izigame.me

Overhated, underrated, but redeemed with time. YES, you should play this game

My review will be about SOTFS version only, as I didn’t play the OG DS2 fully and cannot compare them. I know that some fans weren’t satisfied with the update, but I saw zero issues with it both on PC and PS. Contrary to that, I found this game one of the best-optimized I’ve played – it performed with 60 FPS even on the worst laptop I had while being a poor student, and it’s the brightest and prettiest in the series after DS3. I’ve never encountered any bugs, glitches or FPS drops, this game ran perfectly ten years ago and still does now when I replayed it in 2025. So from the technical standpoint, DS2 is a gem. The other aspects of it though? Deserves the longer description.

It still boggles my mind what a hate-train this game got simply due to being not the direct successor of DS1 style. But ironically to me, the reasons DS1 hardcore stans dislike DS2 are actually the ones that elevate this game for me. DS2 is really unique in comparison to both DS1 and DS3, and I’m not going to lie, it did its rights and wrongs while trying to be original and new. And still this is one of my most replayed games which I enjoyed a lot. Here’s why.

1) The visual and sound design of DS2 SOTFS is amazing. Yes, there are lots of other stunning areas aside from Majula, forget the memes as they deceived you. The look on my face in 2015 when I firstly saw Dragon Aerie, Drangleic’s castle, Brume’s Tower entrance, Eleum Loyce and many other areas should have been studied. Visually the game aged incredibly well and it still gives me such an eyegasm to go through it. The details about DS2 sound design always made me happy too, because I am weak to this crap. Bow’s string drawing, sounds of different spells casted, going up ladders, stepping sounds in different landscapes, and damn the soundtrack. Once you learn the game so that it doesn’t stress you out anymore, playing it becomes almost a meditative experience to me just because how freaking beautiful it is all around.

2) Level design may be flawed… But this game actually teaches you to use other means of fighting against one sword to bonk through entire game (yep DS1, I’m looking at you). Trust me: once you actually notice the bow’s existence and that lil thing called 'Yearn' spell, the main complaining topic about DS2 oversaturation with enemies will disappear. Believe it or not, but even the infamous Amana Shrine becomes perfectly walkable once you’ll understand that the game rewards slower pacing, attention to your surroundings and bow’s usage. The arrows are cheap as hell too. The game also features tons of different spells, weapons and variety in playing. Forget the club and zweihander just for a second. BE CREATIVE. The game will only reward you for it. And in case you wonder what is there to know about the game's hidden gems of playstyle, check out Otzdarva's No Hit Run YT videos.

3) DS2 doesn’t limit you in trying something new. The upgrade materials are a sea you can drown in. Upgrade almost whatever weapon you want, you are even given more than enough soul vessels to experiment with your build and rearrange your perks several times in one game.

4) Fashion souls. No need to elaborate. Also the best character’s creation menu. My female character finally looks pretty for once.

5) The game introduces so much stuff that is simply absent from DS3. I loved gems, all the little consumables, the concept of spices, invisible bums dropping stones to exchange with the crow. Never used bonfire’s aesthetics though but appreciate the effort!

6) LOVED how NG+ actually changes the enemies’ position, adds new phantoms, gives you mimics instead of some chests that can literally give you a heart attack, and just keeps you on guard even though you’ve beaten the game. Never understood why wouldn’t DS3 try the same thing later.

7) Also appreciate how many varied locations DS2 has, even though it kind of became its own problem in the process of development (some parts were rushed and not polished enough, we all know Iron Keep’s sad story). The bosses of almost all of these areas are not great to put it mildly lol… But the actual levels are creative and focus-required as hell. DLCs also redeemed all of the main game’s past sins, as all three of them had both greatly designed arenas and one of the most iconic bosses in the entire series.

To sum it all up: basically the title. DS2 was clowned upon for being too different from DS1, even though underneath there always was an ambitious, probably a tiny bity overblown, but genuinely good game that still looks stunning and performs flawlessly after all these years. I still come back to it from time-to-time, and each time it grows on me even more. Thankfully, as time goes by more people begin to appreciate its forgotten glory.