Thread 713863616

time for me to finally play this as my last game in the series. what am I in for?

You didn't play it as your first game, so you'll be able to form an accurate opinion of it. That's it.

>>713863616 (OP)
A lot of jank and a lot of fuck you moments by the devs. I just know they were having a giggle making this one

>>713863616 (OP)
Some of the best fashion in a souls game

>>713863616 (OP)
It takes a little longer to get stronger, but once you get stronger (Lvl 50 or so) you can pretty much deal with anything.
More complex level design than pretty much any other Souls game. There are a lot of nooks and crannies.
More methodical pacing. You'll get punished for rushing in.
Variety of approaches. You really can attack this game from many directions and none of them feel wrong. Many levels have multiple entry and exit points.
I see it as the true evolution of what DeS and DS were trying to do.

>>713863616 (OP)
looking glass knight. bosses had interesting designs and mechanics before all the stagger shit homogenized and casualized soul bosses became the norm.

>>713863616 (OP)
Peak build autism combined with the worst world design.

you're in for a weird, imbalanced experience. i've never had a game pull me in and out so much as das2. huge stretches of it feel terrible and are retarded, but then occasionally you get to a place that's so cool you can't stop playing.

>>713863616 (OP)
Better than dark souls 2 and for me better than elden ring. But that's not saying much. It has many flaws.

>>713872007
Ah fuck i meant to write better than dark souls 3

>>713863616 (OP)
Fromsoftware's A team was working on Bloodbourne and so they had their B team working on DS2. On a technical level it is inferior to DS1. Basically this. >>713866007
The game can still be enjoyable under the right conditions. Play the original Dark Souls 2 not the Scholar of The First Sin edition. The SOTFS edition makes the pacing of the game far worse, Areas that were the correct difficulty were made easier and areas that were already bullshit were made even more so. Also i'd recommend that you have some form of dealing ranged damage (hexes, sorcery, bows etc) as this makes several of the bullshit sections of the game (e.g shrine of Amana) more tolerable. When you get to the boss runs for smelter demon (iron keep), executioner's chariot (hunstman's copse), sir Alonne (memory of the old iron king DLC), And the smelter demon in the old iron king DLC I would recommend grinding there and killing the enemies over and over again until they de-spawn, Each of these boss runs is fucking horrific and in my opinion especially for your first playthrough i'd kill all or most of the enemies until they de-spawn. There are far more armoured opponents in DS2 than the other games and as such strike weapons are the best. If this sounds like a ridiculous amount advice that's because the game requires you to do a lot of things to enjoy it. I say this not as the most experienced ds2 player in the world but ive played though ds2 vanilla edition several times and SOTFS once.
>>713869167
This guy is nuts. DS2 level design is far inferior to the other souls games.

>>713863616 (OP)
To be enchanted, to the point of obsession.

Broken hitboxes.

download the mod gives you free adp

>>713863616 (OP)
>what am I in for?
A shit game

Easiest game in the souls series.
Here's a way you can trivialize the game:
Every time you finish leveling up spend your remaining souls on the cheapest life gem. Buy as many as you can afford.
You'll quickly find you have more than you can use.
With health management now trivialized, the rest of the game will now be easy so long as you play carefully.

>grinding until enemies stop spawning
>installing mods to boost your stats
>grinding life stones
Holy shit why is /v/ so bad at video games now?

>>713872729
shitty game deserves shitty treatment

>>713863616 (OP)
Following elden ring it's the most fun and rewarding game to explore, and the areas are varied and cool. Has many flaws but if you don't have a bitch mentality and go into it trying to have fun then there's no reason you won't enjoy it

>>713872091
>Also i'd recommend that you have some form of dealing ranged damage (hexes, sorcery, bows etc) as this makes several of the bullshit sections of the game (e.g shrine of Amana) more tolerable. When you get to the boss runs for smelter demon (iron keep), executioner's chariot (hunstman's copse), sir Alonne (memory of the old iron king DLC), And the smelter demon in the old iron king DLC I would recommend grinding there and killing the enemies over and over again until they de-spawn, Each of these boss runs is fucking horrific and in my opinion especially for your first playthrough i'd kill all or most of the enemies until they de-spawn
I can't believe I share this board with people like this. Unironically GET GOOD

>>713872942
Forcing respawns intentionally is next level shitter behavior but he’s right about a ranged option. If you don’t have one the default approach is to painstaking bait the enemies in ones or twos, which isn’t any harder, it just takes twice as long.

>>713873310
lmao so this is where the ds2 hate comes from. shitters who could only 1v1 enemies in ds1. kinda knew it was people who struggled with the easiest game in the series. the bosses in ds2 are shit tier as well as the enemy and you're saying they're hard? lmao

>>713863616 (OP)
One of the best ARPGs of all time but also a massive downgrade from DS1
When you get to the DLC though? Absolute perfection.

