Dark Souls II Is Coming to Ruin Your Day

[The Wooster]

Dark Souls II Is Coming to Ruin Your Day

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Prepare to die again on 360, PS3 and PC.

If you're not one of the hundreds of journalists contractually obliged to cringe through the entirety of the Spike VGAs, you might have missed the trailer for Dark Souls II. Well, here it is. It's got everything you'd expect; a lonesome knight, dragons (both of the dead and living varieties), oppressive architecture, beautiful vistas and a generous helping of violence.

According to a press release from Namco Bandai, the game is headed to 360, PS3 and PC, though there's no mention of a potential release window. While the title might imply the game will be set in the same universe as Dark Souls, the press release states the game will feature an "entirely new story." Though it's probably safe to bet that perennial, untrustworthy scumbag, Patches, will make an appearance.

The only concrete information we have on the game thus far is that it'll be returning to the server-based multiplayer system used in Demon's Souls. That sounds like good news, considering the latency and connection issues that plagued Dark Soul's multiplayer content.

"This new chapter in the Dark Souls saga presents opportunities for us to drive innovation in gameplay design, develop an entirely new story, and expand the scope of the world in which the player interacts with the game. We have taken these necessary steps with Dark Souls II in order to evolve the overall experience of the Dark Souls series," says Tomohiro Shibuya, FromSoftware Director on Dark Souls II. "The entire development team is striving to make Dark Souls II an experience that is fresh while not forsaking its roots in presenting players with challenging gameplay. Our goal is to surprise and delight our fans with new experiences and plot twists while enticing new players to join our dark journey."

Source: Namco Bandai [http://www.uk.namcobandaigames.eu/news/2012/12/08/great-challenge-await-the-iron-willed-in-dark-souls-ii/3269] via The Spike VGAS [http://youtu.be/rPJaJ5ys_G0]

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[WWmelb]

Server based MP. Good.

Fingers crossed on another brilliant installment

 

[gigastar]

All in all i just hope that FromSoft can ship everything they want to this time.

And assuming that covenants are also making a return, i should expect that they all have a clear function and that it works as intended.

And thats all im going to say. For now.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

My hopes:
- A better PC port
- A better auto camera when locking on.
I don't want the fucking camera to be glued to the enemies ass or inside a pillar/wall/me
- Better "stealth"
I don't mean anything like Thief or Dishonored. I just want a dedicated stealth button or walking with less sounds on no/light armor. Seriously, I'm a Thief class, ultra light armor, dagger. I walk slowly towards the regular skeleton to backstab him and he turns around while I'm not even in attack range.
- Better lightning
I know it's supposed to be dark and edgy, but I don't want to not be able to see a thing when outside during the night with a clear sky. Anyone who has been outside the city at night with a clear sky knows that you can see extremely well and far.
- Better explanation of what items do
Yeah I know that a ring of protection boosts my protection. But by how much? I don't want to have to calculate everything my self and I don't even know if it's by a fixed value or % based.
- Better balance for invading
When I just started, the first guy who invaded me was so ridiculously powerful that I didn't deal 50% damage to his total health with 3 backstabs and he 1 shoted me trough my shield.
- A dedicated PvP arena
Something like a third world where people can invade it and fight against each other. Both will be phantoms.
- More covenants that have an actual impact on the game
I love the covenants in the forest where you are called to kill invaders in it. more such things where you get a feeling that entering the covenants changes the world around you.
- MOAR DARK SOULS!!!

Spoiler

A WiiU version.

Well, that's it.

 

[razor343]

I called this trailer when me and my friend were watching the VGAs...

Well...

I say I called it. It became a tiny bit obvious after Jessica Alba started talking about a sequel to a 'Dark' and 'Brutal' game. It's not like she was talking about god damn Rayman (Disclaimer: I love me some Rayman, 'tis just an example.)

 

[WWmelb]

Fuck servers. I know you all hate getting lagstabbed, but I play DkS with friends from multiple continents, and all those connections are going to be squat if they move back to servers. Latencywise, DkS was fine except for the occasional bad connection. Too bad that the vocal idiots whining about lag got it switched back to servers.

You probably aren't from a country with backwards internet then i would assume. Unfortunately, dark souls pvp was pretty much pointless playing in australia. Demons Souls on the other hand worked just fine.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Explain how things work. Please, I'm begging you. I know Dark Souls is suppose to be hard. I know you're suppose to cry because it killed you and then killed your ghost, and your puppy, and your family. I get it and I appreciated it. But when I'm over twenty hours into the game and still don't understand the basics like how to use magic--yes, I know I always bring that up so, I'm sorry--because the game never bothered to explain it, that's not challenging. That's bad game design. Give the player at least the basic rule book before you make him play your game. Please.

 

[godofallu]

Ruin my day? More like make my year.

