Dark Souls 2

[Maigrets]

This thread gets a lot of views comparatively on this small forum, so I'm going to link a post I made on my Blog outlining the many faults with the base game that have never been addressed, but have been tolerated, and so the called "balance" patches that have been forced on us before each DLC release. Balance patches that have been detrimental rather than positive. I'm not going to go into detail here so read it if you want or ignore if you don't.

I follow the Official forums and a couple of others even though I'm not a member of any, but I have been tempted to have a say many times. I don't though, particularly on the official forum as it can be as vitriolic as any game forum, (they do have good Moderators though) and I can't be bothered with fanboys who defend every thing the developers do, even when it's obviously going in the wrong direction and against what the Souls series is supposed to be. That's why I have a personal Blog. I can say what I want and I don't care what anyone thinks and I can't get banned or censured if things get heated.

The developers have never communicated with their fanbase, and a very loyal and dedicated one at that, so people are trying to get the word to someone on the dev team, (and have been for some time) or maybe someone who has some influence, to listen and just maybe turn at least some things around. I doubt anything will happen though, but we can hope. I know other game devs don't bother communicating with the loyal fans who play the games they actually pay for, and expect to be able to have some input, ie Bethesda, and it could be due to legal issues...who knows, but just a few words now and then about why they do these things surely wouldn't hurt.

Now, I still love playing this game despite it's many faults which I really haven't spoken about here and I don't want to discourage anyone trying the game because I still believe at it's core it's a good game. However, since the last DLC has been released as far as we know, we the players, are wondering if there will be further patches to address some of these issues, especially some of the pressing ones that have plagued us since release.

Anyway, so I don't go typing out another huge post, and I already typed more than I intended, it's all in the link below. You might detect a certain level of sarcasm or annoyance. That was pretty much intentional and after again experiencing some of these things that many, many complain about, especially a lagstabbing invader wielding duel rapiers that hit and killed me from way across a large room last night. Anyone who has had this experience will know what I'm talking about. Then he/she went on to mock me because his connection was and I was unable to defend myself. Netcode...

LINK:
http://maigretsheadspace.blogspot.com.a ... g-and.html

Official BandaiNamco Forums:
http://forums.bandainamcogames.com/foru ... Dark-Souls

[Fessels]

Well I have no experience with players invading me and doing that since none of the games I play allow that as far as I know. But I am very familiar with De-synch ... server lags and disconnects. I have experienced more than once what those situations can cause. So I can guess how it will be when you have server lag while an invader does not, and that such a person uses that time to do what that coward did. Personally I believe that if a game allows invasion like in DS2, then get in and face the player head on.

[Maigrets]

Well I have no experience with players invading me and doing that since none of the games I play allow that as far as I know. But I am very familiar with De-synch ... server lags and disconnects. I have experienced more than once what those situations can cause. So I can guess how it will be when you have server lag while an invader does not, and that such a person uses that time to do what that coward did. Personally I believe that if a game allows invasion like in DS2, then get in and face the player head on.

The thing is you can't face the invader when he's lagging. Hits register well after it happens and you can be dead and not realize it until the lag or whatever it is catches up. Besides that there are people who "Lag Switch" on purpose which is a cheat they do on their end when they are losing and are scared to die. I don't know how that works exactly, but it's just cowardly

FromSoft were supposed to fix the Netcode, but it's not been done or attempted as far as we know. The main problem with it is that they have a Restricted and a Cross Region Netcode. Restricted is supposed to make it so you only connect with people in your near geographical area, for example Pacific/Australia and surrounding regions, but it doesn't work because what it actually is is Japan is one region, and then the rest of the world is the other.

[Fessels]

Yeah de-synch is a really annoying problem for on line games. As for the restricted part ... now that sucks?

[Maigrets]

So, I've been keeping my eye on developments in case a new patch or DLC is coming and saw this today. Pleasing news IMHO.

DS2 is coming to Next Gen...PS4, XBoxOne and PC for DX11 on April 7th 2015. It's going to be called Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. It will include all 3 current DLC's as well as improved graphics, new NPC's and events, improved multiplayer, new world elements and gameplay improvements etc.

See this thread for info:
http://fextralife.com/forums/t40330/dar ... -features/

Announcement trailer here.
It doesn't show much of course as the footage is showing what we already have, but it's months away yet and more to come I hope.

