Hi friends! I've been in the mood for a small helping of souls and this video has been on my to-do list for a long time. Will most likely not play the whole game but let me know if you liked this and want to explore more Dark Souls 2! Thanks for your eyeballs!
Yes please! Dark Souls 2 is genuinely my favorite Dark Souls (I've played through 1, 2, 3, Bloodborne, Demons Souls, and Elden Ring), and I hate how much hate it gets.
I'm sure you will enjoy it. Will you enjoy it as much as the other souls games? I think that's the issue most people had with the game: it wasn't Dark Souls I, which is probably one of the best games of all time.
The main problem with DS2 is that it's not DS1. So many people had fond memories of the latter and when DS2 came out with slightly different mechanics, and not as intricate a map, they decided they didn't like it. Even with all of its flaw, however, it's stood the test of time and is generally more popular nor than it was originally - even if it's still bottom of the pile for many people.
Honestly the answer to the question "Why does DS 2 have a bad reputation" is very simple. It wasn't made by Miyazaki (as he was working on Bloodborne at the time). It plays slightly different than DS1 (or 3 for that matter), but is an great game in it's own right. And Fromsoft obviously thinks so too, since there are A LOT of references to 2 in the DLC for 3. The pvp particularly was quite popular amongst players!
I think also a lot of the hate for the game comes from a miss understanding of game design and intent as well. While I have never found any confirmation by any of the ds2 devs (other then for the final DLC boss runs), I have heard from people (reinforced by my own experience with the game) that DS2 was designed with co-op play in mind. Things like the small soap stone allowing for co-op sessions in areas where the area boss is dead, the name engraved ring for longer summon times and summon restrictions (a early password type system), and many of the areas which are feel geared towards co-op play. The final DLC boss areas like the Frigid outskirts are intended to be done with a co-op party (this was confirmed by devs) to me many of the other hated areas of the game follow a similar game design to these locations. this idea also may explain why there are areas you shouldn't or can't run through (Shrine of Amana) as the areas are intended to be cleared by a party, taking out each enemy one at a time (one person distracts the other kills) same with the areas with large groups of enemies which can easily overwhelm non co-op players.
People actually liked ds2 base version better it was just said to be very uninspired boss wise. They loved the DLCs too but Sotfs made changes to enemy placement + amount and people really hated the amount of enemies everywhere on top of the bug (aha weapons breaking 2times as fast)
@@A_N1ne I had no idea about the coop planning. I did do ALOT of cooping in 2, but most of that was couch coop, pass the controller type :P (I also did a bunch of sunbro-ing with bosses, which was fun) I should add, I did play the game while using summons, as in this game you have to use them to continue their story line, and I really wanted to those :)
@@Aiscence I heard about the whole uninspired bosses thing yeah, and to be fair a large number of bosses in this game are indeed "big dudes in armour", but honestly it never bothered me personally. And I always thought people preferred the DLC placement of mobs? There are some area's where it's a fast improvement. (I forgot the name of the area, but in base game it was basicly impossible to get through without any ranged weaponry, and they made that alot easier in the DLC version).
To some extent that is the main difference with DS1 and DS2. Many people that went into the second game were discouraged with how it felt to play, even though it felt and seemed a little different, while so many expected they would get a similar or same game but with a new coat of paint. It's definitely slower as you noticed and there are some "hidden" mechanics around that, all the while amping the amount of enemies (most notably to make a better co-op). Still, it's not like the game is unplayable for a solo player, just there are areas where you HAVE TO be careful, while rushing things more often than not leads to failure. Especially if it's your first playthrough or you don't know the game well enough. I played the games in the successive order, watching some streamers do magnificent things (especially SquillaKilla), but i bought each quite some time after it got released. The most notable for me back then was the difference with movement and battle speed, so after playing a ton of DS1, i still had to get used to the pacing, but it brought me lots of fun too. One thing i might change is how long it takes to finish one playthrough...
Dark souls 2 is my favorite in the series and the #1 game I’ve been dying to watch you play. It brilliantly explores themes of identity and despite its hiccups, builds on the first game in magnificent ways.
Love the work you've put into your content in the last year or so. Really worked hard and the self-reflection shows. I hope you're genuinely happy with the process and what you're doing and I hope you continue to reap the rewards of success :)
DS2 is legitimately my favorite of the trilogy. Favorite, not best. I acknowledge its faults. But I love the tone, the style, and the sheer amount of playstyle options. I replayed SotFS more times than the other two combined.
If u play as mage u can IGNORE ADP, because ATN (attunment) also raises your AGL (Agility) stat, which increase your s during the Rolls. 20 ADP = 96 AGILITY (96 agli Is Ds1 fast roll) 40 ATN = 96 agility Dont waste your points in ADP. ATN Is also magic slots, increase the cast Number for each spells, and increase the Fast Cast of your spells
This is correct info. I will add, the agility math is 1 ADP is the same as 3 ATN. How much ADP you start with affects the early game because even that little bit still contributes 3x as much.
Both affect agility which in turn controls estus drink speed, s, cast speed. Agility 96, 105 or 111 is what you want and you increase it with adp or atn
Still my favorite souls game and I have played and finished them all, even the latest DLC for Elden Ring. There is just something about Dark Souls 2 - the areas, the weapons, the builds. Good times for sure!
Btw look around Majula again for yet another path to another beginner area ;) Edit - the issues with not being able to heal seems strange to me. But I'm a KBM player, so... Also I hope you put on the Ring of Binding and noted what it does ;) Actually - enemies in this game DO stay dead if you kill them enough times!
Nice to see that you decided to come to your own conclusions about Dark Souls 2, instead of letting "the majority opinion" prevent you from giving this game a shot. My personal (!) opinion is that DS2 is well worth playing, even though it has certain frustrating elements/locations. As for your choice to try magic: DS2 introduced a variant of dark magic called hexes, and I found playing as a Hexer (German for "warlock") enjoyable.
YT does not currently let me edit my original comment, so for clarification: I would definitely like to watch you play more Dark Souls 2. There are many good things for you to discover.
This was my first DS game and I really liked it. They learned from the first game and now you can fast travel from the beginning, that's a big plus. Here are a few tips: the dungeon you were on is not the first one you should explore, there is another that is easier. Behind one of the big guys there is switch to make the platform were you fight the boss bigger, it definitely make the boss fight easier.
