Already beat the vanilla version on 360 but skipped the DLC... wanted to switch over to PS4 version of this for slightly better performance but PS4 version @ $20 was gone from Amazon before I could snag it so I ended up picking up Xbone version after all.
How much worse is the Xbone version than the PS4 for anyone that has spent time with both?
I'm another 'Black Friday' newbie to DSII, in a way. I reckon I'm about a quarter through it already.
Gotta say, the game looks like straight ass 80% of the time. Some of the texturing is lazy as hell, and everything in the game looks like it's missing a layer of textures to interact with the light, if that makes sense. Either that or a good lighting system is just missing.
I've beaten around 6/7 bosses, and they've all been fairly underwhelming so far.
I did enjoy the
No Man's Wharf
area, though, that was really, really cool. I turned the brightness way down so that using torches was necessary and it was a lot of fun.
The stats system is overly complex and not as fun as DS or Bloodborne. I learned quickly that getting ADP to 20 was gonna be necessary, which was a pain in the arse. Luckily levelling up in this game is much, much quicker than others. Felt like I was level 50/60 in no time at all.
I also find that my character feels a little less 'solid' or 'connected to the ground', but by and large the gameplay is still pretty great. One issue I have is that the game has thrown multiple enemies at me multiple times, where they just queue up behind each other and get stuck, or just mob you - it doesn't feel like great encounter design.
The idea of exploring a bunch of locations along the coast is pretty cool though. If they were textured / lit better then the setting of the game would be pretty awesome.
All in all, it feels like an expansion kind of game to Dark Souls that just doesn't have the same magic, but the gameplay is good enough that it's well worth playing anyway.
I'm so tempted to get this, but I fear I will ultimately end up disliking it. Which is a great shame because I always fall in love with the actual fight mechanics of these games.
I enjoyed Bloodborne for what it was, and liked what I played of Dark Souls (didn't complete it, got as far as an Albino Dragon of some sort). However, these From Software games always place me on the verge of gaming impotence - I end up hitting a strategic brick wall or simply lack the drive to move forward because I have no idea what or why I'm doing what I'm doing.
I do not need a full blown backstory, or 15 minute cut-scene to explain the universe I've been plunged into, but telling me to simply "go out and kill some beasts" doesn't fill me with any motivation. Or having to kneel down in a bird's nest for 20 seconds to move forward, without any hint telling me to do so I find so frustrating. Wasn't there also a mechanic that prevented you from moving forward unless you saved the game and then went back to the same spot after you reloaded? Ridiculous. And so many other nuances that only reveal themselves after an internet search, because it's not explained in game.
I understand that these may all be wonderful little facets to some gamers, but if Dark Souls 2: SotFS is more of the same, I guess I'll be missing out.
This is always the flaw with From games. The mysteries are great, but they don't give you that little bit of obvious plot to keep you going if you can't figure out the mysteries or aren't bothered. However Dark Souls 2 isn't bad in this respect at all. So far it's as simple as this. You're cursed, and will eventually turn 'hollow' (feral zombie), so you go to Drangleic because you've heard the cure for the curse can be found there. Once there you meet a woman (Emerald Herald) who tells you to look for the king of Drangleic if you want to save yourself. That's pretty straightforward, and that's the first 15 minutes of the game.
It's nowhere near as delphic or esoteric as Bloodborne.
Faith and Pyromancy are more dependent on Attunement than the other spell types. They benefit far more in terms of spell casts, and you can double up on specific spells if you really want a lot of charges. It is feasible, but it takes more time to really come together, and you can't skip straight to exclusive spell usage like you can with Sorceries.
I assume I'm going in the right direction, now at the Forest of Giants. Had to cheese the fat guy with spells but the human mooks are pretty harmless. Found a bonfire at least so trip isn't wasted. I'll have to continue tomorrow. I'll probably need to find the ''level up girl'' in the previous area that Siegfried mentioned.
I assume I'm going in the right direction, now at the Forest of Giants. Had to cheese the fat guy with spells but the human mooks are pretty harmless. Found a bonfire at least so trip isn't wasted. I'll have to continue tomorrow. I'll probably need to find the ''level up girl'' in the previous area that Siegfried mentioned.
I'm so tempted to get this, but I fear I will ultimately end up disliking it. Which is a great shame because I always fall in love with the actual fight mechanics of these games.
