By looking at specific review scores, or even at Metacritic, you'll get the idea that Dark Souls 2, either in its original or in the Scholar Of The First Sin iteration, is a well-liked title. By and large, that's true. That's not, however, the case among die-hard fans, as many see Dark Souls 2 as the absolute black sheep of the franchise.

Living up to the original Dark Souls is no easy task, but a very vocal group of fans claim that Dark Souls 2 failed to clear that high bar by too long a distance. In an attempt to solve that problem, FromSoftware released Dark Souls 2: Scholar Of The First Sin, a revamped version of the original DS2. Despite an improvement in most aspects, SOTFS still didn't clear that high bar.

Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki loves Dark Souls 2

While series creator and overlord Hidetaka Miyazaki was doing interviews to promote Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, he surprised fans by taking the time to explain Dark Souls 2's influence in the biggest game in Fro??mSoft??'s history.

To give you some context, Dark Souls 2 is the only game in the series not directed by Miyazaki. He could've just thrown the two directors and the team behind the very troubled sequel under the bus and claimed he'd have done better, which we've seen some once-big-name devs do in the past again and again.

Miyazaki isn't that guy. He told reporters that there was no way to predict how Elden Ring and all of his other games would have turned out without Dark Souls 2.

To IGN, he said, “In regards to Dark Souls 2, I actually personally think this was a really great project for us, and I think without it, we wouldn’t have had a lot of the connections and a lot of the ideas that went forward and carried the rest of the series.�/p>

Dark Souls 2 deserves some love

If the experience provided by Dark Souls 2 being so different from the original Dark Souls disappointed you, then I believe that you �and I, admittedly �have gotten it ??wrong.

The nature of Soulslike games isn't just repeating Dark Souls, but repeating experimentation itsel?f. Sometimes experimenting with a crappy game will give you gold, like when Miyazaki tinkered with a dead project called Demon's Souls, and sometimes it j??ust doesn't work altogether. Miyazaki's greatest strength here seems to be not a magical ability to come up with masterworks out of the blue but to learn from what doesn't work.

Dark Souls 2 really is baby Elden Ring

What irks me the most about Dark Souls 2 is the absence of the extraordinary interconnected world and the emphasis on verticality in the level design of the first one. Dark Souls 2 traded that for a more wide-open world approach. The result is a game that feels huge from left to right but also far shallower. It prevented us from experiencing all the magical moments we had exploring the depths and the heights of DS1, and that was tough.

I don't want to undersell it. Elden Ring is one of the greatest games ever made, and it did way more than just this. But Elden Ring's big selling point was giving us the wide world of Dark Souls 2, filling it with huge and smaller setpieces that are on par with the quality of the level design seen in the first game and adding a ??double-jumping horse to make navigating it all fun.

Oh, and by the way, Dark Souls 2's PVP still absolutely owns. In fact, it might? be the best in the series.

Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree will be released on June 21 for the PlayStation?? 4, PlayStation 5, ??Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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It's well out of my price range

If you were envious of Europe's Dark Souls trilogy vinyl set, you might explode when you see what's on the horizon in Japan. (Thankfully, I'm still glowing from today's news so I'm not too bothered.)

Bandai Namco is putting together a Dark Souls Trilogy Box Set for PlayStation 4 featuring the newly-announced Dark Souls Remastered plus Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition, a??nd all three game soundtracks (with background? music) on CD.

Along with those core? items, the box set squeezes in a pair of bookends, an encyclopedia, and artwork. As you would expect, this won't come cheap -- it's priced at 49,800 yen (roughly $448 USD).

I'll stick to adm?iring this from a distance, thanks.

In other Dark Souls merch news, Fangamer is teasing "figurines, apparel, and more" this spring.

[Via Siliconera]

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Just think of all those deaths

The Dark Souls franchise has sold over eigh??t million copies worldwide, with more than 3.25 million copies sold on PC alone.

Famitsu - reporting from a From Software presentation - confirmed the original Dark Souls game sold over 2.4 copies globally, while the game bundle?d with the?? DLC sold 2.6 million.

Dark Souls II has sold 2.4 million - 1.9 million sales of the original game, and 530,000 copies of the Scholar of the First Sin version. 

Remember: these figures don't even include sales from Demon Souls, nor Bloodborne.

No wonder Dark Souls III is in development, right? For the latest, check out our guide to everything we kn?ow so far about the last instalment of From Soft??ware's trilogy.

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Yes!

