Review by Alex
Every so often, a lowly life is chosen to complete an impossible task - one of such magnitude and difficulty he is forced to procrastinate. And procrastinate he did. This game is far too amazing, far too beautiful and far too hard to explain in mere words... but I'll try.
Perhaps you've seen it, maybe in a dream when you finally completed DS1 and felt the rush of exhilaration so great it urges you to play it again. Maybe you, like me, have completed the game more than thirty times - completing every possible side-quest, NPC's storyline and worn every armor set. There comes a time in every gamer's lives where we get weary of our favourite game, we grow bored. Hatred turns to passion, passion turns to love... but when love gets old it withers away slowly to soul crushing boredom. Gwyn's glorious empire gradually groaned to a halt and the beginning spark of game playing crumbled to a decrepit hollow husk of an emotion. Game-playing turned into a murky, forgotten land.
After eons, a new game, a better game was announced. One with flair and showmanship, promising to both bring new and old together! Ears pricked up and the eagerly awaited release of Dark Souls 2 became very apparent. Finally, my love for games could cure the headaches and withdrawal symptoms I was suffering - and the souls I would receive would mend my ailing mind. Crossing days on the calendar became a religious effort, and after two months, finally there was something that could quench the blazing inferno of anticipation. Ripping open the packaging with the enthusiasm of a candy-bearing child, I almost openly weeped at the beauty of the disk that lay within. Barely able to contain myself - I forced myself to sit and watch the opening cut scene.
Unbeknownst to me, I was already branded with the symbol of the curse, an augur of darkness, that would make me lose everything - time and time again. I would soon digress away from family and friends - preferring a huddled up posture against a bright screen that stung my eyes. And the game was right - I didn't even care.
I became hungry for the souls I gained, gluttonous in every definition of the word as I journeyed through the long lost last of Drangleic, a walled off land far to the north. And again, I was standing before the game's decrepit gate..... without really knowing why.
AND IT. WAS. GLORIOUS!
Starting off, broken and alone I made my way through the dark and forgotten "Things Betwixt", very scared by the wolves that hungered for my flesh. After the best tutorial I have played through in a game, I made the long trek though the caves to emerge into the game I loved. Weak, helpless and not a soul to my name, but a chance to see the most beautiful sights I could view in a virtual world. And just when I thought that Majula would be a safe place - I'm sure i'm not the only one who says "FUCKING PIGS! GAAAAAAH!"
Running through the "Forest of the Fallen Giants" with a short sword, a crappy shield and only one estus flask, I discovered just how frustrating this game would get. Not even managing to get to the first boss, I gave up though pure anger and threw the controller on my bed. I gave in - I succumbed to the feeling of defeat in my bones. I was done.
Rage and fury at a game so beautiful seems so childish, but childish is what I am. I had done it again, but this time I remembered that in a few days - I would be better at the game. Like last time, I would enjoy it! Like last time I would have fun! Like last time I would exceed my expectations! And just like last time, I would be the happiest gamer in the world.
I was wrong.
I died, again and again, becoming so hollow and dead. Time after time after time I would wait impatiently for the loading screen to disappear. Boiling irritation and agitation popped the veins on my arms and maniacal laughter escaped from my lips - And the worst part of the game was that it was never unfair - I was just terrible; there were no Anor Londo archers to blame. There was nothing left to do but self-loathe. Depression set it's stocks firmly by the 4 hour mark, and then I ran into the Old Dragonslayer - and the flame inside me was re-lit, rekindled and burning with energy.
Suddenly I was better, suddenly I was bursting with intense emotions that acted as a steroid for game-play. I was winning! Killing undead and slaying pirates, slaughtering Pursuer's and Flexile Sentry's while engaging wholeheartedly in the fable told by characters throughout. Suddenly dying from my own actions didn't envision self-loathing, but new-found respect for the game. Progress ensued and I could play without desiring the smell of Jaelapp's burning dismembered corpse. From memory, it was like a Rocky training montage, but when I was there, it was like I had died, died again, died again, died again, died again and went to heaven. I could search for millenia, but the only word to describe the feeling was bliss.
