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[Durante]

Thanks for the article Durante. Getting the pc version day one. Easiest double dip ever. I mean the ps3 version was serviceable, but I can't wait to run this at 60 fps in high res, with every bell and whistle turned on. Installing this on my ssd as well, goodbye long-ass loading times.

I don't think you'll be disappointed! As I wrote in the article, even on a standard mechanical HDD loading is extremely fast.

Trickle some more!

fog gates no longer cripple the framerate?

For me, only when I am downsampling, and at the exact moment I walk through (that is, when they fill the whole screen). And really, I think that's almost unavoidable with a full-screen alpha blended effect at crazy resolutions.

 

[BigDug13]

Is Xinput-wrapped DS4 usage better than native 360 controller usage in games? It seems to me that native controller support would end up performing better than having to use a third party wrapper to get it to work? I'm really curious about this because I have the wireless 360 dongle as well as DS4 options.

 

[wickfut]

The PC (and console) version of Dark Souls does have god rays.. it also has eye adaption which darkens the image (and stops the god rays) when you directly look at the sun.

 

[Nzyme32]

Great write up Durante. With all the effort you've put into the Dark Souls series, I feel like I should be gifting you steam games at some point

 

[Gbraga]

I used a DS3 actually. Works perfectly, but of course you'll get 360 button prompts.

Can you change this? It's my favorite not-DSfix mod for the original game.

 

[Conezays]

Thanks Durante! Great article. Looking forward to double-dipping next Friday.

 

[akira28]

oooh shit. it moved. it mooved and it tingled.

 

[impact]

The shadows in the PC version look very good. From console screenshots, I've noticed that they are more of a green hue if that makes any sense.

Durante, does the mirror knight fight have the specular highlights? Or has he been left the same as the console version?

I really doubt he's at that fight since he said he's played for 12 hours

 

[Grief.exe]

The PC version of Dark Souls does have god rays.. it also has eye adaption which darkens the image (and stops the god rays) when you directly look at the sun.

Not dynamic, those are baked in.

 

[Despera]

What about bugs and glitches though, Durante? You face any during your playthrough?

Game is riddled with those on consoles.

 

[Durante]

The PC version of Dark Souls does have god rays.. it also has eye adaption which darkens the image (and stops the god rays) when you directly look at the sun.

I believe the god-rays in DS1 were situational and hand-crafted, not dynamic and applied at all times like in DS2.

You'll see the difference when you look at the light shafts cast from grass blowing in the wind

What about bugs and glitches though, Durante? You face any during your playthrough?

0 so far in 12 hours.

 

[wickfut]

Not dynamic, those are baked in.

No they aren't.

[edit] they seem to move with the clouds and scenery but aren't affected by player or enemies.

 

[Timu]

Nice article, and this is out in 8 days, holy crap.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

Barely any difference, glad I didn't wait, not double dipping now etc.

Spoiler

Great article Durante, can't wait for the tweak guide. I'm glad to see From stepped their game up.

 

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

Have you found anything in the game files to indicate the lighting engine/resources shown in the previews/press stuff (prior to the "downgrade") is still present in the game, just disabled?

If so, could it be re-enabled by modders?

You're wishing for the unlikely my friend.

 

[Twenty7KVN]

I'm so glad this launches on a Friday.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

About that YMMV screenshot: Yes, there are areas where you can look at parts of levels which could absolutely use some more clutter, instead of an endlessly repeating texture. Those aren't really technical issues as much as oversights in the level design, IMHO, but they do make the visual experience more uneven.

I do not think that Dark Souls 2 is unique in that though, it happens to most games that aren't "AAA" or focused on tiny or linear areas. The same was true e.g. for DS1.

People tend to forget the Darkroot river, the vistas from Duke's Archives and lots of places in Demon Ruins/LI.

 

[Nibel]

I have a question:

I have the retail Black Armour Edition on pre-order, and wanted to know if it has achievements? Or are these exclusive to the Steam version?

 

[Grief.exe]

I have a question:

I have the retail Black Armour Edition on pre-order, and wanted to know if it has achievements? Or are these exclusive to the Steam version?

The retail version is Steamworks and activates on Steam.

 

[NIN90]

Can't wait to see [mid game area]

Spoiler

Shaded Woods

screenshots.
Wait, I was lying. It will still look borderline PS2-ish.

 

[KarmaCow]

I can't wait for the next part, thanks Durante.

Did you happen to find out if the game supports 16:10 fully instead of 16:9 with black bars?

 

[Stone Ocean]

Trickle some more!

Ok, now this is what I'm talking about

Maybe Forest of Giants will actually look good now.

 

[antitrop]

I haven't seen a screenshot of Dark Souls II that looks as impressive as some I've seen from DS1, yet.