>>713863616 (OP)
The best Dark Souls game.
Also you bought the wrong version

Fucking terrible game

>>713872942
>>713873310
I'm expecting both of you to post vids of you 1v5ing alonne knights and killing them all in less than 15 seconds.
Honestly insane that anyone would defend those bossruns. It is a perfect opportunity to farm alonne knight armour and gain some levels as well as bypassing the bullshit bossrun. Keep in mind this isn't advice for people that have already played ds2 this is for new players.

>>713863616 (OP)
The involution of Dark Souls

>>713872839
>Following elden ring it's the most fun and rewarding game to explore

>>713872793
This

it's breddy gud but depends on your taste and sovl appreciation level

>>713863616 (OP)
Best souls game, DS3 has better combat but DS2 is the better game.

>The souls game that limits dodges the most
>/v/ hates it
It was rollkino all along

>>713874310
These were fine until SotFS decided to add a lot more of them in even stupider places.

Ludokino
>filters rollfags

>>713863616 (OP)
The last souls game that focuses on exploration and gauntlet style levels.
Most stages tend to have a gimmicks behind them try to find them out for yourself.

>>713863616 (OP)
KINO

>>713872091
>I would recommend grinding there and killing the enemies over and over again until they de-spawn,
Imagine playing on journalist mode then thinking your opinion matters KEK
Covenant of champions or didn't beat the game

>>713863616 (OP)
Great build variety, unique movesets, mechanics that encourage you to use multiple weapons. I used whips, katanas, claws, curved swords and spears in my dex playthrough, while ds3 never gave me a reason to give up the mail breaker for anything else.

>>713870103
this. have you seen the "despair but also an erection" meme? it's basically that.

>>713876335
>>The souls game that limits dodges the most
It's the Souls game that incentivizes dodges the most.
You have no reason not to dodge because bosses are slow and retarded and can't punish passive players

>>713864349
I played it as my first DS game and its the worst one in the series

>>713876612
>The last souls game that focuses on exploration and gauntlet style levels

>>713863616 (OP)
It's the worst souls game but it isn't bad by any means, it's my personal favorite of the 3
The basic unga bunga strength UGS build is very fun, dex builds feel like a meme in this one since you're slow as molasses anyways
ADP makes your dodge rolls better, for some reason they thought it was a good idea to make your i-frames be tied to a leveling stat

The worst souls game that is only enjoyed by ironic faggots.

>>713876965
>for some reason they thought it was a good idea to make your i-frames be tied to a leveling stat
Almost as if they saw everyone in DS1 ninja flipping everywhere while wearing havels. Just maybe, wearing the heaviest armor while being as mobile as possible, isn't a good idea.

>>713863616 (OP)
>what am I in for?
A disappointment

>>713876898
I don't get it are you trying to tell us that you never played DS2 or are too retarded to understand how the Heides tower of flame worked?

>>713876993
>>713877020
Sharteen pedophiles certainly aren't sending their best, then again it is prime time for third world subhuman wastes to find false purpose online

>>713877075
>or are too retarded to understand how the Heides tower of flame worked?
You need a guide to understand how a corridor works?

>>713877081
Grok, your message appears to be in poojeet. Try again in English.

>>713863616 (OP)
Jankiness and plain environment.

>>713877115
dropping the pretense and smug act immediately? are you shaken that easily?

>>713877081
yeah, jews hired indians to shit on ds2 online

>>713863616 (OP)
just play it blindly, dont ruin it for yourself
suffering and learning by trial and error is part of the fun and the whole point of Souls, it should be a perilous adventure

>>713863616 (OP)
By far the worst game
Combat is very weak and generally unsatisfying
Level design is ranged from awful to decent (in a few cases)
DLCs are also lame as fuck and don't offer the paradigm shift each other Souls DLC like Artorias and Ringed offered in terms of design, settling for more of the same with no new mechanic

>>713877180
I already told you, I don't speak whatever alien language you are typing. Try again in English. Just 1st grade English would be a huge improvement for you. I believe in you!

>>713877101
>Interactive level that makes the boss easier if you complete all the arena fights
That level alone already mogs the entirety of DS3 level design which just boils down to swamp

>>713877202
you are not nearly as clever as you think
go back to patching the roof of your tin shack jose

>>713877275
does it hurt knowing you are so incompetent and pathetic that your entire act can be dissected and shit on in a single post?

>>713877370
I mean, If I could understand it that might be something that's almost a point. Then again, the same can be said for you. Keep seething pajeet.