DS 2 is set in the same universe as DS 1. In DS 1 you linked the fire, so that the world could kinda reboot and continue, and DS 2 represents the end of another one of those cycles. Some things are the same, some things have changed - but the focus of the game's story is a bit different. And DS 3 is about the ending of the cycles - in that game, maybe you noticed, this has gone on for so long that one person linking the fire is not enough anymore. That's why they need five former fire-linkers...
Something subtle that messes with the inputs is that your character gets winded (your character’s chest will heave for a bit). One of the things that winds you is depleting stamina as you mentioned. During that animation you can’t run. It’s one of the mechanics that even us fans are like 🤷♀️ (along with rolling attacks not following lock-on without precise timing).
If you level up ADP you will get more frames while rolling when foes cant hit you, you will roll, drink estus, use lifegems faster, maybe even casting spells ( not sure with this one). Its really big one. Problem with DS2 vs DS1, you can roll into 8 directions and attack in six directions vs DS1 when you got only 4, so it was easier to control your character and attack/dodge enemies,
I think the "deaths worldwide" counter could also feature other statistics. NPCs could have better items available. This is one of those stamina babysitting games. There's still something about Majula that makes the game worth owning.
Dark Souls 2 is genuinely my favorite Dark Souls, and has by FAR the best new game + mode (which I won't spoil - but may be worth its own one-off video of you decide to finish the game!). Sure, it has its problems, but it doesn't remotely deserve the hate.
One thing i do is make sure i can clear an area before the boss to make sure i have fully explored and that i am leveled enough. By just running past everyone on a first playthrough you just sont know what secrets you may be missing
Also I don't want to backseat, so I shall refrain from too much info, Heide's Tower is technically not the first area. Although you can absolutely power through it at low levels! (also soft tip, look up the ADP stat in the wiki, it's surprisingly handy!)
@@LiliaTV Nah, Games like these should, in my opinion, be as much discovered by ones self as possible. A little nudge here in there is fine ofc :) I will however add, that if you come across any NPC's that you particularily enjoy (say mr fancy sword), if you want their story line to continue, this game requires you to summon them for bossfights when possible. And just random, Mahjula has always been my favourite hub, and the Emerald Herald is an amazing "Fire Keeper", she has alot to say during the game.
A general reason is that DS2 is scuffed compared to the other entries. On its own its fine though in my opinion. But like thinking about bosses, there's zero in DS2 that I actively want to play again or think about besides 1 or 2 I won't spoil. But welcome back Bootyqueen!! I hope you enjoy your adventure in Drangleic
When you couldn't heal mid-fight it's probably not the input but you having 0 stamina. Also, estus healing is a lot slower in this game. If you drink and get hit you'll die because damage is instant while estus healing takes its time. It's always better to get to a safe position before healing. Best timing is when enemy just attacked but missed you because they'll have a delay after their combo/attack. If you also rolled though it can change as you'll also have a delay.
If you decide to continue playing I would recommend leveling Adaptability. ADP effects your I-frames when rolling you want to have around 20-25 ADP minimum so every other level put 1 point into it (lvl's come quickly in DS2 so don't worry about feeling like it's a waste of a lvl up), an easy way to understand how low ADP works is it's like slow rolling in DS1 only it still shows the fast roll animation, which is why it's so important to level up and why the hit boxes my feel off compared to ds1. The hit boxes are fine it's just I-frames timing that aren't represented properly by the roll animation
DS2 has my favorite atmosphere of all the games. The music in Majula instantly puts me in a reflective mood. It's also less linear than DS3. And has a ton of equipment. It also has some egregious hitboxes, but I guess you can't have it all!
Good choice! I finally broke through with "getting" DS1 about 6 months before DS2 came out, so I was extremely excited. At the time, I thought DS2 was weird and fun, even though it felt different and added new mechanics. Now, I consider DS2 to be one of my favorite games. I saw the negative reactions by some fans, and you know... taste is subjective.
Dark Souls 2 is a fun game. The story in DS2 feels unique compared to the other two. It is in the same world as DS1 but in a far, distant kingdom from where the others take place. Exploring its world always felt simultaneously less and more bleak than the first game. Learning about this kingdom and how they dealt with the undead curse and the dying of the fire is the driving thrust of the game's narrative.
I think dissing DS2 is a meme at this point. Personally I love it as much as DS3. It may share the last place of From Software's games with it (that I've played), but when the worst of what From has to offer is one of the best games I've played, it doesn't mean much to say the least :D
I'm here watching you with Dark Souls 2 this evening and i hope that you and your family have a nice cool 4th of July this Thursday thank you Lilia.🎇🧀🧀🎆
DS2 is my favourite of the series. I used to think if DS1 is a 10/10 game, DS2 would be a 9 but my view has changed since. I think it's an 11/10. Its DLCs are huge too in terms of content and level design.
Its my personal favorite, but each game EXCELS in its own way, DS1 is level design, DS2 is visuals and feels and DS3 is the gameplay. This is just a slower game, a polar opposite to Bloodbourne which is my favorite game of all time, but that's for the HP Lovecraftian aesthetic. They are all master pieces in their own right. In the dark souls bubble each have their flaws
As you up attunement, it inceeases the number of spells you have. You can go from 30 soul arrows, to 32, to 34 soul arrows, etc. It covers all spells. I go combat mage build, putting points into strength and dexterity so i can melee and arrow enemies up to the boss and use magic on the boss. Sorcerer with shield is useful. I do that in all the dark souls games. The mace is great for the sorcerer as a melee weapon, ascend and reinforce the hell out of it. And...dark souls 2 is far less forgiving than any of the dark souls games, hit walls with your weapons will damage them. Get the smith into his shop in majura, you'll need him often.
Lilia's playing DS 2?! I've been waiting months for this to happen.. happy day!! DS2 is quirky but is has some interesting creativity to it. I hope you enjoy it... now, on with the show! Have a cheesy day!!
