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[Jobbs]

Is the Sun Sword worth getting? I see it has B + B (A + A at 10) quality scaling, which is all I've been looking for. Does it have a dumb moveset or anything?

 

[galvenize]

Anyway, I have a couple of questions regarding the ending and new game plus :

Spoiler

- Are there multiple endings ? The trophies seem to support that there is only one but that seems strange...

- How do you start New Game Plus ? I still have a few optional bosses to kill before I do that but I'd like to know anyway...

No other endings as far as I know. There has been rumors of a secret/true ending achievable on subsequent playthroughs but it's probably false.
Bonfire in Majula to reach NG+.

 

[Robot Pants]

Well, wrapped up NG+. Didn't take long. Some random thoughts:

Most of the additions in NG+ ended up being black phantom enemies, of both regular enemies and one-time, non-respawning NPCs. They didn't pose much threat - these certainly weren't the dangerous foes that lurked in Demon's Souls. Many of them just felt like they were there to fluff up an otherwise same game, and I felt somewhat let down by it. It's nice that there's new stuff here and there, but I'd expected more for whatever reason, and not getting it - well, whatever. There's some neat additions (like

Spoiler

Freja attacking the player as he explores the Cove

) but it's still distinctly the same game. There's just more of it, as in, more stuff to kill.

Still, enjoyed this run more than the last. Perhaps it has to do with the weird pacing behind caster power progression, where the first half is a slog and the last half is like shooting fish in a barrel. My cleric turned into a lighning slinging, sunlight-blade-buffing god and it was just fun, in a loot whore kinda way, to swag myself out in the best looking armor and just hack through everything in sight with my lightning sword.

Challenge wise, easier with the exception of two encounters. They're both simple in that a single, melee-focused boss is now accompanied by two mobs, but being simple doesn't make them any less of a pain in the ass. One in particular -

Spoiler

Flexile Sentry

- stood out to me due to being backed up by an enemy type that I'd never seen before, and never saw again in the game. Just like the

Spoiler

falconers

that assault you as you start NG+, it struck me as wasteful in a way, especially in a game where one enemy type (Hollow Soldiers) is used over and over through its run. Game could have used some more interesting encounters instead of the usual mob rush by two or three different melee enemies.

I was invaded a few times early on in this run, which was a pleasant change of pace. That quickly stopped, though, and as I went through the game, it was hard to find summons (or be summoned) at all outside of the usual hotspots, like

Spoiler

Iron Keep

. This will change as more people arrive in NG+, I suppose. I stayed at Soul Level 150 all throughout.

My feelings about the game hasn't changed. It's worse than Dark, it's worse than Demon's, the things it does well are almost always offset by the things it messes up in, the world itself is neither inwardly intricate (ala Demon's) or interconnected (Dark), there's never a sense of cohesion behind its art design, the boss encounters are lackluster for the most part both visually and mechanically, and that the last few levels are somewhat of a saving grace, but not quite, in how drab and colorless the world can be.

Also, despite how wordy it is compared to Dark Souls 1, it's never effective in conveying a sense of direction or purpose behind its narrative, and after seeing the ending twice I still have no sense of actually having done anything. I also wasn't a fan of how the lore behind the game seemed to be there more to justify recycled content than anything else. At one point it just stopped being neat as I pondered the implications of a unique

Spoiler

ages-old

rapier being dropped twice by a random pack of giant spiders.

But I enjoyed it enough to play through it twice, so either I'm just obsessed or it's a testament to how solid the foundational stuff is for the series. I mean, I had fun, especially when I was doing MP stuff. I like the variety of options that are almost always available to the player. The new upgrade system is great; I love the addition of dual wielding, even if it isn't really practical save for a few weapon combos; blah blah blah. This is getting too long.

Still fucking annoyed by how I can't melee crystal lizards. Goddamn wonky hitboxes.

We need Miyazaki back.

Somewhere around the Shrine of Amana, I realised I wasn't actually having fun anymore.

I'm through to what must be the last level, based on the bonfire list, and these last few areas have really been a slog.

That's funny cause that was exactly where I lost interest too. After that, traveling through the final areas, I just wanted the game to be over already.
Apparently I've gone through all the areas, but I still don't know how to finish the game because there's no fucking direction what so ever.

 

[Locke Lamora]

Okay, I wanted to farm some Katanas at the Iron Keep because I wanted to try out the Katana with different types of damage. But if I use Bonfire Ascetic, do I have to kill the Smelter Demon again or is it okay if he spares my unworthy life if I spare his life until NG? ;-)

 

[Styles]

FUCK the

Spoiler

Sentinels in Drangleic Castle

. I have never fumed this much before in a Souls game. I know I can skip them, but the OCD in me wants to clear the whole room.