>>713877290
>>Interactive level
Is that how you call a bunch of levels nonsensically connected through water and crumbling ruins to somehow functioning automated platforms that still work in what is little more than the skeleton of a walkway?
Is that what you consider good level design? You take a flat circular arena and trim it and the player must lower two levers in a flat corridor to magically pop the 2/3rds of it back up
Wow

>muh le ganks
ds3sissies dont even play their favourite game fucking faggots

>>713877604
these are easy to stun lock

>>713863616 (OP)
It's my favourite out the bunch.
I enjoy its level designs and the variety it has overall, such as in weapons and armour. And I thought the bosses were pretty nice, even if a lot of them were quite simple. It's jank, but I think one of the reasons I'm more a fan of it than the others is because it tried to do something different, even if it didn't really work out.

>>713877583
This is some actual metanarrative commentary about the artificiality of videogame level design. Kino.

>>713877583
That is how the level design work in all 3 dark souls games.

>>713877604
that doesnt count because Miyazaki made 3

>>713877658
everything is easy so complaining about it is retarded
>>713877763
he didn't, team C did, he was working on Sekiro

>>713877453
you are certainly very calm and not angry at all after having your entire routine shattered effortlessly like glass
next time try to think before you act, i understand it's hard for you since your countrie's average iq is 86

>>713877691
>That is how the level design work in all 3 dark souls games.
Sure it does!

>>713877583
where's that ds3 webm of the two bonfires right in front of each other?

>>713877604
>ds3sissies dont even play their favourite game
ofcourse, you can just run past everything without consequence.
no one actually plays these games.

>>713877885
why should i be expected to kill every single enemy every single time if I die against the boss? its just shit design to be vulnerable during actions

>>713877876
don't need a webm to witness peak fromsoftware

Not a fan

>>713877952
you should be engaging with the game, the game should put up obstacles.
imagine if you were playing classic super mario and all the enemies were on a platform above you, all obstacles had a gap that lets you run through it, you could beat a level without jumping once, THAT is awful design.

>>713877952
Good thing they got rid of run backs in the later games. All they did was waste time.

>>713877876
>>713877964
Completely inconsequential, the level following that bonfire, which is placed for summoning, has 6 floors on top of each other and 3 different shortcuts
Grand Archives is way beyond the paygrade of Dark Souls 2 level designers.

>>713878105
thats completely linear

>>713878105
it's not a bad level ds3 is fun when it isn't swamp-rolling dogshit

>>713878105
>muh shortcuts
Putting a bunch of not-checkpoints in your linear level does not make it less linear.

>>713878105
just as anon said, that's linear. In fact, almost every single level in Ds3 is linear.

...so which version is better?

>>713878185
No it's not
>>713878208
Most Dark Souls 3 levels are great.
Farron Keep itself is also great and actually achieves peak atmosphere and challenging exploration with unique challenges like
>Enemies that must be lured into dry land and/or fires
>Enemies that can be lured for the Giant Archer
>Fast enemies fought in the swamp
>Basilisk fought in the swamp
Shitters hate Farron Keep because it's challenging and oppressive, not because it's bad or lacks novelty

>>713863616 (OP)
WE WUZ HARD GAME 'N SHIT
LOL YOU DIED IN A PLACE WE WANTED YOU TO DIE HAHAHA HARD GAME GET IT?

>>713878589
>poison swamp = challenging
it's an annoying setting, its only tedious to get through.

>>713878589
kiting enemies around is a challenge to you?
just kill them, they arent a threat unless youre a shitter yourself
>challenging and oppressive
to who? (You)?
>bad or lacks novelty
It is bad, its just another poisonous swamp that slows your movement that the vast majority of players equipped daggers to sidestep through so it didnt take years to go through.

>>713878894
thank God they fixed that in Sekiro and Elden Ring

>>713863616 (OP)
>what am I in for?
kino, i am not memeing, DS2 is kino

>>713878337
>just as anon said, that's linear.
No it's not.
There's several alternate ways through the level.
Grand Archives has a total of
- 2 elevators unlockable at different points
- 3 levers that unlock secret loot and an alternate route
- overlapping paths and layers that include 2 ladders to traverse them
- 2 different ladders that can be lowered

Then you go through the levels of Dark Souls 2 and there's nothing but bland corridors in a flat plane and the most verticality you get is Forest of the Fallen Giant, the tech demo meant to fool us that Dark Souls 2 would have been a better game

>>713863616 (OP)
The last souls game before the series became devil may cry on crack.

Pre DS3 fights were like a dance. Well paced and methodical, at least in the overwhelming majority of cases. The progression felt like an adventure.

DS3 and later: bullshit combos with huge sweeps and weird hitboxes requiring 100ms reaction time. The progression feels like memorizing little twitches in the enemy model to avoid being sent to the bonfire.