I have played Dark souls, Elden Ring and Dark souls 2, in that order, out of the three of them I liked DS2 the best, it has the best elements from both of those games. The combat is closer to ER (better variety of weapons, armours, and magics, I also like the movement more then DS). The encounters and level design is more in line with DS (smaller areas that have one or two paths, unlike ER large open areas). A large variety of bosses (more then DS but less the ER, so every boss feels unique with only 2 or 3 reskins). It has a grater focus on direct co-op play then DS, like ER you can play nearly the entire game co-op, which I think is a bonus. (things like the small soap stone, name engraved ring, and the final DLC bosses. I honestly think DS2 was designed with co-op in mined, it makes a lot of the more hated areas of the game make sense if they were designed for 2 or more people to fight through it). I'd argue DS2 is the best soulslike game Fromsoft made, it's definitely the best out of the three I've played so far.
I'd forgotten about DS2's Oblivion-esque character creation 😂 But, yes, please play more! I've never actually played any of the Souls games, I'm only a casual viewer of a few playthroughs here and there, so I don't really have any strong opinions as to which game is best or worst, I'm just along for the ride.
I only got into FromSoft games with Sekiro, and then after that I played through almost all of em in a year and love them! DS2 I actually really liked for a bunch of reasons, mostly that the environments were super cool and pretty, and for whatever reason I felt like the game encourage me to change up weapons more, etc (might have just been me getting more familiar with the franchise though). Also, coming from Sekiro, bonfire placement and run backs to bosses etc really annoyed me in DS1, so the mechanic that eventually clears out enemies made those run backs way less painful for me :) So a bunch of little things I really liked. There are definitely lots of things to criticize comparent to the first, but I really enjoyed it still!
You *CAN* give your character a big booty. Its a bit of a glitch. There's a coffin in the tutorial area. If you get in several times it will start to morph your body. This is why it is best Dark Souls.
The controller issue is probably just that DS2 doesn't queue actions very far ahead of time. e.g. if you want to heal coming out of a roll, you either need to press heal near the end of the roll, or just spam it. Whatever works. But really, you have to make space and time to use an estus flask anyway.
Also, AGL affects how fast you use items and your i-frames. Levelling up ADP up to 20 will make your character less sluggish. It's not urgent, and you level up faster than the other games, so it's easy to do
Nobody "hates" DS2, but this is the internet and everything is hyperbolic and black and white to people. Dark souls 2 is an enjoyable enough experience, though less so than Dark Souls 1 and 3. I'd like to see you play it for as long as you enjoy it🥳
DS2 is overhated. The more I played it, the more it grew on me. It has its flaws, sure, but it also has things it did the best. It has a kind of atmosphere that the other games just cant match, and it has some really neat weapons and gear.
DS2 is unfairly maligned. I hope you enjoy your time with it. Adaptability and attunement increase your agility, and agility determines your invincibility frames when rolling, so you may want to put some points into ADP until you're comfortable with it. Most are comfortable with agility being at 105 since that is the equivalent of the DS1 fast roll, but it can go higher.
Bioshock and now DS2?? You spoil us! DS2 definitely is the odd duck out of the series, but still a great game 😊 Hope you enjoy! PS: I don't think I've seen anyone start at Heides! 😮
I love dark souls 2. It's just so much different from the first one as far as mechanics. The timing is completely different in combat, but it's not impossible to learn. Once you get the hang of the timing, it's fine. Too many couldn't get the hang of the timing and just wanted something the same as the first game. Whiners. The minor enemies were tougher also and didn't just recoil after striking the shield, leaving them open for a counter attack. They finish their attack and then you can attack them. The flurry attacks drain your stamina so quickly, so you just bait out the attack, step back, then go in for the kill. The enemies are tougher, smarter, and better coordinated than in the first one. Also, weapons are nowhere near as powerful as in the first game. The zweihänder and halberd are nowhere near as effective. However, other weapons are much more effective, like the damned mace, ffs. Magic also is depowered greatly, nowhere near aa powerful as it was in ds1. No easy mode in ds2.
The green knights are great for farming souls and items. Sadly, magic is very weak until you get through several bosses and get to the good spells. Also, if you clear any area about ten times, enemies stop respawning. It's a good way to explore and area to get all the items and have a clear path to the bosses. In Majura, you can join the white covenant to get enemies to respawn, and then leave the covenant to stop the respawning again.
Lilia you don't need to wish to kill dudes permanently in this game. They will stop respawning, if you kill them about ten times. It's tedious, but it can be done. Oh and thanks for giving this one a shot, it's the only Souls game I've played.
DS2 has some features, and a couple of locations, that are as good as or better than anything else in the franchise. Some of it made it into DS3 and Elden Ring. Being the slight lesser of a family of giants is not the same as being small.
The main reason was that they confused difficulty with unfairness. There are a lot of these 'game mechanics decisions' that are only in the game to artificially make the experience worse. And there are several other consequences of this. But the worst is the fanbase, which is basically divided into two groups: - Lovers who pretend that this problem does not exist, that it is just a complaint from haters and the game is perfect; - The haters who say that the game is just that and you should never play it.
Even if you only play it offstream, complete it. It's a worthy entry into the series. Maybe record clearing each area for items and the boss fights. It is a beautiful game. Only a bit over halfway through it right now. Going to complete a playthrough of ds1 with each class, and then get back to ds2, and do the same.
As far as I know, there are two technical things that make DS2 play differently from DS, which has a large hand in it's controversy [though not all of it]. One is some wild af hitboxes that change the rhythm of combat. The second is 8-point directional movement, which coming off DS was weird for some. Some people don't feel any difference, some people feel a big difference. [If you find it's giving you trouble, there is a mod that fixes the dead-zones in your range of movement.] I won't comment on the other divisive stuff, since it's the kinds of things you should form your own opinion about.
actually DS2 hit boxes are for the most part on par with ds1 if not better, there are some exceptions like Fume Knight. for the most part what people call hit box issues are animation timing issues (this is mainly for grab attacks which is where most of the hate is) when you get hit with a grab attack the grab animation is about half a second to late, so it looks as if you've rolled out of the way only to be snapped back and grabbed, if you turn the hit boxes wire frames on and look at those attacks it very obvious that you were hit then you rolled then the grab animation plays. it's still an issue with the game but it's just not what the majority of people think it is. I think another part of why the hit boxes feel worse is ADP as it effects your I-frames but as someone who played through 80% of the game with 16ADP when the recommended is around 25 the difference is clear, it's like the difference between fast and slow roll in ds1. Low ADP is like slow roll but the animation is still timed to be as the fast roll, so again it's an animation timing issue not a hitbox issue
Well, if you are looking for other peoples perspectives on why, well, here's mine..... I hate any and all games where I lose all my loot when I die and then have to go and retrieve it. I hate even more, having to waste 30 minutes or more defeating 1 boss. I hate the most, certain rougue games that end and need to be started all over again. Now a game like Stellar Blade, did everything right and I for one, love that game! Take care, long time no see and hope your baby and family are all healthy and doing well!