I enjoyed Bloodborne for what it was, and liked what I played of Dark Souls (didn't complete it, got as far as an Albino Dragon of some sort). However, these From Software games always place me on the verge of gaming impotence - I end up hitting a strategic brick wall or simply lack the drive to move forward because I have no idea what or why I'm doing what I'm doing.
I do not need a full blown backstory, or 15 minute cut-scene to explain the universe I've been plunged into, but telling me to simply "go out and kill some beasts" doesn't fill me with any motivation. Or having to kneel down in a bird's nest for 20 seconds to move forward, without any hint telling me to do so I find so frustrating. Wasn't there also a mechanic that prevented you from moving forward unless you saved the game and then went back to the same spot after you reloaded? Ridiculous. And so many other nuances that only reveal themselves after an internet search, because it's not explained in game.
I understand that these may all be wonderful little facets to some gamers, but if Dark Souls 2: SotFS is more of the same, I guess I'll be missing out.
Wut? The spot where you had to sit in the bird's nest wasn't necessary for going forward. It was a completely optional spot. And with the reloading bit you mentioned, I have no idea what you're talking about. That certainly isn't needed for going further in the game.
Wut? The spot where you had to sit in the bird's nest wasn't necessary for going forward. It was a completely optional spot. And with the reloading bit you mentioned, I have no idea what you're talking about. That certainly isn't needed for going further in the game.
Wasn't aware the bird's nest was optional. I can only look back at my time with the game and state that it certainly felt like something I had to do at the time, so I could be wrong. There was a section by a lake and another area (atop of a ruined temple maybe) which both changed in some way when I revisited both locations after a saved game.
You level up so fast in DS2 that adaptability isn't a big issue. It's still a bad stat to have in the first place though.
Does SotFS still have that incredibly obscure progression in Earthen Peak? That's the biggest slap in the face I've had while playing the series, well that and the pile of rubble before Drangleic Castle.
It's a shame the newly distributed items from this version is unavailable on the last gen version.
Continued playing. Found the level up lady and put some points in ADP, INT and ATN as suggested. I imagine faith is not an important stat for sorcerers rather than clerics? Also how about STR or DEX for melee weapons? I'm using a dagger for melee mostly but I wonder if I should spend a few points in there to get use of swords. Seems like I can actually use them regardless of not having the required skill levels but I'd imagine that to be bad.
I guess I shouldn't upgrade my starting mage staff. Also I have been giving Estus Flask shards to the level up lady although I have no idea what it actually is.
For actual progress I'm still at the forest area now in some bigger keep. my daggers run out of durability super fast fighting all the enemies . Bought the Key the Blacksmith required off the old woman at least.
Yeah, bring ADP up to 20 points, then start levelling the rest. Makes a world of difference. Dark Souls 2 is kinda weird in that having more adaptability gives you more i-frames on your roll. Having less than 20 you're gonna get hit while you think you should not be. So definitely do that first for a more enjoyable experience.
Continued playing. Found the level up lady and put some points in ADP, INT and ATN as suggested. I imagine faith is not an important stat for sorcerers rather than clerics? Also how about STR or DEX for melee weapons? I'm using a dagger for melee mostly but I wonder if I should spend a few points in there to get use of swords. Seems like I can actually use them regardless of not having the required skill levels but I'd imagine that to be bad.
I guess I shouldn't upgrade my starting mage staff. Also I have been giving Estus Flask shards to the level up lady although I have no idea what it actually is.
For actual progress I'm still at the forest area now in some bigger keep. my daggers run out of durability super fast fighting all the enemies . Bought the Key the Blacksmith required off the old woman at least.
I've played hundreds upon hundreds of hours of those games and got invaded only a few times. And I don't miss it because from all the times I've played online the lag just really kills what I enjoy the most about those games: the precise gameplay. Even when playing with guys with a relatively good connection you'll still get hit beyond the visible range of the enemies' weapons (and vice versa), which just kills it entirely for me.
The best things about those games for me are the gameplay, the bosses and the art direction. I couldn't care less about PVP and I'm not surprised a lot of other people don't either. It's not essential in any way to the games.
First boss (?) down, The Last Giant! Got a key from it but not sure where it goes yet. Felt almost cheesing since magic was so effective but that's what mages do. Also leveled up my ADP to 20 as suggested. Still wondering if I should do any STR/SKL, found a flame sword or whatever but once again my melee skills are way too low. Making progress doe.
