60%PlayStation 4

Gameplay 4/10: compared to the original there wasn't really any big improvement, or any big regression for the matter. Overall it just feels like you're playing the first game, and I can definetely feel it in the movement: it still feels very sluggish and while on one hand the hitboxes have been fixed (sometimes even too well), on the other the mechanics linked to adaptability, such as the need to essentially upgrade the number of invincibility frame and the speed of using healing items and consumables, highly hinder the experience. At the very least they gave us fast travel from the very beginning, I wouldn't dare imagine having to go through the first half of this game without it.
Bosses 6/10: this game gives us a total of 41 bosses, meaning 15 more than the original, and it wouldn't be so bad if it was a majority of great bosses, but most of them just feel like mini-bosses. Once again, a lot of them have a very simple moveset with very telegraphed attacks and it feels like they have even less health on average (I'm not sure about this). There are some that are really great (mostly in the DLCs) but even those struggle in comparison to the best ones of other games.
Story 9/10: the story of this game is mostly detached from that of the first, and apart from some hints and references, it is completely original. But it is still a good time to learn about the lore of this world and the kingdoms we're visiting. I'd say this game even has one of the most interesting characters in the entire franchise in the form of Aldia, the brother of king Vendrick and the Scholar of the First Sin, someone who has seen the story that we're discovering with his own eyes and that at many points makes us think and question about what we're doing and wether it is truly out of our own free will . Something else that I also noticed while playing this is the way the experience of traversing an area or fighting a boss can change once you know their story, and this counts for all of FromSoft's games. It makes the world feel alive and the creatures we're fighting feel like a part of it. All of this is made even better by the return of the indirect storytelling which makes worldbuilding that much more exciting.
Music 6/10: once again, the music is dedicated to certain areas and to the bosses, but this time it is just...fine. Once again the tracks don't sound bad, but they mix up a bit too much for me and once again some of them are even shared between bosses. Apart from some pieces, most of the soundtrack feels like it's bored. But the worst offender for this category is the fact that the Belfry Gargoyles, a boss that already has so many bad things about it, not only doesn't have an original theme, but it's straight up the Bell Gargoyle's theme!
Sequel 6/10: if I wanted to summarize what I said so far, Dark Souls II to me is just an inferior version of the original, which is bad considering that I didn't really like the original as a game. The overall gameplay is the same, most of the bosses and areas are not even worth remembering and the music is one second away from falling into a comatose sleep. But let me get on a hyperbole for a second to say that while there are many issues with this game, the general opinion that this is some unplayable garbage fire of a game is a biiig exaggeration. It definetely isn't one of the best games out there but it's also extremely far from being one of the worst of all time and it mostly falls flat on its face because it can be so easily compared to the other games from the trilogy and the other FromSoftware titles.
Other: 'Quantity > Quality': in this sequel we can explore a total of 48 different locations (double those of the original) where we'll fight 41 bosses (fifteen more), and again, this wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't a majority of forgettable short areas and bosses that feel more like a mini-boss. Runbacks: everything that is wrong about this game seems to appear alltogether when you're just trying to go back to a boss, because never in another game I had to complain so much about a runback!
Final Score 6/10: definetely the worst of the trilogy, but faaaaar from being a horrible game.

90%PC

Dark Souls 2 is often considered the Black Sheep of the souls family, and while it probably is the weakest game in the series, it nevertheless remains a fantastic, harrowing trek through some of the best environments From Software has ever put on screen.

There are still two versions of the game available, the original or “vanilla” game, and the enhanced “Scholar of the First Sin” edition. Die-hard veterans will tell you the newer version is worse, as the rebalanced areas and rejuggling of item positions has made it too different from the original experience.

I have played both, many times, and that is absolutely not the case. I would in fact argue that the SOTFS is slightly more difficult, as a lot of the stronger items have been moved to later game areas making it harder to become overpowered early on. It also gates off certain locations with petrified hollows (think statues that you need to use an item on to move) which funnels you down a slightly different path.