For people who already own the game and the DLC's on PC (DX9) there will be a free patch, but it won't include the enhanced MP with up to 6 players or the improved graphics. You need to buy the new version for those additions. Next Gen graphics would be nice, but I don't really care about that as much as the other extra stuff and since I already own the game. I'm not going to buy it again if I'm getting the most important thing for free...ie balancing, and new content.

It sounds odd to me that From appear to be including the PC in the Last Gen category and seem to think the current game graphics etc can't be upgraded on PC. FromSoft have admitted in the past that PC programming isn't one of their forte's, but surely they could get some advise from people in the know.

[Maigrets]

Looks like players who already have the game get the extra content and patches in February which is nice since it's all free. I already have the itch to play again.

[Fessels]

It is always great to get free game content.

[Maigrets]

So, after being paranoid about going to New Game+ because I thought I would just get wrecked over and over I finally did it and breezed through with my character Scar. I hardly died at all except to a few invaders with OP spells. Even solo'ed all the bosses except the Persuer...always have issues with him for some reason.... I don't think it was necessarily easier, but knowing what to expect, except for some new enemies and harder difficulty, and still having all my accumulated gear and stats made it easier. Haven't done the DLC's yet and that will be much harder.

I even did Velstadt on my own and he's one of the hardest in the game, if not the hardest compulsory boss. However it took about a dozen tries to kill him because I kept being invaded over and over in the middle of killing the vanguard of knights leading to his boss door.

Shrine of Amana.


Petrified Dragon Egg. It's a Covenant item.


Fully Hollow. Only because I had to be hollow to be able to enter a specific area.


The Embedded. From the Wiki - (The Embedded was once a man, who was tempted greatly by flesh, and knowing that he could not resist it, created his mask and the Key to the Embedded and waited for someone to find his key and bring him to his end.) It's pretty gruesome way to die though since we have to push a keyblade into the mask into his head while he is alive.


Different character in progress. In Power Stance with two Estoc's, my new favourite weapons. They are rapiers and do tremendous damage. They are piercing so can go through shields to an extent which is good for enemies that turtle behind shields.


The Hollow Mask from the Crown of the Iron King DLC. Completely negates Curse.


To enter a Memory and fight Sir Alonne one must touch the armour.


Sir Alonne's armour (light)which can be purchased from the vendor in the Iron keep. The long feather on the helmet actually has physics...it's just static in the screenshot..

[Fessels]

Having a blade piercing your head ... ouch. The Hollow Mask would be a winner for a Halloween contest, as for Sir Alonne's armour ... except for the helmet it looks a lot like Samurai armour?

[Maigrets]

Having a blade piercing your head ... ouch. The Hollow Mask would be a winner for a Halloween contest, as for Sir Alonne's armour ... except for the helmet it looks a lot like Samurai armour?

Yes, Sir Alonne was the ultimate Samurai. He's an awesome boss fight and if you manage to kill him without being hit he commits Seppuku. However, that's not so easy.

[Fessels]

LoL since you mention that he was the ultimate Samurai I can imagine he would not go down easily. But it would be really great to witness the seppuku ... except that I wonder how he will loose his head? Oh well it actually does not matter, it will be interesting to watch any way I guess.

[Maigrets]

LoL since you mention that he was the ultimate Samurai I can imagine he would not go down easily. But it would be really great to witness the seppuku ... except that I wonder how he will loose his head? Oh well it actually does not matter, it will be interesting to watch any way I guess.

This player makes it look easy... but it shows Sir Alonne's death animation. It actually brought tears to my eyes watching it as he is such a great and proud warrior.

EDIT: To trigger this death animation you must take no damage and use no healing items.

[Fessels]

Darn that player has really great timing with the dodging?

[Maigrets]

Darn that player has really great timing with the dodging?

Yes and that sword is one of my favourites and as you can see it's hits really hard. It's called Murakumo and the player has added a magic buff to it which is why it's blue.

Armour doesn't really benefit you a lot in this game unless you have very high health and can just tank, but then you need the heaviest armour and also need the carry weight or you cannot dodge effectively. Even then some bosses are too fast for highly armoured characters. Sounds odd but you'd have to play to see how it works.

That's why I always travel light... I prefer to be able to dodge fast and stay out of the way although I don't go naked or in my undies as this player is. I generally use a cloth set or light armour. As the saying goes...Fashion Souls.

