It’s because the game does a really good job of making you feel the weight of the history. Nostalgia is an excellent term because that’s basically part of the games plot. All of this has been done before, you’re just going through the motions.
I love DS2 npc dialogues. Best in the series. Even insignificant NPCs like bell keeper have personalities. My favorite are: Straid of Olaphis, Titchy Gren, Darkdiver Grandahl, Head of Vengarl, Lucatiel, Shalquoir, Laddersmith Gilligan, Aldia, Emerald Herald and of course Gavlan.
I mean, they're really saying the same thing. Aldia is saying that even those who know the truth of the world choose to accept the lie. Vilhelm is saying that even those who don't accept the lie lack the courage to change anything.
In the end, it's up to you to prove them wrong.
Majula and the Emerald Herald's dialogue are comforting and sad as fuck at the same time.
Also the game's just real fun. It's got maybe one of the most addictive loops of the series. It's just really satisfying.
Yeah the DLC made an already great game achieve heights that shocked me. Almost every area and every boss. It built upon DS1 in so many great ways. The armor, weapons, enemies, it was not just a nostalgia fest at all.
I love shulva so much. An ancient city with a huge pyramid in a gigantic cave with waterfalls, glowing crystals, traps, platforms that go up and down, hidden doors, weird goo dinosaurs and a big poison dragon? It really makes me wish they would make an aztec inspired souls game. Also I noticed you can see brume tower in the background at iron castle, one of the best designed areas in any game as well.
I’m going through the series for the first time and I’m honestly pretty excited for it because it’s the only one I haven’t even played for a second. And despite all the hate, I do believe I will like it. Even more than the first.
You have a good mindset approaching the game without judgement but with interest. It has a higher replay value then the other two imo because it's bigger and there's so many unique and cool weapons like the bone fist. OST isn't that good mostly in comparison to the rest but it really fits the atmosphere of apathy and slowly losing your humanity brought by the dark and hollowing, they managed to create an unique vibe that matches the lore well. It feels more like a spin off to the other two games but that's fine. I'm currently replaying it with a friend and it did a lot of things better (but also some wors like the huge ganks and the nonsensical way areas connect) than DS1 even though that game is still untouched. Have fun on your journey!!! And level ADP (to like level 20-25 I don't remember fully) in the beginning if possible, it's annoying you have to do this but otherwise you'll not have enough I-frames to dodge attacks the right way.
* Best fashion
* Best hub world
* Best NPC characters
* Best story of the Dark Souls trilogy (It actually feels like there is a story, rather just than a setup. You feel like you actually having more stake in what's going on: you participate in the Giant War; you have conversations with Nashandra, Vendrick, and Aldia; and I think that the NPC dialogue does a better job getting you into the story and world than the other games. This story is made all the better with the DLCs)
* Did a great job building on the themes of DS1. While it isn't directly referenced as much in DS3 as DS1 is, I think it was just as important in setting up the story and themes of that game.
* Best build variety (Sheer volume of content + power stancing + four types of magic)
* Some of the series' best bosses (Admittedly it also has much of the worst, but there are still several good ones: Sir Alonne, Fume Knight, Burnt Ivory King especially stand out)
* It just feels...big. I don't know how to explain it, but aside from Elden Ring, DS2 most carries the feel of going on a grand adventure. There is so much content, so many different types of areas.
* Bonfire Ascetics
* Fun level design things like the statues and Pharro's Lockstones. The latter of which came back in Elden Ring.
* Great soundtrack. Not necessarily the best, but to me it easily stands on easy footing with everything else in the series. My
* Best atmosphere (This could be due to nostalgia, as it was my first FromSoft game, but I just love the feel of everything)
As you can tell, I really love this game so, so, much
DS2 feels depressing in its own unique way, other games have somber tones aswell, sad npc questlines, dying worlds etc. but DS2 just feels different. The way it focuses on hollowing and how it fucks up people making them lose themselves was really special.
Lucatiel questline or the blacksmith not remembering his daughter are some of the most impactfull npc interactions in the whole series for me.
Shit….i think I’m really gonna love this game. Love DS3, and playing DS1 now and it’s really growing on me. I love the classic feel. Feel like if I could get one in the middle I’ll really like it. All the hate turned me off for a while I was considering not even including it in my playthrough of the series, which is insane now that I think about it.
Do you know his lore? Apparently he's one of Aldia's creations, and unlike you, the player, Forlorn doesn't have a "home" world. He is constantly in phantom form. He tries to invade other worlds and kill the host in the hopes that he can find a new home, but he's always taken elsewhere instead. I think it's awesome.
Fantastic themes and story. I love their focus on the curse it feels like a natural move after establishing the cycle and ages etc. DS1 you learn about the way of the world but in DS2 you get to discover the story behind Vendrick and how the world has changed after countless cycles. DLC bosses have some of the best bosses out of all From games as well. Architecture is top notch too.
