Dark Souls II is almost upon us. Are you ready to lose all hope, to descend into the depths of despair and maybe even throw your toys and rage quit on a daily basis? I’m not quite sure why we do this to ourselves, but we can’t wait to do it again. Now, we have a date for when the PC master race can join in the fun.
In their latest release, Namco Bandai Games is showing off the first part of the prologue. Wow, the game looks pretty, and desolate, and depressing. Yay!
For those who don’t watch videos, here are the words of the creepy, blind female narrator:
Perhaps you’ve seen it, maybe in a dream. A murky, forgotten land. A place where souls may mend your ailing mind. You will lose everything. Once branded. The symbol of the curse. An augur of darkness. You past. Your future. Your very light. None will have meaning, and you won’t even care. By then, you’ll be something other than human. A thing that feeds on souls. A Hollow. Long ago, in a walled off land, far to the north, a great king built a great kingdom. I believe they called it Drangleic. Perhaps you’re familiar. No, how could you be? But one day, you will stand before its decrepit gate without really knowing why…
Oh yes, bring on the desolation! The official launch is 14 March for console gamers, but fear not – PC gamers can grab it from 25 April. While it’s a pain for them to have to wait longer for the game, at least we can be assured that it won’t be another awful port this time around. Wow that game looks pretty – I’m sure it will be even more gorgeous on PC.
Last Updated: March 7, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
Bring on the desolation? I don’t want to play a filthy Hobbitses game.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
I’ve got time to prepare for this, wasn’t planning on buying it day-one.
Ottokie
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
There will be a lot of this again…
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_super/5/57577/2572212-2149399818-57rfc.gif
Ottokie
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
There will be a lot of this again…
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_super/5/57577/2572212-2149399818-57rfc.gif
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
Trust nothing an no one, not even corners
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:07
Well that sucks. #Denied
Must be how the Titanfall players feel in SA. 😀
Ottokie
March 7, 2014 at 10:08
Luckily South Park releases today so we got that going for us 🙂
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:09
You mean South P#$%, right?
Ottokie
March 7, 2014 at 10:09
Hahahaha I see what you did there
General JJ the Fett
March 7, 2014 at 10:30
You poor people.
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:35
Lol, I’m not buying the game. Care about as much for South P#$% as I do for Dark Souls 2.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:39
Poor because you pity them, or poor because they had to pay a million randelas for the game?
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:40
I lol’ed.
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2014 at 10:11
Picking up mine today!
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:12
SPOILER ALERT :/
Ottokie
March 7, 2014 at 10:16
This is Dark Souls 1 so nope its old 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:30
I haven’t finished it yet :/
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 7, 2014 at 10:56
Neither have I… But I can guarantee that both of us will still fall for this O_o
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 11:12
I wouldn’t be surprised. Well, I would be, but then I’d be annoyed & embarrassed.
RinceThis
March 7, 2014 at 10:15
Noooooooooo!
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:32
lol The TOG kicked his ass!
Dark
March 7, 2014 at 15:57
This is SPARTA!!!!!
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
I’ll open this comments section by saying that I’m one of those who didn’t ever get into DS1, no matter how much I tried, and am not excited for DS2.
Well, I was beaten to the opening of the comments, but here we are nonetheless.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:06
Ya missing out son
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:06
I’ve spent around 30 – 40 hours in DS1. I know what I’m missing out on, and I do it willingly.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:08
That’s a lot of time for a game you never got into?
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:12
I tried. I really did. You know I never got even past the 3rd area? The one just after that bridge boss. Not because I sucked (I did, that’s not why I didn’t enjoy it), but because there was nothing making me want to. But everyone kept talking about how amazing it was, so every few months I’d start a new character and try again. I’d get a bit further each time, but still, just couldn’t get excited to carry on. Was bored the whole time. There was no point to it all. Its just a mindless run in get your ass handed to you so be more careful next time you noob game.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:14
Different strokes 🙂 I wouldn’t call it mindless though, At least you tried 🙂
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:16
Well as far as combat goes, definitely not mindless, but story-wise? World-wise? Its just so empty, and dull.
