How Different is Dark Souls 3 from Dark Souls 2 (SotFS)?

[Lexford]

Having a blast with this game, and I'm interested in having a go at other entries in the series, with 3 being the next considered game (since 1 is apparently lag Hell for non-gaming PCs). But I'm kinda concerned though, I hear so much mixed opinions and thoughts on Dark Souls 3, so I ask: how different is it from part 2, and how much of those differences are for the better or worse? Some major things I want to know about include...

Performance: Dark Souls 3 looks quite more advanced than 2, with smooth lightning akin to Bloodborne (from what I've seen). But does 3 demand high performing systems, or is its performance as forgiving as SotFS?

Gameplay: I keep hearing about how different 3 is from other Dark Souls entries, being compared more similarly to Bloodborne. Unlike Dark Souls 2, which is focused on slow-paced strategy, I heard Bloodborne is more focused on fast reaction and speed, which is not really my taste in gameplay. If Dark Souls 3 really is a jarring difference from the rest of its series (I heard that Sir Alonne, one of the swiftest bosses in Dark Souls 2, would be a regular enemy in 3), how does it stand on its own?

Gear Variety: This could be paired with gameplay, but it's a different beast in its own in my opinion. So, everyone says 2 has the best (if not, least terrible) PvP in the series, partly due to how much potential lies in the hundreds of weapons and armor one player can pick. I hear the opposite is what's in 3, where players are restricted to using very linear sets as, according to most, much of the gear in 3 are not as "viable" in pvp duels. But is Dark Souls 3 really limited in terms of the tools one can use with flexibility?

Online Activities: Obviously 3 has more activity than the rest of the series, but one major thing that turns me off from 3: gank invasions are apparently a norm in 3. Other than that, how is the rest of the online activity in 3? Anything new or different? How are the covenants, if there are any?

I'm tempted to get Dark Souls 3, but the total $85 pricing when including the DLC concerns me. SotFS was a great bargain, as it had 2's $40 price while being bundled with all 3 DLC, plus some more content. The game was definitely worth the price. As for 3, is there anything noteworthy it has that 2 doesn't provide to justify such a high price?

[PainkilleR]

Performance: a little bit more demanding than DkS2, but of course nowhere near DkS1 (bad port and stuff you know). That said there are few places where you will experience stutters no matter what hardware you have.

Gameplay: DkS3 is much faster than DkS1 and 2, mostly due to non-stop enemy attacks/combos.

Gear Variety: all 3 games have great gear variety... it's fun to play with whatever gear you choose (unless you are a min/max type of guy (in that case I don't have anything constructive to say)).

Online Activities: gank invasions is not a thing in DkS3. It's quiet opposite. Gank hosts is what you will most likely experience. Being an invader in DkS3 is a pain.

Price tag: I have no opinion about DkS3 price...

Personal ranking of DkS games: DkS1 > DkS3 > DkS2

[Brandon]

You post confused me because you kept saying "this game," which I kept thinking meant DS2. This is a DS2 forum after all.

DS3 is indeed very different from every other Souls game. The combat is very fast and it puts the most emphasis on rolling. Rolling is so good that many people end up using spammy weapons in order to catch roll spammers. I tried to PVP with a great hammer, it was nearly impossible to hit people with the carthus ring(boosts rolling invincibility). And chugging estus is worse than ever. It's not broken as humanity during PVP in DS1, but it's still ridiculously to chug in DS3. It's fast and you can walk during it.

Gank invasions only happen in 2 areas of the game. It's a covenant thing like Belfry Sol in DS2, except in DS3 I don't think it happens if you aren't human. Personally, I think that is when PVP shines in a DS game. One of the areas is pretty low level and has pretty low activity compared to the other.

DS3 covenants are pretty good if you're into PVP. There is no PVP/PVE hybrid covenant like the rat king in DS2 or the gravelord servants in DS1 though, but if you just want to fight some people, you have lots of options. My favorite was the aldrich faithful, which guards an area of the game the player has to progress through. You can read about all the other covenants here: http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Covenants

Don't take my words too seriously though. I'm not much of a DS PVP players. I can't stomach it in any of the DS games, but I will say that DS2 would be the game I would choose for PVP if I had to pick one.

Also, as far as price goes, I got DS3 with all the DLC for $30 on sale a while ago. And recently it was part of a humble monthly deal, so I believe it was $12 for the game and at least 1 DLC. I would wait for a sale because they do seem to be fairly common.

[Nimphameth🖤]

You need a good pc specs to run it xD i have a ♥♥♥♥ graphic card but good ram and cpu and i can run ds3 on 30 fps with lowered resolution and all settings on low. But on ds2 sotfs i can run my native 1920x1080 with highest settings on 60 fps.

[Deadbubble]

Speaking from a purely PvE experience, DS3 is easily my favorite Souls games. It maintians a high quality throughout the game, and the game has a reasonable difficulty curve for once. Things start off easy before ramping up towards the end. Also has the best bosses in the trilogy.

Attack wind-ups and recovery do seem a tad faster in 3, but not by a massive margin. Timing and spacing is still important, but the considerably quicker estus animation and the more lenient roll does lend itself to a faster paced combat style, but it still feels like a Souls game.