky for melee, but if you position yourself just right and hack away at his hind legs, you'll only ever need to worry about the stomp attack and the under belly flaming, both easily avoided with loooong wins up animations.

 

[TuckingFypo]

I've only recently started playing this myself. The Dragon Rider killed himself for me too, I didn't even get a hit in! I had died by being knocked off a few times, usually when I was close to killing him which was annoying. It was nice to see him get a taste of it, even if he did just randomly walk off the edge!

It still baffles me now. I've never experienced anything like it in the other games.

 

[Adam_Vania]

tried going back to DS2 after playing DSIII for a long time. playing on Steam.

for some reason my controller is completely messed up, buttons don't do what I map them to do and not even JoytoKey works. has anyone had this trouble and figure out a fix?