 

[Arjen]

FUCK the Sentinals in

Spoiler

Drangleic Castle

. I have never fumed this much before in a Souls game. I know I can skip them, but the OCD in me wants to clear the whole room.

I bow cheesed the hell out of them.

 

[Footos22]

FUCK the

Spoiler

Sentinels in Drangleic Castle

. I have never fumed this much before in a Souls game. I know I can skip them, but the OCD in me wants to clear the whole room.

They respawn anyway

If you have chaos storm and a decent pyromancer glove. Nuke em.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

We need Miyazaki back.


That's funny cause that was exactly where I lost interest too. After that, traveling through the final areas, I just wanted the game to be over already.
Apparently I've gone through all the areas, but I still don't know how to finish the game because there's no fucking direction what so ever.

Demons Souls 2 believe!

 

[perorist]

FUCK the

Spoiler

Sentinels in Drangleic Castle

. I have never fumed this much before in a Souls game. I know I can skip them, but the OCD in me wants to clear the whole room.

You can lure 2 at a time

Also they respawn lol

 

[Steel]

FUCK the

Spoiler

Sentinels in Drangleic Castle

. I have never fumed this much before in a Souls game. I know I can skip them, but the OCD in me wants to clear the whole room.

Take em one at a time by running to the bonfire repeatedly to get them to turn around. If you got sorceries, hit em and run repeatedly.

 

[Styles]

You can lure 2 at a time

Also they respawn lol

I want to see if anything happens if i kill all of them without dying.. Don't answer that lol

 

[Arcayne]

What are some good hotspot summon areas? I'm SL100 and am looking to finish my Sunbro medals, just finished the "metal" keep too.

Doing (boss)

Spoiler

Smelter Demon

, but my odds of the host not dying has been slim, lol.

 

[Ken]

So in EP, the guy talking about treasure? I've talked to this guy before, maybe I didn't exhaust his dialogue? Then they go hang out in the cove?

you also need to open the door he says is locked before he moves on

 

[Dresden]

What are some good hotspot summon areas? I'm SL100 and am looking to finish my Sunbro medals, just finished the "metal" keep too.

Doing (boss)

Spoiler

Smelter Demon

, but my odds of the host not dying has been slim, lol.

Spoiler

skeletal lords

is the easiest if you can still get summons there.

 

[Styles]

Just fell down a hole and found stuff... This game

 

[Vazra]

Just fell down a hole and found stuff... This game

Bless the game.

 

[TatteredHat]

Well, wrapped up NG+. Didn't take long. Some random thoughts:

Most of the additions in NG+ ended up being black phantom enemies, of both regular enemies and one-time, non-respawning NPCs. They didn't pose much threat - these certainly weren't the dangerous foes that lurked in Demon's Souls. Many of them just felt like they were there to fluff up an otherwise same game, and I felt somewhat let down by it. It's nice that there's new stuff here and there, but I'd expected more for whatever reason, and not getting it - well, whatever. There's some neat additions (like

Spoiler

Freja attacking the player as he explores the Cove

) but it's still distinctly the same game. There's just more of it, as in, more stuff to kill.

Still, enjoyed this run more than the last. Perhaps it has to do with the weird pacing behind caster power progression, where the first half is a slog and the last half is like shooting fish in a barrel. My cleric turned into a lighning slinging, sunlight-blade-buffing god and it was just fun, in a loot whore kinda way, to swag myself out in the best looking armor and just hack through everything in sight with my lightning sword.

Challenge wise, easier with the exception of two encounters. They're both simple in that a single, melee-focused boss is now accompanied by two mobs, but being simple doesn't make them any less of a pain in the ass. One in particular -

Spoiler

Flexile Sentry

- stood out to me due to being backed up by an enemy type that I'd never seen before, and never saw again in the game. Just like the

Spoiler

falconers

that assault you as you start NG+, it struck me as wasteful in a way, especially in a game where one enemy type (Hollow Soldiers) is used over and over through its run. Game could have used some more interesting encounters instead of the usual mob rush by two or three different melee enemies.

I was invaded a few times early on in this run, which was a pleasant change of pace. That quickly stopped, though, and as I went through the game, it was hard to find summons (or be summoned) at all outside of the usual hotspots, like

Spoiler

Iron Keep

. This will change as more people arrive in NG+, I suppose. I stayed at Soul Level 150 all throughout.