Oh well, as you say. Different strokes.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:17
Story and world is the farthest thing from dull. Honestly one of the richest worlds and stories I’ve experienced in gaming
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:18
See? Now that is why I kept trying. But its just not there for me. Just. Meh.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:19
Haha, I know, not everyone enjoys it. and at times the game can be very abstract. It’s not something like Skyrim that has tons of journals and NPCs to flesh the world out. So Dark Souls is a big change for some
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:22
I suppose. I’m more into the convoluted, interwoven type stories. Like the way David Eddings creates stories and worlds and characters. Miss a word and you may as well miss an entire chapter. Intricate, there’s the word.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:25
LOL well that is Dark Souls….you have to take the time to figure the story out. Watch some Lore Videos. It’s much deeper than we know. Like what happened to Artorias and Oolacile
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:27
I did do all of that. Its still miniscule. It’s like a tidbit here and there, and you have to piece it all together, everything’s so isolated. I get that once you’ve gotten it together you get a bigger picture, but what for? That intro cinematic explains everything. What I’m talking about is say for instance every rock adds to the bigger picture. Not a specific rock buried beneath 4 – 8 hours of play (depends how much you die) at the bottom of some cave somewhere after defeating the boss that the rock pertains to.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:37
Your imagination drives the narrative fueled by those tidbits. And every tidbit, whether small or big fits into an overall story and mythos that is well defined but still open to interpretation
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:39
Its the hours of killing one or 2 enemies at a time between those tidbits that’s the problem. Literally, hours. It’s like watching 10 filler episodes of anime before the story carries on for 1 episode, then another 10 fillers.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:41
Only the filler is fun combat. But alas, I understand your gripe, it’s a different form of story telling
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:43
Less telling and more search and rescue. lol. 😀
Brenz
March 7, 2014 at 10:29
See now I wished they had added all that into the game.
The mystery was cool, and little tidbits of info, but in the end I wanted to know more, and having to research outside of the game just isnt how its meant to be done imo.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:27
I’m going to nitpick. He doesn’t create stories, he has one basic story that he either repeats with the same characters or retells with different characters.
And yes, I’ve read the Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium & Tamuli series quite a few times. Enjoyed them, but they’re not particularly different from each other.
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:29
Ok, but here’s the thing. Every main and sub character has a story behind him. Every town. Every event. Every single thing has sub plots. Its deep, its intricate. Its vivid. He doesn’t just write a story, he paints a hundred pictures to go with that story.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 7, 2014 at 10:32
I’d be more inclined to agree fully if I hadn’t read each one at least 3 times lol.
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:34
Ah but I have this affliction of memory. I can’t read a book more than once, because by the time I’ve finished the first chapter, I remember everything that happens for the rest of the series. So, I leave it at once.
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:31
Not the richest worlds or stories, you are lying to yourself Umar. There is basically a hidden story but I am sure there are many games with far better stories and worlds. I love Dark Souls, for the challenges and the way you evolve from a weak defenceless sad excuse for a warrior to a knight in shining amour. The game tests your wits and your will to survive and persevere through unworldly odds.
General JJ the Fett
March 7, 2014 at 10:32
Wow dude. That sounds like something they should put in the game’s description.
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:33
LOL. If that’s its appeal, then that’s exactly why I don’t enjoy it. Survival is just dumb. Its all the rage atm, but so is pop music, and I hate that too.
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:35
It’s not dumb, it drives you mad! The thing is you are either that type of person who sees the challenge till the end in a game no matter the odds of loosing are very high, or the type of gamer that prefers things who don’t ruin your mind and make you want to throw a controller through your screen, because you died and came back to your body and before you could collect your hard earned 30k souls you die!
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:37
I love rogue-likes. Love them. I’m addicted. So that’s not it. Trust me, I know about frustration and trying again, and again, and again, and again, and again. But DS just doesn’t interest me one bit. Nothing there. Its just so dull.