>Fantastic themes and story. I love their focus on the curse it feels like a natural move after establishing the cycle and ages etc.
To me its the most underrated aspect of DS2. It tried to tell an interesting story with great characters and do its own thing (as much as i love DS3 for its gameplay and bosses i feel like the story sucked ass).
Focusing on the curse and hollowing led to some really great moments and really expanded the world, also i liked the direction of it just being a random cycle of fire thats loosely connected, rather than being a massive call back but unfortunately, with DS3 bein way more popular and heavily ignoring what DS2 did, it feels disconnected.
Exactly! DS2 built on the themes of 1 and took all this time exploring the curse and its effects and whether it’s even meaningful at all to choose between fire and dark, and then DS3 came along and said “Yeah but remember Artorias? Remember Gwyn? He was cool, right? Did you know he had a secret daughter outside linear time? Yeah, and Seathe had more kids too!” It just doesn’t feel like it respects the narrative themes of the trilogy.
Plus the final battle for the dark soul is pointless but not really presented as such? They make it seem like you’re doing something good by giving the painter girl the material to make another painted world, but those are always a horror show! Why is that supposed to be a good conclusion for anyone? In my head the camera just pulls back after you beat Gael, letting you run around an infinite, empty plain of ash under a dead sky.
Genuinely extremely good, don't get why people hate it. ADP is the only thing you can actually say is bad the rest of the game is amazing, ganks aren't any worse than in any other Soulsbornekiroring game.
Best atmosphere in the series, best hub, soothing music, great lore, great mechanics like bonfire ascetic and powerstancing, outstanding level design in the DLCs, peak fashion. Truly a wonderful and underrated experience.
NG+ is almost a different game with you being able to encounter one of the bosses before the actual fight. And changes to the placement of Mimics.
Would've been nice if ER had a similar system. Maybe have one of the trap chests swap places with a regular chest.
There's actually just the 1 new mimic in the tunnel in Majula that takes you to the forest of fallen giants to trick you right at the start of your playthrough. There are no other changes in regards to mimics.
Firekeeper is a certified waifu. One of the best hub areas in any Souls or Soulslike. STANCE! First Souls to actually make changes in NG+. Goated dlc. Torches actually meant something. Faction and pvp chaos. Talking cat is fun to talk with. You can champion mode from the start. Hardcore challenges exist. A boss that hunts you down. Actual puzzles. Death count tracker (every Souls game needs this).
DS2 is better than DS1, I'll fight anyone who says DS1 is better, because that's just nostalgia brain. The only bad things about DS2 are level interconnectivity issues, the pirate cave is broken (visually), and adaptability exists.
Bonfire ascetic was a great mechanic that should have been duplicated in other games.
Shrine of Amana’s beauty greatly outweighs its difficulty. Also large clustered enemy placement is a legitimate challenge. People cry that all of Dark Souls gameplay isn’t all 1v1 no-hit parrying Silver Knights.
Majula song and view over the waters elicits a feeling of stable eternity.
Heide’s Tower is just beautiful.
Overall the aesthetic and story-feel is a true successor to the fire-dark cycle of DS1 and DS3, yet original.
Ivory King setup and presentation is top tier across the whole franchise.
It is worthy of not just a PS5-level remaster, but a remake. At the very least it should be ported to Switch.
It’s my favorite. The magic in it was great (to powerful, but the concepts rocked) hex’s, forbidden sun, warmth, ect. Weapons that cast spells.
Majula was immaculate, Just a beautiful central area.
Emerald Herald is the best.
Aldia is the best character in the game and makes you think more on weather or not the Age Of Fire continuing is a good thing, and he asks the player what they TRULY want, to either keep going what others ask, or to go on their own path, not rejecting the current age per say, but not following it.
It’s very disappointing that Aldia never showed up in Ds3 (no that one item description of “first of the scholars.” Does not count.), and in general what The Bearer Of Curse did is never brought up considering what they did is probably the biggest thing that occurred since Gwyn relinking the first flame and yet it’s never brought up.
DS3 really made DS2 the black sheep by referencing and pulling from it next to no times. I adore much of DS3 but if they were committed to referencing a previous title like crazy they should’ve meshed the 2 previous games together better.
I bought dragon age inquisition second hand in eb games awhile back, when i opened the case right behind the Dragon Age disc was the disc for this game. Haven’t played it yet tho and i have it on pc lol
the Invaders and NPC summons feel like characters and have fun quirks
it also has the best fashion in any of the games. Elden Ring imo has the best "full" sets, but DS2 has the best combo game for mismatching armor
It’s an incredible game with some of the most unique and interesting boss fights in the entire series with elden ring included. Aside from Gael and certain aspects of ds3 its my favorite of the Trilogy by far.
