Dark Souls

[Tuffty]

Were you one of the ones who thought the Dark Souls 2 beta was a little bit on the easy side? Well From Software indirectly tells you to go fuck yourself, by confirming that the final game will be harder, more in line with the 'Hard Difficulty' mode that was initiated at the end of the second beta test. Bring it on!

New trailer! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH



A very interesting video that sheds more light on PvP, and clarifies a few questions around it.



Most interesting to me:

- A higher agility stat does increase the speed of your movement, blocking, the speed of your roll and potentially the distance of your roll as well as other actions too like drinking estus and using items making it an important stats to dump points into, especially for PvP
- Resistance is a more important stat now too. Higher stat means you can block with more efficiency and have a higher chance of not being guardbroken. Vaati mentioned an instance where someone buffed up the resistance stat greatly and in turn, arrows and small dagger attacks had virtually no impact to his health which would indicate it boosts the effectiveness of your armor
- With strength and dexterity builds, there are different ways of getting around someone who constantly has their shield up. With strength build, more attacks will eventually guard break their opponent, forcing them into a riposte animation which they can follow up on for big damage. While with a higher dexterity, that will boost the effectiveness of any poison/bleed stats, which works right through the shield.

Watch the video! I wasn't as fussed about PvP in DS2 before, but this sounds like it could be a lot of fun!

[Tuffty]

Highly favourable preview from VaatiVidya below. EpicNameBro, who got his chance to play and complete the game, says DS2 is better than 1. Hype levels rising!



Which is what annoys me from fans who keep going on about things being too easy, with the announcement of fast travel available from the start and it's now possible to respec your character. It's now absurd to me to think that people are making this early of a judgement call before release. "Oh if it's in the game then it means it's designed for me to use it." No it's not! I've the same issue with people who bitched about fast travel in Skyrim. If you want to travel everywhere by foot then there is absolutely nothing stopping you from doing so. Same here in Dark Souls 2. You need to travel on foot to get to these bonfires first of all before you're able to warp between them. If anyone complains about the world not being cohesive enough or as intertwined with the level design as in Dark Souls 1, then I'm not going to take them seriously on that. I'm really not, because it just means they used fast travel a whole lot. If you do use it, then that's YOUR problem, not the game's because I can be damn sure it will never ever ever force it upon you.

People who do complain also conveniently forget all the things that will make DS2 harder than the original. Like your max health being capped off every time you die, right down to a half of what it should be. Overall enemy placement and combat is harder than before. Players can invade you at any time, hollow or human. They should really stop worrying too much and just wait until the game's out before passing judgement. I'll much rather take solace from ENB and VaatiVidya on their experiences with actually playing Dark Souls 2 and how it works over some neckbeard keyboard warrior.

[Tuffty]

Peter Serafinowicz is a well established actor and voice actor (Darth Maul in Star Wars, Pete in Shaun of the Dead) and he also happens to be a massive Dark Souls fan. He'll voice a character in Dark Souls 2 and here he is talking a little about why he likes the game so much. He's played DS2 and gives away a very brief moment early on in Dark Souls 2 which may ruin the surprise for you if you learn about it before discovering it for yourself in-game so you've been warned.

[Tuffty]

Next week! It's here next week! Or rather Tues for you lucky bastards in the US! They finally confirmed a PC release date too, 25th April. Again, gotta laugh at the PC diehards complaining and threatening to cancel their pre-order. Go right ahead and do that then. Entitled pricks don't realise that even with this short delay, they've had to wait less time for the sequel than those who played the consoles!

Let's not focus on the negativity though. Dare you watch part of the opening prologue before release?

[pikapikapika]

http://darksoulsdeaths.com/



HOW BADLY DID YOU DO?

[shadowstar]

Been watching some youtubers play DS2 and even I have to say the cinematic intro was amazing!

[Tuffty]

Oh yeah the Souls games have some amazing cinematric intros. I mean, in Demons Souls, when you see the giant shadow pass over the land and the music and backing vocals start to kick in, it still gives me a tingly feeling in my pants



And of course, the first Dark Souls does a great job in establishing the world and in setting up the main bosses you will be fighting in it's intro. You're watching it and in the back of your mind I'm like "I have to fight that?". All the while it looks pretty damn good too.

[zoolander]

Picked it up a few days ago. Played about 10 hours so far and absolutely loving it! Went with a deprived character which was definitely a mistake. Kinda been going the magic route but now I'm leveling up strength after I found some bad ass weapons I need it for. Right now I'm trying to get by a spot where you fight 3 bosses at the same time and am getting blown away. Can't really cheese them with my magic and I'm just too obsessed with saving stuff to use effigies so I can summon help. Gotta find a way to pick them off one by one.

Overall the world is super beautiful and intriguing and amazingly, all the technical annoyances I had from DS1 (slowdown, random delayed inputs, jarring lock on switching) are fixed! Also seems like there are way more little hidden rooms, secrets, unlockables, items, weapons, items, enemies and just stuff in general and there are path choices freaking everywhere.