Once the game was finally finished after a long 26 hour weekend, all I could do was play again. I learnt not only about the game, but the tale it told and threw myself willingly into an imaginary world that felt so so real. Fan-service was once again incredible, and the craving I yearned for after the first Dark Souls was filled. The longing and aching desire I felt has vanished. It's hard not to compare Dark Souls 2 with hard drugs - addictive, gives withdrawal symptoms, makes you infuriated and easily irritated but relaxes you after a while and takes you away from your family and friends for extended periods of time. But also like hard drugs - Dark Souls 2 is just so, so satisfying....
Not that I'm endorsing drugs. Drugs are bad.
So - let's review.
This game is the most amazing I have ever played. There are so many differences in terms of game-play between the first game and the original that I love so much. The stylized violence and epic boss battles were priceless and memorable. Caution is advised to let you play through, and the game-makers have put in all the stops to make you play slowly and appreciate the game and exceedingly excellent level design. Magnificence has been used all throughout the game especially regarding the fact that you can beat the game with virtually any character build; whether you are casting spells while dual wielding two daggers or use pyromancy with a club and tank it. Even with slowing the game down, the game also allows you to speedrun it if you so desire.
Online gaming is masterful to say the least - with little bugs and a rich and wonderful community to play against. Even ganking doesn't seem too bad as you are inclined to give a word of "gg" in gratitude and respect for other players' abilities. Summon-able characters are fantastic and their story lines are beautiful and brilliant. Like the last game, it shines so bright and breathes so much love and awe into your heart. Your sense of pride, self-worth and ego will be tested, and by the end you will be a more humble and appreciative gamer despite how cocky and arrogant you may have been. [I know I was - and probably still might be]. I have anticipated, despised, intensely loved and got mentally damaged and depressed by this game. And there is no way in my experience that you could put this game down in any way. (Except maybe the Gutter.)
All in all - I don't think I will ever get bored of this masterpiece.
Every so often, a lowly life is chosen to complete an impossible task - one of such magnitude and difficulty he is forced to procrastinate. And procrastinate he did. This game is far too amazing, far too beautiful and far too hard to explain in mere words... but I'll try.
Perhaps you've seen it, maybe in a dream when you finally completed DS1 and felt the rush of exhilaration so great it urges you to play it again. Maybe you, like me, have completed the game more than thirty times - completing every possible side-quest, NPC's storyline and worn every armor set. There comes a time in every gamer's lives where we get weary of our favourite game, we grow bored. Hatred turns to passion, passion turns to love... but when love gets old it withers away slowly to soul crushing boredom. Gwyn's glorious empire gradually groaned to a halt and the beginning spark of game playing crumbled to a decrepit hollow husk of an emotion. Game-playing turned into a murky, forgotten land.
After eons, a new game, a better game was announced. One with flair and showmanship, promising to both bring new and old together! Ears pricked up and the eagerly awaited release of Dark Souls 2 became very apparent. Finally, my love for games could cure the headaches and withdrawal symptoms I was suffering - and the souls I would receive would mend my ailing mind. Crossing days on the calendar became a religious effort, and after two months, finally there was something that could quench the blazing inferno of anticipation. Ripping open the packaging with the enthusiasm of a candy-bearing child, I almost openly weeped at the beauty of the disk that lay within. Barely able to contain myself - I forced myself to sit and watch the opening cut scene.
Unbeknownst to me, I was already branded with the symbol of the curse, an augur of darkness, that would make me lose everything - time and time again. I would soon digress away from family and friends - preferring a huddled up posture against a bright screen that stung my eyes. And the game was right - I didn't even care.
I became hungry for the souls I gained, gluttonous in every definition of the word as I journeyed through the long lost last of Drangleic, a walled off land far to the north. And again, I was standing before the game's decrepit gate..... without really knowing why.
AND IT. WAS. GLORIOUS!