But SOTFS is not just about enemy placements. SOTFS on PC has all the bells and whistles of the console versions, with even more graphical flourishes, and ran at a smooth 60fps on my 4K monitor.

It also adds more invasions, more NPC summons, more dialogue, a new final boss, new memories, and, best of all, the three pieces of DLC are now directly baked into the game in a much more natural way, with the keys needed to unlock them coming through natural progression rather than just being dumped into your inventory.

You will find mixed opinions on the DLC. I personally believe them to be one of the best parts of Dark Souls 2. They are hard. Properly hard. I was tearing through Castle Drangelic with my estus flask, weapons, and armour fully upgraded, and died within ten minutes of entering the first DLC area. I find that’s a good thing, however. They force you to play more cautiously. More methodical. You suddenly become afraid again : it’s like you are starting a whole new game. They all have some really interesting mechanics to boot. The Sunken King has structures that can be raised or lowered by hitting certain switches. The Iron King has lifts that are powered by a furnace that must be activated. Finally, the Ivory King (possibly my favourite of them all), has areas blocked off by snow that must be melted to proceed, and a quest to free some imprisoned knights that completely changes the final boss battle.

So why is it not spoken about with the same lofty acclaim as the other two games in the trilogy? I think perhaps it comes down more to the lore and environments than the gameplay or wealth of content. Being able to warp between bonfires from the get-go is great, but it means you lose a lot of the interconnected tissue that bound the first game together. It feels more like jet-setting around the world rather than walking through it. I also don’t find the story as interesting – in fact there is barely any story at all. A rehash of ideas from the previous game with an uninteresting antagonist – something the newly-added final boss does little to change.

It's still a fantastic game though, managing to create that feeling of dread and consequent accomplishment that few other sous-like have managed to mimic. If you’ve already dipped your toe into the souls universe, dive into this one head-first. If you’re coming here for the first time, Demon Souls or Dark Souls Remastered would be a better place to start.

70%PlayStation 4

I like how bullshit some of this game is. It really enhances the asynchronous multiplayer aspect. Though, it's not difficult at all if you've played a modern souls-like. It doesn't account for legacy skill. Hit stun is inconsistent so it doesn't feel good to fight enemies. I suppose it's stat based. Also the hit reactions. These games past and future have crunchy reactions but this game does not. Maybe these aspects are better if you use a heavier weapon, but would it make sense to have light weapons feel like shit?
Maybe it's wrong to focus so much on combat since it is mostly an adventure game that uses simple combat to introduce interesting concepts. But you could say that for Demons and Dark Souls 1 as well, and they nailed aspects 2 didn't. This game does also add the agility and torch mechanic. The agility aspect a bit stupid but the torch does add interesting interactions for enemies and environments. I do enjoy the level design and general exploration. Probably the strongest aspect. Especially how everything branches out from Majula. As always, I like that characters talk in riddles. I don't care to understand lore but the vagueness adds to the atmosphere. Music is very lowkey in this. I can't remember a single track except Majula's theme.

70%PC

k game.

60%PC

A worse version of Dark Souls 1. Most unfortunately, the amazing level design from the previous game is gone. They've added a bunch of new spells, but they're all worse than the ones recycled from the first entry - gameplay thus remains mostly unchanged. The game is also 50% longer and contains 50% more enemies per square feet. Overall, I though it was a slog to finish.
Anything positive? They added an agility stat which allows you to dress up your corpse in something other than light armor and still dodge competently - which is nice.

70%PC

quantity > quality

75%PC

DS2 is decent, I think the first game was definitely better though and here's why. The level design, characters, and lore are better in DS1. There's too many areas where you get swarmed and too many multi-boss fights it just wasn't quite as satisfying or memorable as DS1. The base game final boss was just a joke. The general combat feels a little clunkier for some reason and the semi-permanent health reduction on death is a bit stupid. What I did like: the ability to fast travel between all bonfires from the beginning, the increased amount of bosses, and the bigger variety of weapons and possible builds. Compared to other games, this game is still great, but I think it's the weakest of the FromSoftware games I've played so far.