>>713878938
>kiting enemies around is a challenge to you?
Nice deflection, nigger
Which area in Dark Souls 2 is designed for players to bait enemy attacks into fires like the armored boar of Dark Souls? None because level design is nonexistant in Dark Souls 2

>>713878894
>it's an annoying setting
Then it's working as intended

>>713879234
>Pre DS3 fights were like a dance. Well paced and methodical
>>713879234
Like the glorious dance with ceaseless discharge or the bed of chaos, lol. DS I was utter crap of a game and DS II followed the established tradition. Only with Bloodborne did From start making good games

it unironically feels like the bosses and areas (except the kings pets and SPECIALLY the ice stallions leading up to them) were designed around not leveling ADP and having low i-frames
It feels so much more fun to roll through attacks than in any other souls game if you dont level ADP, because now you need to actually dodge out of the hitbox and respond accordingly. Its much easier than it sounds, its not particulary hard or precise at all as the hitboxes are usually great and specifically built around this, but yet its so much more engaging to play. I wish every souls game had fights making me care about the direction in which i am dodging, but in everything other than DS2 you can pretty much just roll inside the attack

>>713877214
I played it blindly and it was the worst souls game I ever played. Fitting considering it was just a half-baked cashgrab.

>the DS3fag ITT
This guy literally just spergs out in the same way every thread
he will moan about how good DS3 level design is, because he cant grasp that what people mean about non-linearity is the actual world of the game, not an area having a shortcut even if all the zones of the game are laid out in a linear progression
He will endlessly bitch and moan about ds2 areas being "linear" while completely ignoring places like eleum loyce, brume tower, bastille, shulva, gutter, forest of fallen giants..

>>713877583
>Wow
I know, amazing right and that's just the first area you explore.
Nothing in DS3 even comes close to this, in fact the majority of levels in DS3 can be summarized into a corridor with swamps. Aside from the outdated bosses that game has nothing going for it.

>>713879234
DS3 does not have tight reactions at all, you just roll all sorts of shit. Its much easier when its single stimuli
DS2 is unironically the only souls game that sometimes (Rarely) had actually tight reactions specially if you dont level ADP, because in a few cases you have to quickly tell whether you need to dodge to the left or to the right

>>713879386
>here's two examples, it totally beats a dozen of other good fights
Meanwhile, in DS3
- Iudex Gundyr that transforms into a bullshit blob with a retarded hitbox and massive sweeps
- Vordt that has retarded charges and ice breath that somehow hit you from meters away
- Greatwood a gimmick not much better than the bed of chaos
- Wolnir is like Vordt combined with greatwood
- Sulyvahn requires insane reaction time or 100% shield blocking like a retard
- Yhorm is a gimmick fight

That's about half of ds3 bosses and I am tired of listing more bullshit. I went in the order of progression, but skipped the Sage (which actually is a good fight).

>>713879837
Did you first play DS3 on a console? You might have been suffering of the delay on your TV or something, souls games usually arent tough to react, and specially not DS3 because you literally just braindead roll against every single attack

>defending DS2 level design
Fucking lmao
DS2 was literally designed by interns who only saw 5 minutes of Dark Souls and only took the wrong lessons.

>>713879131
>nothing but bland corridors
I can be reductive too.
Grand Archives was just a rip-off of Duke's Archives, much like how most of Dark Souls 3 is just Dark Souls "Greatest Hits!!" Remember jolly Cooperation?? xDD
Forest of Fallen Giants, Lost Bastille, No Man's Wharf, Shulva, Brume Tower, Eleum Loyce, fucking Earthen Peak all go against your statement.
I get you're a Dark Souls 3 glazer, but way too many times you ds3fags just rely on this notion that it's a good game, because ds2 is a bad game. It should be able to stand on its own merits.
>hurr durr u ds2 fanyboy
No, it sucks too. In fact, both of them do.

>>713879282
What, we have to give props for DS3 for redoing the same shit DS1 did? You don't even have to lure Boars in the fire, let alone kill him. You toss an alluring skull, something you can do in DS2 as well. Even then, you have No Man's Wharf. You carry around a torch to scare away the long-armed niggers, but do it too long, they become enraged and ignore it, do more damage, and become more aggressive. You can even use a lockstone to light the whole area up and skip right pass them.

>>713880062
>both games are le bad but I will agressively defend ds2
Lol

>>713863616 (OP)
Peak

>>713879837
>- Iudex Gundyr that transforms into a bullshit blob with a retarded hitbox and massive sweeps
>- Vordt that has retarded charges and ice breath that somehow hit you from meters away
>- Greatwood a gimmick not much better than the bed of chaos
>- Wolnir is like Vordt combined with greatwood
>- Sulyvahn requires insane reaction time or 100% shield blocking like a retard
>- Yhorm is a gimmick fight
All wrong

dark souls2 wants you to play with the level design, while ds3 wants you to ignore it. most of level designs in ds3 can be effortlessly solved by rushing to whatever the next fog/lever/door. Unironically, I enjoy the road/farron keep a lot because I get to play around terrains and deeper muds, but.. eeh souls kiddies only want to boss rush anyway so this doesn't surprise me

>>713879837
Git gud
>>713879834
Lol

why is it always 2fags vs 3fags? Why are they so hostile to each other

>>713880331
>dark souls2 wants you to play with the level design
>>713880062
>Grand Archives was just a rip-off of Duke's Archives
Lol not even close
>glazer
Fuck off to R*ddit

Great build variety for PVE is a damned lie. Armor is generally worthless for physical defence, elemental defence and poise are situational. Melee builds are all using rob flynn and a lightning infused strike damage weapon buffed with dark weapon. Casters get spat on in the DLCs.

