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[Dambrosi]

Just watched the trailer, and I can't for the life of me think where people are getting the Skyrim vibe from. Furthermore, you can actually see locations from Dark Souls in it - Anor Londo's spires, the Royal Wood/Oolacile, Darkroot Garden, the Demon Ruins, and probably some more locations I can't recall at the moment.

Is it really just the snow, fur lined armour and dragons that's fooling some people? Sheesh.

Anyway

The best line of the PR statement for me was this:

server-based multiplayer

DEDICATED SERVERS FINALLY WOOHOO

PC version for me, probably, if it comes out day and date with the consoles. If not, then PS3.

 

[Lost Fragment]

Having someone invade your world, and successfully repelling them with sheer skill is one of the most exhilarating multiplayer moments for me this generation. It feels incredible, especially when you're not expecting it.

I don't disagree.

But then you have low level twinks with fully upgraded gear invading newbies who stand absolutely no chance against something like that, the vast prevalence of ganking, groups camping spawn points and immediately putting invaders in almost impossible situations, the vast amount of equipment that's not viable for pvp because of the overemphasis on poise, the covenants that only sorta work (Darkmoon), barely work (Gravelords, Dragons), and are almost completely pointless (Princess Guard), parry timing being completely different in pvp than pve due to lag, no way to respec unless you rely on a glitch (until they took that out) and many other things. The list goes on and on.

Beyond a very superficial level, the multiplayer in Dark Souls is trash. But there are a lot of really cool and interesting ideas there, and the multiplayer in DaS2 could be something special if From has learned from their mistakes in that department.

 

[FairXchange]

Or..those people can be left to the side as always. There are plenty of mainstream games that cater to them.

But the staff of GT is still the minority.

Shane being left to the side equals the majority of game press and the wider market being left to the side.

If people can wrap their heads around Skyrim, or Assassin's Creed, why not Dark Souls? They shouldn't destroy Dark Souls at all, but it's true that the Covenant system is still obscure to a hardcore fan like me who has finished the game and the DLC numerous times.

 

[magawolaz]

'Dark Souls lol'

Can't unsee.

 

[Backfoggen]

As much as I liked the higher resolution and better framerate, if they don't implement any anti-cheat features again, I'll have to go with consoles first. Maybe double-dip later on.

 

[H_Prestige]

An example I can think of is the guys from Gametrailers.

Editor in Chief Shane Satterfield doesn't like Dark Souls at all, he just can't get into it. Just about the entire rest of the staff love the game, and have tried to get him into it on numerous occasions.

There are still people out there that don't get the mechanics, don't have the patience to try and adapt themselves to the way it operates.

If the game seeks to address this barrier of entry, while retaining what makes it Dark Souls, then perhaps this will go well.

Draw in the one guy while losing the rest. Sounds like a great plan.

 

[onimushroom]

What are some of the best, most entertaining Souls game playthroughs on the tubes (to kill time till the new game arrives)?
Have thoroughly enjoyed EpicNameBro's lore-filled vids, GameFront's James' hilarious failings and vageta311's skill-runs, among others.
You guys have any recommendations?

 

[Muzzy]

Here are some screencaps from Namco Bandai:

 

[PetriP-TNT]

Like that was necessary. The community figured all that out in a couple weeks.

Like games used to be done.


The only thing they should improve on are genuinely flawed elements, like half of the covenants having little to no content whatsoever.

(Some of the) Covenants were the only thing that was broken in Dark Souls. Figuring out Humanity didn't even take that long and it was rewarding as hell (as was figuring out how to craft, how to level up bonfires, how to do pretty much anything). You aren't meant to learn Humanity until you grasp the most basic mechanics. That was the thing that made DkS miles better than any other "modern" game out there. No bullshit, just 100% progress.

I don't disagree.

But then you have low level twinks with fully upgraded gear invading newbies who stand absolutely no chance against something like that

Which equates to what I said there. Jf you explain everything to newbies on a hour long tutorial when the game starts, you will only throw to them to the lions. On playthrough two, you can manage against lvl 1 full gear invaders as lvl 1 character little to no gear if you want to.

I agree with the lag and covenant points, but multiplayer wasn't "trash" by any means. Sure it wasn't perfect, but it is the most rewarding, hilarious and challenging async MP game out there. When you encounter your first CO-OP partner wearing wacky gear, throwing somersaults to enemies and then doing tons of procastration moves just before throwing you 10 humanities and backflipping to an endless pit, you should figure out why playing with randoms EVERYTIME can be 1000 times more rewarding than playing through the game with a friend for example. Sure the PC version already fixed that, and there's no reason why it playing with a friend-item wasn't included the sequel but I won't be using it, really.

 

[TheForceWithin]

Awwwwww yis!

 

[Raide]

I hope MS launch 720 Winter 2013 and have Dark Souls 2 as a Launch title. Even if they do a good PC port, the community is still going to mod it even better. Would be an awesome launch title right?

 

[Dresden]

What are some of the best, most entertaining Souls game playthroughs on the tubes (to kill time till the new game arrives)?
Have thoroughly enjoyed EpicNameBro's lore-filled vids, GameFront's James' hilarious failings and vageta311's skill-runs, among others.
You guys have any recommendations?

