Customer Ratings & Reviews

It's a remix of Dark Souls 2 (YESTH!) with the added DLC (YESTH!), different enemy and item placement (YESTH!), and an upgrade to textures and lighting (YESTH!). I was a little skeptical about buying this because I thought: "Why mess with the original great DS2?" But being a huge Souls fan in general, I took a dive and I can tell you it was well worth it. It feels like a refreshing experience all around and certainly is more challenging. The only problem is, is that there is no updated Future Press guide to go along with this updated version and DLC. Only time will tell!

Bought this right after completing Bloodborne - which was my first "Souls" game. The one aspect that Dark Souls 2 trumps Bloodborne is the weapon variety - which is AMAZING. The game is a little rough around the edges, but it still looks great for a game originally on the PS3. If you love Bloodborne, or even Dark Souls 1, this is a great addition to the series and should be played by any fan.

This version of Dark Souls 2 comes with all the dlc that us fans payed for when they released them. I bought copies for both the xbone and the PS4. Yes, I like the series that much. If you haven't played this version on the new consoles, I highly recommend picking this up...so I can school you noob lol

Despite being a huge fan of Dark Souls, I skipped out on the sequel Dark Souls 2 for a number of reasons. The current gen consoles (PS4/Xbox One) had just come out, so I was enjoying my new and reviews made it sound as though Dark Souls 2 was pushing the limits of the prior gen consoles (PS3/Xbox 360). I sat back and waiting news for a current gen port. It's finally here and it's exactly what I expected. If you've played From Software's other titles Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, or Bloodborne, you have a general understanding of the concept of the game. You're thrust into a dark fantasy world inhabited by creatures and people who are intent on stopping you from unlocking the mysteries of the world. There's little to no hand-holding when learning to play. You're expected to die and figure out what you did wrong. There's little exposition. You're expected to read item descriptions, listen carefully to the non-player characters, and infer the why you are in the land of Drangelic and what's happening around you. This formula has consistently worked for From Software and it continues here. The major upgrade in Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin for all versions is the inclusion of the DLC trilogy; the Crown of the Sunken King, the Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King. The world is also remixed, including enemy placement and behavior. Having never played the original, I can't judge whether this is an improvement or not. For the PS4 and Xbox, you also get an upgrade in the visuals to 1080p at 60 fps. It's great package for any From Software fan, although many people, myself included, rank this as among the least impressive of From's offerings. That being said, the least of From is still amazing.

If you know about this series then you know what you're getting into. This is an amazing definitive version with all dlc included and a HUGE graphical upgrade. 60fps over 30fps and minute changes to keep old players in for surprises. The game in itself is very difficult in case you never heard of it. Do some research before deciding on purchasing. This is only for hardcore gamers

Dark Souls was great and Dark Souls II improved upon it in every way. This game is brutal without a doubt. But, there is no game that makes you feel more accomplished when you overcome its challenges. You die, but it never seems unfair. You're forced to learn from your mistakes and adapt to your enemies. The bosses are extraordinary, and despite being frustrating Dark Souls II always keeps you coming back for more. With the inclusion of all the DLC as well... there is no reason not to buy and love this game.