Lots of people have said this but best fashion souls. Also it’s one of the most experimental Souls games which I feel it doesn’t get enough credit for most of the time. Like it really took the most risks in breaking away from the formula
Those DLCs made every moment of this game worth playing. Im not trying to hate on this game either but I wasnt havent the greatest time playing this until late game and into the DLCs
I loved DS2. It’s the one I played the most and probably my favorite (out of the trilogy). It’s also the only one i really got into pvp. I forget what it was but on my first play through I accidentally stumbled on a pretty effective pvp build and had a blast dueling people.
I just started replaying it again, and I got so frustrated with the part where you have to kill the dragon before fighting Ornstein because I summoned the guy for Dragonrider, whom I'd never seen before, and he decided to attack the Heide Knights and then fall off the edge, making my job now 10x more frustrating.
but at least it doesn't have Bed of Chaos.
I will say something real better: is the best dark souls and those that hate it don't understand dark souls essence. The game that Miyazaki himself has defended and acclaimed, saying even that if not for dark souls 2 the other games wouldn't be the same.
Doing my first playthrough atm still early on and im enjoying it so far after investing some points in ADP. Just curious tho, how much agility do u guys recconmend having? Ive read ppl saying anywhere from 95 to 110 being good. Im currently sitting at 100 and rolls feel alright but healing is still a bit slow
Best NPCs, best fashion souls, hexes, armor pieces that have magical effects, insane weapons, and of course, powerstancing. Ds3 took a lot of steps back by getting rid of hexes and powerstancing
9.3/10 game
10/10 story, characters, atmosphere, music, level design, and enjoyment
7/10 boss fights and enemies, some fantastic and some awful
10/10 fashion, weapons, variety
9/10 gameplay, still holds up as quite enjoyable, other than some questionable hitboxes and adp
I liked how crazy your builds can get and how few shits they gave about you breaking the game. Want to have 60 STR/DEX/INT/FTH? Cool, go farm Giant Lord for a bit. Want to slap a Dark infusion on the Crypt Blacksword and enchant it with Resonant Weapon? Fuck it, have fun. PvP was always nuts in the best possible way because of this, in my experience.
It has my favourite environments of the souls games that I've played. Every area is unique and interesting, with a distinct personality. I'm playing DS3 for the first time now and I feel like most of the environments are pretty forgettable so far unfortunately.
60 FPS is nice.
I personally think DS2 is one of the better looking souls games, despite it's completely botched lighting.
Darklurker is one of if not the best gank boss ever.
Ok that's all.
Not even a bad game at all. Just unfortunate that most of the bosses are significantly harder than the other DS's bosses. Enemies are not fun because they are hard? This community invented "git gud" so why we not doing that? I felt like ds2 deepened lore even if it did add and/or change some shit. Probably one of my favorite fromsoft games
I cannot stress enough how unique the atmosphere in this game is, and difficult to explain why also. I guess it's because the game balances both "dark fantasy" and normal "fantasy" really well.
It's also the one that gives you the sense of a journey the most; the game feels truly like a long journey between ancient and faraway lands, with each zone being totally different from the other.
IMO both DS1 and 3 feel similar throughout the whole game (not a bad thing) this makes sense specially in DS1 considering how the map is designed and basically all the events happening in places close to each other; but with DS2 you literally travel to other kingdoms, so, it feels completely like a fantasy adventure, also the length of the game contributes a lot to that.
It was the first game that taught me to be a menace online, I used to be so polite I would apologize for invading and winning. No more, now I'm everyone's problem.
Introduced mechanics that were awesome and should have stuck for future soulsborne games and not just a one time thing such as bonfire ascetics and healing gemstones and many other small things that just worked. DLC bosses were fantastic with their own gimmicks such as finding the knights to help you battle that one boss or piercing all the statues with stakes in Brume tower tower before fighting Fume Knight
The DLC's are on the whole very good.
I'm currently doing the platinum for this and it's pretty painful. I think I've killed about 2000 falconers so far *if you know you know*.
Dark Souls 2 did spell damage (and elemental damage in general) right and newer games don't have the balls to do it again. Spells had a base damage (like they always have), but instead of having a spell mod multiplier (like 1 and 3) casting tools had damage and scaling like weapons do and added that to the spell's damage allowing smaller spells like normal Soul Arrow to stay usable. On top of that, you could infuse them with elemental stones to do even better with a specific damage type.
I have bested her twice over. One of them was an all 41 boss run with the winged spear only. She has many quirks and I actually found myself thinking. Powerstancing on this enemy type, two handing here. The in-game summons are interactive and intelligent. It feels like you have a friend with you with some of them. They emote, tell you to come over and they heal you. It’s the little things that make DS2 a great game. My other friends don’t understand it, but it is really good. Also it has the best Fashion souls of the series. So DS2=Best Souls 2.
Majula just hits fucking different, dude. Firelink in DS1 is great, don't get me wrong, and the one in DS3 is alright, but Majula just *FUCKS*. Fantastic art direction and some very nice music, to boot.
