Dark Souls II#Scholar of the First Sin

Dark Souls II is an entry in the Dark Souls series, known for its difficulty, as both bosses and standard enemies have the potential to defeat the player in only a few hits. Bad play is punished severely by most enemies, and opportunities for recovering health are limited. What's more, with each death the player's maximum health is reduced. This process, called hollowing, can continue until the HP bar reaches a set lower limit of 50%. The player's full HP bar is only recovered when they expend a rare item. The game uses a form of joint currency called "souls", which are used as both experience points for leveling up and also as currency for purchasing items from shops. Upon death, the player's entire collection of souls is dropped; the player can recover their dropped souls by returning to the spot where they died, but if they die before picking them up, the souls are permanently lost.

Multiplayer in Dark Souls II uses the same format as its predecessors; players have the choice between co-operative play in the form of being "summoned" into another player's game world either by soapstone or in-game covenant, or player-versus-player through "invading" other worlds or arena duels. Both forms of multiplayer occur pseudo-randomly, although matchmaking formulas are used to pair characters at similar levels together.

The game allows its difficulty to be adjusted by mechanics built into the game. The game designers placed certain items early in the game allowing newer players higher basic damage and defense than they would normally have at that point. For more experienced players, the designers placed higher skill cap items early that do more damage if executed correctly. Other penalties, such as the health reduction on death, can be significantly reduced with certain items. This allows the player to set the game's difficulty based on their experiences with the game, rather than through a menu option. Dark Souls II features a new game plus mode. With each replay, the player retains their levels, souls, and most items.{{cite web |last1=Bedford |first1=John |date=7 April 2014 |title=Dark Souls 2 - New Game Plus, preparation, differences, boss drops |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-08-dark-souls-2-walkthrough-and-guide?page=62 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112055102/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-08-dark-souls-2-walkthrough-and-guide?page=62 |archive-date=January 12, 2018 |access-date=25 February 2016 |website=Eurogamer |quote=When you restart the game, you'll keep hold of all the levels you acquired in the first playthrough - as well as all of your items and souls - but you'll lose your keys and your Fragrant Branches of Yore}}

Like its predecessor, Dark Souls II employs minimalist storytelling to convey its plot and lore. Historical events in the world and their significance are often implicit or left to player interpretation rather than fully shown or explained. Most of the story is given to the player through dialogue from non-player characters, flavor text from items, and world design; how players progress through the story can vary heavily depending on their actions.

The story of Dark Souls II begins with a human who is cursed to become a Hollow, a zombie-like being, after dying. To break this curse, the undead travels to the fallen kingdom of Drangleic and is tasked by a mysterious figure known as the Emerald Herald with obtaining four Great Souls from other powerful undead. Once obtained, the Emerald Herald directs the undead to "Seek the King" in the capital. After fighting through the remains of the royal guards, the player encounters the Queen Nashandra, who says that King Vendrick failed in his duty and fled his kingdom long ago. She asks the protagonist to slay the king.

Near the end of the Queen's quest, the player learns that the ruin of the kingdom was in fact caused by Nashandra. She came to the king and deceived him into launching an ill fated invasion across the sea into the lands of the giants. She coveted their souls and sought to steal their power. Though the raid succeeded in stealing the giants' unspecified power, the giants retaliated. Invading Drangleic, they eventually destroyed the kingdom. With his kingdom in ruins, the king discovered Nashandra's true purpose and locked himself inside the Undead Crypt, to protect the kingdom's power and secrets from her, using different methods to ensure the Throne of Want, her desired object and linked to the source of his kingdom's power, lay beyond her grasp.

The player meets the Emerald Herald one final time, who states that Nashandra is a fragment of Manus, who was the final boss in the Artorias of the Abyss expansion in Dark Souls. She then asks the protagonist to put Nashandra to rest and to link the fire or let it die out, a choice left to the character after taking the Throne of Want.