Starting off, broken and alone I made my way through the dark and forgotten "Things Betwixt", very scared by the wolves that hungered for my flesh. After the best tutorial I have played through in a game, I made the long trek though the caves to emerge into the game I loved. Weak, helpless and not a soul to my name, but a chance to see the most beautiful sights I could view in a virtual world. And just when I thought that Majula would be a safe place - I'm sure i'm not the only one who says "FUCKING PIGS! GAAAAAAH!"
Running through the "Forest of the Fallen Giants" with a short sword, a crappy shield and only one estus flask, I discovered just how frustrating this game would get. Not even managing to get to the first boss, I gave up though pure anger and threw the controller on my bed. I gave in - I succumbed to the feeling of defeat in my bones. I was done.
Rage and fury at a game so beautiful seems so childish, but childish is what I am. I had done it again, but this time I remembered that in a few days - I would be better at the game. Like last time, I would enjoy it! Like last time I would have fun! Like last time I would exceed my expectations! And just like last time, I would be the happiest gamer in the world.
I was wrong.
I died, again and again, becoming so hollow and dead. Time after time after time I would wait impatiently for the loading screen to disappear. Boiling irritation and agitation popped the veins on my arms and maniacal laughter escaped from my lips - And the worst part of the game was that it was never unfair - I was just terrible; there were no Anor Londo archers to blame. There was nothing left to do but self-loathe. Depression set it's stocks firmly by the 4 hour mark, and then I ran into the Old Dragonslayer - and the flame inside me was re-lit, rekindled and burning with energy.
Suddenly I was better, suddenly I was bursting with intense emotions that acted as a steroid for game-play. I was winning! Killing undead and slaying pirates, slaughtering Pursuer's and Flexile Sentry's while engaging wholeheartedly in the fable told by characters throughout. Suddenly dying from my own actions didn't envision self-loathing, but new-found respect for the game. Progress ensued and I could play without desiring the smell of Jaelapp's burning dismembered corpse. From memory, it was like a Rocky training montage, but when I was there, it was like I had died, died again, died again, died again, died again and went to heaven. I could search for millenia, but the only word to describe the feeling was bliss.
Once the game was finally finished after a long 26 hour weekend, all I could do was play again. I learnt not only about the game, but the tale it told and threw myself willingly into an imaginary world that felt so so real. Fan-service was once again incredible, and the craving I yearned for after the first Dark Souls was filled. The longing and aching desire I felt has vanished. It's hard not to compare Dark Souls 2 with hard drugs - addictive, gives withdrawal symptoms, makes you infuriated and easily irritated but relaxes you after a while and takes you away from your family and friends for extended periods of time. But also like hard drugs - Dark Souls 2 is just so, so satisfying....
Not that I'm endorsing drugs. Drugs are bad.
So - let's review.
This game is the most amazing I have ever played. There are so many differences in terms of game-play between the first game and the original that I love so much. The stylized violence and epic boss battles were priceless and memorable. Caution is advised to let you play through, and the game-makers have put in all the stops to make you play slowly and appreciate the game and exceedingly excellent level design. Magnificence has been used all throughout the game especially regarding the fact that you can beat the game with virtually any character build; whether you are casting spells while dual wielding two daggers or use pyromancy with a club and tank it. Even with slowing the game down, the game also allows you to speedrun it if you so desire.
Online gaming is masterful to say the least - with little bugs and a rich and wonderful community to play against. Even ganking doesn't seem too bad as you are inclined to give a word of "gg" in gratitude and respect for other players' abilities. Summon-able characters are fantastic and their story lines are beautiful and brilliant. Like the last game, it shines so bright and breathes so much love and awe into your heart. Your sense of pride, self-worth and ego will be tested, and by the end you will be a more humble and appreciative gamer despite how cocky and arrogant you may have been. [I know I was - and probably still might be]. I have anticipated, despised, intensely loved and got mentally damaged and depressed by this game. And there is no way in my experience that you could put this game down in any way. (Except maybe the Gutter.)
All in all - I don't think I will ever get bored of this masterpiece.