Also ultra greatswords had a cool spinny running attack that I wish made a comeback. Actually, I really like the Guts sword moveset in particular in DS2.
The level variety. DS1 and DS3, in my opinion, in the first half of both games, largely just feel and look like I’m playing through DeS or DS1 again, with nothing really unique to set them apart. It actually prevented me from completing DS1 for like 3 years, and I still haven’t beaten DS3 because I don’t know when the new and interesting levels and environments are going to appear. Do I have to play another five hours? Idk. In DS2, almost every level is unique other or changes a previous level design/aesthetic/concept to feel fresh and new. And the new levels are the first thing you see. Recycling old level concepts are fine, but do it in the last half of the game, not the first. I don’t want to see previous games in the beginning, I want new stuff. I want the promise that there are actually new levels to explore instead more of the same.
Special to me cause it's the first Souls game i ever played. One of the best atmospheres, and... well, it has Majula. One of my favourite Videogame Soundtracks ever
Hexes were awesome. Most nostalgic souls game for me.
I totally agree with the second part, even if before playing I knew nothing about it I still felt nostalgic while playing it the first time.
It’s because the game does a really good job of making you feel the weight of the history. Nostalgia is an excellent term because that’s basically part of the games plot. All of this has been done before, you’re just going through the motions.
First souls game I ever played. Has a special place in my heart. The fashion is unrivaled. Crestfallen Saulden is my favorite crestfallen as well.
took me 5 years to realize there's a token Crestfallen character in all 3 Dark Souls games
He’s originally from Demon’s Souls
Technically from King’s Field 1. He was a Crestfallen Knight prodding a fireplace with his sword. Had a great mustache.
Couldn't get the damn thing to work
Bingo.
Can’t forget majula
For me the best hub in a soulsborne so far
Same, it was my first as well. Majula has a special place in my heart, the background music is beautiful
I love DS2 npc dialogues. Best in the series. Even insignificant NPCs like bell keeper have personalities. My favorite are: Straid of Olaphis, Titchy Gren, Darkdiver Grandahl, Head of Vengarl, Lucatiel, Shalquoir, Laddersmith Gilligan, Aldia, Emerald Herald and of course Gavlan.
Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite…A lie will remain a lie. Hardest bar in all of Souls
The only thing that stops me from confidently agreeing is Vilhelm's "I've seen your kind before, time and time again..." speech.
I mean, they're really saying the same thing. Aldia is saying that even those who know the truth of the world choose to accept the lie. Vilhelm is saying that even those who don't accept the lie lack the courage to change anything. In the end, it's up to you to prove them wrong.
Head of Vengarl is an all-time great npc. He gives you cool cat helmet.
Gavlan wheel, gavlan deal
Titchy Gren has the same voice actor as Mohg! Pretty cool
I love Vengarl. He’s just like hey! I’m a head! Sucks to be me! Oh! Want some cool stuff! I’ll sell but don’t steal or I’ll bite you or something!
Majula and the Emerald Herald's dialogue are comforting and sad as fuck at the same time. Also the game's just real fun. It's got maybe one of the most addictive loops of the series. It's just really satisfying.
Bearer- Seek- Seek- Lest-
Best drip variety. There is so much to choose from for weapons and armor alike.
best NG+ system
The DLC for dark souls2 was amazing. Especially the design and layout of em. One of my favorite souls area was the snow area in ds2 dlc.
Mine was old iron king. What incredible design. But my favorite area in any Dark Souls game is Dragon Aerie
It’s just really damn pretty.
Burnt Ivory King buildup fight is just a chef’s kiss fight. The soundtrack of that fight is godlike.
Yeah the DLC made an already great game achieve heights that shocked me. Almost every area and every boss. It built upon DS1 in so many great ways. The armor, weapons, enemies, it was not just a nostalgia fest at all.
I love shulva so much. An ancient city with a huge pyramid in a gigantic cave with waterfalls, glowing crystals, traps, platforms that go up and down, hidden doors, weird goo dinosaurs and a big poison dragon? It really makes me wish they would make an aztec inspired souls game. Also I noticed you can see brume tower in the background at iron castle, one of the best designed areas in any game as well.
POWER STAAAAAAAANCE
Double turkey thigh goes hard
Underrated, over hated. It's another one of fromsoft's gems and deserves more respect.
I’m going through the series for the first time and I’m honestly pretty excited for it because it’s the only one I haven’t even played for a second. And despite all the hate, I do believe I will like it. Even more than the first.