In Scholar of the First Sin, the base story changes slightly, notably with the addition of Aldia, King Vendrick's brother, to the final area, provided the DLC has been completed. Aldia appears several times throughout the game, offering the player cryptic hints about the cyclical nature of the world. Aldia, with the memory of King Vendrick, attempt to help the protagonist understand that there might be another way, a way out of the cycle of light and dark. The player is given two options: They can give the character a choice to kindle the fire or abandon it, as in the first game; or the player can abscond the throne, and follow their own path beyond light or dark.

{{main|Dark Souls II: The Lost Crowns}}

The three The Lost Crowns DLCs add side-stories each featuring three other daughters of Manus and a quest to obtain the crown of three other kings whose rule has long ended. Once completed, the player can return to the place where Vendrick hid his power from Nashandra and obtain a fourth crown that combines the other three and cures the player of undeath.

Dark Souls II was announced at the Spike Video Game Awards on December 7, 2012.{{cite web |last=Clements |first=Ryan |date=December 7, 2012 |title=Dark Souls II Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/08/dark-souls-ii-announced |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827091948/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/08/dark-souls-ii-announced |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2022 |publisher=IGN}}{{cite magazine |last=Kain |first=Erik |date=December 8, 2012 |title='Dark Souls 2' Announced At VGA 2012 - Coming To Xbox 360, PS3 And PC |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/12/08/dark-souls-2-announced-at-vga-2012-coming-to-xbox-360-ps3-and-pc/ |magazine=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170812/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/12/08/dark-souls-2-announced-at-vga-2012-coming-to-xbox-360-ps3-and-pc/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=December 9, 2012}} Hidetaka Miyazaki, who served as the director on Dark Souls,{{cite web |date=December 15, 2012 |title=Dark Souls 2 a direct sequel to first title, may not make 2013 |url=https://www.vg247.com/dark-souls-2-a-direct-sequel-to-first-title-may-not-make-2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507231932/https://www.vg247.com/dark-souls-2-a-direct-sequel-to-first-title-may-not-make-2013 |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2022 |website=VG247}} acted as a supervisor, while the game was directed by Tomohiro Shibuya and Yui Tanimura.

Dark Souls II features gameplay mechanics similar to its predecessor; Shibuya stated that he had no intention of changing the controls. The game features a whole new world, with many weapons that are used to fight the monsters in the game.{{cite magazine |author=Edge Staff |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Dark Souls II: Shibuya on the gameworld, awkwardness and accessibility |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/dark-souls-ii-co-director-tomohiro-shibuya-on-accessibility-and-taking-control-of-the-series/ |magazine=Edge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117131238/http://www.edge-online.com/features/dark-souls-ii-co-director-tomohiro-shibuya-on-accessibility-and-taking-control-of-the-series/ |archive-date=November 17, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2013}} Covenants, a feature in the original Dark Souls, that allowed the player to align with different factions, make a reappearance, though it is easier to understand and more accessible. The game world is roughly the same size as in Dark Souls, though content density is much richer, and gives players more freedom in how to progress, with the beginning of the game more accessible to newcomers.{{cite web |date=17 December 2012 |title=Dark Souls 2 will be more accessible for series newcomers, may include vehicles |url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/17/3775918/dark-souls-2-will-be-more-accessible-for-series-newcomers-will |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041814/http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/17/3775918/dark-souls-2-will-be-more-accessible-for-series-newcomers-will |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |website=Polygon}} The game retains the challenging gameplay characteristic of the original, as Tanimura explained: "We do not plan on having an Easy Mode since we are creating this game with a thought that challenge and difficulty are core elements of the game."{{cite news |last=Kain |first=Erik |title=No Easy Mode Allowed: An Interview With 'Dark Souls II' Director Yui Tanimura, Plus New Screenshots |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/04/11/no-easy-mode-allowed-an-interview-with-dark-souls-2-director-yui-tanimura-plus-new-screenshots/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320174156/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/04/11/no-easy-mode-allowed-an-interview-with-dark-souls-2-director-yui-tanimura-plus-new-screenshots/ |archive-date=March 20, 2016}}