When From Software first released Dark Souls II for the PC and last-gen consoles we here at Chalgyr's Game Room absolutely loved it. A near-perfect blend between action, brutally challenging gameplay, and traditional roleplaying elements, Dark Souls II was a strong contender for our Game of the Year awards, as well as being one of the titles that a few of us were quite thankful for in our 2014 Thanksgiving article. When we got wind of the remaster that was scheduled for release in April of this year for current-gen systems, and that it would contain the three DLC packs as well as some new content, we just had to get our hands on it and now that we have spent countless hours smiting hollows and dying (a lot), here is our review. The most notable graphical upgrades come in the form of the framerate and lighting; while the lighting is not as nice as seen in the original E3 videos, it is a significant improvement of the original release. The framerate however, is absolutely glorious as it runs at 60 FPS with a few rare instances of FPS drop (most notably for me was while fighting the Old Iron King in the Iron Keep). The new higher resolution textures are all clean and look great at 1080p and draw distances, where applicable, are as nice as ever. The one thing I did find that was quite annoying is that there are numerous places where, after killing a hollow, the item that they drop will be suspended above the actual body, I saw it most often in The Lost Bastille and The Iron Keep where it happened enough that it became more than a nuisance. Fortunately it seemed to be limited to just those areas, as it did not seem to happen in other locations with varying heights (like Huntsman's Copse and The Gutter). Beyond that one little issue, Scholar of the First Sin looks gorgeous on the PlayStation 4. Gameplay has both changed and not changed. I have put about 250 hours or so into the original release and am currently on NG++++ (as I said, we here at Chalgyr's loved the game) so I went into Scholar of the First Sin thinking it would be a breeze. I could not have been more wrong. Enemy patterns and positions have changed significantly, throwing you up against some of the tougher enemies right out of the gate. Just as you enter the Forest of the Fallen Giants you are greeted by a couple of standard Hollow Infantry units and an Ogre. With the puny weapons that you have access to (even the morningstar that is just off the cliff to Majula), taking on an Ogre and a Hollow Infantry or three is incredibly taxing. I died two or three times in that first mob until I removed my armor and simply went about dodging all over (I started as a Fighter, as I normally go Swordsman in a full Dex build, so I wanted to change things up) getting a hit in here or there to weed out the enemies. That first fight sets the pace for pretty much the entire game, as enemy counts are increased and terrible things, such as a Pursuer appearing at all of the wrong times, happen. Boss fights seem largely untouched, though that could be because there are generally two summon signs (not including other player summons) outside of the mist door to the boss. If anything the access to more units make things quite easy. Take the Ruin Sentinels in The Lost Bastille; normally you would have the one NPC to help handle all three of them, but in Scholar of the First Sin you get a second NPC that can join, this one a melee character. The melee character can soak up the damage and then the mage will pound them with Soul Spear (an immensely powerful spell). The two of them were able to take out two of the Sentinels before both were vanquished, leaving me just the third one to kill. While it is easy in the first run, I can only imagine (and hope) that Bonfire Aesthetics or NG+ will significantly increase the difficulty of the boss fights, as they seem to be the only thing that has not truly changed. While the graphics and mobs got an overhaul, the music and sound effects did not. This is not a bad thing though, as the sound from the original game was absolutely wonderful. The audio conveys both a rich and gloomy atmosphere in Drangleic and the brilliance behind it can stir intense emotions like despair or dread, sadness and helplessness. For a game that can be downright brutal, the masterful audio is just another way for From Software to torment your soul. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, with its enhanced graphics, altered mobs, new content and the added DLC packs creates what is easily my favorite PlayStation 4 game to date. Between the updates that were made and the solid and wonderful gameplay, Dark Souls II is a must have for any current-gen console owners. Every defeated enemy is a victory unto its own and the payoff is well worth any bit of frustration that you may have with dying regularly.

Dark Souls 2 has always been a fan favorite, especially for me. If you played it on the PS3, the PS4 version just improves it in several ways. Besides updated graphics, the frame rate has been improved to 60fps from 30fps on 1080p. I've noticed a few differences on enemy placements, some areas have enemies that weren't there on the PS3. Overall, it's Dark Souls, you can't be disappointed by From Software with there series.

The game runs better that the Playstation 3 ever did. It looks and runs much better than before. The game is harder by the way of more enemy placement. Connection to other players is definitely better than before. Plus you get all the DLC packs release on the ps3 version. I never played the DLC, because by the time I was going to this got announce and i decided to wait and let me tell it was definitely worth the wait.

After the positive experience I had with Bloodborne earlier this year, I decided to try From Software's earlier offering, which had been remastered for the current generation. While this game plays slightly different than Bloodborne, I still found myself enjoying it, albeit in different ways. For anyone unfamiliar with a From Software game, its defining characteristic tends to be its steep difficulty/learning curve, combined with its generally top notch level design. These two characteristics are in full form in Dark Souls II. Where the game differs from Bloodborne is in the speed of the combat, along with the increased customization options. Combat in Dark Souls II is slower and more methodical than Bloodborne, which could be offputting if you prefer a faster pace. Winning battles really comes down to patience and understanding the proper time to attack (along with not getting too greedy and opening yourself up to attack/counterattack). As for customization, Bloodborne was relatively barebones with its options, while in Dark Souls II, the customization can play a much greater role in your success or failure. Combine that with the online possibilities of fighting other humans who have invaded your game, and you'll find that those encounters in Dark Souls II are much more interesting from a strategic standpoint than what you find in Bloodborne. All in all, Dark Souls II turned out to be a different beast than Bloodborne, but one still totally worth your time if you're a fan of Bloodborne/From Software.