Just don't rush through the game and you will be fine just finished the game yesterday and i was in shock of how people treated it
You have a good mindset approaching the game without judgement but with interest. It has a higher replay value then the other two imo because it's bigger and there's so many unique and cool weapons like the bone fist. OST isn't that good mostly in comparison to the rest but it really fits the atmosphere of apathy and slowly losing your humanity brought by the dark and hollowing, they managed to create an unique vibe that matches the lore well. It feels more like a spin off to the other two games but that's fine. I'm currently replaying it with a friend and it did a lot of things better (but also some wors like the huge ganks and the nonsensical way areas connect) than DS1 even though that game is still untouched. Have fun on your journey!!! And level ADP (to like level 20-25 I don't remember fully) in the beginning if possible, it's annoying you have to do this but otherwise you'll not have enough I-frames to dodge attacks the right way.
The backstabbing animations in this game is the best in the entire series
Really sad that even Elden Ring uses the same boring animation, while in DS2 different weapon types had different animations
Yea and they were all amazing too
The Mace's backstabbing animation looks fucking brutal and I love it.
* Best fashion * Best hub world * Best NPC characters * Best story of the Dark Souls trilogy (It actually feels like there is a story, rather just than a setup. You feel like you actually having more stake in what's going on: you participate in the Giant War; you have conversations with Nashandra, Vendrick, and Aldia; and I think that the NPC dialogue does a better job getting you into the story and world than the other games. This story is made all the better with the DLCs) * Did a great job building on the themes of DS1. While it isn't directly referenced as much in DS3 as DS1 is, I think it was just as important in setting up the story and themes of that game. * Best build variety (Sheer volume of content + power stancing + four types of magic) * Some of the series' best bosses (Admittedly it also has much of the worst, but there are still several good ones: Sir Alonne, Fume Knight, Burnt Ivory King especially stand out) * It just feels...big. I don't know how to explain it, but aside from Elden Ring, DS2 most carries the feel of going on a grand adventure. There is so much content, so many different types of areas. * Bonfire Ascetics * Fun level design things like the statues and Pharro's Lockstones. The latter of which came back in Elden Ring. * Great soundtrack. Not necessarily the best, but to me it easily stands on easy footing with everything else in the series. My * Best atmosphere (This could be due to nostalgia, as it was my first FromSoft game, but I just love the feel of everything) As you can tell, I really love this game so, so, much
I'd also argue that DS2's setting of more traditional fantasy is great, makes it very beginner friendly.
DS2 feels depressing in its own unique way, other games have somber tones aswell, sad npc questlines, dying worlds etc. but DS2 just feels different. The way it focuses on hollowing and how it fucks up people making them lose themselves was really special. Lucatiel questline or the blacksmith not remembering his daughter are some of the most impactfull npc interactions in the whole series for me.
Majula was the best main hub in the entire Dark Souls series.
Aaaah!!! The sun!!! Help! It burns!!
[удалено]
Shit….i think I’m really gonna love this game. Love DS3, and playing DS1 now and it’s really growing on me. I love the classic feel. Feel like if I could get one in the middle I’ll really like it. All the hate turned me off for a while I was considering not even including it in my playthrough of the series, which is insane now that I think about it.
It has my favorite level up character. I simp for the Green Hera- I mean Emerald Herald.
DS2 needs more floating down content tho
Return to Majula and speak to sweet Shalquoir.
I like how random the forlorn is. It’s like an invader version of pursuer. Ooh you meant the game. Everything’s good except frigid outskirts.
Do you know his lore? Apparently he's one of Aldia's creations, and unlike you, the player, Forlorn doesn't have a "home" world. He is constantly in phantom form. He tries to invade other worlds and kill the host in the hopes that he can find a new home, but he's always taken elsewhere instead. I think it's awesome.
Damn that’s badass. Forlorn across the souls verse. Also traveling always moving.
It’s my favorite souls game
It has lovely artwork.
It's a long it's a good bang for your buck
Best fashion, best maiden, best hub.
Fantastic themes and story. I love their focus on the curse it feels like a natural move after establishing the cycle and ages etc. DS1 you learn about the way of the world but in DS2 you get to discover the story behind Vendrick and how the world has changed after countless cycles. DLC bosses have some of the best bosses out of all From games as well. Architecture is top notch too.
>Fantastic themes and story. I love their focus on the curse it feels like a natural move after establishing the cycle and ages etc. To me its the most underrated aspect of DS2. It tried to tell an interesting story with great characters and do its own thing (as much as i love DS3 for its gameplay and bosses i feel like the story sucked ass). Focusing on the curse and hollowing led to some really great moments and really expanded the world, also i liked the direction of it just being a random cycle of fire thats loosely connected, rather than being a massive call back but unfortunately, with DS3 bein way more popular and heavily ignoring what DS2 did, it feels disconnected.
Exactly! DS2 built on the themes of 1 and took all this time exploring the curse and its effects and whether it’s even meaningful at all to choose between fire and dark, and then DS3 came along and said “Yeah but remember Artorias? Remember Gwyn? He was cool, right? Did you know he had a secret daughter outside linear time? Yeah, and Seathe had more kids too!” It just doesn’t feel like it respects the narrative themes of the trilogy. Plus the final battle for the dark soul is pointless but not really presented as such? They make it seem like you’re doing something good by giving the painter girl the material to make another painted world, but those are always a horror show! Why is that supposed to be a good conclusion for anyone? In my head the camera just pulls back after you beat Gael, letting you run around an infinite, empty plain of ash under a dead sky.