Stats and leveling aren't quite as important as upgrading weapons and armour as early as possible though that's not so easy early on because materials are scarce. People play this game and the previous ones at level one successfully just because they upgrade all their gear and have great dodging skills. There are also no checkpoint and no death playthroughs. Those are pretty much challenge runs....something I'm never going to do..

[Fessels]

Yes and that sword is one of my favourites and as you can see it's hits really hard. It's called Murakumo and the player has added a magic buff to it which is why it's blue.

Yeah I noticed that the damage was very high with that sword.

Armour doesn't really benefit you a lot in this game unless you have very high health and can just tank, but then you need the heaviest armour and also need the carry weight or you cannot dodge effectively. Even then some bosses are too fast for highly armoured characters. Sounds odd but you'd have to play to see how it works.

Well I think I understand, because fighting in full armour in real life for extended times periods, requires great stamina and physical strength. And although the Knights of old could move a whole lot better then many people think ... dodging and moving fast on foot was not easy in a prolonged fight. So if that is the idea of the development team behind Dark Souls, it is normal that you would need to have very high health if you want to tank in Dark Souls.

That's why I always travel light... I prefer to be able to dodge fast and stay out of the way although I don't go naked or in my undies as this player is. I generally use a cloth set or light armour. As the saying goes...Fashion Souls.

Cloth and/or Light armour will not tier your character out as fast as heavy armour. As for the saying ... hmm I have never heard that one.

Stats and leveling aren't quite as important as upgrading weapons and armour as early as possible though that's not so easy early on because materials are scarce. People play this game and the previous ones at level one successfully just because they upgrade all their gear and have great dodging skills. There are also no checkpoint and no death playthroughs. Those are pretty much challenge runs....something I'm never going to do..

No checkpoints? I thought there where special fires or something in DS that allowed you to save your progress? Technically you could see that as a checkpoint or not?

[Maigrets]

Well I think I understand, because fighting in full armour in real life for extended times periods, requires great stamina and physical strength. And although the Knights of old could move a whole lot better then many people think ... dodging and moving fast on foot was not easy in a prolonged fight. So if that is the idea of the development team behind Dark Souls, it is normal that you would need to have very high health if you want to tank in Dark Souls.

Yes, the game is very realistic in that regard. The combat is fantastic and you feel every hit...

No checkpoints? I thought there where special fires or something in DS that allowed you to save your progress? Technically you could see that as a checkpoint or not?

Yes, there are checkpoints called Bonfires for normal play. But some players, usually Let's Players on Youtube who do challenge runs without stopping at them. You have to manually activate bonfires and some of them are well hidden so if you don't find them you may have a long and dangerous trip back if you die. I know where everything is now though.... Plus, it's also a game of exploration, not to be rushed through for the best experience.

You cannot save or Quicksave so if you make a mistake you can't go back and reload. Besides the Bonfires though the game does autosave progress, but you still can't reload those either. On PC you can backup your saves of course and replace them if something doesn't go right, but usually that's not necessary. You can respec using certain items and there's no penalty, so you're not stuck with your build if you don't like your stats.

It's a very long game and now even longer with the 3 DLC's, so it doesn't get boring to start new characters and builds.

For me and many others this game is like an addiction. I've been playing since it was released in April and I still enjoy it a lot. , there are worse things to be addicted to. When the revamped version comes early next year there will be even more to keep me interested.

[Maigrets]

Dark Souls 2 is 63% off on Steam at the moment for the holiday sales. $20 USD. It would be worth it for anyone thinking about playing the game since there's a big FREE patch coming in Feb with new content and other stuff. This is the DX9 version.

In April they are releasing a revamped DX 11 version with new graphics and more things that the DX9 won't get. I don't know if I will get this as it depends on how much the the sys requirements go up.

[anohosikara]

Holiday Sale!!
I bought the Dark Souls 2 in the Steam.
But there is no time to play.

[Maigrets]

Holiday Sale!!
I bought the Dark Souls 2 in the Steam.
But there is no time to play.

Hello anohosikara..

At least you have the game and when you do have time to play, get ready for frustration, pain, rage and then a lot of fun and enjoyment.

[Fessels]

Hello anohosikara..

At least you have the game and when you do have time to play, get ready for frustration, pain, rage and then a lot of fun and enjoyment.

LoL now those are some nice Holiday wishes you gave.