Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

Steam Reviews

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• Recommended Posted February 5, 2026 on Steam Before I started my Dark Souls 2 journey, I was extremely hesitant to play this game because of the insane amount of negativity around it. I clearly remember googling “Should I skip DS2 and directly play DS3 after DS1?” I’m writing this for anyone who’s in the same boat. [b]TLDR:[/b] Yes, the game has issues. No, they’re not as bad as people make them out to be. Most of them are manageable, and if you know about them beforehand, you can still enjoy the game a lot. [b]Story[/b] Let’s get this out of the way. Dark Souls 2 is only loosely connected to DS1 and DS3. It takes place in Drangleic, which is probably a different location (or dimension). In that sense, DS3 feels way more like a direct sequel to DS1, and skipping DS2 won’t make you miss much story-wise. Still, I think you should play DS2 before DS3. [b]Why DS2 isn’t as bad as people say[/b] This game is not nearly as terrible as the internet makes it out to be. Once something gets labeled “the bad one,” that reputation just sticks. DS2 doesn’t help itself either, since some core mechanics are poorly explained and easy to misunderstand. Once you learn how things actually work, there’s a lot to like here. Sadly, the game barely explains any of it, so you’ll probably end up googling stuff. These are the big ones: [list] [*][b]Adaptability (ADP)[/b] This stat is way more important than the game tells you. It affects Agility, which controls roll i-frames and Estus speed. If you’re not using a shield, level this early. At least leveling is fast in DS2. [*][b]Humanity / Hollowing[/b] Dying lowers your max HP by 5 percent per death, up to 50 percent. I hate this mechanic. You can fix it with Human Effigies or just wear the Ring of Binding (cuts the penalty to 25 percent and is available early). Also, being undead / hollowed doesn’t stop invasions, so don’t overthink it. [*][b]Boss gimmicks[/b] A lot of bosses have gimmicks, and missing them can make fights feel way harder than they should be. The game hides these as “secrets,” which is dumb. Examples: [list] [*]Burn the windmill to remove poison from Mytha’s arena (still makes no sense). [*]Hold a torch during Duke’s Dear Freja so spiders don’t swarm you. [*]Light up Lost Sinner’s arena before the fight. [/list] If a boss feels unfair, just google it. You probably missed something. [/list] [b]Stuff you just have to deal with[/b] Some problems aren’t fixable, you just learn to live with them (and yes, some of these exist in other Souls games too): [list] [*][b]Awful boss runbacks[/b]. Executioner’s Chariot and Smelter Demon are especially bad. Also, you might be missing a secret bonfire (♥♥♥♥ secret bonfires). [*][b]Inconsistent damage[/b]. Damage can feel random because too many things affect it. [*][b]Enemy placement[/b]. Enemy density is often too high, so you’re constantly fighting groups. [*][b]Difficulty for the wrong reasons[/b]. Sometimes the game just throws cheap stuff at you to kill you. It’s annoying, not hard. [/list] [b]What I actually like[/b] There is actually a lot to like here, but I won't be spoiling them. You should experience them for yourself. Still I will briefly mention couple of things I loved. Positioning matters a lot, which makes combat feel more tactical. The environments are dark and oppressive in a way that fits Souls perfectly. NG+ actually changes things. The DLCs are excellent and in some cases better than the base game.
• Recommended Posted September 13, 2025 on Steam I find it funny that the internet had successfully gaslighted me into believing this game is the biggest piece of crap there is, and is such a downgrade compare to the original, let alone the future titles that I almost skipped it. Trust me, don't let the internet gaslight you, Dark Souls 2 is a very good game, a very good sequel, and if you play the game in the terms it sets for you, you'll have a blast, like I had. Sure, it's a bit unpolished on some areas, but they're not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Edit: I just beat the game and the DLCs, it's absolute cinema, peak of peaks, go play it, bearer... seek... seek... lest... 9/10
• Recommended Posted February 5, 2026 on Steam “I can finally play my favorite game after this long day!” I said excitedly. I was then DIDDLED by the SWEATIEST, MOST BITCHLESS HOLLOW CREATURES THIS DRANGELIC EVER SEEN. And I went triple negative.