The art of the Souls series always gets me excited. I mean, a lot of it is creepy as all hell and keeps me up at night, but there's a quiet beauty in nearly every single cel that's produced for this franchise. I generally don't collect art books, but every time a Souls compilation is localized, I jump on it.

Thankfully, Udon has confirmed that they're producing Dark Souls II: Design Works, which will be along the same lines as the first book. Like its predecessor, it will also be produc??ed with a hardcover, and will retail at $49.99 this O??ctober.

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Weapon durability update released

The PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions of Dark Souls II suffered from an issue? that caused players' weapons to degrade faster than normal, requiring frequent repairs.

In short: The rate at which weapon durability decreases is tied to the game's frame rate. That was fine on last-generation consoles where Dark Souls II? ran at 30 frames per second, but for PC, P?S4, and Xbox One, problems arose. It'd be silly if it weren't so annoying.

For a long stretch there, From Software didn't seem to care about the issue, but publisher Bandai Namco recently said a fix was in the works. It's out now for Steam -- that goes for both Dark Souls II and the upgraded Scholar of the First Sin release. Presumably, the same update will arrive on PS4 and Xbox One soon ??if it hasn't gone live already. Let? us know if it pops up!

[Via reddit]

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The glitch that wouldn't die

In Dark Souls II, the speed with which weapons degrade is tied to the frame rate. That system wasn't an issue for those of us who played the sequel on last-gene?ration consoles, but it has been an annoyance for PC, PS4, ?and Xbox One players running the game at higher frame rates. Were we expecting From Software to ever fix it? I sure wasn't. But I'm glad to be proven wrong.

Publisher Bandai Namco, speaking to Kotaku, said: "The fix will be issued for PS4, Steam and Xbox One, and will be apparent for people running the game at 60fps as the durability decrease rate is linked to the frame rate. We are still working on the exact release date for ??the patch, which will also fix additional issues not just durability, and will follow up w?ith the date as soon as possible."

Hearing this news, I'm extra thankful I've held off on downloading the Scholar of the First Sin remaster. I wanted to put Bloodborne behind me first to avoid jarring jumps back and forth between the two titles. At this point, I might as well continue waiting until the durability update goes live?.

Long Ignored Dark Souls 2 G??litch Is Finally Getting Fixed [Kotaku]

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Demon's, Dark, Dark II, or Bloodborne

Between the recent release of Bloodborne and Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, I've completed five playthroughs between them. It's a perfect time as there aren't a lot of huge releases currently, and I'll rarely, if ever, see the release of two Souls games at basically the same time.

So that got me thinking, what's your favorite?

If you couldn't tell by the header, my top pick is still Demon's Souls. Despite the fact that it was released in 2009, it still holds up, mostly due to its intense and unforgiving atmosphere. I'm not necessarily talking about difficulty here, but the mere fact that Demon's feels like the most isolated game to date. Boletaria is a beautiful and deadly place, filled with colorful NPCs that feel utterly alive, and accented by a hauntingly perfect musical score. More than any other game I s??till have the Maiden in Black's mantra stuck in my head along with the very?? first time I fought and conquered the Phalanx boss and earned my first Demon's Soul.

While it has some really obtuse notions like World Tendency that some players never even figured out, the lawlessness that surrounded the game was pretty unreal. At release, nearly no one knew what to expect, and there were secrets and nuances buried for weeks on end. At this point everyone is armed to the teeth with Wikis, guides, and Reddit posts for recent Souls games, but since Demon's ?;didn't really have a large audience, it was mostly uncharted territory.

What's your pick?

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No need to double dip

Love 'em or hate 'em, this is the generation of remakes. It seems as if remasters of the pre??vious generation pop up more frequently than actual new games, but if said remasters actually end up funding new games rather than the coffers of executives, that can be a good thing.

The newest remake comes by way of From Software in the form of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin for a variety of different platforms. Unsurprisingly, it holds up as the core experience is fantastic, but it's really hard to suggest buying Scholar unless you haven't play??ed the original in any shape or form.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (PC, PS3, PS4 [tested], Xbox 360, Xbox One)
Developer: From Software
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Released: April 2, 2015 (EU), April 7, 2015 (US)
MSRP: $19.99-$49.99 (PC, see below), $39.99 (PS3, Xbox 360), $59.99 (PS4, Xbox One)

Scholar of the First Sin is basically a packaged version of Dark Souls II with all three DLCs, and a few other extras -- some of which are coming to older platforms with a free update. Oh, and Bandai Namco is also selling the Scholar disc on said older platforms to add more SKUs into the mix, and d??on't even get me started on the PC release. Still, I'll do my best to explain everything as I go so you aren't completely lost.

