Finished replaying DS2 for the first time since it was released

[Judeo-communism]

I'm replaying the trilogy again for the first time since they were each released as I prepare my self to play Elden Ring for the first time.

I remember DS2 was always my favorite of the three, so I was looking forward to replaying it the most. Now after finishing that replaythrough, I have to say it's my least favorite now by far. I had the most fond memories of Aldia's Keep and Dragon Aerie, seeing the dragons for the first time and feeling the grand scale of the game. By the time I got there on this playthrough, I was just about sick of the game. Shrine of Amana, Aldia's Keep (particularly the two Troll fights), Dragon Shrine and the Memory areas of the game really made me hate this game. Perhaps it's my fault for thinking 99 Agility would be enough, but the late game areas felt so infuriating to play with the constant homing projectile spam and enemies having fast attacks with massive tracking and little to no recovery, like the Trolls and the two-hand maul Dragon Shrine knights. None of which were flinchable with my +10 Longsword (same weapon I used in my first playthrough of DS2), eventually making me skip them and just run past to the Ancient Dragon. I never skip enemies in the DS series, nor do I remember skipping them in DS2 before. I was ready to hurry up and move on to the better game, Dark Souls 3.

I "gotgud" but it wasn't fun. And Scholar only makes these problems worse by making really stupid enemy placements and enemy amounts.

This makes me sad because my memories of this game were just delusions of rose tinted glasses. DS1 and DS3 are good games. DS2 is bad as a sequel, and only okay on its own. I do still enjoy the story however, King Vendrick was very compelling and I was happy to see everything come together again. Not to mention what may have been Seath's body at Freya's.

I did get invaded a couple of times against players and won both. The PvP of this game is miles better than DS1 or DS1 Remastered, so I imagine that's what matters most I suppose.

[Belfast]

DS2 was my first Souls game and I also have fond memories of it, for years saying it was my favourite of the bunch. When I went for all achievements in the trilogy and replayed DS2 in early 2020 I also realised that it were mostly nostalgic memories. I never played the SOTFS version though, never saw the point.

The game does have some cool and unique things that the other games don't - there are some YouTube videos on that subject that are a fun watch - but it doesn't make up for the clunky movement and fighting.

I do enjoy my magic and hexes playthrough that I started yesterday though :-). Haven't reached the frustrating bits yet, but if I get fed up with it I'll just quit.

For what it's worth, Elden Ring is by far my favourite of the four (DS1-3 + ER) so you're in for a treat as far as I'm concerned!