Ppl hate it because the levels are harder than the bosses, and souls games were all about the bosses. DS2 has the most bosses of all the ds games, so it's quantity over quality. Lot's of ganking too. But DS2 has a bunch of stuff that's slightly different that makes up for it, imo -- lots of new little details. It's also got the best story, best lore, and the best Fashion Souls. I also love the fantasy vibe that's different from all the others. It was my first souls game, so I'm a little biased since I've judged all the other games by it.
I have seen a theory around that DS2 is disliked partly because the most available version is "DS2: Shadow of the First Sin", which remixed the gameplay primarily to be harder for experienced players and added a lot of cheap groups of enemies etc. So it's a slog for new players, because that edition wasn't made for them to begin with, but it's marketed as just an upgrade or even a definitive edition. Apparently the original was more reasonable, though it still had divisive changes etc. from the first game. Which version are you playing here? Edit: @Aiscience beat me to mentioning SotFS enemies
I hate DS2 because the game killed my first PS3. Completely bricked it. Yes I’m aware of the irony. Even today I’m afraid to put the disc in my current PS3
A big reason (but not exclusively) is because most people start on Scholars of the First Sin, and there is consensus (not like unanimous, but enough people agree with this) that that's an extremely unbalanced version of the game to the point of unfun. I too started disliking DS2 until I saw a video essay on why vanilla game and dlc's are better, installed it, and now it's MUCH better in my opinion.
@@LiliaTV Just to note if you did this, on steam they have vanilla ds2 (just called "Dark Souls 2"), and then on that page of vanilla ds2, they have a bundle with all the vanilla dlc (or you can buy them separately on that page as well, but bundle probs better). You probably would've figured it out yourself, but just saying in case considering they have a few that comes up when searched.
@@LiliaTV Oh also as a last point, if you prefer SotFS (cause some do I guess), then ignore my stuff. But if it gets so frustratingly difficult that it becomes unfun, change to vanilla (and as a note: yes souls games are supposed to be difficult, but there's a difference between that and so unbalanced that it just becomes not fun. I actually played pretty far into SotFS before changing, so it's not that I didn't give it a fair shake). But yeah just saying anyways.
There seems to be a split between people who try to make normal to attractive pcs and people who make comical to ugly pcs. I see which side you're on. 😉
@@LiliaTV And in first person mode you don't have to look at your character very much!! Oh, and in Dark Souls games, it's very difficult to make pcs attractive.
I have over 2,000 hours in souls games just in the last two years. Anyone who says anything other than "it's the worst souls game" is either a troll or they didn't play it
![Dark Souls, but every enemy is MANUS - [Part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jFiTcbxlGio/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi friends! I've been in the mood for a small helping of souls and this video has been on my to-do list for a long time. Will most likely not play the whole game but let me know if you liked this and want to explore more Dark Souls 2! Thanks for your eyeballs!
Yes, I'd like to see more. And for you to complete it if you want
My mind brain enjoyed this, and hopes to process more!
Yes please! Dark Souls 2 is genuinely my favorite Dark Souls (I've played through 1, 2, 3, Bloodborne, Demons Souls, and Elden Ring), and I hate how much hate it gets.
I'm sure you will enjoy it. Will you enjoy it as much as the other souls games? I think that's the issue most people had with the game: it wasn't Dark Souls I, which is probably one of the best games of all time.
The main problem with DS2 is that it's not DS1. So many people had fond memories of the latter and when DS2 came out with slightly different mechanics, and not as intricate a map, they decided they didn't like it. Even with all of its flaw, however, it's stood the test of time and is generally more popular nor than it was originally - even if it's still bottom of the pile for many people.
Something else to note, hitting illusory walls doesnt work in DS2. You have to press the interact key/button to open them.
Honestly the answer to the question "Why does DS 2 have a bad reputation" is very simple. It wasn't made by Miyazaki (as he was working on Bloodborne at the time).
It plays slightly different than DS1 (or 3 for that matter), but is an great game in it's own right. And Fromsoft obviously thinks so too, since there are A LOT of references to 2 in the DLC for 3. The pvp particularly was quite popular amongst players!
I think also a lot of the hate for the game comes from a miss understanding of game design and intent as well. While I have never found any confirmation by any of the ds2 devs (other then for the final DLC boss runs), I have heard from people (reinforced by my own experience with the game) that DS2 was designed with co-op play in mind. Things like the small soap stone allowing for co-op sessions in areas where the area boss is dead, the name engraved ring for longer summon times and summon restrictions (a early password type system), and many of the areas which are feel geared towards co-op play. The final DLC boss areas like the Frigid outskirts are intended to be done with a co-op party (this was confirmed by devs) to me many of the other hated areas of the game follow a similar game design to these locations. this idea also may explain why there are areas you shouldn't or can't run through (Shrine of Amana) as the areas are intended to be cleared by a party, taking out each enemy one at a time (one person distracts the other kills) same with the areas with large groups of enemies which can easily overwhelm non co-op players.
People actually liked ds2 base version better it was just said to be very uninspired boss wise. They loved the DLCs too but Sotfs made changes to enemy placement + amount and people really hated the amount of enemies everywhere on top of the bug (aha weapons breaking 2times as fast)
@@A_N1ne I had no idea about the coop planning. I did do ALOT of cooping in 2, but most of that was couch coop, pass the controller type :P (I also did a bunch of sunbro-ing with bosses, which was fun)
I should add, I did play the game while using summons, as in this game you have to use them to continue their story line, and I really wanted to those :)
@@Aiscence I heard about the whole uninspired bosses thing yeah, and to be fair a large number of bosses in this game are indeed "big dudes in armour", but honestly it never bothered me personally.