• Recommended Posted December 30, 2025 on Steam Dark Souls II is what people described the first Dark Souls to be. Most problems people have with the game can be boiled down to not wanting to fully engage in the first place. People will say "Dark Souls II is a good game, but a bad Dark Souls game" and then purposefully play it as if it's not a Dark Souls game by trying to sprint past every enemy. I agree that they leaned a bit hard into the difficulty for the sake of being difficult, but you can't deny that FromSoft was just responding to the fans apparent love for difficulty that at times felt unfair. Dark Souls fans made their bed and realized they lacked the strength to lay in it. This game is a great game AND a great Dark Souls game, I'd even argue it's more true to the original than DSIII. There is still room to critique the game, however most complaints I see are either present in the rest of the trilogy or slander. One of the biggest examples of this is the i-frames regarding the adaptability stat, and this complaint alone can be broken down at multiple points: 1) Dark Souls II gives you more souls per kill for your average enemy and each level up costs you less souls than the other games, so it's not some huge investment people make it out to be 2) The i-frames aren't wrong when you are grabbed by an opponent. Your character is finishing a dodge animation after it was already attacked in the hitbox, and then moves to where the grab connected. There's definitely room to critique visual feedback, but calling the i-frames inaccurate is just wrong (also disingenuous when compared to enemy hitboxes in the other games) 3) I was always confused why people had a problem with Adaptability but not Vitality, but then I played Dark Souls III and saw they kept it. Seems like people are much more lenient when mechanics like this are added to Souls games outside of this one... With that out of the way, why DO I love this game? Biggest thing for me is the depth. Even for Dark Souls standards the amount of weapons, armor, rings, etc. and how they all interact together/with the world around you is insane. The game introduces many new mechanics with my favorite being the power stance, which is essentially 2 handing from Elden Ring but with more versatility in weapon choice. Bonfire Ascetics are also a great way to get stronger and grind out more souls/items, or if you just want to fight the area boss again without doing an entire NG+. There are also countless smaller hidden things like a bell helmet that rings when hit in the head, or a pig that helps dig up a pickaxe weapon. With the other 2 games I feel like I have a pretty decent grasp on its mechanics and unique items/quests, while in Dark Souls II I am constantly learning new things. The story and themes in this game are also unlike the others. Dark Souls II brings a lot more attention to the Undead Curse and how people cope, and while playing the game and seeing the world around me I truly started to feel a hopelessness unlike what I felt in the other games. The NPCs work alongside the theming perfectly to paint a beautifully tragic picture. I've already written a lot so I just want to finish by saying if you were thinking about skipping over Dark Souls II or if you already have to get to III, I highly recommend you check it out. Don't fall for the propaganda that it's a "Bad Souls Game"
• Recommended Posted June 26, 2025 on Steam When i finally became a man, i realized that Dark Souls 2 is gold. There are no bugs in the game, only my own mistakes.
• Recommended Posted March 8, 2026 on Steam First of all, Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin is an amazing game. No, it's not bad by any means, but certainly is the most controversial. THE 5 MAJOR COMPLAINTS OF DS2 For the course of time, you'll hear things like "DS2 is the worst souls game", "ADP is garbage", Enemy placement is ridiculous", "The story is not good", "The bosses are bad", "Human Effigy is a bad game mechanic" and so on and so on. NOW, I will tell you all the truth. No bias, no rumors and no hate. Only what I experienced throughout my journey in this game: 1-ADP is garbage: The ADP (adaptability) is an exclusive stat only present in DS2. It is tied to your character's agility, which means it increases your I-frames (invincibility frames) when you dodge and roll. It's crucial that you spend some points here because otherwise you'll get hit hard and die a lot even if your character clearly rolled out of the way. And yeah, I can see why people were upset about this, because it can be an inconvenience, however, I don't mind. Yes, I like ADP. Mainly because it adds so much to your overall experience building your character. It doesn't take a lot to reach the Soft Cap, so all in all, it's alright. 2-Enemy placement is ridiculous: Absolutely! I got jumped and ganked so many times and it's annoying. Hordes of enemies will spawn out of thin air just so you have no escape. Iron Keep is one of the worst areas in this case. But come on, you know why this happens? Yeah, because you're rushing the area and trust me, this will not work. Take your time killing everyone that could pose a threat. Even if you have to do the run back to the boss room. Once you do that, it becomes a little tolerable. 3-The Story is not good: Not at all. The story is great and deeply interesting. I loved the NPCs in this game. I loved how much the environment tells a story. DS2 story is more "intimate". The bearer of the curse is one the best protagonists in the souls series and the journey through Drangleic is unforgettable. If you want to watch VaatiVidya lore videos, just do it. You'll appreciate it more with the context which you missed. 4-The bosses are bad: Yes, gameplay wise, they are. I mean, most of them are. Thing is, they're not as memorable as DS1 bosses nor are they like the spectacular DS3 bosses. Not even close. But eventually you'll learn to appreciate them in their own right. I can count 4 or 5 bosses that were genuinely good. But that's my opinion. 5- Human Effigy is a bad game mechanic: No, it's not. By the middle and certainly at the end of the game, you'll have a lot of human effigies, so they don't become a problem anymore. Also, it's one of the most important items in this game for lore and gameplay reasons. Period. These are the 5 criticisms of DS2 that I heard the most. So I thought I could share my perspective about them. DS2 IS UNIQUE: That's the main reason this game clicked with me so hard from the very beginning. DS2 has so many exclusive mechanics such as power stance, ADP and Bonfire Ascetic to name a few. Also the attention to detail in this game is off the charts! It uses a different engine from DS1 and 3, and personally I love it. The game is beautiful. Yes! Just arriving in Majula is something special. I cannot describe my admiration for all the Armours, weapons, places, vistas, covenants and music. In comparison to DS3, they're much more well made. Also, your character has way more personality in the way they move, their posture, their stance, their breathing. And you will not find this either in 1 nor 3, which is a shame. CONCLUSION: Notice how I didn't share my thoughts about the "DS2 is the worst souls game" in the beginning? Well, I will say this here: It's not. DS2 is just way too different from what you've experienced in 1 and 3. And people can hate those differences or (in my case) love them, but these differences don't make the game bad. So, when you hear someone saying "Skip DS2. It's not worth it". Pay them no mind and play it for yourself. Give this one a chance and see if you'll enjoy it for what it is. I can assure you, everyone involved in its development poured a lot of love and dedication into it, even if this game passed through development hell and Miyazaki wasn't personally involved. Furthermore, always give it a try so you can draw your own opinion. Dark Souls 2 Scholar of the First Sin is not only the first Dark Souls game I did 100% but also is my favorite Dark Souls game. Yes, I love it and I totally recommend it. And always remember these words, Bearer of the curse: "Bear, seek, seek, lest".