90%PlayStation 4

DLC was super hard compared to the base game, but i did it! Patience, persistence, and paying attention are key, I feel as though I've grown as a person from playing dark souls 2.

60%PC

game is ok. not the DLC tho

70%PC

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is a unique entry in the Soulsborne series, offering a different experience that, while not reaching the heights of its predecessor, still stands as an enjoyable and challenging adventure.

The game’s quality feels slightly lower than the other titles, with lore and enemy placement that often lack the intricacy and depth seen in the rest of the series. The combat takes a different approach, requiring players to slow down and carefully consider their actions. This slower, more deliberate pacing is a departure from the original Dark Souls, and while some players critique the abundance of enemies and gank situations, this issue arises mainly when the game is approached like its predecessor. Adapting to this more methodical style is key to appreciating the experience.

The bosses lean towards quantity over quality, with a few exceptional fights scattered among many that are simply decent or good. While they may lack the memorable designs of other games in the series, they still provide plenty of challenge and spectacle.

The environments are a mixed bag—some are breathtaking and evocative, while others feel bland or poorly designed. However, the DLC content is a highlight, featuring some of the best areas and bosses in the game, elevating the overall experience significantly.

Though Dark Souls II tends to be overhated, those who take the time to understand its unique rhythm and playstyle will find a game worth exploring. It’s not without its flaws, but it offers a rewarding experience for those willing to adjust their approach and immerse themselves in its world.

75%PlayStation 4

Dark Souls 2 is my least favorite Dark Souls game, HOWEVER, I still had a lot of fun playing it. Which is funny, because when I first started playing it, I absolutely hated the game. Having to deal with the Hollowing effect slowly take down my max health every time I died was really annoying, but thank god for the Ring of Binding that you can find early in the game, because that made things so much less annoying.

One really good thing about Dark Souls 2 is the quality of life changes that weren’t present in Dark Souls 1. For example, the biggest one I can think of is being able to teleport to different bonfires instantly. You don’t have to wait until halfway through the game to unlock a basic mechanic that helps you traverse the world easier, YAY! On top of that, unlike in Dark Souls 1, you can teleport to every bonfire you visit (excluding Primal Bonfires) which is SOOOOO much better. Some of the areas also looked gorgeous! Shrine of Amanda, Heide’s Tower of Flame, Iron Keep, the outside of Drangleic Castle, the outside of Bruce Tower, Eleum Loyce, all of these places looked really pretty to me!! Unfortunately, some of them weren’t so good gameplay wise…

I think one big problem Dark Souls 2 has is Fromsoft thought that ‘more enemies = difficult” and technically that is the case, but not in the fun way. It made traversing areas so much more tedious and frustrating. Instead of making me curious and eager to explore, like when I found a new area in DS1, when I discovered a new area in DS2, I was left wondering if the area was going to be littered with swarms of enemies that will be a pain in the butt to get rid of. It felt like Fromsoft was too focused on making a game that was infuriatingly difficult rather than a game that was a fun challenge.

This can also extend to A LOT of bosses in Dark Souls 2. A lot of these boss fights are gang fights, which is such a lazy way to make the game difficult in my opinion. Belfry Gargoyles, Ruin Sentinels, Skeleton Lords, Duke’s Dear Freja, Twin Dragon Riders, Throne Watcher and Throne Defender, Elana, the list goes on. Most of these bosses just aren’t really that fun to fight (except for Elana and Belfry Gargoyles, I liked those bosses) and feel really lazy. Especially because a lot of these bosses also end up being reused enemies later on, and the Belfry Gargoyles are quite literally the Bell Gargoyles from Dark Souls 1, but they added 4 this time. Insane innovation Michael Zaki 👏👏

DESPITE ALL THIS COMPLAINING. I still really enjoyed the game, and I’m glad I played through it. Bosses like the Looking Glass Knight, Velstadt, Demon of Song, Vendrick, Sinh, Fume Knight, Sir Alonne, and the Burnt Ivory King made the game worth it for me. Also Dark Souls 2 has some of my favorite armor sets, so I loved collecting each piece of armor I could find. The game definitely has its ups and downs, but I think even at Fromsoft’s worst, they still manage to deliver a GREAT game

75%PC

the worst of the souls trilogy definitely, but that doesnt mean its a bad game. i enjoyed my time with it even though it was frustrating at times. there is definetly more of a bs factor in it compared to the other souls titles and scholar of the first sin doesnt make it any better. i'd still recommend it, its not as bad as people make it out to be

75%PC

good. memorable.