And I always thought people preferred the DLC placement of mobs? There are some area's where it's a fast improvement. (I forgot the name of the area, but in base game it was basicly impossible to get through without any ranged weaponry, and they made that alot easier in the DLC version).
To some extent that is the main difference with DS1 and DS2. Many people that went into the second game were discouraged with how it felt to play, even though it felt and seemed a little different, while so many expected they would get a similar or same game but with a new coat of paint. It's definitely slower as you noticed and there are some "hidden" mechanics around that, all the while amping the amount of enemies (most notably to make a better co-op). Still, it's not like the game is unplayable for a solo player, just there are areas where you HAVE TO be careful, while rushing things more often than not leads to failure. Especially if it's your first playthrough or you don't know the game well enough.
I played the games in the successive order, watching some streamers do magnificent things (especially SquillaKilla), but i bought each quite some time after it got released. The most notable for me back then was the difference with movement and battle speed, so after playing a ton of DS1, i still had to get used to the pacing, but it brought me lots of fun too. One thing i might change is how long it takes to finish one playthrough...
Dark souls 2 is my favorite in the series and the #1 game I’ve been dying to watch you play. It brilliantly explores themes of identity and despite its hiccups, builds on the first game in magnificent ways.
Love the work you've put into your content in the last year or so. Really worked hard and the self-reflection shows. I hope you're genuinely happy with the process and what you're doing and I hope you continue to reap the rewards of success :)
Thank you so much, your comment means a lot!! Yes, I am a lot happier now that things aren't such a cluttered mess around here. xD
DS2 is legitimately my favorite of the trilogy. Favorite, not best. I acknowledge its faults. But I love the tone, the style, and the sheer amount of playstyle options. I replayed SotFS more times than the other two combined.
If u play as mage u can IGNORE ADP, because ATN (attunment) also raises your AGL (Agility) stat, which increase your s during the Rolls.
20 ADP = 96 AGILITY (96 agli Is Ds1 fast roll)
40 ATN = 96 agility
Dont waste your points in ADP. ATN Is also magic slots, increase the cast Number for each spells, and increase the Fast Cast of your spells
Oh shit, I had no idea (I did tip to check ADP), I've never played a caster 😅
This is correct info.
I will add, the agility math is 1 ADP is the same as 3 ATN. How much ADP you start with affects the early game because even that little bit still contributes 3x as much.
ADP also affects poise and other things tho right?
Both affect agility which in turn controls estus drink speed, s, cast speed. Agility 96, 105 or 111 is what you want and you increase it with adp or atn
Still my favorite souls game and I have played and finished them all, even the latest DLC for Elden Ring. There is just something about Dark Souls 2 - the areas, the weapons, the builds. Good times for sure!
Btw look around Majula again for yet another path to another beginner area ;)
Edit - the issues with not being able to heal seems strange to me. But I'm a KBM player, so...
Also I hope you put on the Ring of Binding and noted what it does ;)
Actually - enemies in this game DO stay dead if you kill them enough times!
@Vamirez Thanks! can you somehow set up the KB&M to work like DS1?
@@LiliaTV Hmm, to be honest I don't remember any problems with that. Just try it out? :)
Dark Souls 2 has some of the best atmosphere in gaming. I love ALL Dark Souls games like a real one
🔴More Souls Playthroughs to watch!
Dark Souls 1 - th-cam.com/play/PL14p1fPgxfv8k9xnHjKKbi9k1od2yRCew.html
Dark Souls 3 - th-cam.com/play/PL14p1fPgxfv_RUn5slStrW4elC40dX01v.html
Demon Souls - th-cam.com/play/PL14p1fPgxfv_J5d1F7x_YRH0qWZlRoCbR.html
Elden Ring - th-cam.com/play/PL14p1fPgxfv8Q2VZZytBB-EXeOS5J99bW.html
Nice to see that you decided to come to your own conclusions about Dark Souls 2, instead of letting "the majority opinion" prevent you from giving this game a shot. My personal (!) opinion is that DS2 is well worth playing, even though it has certain frustrating elements/locations. As for your choice to try magic: DS2 introduced a variant of dark magic called hexes, and I found playing as a Hexer (German for "warlock") enjoyable.
YT does not currently let me edit my original comment, so for clarification: I would definitely like to watch you play more Dark Souls 2. There are many good things for you to discover.
This was my first DS game and I really liked it. They learned from the first game and now you can fast travel from the beginning, that's a big plus. Here are a few tips: the dungeon you were on is not the first one you should explore, there is another that is easier. Behind one of the big guys there is switch to make the platform were you fight the boss bigger, it definitely make the boss fight easier.
DS 2 is set in the same universe as DS 1. In DS 1 you linked the fire, so that the world could kinda reboot and continue, and DS 2 represents the end of another one of those cycles. Some things are the same, some things have changed - but the focus of the game's story is a bit different. And DS 3 is about the ending of the cycles - in that game, maybe you noticed, this has gone on for so long that one person linking the fire is not enough anymore. That's why they need five former fire-linkers...
Something subtle that messes with the inputs is that your character gets winded (your character’s chest will heave for a bit). One of the things that winds you is depleting stamina as you mentioned. During that animation you can’t run.
It’s one of the mechanics that even us fans are like 🤷♀️ (along with rolling attacks not following lock-on without precise timing).
In defense of the giant hippo cyclops, that's all pure Molson Muscle.
@@murderedcarrot9684 he is stronk
I actually started playing Dark Souls II for the same reason. Then the DLC for Elden Ring came out and I got distracted.
Also if you explore a little more there is a way to make that boss fight a little easier...
So hyped to see this come up!!! I hope you have a great time with this game for however long you choose to play!
If you level up ADP you will get more frames while rolling when foes cant hit you, you will roll, drink estus, use lifegems faster, maybe even casting spells ( not sure with this one). Its really big one. Problem with DS2 vs DS1, you can roll into 8 directions and attack in six directions vs DS1 when you got only 4, so it was easier to control your character and attack/dodge enemies,
Yeah it does also effect spell casting. But if youre going to be casting you may as well level ATN instead since it also levels agi
I think the "deaths worldwide" counter could also feature other statistics. NPCs could have better items available. This is one of those stamina babysitting games. There's still something about Majula that makes the game worth owning.