There's a few amusing ones on sansviedotcom's channel. It's more pvp stuff from the jp side of things, though, which in turn leads to creative stuff like the Karma bombers.

 

[Mort]

Here are some screencaps from Namco Bandai:

This looks like concept art. I mean that in a good way.

 

[onimushroom]

There's a few amusing ones on sansviedotcom's channel.

Yes! The cosPvP trickery ones cracked me up!

Edit: The Karma Bombing looks great.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Those white mask guys look really cool, just look badass. Are they in the last game?

 

[Chuck Norris]

I really wish they'd kept up the naming scheme, just keeping the Souls part consistent

Demons Souls > Dark Souls > Doom/Dragon/Devil/Dire Souls. Lots of choices

 

[cj_iwakura]

Those white mask guys look really cool, just look badass. Are they in the last game?

No, but they remind me of Mephistopheles' society from Demon's. That'd be amazing if she comes back like Patches did.

 

[Noi]

Not worried over Miyazaki not having as big a role. Even he's admitted that there were some aspects of Dark Souls that he kind of messed up on compared to Demon's Souls, which I agree with. I wouldn't want a game thats 100% like the last one anyway, same way that DeSo isn't quite like DaSo.

 

[Shinjica]

Great news. I guess Dark Souls did pretty well then.

Hope they take more time with the PC port this time around.

As long as they keep the old random multiplayer as an option. Wouldn't be a Souls -game without it. But they should really try to optimize the netcode. Especially on PC.

i mean, less connection error and not stop patching the game. Plus useful and not broken covenant

 

[H_Prestige]

There's a few amusing ones on sansviedotcom's channel. It's more pvp stuff from the jp side of things, though, which in turn leads to creative stuff like the Karma bombers.

Lol at the karma bomber. Shit I need to try that.

 

[fluffydelusions]

I loved the original. I got pretty far(I think) before my PS3 died. It was the part where you were up against a dragon in a cave and there were crystals all over the floor? How far is that from the end...anyone tell me?

 

[H_Prestige]

Here are some screencaps from Namco Bandai:

I wonder if this takes place after Dark Souls, in the age of dark. The locales look so much more fucked up and ruined. Especially that mordor place.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

I loved the original. I got pretty far(I think) before my PS3 died. It was the part where you were up against a dragon in a cave and there were crystals all over the floor? How far is that from the end...anyone tell me?

About 3/4, depending in which order you did the last 1/4th

I wonder if this takes place after Dark Souls, in the age of dark. The locales look so much more fucked up and ruined. Especially that mordor place.

Looks like it to me.

 

[disco]

Why have they called it Dark Souls II? Devil Souls or Death Souls or something to keep it in a tastefully named trilogy...

 

[Mxrz]

One thing I really, absolutely want:

Bring back Black Phantom normal enemies and Dark World tendency. I have hundred of hours in Dark Souls, but I've only seen BPs a handful of times, and never in my own game. The Gravelord covenant is a neat idea, but it simply never worked well and leaving such a cool as feature behind something that is rare, even if it did work is annoying.

Bring back the Demon's Souls setup. Die more in 'body' form -> World gets darker -> Enemies get stronger / your Health gets less -> Black Phantoms eventually replace normal enemies. Failure is suppose to suck, dammit.

 

[H_Prestige]

One thing I really, absolutely want:

Bring back Black Phantom normal enemies and Dark World tendency. I have hundred of hours in Dark Souls, but I've only seen BPs a handful of times, and never in my own game. The Gravelord covenant is a neat idea, but it simply never worked well and leaving such a cool as feature behind something that is rare, even if it did work is annoying.

Bring back the Demon's Souls setup. Die more in 'body' form -> World gets darker -> Enemies get stronger / your Health gets less -> Black Phantoms eventually replace normal enemies. Failure is suppose to suck, dammit.

Agreed. I always thought BP enemies should be standard in NG+. The levels become ridiculously hard with those guys around, especially Sen's.

 

[ponpo]

There's a few amusing ones on sansviedotcom's channel. It's more pvp stuff from the jp side of things, though, which in turn leads to creative stuff like the Karma bombers.

Sup @ my channel.

And yeah not much single player stuff on there. RIP playthrough of the guy using his feet to handle the controller. Though someone on nico has been doing a glitched noclip run on the PC that I've been uploading. Pretty funny sometimes.

 

[fluffydelusions]

About 3/4, depending in which order you did the last 1/4th

Ah, that's cool. Yeah I purchased it again on PC but can't bring myself to replay lol. I dread redoing some of the areas like the sewers and blightown lol

 

[Alo81]

Here are some screencaps from Namco Bandai:

Where are you getting these from?

 

[Mort]

Where are you getting these from?

Here, I think.

http://www.jeuxvideomagazine.com/jeux/dark-souls-ii-ps3-a1064045-image-1490426/0/

 

[Celegus]

Didn't even realize the VGAs were last night, woke up this morning and OH YEAH! Dark Souls 2!?!?! Honestly wasn't expecting another one this gen, but I'll take it!

