Should I play dark souls first game before buying this one?

[zygrock]

Yes/no, why?

[Cage_D]

yes this one sucks ... Its okay but doesnt fell like souls game at all . go for ds 1 first

[Free Palestine]

+1 what beyond said.
The first one is better in almost every way except for connection.

[Bungus]

Both games are very fun in my book,Sequels will (often) be worse but can still be fun if you sit back and just play them. Though,PVP in the second game is broken for now,so I would buy dark souls 1 and enjoy that for a while while they fix dark souls 2.

[zygrock]

Dark Souls PTDE is unavailable in my country, but I bought game gift from a trade, so if I activate it and add to my libabry I can still play that game but can't access store page and community hub, right?

[Duke]

I enjoy Dark Souls 2 more because for me its a smoother experience on the technical side. I also like the level design more and it feels more polished could be because Dark Souls 1 was an awefull PC port.

i cant talk about pvp because i dislike it and dont do it on my free will i just sit it out and wait for a blue bro to help me ;-)

But im probably a minority since everyone here seems to like Dark Souls 1 more thats fine!

Its just my opinion man ;-)

[Tirigon]

Originally posted by zygrock:

Dark Souls PTDE is unavailable in my country, but I bought game gift from a trade, so if I activate it and add to my libabry I can still play that game but can't access store page and community hub, right?

Yea, should work like that. At least it's that way for some games like Dead Island or FEAR that are unavailable in my country but I have them.

[Joaquim Pacheco]

It's an amazing game, in my opinion it's better than DS 2 (except on the gameplay's fluidity).

The graphics are poor, because it was made on console's port, but you can fix it with the nice patches released. And you will need a controller (I strongly recommend XBOX 360's controller), it's unplayable on keyboard + mouse.

[cannoliGun]

They are both good.
I think you should start playing both.
Them choose which one you are more compelled to continue.

I have about 179 hours in DS1 and 183 in DS2.
I think DS2 is better if you just want to have some fun.

DS1 is a lot better in game desing. But for me DS1 gets boring kind of fast.
But is still a masterpiece.

And lastly for me DeS is the best of the 2 in game desing.
I just love that game and will problably play it again while waiting for "Project Beast".

[Cooperal]

I would say DS1 is the better of the two. Although if you're more into online play, maybe this one's more up your alley.

I pointed a friend to Dark Souls 1 during the sale, uncertain if he would like it, but he absolutely fell in love with it. And blitzed through. He paid full-price for DS2 without a second thought and is now beating himself up because it's boring as hell. Which surprised me because he strikes me as the type who would get a kick out of seeing technical improvements and streamlining (not to be confused with mainstreaming).

Without a shadow of a doubt, the journey in DS1 felt way more immersive and tied in to me. You saw something and it shocked/surprised you, yet you knew that it would make sense if you read between the lines a little more. The story was entirely there but it didn't shove it in your face up front. The player behind the controls was only as aware of what was going on as a character in that world should be without NPCs broadcasting the news at every milestone.

DS2 has the same FROM logo attached, but it has a lot staff of swapped around, not just the director. It seems they tried to convey the same feelings as their predecessors while only GUESSING how they originally did it. If you imagine DS1s map and story are each shaped like spider-webs, in DS2 they're shaped just like a spider itself.
Every theme you see crosses reference with Vendrick but not with eachother. And similarly with the map, everything branches out from a single spot. You travel down a leg until you reach a dead end. And you're conveniently warping around like it's babbys first MMO from the very start either because you can't turn back or because you're hopelessly far from anything else because the only other alternative is to return the entire direction you just came.

In DS1 you'd feel like you've been on a long pilgrimage when you're actually closer to a familiar place than you think. In DS2 you'd just keep walking until you arrive at one sad secluded corner of the world. And not in some genius narrative way.

I still like DS2, but I am far more drawn to embracing the online play than trying too hard to get invested in a personal quest.

[Luis]

I consider Dark Souls 1 to be the lesser of the 3 Souls games.
But you should not miss it. If you have a PS3, I actually recommend Demon's.
Demon's has the best level design and music, Dark 1 has an elegant, if cramped world design, but the worst level design in the series. Dark 2 has the best gameplay mechanics, and the fairest encounters of the 3.

Get them all.

[Luis]

Originally posted by Cooperal:

DS2 has the same FROM logo attached, but it has a lot staff of swapped around, not just the director. It seems they tried to convey the same feelings as their predecessors while only GUESSING how they originally did it. If you imagine DS1s map and story are each shaped like spider-webs, in DS2 they're shaped just like a spider itself.

That there is the flaw in your interpretation, Dark 2 does not try to convey the same feelings as the predecessor at all. It BUILDS on Dark 1 but it ultimately is an entirely different thing with a completely different focus. You were expecting more of the same, but it is something completely different. And there was no "guessing", they purposely went for something contrasting.

Dark Souls 2 is not structured like Dark Souls 1. It is a mashup of EVERYTHING FROM's made, from King's Field, to Shadow Tower, to Demon's, to Dark 1. Just like Dark was a departure from Demon's, Dark 2 is a departure from Dark 1.

[Pnume]

I would go for DS1.

DS2 is not altogether bad but this one is marred by huge game design flows and a so-so overall atmosphere.