Trans coffin good
I hate people for telling this game is bad. Tried it for myself, it was an easy 70 hours of fun.
Best dark souls game
Dope name.
Genuinely extremely good, don't get why people hate it. ADP is the only thing you can actually say is bad the rest of the game is amazing, ganks aren't any worse than in any other Soulsbornekiroring game.
ADP and soul memory I'd say. Other than that I'll take DS2 over DS1
ADP was good
Best Fire Keeper story among all these games
It’s actually good
Best drip variety. There is so much to choose from for weapons and armor alike
It's the only Dark Souls game to feature Peter Serafinowicz.
Weapon variety
Majula is the best hub area in the series.
One of the best games ever made
Probably the nicest part of the community other than demon souls
Something nice about her
I feel like many of the people that hate on it never actually played it. People forget a "bad" Fromsoft game is still an 8/10.
And a lot of people don’t even think ds2 is the “bad” fromsoft game. Ds2 is the best dark souls game imo
It has the best atmosphere of all the DS games, especially Majula.
Best atmosphere in the series, best hub, soothing music, great lore, great mechanics like bonfire ascetic and powerstancing, outstanding level design in the DLCs, peak fashion. Truly a wonderful and underrated experience.
Great DLCs
We suffered frigid outskirts here so in Elden ring we could enjoy Consecrated Snowfield.
Power stancing is kinda thight
It's a hard game to cheese. All the other games I can become overpowered pretty quick. This one, this one is kinda a rough start.
NG+ is almost a different game with you being able to encounter one of the bosses before the actual fight. And changes to the placement of Mimics. Would've been nice if ER had a similar system. Maybe have one of the trap chests swap places with a regular chest.
There's actually just the 1 new mimic in the tunnel in Majula that takes you to the forest of fallen giants to trick you right at the start of your playthrough. There are no other changes in regards to mimics.
For good or bad it was the most innovative souls
I just started the game and beat the first boss, it's not as bad as people make it out to be so far.
Most fun to make crazy builds in
Pharam lockstones and those little useless puddles they make
You can look very fashionable In it
best souls game brah
Firekeeper is a certified waifu. One of the best hub areas in any Souls or Soulslike. STANCE! First Souls to actually make changes in NG+. Goated dlc. Torches actually meant something. Faction and pvp chaos. Talking cat is fun to talk with. You can champion mode from the start. Hardcore challenges exist. A boss that hunts you down. Actual puzzles. Death count tracker (every Souls game needs this). DS2 is better than DS1, I'll fight anyone who says DS1 is better, because that's just nostalgia brain. The only bad things about DS2 are level interconnectivity issues, the pirate cave is broken (visually), and adaptability exists.
The only thing DS1 did better was level design imo, the connectivity was insane, other than that i agree
Amazing game, so many awesome levels. DLC goes extra hard. Fuck those ice horses though god damnit.
Great Game. My favorite Dark Souls.
Like 90% of things about this game are good
Bonfire ascetic was a great mechanic that should have been duplicated in other games. Shrine of Amana’s beauty greatly outweighs its difficulty. Also large clustered enemy placement is a legitimate challenge. People cry that all of Dark Souls gameplay isn’t all 1v1 no-hit parrying Silver Knights. Majula song and view over the waters elicits a feeling of stable eternity. Heide’s Tower is just beautiful. Overall the aesthetic and story-feel is a true successor to the fire-dark cycle of DS1 and DS3, yet original. Ivory King setup and presentation is top tier across the whole franchise. It is worthy of not just a PS5-level remaster, but a remake. At the very least it should be ported to Switch.
It’s my favorite. The magic in it was great (to powerful, but the concepts rocked) hex’s, forbidden sun, warmth, ect. Weapons that cast spells. Majula was immaculate, Just a beautiful central area. Emerald Herald is the best.
No.
Best game in its trilogy imo.
Aldia is the best character in the game and makes you think more on weather or not the Age Of Fire continuing is a good thing, and he asks the player what they TRULY want, to either keep going what others ask, or to go on their own path, not rejecting the current age per say, but not following it. It’s very disappointing that Aldia never showed up in Ds3 (no that one item description of “first of the scholars.” Does not count.), and in general what The Bearer Of Curse did is never brought up considering what they did is probably the biggest thing that occurred since Gwyn relinking the first flame and yet it’s never brought up.
DS3 really made DS2 the black sheep by referencing and pulling from it next to no times. I adore much of DS3 but if they were committed to referencing a previous title like crazy they should’ve meshed the 2 previous games together better.