50%PlayStation 4

A 4/7
H 1/1
S 0/2

95%PC

This game gets so much undeserved hate. It's a flawed game, but a great game nonetheless.

95%PC

My favorite Souls game, Dark Souls II is the Dark Souls of Dark Souls

40%Xbox One

Didn't play last 5% of game because the pain was tooooo much

100%PC

Flawed masterpiece, This is the best souls game to me. Some of the bosses might be lackluster but the dlc's make up for it with some of the best bosses in the entire series. The artstyle is unique and looks great. The combat in this game is excellent, you actually have to manage your stamina and time your rolls and you can't just spam i-frames. Adaptability isn't as bad as most people make it out to be you just throw a few points in it and time your rolls properly. This game also has some of the best fashion the series has to offer only matched by Elden ring. Powerstancing is a great addition that actually requires some stat investment whereas in elden ring there is no downside to it. This game has the most build variety when compared to every souls game. I think this game is overhated because the majority of people are probably biased from hearing how the community and youtube videos speak about it.

85%PlayStation 4

Frick Lud and Zallen run back bro

Actually frick the darklurker

70%PC

Well done in most ways for fans of the series. Seriously lacking something compared to the first Dark Souls, or perhaps i've just become too used to this kind of game. Parts are too easy, some parts are frustratingly poorly designed, most bosses and fights are variations on the "Large Humanoid #022" basic outline. If you liked 1, you'll probably like this.

70%PC

Играл в Школяр. Нельзя назвать эту часть "тех же щщей да побольше влей", хочется похвалить тягу к экспериментам. И сама по себе это всё равно увлекательная игра. Но всё же звание гадкого утёнка серии она вполне оправдывает. Казалось бы, дизайн энкаунтеров такая мелочь на фоне списка элементов геймдизайна - но из-за неё школяр на фоне серии воспринимается как какой-то сраный лефт4дед. Почти всю игру дубасишь миллион врагов, из-за этого даже ломается прокачка, ломается атмосфера, ломается ебаное оружие, в общем ломается из-за этого очень многое. В железной цитадели и храме аманы ломается ещё и психика. В игре есть крутые идеи вроде парного оружия, ограничения на фарм и механики угля вражды, более чем косметические изменения на НГ+. Есть неплохие локации и боссы даже без ДЛС. Кстати по их качеству ДС2 хоть в плохие моменты заставляет только удивиться тупости, но без ДЛС в первой части вменяемых боссов вряд ли было больше. ДЛС, кстати, совершенно шикарные, причем даже первое неплохое. К сожалению "коопные" локации делал в мозг трахнутый псих и они ужасно портят впечатление. Но в ДЛС внезапно понимаешь, что здесь вернули принципы лвл дизайна из ДС1 с шорткатами, замыкающимися на себя уровнями. Ещё я могу здесь поругать непонятный местный графен. Местами он будто почти на уровне ДС3 и смотрится красиво, а местами локации смотрятся безумно плоско, будто это ДС0 из 200** какого-то там года. Отчасти это ещё из-за малого количества деталей индоров и пр. Игра "из коробки" не работает, нужно ебаться с перенастройкой управления на пк, а уж двойной щелчок это пиздец. Ещё игра явно затянута - часть локаций можно было бы вырезать без всякого вреда. Прохождение длится дольше всего, в игре больше всего боссов. Решение сделать вторжения неотключаемыми мешает аутировать, а это я и ищу в этих играх. Тем более, что в хорошие моменты игра к этому располагает. Тут веет очень грустным безысходным вайбом от концовок, всей истории с Алдией (игра намекает на то, что Гвин мудак, что потом в ДС3 уже скажут в лоб), а от сгоревшего короля мурашки по коже.