>>713880062
>You don't even have to lure Boars in the fire, let alone kill him.
Nobody said you have to
>You toss an alluring skull, something you can do in DS2 as well.
Dark Souls 2 has no level design so you can't do shit with it
>Muh torch gimmick
Sheen... This is the 7th week in a row you brought torch in class
>>713879837
None of those are true
Gundyr hitboxes are so good you can duck under them

>>713880331
also they HATE gimmick bosses. the tree was cool. pope was decent. I liked the dragon and Wolnir. Yhorm was shit thou (he would be cooler if the sword happened to be hidden inside the level instead). I swear they would shid and camed themself if a boss won't do a backflip

>>713880570
It legitimately has the worst build variety after Demon's Souls, especially because of the infusion + buff insane bonus mechanic creating a ridicolous powercreep

dark souls3 wants you to play with the level design, while ds2 wants you to ignore it. most of level designs in ds2 is a straight line with dead end branches to loot. Meanwhile, DS3's levels loop around, let you plunging attack enemies so cat ring isn't just for dropping down the majula well, have patrolling enemies and enemies with backs turned so silent footsteps is actually beneficial.

>>713876715
Imagine defending iron keep and huntsman's copse.
Didn't get past old dragonslayer or hasn't even played the game.

>>713880914
>also they HATE gimmick bosses
Dark Souls 3 has several well executed gimmick bosses, and a lot of enemies with actual unique characteristics and alternative ways to face them.
Dark Souls 2 doesn't have gimmick bosses. At most you'll get NOT! Sif with a bunch of dogs, Armored Spider with a bunch of adds or Ceaseless Discharge but as main boss.

It appears clear to me that those who hate gimmick bosses and enemies are Dark Souls 2 fans. Too bad their roster of dudes in armor and big boss with a bunch of adds are every bit as mediocre as the worst gimmick bosses of the series

>>713863616 (OP)
>what am I in for?
King's Field V.

I like it a lot, I like the character progression and lengthier endurance levels, but it's definitely different and messy as far as these games go.

>>713880386
different games despite the same series
ds2 fags got something half-baked but it seems most are willing to admit their faults
then for some reason ds3 fags are insecure i guess and have to punch down to make themselves feel better or something. if you enter a lot of these threads, you find a pattern in that ds2 fans will generally be balanced in their critique of the game. but ds3 fans exaggerate and insult them. you can even see it in this very thread. ds2 fags get aggressive only after ds3 fags start shit

>>713881303
Yeah this is totally a fair and unbiased account from a third party

>>713879282
>Which area in Dark Souls 2 is designed for players to bait enemy attacks into fires
iron keep
brume tower
just the top of my head

>>713873779
>WAAHHH WHY CANT I RUN PAST EVERYTHING!??
Filtered lol

>>713880420
>can light up the area
>secret boss bonfire
>avoiding hippo breaking cages
>breakable walls
>"lever"
>forlone torch
damn.. that little map has more interaction than most ds3 areas...

>>713881386
>an obvious troll post in an obvious troll sub reddit

>>713881386
>a shitpost from a shitposting subreddit to prove a point
uhm... sweetie, maybe you should go back?

>>713880947
i was faced with this exact situation a while back
>started poking at them from afar with a bow
>magic barrier
>bullshit scythe/lance that made playing from slightly afar suck for them
theres other stuff you can do, its not as dominant as soulmass spam in ds1

>>713863616 (OP)
Kino, but only if you are not a nigger, a shitter, a coward, a crybaby, a reddit autistic retard, or an ameritard game journalist...

>>713881534
>>713881556
Whatever you say, just don't groom kids, 2fag

imagine if we forced all DS3 fanboys to play through all of DS2 without increasing ADP

>>713881485
>iron keep
False
>brume tower
Overglorified setpiece of enemies put there so that you can hit the statue and kill them. It's not organic and it's also not as pressing by the swamp movement limitations

>>713881778
stfu, probably everyone's blind playthrough was ADP-less

>>713881778
They would probably get bored like it happened to me

>>713881527
As if DS3 doesn't have level gimmicks as well
>Shoot hanging bodies to loot them from the ground
>Hitching a ride on an enemy with an empty cage to access a secret
>Bridge you can break to escape the horde of skeletons
>Baiting skeletons and mimics into fighting a stray demon
>Baiting a giant crossbow into killing a giant worm
>Baiting a giant crab into breaking a wall for you

>>713881840
>>iron keep
>False
no? have you even played the game? or just watched some youtuber?