This is by far the best game available on the PS4. The graphics are amazing and the amount of content make this an incredible deal. You are given all 3 expansions from the game in one package. Don't believe the hype about this game being too hard for the casual gamer. Just stick with it for the first few hours and you will learn the mechanics of the combat system and have no problem moving forward.

Even more beautiful, elegant, and enchanting as the release was on last gen consoles. It looks and feels amazing on PS4 and I'm happy to have this game make the jump to new gen. So, if you're a souls fan, you'll definitely love this game. Because, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is an excellent installment for next gen consoles. The graphics are fantastic and it runs really smooth on the PS4. The game-play is great! **Warning** It's a difficult game as I'm sure you're aware. Be patient and be prepared to die many times. However, the triumphs are very rewarding. In my opinion this is harder and better than Dark Souls and it's easily going to take dozens of hours to complete. This game also rewards you for exploration, there are illusory walls to be found that conceal treasure or shortcuts as well as loot that can be found off the path. I recommend this to any fan of the series or for those that haven't played any of the previous games. I can't wait to die again!

Absolutely incredible this game is simply one of the best games ever made IMO and sets the new bar for RPGs and games in generally the game took me about 35 hours to complete partly because of the amount of times you die but for me its what makes the game so good because when you finish the game there is no better feeling than knowing that you completed Dark Souls 2. You ask why I see well let me tell why. Its just that every conceivable area has been improved from the original Dark Souls from the gameplay, story, balance, and the overall experience has been improved and has resulted in a true masterpiece in gaming. But I will warn you that this game is only for HARDCORE GAMERS because you aren't then trust me will become a real dark soul but if you are then get out there and buy this masterpiece right now and you wont forget it.

Dark Souls II is a game that I intended to play on PC and never got around to purchasing. Now, I own it on ps4 (more convenient that PC) and received all the bonus content with this version. It is a lengthy campaign with components of action, adventure, RPG, exploration, inventory management, and beautiful unique environments. The world is alive with engaging atmosphere. The enemies are almost too smart at times but as challenging as this game is, your time is rewarded when you level up. There is also a cooperative and competitive element to this game allowing for interaction in a game that would typically be single player only. Not for the faint of heart or amateur gamer but definitely something not too miss.

This Dark Souls is the best one yet. Anytime From Software is about to release a game, I get beyond hyped. If you want to immerse yourself in a world and never wish to return to your real life, this game is for you. I spent more than 79 hours in a single playthrough. You can play in a new mode called New Game+ afterwards and start your journey anew with your same stats, but harder bosses. There are also new secret items in this mode. I cannot recommend this game enough. If ever there was a game worth full price, this would be the one.

...but I still love Dark Souls II. And this new edition definitely keeps old players on their toes. Pro tip: the Pursuer will keep "pursuing" you. And that's just one of the many changes. The game plays great and very smooth at 60 FPS, and the higher resolution gives it a very polished look. I have not yet had a chance to play the DLC, so I am very much looking forward to that! Overall, if you're a fan of the Souls games, this is kind of a no brainer.

Dark Souls is known for being difficult and unforgiving. That is what makes the series so great. Scholar of the First Sin is the updated version of Dark Souls II. Enemy placement is changed, 60 frames per second, new NPCs, new items, and new enemies makes this a completely new experience from the original DS2. The challenge is daunting but satisfying when you defeat the next boss! If you want a challenge get this game. Praise the Sun!

Any fan of the From software games can agree that you should probably play Dark Souls 1 and Blood-borne before getting to this. That being said, this HD remastering for next GEN consoles is phenomenal. The smoothness of the gameplay along with enhanced textures and shadowing make this a worthwhile purchase for any diehard Sun-Bro. And with increased number of players available for summoning, you can have even more friends working together in Jolly cooperation. Praise the sun!

I have been a fan of Dark Souls for a while. I played Demon, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2 back on previous consoles. I saw this remaster coming out and was skeptical. Boy was I wrong. I forgot how much was included in this game. The original was challenging, yet more was added to make this version even more of a trek. I couldn't wait to leave work and go home and play.

For fans of the prior entries in the series, the difficulty should not be surprising. For new entrants, it may be off-putting, but sticking through the initial learning/difficulty curve will result in one of the most rewarding gaming experiences you can find on the PS4. To sum it up, it's tough but ultimately fair. Varied environments and enemy placements as well as overhauled visuals make for a definitive yet refreshing experience for someone coming from the PS3/X360 version.