Also thus far I feel the game design is way more trolly than Bloodborne. There seems to be ton of enemies behind turns, spawn in tight situations or up above throwing ''granades''. Also poison trap chest.
My biggest issue with the game is actually my own fault. I have multiple times thought I had closed the menu when I just closed the sub menu and got pummeled by enemies cause of it since it prevents me from actions. In BB I'm so used to closing the inventory fast but in this one I really need to remember close it twice.
I'm another 'Black Friday' newbie to DSII, in a way. I reckon I'm about a quarter through it already.
Gotta say, the game looks like straight ass 80% of the time. Some of the texturing is lazy as hell, and everything in the game looks like it's missing a layer of textures to interact with the light, if that makes sense. Either that or a good lighting system is just missing.
I've beaten around 6/7 bosses, and they've all been fairly underwhelming so far.
I did enjoy the
No Man's Wharf
area, though, that was really, really cool. I turned the brightness way down so that using torches was necessary and it was a lot of fun.
The stats system is overly complex and not as fun as DS or Bloodborne. I learned quickly that getting ADP to 20 was gonna be necessary, which was a pain in the arse. Luckily levelling up in this game is much, much quicker than others. Felt like I was level 50/60 in no time at all.
I also find that my character feels a little less 'solid' or 'connected to the ground', but by and large the gameplay is still pretty great. One issue I have is that the game has thrown multiple enemies at me multiple times, where they just queue up behind each other and get stuck, or just mob you - it doesn't feel like great encounter design.
The idea of exploring a bunch of locations along the coast is pretty cool though. If they were textured / lit better then the setting of the game would be pretty awesome.
All in all, it feels like an expansion kind of game to Dark Souls that just doesn't have the same magic, but the gameplay is good enough that it's well worth playing anyway.
Yeah I had similar thoughts as you when I was playing it. I actually think you're passed most of the good levels though unfortunately. A lot of people say the game gets better in the second half but I actually think it becomes a lot less fun. The level design becomes really, really weak with tiny levels full of annoying gimmicks and big tanky enemies that just aren't fun to fight at all. I got up to the end game before I burnt out and went back to Bloodborne, but I didn't fight a single memorable boss outside of 1 or 2 gimmick fights. They all basically fight the same way, are stupidly easy, and the music might as well not even be there.
But apparently the DLC is really good so there's that.
Yeah I had similar thoughts as you when I was playing it. I actually think you're passed most of the good levels though unfortunately. A lot of people say the game gets better in the second half but I actually think it becomes a lot less fun. The level design becomes really, really weak with tiny levels full of annoying gimmicks and big tanky enemies that just aren't fun to fight at all. I got up to the end game before I burnt out and went back to Bloodborne, but I didn't fight a single memorable boss outside of 1 or 2 gimmick fights. They all basically fight the same way, are stupidly easy, and the music might as well not even be there.
But apparently the DLC is really good so there's that.
Have to say, so far I'm not thinking its any more than just Ok. I loved dark souls as its level design was crazy interesting. After bloodborne I was worried I wouldn't like the DS melee any more and part of me thinks that's one problem I'm having.it all feels kinda slow and boring. Also the UI is hideous and makes the game loom worse the ds1.
The level design and progression makes no logical sense either. I just go somewhere because I can. Went through forest of giants, killed giant, then pursuer. Then sat in a nest worked way through next area. Got to a boss fighting 3 things at once. Felt I was In the wrong place. Look it up and yup...2 whole zones and bosses I have missed. So why is that nest there?
I dunno. I dont want way points or anything but this just feels like it has zero direction in where to go.
Anyway I went the other way and killed dragonslayer or something then that boss on the boat. All 4 of those bosses were so easy it's a joke.
Must be a combo of getting spoiled by bloodborne and darksouls one nostalgia maybe.
Bloodborne had fantastic world design. It had a clear natural path to take with tons of secrets and shortcuts to find on the way. also has multiple optional areas to go to.
I will give it a bit more time but I am honestly a little disappointed with it so far.
I was playing this some last night. Went to hades tower of flame or whatever and was going to get that health ring that cuts your hp loss in half and a fuckin dragon is guarding it now. Now I'm at half health and can't get past the stupid thing. I guess I'll try buying a bow and shooting it from afar.