[SociallyInept]

As with most play both. But I would play DS1 first. I simply think it was better imo. Story.. cant even really say there was any story in DS1 had to dig for it but it was there. DS2 I think you'd have to dig to China for the story. Other then some old hag telling me I'd end up at some castle sooner or later just because and I will die a lot.

Better world layout and design. The world made sense in DS1 and the way it interconnected. DS2 its world is just kinda a cluster f* and makes absolutely no sense most the time. And I think is half the reason they made bonfire warping accessible from the start they really didn't have a choice because of its flaws.

Graphics meh... I think their the same. They were both made for the same last gen console DS1 looked great with the DSfix mod and DS2 looks good as well with the GeDoSaTo mod or tweaked nvidia settings. Though in DS2 least your toon looks a little less like a toon but a toon nonetheless. All in all its just different scenery between the two after its all said and done.

Mechanically to each their own I suppose but I believe DS1 was far more polished then DS2, DS2 imo leaves a lot to be desired. Yes the kb+m is better vanilla in DS2 but still needs to be fixed. And people are having to dl 3rd pt apps to do it just like before. Even then though you still have horrid lag input least I do and know alot of people still do. Even after the Autohotkey and rebinding. DS1 the kb+m was just completely broken vanilla but playable with DSMfix though the mouse was still overly sensitive. The biggest problem was having the targeting tied to mouse movement in DS1. So if you even breathed on your mouse during a fight it would spazz out and could make you motion sick watching it switch targets with everything in the room. DSMfix took care of that though.

The mobs and bosses in DS1 were all unique with varying move-sets DS2 they just kinda throw as many mobs/bosses at you as possible and they don't vary that much. And most of what they do have are rehashes. But one problem with this game and its just throw everything at you at once attitude. Is this type of game doesn't do well with multiple targets. The mechanics are set up for smaller encounters. Combine that with broken hit boxes and detection among many other things.

Bosses in the last game were memorable and made you want to get into the lore. Even some of the mobs did. I can barely remember who I've fought in this game the Chariot i know was my last. Remember him because I farmed him for a day trying to finish the black hollow mage set. Before that Skeleton Lords. Before that.... I cant even remember. I remember the Pursuer only because I see his name floating around on these threads so much.

PvP I haven't gotten into that much yet. But its pretty broken in its current state in DS2. Hopefully this upcoming balance patch will help some. But it wont fix some of the bigger issues such as the broken hit-boxes, detection and lag. DS1 had issues as well in PvP with the same but wasn't nearly as bad imo.

This game is fun and worth the play-through. I just think DS1 was far more creative and better polished both mechanically and artistically at the end of the day. DS2 is one of those games you might make it through a play-through or two. But then stick it back on the shelf to collect dust except to occasionally do some PvP. Also if you play DS1 first you'll have a far better understanding of a lot of the arguments that go on on these threads.

[Luis]

Originally posted by SociallyInept:

As with most play both. But I would play DS1 first. I simply think it was better imo. Story.. cant even really say there was any story in DS1 had to dig for it but it was there. DS2 I think you'd have to dig to China for the story. Other then some old hag telling me I'd end up at some castle sooner or later just because and I will die a lot.

Better world layout and design. The world made sense in DS1 and the way it interconnected. DS2 its world is just kinda a cluster f* and makes absolutely no sense most the time. And I think is half the reason they made bonfire warping accessible from the start they really didn't have a choice because of its flaws.

Nah. Have you seen Demon's Souls? It worked exactly the same way. You can transport to any node. Dark 2 expand on that.
The world does not even try to make sense, the levels/maps would overlap. It is very much an intentional choice, though. In Dark 2 you are traversing spokes, and you don't have to revisit areas unless you really want to, since every node only really needs to be visited once.
Different design philosophy, does not mean it is "flawed".

The mobs and bosses in DS1 were all unique with varying move-sets DS2 they just kinda throw as many mobs/bosses at you as possible and they don't vary that much.

Patently untrue. Dark 1 had less enemy types (while design variety is arguably greater in Dark 1) with less moves than the ones in Dark 2. It recycled bosses more often too.

But one problem with this game and its just throw everything at you at once attitude. Is this type of game doesn't do well with multiple targets. The mechanics are set up for smaller encounters. Combine that with broken hit boxes and detection among many other things.

False. You are given more than enough tools to deal with large amounts of enemies as well as 1 on 1 encounters. From large weapons to splash damage items, to magic. The game mechanics are set for large encounters as well as small ones.

Basically, the things you are complaining about are either false, or have been there since Demon's (or before, King's Field). Silly.

Diagnostic: Nostalgia goggles.
Go and play Demon's.

[Cake for Mumm-Ra]

Dark Souls is an effing masterpiece. Dark souls 2 significantly improves on a number of mechanics (smoother combat/attack animations, weapon/catalyst upgrades, and level respec to name a few) but seems to lack in world/boss/enemy/npc design. And that's not to say that DS had poor features - not at all, it's well balanced and the combat is head and shoulders above most other games. That said, Dark souls 2 is still a great game. I'm really enjoying it, but the more I play the more I want to go back to play the original.

All in all, I would say play Dark Souls first. If you love it and want more, then go on to DS2. On the flip side, if you play DS2 first, you might miss some of the smoother playability of the sequel when you go on to play the former.