Doing a lan party with 3 people cooping through this game was epic. Discovering traps together, being crushed by giant boulders and being eaten by chests. Drinking way too much and forming roman shield/spear walls. Having an archer pick off targets while the rest covered him with a shield.

Going 2 handed and rushing a giant boss while another kites it and draws aggro.

The game was just stupidly good and had the best "difficulty" of any game. No such thing as easy or normal or hard. Enemies were balanced by their move set not their adjustable invisible stats.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Let us hope it isn't another mediocre game that everyone rants and raves about for being so amazing.

 

[Nfritzappa]

Let us hope it isn't another mediocre game that everyone rants and raves about for being so amazing.

Are you implying the other Souls games were mediocre? I seriously hope not.

 

[Erttheking]

Let us hope it isn't another mediocre game that everyone rants and raves about for being so amazing.

No offense, but it kinda sounds like you're looking for trouble in terms of a flame war.

 

[Vexeis]

Explain how things work. Please, I'm begging you. I know Dark Souls is suppose to be hard. I know you're suppose to cry because it killed you and then killed your ghost, and your puppy, and your family. I get it and I appreciated it. But when I'm over twenty hours into the game and still don't understand the basics like how to use magic--yes, I know I always bring that up so, I'm sorry--because the game never bothered to explain it, that's not challenging. That's bad game design. Give the player at least the basic rule book before you make him play your game. Please.

If you pick up the item that allows you to use magic (catalyst), it tells you right in the description,
"Equip catalyst to use sorceries.
Attune sorceries from a scroll at a bonfire.
Most sorceries have a limited no. of uses"

If you picked the Sorcery class, you started the game with one. If you didn't, the first guy you're likely to meet who sells sorcery scrolls has one right next to him. Not knowing how to do something because you did not bother to read the text that explained how, and was provided right before it would become relevant is not a case for bad game design.

Also, I'm getting tired of people exaggerating how hard these games actually are. They reward you for paying attention, being cautious and maintaining a moderate level of gaming finesse. It ain't Ninja Gaiden. It's not Nintendo Hard.

 

[William Dickbringer]

so if dark souls 1 was harder than demon souls then how does dark souls 2 get harder....oh god permadeath

 

[Adon Cabre]

This game has to excel in the complexity of an enemy. I don't mean diversity in design, but in combat. This game will become much more visceral with more depth in our opponents.

 

[valkeminator]

Dark Souls II?! YAY! I really hope the game will be great!! Happy to see one of my favorite developer is doing another great one *fingers crossed for a good PC release -- Although the DS PC port was satisfactory for me*

Gonna be another journey~

OOT : Totally unrelated to DSII but I hope Fromsoftware brings Armored Core to PC one day...

 

[VeryOddGamer]

Dark Souls 2? Why not Devil's Souls or Drab Souls or Dickish Souls or something.
Come on Namco or whoever is making this, be more creative.

 

[Nihlus2]

I can't help but imagine these guys had a cup of coffee with the ones running the Final Fantasy sequels (10-2, 13-2, 13-3). Even though I know the whole IP issue thing From Software had to deal with.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

Is there something wrong with me if I watched this 10 times already? I took some money out of my pocket and threw it at the TV to get a laugh out of my wife, but if it warped the cash into another dimension and pre-ordered a collector's edition for me, I would be thrilled. From...new guy...Do not fuck me over by selling me "dark Skyrim" before it's released. I don't ever pre-order things, but I have faith in these guys. Now for speculation!

Streamline (which doesn't mean "dumbed down" necessarily) the weapon/armor upgrades, and make it more clear. Mechanics can be clarified without ruining the opacity of the rest of the experience, IMO.

If you're switching to a server-based thing, plan to keep it open longer than Demon's, and if you can help it don't announce the end of it all multiple times. I shouldn't do "my final online moments" more than once (I realize how crazy I sound). I could do without "world tendency" coming back.

More Asian/DEX weapons would be awesome. Actually, more loot of all kinds, which I'm sure they're planning.

Try not to go "full blown open-world sandbox" on me. I loved the level design and unique shortcuts. Getting around Lordran was awesome and that can be done on a larger scale.

I'd like it if most of the weapons crafted from boss souls were more useful, those should be some of the best stuff in the game (see Demon's Souls)

Make sure the netcode is excellent. Spend a lot of time on this. My favorite moments were in parties and it sucks to wait an hour to get a summon.

I don't think it would be so bad if we could talk to eachother. The way "bowing" and the code of honor in a lot of duals/invasions turned out organically tells me that you won't hear too many racist/homophobic vitriol in your headset. It could really add to the immersion and planning. I could be totally wrong about this, though.

I haven't been this excited about a game release in a long time, I feel like a teenager again. I've got your back From, bring your best.