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:40
I agree it is dull in places, and looks bland but the reason I play it is because I got absorbed in the game play. Took a long time but It grew under my skin. Don’t worry about the people saying it’s awesome and you think it sucks or whatever. DarkSouls is not a game for everyone.
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:42
Well I know its not for everyone, I’m one of those on the other side of the fence. But I love hearing both sides of the story. I love the discussion that ensue’s when opinions differ, and when people don’t get angry about it all. You lot are awesome in that you don’t get aggro, you discuss. I’m loving this thread for that reason alone.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:46
Indeedio 🙂 I wish we could all have more discussion like this without blind rage because of different opinions. Seems a lot of the internet forgot how to have proper discussions about not only games but various topics
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:39
Nope I’m not. It’s got an amazing story and world, even outside of lore videos…It’s much deeper than than the gameplay. It’s not only about survival but about exploration and discovery too. We are too used to in your face story telling
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:42
Yes I agree about exploration and discovery but the story is very hidden, some people never even understand the actual story.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:44
And what’s wrong with that. It fits the game. I like that we have a game that doesn’t hold your hand, not in gameplay and not in story telling
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:46
Fine point made.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 10:47
But I get what you saying, Majority of the people will never know about it
Wraith
March 7, 2014 at 11:23
^^ This. However you only really start piecing together the lore by reading all the item descriptions and discussing with other players. The story is never ‘told’ to you, it’s all inferred (which is quite refreshing, but not for everyone).
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 11:28
Indeed but that is what’s so amazing. This story is open but well defined that you can still add your own understanding into the mix. Not only that, it lead to the building of what I consider an amazing community. Honestly all that just solidifies the notion that Dark Souls is much much more than what most people think
Wraith
March 7, 2014 at 11:31
An amazing community of people who write ‘Try jumping’ next to cliffs :). I do agree with you though. Still one of my favourite games. Guess the April release date gives me some time to go back and finish Demon Souls.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 7, 2014 at 11:35
LOLZ! I know, but hey, who doesn’t troll. Initially everyone branded together to get through the game. Now, most people like trolling lol and Yeah, still need to finish that as well 🙁
General JJ the Fett
March 7, 2014 at 10:31
Same here.
ToshZA
March 7, 2014 at 10:05
I’ll open this comments section by saying that I’m one of those who didn’t ever get into DS1, no matter how much I tried, and am not excited for DS2.
Well, I was beaten to the opening of the comments, but here we are nonetheless.
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2014 at 10:10
But does this require online servers to play?
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 7, 2014 at 10:22
I know the first one had the option of playing online, don’t remember seeing that you have to play it online O_o
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2014 at 10:25
I mean I don’t want my preorder cancelled like some other games.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 7, 2014 at 10:15
I just hope the controls are better (and yes, I did jam on controller)
Spathi
March 7, 2014 at 10:32
Please elaborate? I’m thinking about getting this on PC if the console version has frame drops again, and I have a controller for the PC also, but if the controls are not up to scratch I’ll rather go with the console version again..
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:33
frame drops on Xbox was bad in some places!
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 7, 2014 at 10:35
Did you do an update? That seemed to fix it for me
Spathi
March 7, 2014 at 10:40
Blighttown, UGH!!!!
TiMsTeR1033
March 7, 2014 at 10:42
Yeah did the update, I fixed it by installing to fast usb and played off there changed the game alot for me.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 7, 2014 at 10:35
I dunno if my controller is not compatible or preferable for this game, but damn, just felt clunky and clumsy (KB and MS was ATROCIOUS to say the least)
The game is damn cool, but hell, the controls are kak
Willem Swanepoel
March 7, 2014 at 11:40
If your left hand does not feel very comfortable for pleasing yourself then it makes sense to buy a sex toy for maximum comfort and joy 🙂
Yeah it is dirty friday!! hehehe
Wraith
March 7, 2014 at 11:28
Will I be able to play this using a DS4 on my PC? Hopefully without a third-party driver/application (MotionInJoy). I remember the first time I played DS1 on PC with my DS3. The sixaxis y-axis was by default mapped to panning the screen. Took me a while to figure out why the screen kept spinning :).