80%PC

All steam succes done (arround 70h)

70%PlayStation 5

После первой части как глоток свежего воздуха из соседнего болота. Исправляет многие QOL первой части, игра оказывается менее угнетающей, но музыка боссов и сами боссы не достигают ожидаемого уровня, вызывая разочарование. В то же время, атмосферная музыка в лагере поражает своей красотой. Улучшенная скорость боевки добавляет динамики, однако в остальном игра кажется схожей с первой частью.

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Итоговая оценка: 67/100

100%PC

Great RPG with tons of content

80%PlayStation 4

An improvement in atmosphere, RPG aspects, variety of weapons, variety of spells, build variety, challenge, exploration, path chose and scale then Dark Souls 1.

While Dark Souls 1 focused more on re-creating Demon Souls with a less centralised map design, Dark Souls 2 feels like it's taking it in a fresher direction while maintaining most of the aspects as the previous two titles.

Leaning a little more into the grand scale adventure RPG feel moreso, this game definitely stands out amongst the Fromsoft action titles.

While still not quite recapturing the magic of Demon Souls, Dark Souls 2 massive world and content, doubling down on the strengths Dark Souls had over Demon Souls; Dark Soul 2 creates a very memorable action RPG dark adventure.

Fantastic game which I first played the original after completing Demon Souls on the PS3, then again later this remake on the PS4. Both playthroughs I had an amazing time and the increased difficulty in the remake is a great challenge along with the massive DLCs.

100%PC

Aulas e palestras

75%PC

It's funny... I played Dark Souls 2 SotFS for the first time back in 2022 and I was absolutely stunned.... why did everyone hate this game so much?? I had played and beaten many FromSoft games at that point so I wasn't new to the series. I was just shocked at how much I enjoyed it. This was the game that re-awakened my passion for gaming.

And yet when I came back in 2024 I was a bit... less patient with the game maybe. Maybe I came back with an expectation that I would love it just as much as my first time. I certainly enjoyed it, but I found myself getting much more frustrated with the game than I had the first time around.

All in all, still a fun time. Still a masterpiece and undeserving of all the hate. I am glad I played again to get a more balanced perspective on the game, but it definitely didn't hit the same.

90%PC

May introduced more gank and jank, but in the end it, Aldia was there for me.

80%PC

Amazing game. Not as good as DS1, but sometimes better in notable ways. Amazing, imaginative enemy design and level design. The levels aren't interconnected like DS1, but all the levels are solid to great. Lots of great bosses that every Souls fan should see. If you like the environmental storytelling style of From Soft, you'll love the story in this game.

75%PlayStation 4

Good game, terrible sequel. Artificial difficulty, shitty bosses but occasionally beatiful areas and bosses. DLC's improve this game a shit ton.

80%PC

Bearer of the curse edition (mod)

80%PC

Rated it 6 in first playthrough. Replayed with the lighting engine mod and realized it's not so bad after all.

80%PC

This is actually pretty good way better than i anticipated because of the infamous "Black sheep of the Souls" tag.
[Thanks to mods i got the AAA experience both in terms of Graphics & gameplay,will definitely advice pc players to check out nexus]

Overall it does start of in a blank manner even though majula is 1 of the most beautiful locations in DS,it still is very bland
Still as u keep on it get's better Lil by little & you'll definitely notice it ,for me it was the mirror knight boss fight from that moment it truly became a Souls game

90%PlayStation 4

El mejor ''Dark Souls''.

70%PC

La oveja negra de la familia Souls. Es raro, pero no por ello malo, es distinto de todos los demás pero cuando superas esa barrera mental se vuelve un juego igual de disfrutable que sus hermanos

95%PC

goat souls

70%PC

Whatever. It's more Dark Souls. I can't complain too much... well, okay, the increased enemy count in this version of the game is an obnoxious chore to deal with, not a compelling challenge.