After starting up Scholar on PS4, the first big change was immediately apparent after entering the first few zones -- the remixed placement of enemies. While casual fans may not notice this at all, I saw a few notable switcheroos, and they're generally for the best. The starting area won't have as many tougher ene??mies for instance, but the zone immediately following that will pay it back. Don't think it's inherently easier though, as it feels roughly the same, just with better pacing. It's not enough to get excited about but it makes for a better experience.

Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin, is probably the other huge addition, a new NPC that pops up every now and then and can culminate in a boss fight if certain requirements are met. His character model not only fits the world but looks formidable, and the insertion of Aldia is fairly seamless into the core story, providing a bit more background on your main quest. Like the remixed placements he isn't?? anything to write home about, but he basically serves as a fourth DLC, albeit without a ne?w zone.

Other Scholar-specific additions on PC (DirectX 11), PS4, and Xbox One include a higher online player pool, and an upgrade to 1080p and 60 frames per second. The game is still noticeably dated, but the environments and backgrounds (see 3:00 here) are still as breathtaking as ever. On a more gameplay-related note, the frame rate was consistent, and it's so buttery smooth that it just feels perfect -- every attack is deliberate with no delay, even with tons of enemies on-screen. All action games should?? strive to be 60fps, period.

All my tests were done with the PS4 version of the game, and I'm told the Xbox One edition is identical (if I can get a copy to confirm this I will). It's important to note though that nearly all of the non-graphical updates are coming to the previous-generation (360, PS3) in the form of a free update. But the way the PC version is being handled is as confusing as all hell.

On PC, you can opt for the DX9 or DX11 version. There's a tiered pricing model that starts at $40 for the base DX9 game, or $50 for DX11. If you own the original and/or all the DLC you can get discounts ranging from $10 to $30. They even have separate Steam pages. So what's the difference? The DX11 versions mirror Scholar on the PS4 and Xbox One, essentially offering a separate instance of the game with prettier style and enhanced online player pool -- prior generation and DX9 users will not get that bonus bit. Still confuse?d? Re-read these past few paragraphs until it sinks in.

If you're coming off of Bloodborne and want more Souls, grabbing Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin would be a great idea. The fact that all three add-ons are included ($25 in total with the Season Pass, hosting the Sunken, Old, and Ivory DLCs) is the icing on the cake. For everyone else, Scholar can barely be considered a remake or remaster of any kind, and you're best serve??d just downloading the free update on the copy you already own.

Any goodwill Scholar earns is mostly based off of the core game, but either way you slice it, playing it in some form is recommen?ded. Thankfully, those older copies still exist, and will likely go down in price if you aren't willing to pay Bandai Namco's premium.

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Prepare to die harder

I'll be the first to say it: it's going to be the year of Souls. With the release of Bloodborne only a month away, which looks to redefine the experience along with its wonderful change of setting, From Software has been busy as of late. But that's not stopping the studio from re-releasing its previous title Dark Souls II for new audiences on new hardware.

Recently, the developers released an update for existing versions of Dark Souls II for all players, adding in an invasion faction, characters, and even new encounters. Of course, this is to ease them into what Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin has to offer. ????Though there's been little information about what to expect from this revisit, the folks behind the title had a lot to say about it.

At a special Bandai Namco Games event last week, Destructoid got to go hands-on with the new and improved version of Dark Souls II and chat with Bandai Namco global producer Atsuo Yoshimura. Though m??any see it as simply a remaster, From Software thinks of it as much more.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (PC, PS3, PS4 [previewed], Xbox 360, Xbox One)
Developer: From Software
Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
Release date: April 7, 2015
MSRP: $59.99

"It's about the rediscovery of the Dark Souls II experience, from the director's perspective," said Yoshimura during his presentation on Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin. "That was something that the team at From Software in Japan really wanted players t?o experience."

The developers and publisher Bandai Namco have kept many details close to the vest, in part due to the studio working on another Souls-esque experience with Bloodborne, and wanting to keep fans in suspense. It's easy to think of this as nothing more than a remastered game-of-the-year edition, whi??ch is totally fa??ir, but From Software wanted to set the record straight.

In the cursed kingdom of Drangelic, you play as an afflicted traveler looking to find a cure to end their suffering. With the kingdom filled with monsters and other nefarious foes, you'll discover that the curse, and those crazy enough to remain in the defiled lands, are all linked in the fate of Drangelic. Granted, you know this if you played the original Dark Souls II. You might even be comfortable with what lurks in the cursed lands. But what if I were to tell you that things are a bit different with the coming of Scholar of the First Sin? With this release, From Software wanted to spice things up by adding characters as well as overhauling and retweaking gameplay.