Dark Souls 2 is genuinely my favorite Dark Souls, and has by FAR the best new game + mode (which I won't spoil - but may be worth its own one-off video of you decide to finish the game!). Sure, it has its problems, but it doesn't remotely deserve the hate.
One thing i do is make sure i can clear an area before the boss to make sure i have fully explored and that i am leveled enough. By just running past everyone on a first playthrough you just sont know what secrets you may be missing
I say this with love of the channel and you, no criticism intended :)
It was the first souls game i played so it has a special place in my heart.
Also I don't want to backseat, so I shall refrain from too much info, Heide's Tower is technically not the first area. Although you can absolutely power through it at low levels!
(also soft tip, look up the ADP stat in the wiki, it's surprisingly handy!)
Happen to me first time I played ds2. Didn't discover the actual first area until I got stuck in No man's wharf
@denniswijker7162 go ahead and backseat I don't mind
@@denniswijker7162 also, thank you 😊
@@LiliaTV Nah, Games like these should, in my opinion, be as much discovered by ones self as possible. A little nudge here in there is fine ofc :)
I will however add, that if you come across any NPC's that you particularily enjoy (say mr fancy sword), if you want their story line to continue, this game requires you to summon them for bossfights when possible.
And just random, Mahjula has always been my favourite hub, and the Emerald Herald is an amazing "Fire Keeper", she has alot to say during the game.
@@LiliaTV and you are quite welcome :D Enjoy!
A general reason is that DS2 is scuffed compared to the other entries. On its own its fine though in my opinion. But like thinking about bosses, there's zero in DS2 that I actively want to play again or think about besides 1 or 2 I won't spoil. But welcome back Bootyqueen!! I hope you enjoy your adventure in Drangleic
When you couldn't heal mid-fight it's probably not the input but you having 0 stamina. Also, estus healing is a lot slower in this game. If you drink and get hit you'll die because damage is instant while estus healing takes its time. It's always better to get to a safe position before healing. Best timing is when enemy just attacked but missed you because they'll have a delay after their combo/attack. If you also rolled though it can change as you'll also have a delay.
If you decide to continue playing I would recommend leveling Adaptability. ADP effects your I-frames when rolling you want to have around 20-25 ADP minimum so every other level put 1 point into it (lvl's come quickly in DS2 so don't worry about feeling like it's a waste of a lvl up), an easy way to understand how low ADP works is it's like slow rolling in DS1 only it still shows the fast roll animation, which is why it's so important to level up and why the hit boxes my feel off compared to ds1. The hit boxes are fine it's just I-frames timing that aren't represented properly by the roll animation
@@A_N1ne great info, thank you!!
@@EllaKarhu thank you!
Its actually agility that determines s and speed, but adp and atn increases it.
DS2 has my favorite atmosphere of all the games. The music in Majula instantly puts me in a reflective mood. It's also less linear than DS3. And has a ton of equipment. It also has some egregious hitboxes, but I guess you can't have it all!
Good choice! I finally broke through with "getting" DS1 about 6 months before DS2 came out, so I was extremely excited. At the time, I thought DS2 was weird and fun, even though it felt different and added new mechanics. Now, I consider DS2 to be one of my favorite games. I saw the negative reactions by some fans, and you know... taste is subjective.
Dark Souls 2 is a fun game. The story in DS2 feels unique compared to the other two. It is in the same world as DS1 but in a far, distant kingdom from where the others take place. Exploring its world always felt simultaneously less and more bleak than the first game. Learning about this kingdom and how they dealt with the undead curse and the dying of the fire is the driving thrust of the game's narrative.
@@chiprahn cool thanks for clearing that up for me
I think dissing DS2 is a meme at this point. Personally I love it as much as DS3. It may share the last place of From Software's games with it (that I've played), but when the worst of what From has to offer is one of the best games I've played, it doesn't mean much to say the least :D
the dragonrider can be very easily cheesed, if you google how.
I'm here watching you with Dark Souls 2 this evening and
i hope that you and your family have a nice cool 4th of July
this Thursday thank you Lilia.🎇🧀🧀🎆
Thanks, you too!!
DS2 is my favourite of the series. I used to think if DS1 is a 10/10 game, DS2 would be a 9 but my view has changed since. I think it's an 11/10. Its DLCs are huge too in terms of content and level design.
This game has the BEST DLCs!
Pro tip, defeat third Stone guy for happiness
@@connormcdermott1254 the dude by the ledge?
Its my personal favorite, but each game EXCELS in its own way, DS1 is level design, DS2 is visuals and feels and DS3 is the gameplay. This is just a slower game, a polar opposite to Bloodbourne which is my favorite game of all time, but that's for the HP Lovecraftian aesthetic. They are all master pieces in their own right. In the dark souls bubble each have their flaws
As you up attunement, it inceeases the number of spells you have. You can go from 30 soul arrows, to 32, to 34 soul arrows, etc. It covers all spells. I go combat mage build, putting points into strength and dexterity so i can melee and arrow enemies up to the boss and use magic on the boss. Sorcerer with shield is useful. I do that in all the dark souls games. The mace is great for the sorcerer as a melee weapon, ascend and reinforce the hell out of it. And...dark souls 2 is far less forgiving than any of the dark souls games, hit walls with your weapons will damage them. Get the smith into his shop in majura, you'll need him often.
Lilia's playing DS 2?! I've been waiting months for this to happen.. happy day!! DS2 is quirky but is has some interesting creativity to it. I hope you enjoy it... now, on with the show! Have a cheesy day!!
I have played Dark souls, Elden Ring and Dark souls 2, in that order, out of the three of them I liked DS2 the best, it has the best elements from both of those games. The combat is closer to ER (better variety of weapons, armours, and magics, I also like the movement more then DS). The encounters and level design is more in line with DS (smaller areas that have one or two paths, unlike ER large open areas). A large variety of bosses (more then DS but less the ER, so every boss feels unique with only 2 or 3 reskins). It has a grater focus on direct co-op play then DS, like ER you can play nearly the entire game co-op, which I think is a bonus. (things like the small soap stone, name engraved ring, and the final DLC bosses. I honestly think DS2 was designed with co-op in mined, it makes a lot of the more hated areas of the game make sense if they were designed for 2 or more people to fight through it). I'd argue DS2 is the best soulslike game Fromsoft made, it's definitely the best out of the three I've played so far.