[Tuffty]

Yep loving it, as I would thought. Only defeated The Last Giant last night so I'm not far in the grand scheme of things. I've noticed a number of changes between DS1 and 2 aside from the obvious and known (fast travel from the get go, health cap decreasing each time you die etc) The biggest is that enemies stop respawning after a number of times. It's not drastic, from my experience one tough enemy was gone when I respawned at a bonfire and then another over time, but it doesn't make the game easier as you would expect. In Dark Souls 1, if you were stuck on a boss you could grind that area out for souls and use them to level up, but if enemies don't respawn over time you're kind of stuck with the souls you have. The only alternatives are to try another area (which may have too hard enemies for you) or to use the bonfire esthetic which will respawn those enemies, but on NG+ difficulty. Otherwise, start perfecting your skills against the bosses or really start ensuring you make it back to your bloodstain and reclaim those souls otherwise you may never work your way up to that number again in that area.

Because make no mistake, DS2 is hard. The way the combat feels is different enough from DS1 that really keeps you on your toes. Enemies are more prone to attack in groups, generally speaking backstabs aren't as easy to pull off anymore, there's no invincibility frames in rolling anymore, weapon degradation is a huge deal now as it can go down so quickly and combat is a little..slower? It certainly takes a second or two longer to raise your shield! It's both similar and different enough to keep you on your toes. The Forest of Fallen Giants alone has caused me to die more times than I did in the Undead Burg the first time and frankly the idea of seeing what lies ahead in later areas both excites and terrifies me.

But I love it. Love the challenge, love exploring the environments and finding NPC's to talk to or secret treasures and areas to find. The enemy design and backgrounds (Majula!!!) are gorgeous to look at. The combat is still as fun and rewarding to play too. I spent a good 3 mins taking on the Heide Knight with a dagger and it was so satisfying to beat him and get his weapon as a result.

What starting class did everyone choose? I went with Warrior. Was thinking of Swordsman, but I couldn't pass up my sword/shield combo. Hoping to spec my way later so I can use pyromancy when I find the spells to do so.

[pikapikapika]

I gave Dark Souls another shot earlier, but it was a little too easy with my lv100 character, plus I had done it all before, so why not try a new class & character? \o/

So I made a sorceress with red hair and pigtails, isn't she cute?!



oh.... 

I was having a really easy time of it knowing the game so well, plus magic seems to kill most things in one hit from a distance so I didn't stay hollowed this time around and let invaders in.
The very first one chased me around until he backstabbed me with some cursed weapon that infected me with the parasite eggs that take away half of your earned souls, which you can't remove until later in the game (Queelag's Domain?) after beating a hard boss. So I'm not even sure if I should continue now, my character is crippled and levelling will be reduced to half of normal.
All I can really try is the rare drop from the tree lizards in darkroot garden.

EDIT: HA! got an Egg Vermifuge from the first lizard, glad I knew about that, it would have been awful.

[Tuffty]

^ That invader of yours must have cheated because there's no weapon that inflicts that status ailment. Only the Egg Carriers around the Demon Ruins and the Maggots near Quelaags lair have the ability to do that. You're right, the best bet at your stage is to hope for a rare drop from the tree lizards. Either that or make it to Queelag, defeat her and then speak to Eingyi through the illusion wall. That sucks mate, hope you weren't too far on when it happened.

Dark Souls 2 is preeeeeeeety good you guys. PVP is a lot better this time, I'm a part of the Bell Keeper covenant and I enjoy invading other people's worlds. Definately worth doing too, each kill gets you a titanite chunk and after ranking up once in the covenant, I got a titanite slab! There's no penalty for attempting to invade, you don't lose humanity or souls, and if you die you just go back to where you last were. You can gain humanity back through invading though I'm not sure what determines this, as it seems to be random. I defeated one of the great ones already, which was a very Artorias-esque boss battle. I cannot believe that the Gargoyles are back. And you have to fight 3 of them at any given time. 6 in total! Need to upgrade my falchion more I think. Upgrading your weapon is quite an ordeal this time round, I need large titanite shards, but haven't found any yet. Finally found a Pyromancy flame as well, spells look so cool now, I'm using a spell called Lingering Flame and the way the fire emerges from your hand, light shining off you, making the cloth flap in the wind. So good.

**EDIT**

Nice one pika! Praise the Sun!!

[pikapikapika]

I think I took it as far as I could, I beat tower gargoyle, moonlight butterflies, some drakes, I just have to grind again now in Blightown and I don't really want to grind again 

[zoolander]

I have defeated Dark Souls 2! Was absolutely beautiful and tons of fun and made me say many swear words! : P

Still lots to do though. Need to beat the dang Ancient Dragon. I'm a Dark pilgrim covenant member so gotta do those dungeons too. There is so much hidden stuff, quest lines and other things it's kinda crazy. Didn't use any summons (although god damn I really wanted to for an area where there was a bunch of casters assholes endlessly blasting my face). Didn't really get invaded or try PVP at all yet either, well besides two Bell Keeper jerks double teaming me with poison weapons when I went in Belfry Sol. : (

Level 160
Deprived
54 intelligence
Moonlight Greatsword is a beast! (Was using magic mace the first 2/3 of the game)
Staff of Wisdom
Black Witch and Lion Mage stuff for the casting bonuses (and I always gotta have that under 30% fast roll!)