I was playing this some last night. Went to hades tower of flame or whatever and was going to get that health ring that cuts your hp loss in half and a fuckin dragon is guarding it now. Now I'm at half health and can't get past the stupid thing. I guess I'll try buying a bow and shooting it from afar.
I looked up about the dragon as a site listed it as an area to go to next but I think that was before this version where a dragon is there.
Some one on its coments said just shoot it with arrows. Takes about 150. I hate the bits like that in DS games. What's the actual method your meant to use because it can't be that. I assume you are now meant to come back later or something.
I looked up about the dragon as a site listed it as an area to go to next but I think that was before this version where a dragon is there.
Some one on its coments said just shoot it with arrows. Takes about 150. I hate the bits like that in DS games. What's the actual method your meant to use because it can't be that. I assume you are now meant to come back later or something.
yeah that's probably what they want you to do now. There's just no way I'm going to go through this game with half health until I get strong enough to fight it (not that I'd know how to fight it even if I was strong enough)
yeah that's probably what they want you to do now. There's just no way I'm going to go through this game with half health until I get strong enough to fight it (not that I'd know how to fight it even if I was strong enough)
I don't want to waste them. If I use it I'll probably be right back at half health in the matter of twenty minutes. I'm just going to go get a bow, get a boatload of arrows, kill the dragon, get the ring and then use the effigy.
I don't want to waste them. If I use it I'll probably be right back at half health in the matter of twenty minutes. I'm just going to go get a bow, get a boatload of arrows, kill the dragon, get the ring and then use the effigy.
Why would anyone have a go at you about that. There's a huge difference in the combat and atmosphere between the two. There will be plenty of people who prefer dark souls.
First boss (?) down, The Last Giant! Got a key from it but not sure where it goes yet. Felt almost cheesing since magic was so effective but that's what mages do. Also leveled up my ADP to 20 as suggested. Still wondering if I should do any STR/SKL, found a flame sword or whatever but once again my melee skills are way too low. Making progress doe.
Also thus far I feel the game design is way more trolly than Bloodborne. There seems to be ton of enemies behind turns, spawn in tight situations or up above throwing ''granades''. Also poison trap chest.
My biggest issue with the game is actually my own fault. I have multiple times thought I had closed the menu when I just closed the sub menu and got pummeled by enemies cause of it since it prevents me from actions. In BB I'm so used to closing the inventory fast but in this one I really need to remember close it twice.
After playing the Bloodborne DLC, yeah, I see the comparison in world design. Bloodborne is really, really good about this. DS2 tends to be battle arena-ish sometimes, it's more about setting up an area than connecting it all. Which isn't bad in itself, it's just not as polished.
For my mage, I made sure to get to a level where I could use a basic longsword at least. You don't want to rely 100% on magic since you'll run out, and being able to enchant weapons make them super powerful. But once you reach the base level STR/DEX for your weapon, it's useless to spend anymore. Pretty soon you'll find a blacksmith to make your weapon magic and then it will scale off the same skills as your actual spells.
I don't want to waste them. If I use it I'll probably be right back at half health in the matter of twenty minutes. I'm just going to go get a bow, get a boatload of arrows, kill the dragon, get the ring and then use the effigy.
The ring is NOT there anymore. No need to kill the dragon. It's now
in the chest across from the boss, although you do have to kill a Heide knight to get to it, which aggroes them. But they will aggro after killing the boss anyway.
Just finished this yesterday. Really hated it at first, the level design wasn't doing anything for me and the movement felt off, but after finishing the Forest area everything sort of clicked and now I don't even know if I prefer the first game or the second one. Sure, the interconnecting world is gone, but on a micro level most of these areas are beautifully designed, and the art direction is probably the best in the series - so many iconic images. I was really moved when I finally came across a certain character,
King Vendrick
, an image that, for me, probably represents the entire series.
My main issue is that the lore and the environments are too fast-paced - we spend a very short time in each area, and there's no sense of progression between them like there was in Dark Souls 1, they just feel kind of randomly stuck together. Even so, a lot of these places will definitely stick in my mind - in particular,
No Man's Wharf, Shrine of Amana, The Bull Idol near the Iron Keep
and, of course, the magnificent
Drangleic Castle
.
