Thoughts On: Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls 1.5

Other than a few key differences, Dark Souls 2 is basically just more Dark Souls 1. 95% of what I said in my Dark Souls review applies here, so go read that. Instead, I’m going to list the positive and negative aspects of Dark Souls 2 in comparison to the original. Bet. *Note* I played the Scholar of the First Sin Version on Xbox One X

Positives

• The graphics, especially the gorgeous backgrounds and skyboxes, have improved.
• I didn’t dislike any of the changes in the mechanics. The weight system is far more flexible.
• Less intrusive multiplayer. Never got invaded by another person.
• While I didn’t use magic during my play through, it appeared to be more expansive and interesting, particularly in the early game. In Dark Souls 1 you were stuck with soul arrows for far too long.
• Somehow mimics are even scarier.
• Basic logical improvements like, when beating the game, it doesn’t immediately go into New Game + without first giving you the opportunity to do anything else you want to do.

Negatives

• Not sure if this is good or bad, but Dark Souls 2 is an easier game. The difficulty never matches the first game until the second DLC.
• The majority of the bosses kinda suck. I shouldn’t be defeating a boss in Dark Souls on my first try, let alone half of the bosses in the game.
• The world doesn’t feel as connected. The areas don’t have same logical aesthetic flow to them.
• Besides being basically the same story, the story of Dark Souls 2 is even less important. Dark Souls’ cryptic storytelling matches the tone of the game, but that doesn’t excuse it from making no damn sense. For the series as a whole, I wish the story was actually comprehensible.
• This may be an Xbox One X specific issue, but the game would freeze for about three seconds constantly. It occurred so often it became apart of the gameplay.
• Why the hell do you have to constantly warp to the same bonfire in order to level up by talking to an NPC? Just keep that stuff available at any bonfire.

Dark Souls 2 is a great game like its predecessor because it’s like its predecessor. Compared to my time with Dark Souls 1, Dark Souls 2 won’t be as memorable. If there’s one thing Dark Souls 2 falls short on, it’s the lackluster boss design. I have hope for Dark Souls 3 though.