"If you played Dark Souls II on Xbox 360 or PS3 all the way through, then you would think of this game, Scholar of the First Sin, as roughly the same game with all of the DLCs," said marketing director Brian Hong. "But what we're really trying to get across with players is that with [current-generation systems], we have a completely different experience for Dark Souls II."

A common criticism of the origin?al release last year was that it was much easier than its predecessor. While th??ere is an argument for that case, even though it was still an immensely challenging game, the folks at From Software want to address those concerns head-on.

Scholar of the First Sin is to Dark Souls II what Master Quest is to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It's not only for newcomers looking to see what the Souls experience is all about, it's also for those who may think they've mastered Dark Souls II. In my brief time with the game, it was apparent the game wanted me to feel very uncomfortable with what lied behind the corner even though I've already cleared the previous titl?e. But of course, th?e feeling of discomfort is a normal part of the series' experience.

One of Scholar of the First Sin's most apparent changes is that enemy and monster placements have been reworked. Foes you encountered at certain points in DSII will appear much earlier, and in greater numbers. During my session in the Forest of Fallen Giants, Ogres were wandering throughout, and Hollow Infantry are in larger groups. Surprisingly, the Heide Knights were nowhere to be seen, as they've been moved to other ?locations.

With the increased number of foes, and different placement of them, I found myself having to effectively relearn aspects of areas I was quite familiar with. What's even more surprising was that the A.I. was not only improved, but the enemies of Dark Souls II had also lost their fear of Bonfire spots. They will have no qualms about chasing players down to their safe havens. To put it simply, you're more vulnerable in Scholar of the First Sin than in the original, which m??eans you'll be using your hoards of lifegems far more often.

As any fan of the Souls series will tell, mastering your environment and knowing the limits of your enemies is everything. So it was especially interesting to see that Scholar of the First Sin pulls the rug from under the players. From Software has especially had fun in placing monste??rs in areas that were not present in the original game. For instance, elevators that lead to bosses or shortcuts now house enemi??es that lay in wait for the player.

With the technology that the current-gen has brought, the developers were very keen on getting the title out on the new hardware. With the increased horsepower, From Software was able to bring a visual boost to the Souls experience. In addition to the title running at 60 frames per second and at 1080p, the texture quality and lighting are improved to give the atmosphere an extra kick. Moreover, online multiplayer has also seen a boost with a maximum of six players during engagements. Much like another upcoming remaster, the developers were also inspired by much of what PC modders were able to acco??mplish, and wanted to offer the same level of content boosts (like textures and lighting) to the console releases.

"Thanks to those players online, we were surprised by what they came up with," said Yoshimura. "Just one week after the release of [Dark Souls II], we saw all these m?ods being released, and the team at From Software were surprised and like 'This mod is awesome!'"

Surprisingly, the producer was candid about the state of parity between each version. As there was some controversy over the differences in the original game to the one that was ultimately released, Bandai Namco was very adamant about what's in Scholar of the First Sin.

"All [current-gen] versions will run at 1080p and 60 frames per ??second, including the Xbox One. So it is not 900p blah-blah-blah, it's 1080p and 60 FPS for all three platforms. Though some people said that it is worse to play the game on PC without DirectX 11, and the answer is yes. I'm really confident about clarifying this, because the impr??oved lighting and shadows, clothing effects, and etc. -- this is only available on DirectX 11 technology, and not on DirectX 9."

If you have the PS3, Xbox 360, or PC (DX9) versions of Scholar of the First Sin, then you might find you??rself surprised to see that nothing has been altered visually or tech-wise, though you'll definitely experience the gameplay enhancements and new content.

I dug what I played of the PlayStation 4 version. Though I was a little disappointed that no new areas were implemented, it's exciting to see that the developers sought to redefine what Dark Souls II was. The graphical boosts are very apparent -- quite stunning in person, even -- and the smooth 60 FPS combat is immediately noticeable. Though it's a bit disappointing that only those with new hardware? will be able to experience it (without mods, of course).

It's an interesting experience to re-learn Dark Souls II. Coming off of its predecessor, it seemed to have gotten flack for not quite living up to that standard while wanting to try something different. But with Scholar of the First Sin, which the folks at From Software consider the definitive edition, it feels like the game has gotten a much-needed invigoration -- especially with Bloodborne coming out the month before. It's not often you get to experience a game lik??e this for the first time all over again, and that's something fans should lov??e.

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