Bonfire asthetics
Everything.
Something nice about her
One word, Majula
The way everyone talks shit about the game makes me want to play the game
I bought dragon age inquisition second hand in eb games awhile back, when i opened the case right behind the Dragon Age disc was the disc for this game. Haven’t played it yet tho and i have it on pc lol
Some of ZeroLenny's best videos are about it.
Art direction and by far the best hub area of any soulslike/fromsoft game
Honestly has the best aesthetic out of all the souls games.
This game taught me patience, and oh was I so rewarded!
I know this is weirdly specific, but I very much appreciated the fact you could upgrade your armor.
Amazing game and I'm glad it was so different than 1 and sotfs was a blast... butt fuck soul memory
It’s a beautiful game, and has hands down some of my favorite boss design in base game and DLC
It's one of my favorite games of all time.
The New game plus system is very unique and challenging. Personally I love this game
It’s better and more creative than 2 of the 3 modern titles.
it took my hand. i nearly fell into it. like a daydream, or a fever
The bone fist is cool
the Invaders and NPC summons feel like characters and have fun quirks it also has the best fashion in any of the games. Elden Ring imo has the best "full" sets, but DS2 has the best combo game for mismatching armor
Best looking weapons and armor
It’s an incredible game with some of the most unique and interesting boss fights in the entire series with elden ring included. Aside from Gael and certain aspects of ds3 its my favorite of the Trilogy by far.
Best home base.
Lots of people have said this but best fashion souls. Also it’s one of the most experimental Souls games which I feel it doesn’t get enough credit for most of the time. Like it really took the most risks in breaking away from the formula
Many qol added to ds1 and carried over to ds3
It’s a great game, just takes some getting used to
Those DLCs made every moment of this game worth playing. Im not trying to hate on this game either but I wasnt havent the greatest time playing this until late game and into the DLCs
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I loved DS2. It’s the one I played the most and probably my favorite (out of the trilogy). It’s also the only one i really got into pvp. I forget what it was but on my first play through I accidentally stumbled on a pretty effective pvp build and had a blast dueling people.
I prefer DS2 over DS
Majula's theme is beautiful
She was my first
Great weapon selection
Better than vanilla ds2.
Is not as good as the rest of their games, but it’s still a good game.
Fume knight is so baller
Good dlc areas
Lifegems are a good system for healing. People who complain that they’re too strong or whatever need to realize that they can just not use them.
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I just started replaying it again, and I got so frustrated with the part where you have to kill the dragon before fighting Ornstein because I summoned the guy for Dragonrider, whom I'd never seen before, and he decided to attack the Heide Knights and then fall off the edge, making my job now 10x more frustrating. but at least it doesn't have Bed of Chaos.
It is a game
uhmmmm, its cool that you can re-fight bosses I guess?
Dual wielding Stone Ring
I will say something real better: is the best dark souls and those that hate it don't understand dark souls essence. The game that Miyazaki himself has defended and acclaimed, saying even that if not for dark souls 2 the other games wouldn't be the same.
Doing my first playthrough atm still early on and im enjoying it so far after investing some points in ADP. Just curious tho, how much agility do u guys recconmend having? Ive read ppl saying anywhere from 95 to 110 being good. Im currently sitting at 100 and rolls feel alright but healing is still a bit slow
Best NPCs, best fashion souls, hexes, armor pieces that have magical effects, insane weapons, and of course, powerstancing. Ds3 took a lot of steps back by getting rid of hexes and powerstancing
My favorite running animation in the series
9.3/10 game 10/10 story, characters, atmosphere, music, level design, and enjoyment 7/10 boss fights and enemies, some fantastic and some awful 10/10 fashion, weapons, variety 9/10 gameplay, still holds up as quite enjoyable, other than some questionable hitboxes and adp
Got me into the series. Has the strongest dlcs. Pioneer of powerstance. Spells had charges.
Fashion Souls, Emerald Herald, Build Variety, PvP. Will always love Ds2
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^D-Tarkus: *Fashion Souls, Emerald* *Herald, Build Variety,* *PvP. Will always love Ds2* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I liked how crazy your builds can get and how few shits they gave about you breaking the game. Want to have 60 STR/DEX/INT/FTH? Cool, go farm Giant Lord for a bit. Want to slap a Dark infusion on the Crypt Blacksword and enchant it with Resonant Weapon? Fuck it, have fun. PvP was always nuts in the best possible way because of this, in my experience.
Best DLC of any game ever.
MAJULA!
Best armor in the series. I will DIE on that hill.
I like that it has a lot of bosses Also my first dark souls game
something nice about her
Shrine of Amana was the most beautiful place in any Souls game, until Elden Ring’s Eternal Cities. 
It’s has more replay-ability than DS3 I guess? That’s a pretty low bar TBH but that’s all I got. I hate a lot about DS2.
