Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin2015

Dark Souls 2 – An underestimated masterpiece with a special place in my heart Dark Souls 2 is certainly the most controversial part of the Souls trilogy and still gets a lot of hate from the community. But despite its obvious weaknesses, it is for me personally the best part of the three Dark Souls games. What makes this game so special to me is above all his world. The different areas are incredibly atmospheric and each has its own aesthetic. From mystical landscapes to gloomy fortresses to impressive architectural backdrops, there is an incredible amount to discover. The world has its own charm, which I have not found in any other souls part in this form. A very special highlight is of course Majula. For me, it is by far the most beautiful and best hub area of the entire Souls series. The atmosphere, the music, the sea in the background and this feeling of finally returning to a familiar place after a long and dangerous journey are simply incomparable. Majula for me is one of those places in video games that you don’t forget so quickly. Dark Souls 2 is far from perfect. Especially the partially exaggerated opponent spawning can be quite frustrating. Instead of demanding battles, you feel more likely to be overrun by a whole horde of opponents. In addition, the sometimes unnecessarily long and annoying runbacks to the bosses, who can quickly rob you of motivation after a failed attempt. Unfortunately, some boss fights also fall significantly short of the level used by FromSoftware. Despite these weaknesses, Dark Souls 2 has something for me that is difficult to put into words: a very personal connection. Maybe it’s the atmosphere, maybe it’s the memories I associate with this game, or just that unique feeling it gives me. I can understand the hate and the criticism in many places, but they do not change the significance of this game for me.

Translated from German·Show original