The development team utilized a more powerful graphics engine for the sequel.{{cite web |date=2013-04-10 |title=Dark Souls 2 Gameplay Reveal - 12 Minute Demo - IGN Video |url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/04/10/dark-souls-2-gameplay-reveal-12-minute-demo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721070403/http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/04/10/dark-souls-2-gameplay-reveal-12-minute-demo |archive-date=July 21, 2016 |access-date=2016-03-11 |website=Ign.com}} New challenges, adding to the series' documented difficulty level, were also added.{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=David |date=2014-09-11 |title=Official Xbox Magazine | GamesRadar |url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/53257/features/twice-shy-seven-ways-dark-souls-2-is-tougher-than-dark-souls/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708135129/http://www.oxm.co.uk/53257/features/twice-shy-seven-ways-dark-souls-2-is-tougher-than-dark-souls/ |archive-date=July 8, 2013 |access-date=2016-03-11 |website=Oxm.co.uk}} The game features a more advanced AI system, that allows enemies to react to a wider range of actions by the player. In September 2013, an announcement regarding the delay of the PC version was made by Tanimura who said it was necessary to ensure it was optimal.{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Martin |date=2013-09-19 |title=Dark Souls 2 out on March 14, PC version to follow • |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-19-dark-souls-2-out-on-march-14-pc-version-to-follow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205020256/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-19-dark-souls-2-out-on-march-14-pc-version-to-follow |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=2016-03-11 |website=Eurogamer.net}}

{{Main|Dark Souls II: The Lost Crowns}}

Bandai Namco Games producer Takeshi Miyazoe originally stated in December 2013 that he did not expect there to be downloadable content (DLC) for Dark Souls II. Despite that, in an interview in January 2014, he said that there is definitely potential for DLC for the game and that fan feedback is key.{{cite web |last=Houghton |first=David |date=2014-09-11 |title=Xbox Games, News & Reviews | GamesRadar |url=http://www.totalxbox.com/70379/there-is-definitely-potential-for-dark-souls-2-dlc-says-namco/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211234433/http://www.totalxbox.com/70379/there-is-definitely-potential-for-dark-souls-2-dlc-says-namco/ |archive-date=December 11, 2014 |access-date=2016-03-11 |website=Totalxbox.com}} On June 4, 2014, FromSoftware announced a trilogy of DLC collectively known as The Lost Crowns. The first of these, titled Crown of the Sunken King, was released on July 22, 2014.{{cite web |date=2014-02-01 |title=Dark Souls 2 could have DLC after all, depending on fan feedback |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/01/dark-souls-2-could-have-dlc-after-all-depending-on-fan-feedback/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310170740/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/02/01/dark-souls-2-could-have-dlc-after-all-depending-on-fan-feedback/ |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |access-date=2016-03-11 |website=Joystiq.com}} The second, Crown of the Old Iron King, was released on August 26, 2014. The final DLC, Crown of the Ivory King, was slated to be released on September 24, 2014, but was delayed until September 30, 2014.