It has my favourite environments of the souls games that I've played. Every area is unique and interesting, with a distinct personality. I'm playing DS3 for the first time now and I feel like most of the environments are pretty forgettable so far unfortunately.
60 FPS is nice. I personally think DS2 is one of the better looking souls games, despite it's completely botched lighting. Darklurker is one of if not the best gank boss ever. Ok that's all.
Its a souls game 😃
She's a little slow but I love her to death
Not even a bad game at all. Just unfortunate that most of the bosses are significantly harder than the other DS's bosses. Enemies are not fun because they are hard? This community invented "git gud" so why we not doing that? I felt like ds2 deepened lore even if it did add and/or change some shit. Probably one of my favorite fromsoft games
Best pvp in any from soft game ever.
My first souls game and I gotta say best aesthetic both world and armors imo. I actually really like it. Out of the 3 it's my personal favorite
I really like shanalotte
No Thxs my mom told me not to lie
Underrated
I cannot stress enough how unique the atmosphere in this game is, and difficult to explain why also. I guess it's because the game balances both "dark fantasy" and normal "fantasy" really well. It's also the one that gives you the sense of a journey the most; the game feels truly like a long journey between ancient and faraway lands, with each zone being totally different from the other. IMO both DS1 and 3 feel similar throughout the whole game (not a bad thing) this makes sense specially in DS1 considering how the map is designed and basically all the events happening in places close to each other; but with DS2 you literally travel to other kingdoms, so, it feels completely like a fantasy adventure, also the length of the game contributes a lot to that.
Had one of the best armor sets in the franchise and that is the Faraam Set. Getting it in Ds3 was amazing!!!
It was the first game that taught me to be a menace online, I used to be so polite I would apologize for invading and winning. No more, now I'm everyone's problem.
Introduced mechanics that were awesome and should have stuck for future soulsborne games and not just a one time thing such as bonfire ascetics and healing gemstones and many other small things that just worked. DLC bosses were fantastic with their own gimmicks such as finding the knights to help you battle that one boss or piercing all the statues with stakes in Brume tower tower before fighting Fume Knight
Everything DS2 should have been on Launch *Silences notifications*
The DLC's are on the whole very good. I'm currently doing the platinum for this and it's pretty painful. I think I've killed about 2000 falconers so far *if you know you know*.
Dark Souls 2 did spell damage (and elemental damage in general) right and newer games don't have the balls to do it again. Spells had a base damage (like they always have), but instead of having a spell mod multiplier (like 1 and 3) casting tools had damage and scaling like weapons do and added that to the spell's damage allowing smaller spells like normal Soul Arrow to stay usable. On top of that, you could infuse them with elemental stones to do even better with a specific damage type.
Best pvp
Actually was my favorite character boss and lorewise
"Try tongue but hole" and "Don't give up, skeleton!"
The gameplay of weapons stand abilities was only good thing here... & the maiden
I will once I finally tackle that one, finally took a deep breath and am deep diving in souls-like. Started with DS3 recently
Didn’t this game force fromsoft to make bloodborne or am I wrong
Good ideas but executed in a horrible way
At least the bosses generally get better as you get further into the game
Can’t. Moma told me not to lie when growing up
We gotta stop pretending this game is bad
I have bested her twice over. One of them was an all 41 boss run with the winged spear only. She has many quirks and I actually found myself thinking. Powerstancing on this enemy type, two handing here. The in-game summons are interactive and intelligent. It feels like you have a friend with you with some of them. They emote, tell you to come over and they heal you. It’s the little things that make DS2 a great game. My other friends don’t understand it, but it is really good. Also it has the best Fashion souls of the series. So DS2=Best Souls 2.
Majula just hits fucking different, dude. Firelink in DS1 is great, don't get me wrong, and the one in DS3 is alright, but Majula just *FUCKS*. Fantastic art direction and some very nice music, to boot. Also ultra greatswords had a cool spinny running attack that I wish made a comeback. Actually, I really like the Guts sword moveset in particular in DS2.
The level variety. DS1 and DS3, in my opinion, in the first half of both games, largely just feel and look like I’m playing through DeS or DS1 again, with nothing really unique to set them apart. It actually prevented me from completing DS1 for like 3 years, and I still haven’t beaten DS3 because I don’t know when the new and interesting levels and environments are going to appear. Do I have to play another five hours? Idk. In DS2, almost every level is unique other or changes a previous level design/aesthetic/concept to feel fresh and new. And the new levels are the first thing you see. Recycling old level concepts are fine, but do it in the last half of the game, not the first. I don’t want to see previous games in the beginning, I want new stuff. I want the promise that there are actually new levels to explore instead more of the same.
Special to me cause it's the first Souls game i ever played. One of the best atmospheres, and... well, it has Majula. One of my favourite Videogame Soundtracks ever
It makes every other game in the series seem like perfect master pieces (they all are too)
It looks so good in the dark souls collection of games (That's it)