Reviews// Dark Souls II

There is a positive from this tough love: it reminds you that taking things steady is a much better approach than running into a pack of enemies, sword raised, fully intending to wipe them out... then getting utterly destroyed in a matter of seconds.

Newcomers to the game will quickly learn that DSII is a very different experience to anything else they've played before - there's no wading in, racking up combos and leaving a trail of bodies in your wake. Your best bet is to pick your opposition off one by one, getting their attention and luring them towards you on their own.

Get a couple of hits in, back up or circle them, attack again it's a slower, more thoughtful affair that requires a total change of gaming mindset from most of the titles out there. And that's a good thing.

As before, the game has a huge focus on you making your character whatever you want it to be. Again, things have been changed up slightly, bringing the character creation into the story rather than just something that needs to be done before you play, and I found myself feeling much more attached to my onscreen self from the off.

Despite clues to what's going on in the world around you being few and far between, it does feel like there's more of an emphasis on story in DSII - not much, admittedly, but certainly a shade more. I feel that if you want to get more details there'll be a heavy reliance on outside sources (as with the original games) but there is plenty in Drangleic to keep you going.

What will truly connect you to the game is the way that your character will evolve and grow stronger. Which of your abilities will be improved is entirely down to you. What weapons and armour you'll select to focus on and enhance is your decision alone.

With a wide range of classes at your disposal to begin with, the way that you'll move through the game will prove to be unique to you and each approach that you take with a new character gives you a whole new way to experience the game.

Magic users, initially comparatively frail compared to the more brutish classes, see some truly incredibly growth as their powers increase but no matter what your chosen path you will have an amazing time as you explore Drangleic's many curious areas.

There are places as stunning as Anor Londo, pits as disgusting and terrifying as Blighttown. Graphically, it's on a similar level to the first Dark Souls, perhaps a shade improved in places (especially during cutscenes) but the focus isn't on how it looks, of course. The gameplay is where it's at and DSII doesn't fail to deliver. As mentioned at the top of the page, this is very much more of the same; however, that's not a problem when the source material is that damn good.

There are, of course, some issues - the same criticisms that were levelled at Dark Souls can often be found in the sequel. Character models, especially for the low level enemies that respawn after each bonfire visit, are generally the same. Some of the sounds in the game are messed up, failing to read from the disc, and I've often found that some enemies simply disappear from play when they shouldn't - this, I believe, is being fixed in a future update.

Despite these minor faults, Dark Souls II has quickly forced its way into my list of top games. Hours have been poured into it already and I know that it will end up as days of play time invested.

A whole new world has been built using the same tools and starting point as the first game and while it's not significantly better than the original - remember, it is simply more of the same - that doesn't matter. It's a wide open land to explore, filled with new characters to learn how to deal with, both friendly and hostile.

Immense bosses will destroy you time and time again but you'll get to know their weaknesses and the adrenaline will rush through your body once more when you manage to take them down. Enemies that killed you numerous times and forced you to stare at that bloody YOU DIED screen again and again will be revisited and squashed like a bug because you have learned how to be better.

You will improve. You will learn. Every mistake is a lesson to be heeded. Each time you die, you'll realise that it was your mistake that cost you. Repeating said mistakes will drive you to the edge of madness, but eventually it will be worth it. You will stay the course. You will take down that final boss and claim his soul, freeing yourself and the land of Drangleic from the dread curse that has kept you from rest. And then you will click NG+ and start all over again.



Pros:
+ An entirely new game that somehow feels familiar.
+ A near constant "One More Go" element.
+ More options than any human would ever need.

Cons:
- You'll keep thinking "I'd love to see this on PS4 / XBOne".
- Still daunting, may terrify newcomers to the series.
- The (very) occasional sound or graphical glitch.

SPOnG Score: 5/5