On November 25, 2014, Bandai Namco Games announced an updated version of the game, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, which was released on April 1, 2015, for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, along with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. On all platforms, the game is a compilation of Dark Souls II and its three DLC campaigns. On PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Scholar of the First Sin also features remastered visuals with more advanced lighting effects, running at 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. The remastered version also makes changes to the game itself; enemy positions and behaviors have been revised, and the game also supports up to six players in multiplayer scenarios.{{cite web |date=6 February 2015 |title=Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Brings "New Game Plus" to the Next Level |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/dark-souls-ii-scholar-of-the-first-sin-brings-new-game-plus-to-the-next-level |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708104630/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/dark-souls-ii-scholar-of-the-first-sin-brings-new-game-plus-to-the-next-level |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |access-date=22 April 2015 |website=USGamer}} Its release coincided with patch version 1.10, which was also released for existing versions of the game on February 5, 2015. The update included improvements to online play, the addition of the titular Scholar of the First Sin NPC, performance improvements, and adjustments to items and covenants among other changes.{{cite web |date=15 January 2015 |title=Massive Dark Souls 2 patch introduces the Scholar of the First Sin Feb. 5 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/15/7551225/dark-souls-2-patch-110-scholar-first-sin-release-date |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524222617/http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/15/7551225/dark-souls-2-patch-110-scholar-first-sin-release-date |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=9 April 2015 |website=Polygon}}{{cite web |date=5 February 2015 |title=Dark Souls 2 next-gen will run at 60fps/1080p |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-05-dark-souls-2-next-gen-will-run-at-60fps-1080p |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082718/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-05-dark-souls-2-next-gen-will-run-at-60fps-1080p |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=22 April 2015 |website=Eurogamer}} Despite these improvements, the update did not fix the long-standing frame rate-dependent weapon degradation bug, which was later fixed in a patch released in April 2015.{{cite web |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=15 April 2015 |title=Annoying Dark Souls 2 Glitch Has Gone Unfixed For Nearly A Year |url=http://kotaku.com/annoying-dark-souls-2-glitch-has-gone-unfixed-for-nearl-1697992451 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201175434/http://kotaku.com/annoying-dark-souls-2-glitch-has-gone-unfixed-for-nearl-1697992451 |archive-date=February 1, 2017 |publisher=Kotaku |quote= There's no excuse for the durability bug to be part of Scholar of the First Sin. It's not limited to the PC version, either. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions run at 60 frames-per-second. FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have not yet responded to my request for comment. You might not be surprised to learn that fans have decided to rescue the game again, however. DS2fix removes the durability bug from the game, in addition to addressing a few other issues.}}{{cite web |last1=J. |title=Upcoming Version and Calibrations Update (Durability): DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin General Discussions |url=http://steamcommunity.com/app/335300/discussions/0/611703999983889371/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807084641/http://steamcommunity.com/app/335300/discussions/0/611703999983889371/ |archive-date=August 7, 2016 |access-date=18 June 2016 |website=steamcommunity.com}}

The existing PC version of Dark Souls II received the 1.10 patch at no charge; the remastered Scholar of the First Sin edition must be purchased separately, but is available at a discount to existing Dark Souls II owners. The remastered version uses DirectX 11 instead of 9, and save data from the original version is incompatible with it.{{cite magazine |last1=Savage |first1=Phil |date=2 April 2015 |title=Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is out |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-2-scholar-of-the-first-sin-is-out/ |magazine=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020170927/https://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-2-scholar-of-the-first-sin-is-out/ |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=9 April 2015}}{{cite web|title=Dark Souls II PC owners will have to buy again to get all of Scholar of the First Sin upgrades|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/dark-souls-ii-pc-owners-will-have-to-buy-again-to-get-all-of-scholar-of-the-first-sin-upgrades/0141880|website=MCV|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127214503/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/dark-souls-ii-pc-owners-will-have-to-buy-again-to-get-all-of-scholar-of-the-first-sin-upgrades/0141880|archive-date=27 November 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |date=25 November 2014 |title=Dark Souls II Coming to Xbox One, PS4 Next Year |url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/11/25/dark-souls-ii-coming-to-xbox-one-ps4-next-year |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021113754/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/25/dark-souls-ii-coming-to-xbox-one-ps4-next-year |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=IGN}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = wikidata

| CVG = 10/10{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/452420/dark-souls-2-review/ |title=Dark Souls 2 review - CVG |date=2014-11-28 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128181603/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/452420/dark-souls-2-review/ |archive-date=November 28, 2014 }}