>>713881778
I've never heard of a worse torture method

>>713881778
Would be easy because greatshields are enough to trivialise the game and twin dragon gs is available from the start.

>>713863616 (OP)
Pure sovlfvl kino

>>713863616 (OP)
"I like the way this sucks" is how I would describe it.

>>713881527
>2nd wall is non-telegraphed unmitigable damage
>Torch gimmick crap
>Hippos caged yet they can easily break the cages alone
>Literal corridor with ends with magic elevator that rises in 10 seconds to the top of the world for some reason
>Final boss instantly becomes common enemy
My God Dark Souls 2 was such a fucking shit game

>>713881193
>ds2 doesn't have gimmick bosses
>Flexile sentry, water rising
>Lost sinner, losing vision/no lock-on
>Royal rat
>Mytha
>Chariot???
>mutherfuckin first Dragonrider has an area gimmick

>>713881778
>*Spams lifegems*
Wow so hard

DS2 was interesting and had the most fun PVP in the series.
DS1 had jank instead of pvp and DS3+ turned into fight 2 of my phantoms first and if you beat them I'm gonna run away and summon them again.

>>713882186
>Uhhhh akthually this mediocre, unrewarding asset flip of a boss with maybe 3 moves that is stuck on a circular flat arena requires you to pull a lever
That's not a gimmick boss 2fag, that's just B team being lazy hacks

>>713882105
...and it has more interaction than most ds3 areas. It really makes you think

>>713882328
It makes me think how brain damaged ds2fags are

>>713882413
kino

>>713882310
fighting a boss while suffering DoT from a poison pit is an infinitely more ballsy gimmick than anything in ds2
just like fighting fume knight without letting him get near the heal stations

>>713882310
>ds2 has no gimmick bosses
>providing evidence that in fact ds2 has gimmick bosses
>nooo, you can't say that and now I will now I will turn you into a basedjak and winning this epic argument
ok

>>713872091
>>713881102
>he can't beat Iron Keep even on the vanilla without despawning the mobs
LMAO, maybe Candy Crush is more up your speed

>>713882086
Is this Nightrein gameplay?

>>713882735
>now I will now I will
nta, but howd you fuck that up?

>>713882638
>>713882735
>being retarded on purpose to add faux-depth to shallow bosses, like lighting up to torches right besides Lost Sinner is some super hidden secret or time consuming endeavour
>then pretending this is some unique and terribly defining characteristic that actually adds anything to the fight.
This is why everybody hates Dark Souls 2 faggots.
You lack sincerity
Follow your leader Domo3000 into the tranny coffin

>>713882310
>NOOOO THOSE DOESNT COUNT WAAAAHHHH
Bullying DS3 babies is honestly my favorite pastime.

>Play DAS2 for the first time
>Most areas are okay except for No Man's Wharf, which is a stand out in design for me
>Find out later that the bridge shortcut was added to scholar

This game SUCKS

>>713883273
Just to be clear, my first version was Scholar, figuring not much would be that different. To find out one of the best bits of design (the short cut back) wasn't in the first version, kinda fucks me up.

>>713883273
It really shows how fucking retarded the game level design is
Wait till you hear about how the game is filled with literal poop of the Chosen Undead

>>713883371
So much of Dark Souls 2 reeks of "well we just kinda give up" and put our head in our hands. Makes you appreciate all the random pots in DAS1 which annoyed me at first when nothing was in them coming off ARPGs like Diablo.

Shulva's the other best area in the game but I kinda don't count it because it's DLC, but I ended up liking the puzzles and level design and honestly really liked the look of it.

So let me get this straight when DS3 troons talk about level design they actually mean they want a way to skip the entire level.

It's funny how DS2 fags hold up no man's wharf or the dlc levels as the cream of level design in that game but it's only average for the series. Only Shulva is a candidate for top 3 levels ever made.

>>713883243
>>713883626
See>>713883214
>You lack sincerity
>Follow your leader Domo3000 into the tranny coffin

>>713863616 (OP)
It has more soul the darksouls 3 and elden ring.

You have the best version so that's good

>>713883626
To be fair there nothing interesting in the corridors of ds3 so I dont blame them for skipping the entire level. Even the developers knew this so they added bonfires before every boss.
The level design in DS3 is like the queue in Disney world, ultimately it lacks substance and is only used to stall for time until the boss(ride)

>>713883927
Yeah shitty DS3 levels like Amana have like 4 bonfires for whatever reason, even a literal straight line like Aldia's keep has 2 bonfires? Meanwhile based DS2 Grand Archives has only 1 bonfire and the rest is all shortcuts you unlock.