Yaaaaay Lilia you look great in this one. Love the glasses. 🎉
Thanks 🤗
I'd forgotten about DS2's Oblivion-esque character creation 😂
But, yes, please play more! I've never actually played any of the Souls games, I'm only a casual viewer of a few playthroughs here and there, so I don't really have any strong opinions as to which game is best or worst, I'm just along for the ride.
I only got into FromSoft games with Sekiro, and then after that I played through almost all of em in a year and love them!
DS2 I actually really liked for a bunch of reasons, mostly that the environments were super cool and pretty, and for whatever reason I felt like the game encourage me to change up weapons more, etc (might have just been me getting more familiar with the franchise though).
Also, coming from Sekiro, bonfire placement and run backs to bosses etc really annoyed me in DS1, so the mechanic that eventually clears out enemies made those run backs way less painful for me :)
So a bunch of little things I really liked. There are definitely lots of things to criticize comparent to the first, but I really enjoyed it still!
You *CAN* give your character a big booty. Its a bit of a glitch. There's a coffin in the tutorial area. If you get in several times it will start to morph your body.
This is why it is best Dark Souls.
really?? that's amazing xD
@@LiliaTV Yes. I dont recall how many times it takes though. I found out about that glitch from the subreddit
The controller issue is probably just that DS2 doesn't queue actions very far ahead of time. e.g. if you want to heal coming out of a roll, you either need to press heal near the end of the roll, or just spam it. Whatever works. But really, you have to make space and time to use an estus flask anyway.
Also, AGL affects how fast you use items and your i-frames. Levelling up ADP up to 20 will make your character less sluggish. It's not urgent, and you level up faster than the other games, so it's easy to do
Nobody "hates" DS2, but this is the internet and everything is hyperbolic and black and white to people.
Dark souls 2 is an enjoyable enough experience, though less so than Dark Souls 1 and 3. I'd like to see you play it for as long as you enjoy it🥳
2 definitely has some interesting mechanics. Some hate it but some love it.
DS2 is overhated. The more I played it, the more it grew on me. It has its flaws, sure, but it also has things it did the best. It has a kind of atmosphere that the other games just cant match, and it has some really neat weapons and gear.
I had the opposite experience the more I played it the more I hated it. I started out enjoying it.
DS2 is unfairly maligned. I hope you enjoy your time with it.
Adaptability and attunement increase your agility, and agility determines your invincibility frames when rolling, so you may want to put some points into ADP until you're comfortable with it. Most are comfortable with agility being at 105 since that is the equivalent of the DS1 fast roll, but it can go higher.
Bioshock and now DS2?? You spoil us! DS2 definitely is the odd duck out of the series, but still a great game 😊 Hope you enjoy! PS: I don't think I've seen anyone start at Heides! 😮
I love dark souls 2. It's just so much different from the first one as far as mechanics. The timing is completely different in combat, but it's not impossible to learn. Once you get the hang of the timing, it's fine. Too many couldn't get the hang of the timing and just wanted something the same as the first game. Whiners.
The minor enemies were tougher also and didn't just recoil after striking the shield, leaving them open for a counter attack. They finish their attack and then you can attack them. The flurry attacks drain your stamina so quickly, so you just bait out the attack, step back, then go in for the kill. The enemies are tougher, smarter, and better coordinated than in the first one.
Also, weapons are nowhere near as powerful as in the first game. The zweihänder and halberd are nowhere near as effective. However, other weapons are much more effective, like the damned mace, ffs.
Magic also is depowered greatly, nowhere near aa powerful as it was in ds1. No easy mode in ds2.
TIP!
Illusory walls in this game are opened with the INTERACT BUTTON, NOT by attacking them!
oh thanks! Are there lots of them in the game?
@@LiliaTV there's definitely a good number, many of which hold good or cool things behind them. Absolutely worth trying to find them!
The green knights are great for farming souls and items. Sadly, magic is very weak until you get through several bosses and get to the good spells.
Also, if you clear any area about ten times, enemies stop respawning. It's a good way to explore and area to get all the items and have a clear path to the bosses.
In Majura, you can join the white covenant to get enemies to respawn, and then leave the covenant to stop the respawning again.
Lilia you don't need to wish to kill dudes permanently in this game. They will stop respawning, if you kill them about ten times. It's tedious, but it can be done. Oh and thanks for giving this one a shot, it's the only Souls game I've played.
Holy crap I never thought I'd see the day Lilia actually touches this game, good luck.
DS2 has some features, and a couple of locations, that are as good as or better than anything else in the franchise. Some of it made it into DS3 and Elden Ring. Being the slight lesser of a family of giants is not the same as being small.
The main reason was that they confused difficulty with unfairness. There are a lot of these 'game mechanics decisions' that are only in the game to artificially make the experience worse. And there are several other consequences of this.
But the worst is the fanbase, which is basically divided into two groups:
- Lovers who pretend that this problem does not exist, that it is just a complaint from haters and the game is perfect;
- The haters who say that the game is just that and you should never play it.
Even if you only play it offstream, complete it. It's a worthy entry into the series. Maybe record clearing each area for items and the boss fights. It is a beautiful game. Only a bit over halfway through it right now. Going to complete a playthrough of ds1 with each class, and then get back to ds2, and do the same.
Gravity! The real boss in every dark souls game.
As far as I know, there are two technical things that make DS2 play differently from DS, which has a large hand in it's controversy [though not all of it]. One is some wild af hitboxes that change the rhythm of combat. The second is 8-point directional movement, which coming off DS was weird for some. Some people don't feel any difference, some people feel a big difference. [If you find it's giving you trouble, there is a mod that fixes the dead-zones in your range of movement.] I won't comment on the other divisive stuff, since it's the kinds of things you should form your own opinion about.
actually DS2 hit boxes are for the most part on par with ds1 if not better, there are some exceptions like Fume Knight. for the most part what people call hit box issues are animation timing issues (this is mainly for grab attacks which is where most of the hate is) when you get hit with a grab attack the grab animation is about half a second to late, so it looks as if you've rolled out of the way only to be snapped back and grabbed, if you turn the hit boxes wire frames on and look at those attacks it very obvious that you were hit then you rolled then the grab animation plays. it's still an issue with the game but it's just not what the majority of people think it is. I think another part of why the hit boxes feel worse is ADP as it effects your I-frames but as someone who played through 80% of the game with 16ADP when the recommended is around 25 the difference is clear, it's like the difference between fast and slow roll in ds1. Low ADP is like slow roll but the animation is still timed to be as the fast roll, so again it's an animation timing issue not a hitbox issue
@@A_N1ne I can understand why people get the impression that it's hitboxes, but your explanation makes sense. Thanks.