| Edge = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/dark-souls-ii-review |title=Dark Souls II review | Edge Online |website=Edge |date=2014-03-15 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315081912/http://www.edge-online.com/review/dark-souls-ii-review |archive-date=March 15, 2014 }}

| EuroG = 9/10 (Italy){{cite news|url=http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2014-03-11-dark-souls-2-review-recensione |title=Dark Souls II - review • |website=Eurogamer.it |date=2014-03-11 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303043104/http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2014-03-11-dark-souls-2-review-recensione |archive-date= March 3, 2016}}
9/10 (Portugal){{cite news|url=http://www.eurogamer.pt/articles/2014-03-11-dark-souls-2-analise |title=Dark Souls 2 - Anplise • Página 1 • |website=Eurogamer.pt |date=2012-01-20 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171205020302/http://www.eurogamer.pt/articles/2014-03-11-dark-souls-2-analise |archive-date= December 5, 2017}}
10/10 (Spain){{cite news|url=http://www.eurogamer.es/articles/analisis-de-dark-souls-2 |title=Análisis de Dark Souls 2 • |website=Eurogamer.es |date=2012-01-20 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924003425/http://www.eurogamer.es/articles/analisis-de-dark-souls-2 |archive-date= September 24, 2015}}
9/10 (UK){{cite web|last=Bramwell |first=Tom |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-11-dark-souls-2-review |title=Dark Souls 2 review • |website=Eurogamer.net |date=2014-03-11 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160731153318/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-11-dark-souls-2-review |archive-date= July 31, 2016 }}

| Fam = 37/40{{cite web |last=Antony Seeto |first=Damian |date=March 5, 2014 |url=http://www.justpushstart.com/2014/03/famitsus-dark-souls-2-review-scores-big/ |title=Famitsu's Dark Souls 2 Review Scores Big |publisher=Just Push Start |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201128110613/http://www.justpushstart.com/2014/03/famitsus-dark-souls-2-review-scores-big/ |archive-date= November 28, 2020}}

| GameRev = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/dark-souls-ii |title=Dark Souls II Review |website=Gamerevolution.com |date=2014-04-24 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160319063353/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/dark-souls-ii |archive-date= March 19, 2016}}

| GI = 9.75/10{{cite magazine |last=Tack |first=Daniel |date=March 10, 2014 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/dark_souls_ii/b/ps3/archive/2014/03/10/praise-the-fun.aspx |title=Praise the Fun - Dark Souls II |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=March 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723014246/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/dark_souls_ii/b/ps3/archive/2014/03/10/praise-the-fun.aspx |archive-date= July 23, 2016 }}

| GMaster = 96%GamesMaster, May 2014, page 55

| GSpot = 9/10{{cite web|first=Kevin |last=VanOrd |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dark-souls-2-review/1900-6415691/ |title=Dark Souls II Review |website=GameSpot |date=2014-04-24 |access-date=2021-08-17 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151103195651/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dark-souls-2-review/1900-6415691/ |archive-date= November 3, 2015}}

| GTM = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamestm.co.uk/reviews/dark-souls-2-review |title=Dark Souls 2 review | Videogames Magazine - gamesTM - Official Website |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315051138/http://www.gamestm.co.uk/reviews/dark-souls-2-review |archive-date=March 15, 2014 }}

| IGN = 9/10{{cite web |last=Sliva |first=Marty |date=March 10, 2014 |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/03/11/dark-souls-2-review |title=Dark Souls 2 Review |publisher=IGN |access-date=March 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805085627/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/11/dark-souls-2-review |archive-date= August 5, 2019}}

| Joystiq = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Kubba |first=Sinan |date=March 14, 2014 |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/14/dark-souls-2-review-death-becomes-you/ |title=Dark Souls 2 review: Death becomes you |publisher=Joystiq |access-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313015644/http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/14/dark-souls-2-review-death-becomes-you/ |archive-date= March 13, 2016}}