>>713883714
No need to sign up your posts with a selfie here, newfag

Your days are numbered soulspussies
TRVE action gameplay is back on the menu

Everything I replay DS3 I 100% the levels. Meanwhile in DS2 do I REALLY want to clear out the ruin sentinel room in drangleic castle? Do I REALLY want to clear out all the trash in undead crypt? Dragon aerie? Yeah just skip to the end with the rope.

>>713863616 (OP)
Should have played it first baboon cunt

>>713863616 (OP)
Unironically and this isn't a pun, the most soulful of the series. You'll have people complaining about how the map doesn't make sense because LOL VOLCANO ON A MOUNTAIN ON TOP OF A SWAMP but who cares? I'll take its varied environments over boring ds3 any day of the week. It also has the best DLCs and the most build variety together with top tier fashion.
It's not great, it's just a good game, still better than the other 2.

>>713884495
>still better than the other 2.

t. started with the PS4 port of DAS2

Wow can't wait to fight ancient dragon again! Wow Lud and Zallen! Omg graverobber trio!

>>713884551
Ancient Dragon was one of the few cool things about DAS2. Actually kinda intimidating and trying to fight him feels like an impossible task akin to walking up to Godzilla and picking a fight.

>>713884550
Why are you trannies pretending that ds3 didnt have 10 million players on launch, ds3 is secondary central, its most peoples first souls game statistically. Its the entire reason why dark souls got associated with EBIN boss fights in the normie zeitgeist instead of the down to earth dungeon crawler precedent set by the previous 3 games.

>>713884056
>Amana have like 4 bonfires for whatever reason
>Amana 4 bonfires for whatever reason
>4 bonfires for whatever reason
>whatever reason
The Shrine of Amana was literally nerfed because it was too hard.

>>713884623
Nobody thought this. You already killed a dragon and most likely several more on the way in. It doesn't have a gigantic health bar so you also know that it's definitely killable.

>>713884550
>complete projection
It's okay to have different opinions. I think yours is shit and you think mine is shit and nothing will change that.
I know how bored I felt playing ds3 and ER and yet I did several ds2 playthroughs. I also forgot to mention it had the best pvp especially with the covenants making for some real fun gameplay.

>>713884976
No no no I like ancient dragon. I get "TECHNICALLY", it's not a "good" boss, but I also like fighting Ceaseless Discharge the legit way. The more times Souls does giant monster, as opposed to guy with sword, the more I'm into it.

>>713884227
>12 months of invulnerability airtime
When does the enemy get to fight back?

>>713883083
Hey nigger, Clearly you can't read. If you could read you would know that the OP hasn't played ds2 before and that my advice is oriented towards beginners. Also if you could read you'd know that i said in my post i've finished both versions of the game. I genuinely can't understand the mental depravity that exists within the minds of the troons that claim ds2 is the best of the series. When someone suggests that a new player utilises a game mechanic within the game to make a poorly designed section of the game easier you take this as an insult to yourself and start attacking them. What is it about ds2 that causes you troons to identify with it so much? Is it the fact that like yourself it is a pathetic imitation of something and is universally mocked and belittled?

Dark Souls 2's world design doesn't make sense, and most levels are fairly bland and forgettable, it's a shame the game also puts its two best designed levels, Forest of Fallen Giants and the Lost Bastille right at the start.
Starts off strong and then falls off a cliff in terms of level design until the DLC.

>>713884227
This isn't a Nioh 3 thread. You're posting on a decade plus old game which is long dead.

>>713863616 (OP)
Janky game that feels like a chore to play a lot of the time. It does have its moments though.

>>713878050
But you've already beaten the level by getting to the boss. Having to run back through a horde of enemies just really detracts from the boss fight. There's a reason why they shortened the run back dramatically in the later games. Also that's a terrible comparison. Boss fights can be seen as a separate obstacle from the level itself.

>>713884335
DS2 is the only fromsoft game I never want to replay. And I've played elden ring 7 different times, so it's not about the length.

>>713863616 (OP)
a great game
frigid outskirts is the hardest level fromsoft has ever created, it will break you

Will there ever be a ds2 remaster like ds1 has?

>>713887576
that's what scholar is

>>713887821
scholar does nothing other than switching enemies and items around

>>713887908
that's good enough

>>713887576
>Will there ever be a ds2 remaster like ds1 has?
That does fuck-all but make the game look worse?
We already got that, it was called the pre-release downgrade.

>>713887908
(you)
nice one retard

>>713887945
>>713887953
>>713887978
ok nigger, kill yourself

>>713872091
>And the smelter demon in the old iron king DLC I would recommend grinding there and killing the enemies over and over again until they de-spawn, Each of these boss runs is fucking horrific and in my opinion especially for your first playthrough i'd kill all or most of the enemies until they de-spawn.

This is the kind of person telling you DS2 is a bad game.

>>713887241
I don't know what the fuck you are talking about. Frigid Outskirts is easy as shit and you have infinite heals to crutch on

>>713888052
FROMSOFTWARE HIRE THIS MAN

>>713887908
it's 60fps

>>713887519
now post the rollslop

>>713888082
>you have infinite heals to crutch on
that's a ds2 issue, but you can't deny that frigid shartlands is the hardest level they ever made
It's very unique too, I hope they bring this kind of hostility back in future titles

>>713877246
>DLCs are also lame as fuck and don't offer the paradigm shift each other Souls DLC like Artorias and Ringed offered in terms of design, settling for more of the same with no new mechanic
The DS2 DLC are easily the best in the entire franchise.

You're seriously gonna try claim AotA or RC are better than the 3 Crowns DLCs? That's ridiculous. It's beyond ridiculous. The poison city alone beats them both.

>>713888240
the bosses are trash but the level are fucking great, shulva the sunken city is so fucking cool, it's a giant city underneath the earth

>>713863616 (OP)
It’s like gears of war 2 or halo 2.
Liked by those who played it in its time and were part of the PvP community.
But now looking back it’s viewed as the goofy middle child of its respective franchise.
Without being part of that it won’t impress and it honestly didn’t age well, the handful of good ideas were recycled into elden ring.
It does have the best fashion though

>>713888795
>It’s like gears of war 2 or halo 2
>Liked by those who played it in its time and were part of the PvP community
I'm feeling particularly called out by this. No regrets, I still love 'em.

>>713888240
>The DS2 DLC are easily the best in the entire franchise.
Lol
>You're seriously gonna try claim AotA or RC are better than the 3 Crowns DLCs?
Yes
>The poison city alone beats them both.
It doesn't

>>713888896
Gears 2 pvp was peak imo too much bullshit added from 3 onwards.
Gnasher dueling cover sliding around was actual very high skill ceiling gameplay

>>713863616 (OP)
prepare to die a lot and gitting gud. this one will test your taste, if you end up liking it you're based and have big penis.

The fact that DS2 fans claim shulva is elevated by raising a bunch of optional platforms for little optional loot speaks figures of how low the bar for level design is in Dark Souls 2
Shulva is good, but the dlc... It's just not better than Artorias of the Abyss or Ringed City, let alone SotE and ToH
It's short, the bosses are all bad, and the hidden switch/bow and arrow/spirit coffin mechanics are just gimmicks

>>713863616 (OP)
I get so lost in this kind of game. You don't have any idea where to go and if you just try exploring you'll probably get stuck somewhere too difficult. Would not recommend.

>>713863616 (OP)
ok game but the worst souls.

>>713863616 (OP)
a good time but at first you might not like it that much

blunt damage is op as fuck and the starting mace shreds everything

>>713863616 (OP)
Level adp immediately so you actually have i frames while rolling. Look up the soft cap and hit it ASAP

>>713863616 (OP)
soul. Actually lots of souls, bigger, stronger souls. Heh heh…

>>713892682
>getting lost in a linear game
ngmi

>>713893978
Don't listen to this n-word. ADP is a complete meme insofar as it's needed for one of the many different builds you can choose from. Don't want to time your rolls? Use a shield.

>>713894280
Linear means you can only go one way. But from Majula you can go to huntsman corpse, heides tower of flame or forest of giants. Or jump down to the grave of saints.

>>713895208
>Or jump down to the grave of saints.
you finna die lil bro

>>713863616 (OP)
it filtered me HARD so it's a shitty and worst game in existence

I put hundreds of hours into DS1 but didn't play DS2 until 2020 and it was Scholar instead of vanilla. I like DS2 more.

>>713878105
Grand Archives is a really good dungeon, in a game full of bad dungeons. Better than most or possibly all DS2 dungeons and better than any legacy dungeon in Elden Ring + SoTE.

>>713888052
Flames of Old started off well but some of the changes prove that Stayd doesn't understand much of the game's intentional design.

>>713882413
he cute

>>713863616 (OP)
I tried to play this game like 3 times, the gameplay is the worst of all souls games, the animations feels slow and clunky.

>>713863616 (OP)
It is the most ethical Souls game. No wonder unethical players hate this game.

>>713895672
>better than any legacy dungeon in Elden Ring + SoTE.
Lmfao shut the fuck up

>>713882413
>A lie, will always remain a lie!
Such a kino fucking character

>>713895672
>I put hundreds of hours into DS1 but didn't play DS2 until 2020 and it was Scholar instead of vanilla. I like DS2 more.
i played DS2 the year it came out, SotFS is a direct upgrade to vanilla imo, i don't miss the original game one bit