LogFAQs > #923895217

#14: Dark Souls II

That's right, DS2 > DS1. That was once a hot take in certain circles, but I'll tell you why it's correct, and I think the general consensus has come to agree with me over time.

Mostly, the PvP is the best of the series. The controls are crisp and feels fair. DS1 would punish you for your opponent's lag or the server's lag, and everything basically amounted to 2 people with 99 endurance rolling around behind each other until one could pull off a ghost backstab. Dark Souls 2 still has invader pvp, but there are also designated PvP zones. They mostly fixed the co-op system with partner signs, allowing you to actually play with your friends.

Secondarily, the game isn't as inscrutable. Curse isn't going to bone up your game. Covenants are actually explained in that they are actually usable. It's clear what your statistics do and there are zero useless ones. You don't have to save scum to figure out what weapon upgrades do.

Thirdly, the game is completed. All of the zones have actually finished development. The game won't crash and burn due to the game trying to render too many enemies at once. The controls are more responsive.

Now, some of Dark Souls 2 is absolutely bullshit. The story, mostly. The story is even less existent than in Dark Souls 1, if barely so.

The main offense that initially turned me (and many players) off was the way the game keeps alluding to connections to Dark Souls 1, but never actually executes upon that promise. It is presumably set in the same world, albeit on a separate continent. Some bosses reuse fan favorite and lore significant boss models from the first game, but it's all completely superficial- there is zero lore connection.

There's absolutely a story in there, but it keeps alluding to similar tones and themes as 1, but it's basically a clumsier retelling rather than a linear advancement.

Dark Souls 1 is absolutely the more ambitious and significant work of art. Dark Souls 2 has none of the intricate, winding paths that all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle- you simply walk through a tunnel and you're in the next zone, and when pasted together the zones are actually overlapping each other physically.

Should've just called the game Giant Souls and called it a day.

Oh, and I should've mentioned things other than direct comparisins within the series. The Souls formula is just a great experience in general. The stamina system combined with weighty, long-animation attacks, combined with fantastical exploration is just wonderful for one or two playthroughs.
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You did indeed stab me in the back. However, you are only level one, whilst I am level 50. That means I should remain uninjured.