| OPMAU = 9/10Playstation Official Magazine Australia, April 2014, page 74

| OPMUK = 9/10{{cite web |url= http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/review/dark-souls-2-ps3-review-official-playstation-magazine-scor/2/ |title=Dark Souls 2 PS3 review - Things to do in Drangleic when you're undead - Page 2 of 2 | Official PlayStation Magazine |date=2014-03-13 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317013646/http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/review/dark-souls-2-ps3-review-official-playstation-magazine-scor/2/ |archive-date=March 17, 2014 }}

| Play = 90%{{cite web|url=http://www.play-mag.co.uk/reviews/ps3-reviews/dark-souls-ii-review/ |title=Dark Souls 2 Review | PLAY Magazine |website=Play-mag.co.uk |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320003927/http://www.play-mag.co.uk/reviews/ps3-reviews/dark-souls-ii-review/ |archive-date=March 20, 2016}}

| Poly = 9/10{{cite web |last=Kollar |first=Philip |date=March 11, 2014 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/11/5492096/dark-souls-2-review |title=Dark Souls 2 Review: Not the End |website=Polygon |access-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117071933/http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/11/5492096/dark-souls-2-review |archive-date= November 17, 2016}}

| VG = 10/10{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/reviews/dark_souls_2_review.html |title=Dark Souls 2 Review |website=VideoGamer.com |date=2014-03-11 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514064153/http://www.videogamer.com/reviews/dark_souls_2_review.html |archive-date= May 14, 2016}}

| award1Pub = Golden Joystick Award,
4Players,{{cite web|url=http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spieledesjahres2014/index.htm#80937 |title=Spiele des Jahres 2014 |website=4Players.de |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706111835/http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spieledesjahres2014/index.htm |archive-date= July 6, 2017}} Empire,{{cite web|first=James |last=Dyer |url=http://www.empireonline.com/features/10-best-games-of-2014/p10 |title=The 10 Best Games Of The Year, Feature | Movies - Empire |location=us |website=Empireonline.com |date=2015-10-09 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426101731/http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/10-best-games-2014/ |archive-date= April 26, 2016}}
Eurogamer,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2015-01-01-i-migliori-giochi-best-of-2014-secondo-la-redazione-eurogamer-it-articolo |title=I migliori giochi del 2014, secondo la redazione - articolo • |website=Eurogamer.it |date=2015-01-01 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219175842/http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2015-01-01-i-migliori-giochi-best-of-2014-secondo-la-redazione-eurogamer-it-articolo |archive-date= December 19, 2015}} Sky Magazine{{cite web|url=http://mag.sky.it/mag/web_style/2014/12/22/migliori_videogiochi_2014_dark_souls_evil_within_destiny.html |access-date=September 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728140940/http://mag.sky.it/mag/web_style/2014/12/22/migliori_videogiochi_2014_dark_souls_evil_within_destiny.html |archive-date=July 28, 2015 |title=I migliori videogiochi del 2014 }}

| award1 = Game of the Year

| award2Pub = GameTrailers{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/z2f14n/gametrailers-best-of-2014-awards-best-role-playing |title=Best Role-Playing | GameTrailers Best of 2014 Awards Video Gallery |website=GameTrailers.com |date=2014-12-27 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312062927/http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/view/gametrailers-best-of-2014-awards/106503-Best-Role-Playing |archive-date= March 12, 2016}}

| award2 = Best Role-Playing Game

| award3Pub = Golden Joystick Award{{cite web|last=McDonald |first=James |url=http://lzygmrs.com/general/golden-joystick-2014-awards-nominees-revealed/4865/ |title=Golden Joystick 2014 Awards Nominee's Revealed |website=Lzygmrs.com |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319214309/http://lzygmrs.com/general/golden-joystick-2014-awards-nominees-revealed/4865/ |archive-date= March 19, 2016}}

| award3 = Best Gaming Moment (Nomination)