I'm so excited for this! ❤
The first several bosses, i built up enough firebombs and rolled a lot to kill them.
Something worth knowing is that in this game when you kill an enemy 20 times (I think) they won't spawn anymore.
Ive only played the intro and then went and played part 1 twice. Never went back and played 2 again. Maybe i should 🤔
Your death form looks like Ganondorf's daughter
just one word: Adaptability
Not everybody, i like it. Not love but like it☺
24:55 classic dark souls.
Are you going to play mafia 3
It's on my list for the @Lilia Quest channel! Make sure to subscribe over there for that sort of content going forward. :)
Great game! Mafia 4 is right around the corner too.
Well, if you are looking for other peoples perspectives on why, well, here's mine..... I hate any and all games where I lose all my loot when I die and then have to go and retrieve it. I hate even more, having to waste 30 minutes or more defeating 1 boss. I hate the most, certain rougue games that end and need to be started all over again. Now a game like Stellar Blade, did everything right and I for one, love that game! Take care, long time no see and hope your baby and family are all healthy and doing well!
Ppl hate it because the levels are harder than the bosses, and souls games were all about the bosses. DS2 has the most bosses of all the ds games, so it's quantity over quality. Lot's of ganking too.
But DS2 has a bunch of stuff that's slightly different that makes up for it, imo -- lots of new little details. It's also got the best story, best lore, and the best Fashion Souls. I also love the fantasy vibe that's different from all the others. It was my first souls game, so I'm a little biased since I've judged all the other games by it.
Cool. That is a good sign for me because I like the exploration more than the bosses anyways. :D
OMFG yesssss !!!! I have been wanting for this one !!! Love you Lilia , stay cheesy !!!
I have seen a theory around that DS2 is disliked partly because the most available version is "DS2: Shadow of the First Sin", which remixed the gameplay primarily to be harder for experienced players and added a lot of cheap groups of enemies etc. So it's a slog for new players, because that edition wasn't made for them to begin with, but it's marketed as just an upgrade or even a definitive edition. Apparently the original was more reasonable, though it still had divisive changes etc. from the first game. Which version are you playing here?
Edit: @Aiscience beat me to mentioning SotFS enemies
Interesting. I might start over with the OG :D This is SotFS
SHADOW of the First sin 😅 LOL
@@AtreyusNinja Oops :p I was trying to write out the abbreviation for clarity but must have had Elden Ring's DLC on the brain.
Dark Souls 2 is awesome. Period.
Bloodborne kind of destroyed this game... DS 2 is 9/10 and Bloodborne is 11/10
DS 2 is a fantastic game. Weird in places.
A lot of DS2 haters never even actually played it.
oh lawdy. It's an alright game.
DS2 is the one i most played, my favorite ❤👐👏👐👏👐👏🎉 don't listen to them fools Lily😡✊️
Cover. Red Sonja! A Papa Meat animation, or Meat Canyon animation i should say.
Thumbnail I should also say.
You NEED adaptation, get agility to 100
My favorite ds game because it's different
Dark souls 2 is best souls
Best Souls 2 Brother
Agreed
Best Magic Souls 2
Wrong
Best DLC too
Ironically the people always screeching Git Gud hate DS2 because its too hard (and they can't spam back attacks.)
Bear- seek- seek- lest...
Level adp
I hate DS2 because the game killed my first PS3. Completely bricked it.
Yes I’m aware of the irony. Even today I’m afraid to put the disc in my current PS3
Ds2 fkd my mom 😢
We don't. Who told you?
I really liked Dark Souls 2! Sorry to break the meme.
Yes, explore more of this great and underrated game, please :)
A big reason (but not exclusively) is because most people start on Scholars of the First Sin, and there is consensus (not like unanimous, but enough people agree with this) that that's an extremely unbalanced version of the game to the point of unfun.
I too started disliking DS2 until I saw a video essay on why vanilla game and dlc's are better, installed it, and now it's MUCH better in my opinion.
Ooooo maybe I'll try that! Thanks
@@LiliaTV Just to note if you did this, on steam they have vanilla ds2 (just called "Dark Souls 2"), and then on that page of vanilla ds2, they have a bundle with all the vanilla dlc (or you can buy them separately on that page as well, but bundle probs better).
You probably would've figured it out yourself, but just saying in case considering they have a few that comes up when searched.
@@LiliaTV Oh also as a last point, if you prefer SotFS (cause some do I guess), then ignore my stuff. But if it gets so frustratingly difficult that it becomes unfun, change to vanilla (and as a note: yes souls games are supposed to be difficult, but there's a difference between that and so unbalanced that it just becomes not fun. I actually played pretty far into SotFS before changing, so it's not that I didn't give it a fair shake). But yeah just saying anyways.
My mileage varied, I thought the game was just fine.
@J.Devitt agree 👍 Thanks so much! It sounds like the OG will be more my jam if it's less frustrating
Late night souls ❤
Don't look that bad so far 😊
People hate it because its a little different and they are bad
Yay I loved this a lot, even tho this game is the bane of my existence lol
There seems to be a split between people who try to make normal to attractive pcs and people who make comical to ugly pcs. I see which side you're on. 😉
normal attractive characters are so boring! :D
@@LiliaTV And in first person mode you don't have to look at your character very much!! Oh, and in Dark Souls games, it's very difficult to make pcs attractive.
I have over 2,000 hours in souls games just in the last two years. Anyone who says anything other than "it's the worst souls game" is either a troll or they didn't play it
Just a fact: Hidetaka Miyazaki is not in this game credits, btw
Wasn't he credited in the SOTFS version?
They hate it cause they suck at the pvp.
They suck at the pve, so off they r trash in pvp
@@AtreyusNinja
This, we agree on.
Cuz they suck at the game and they DID NOT learned from the game.
Lezgo