Why is Dark Souls 2 not so popular with a lot of the fanbase ?

[☆ Akazu_]

So I just finished both DS1 then DS3 this past two weeks.
The only content I need to play is the dlcs.
Currently I am burned out of Dark Souls but I am thinking of buying DS2 later on but I would like to know if it is worth it ?
What I especially love about the first game is exploration, it is very satisfying to unlock each shortcut since warping is not unlocked until the middle of the game. So that was very rewarding. I find the downside with DS1 are the bosses which became super easy after O&S fight.
With Dark Souls 3, what I find really nice this time around are the bosses, they don't get easy and each one has phases which make them really fun. I am currently stuck with Sister Frieda but I will beat her eventually.

[Call Sign: Raven]

You’ve got some reading to do:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/335300/discussions/0/3005556719753251574/

[Call Sign: Raven]

TL;DR Yes it’s worth it but if you are burnt out, wait :)

[☆ Akazu_]

I just noticed that thread after I wrote this one :D
I will wait for some time before I get back to DS. I feel exhausted from two huge games in so little time.

[Iban The Dude]

This theme starts to get a little tired, don't take it the wrong way OP its not for you,

It's just that 90% of people have that opinion without having played it or just playing it once and they saw xXxXNamexXxXx's opinion on YT...

And they're not so much DS3 bosses either, imo...

[Call Sign: Raven]

Originally posted by Akazu_:

I just noticed that thread after I wrote this one :D
I will wait for some time before I get back to DS. I feel exhausted from two huge games in so little time.

It's a very fierce topic, apparently! It's my favorite out of the 3 Dark Souls games. My favorite Souls game is Demon's Souls (original) though. I know you're taking a break from the series for a sec, but did you enjoy the ride?

[xLєgєиdαяy]

you forgot to post this same ♥♥♥♥ in DS Remastered forum

[☆ Akazu_]

Originally posted by xLєgєиdαяy:

you forgot to post this same ♥♥♥♥ in DS Remastered forum

Check the old forum :P

Originally posted by Harrison Ford:

Originally posted by Akazu_:

I just noticed that thread after I wrote this one :D
I will wait for some time before I get back to DS. I feel exhausted from two huge games in so little time.

It's a very fierce topic, apparently! It's my favorite out of the 3 Dark Souls games. My favorite Souls game is Demon's Souls (original) though. I know you're taking a break from the series for a sec, but did you enjoy the ride?

It was such a great ride, I really love how interconnected the world is in DS1. But after two weeks of over 80 hours, I am currently exhausted. I will give DS2 a try as I found it for a price of 8$.

[Call Sign: Raven]

Originally posted by Akazu_:

Originally posted by xLєgєиdαяy:

you forgot to post this same ♥♥♥♥ in DS Remastered forum

Check the old forum :P

Originally posted by Harrison Ford:

It's a very fierce topic, apparently! It's my favorite out of the 3 Dark Souls games. My favorite Souls game is Demon's Souls (original) though. I know you're taking a break from the series for a sec, but did you enjoy the ride?

It was such a great ride, I really love how interconnected the world is in DS1. But after two weeks of over 80 hours, I am currently exhausted. I will give DS2 a try as I found it for a price of 8$.

Wow, that’s a nice deal. Enjoy!

[Rikuto01]

Level ADP first and it will be a good time. If you don't, you will suffer. Your invincible frames on dodge rolling depend entirely on ADP and the game does not explain this, so most people have initial negative impressions about everything hitting them even on perfect dodges.

[Begemot]

For you preference, pros would be:
- Huge world with many different locations.
- Outstanding DLCs.
Cons:
- Locations are ok, there are a shortcut or two, but it's not even near to DS1 interconnected world.
- Roughly 80 hours for a full playthrough and the best stuff (DLCs) is in the end.
- Like in Sekiro, you need to learn how to play anew. If in DS3 all you need is a long sword and reflexes, DS2 will require knowledge of its mechanics, especially about Adaptability[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com], which enemy weak to what weapon and damage type. You can brootforce DS2, but it will be painful and unrewarding experience.
- Most of the pre-DLS bosses are pushovers.

[theseeker52]

Originally posted by Harrison Ford:

Originally posted by Akazu_:

I just noticed that thread after I wrote this one :D
I will wait for some time before I get back to DS. I feel exhausted from two huge games in so little time.

It's a very fierce topic, apparently! It's my favorite out of the 3 Dark Souls games. My favorite Souls game is Demon's Souls (original) though. I know you're taking a break from the series for a sec, but did you enjoy the ride?

It seems from my observation , the first game in the Souls series that people play usually is their favorite....but not necessarily the ones they put the most hours in playing, probably the re-play factor, graphics , mechanics and bosses has alot to do with it.

[Papa Shekels]

Because this game is absolute and utter garbage...until you get 32 adp and bypass the only real fault in it, at which point it is easily the most enjoyable of the series

[Call Sign: Raven]

Originally posted by theseeker52:

Originally posted by Harrison Ford:

It's a very fierce topic, apparently! It's my favorite out of the 3 Dark Souls games. My favorite Souls game is Demon's Souls (original) though. I know you're taking a break from the series for a sec, but did you enjoy the ride?

It seems from my observation , the first game in the Souls series that people play usually is their favorite....but not necessarily the ones they put the most hours in playing, probably the re-play factor, graphics , mechanics and bosses has alot to do with it.

That's an interesting theory, and I would say for the most part, you are right. First impressions seem to be very powerful. I hear people that start at 3 and end at 1 tend to dislike the 1st game more, because they are so accustomed to how snappy 3 is, in comparison.

When I first played DS2, I would play it a little bit, then go back to DS: PTDE, and vice-versa. I would say that initially, I disliked or was unsure of the game, but it really grew on me and now it's my favorite, even though I played it second.

[Yal]

I played the games in reverse order (DS3 --> DS2SotFS --> DS1) and overall I'd say DS2 is my favorite... DS3 felt like a disappointment because it was so linear and half the game is just fanservice for the first game, DS1 is so clunky and has some of the longest and most annoying return runs in any soulslike ever (like the 5 minutes of NOTHING when you die at the archers in Anor Londo and have to run back, or the Crystal Caves, or Lost Izalith). I mean, DS1 has Lost Izalith, that's all you gotta say really.

A lot of the DS2 controversy was because the game changed from DX11 to DX9 last second (for compatibility reasons I think, either with the console ports or because most customers wouldn't be able to play it because they still used DX9) so the lightning engine (which was one of the big things showed off in all the trailers) was a lot worse and the game looked a lot uglier than in the trailers. Also there was a bug where playing in 60fps would make equipment durability go down twice as fast, which is a pretty big deal because it's already really fast in DS2 by design. Then the world design is a lot more videogamey than its predecessor, stat-based iframes makes it feel like you get hit by things you dodged a lot, and Soul Memory matchmaking makes it impossible to do co-op with friends without a spreadsheet and an astrophysics degree.

The core game is good, though, people just hate it for auxilary reasons. We really need a Scholar of the Second Sin update that just removes Adaptability and Soul Memory (and adds password matchmaking) and maybe a new bonfire in Ornifex' house and then it's perfect.