My feelings about the game hasn't changed. It's worse than Dark, it's worse than Demon's, the things it does well are almost always offset by the things it messes up in, the world itself is neither inwardly intricate (ala Demon's) or interconnected (Dark), there's never a sense of cohesion behind its art design, the boss encounters are lackluster for the most part both visually and mechanically, and that the last few levels are somewhat of a saving grace, but not quite, in how drab and colorless the world can be.

Also, despite how wordy it is compared to Dark Souls 1, it's never effective in conveying a sense of direction or purpose behind its narrative, and after seeing the ending twice I still have no sense of actually having done anything. I also wasn't a fan of how the lore behind the game seemed to be there more to justify recycled content than anything else. At one point it just stopped being neat as I pondered the implications of a unique

Spoiler

ages-old

rapier being dropped twice by a random pack of giant spiders.

But I enjoyed it enough to play through it twice, so either I'm just obsessed or it's a testament to how solid the foundational stuff is for the series. I mean, I had fun, especially when I was doing MP stuff. I like the variety of options that are almost always available to the player. The new upgrade system is great; I love the addition of dual wielding, even if it isn't really practical save for a few weapon combos; blah blah blah. This is getting too long.

Still fucking annoyed by how I can't melee crystal lizards. Goddamn wonky hitboxes.

It really does feel like they just threw a whole bunch of ideas together and went with it, Dark Souls 1's interconnected world design was done with a lot more subtlety and Demon's world design did a very good job in conveying every world as its own separate entity.

Looking back I don't think that adding instant bonfire warping was a good idea, it took away from the believability of the world for me.

Boss fights were a disappointment,

Spoiler

Vendrick

was the only one I really enjoyed.

Still a great game, but I can't help but feel that a lot of this happened because Miyazaki took his departure from the franchise.

 

[Creamium]

Hah, on my second run and only now do I discover there's a shortcut (forced by explosion) from the central forest bonfire to the area Pursuer first appears.

About NG+:

Spoiler

I was surprised to see those falcon enemies greeting me in the very first seconds. Are new enemy types a regular occurence, or more front loaded (I'm guessing the latter).

 

[aravuus]

Ah fuck, absent-mindedly used the boss soul I could have traded for the dragonrider bow, which I hear fucking rocks. Any chance I could just use the bonfire ascetic, fight the NG+ version of the boss and get another soul?

 

[kvn]

Is summoning sorted yet

No not yet, but From has been informed upon arrival in their offices today morning according to the bamco CM on reddit.

 

[TatteredHat]

Ah fuck, absent-mindedly used the boss soul I could have traded for the dragonrider bow, which I hear fucking rocks. Any chance I could just use the bonfire ascetic, fight the NG+ version of the boss and get another soul?

Yes, that should work.

 

[mattp]

question about dual wielding
i've seen the video that explains how power stance works but my only question is
are the attacks based on the stats of your left hand weapon(since you use L1/L2 to attack), right hand or some combination of both?
if it is based on your left hand, that'd mean putting your better weapon in your left hand would make sense if you're dual wielding

 

[tassletine]

Just saw the credits roll...
Even though I truly enjoyed my time with the game now that the main quest is over my feelings about it are a bit mixed. I felt no sense of accomplishment from beeting the final boss (which I did solo) and I don't think Dark Souls 2 will have a lasting impression on me.

Considering how much I adore the previous games, I would love to be much more enthusiastic about this one but I feel like it's missing something. It's very well executed for the most part but it's doesn't have that spark of creativity that made the other games feel special...

Anyway, I have a couple of questions regarding the ending and new game plus :

Spoiler

- Are there multiple endings ? The trophies seem to support that there is only one but that seems strange...

- How do you start New Game Plus ? I still have a few optional bosses to kill before I do that but I'd like to know anyway...

I'm only at the beginning but I agree. The mechanics are solid, the design superb but the personality of the original designer is missing. I always got the feeling that the original was deliberately designed to make you feel afraid and alone, to put you on the brink of despair. Altering those mechanics (even slightly) whilst not really understanding exactly why there are there, has lead to more satisfaction for the player than usual. And satisfaction is NOT part of this universe. It should feel like an HP Lovecraft novel, but now only does so on the surface. I don't feel afraid or sick to my stomach anymore. At least not yet.

I'm still loving it at as a game, but something is missing, something that I don't think we will ever get back.