 

[Durante]

Is Xinput-wrapped DS4 usage better than native 360 controller usage in games? It seems to me that native controller support would end up performing better than having to use a third party wrapper to get it to work? I'm really curious about this because I have the wireless 360 dongle as well as DS4 options.

The performance is exactly the same (at least on human timescales), it's a matter of which controller you prefer for the game.

Me, the 360 pad killed me with its d-pad the first time I tried to use it for DS1, and I've been on DS3 ever since. I mean, DS3 for DS1 and DS2 - makes sense, no

 

[Nibel]

The retail version is Steamworks and activates on Steam.

Fantastic! Thanks Grief <3

Will keep my pre-order then; can't wait for next week - really hope that my 570 GTX will handle this

 

[FACE]

60 fps cap

 

[LiK]

I haven't seen a screenshot of Dark Souls II that looks as impressive as some I've seen from DS1, yet.

There are a few later levels that look awesome on the PS3 already. The PC version is gonna be spectacular. A lot of areas in these screens are pretty early.

 

[Grief.exe]

I haven't seen a screenshot of Dark Souls II that looks as impressive as some I've seen from DS1, yet.

There are a few later levels that look awesome on the PS3 already. The PC version is gonna he spectacular. A lot of areas in these screens are pretty early.

Which is perfectly acceptable. No need to spoil anybody.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

I'll go ahead and admit to eating crow here.
All I said for awhile was that the Dark Souls 2 PC port is going to be butt and ass and sucks both.

Turns out I'm wrong. Excellent.

 

[Gareth Bale]

Next article, so I can't talk about that yet.
Note: none of my screenshots use FXAA, and all of them are taken directly during gameplay at the settings I play at on my 770.

Cheers

Are you allowed to say what settings you play on? Because the 4K shot at the top of the first page looks great and I don't see any aliasing.

 

[NIN90]

60 fps cap

Yeah, wth Durante. I thought you were one of us 120hz bros. :|

 

[Durante]

60 fps cap

Yeah, it's a bummer. Then again, more downsampling without performance difference

 

[Tesseract]

great work durante!

 

[LiK]

Which is perfectly acceptable. No need to spoil anybody.

Totally. The reveals are great.

 

[antitrop]

The Depth of Field in that shot is really sexy, I like that.

 

[jacksepticeye]

I would like to point out my disappointment for lack of shadows in this scene. But texture work looks great

 

[crun]

60 fps lock... guess I am not buyin it after all

 

[Anteater]

Your shots look much better Durante, I find the pcgamer 4k shots look too bright for whatever reason, making some of the areas look wrong.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Yeah, it's a bummer. Then again, more downsampling without performance difference

Looks like a Saturn game, lolz

Spoiler

 

[Sciz]

Great to hear that it runs like a dream out of the box with all the bells and whistles. The last game cleaned up incredibly well, and this one seems to be no different.

 

[Orayn]

60 fps cap

Take solace in the fact that it seems to be a particularly smooth, unshakable 60 with excellent object motion blur.

I mean, there are games out there that feel sluggish even when they're running at 60 due to weird frame handling and the like, and DS II doesn't seem to have any of that.

 

[RadioactiveLobster]

You're wishing for the unlikely my friend.

I kinda figured this but a man can dream!

 

[Durante]

There are a few later levels that look awesome on the PS3 already. The PC version is gonna be spectacular. A lot of areas in these screens are pretty early.

Well, I haven't gotten too far in the game yet.

Fun story: I did somethign I made fun of when people did the equivalent in DS1 - I went to

Spoiler

Heides Tower of Flame

first, and fought the

Spoiler

Dragonrider

with base level/equipment.

I thought people saying the game was easy were insane

 

[feel]

Trickle some more!

Now this is my jam, I like my Souls' areas green, brown and grey, and dark-ish. Not super bright yellow open areas like most of the stuff I've seen from DSII.

 

[Brerlappin]

UMBASA

Durante youre a damn hero. Great article

 

[Arcayne]

Didn't play pc dks1 but...durante's on gaf?! damn, the double dipping sauce is tempting. those screens, jesus.

 

[d00d3n]

Durante: Did you experiment with trying to increase the fps beyond 60fps? Disabling vsync? Other than the fps, the PC version sounds great. Nice write-up and screenshots, btw.

 

[Ranger Taffles]

Terrific. Looks like the Souls experience on PC is the definitive one. Can't wait to try it out.

 

[Cannon Goose]

You say you're using a Dualshock 3, how are you making it work with your PC?

 

[NIN90]

Well, I haven't gotten too far in the game yet.

Fun story: I did somethign I made fun of when people did the equivalent in DS1 - I went to

Spoiler

Heides Tower of Flame

first, and fought the

Spoiler

Dragonrider

with base level/equipment.

I thought people saying the game was easy were insane

Get ready for that for about 50% of the bosses. There's a lot of bosses, though.