 

[Phonomezer]

I really wish they'd kept up the naming scheme, just keeping the Souls part consistent

Demons Souls > Dark Souls > Doom/Dragon/Devil/Dire Souls. Lots of choices

Hopefully it's just a placeholder, like how "Project Dark" was for Dark Souls.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

Ah, that's cool. Yeah I purchased it again on PC but can't bring myself to replay lol. I dread redoing some of the areas like the sewers and blightown lol

If you remember anything about the game, those areas are 10 times quicker than experiencing them for the first time

Hopefully it's just a placeholder, like how "Project Dark" was for Dark Souls.

I'd say it was Project Dark instead of Demon's Souls 2 just because Sony owns the trademark...

 

[Maedhros]

Here are some screencaps from Namco Bandai:

The bridge looks like the one in The Painted World. There are the sewers, Snuggly's Nest...

Prequel? Sequel? Totally different world with some nodes here and there?

 

[Defuser]

The bridge looks like the one in The Painted World. There are the sewers, Snuggly's Nest...

Prequel? Sequel? Totally different world with some nodes here and there?

New story, new protag and unfamiliar world.

 

[RockTurtle]

http://www.uk.namcobandaigames.eu/n...e-await-the-iron-willed-in-dark-souls-ii/3269

“This new chapter in the Dark Souls saga presents opportunities for us to drive innovation in gameplay design, develop an entirely new story, and expand the scope of the world in which the player interacts with the game. We have taken these necessary steps with Dark Souls II in order to evolve the overall experience of the Dark Souls series,” says Tomohiro Shibuya, FromSoftware Director on Dark Souls II. “The entire development team is striving to make Dark Souls II an experience that is fresh while not forsaking its roots in presenting players with challenging gameplay. Our goal is to surprise and delight our fans with new experiences and plot twists while enticing new players to join our dark journey.”

" Players will also discover a revamped server based multiplayer experience that will put a distinct Dark Souls II twist on the concept of playing and sharing with others. For those with enough tenacity and sheer force of will, great rewards await."

PHEW!

 

[Sentenza]

New story, new protag and unfamiliar world.

And yet that city from afar looks like Anor Londo.

 

[fluffydelusions]

I wonder when it will release...

 

[Raide]

http://www.uk.namcobandaigames.eu/n...e-await-the-iron-willed-in-dark-souls-ii/3269

“This new chapter in the Dark Souls saga presents opportunities for us to drive innovation in gameplay design, develop an entirely new story, and expand the scope of the world in which the player interacts with the game. We have taken these necessary steps with Dark Souls II in order to evolve the overall experience of the Dark Souls series,” says Tomohiro Shibuya, FromSoftware Director on Dark Souls II. “The entire development team is striving to make Dark Souls II an experience that is fresh while not forsaking its roots in presenting players with challenging gameplay. Our goal is to surprise and delight our fans with new experiences and plot twists while enticing new players to join our dark journey.”

" Players will also discover a revamped server based multiplayer experience that will put a distinct Dark Souls II twist on the concept of playing and sharing with others. For those with enough tenacity and sheer force of will, great rewards await."

PHEW!

Seriously...DotA gametype using Dark Souls enemies and setting. Combat would be awesome and it would fit the consoles perfectly.

 

[Defuser]

And yet that city from afar looks like Anor Londo.

Just because it has a bunch of building together doesn't mean it's Anor Londo.

 

[Sentenza]

Just because it has a bunch of building together doesn't mean it's Anor Londo.

Sure, whatever you say, except it actually looks like Anor Londo.

 

[Tarin02543]

Damn next year will be insane, how on earth will I find the time to play all these great games? gta5, mgs5, and now DSII??? Dear god.

 

[fluffydelusions]

Damn next year will be insane, how on earth will I find the time to play all these great games? gta5, mgs5, and now DSII??? Dear god.

So this is confirmed 2013?

 

[Sentenza]

So this is confirmed 2013?

Nope, not yet.

 

[Alo81]

Sure, whatever you say, except it actually looks like Anor Londo.

It would have to be a prequel then I assume, because in Dark Souls there could be both a light and dark Anor Londo.

Unless it's later and someone found a way to bring life back to Anor Londo.

 

[H_Prestige]

So this is confirmed 2013?

No, but there would be no reason to announce it in 2012 otherwise.

 

[SJRB]

Here are some screencaps from Namco Bandai:

All those locations seem straight out of Dark Souls:

Undead Asylum, the Sewers, Darkroot Garden, bridge in the Valley of Drakes [or Painted World of Ariamis], Lost Izalith.

 

[Metalmurphy]

Just because it has a bunch of building together doesn't mean it's Anor Londo.

They sure went to great lengths to make it look like it, even the sun has the same color/setting.

 

[Sentenza]

It would have to be a prequel then I assume, because in Dark Souls there could be both a light and dark Anor Londo.

Unless it's later and someone found a way to bring life back to Anor Londo.

Well, it could be, but then again we see it just from afar, so even if that's actually Anor Londo, nothing confirms that it's a "lively", populated version of it.

 

[Mort]

Sure, whatever you say, except it actually looks like Anor Londo.

Definitely not Anor Londo.