 

[Zeliard]

question about dual wielding
i've seen the video that explains how power stance works but my only question is
are the attacks based on the stats of your left hand weapon(since you use L1/L2 to attack), right hand or some combination of both?
if it is based on your left hand, that'd mean putting your better weapon in your left hand would make sense if you're dual wielding

It's based on both weapons, since the power stance attacks with both.

Powerstancing this Blacksteel Katana +10 with the Berserker Blade +5 is ridiculous. The L1/L2 attacks do stupid amounts of damage, even unbuffed. The L1 attack is particularly great because you can do three of those in a row if your Endurance stat is at 20. The first hit will frequently stagger a foe, allowing for an opening for the second and potentially third hits, and few of them can withstand even that much. And if you're up against one of those bosses with big recovery times in between attacks, a huge chunk of their health bar just disappears.

I've co-oped the

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

boss probably 30 times now and I was always doing considerably more DPS than anyone else.

Don't sleep on dual wielding. You can inflict large amounts of hurt.

 

[EvaristeG]

How do I light up torches ?

 

[Ken]

How do I light up torches ?

first you need a torch

and then you walk up to a source of fire or a bonfire

and then you press A to light the torch (or switch to that option if at a bonfire).

think of torches as the length of time you can hold a flame. also, swapping out the torch for something else extinguishes the flame (but retains the torch time), so you'll have to find another fire source to relight the torch.

 

[Creamium]

How do I light up torches ?

Near a bonfire: toggle modes with triangle or Y, it should say 'light torch' instead of 'rest at bonfire'.

You can light sconces this way. These in turn serve as points to light your torch on, and stay lit for your entire playthrough.

 

[Tart Toter 9k]

Ah fuck, absent-mindedly used the boss soul I could have traded for the dragonrider bow, which I hear fucking rocks. Any chance I could just use the bonfire ascetic, fight the NG+ version of the boss and get another soul?

Yeah, i did that today. Just make sure to use it on the right bonfire.

 

[demidar]

It really does feel like they just threw a whole bunch of ideas together and went with it, Dark Souls 1's interconnected world design was done with a lot more subtlety and Demon's world design did a very good job in conveying every world as its own separate entity.

Looking back I don't think that adding instant bonfire warping was a good idea, it took away from the believability of the world for me.

Boss fights were a disappointment,

Spoiler

Vendrick

was the only one I really enjoyed.

Still a great game, but I can't help but feel that a lot of this happened because Miyazaki took his departure from the franchise.

I agree, most of the bosses were forgettable. I dunno, they just didn't pose much of a threat besides a few

Spoiler

Smelter Demon, Darklurker, Freja, Ruin Sentinels, Executioner Chariot

and I fought them all solo.

Great game, but Dark Souls > Demon's Souls = Dark Souls 2.

 

[aravuus]

Yeah, i did that today. Just make sure to use it on the right bonfire.

Alright thanks, so if I want the D

Spoiler

ragonrider

to respawn, do I use it on the first bonfire in H

Spoiler

eide's

T

Spoiler

ower of

F

Spoiler

lame

, or the one upstairs of where the boss was?

 

[Ken]

I agree, most of the bosses were forgettable. I dunno, they just didn't pose much of a threat besides a few

Spoiler

Smelter Demon, Darklurker, Freja, Ruin Sentinels, Executioner Chariot

and I fought them all solo.

Great game, but Dark Souls > Demon's Souls = Dark Souls 2.

Honestly I found

Spoiler

Chariot to be of the same difficulty as Covetous Demon. It was a nice setpiece but nothing more.

 

[aravuus]

Also hell yeah, joined the sunbros. Do I need to have the Sun Seal equipped to get Sunlight medals?

 

[EatChildren]

As someone who is generally pretty fucking average at the Souls series, still doesn't fully understand a lot of the intricacies behind the mechanics, and hasn't even experienced everything the series has to offer, Dark Souls 2 is definitely the easiest of the lot for someone of my skill level. Certainly has difficulty, but to me it varies a lot more than the last games, and so far a large percentage of the bosses follow very similar design and attack patterns, simply variations in their scale, hitboxing, and a few special abilities. I've been able to stick to one tactic and apply it almost consistently throughout.

It doesn't bother me, but it's surprising, given how I felt I needed to readjust my tactics for almost every battle in the other Souls games.

 

[Tart Toter 9k]

Alright thanks, so if I want the D

Spoiler

ragonrider

to respawn, do I use it on the first bonfire in H

Spoiler

eide's

T

Spoiler

ower of

F

Spoiler

lame

, or the one upstairs of where the boss was?