This was taken right after losing 190k souls out of sheer stupidity. Was thinking I had the Ring of Life Protection on, died, then shuffled my way right off a ledge trying to take a shortcut back. I heard NG+ is a lot different and hard so I'll do that when I get the nerve. . .

[pikapikapika]

Well I tried not to, but I ended up grinding after all for 2 days straight, oops!

Beaten 3 of the lords and heading for the 4 kings.

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/3296939937777596989/B720EA88C8D7680064F6DB748D5DC4DD228B05F0/

I thought I could get some more of the achievements before games for windows live shut down, so I get all the sorceries and the achievement didn't unlock :/ PC version is so screwed.

[zoolander]

Beat the Ancient Dragon and Darklurker! Soul Geyser is just unfair. Now on to NG+. : D

Also a fantastic lore video by DaveControl. Spoilers obviously.

[Tuffty]

Defeated the Smelter Demon on my first attempt. Dodged left, swiped a couple of times, then backed off. Not too bad. Imagine my surprise then when I've read quite a number of opinions that they consider it the hardest boss in the game, even harder than Ornstein and Smough. No chance! Have those people even really played a Souls game before? The Gargoyles, Dear Duke Freja have been harder than it. Granted, I do have a Falchion +10 and Estus Flask +4 at the ready, so I was probably overlevelled in comparison to others playing it. But still, the base mechanics of that fight makes it look like it's easy enough to handle even at low levels. I don't know, maybe NG+ will be more of a challenge with that fight.

Think I will retire my Falchion +10 for PVP only. It's kind of removing the challenge as it tears through enemies in 2-3 hits. Swapping to Ricard's Rapier just for a different moveset to get used to and add more of the challenge back into it.

So I have 3 out of 4 great souls acquired. Does anyone know, as a rough estimate, how much of the game I've done? Am I nearing the end?

[zoolander]

So I have 3 out of 4 great souls acquired. Does anyone know, as a rough estimate, how much of the game I've done? Am I nearing the end?

I would guesstimate you are at about the half way mark? Still a ways to go. NG+ is a actually pretty different too. Some new enemy types, red phantoms everywhere, bosses have some different twists and a lot of gear you can only get in NG+.

Smelter was easy till the third stage when he is doing crazy fire damage. He did take me a few tries. I heard a lot of people have trouble with darklurker but I annihilated him first try. Same with Royal Rat Authority.

This is so damn beautiful. :0

[pikapikapika]

Not entirely surprised to hear that Dark Souls 2 PC is suffering from constant crashing, as the first game still hasn't been fixed to this day, and what do you know, it's crashing for me too \o/ so I can't play it anymore.

I'm just trying to get the last 5 achievements done before Windows Live shuts down, but it's probably Windows Live that is crashing it the irony!

[Tuffty]

DS2 on PC, so hard it crashes the game on you! Shame to hear, but From Software are looking into a patch and no doubt it will come. Kind of highlights one of the drawbacks with PC gaming I guess.

Don't know whether to ditch my Drangleic shield in favour of this dropped shield I found in Drangleic castle. It has better defenses against the elements and lighter which suits my DEX character nicely. It only blocks 90% of physical damage as opposed to 100% on the Drangleic shield, which is making me question which one. Thought thinking about it now, I can always swap to Drangleic for PVP while learning with this one.

Dark Souls 2 knows how to create some amazing looking vistas. First time you reach Drangleic Castle is so good.

*EDIT*

Found out the name of the Llewellyn shield. I know this because I found the Llewellyn armor last night and holy shit it looks awesome. Problem is you have to upgrade it with Twinkling Titanite which I don't have much of but god....damn, that is one sexy armor set.

[pikapikapika]

DS2 on PC, so hard it crashes the game on you! Shame to hear, but From Software are looking into a patch and no doubt it will come. Kind of highlights one of the drawbacks with PC gaming I guess.

They've been 'looking into' the problems with DS1 for 2 years and also 'looking into' patching the game so it actually remains playable after GFWL shuts down in 2 months, neither of which have been done and probably won't be. If DS2 doesn't get patched, well they got away with it once, why not twice?

I cannot disagree more about the PC gaming comment, other games get patched constantly and work just fine, this is all Bandai/Namco & From Software's fault/laziness/not giving a shit. Other games have been patched for the GFWL shutdown, I even have 2 extra copies of the 2 Batman Arkham games that I got for free, because of this. I'm not even going to touch the PC version of DS2, and PC players have every right to be pissed off at DS2 having a basic port, especially if it has problems like the first game.

~~~



Now let's never speak of this ever again  Done forever, THANK GOD.


My 2nd chara: http://i62.tinypic.com/dz9nns.jpg