80%PC

Si bien es un buen juego en líneas generales, es el peor souls con diferencia. Me la pasé invocando para no tener que sufrir sus jefes tediosos, aburridos y repetidos. Me divertí más superando las áreas, pero al final terminé muy cansado de todo. No creo que lo rejugue.

100%PC

If you think about the game as not related to Dark Souls I then it's perfect. If you compare it to Dark Souls I and you played Dark Souls I first then you probably won't enjoy it as much.

85%PC

Quite good. For a game that is considered the black sheep in the dark souls franchise, I think it is quite underrated.

85%PC

lol people told me this game was bad, yeah right
The game is slow and a bit stiffer than the first. The world overlay makes no sense too, but I consider that a positive. The art direction of all the levels are fantastic and memorable. Love it

60%PC

Genuinely, this game sucks so badly compared to the first and it had such potential. There are so many issues ranging from i-frames to the locations being terrible that it makes it almost worth not playing unless you are really dedicated to souls games.

100%PC

The best game of all time!

50%PC

Don't.

80%PC

8/10

55%PC

Yike; i get that fromsoft wanted to depart from the DS1 format to try something new, but gameplay and hitboxes are pretty bad

95%PC

If only the hit-boxes where good

100%PC

Dark Souls II was the game I had the most hours in on Steam for a hot second, and that's cuz it ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ rocks. There is so much content in this game; you could play a dozen different characters without using a single piece of shared gear and still have room to spare. This game packs the most bosses into any Souls game, and though some of them are fairly straightforward and lackluster, the majority of them are awesome, unique fights that hold their own against bosses of the other games. My one gripe is that my personal favorite boss fight of this game, and as a matter of fact, the Dark Souls series, is locked behind the Ivory King DLC, which is not a part of the base game. Honestly though, this hardly deserves criticism, as I'd expect any content I buy for a game after the fact to be some of the best that it has to offer.

80%PlayStation 4

Well, it’s very close to the 2 previous games. I didn’t see much difference with them. Well maybe except the torch mechanic. Key game formula still works like a charm. The hub location is nicer this time. There are a few good locations. I also think there were no swamps this time?.. I liked some minor steps towards the player’s convenience, for example like no autostart for NG. I was also able to see around 90% of the content before opening the guides. And based on my experience with earlier games, I was already prepared for the worst by going through DLCs before the final location. DLC are still hard to find without looking into guides, but mostly nice, some cool boss fights. Frigid outskirts of course will have a place in my memory but not as a pleasant experience :)

85%PC

Dark Souls II is a game that, despite its problems, offers an unforgettable experience and engaging gameplay. As befits a title from the Souls series, the game maintains a high level of difficulty and satisfying combat mechanics, which often require players to rethink their approach to each encounter.

One of the game's greatest strengths is the number of bosses and the variety of locations. Unfortunately, despite this variety, many bosses and locations lack character, making them largely boring and not memorable. Although the game features some epic battles and interesting places, some fail to meet expectations, which can be disappointing for players seeking memorable challenges.

Additionally, a significant issue is the sheer number of enemies in certain areas, which is tedious and unnecessary. This phenomenon is especially noticeable in the DLC, where the abundance of enemies makes the game frustrating rather than satisfying. Instead of presenting well-thought-out challenges, the game often forces the player to defeat numerous opponents, which not only slows down progress but also diminishes the pleasure of discovering new locations and the story.

One cannot overlook the problems with hitboxes. However, they are not as glaring, likely because I played the Scholar of the First Sin edition, where these issues were probably improved. Nevertheless, there are moments when enemy attacks hit the player in seemingly unfair ways, which can be irritating, especially in more challenging encounters.

The story in Dark Souls II is another strong point. Although it is presented in an enigmatic manner and requires the player to pay close attention to piece together all the elements, this mysterious way of storytelling gives the game a unique atmosphere and depth.

During my adventure with Dark Souls II, I had a great time. Despite a few problems, such as occasionally unfairly difficult moments, some less interesting locations, or hitbox issues, the game provided me with a lot of satisfaction and unforgettable moments. Dark Souls II is a must-play for fans of challenging action games and a true gem in its genre.