40 hours in, I can now say with utmost confidence that it's simply the Soulsbourne instalment that is simply not for me. It's understandably polarising and I see why it this could be 'the one' for others, just not me - there's too many small little quirks of the game that just pile up into an overall drag throughout.

I truly gave it a chance, I swear I did lol, surely this game is more pleasant with 50+ QoL mods on

This game feels like it takes a step or two forward over DS1 in terms of QoL, variety, weapons and armour and other convenient changes, but takes about another 3 to 4 backward with enemies, bosses, overall feel of combat, sound design, atmosphere, set-pieces, clarity of game mechanics, etc.

[Old review below as of April 2 2024]
visions of alright game ahead

therefore try skipping
.
.
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Long-winded review below

I tried so hard not to be a hater and give this game a second chance - I skipped this for Dark Souls 3 two years ago and came back to give it another shot...

Coming straight from a replay of Dark Souls Remastered, this game looks, feels, sounds and plays noticeably worse than DS1 (a game that came out 3 years prior) and any other Souls counterpart

Save for Demon Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro, which I unfortunately haven't played yet

Souls games are partially defined by difficulty, but can be learnt overtime to become easier and is ultimately a rewarding experience. However DS2 feels more like a chore to overcome, rather than a learning & exploration experience and overall adventure, like its other counterparts. This game feels difficult and cruel just for the sake of being so.

Although I think you attack somewhat faster in this game (and the enemies do too), in practice, your opportunities to attack are way less, due to the intrinsic stamina regen delay present in this game. It forces you to play excessively safe and passive, if you intend to guarantee not getting hit. Furthermore, there is a painfully long input queue in combat.

To go more in depth of gameplay, the game has a painful weapon durability system, and your main form of sustain is no longer just an estus flask, but also one-time use Lifegems that, if you run out of them, have to go out of your way to farm them, as the game from my 10 hours of gameplay does not provide them frequently enough (or it may just be a luck-based thing, which I'm afraid is significantly worse).

Intricate and important mechanics are not explained to you at all:
• i-frames on dodges tied to a stat you need to level up
• invaders when severely hollow with no option for offline mode
• losing max HP after each death
• torches
• two-handing weapons allow you to overcome strength stat requirements (mainly a point if unfamiliar with this detail from DS1 or other games)

It really just feels like this game was released before Dark Souls 1, not to mention the fact that the user-interface graphics also look more dated too?

When it comes to sound design, Dark Souls 2 also falls short. Striking enemies doesn't feel visceral or impactful through the sound alone, sounding more like you're striking a walking set of armour rather than an undead soldier.

Furthermore, the animations of your character, be it riposte attacks, certain weapon swings, or simply moving around, feels unrefined and at times even awkward and "slippery."

The icing on the cake is that upon picking up items, you are not provided with an icon to show what you just picked up.

I have heard this game is an absolute headache in terms of bosses and boss walkbacks which I wanted to experience and see for myself, but I already have lost my patience with this game before even reaching that point. This loss of patience comes from somebody who has played the entirety of Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring.

Just skip this and play DS3, revisit this if you've played everything else and are eager for another souls experience, or something

40 hours in, I can now say with utmost confidence that it's simply the Soulsbourne instalment that is simply not for me. It's understandably polarising and I see why it this could be 'the one' for others, just not me - there's too many small little quirks of the game that just pile up into an overall drag throughout. I truly gave it a chance, I swear I did lol, surely this game is more pleasant with 50+ QoL mods on This game feels like it takes a step or two forward over DS1 in terms of QoL, variety, weapons and armour and other convenient changes, but takes about another 3 to 4 backward with enemies, bosses, overall feel of combat, sound design, atmosphere, set-pieces, clarity of game mechanics, etc. [Old review below as of April 2 2024] visions of alright game ahead therefore try skipping . . . Long-winded review below I tried so hard not to be a hater and give this game a second chance - I skipped this for Dark Souls 3 two years ago and came back to give it another shot... Coming straight from a replay of Dark Souls Remastered, this game looks, feels, sounds and plays noticeably worse than DS1 (a game that came out 3 years prior) and any other Souls counterpart Save for Demon Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro, which I unfortunately haven't played yet Souls games are partially defined by difficulty, but can be learnt overtime to become easier and is ultimately a rewarding experience. However DS2 feels more like a chore to overcome, rather than a learning & exploration experience and overall adventure, like its other counterparts. This game feels difficult and cruel just for the sake of being so. Although I think you attack somewhat faster in this game (and the enemies do too), in practice, your opportunities to attack are way less, due to the intrinsic stamina regen delay present in this game. It forces you to play excessively safe and passive, if you intend to guarantee not getting hit. Furthermore, there is a painfully long input queue in combat. To go more in depth of gameplay, the game has a painful weapon durability system, and your main form of sustain is no longer just an estus flask, but also one-time use Lifegems that, if you run out of them, have to go out of your way to farm them, as the game from my 10 hours of gameplay does not provide them frequently enough (or it may just be a luck-based thing, which I'm afraid is significantly worse). Intricate and important mechanics are not explained to you at all: • i-frames on dodges tied to a stat you need to level up • invaders when severely hollow with no option for offline mode • losing max HP after each death • torches • two-handing weapons allow you to overcome strength stat requirements (mainly a point if unfamiliar with this detail from DS1 or other games) It really just feels like this game was released before Dark Souls 1, not to mention the fact that the user-interface graphics also look more dated too? When it comes to sound design, Dark Souls 2 also falls short. Striking enemies doesn't feel visceral or impactful through the sound alone, sounding more like you're striking a walking set of armour rather than an undead soldier. Furthermore, the animations of your character, be it riposte attacks, certain weapon swings, or simply moving around, feels unrefined and at times even awkward and "slippery." The icing on the cake is that upon picking up items, you are not provided with an icon to show what you just picked up. I have heard this game is an absolute headache in terms of bosses and boss walkbacks which I wanted to experience and see for myself, but I already have lost my patience with this game before even reaching that point. This loss of patience comes from somebody who has played the entirety of Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring. Just skip this and play DS3, revisit this if you've played everything else and are eager for another souls experience, or something