I used it on the first one and i only got the D

Spoiler

ragonrider

.

 

[OneEyeTwoHead]

Okay, they really discourage you to try multiple weapons on your first play through, I hate it.

The name is escaping me at the moment, but I think it's in Bright Cove Tseldora...the Army Camp bonfire. I farmed those guys until they didn't respawn and they were dropping chunks pretty good.

 

[Arcayne]

Huh, I can use the Bonfire Ascetics and bosses of that area will respawn? Am I reading posts right?

 

[Creamium]

Huh, I can use the Bonfire Ascetics and bosses of that area will respawn? Am I reading posts right?

Yes, that's correct.

 

[TheContact]

Huh, I can use the Bonfire Ascetics and bosses of that area will respawn? Am I reading posts right?

Yea

 

[Styles]

I am wasting so many effigys for this man

 

[Zeliard]

Huh, I can use the Bonfire Ascetics and bosses of that area will respawn? Am I reading posts right?

Yes, you can get

Spoiler

unique loot from them too that you'd normally only get in NG+

.

 

[Tart Toter 9k]

Huh, I can use the Bonfire Ascetics and bosses of that area will respawn? Am I reading posts right?

Yes, but in NG+ difficulty and rewards. And it carries over on a NG+ so be careful.

 

[Gorillaz]

I am easting so many effigys for this man

You should use a ring of protection and save the effigies

 

[Zeliard]

I'm sad by how greatly they nerfed the Cloranthy Ring. +45% to stamina regen in Dark Souls 1, and here the +2 version is only +8.5%.

 

[Raxus]

Since the internet is unhelpful on this. NEAR END SPOILERS HELP:

Spoiler

Where do I find all the memories of giants to weaken Vendrick?

 

[decoyplatypus]

As someone who is generally pretty fucking average at the Souls series, still doesn't fully understand a lot of the intricacies behind the mechanics, and hasn't even experienced everything the series has to offer, Dark Souls 2 is definitely the easiest of the lot for someone of my skill level. Certainly has difficulty, but to me it varies a lot more than the last games, and so far a large percentage of the bosses follow very similar design and attack patterns, simply variations in their scale, hitboxing, and a few special abilities. I've been able to stick to one tactic and apply it almost consistently throughout.

It doesn't bother me, but it's surprising, given how I felt I needed to readjust my tactics for almost every battle in the other Souls games.

I completely agree with respect to the three areas (and five bosses) I've played. I'm far too early in the game to make global comments about difficulty, but it has surprised me how little these early bosses do to disrupt a basic approach.

 

[Styles]

You should use a ring of protection and save the effigies

Oh im using the effigies for a covenant

 

[super-famicom]

Beat the S

Spoiler

melter

D

Spoiler

emon

in Iron Keep with the aid of some fellow Sunbros. Poison works really well against this boss. I cast Poison Cloud as soon as the fight started, and one of my Sunbros also did the same. Rotten Pine Resin on my BSK +10 later on ensured the boss was poisoned the whole time.

After that I beat the R

Spoiler

oyal

R

Spoiler

at

V

Spoiler

anguard

then went through The Gutter and Black Gulch. The boss in Black Gulch was surprisingly easy. Beat it on my first try. Now to go through Doors of Pharos.

 

[Creamium]

Since the internet is unhelpful on this. NEAR END SPOILERS HELP:

Spoiler

Where do I find all the memories of giants to weaken Vendrick?

Spoiler

- There's a door that requires the king's ring in the forest. Behind this door is a giant (and a mem. sequence)
- There's a giant near the place Mild Mannered Pate first appeared
- A giant after the Pursuer boss (you know, where you look out on the sea and you can climb the giant sword. You can warp to bastille here.)
- One more giant, without a memory sequence, in the place with all the turtle armor guys. There's a bonfire here.
- One extra if you can beat the Ancient Dragon

 

[Arjen]

The name is escaping me at the moment, but I think it's in Bright Cove Tseldora...the Army Camp bonfire. I farmed those guys until they didn't respawn and they were dropping chunks pretty good.

Thanks, will give it a try.

 

[Arcayne]

That changes things.. I haven't used a Bonfire Ascetiic yet, and understand that it ups the difficulty to that of NG+. My question is:

Spoiler

is the entire game now raised to NG+ difficulty, or just the area (lets say Heide's Tower of Flame) where I used it? The former makes sense, but I would assume that ALL bosses would be respawned too.