Before I tackle the DLC, I was wondering if anyone has the solution for this - I currently do not have PS Plus, but every time I start up the game, it tries to connect online. Is there any way to default start the game in offline mode apart from logging out of PSN before starting? Thanks!
Had an interesting experience with Dark Souls 2: SOTFS. Dove into playing deprived and despised the game for my first day or so playing it. It felt like a terrible step down from Souls 1.
Then I focused on leveling up adaptability.
It started playing like Souls again, and it was joyously smooth sailing for the rest of my experience.
I think I'm in the minority here, but I'm liking this game more than the first DS, which I also loved. The gameplay and 1080p/60fps is just so great... it's probably the most enjoyment I've had gaming this year.
And the setting is just as good or even better than the first. Like you're in a dream...
JBefore I tackle the DLC, I was wondering if anyone has the solution for this - I currently do not have PS Plus, but every time I start up the game, it tries to connect online. Is there any way to default start the game in offline mode apart from logging out of PSN before starting? Thanks!
I think I'm in the minority here, but I'm liking this game more than the first DS, which I also loved. The gameplay and 1080p/60fps is just so great... it's probably the most enjoyment I've had gaming this year.
And the setting is just as good or even better than the first. Like you're in a dream...
That's a good excuse for why nothing meshes together at all as you hop from one movie set to the next with some bad transitions in between. One of my big problems with the game is that the world feels like independent levels stapled together with no rhyme or reason to any of it. It doesn't feel like a world, it feels like game areas.
I fucking LOVE Dark Souls II. It has some of my favorite locations in any Souls game (No Man's Wharf, Huntman's Copse, Lost Bastille, Earthen Peak, Shrine of Amana, Drangleic Castle). The sheer amount of content and variety is insane. It never hits the highs of Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but it never hits the lows of Dark Souls either.
I get the complaints about the level design. The opening forest is one of the worst locales ever in a Souls game, and the world doesn't flow together all that well. There's no rhyme or logic at times (Iron Keep...), and the sense of progression is sometimes faked (Seeing Majula from Heide's), but I still LOVE the world. I love how it's essentially a hub world, with a series of branches of 3 areas with a major end boss, like Demon's Souls.
The sheer amounts of builds, items, weapons...God I love this game. I think I'll start another character when I'm done with the Bloodborne DLC. Just in time for Dark Souls III.
That's a good excuse for why nothing meshes together at all as you hop from one movie set to the next with some bad transitions in between. One of my big problems with the game is that the world feels like independent levels stapled together with no rhyme or reason to any of it. It doesn't feel like a world, it feels like game areas.
It makes sense when you consider how near the end of development they had to rush them together to keep their deadline after they completely revamped the game mid-development.
I'm really surprised at how many people prefer the original Souls 2 over the upgraded version. The extra enemy variety, improved AI/scripting, more phantoms, etc. just make the world more lively. There's, like, 3 sections/areas that are worse, and 40 or so that are very clearly improvements. Items are pushed to earlier in the game to allow better build variety and non-linearity much sooner than they would before. More phantoms/players can be in a game at any time.
Yea if i remember correctly it was the old hag sales lady had a ring to buy that decreased how many hp you lost being hollow by a good bit and it was one of 1st items you should grab. That was in vanilla though and I haven't played the remake or after the update for the 360 ps3 versions so it may of changed since then.
I noticed that it's technically cheaper to buy the game since it comes with all the DLC. Will my data from vanilla Dark Souls II work if I get a disc version of SotFS?
I noticed that it's technically cheaper to buy the game since it comes with all the DLC. Will my data from vanilla Dark Souls II work if I get a disc version of SotFS?
Can anyone playing this on Xbox one clarify what the online population is like these days. Torn between getting this or Dishonoured. If it's not too much hassle helping others/getting help I'll definitely get DS2.
For all the stick it get DS2 is one of my favourite games of last generation. The only mechanic that really got to me was enemies no longer respawning after being killed so many times.
I don't want to waste them. If I use it I'll probably be right back at half health in the matter of twenty minutes. I'm just going to go get a bow, get a boatload of arrows, kill the dragon, get the ring and then use the effigy.
Drop a soap stone. If you successfully help another player your humanity gets restored. The conditions for the large soapstone is defeat a boss, for the small soapstone I'm not sure on the exact requirements but you usually only have to help kill enemies for a few minutes before it gives a success.
. Bought the Key the Blacksmith required off the old woman at least.
