Highlights

  • 10 years after release, Dark Souls 2 remains an oddity among FromSoftware's games, but its reputation isn't as negative as before.
  • Combat changes, a brighter art style, the controversial adaptability stat, and linear level design set Dark Souls 2 apart from its predecessors.
  • Despite criticism, Dark Souls 2 introduced mechanics that influenced later FromSoftware games positively, like power stancing.

Ten years ago, FromSoftware launched Dark Souls 2, the follow-up to 2011's smash hit, Dark Souls. While its predecessor would go on to be considered one of the greatest and most influential video games of all time, and perhaps the single most important game of the last decade, there isn't anywhere near as much love for Dark Souls 2. With the dust definitively settled on the game, it's worth taking a look at why exactly it is so maligned, and if time has been kind to it.

Dark Souls 2 continues the tradition of brutal difficulty, obscure storytelling, and awe-inspiring level design that Dark Souls established, but it is also significantly different. Upon release, many players felt that Dark Souls 2 was a major downgrade from the first game, and while some have come to the game's defense in recent years, it remains the most controversial Souls game by FromSoftware. No one feels the need to defend a game like Bloodborne or Elden Ring because, while they have their detractors, critic and audience consensus is positive. Thus, when comparing Dark Souls 2 to the rest of FromSoftware's output, it sticks out quite a bit.

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Dark Souls 2's Troubled Legacy

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Dark Souls 2 Criticism

Many players were frustrated by Dark Souls 2's gameplay changes as, although the game's combat retains the spirit of the previous Souls games, it is noticeably different. An example of a widely discussed and fundamental gameplay change is the adaptability stat: Dark Souls 2 requires players to invest in adaptability to increase I-frames (invincibility frames), rather than having I-frames tied to equipment weight like in other FromSoftware games. This can cause Dark Souls 2 to be unnecessarily frustrating for players coming from other FromSoftware games, and it contributes to the feeling of combat being remarkably different.

I-frames being tied to the adaptability stat is a notable change from Dark Souls , but other Dark Souls 2 quirks, like slower stamina recovery and life gems, also make gameplay feel altered and, in the eyes of some players, less naturally enjoyable.

Aside from gameplay, Dark Souls 2 may be controversial due to it simply "feeling" different from other FromSoftware games. Dark Souls 2 is noticeably brighter than its predecessor, with an art style that is more in line with traditional high fantasy than the uncanny and bleak world Dark Souls established. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, Dark Souls 2's level design is a major departure from Dark Souls, which is famous for its interconnected environments that loop around and intersect with one another. This design choice in the first Dark Souls is not only novel, but helps support a sense of immersion and exploration, as players are able to firmly grasp the geographical layout of Lordran.

This isn't quite the case in Dark Souls 2, which is a lot more linear and disjointed. Add to this the fact that teleportation is introduced much earlier in Dark Souls 2 than in the first game, and Drangleic can feel much less seamless and believable than Lordran. World design is a vital part of FromSoftware games, often being thought of as just as important as combat, so this is something that is heavily scrutinized by Dark Souls 2 players.

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Dark Souls 2's Bad Reputation May Not Be Deserved

Dark Souls 2 has been the recipient of intense criticism from the gaming community, and while time has dulled these critiques somewhat, the game still regularly ranks as the worst contemporary FromSoftware game. However, Dark Souls 2 is far from a bad game.

The changes to design and gameplay mechanics make Dark Souls 2 stand out, but a few of the changes FromSoftware made in the sequel were actually rather well-received at the time, and many forget that some of these design choices informed future FromSoftware games. For instance, Dark Souls 2 introduced power stancing, which is a mechanic that would go on to be featured in Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring, to great effect. Dark Souls 2 also saw FromSoftware focus more on build variety, and the game generally gives players more freedom when it comes to play style, with weapons being more fairly balanced and viable.

Dark Souls 2 Lives in the Shadows of its Siblings

Though some criticism of Dark Souls 2 is valid, the game suffers from the legendary status of other FromSoftware releases. In 2024, gaming audiences will inevitably compare Dark Souls 2 to a game like Elden Ring, which isn't completely fair, as Elden Ring is the culmination of FromSoftware's years of experience making a specific type of game. The bigger budget of games released after Dark Souls 2 can't be forgotten, either. Also, the now-legendary game director Hidetaka Miyazaki didn't lead Dark Souls 2's development, with the game instead being directed by Tomohiro Shibuya. With Miyazaki's reputation growing to auteur status, comparable to designers like Kojima, many players will inevitably be prejudiced in favor of games directed by him—especially those that fall under the Dark Souls umbrella.

At the end of the day, when evaluating a handful of well-designed, artistically significant products, one will usually wind up being considered the weakest of the pack. Dark Souls 2 happened to be this product. Whether its reputation as one of the worst FromSoftware games comes down to its distinct design choices, changes to combat, or the absence of Miyazaki's creative leadership, it's clear that its legacy has been impacted by the unfavorable comparisons made between it and other, more widely acclaimed released by FromSoftware. Still, Dark Souls 2 has a lot of fans singing its praises, even ten years after its release. Perhaps a few more years will see public opinion continue to soften.