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Dark Souls 2 Review – A Journey through Death and Redemption

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Dark Souls 2 Review – A Journey through Death and Redemption

Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls 2
9.7

Score

 9.7/10

Pros

  • Intricate and rewarding combat mechanics.
  • Deep, immersive world filled with lore and mystery.
  • Robust class and equipment system offering a multitude of playstyles.
  • High replayability due to its punishing difficulty and immersive world.
  • Unforgettable boss fights that provide significant challenge and satisfaction.

Cons

  • The punishing difficulty may not appeal to all players.
  • A few instances of unbalanced enemy encounters.

Dark Souls 2 is a punishing action role-playing game (ARPG) that continues to carry the torch of its predecessors. Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Games, Dark Souls 2 presents a dark, mysterious world that challenges players with its intricate combat, meticulous level design, and unforgiving difficulty.

Delving into the Darkness in Dark Souls 2

While not directly connected to its predecessor, Dark Souls 2 takes place in the same universe. Players assume the role of a human who has fallen under the Undead curse, condemned to endlessly wander the land, constantly facing death but never finding final rest. As a Hollow, a being devoid of memory and purpose, the player travels through a somber world in a desperate quest to break their curse and uncover the fate of the kingdom they explore.

The game begins with players choosing their class and starting gift. These selections determine initial equipment and weapons, setting the tone for the challenging journey ahead.

Gameplay: An Elegy of Trial and Error

Dark Souls 2 retains the high level of difficulty that has become synonymous with the Souls series. It does not offer any straightforward advice to defeat the variety of monstrous enemies; instead, it relies on the player’s ability to learn through repeated deaths. Every enemy exhibits unique attack patterns and behaviors, requiring careful observation and strategic play.

Combat is complex, engaging, and often brutal. Enemies can unleash a vast array of damage-dealing moves, from impalement with spears to casting dark magic, or injecting lethal toxins with venomous appendages. The environment itself can also pose significant threats, with falling rocks, precarious ledges, and concealed traps ready to cause sudden demise.

Dark Souls 2 introduces an intriguing mechanic where death reduces the player’s maximum health, altering the game’s difficulty. However, surviving longer allows for more rewarding loot, incentivizing careful play. The souls collected from vanquished foes can be used to purchase weapons, armor, and magical items, or to enhance character stats. However, dying before reaching the spot of your last death results in the permanent loss of these precious resources.

Boss fights in Dark Souls 2 are landmark moments within the game. These encounters with massive creatures require the player to learn their unique movement patterns and combat phases. Triumph over these fearsome foes grants access to bonfires, checkpoints that provide respite and the opportunity to save progress.

Dark Souls 2 takes players on a daunting journey through a world filled with dread and uncertainty, presenting challenges that demand skill, patience, and strategic thinking.

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 / ATI Radeon TM HD 6870
  • CPU: AMD A8 3870 3,6 Ghz or Intel Core i3 2100 3.1Ghz
  • File Size: 23 GB
  • OS: Windows 7 SP1 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit

Recommended Requirements

  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750, ATI Radeon HD 7850
  • CPU: AMD FX 8150 3.6 GHz or Intel Core i7 2600 3.4 GHz
  • File Size: 23 GB
  • OS: Windows 7 SP1 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit