>>715718774
DS2 is very good you just need the right mindset for it and not be a bitch desu. play the SOTFS version, the graphics are worse because of the lighting but the gameplay is better
1. understand the bosses and enemies were designed around actually dodging attacks, instead of rolling inside shit like DS3. Even if you put zero or preferably a single point in ADP, you will have much lower iframes than normal for the series, but you will be able to dodge the combos of Alonne, Fume Knight, Smelter Demon, etc just fine as long as you roll in the correct direction. There will be a few stupid exceptions here and there (ancient dragon hitboxes, sir alonnes' grab being unintuitive to dodge without ADP, ice stallions are bullshit, etc) but they are a minority of the game, and early game bosses in particular will be a lot more forgiving. Just pay attention to the attack of the enemy, if its a diagonal slash that starts above to your right and ends at the floor on the left, you probably wanna roll to the right to go under it, for example.
2. The game will have infinitely more oppressive/tough enemy placements than DS3 where they are mostly a meme. In turn you will have a ton of upgrade materials, and youre much more encouraged to get yourself a vast fleshed out arsenal to deal with different situations, or do invest in a ton of different shit. If youre a full-on Quality build for instance you probably want lots of different options like scythes swords spears, small shields, big shields. Even moreso considering its a game where weapons running out of durability is actually a risk that exists
3. The hollowing mechanic is more punishing, while in 3 you lose a 30% health boost, 2's just reduces your actual health. But its not as instant as DS3's
If youre REALLY struggling for effigies, eventually you can get rings that make the hollowing less worse, or get summoned by a player to help him out which recovers your hp, but that probably wont happen unless you die a ton