}}

Dark Souls II received universal acclaim, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Critics praised the game's story, atmosphere, visuals, and environmental design, though some were critical of the boss quality, combat mechanics, and increased difficulty, adding that, in these regards, it fared poorly in comparison to the previous games (Dark Souls and its spiritual predecessor, Demon's Souls). Famitsu reviewed the game with four reviewers giving their opinions, who gave it 9/10/9/9, bringing the total score to 37/40. IGN{{'}}s critic Marty Sliva gave the game a score of 9/10: "Dark Souls II is a smart, massive, and incredibly rewarding sequel. It's crammed with deep systems, tense encounters, and enough clever multiplayer and New Game Plus elements to make me want to restart the second I saw the end credits. Not all of the tweaks and additions worked out for the best, the penalty for dying made the game almost unplayable but with such great enemies and levels to fight and explore, Dark Souls II made 60 hours of pain and agony so much fun they flew by in a heartbeat." Daniel Tack of Game Informer gave the game a 9.75 out of 10, stating: "Dark Souls II is an epic adventure from start to finish packed with wondrous environments, imaginative and terrifying foes, and the continual adrenaline-apprehension rush of passing through each fog gate makes this title a must-play." Polygon{{'}}s Phil Kollar also gave it a 9/10, and similarly praised the ambition displayed by the team in creating such a vast RPG universe for the player to explore, the notorious difficulty, and the sense of triumph that comes with eventually defeating the game; he notes that his character died 235 times before completing it.

Dark Souls II won the "Game of the Year" award at the 2014 Golden Joystick Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.futureplc.com/golden-joystick-awards-winners-announced/ |title=Golden Joystick Awards: Winners Announced |publisher=Future plc |date=2014-10-28 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-date=2016-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413042823/http://www.futureplc.com/golden-joystick-awards-winners-announced/ |url-status=dead }} At The Game Awards 2014, Dark Souls II received nominations for "Game of the Year", "Best Role Playing Game", and "Best Online Experience".{{cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=November 21, 2014 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/21/7259309/game-awards-2014-nominees |title=Here are the nominees for The Game Awards 2014 |publisher=Polygon |accessdate=November 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107195502/http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/21/7259309/game-awards-2014-nominees |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |url-status=live }} However, Dark Souls II is considered by some to be the black sheep of the Dark Souls franchise.{{Cite web |author1=Hirun Cryer |date=2024-02-23 |title=Elden Ring wouldn't be the same without Dark Souls 2, says FromSoftware head Miyazaki |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/elden-ring-wouldnt-be-the-same-without-dark-souls-2-says-fromsoftware-head-miyazaki/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}

A few weeks after release, the game had shipped over a million copies within the United States and Europe.May 8, 2014, [http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/E8A39CE8B6B3E8B387E69699EFBC88E88BB1EFBC89.pdf Financial Highlights for the Fiscal Year Ended March 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508123624/http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/E8A39CE8B6B3E8B387E69699EFBC88E88BB1EFBC89.pdf |date=2014-05-08 }}, NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc.May 7, 2014, [http://www.siliconera.com/2014/05/07/dark-souls-ii-ships-1-2-million-u-s-europe/ Dark Souls II Ships 1.2 Million In U.S. And Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112324/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/05/07/dark-souls-ii-ships-1-2-million-u-s-europe/ |date=2015-04-02 }}, Siliconera A year after release, the game had sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/15/dark-souls-ii-sold-2-5-million-units-dragon-ball-xenoverse-breaks-2-million/ |title=Dark Souls II Sold Over 2.5 Million Units, Dragon Ball Xenoverse Breaks 2 Million |website=Siliconera |date=2015-04-15 |access-date=2016-03-11 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307011832/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/15/dark-souls-ii-sold-2-5-million-units-dragon-ball-xenoverse-breaks-2-million/ |url-status=live }}

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