I really, really enjoyed Dark Souls II when it originally released on consoles, and still enjoy it to this day. You can debate how it stacks up to the other Souls titles, or the more recently released Bloodborne developed by From Software, but I don?t think there?s any real argument as to whether it?s a great game or not. So saying that this new-gen port containing all the DLC is worth picking up shouldn?t surprise anyone, especially if you somehow missed playing Dark Souls II when it originally released or was ported over to PC. That said, and surprising me quite a bit, is how worthwhile this release seems to be for those of us that have already dropped 50 to 60 hours into the original.
That?s right, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, isn?t simply a prettied up version of the game we already played. Well, OK, it is that, with better framerate and visuals that put this release more on par with the excellent PC port. But it?s also the ?Master Quest? version of the original release, to coin a Legend of Zelda term. It becomes pretty obvious just minutes in that this isn?t quite the same game world you explored with trepidation and fear early last year. Enemy placements are different, with tougher breeds being encountered earlier in the game, along with larger numbers in areas that you least expect them to be.
The expected upgrades, that being graphical fidelity and framerate, are also worth noting. While we?ve already had a really great version of Dark Souls II via the PC port, it?s nice that now console gamers can get a similar experience. There?s some definite improvements to resolution and lighting, which are easy enough to see as soon as you enter Marjula. But the framerate is certainly the most noticeable difference, and while it?s not always rock solid, it manages to stick pretty close to 60 frames per second throughout most areas and fights. Overall, it?s a far better experience from a technical standpoint than the previous console versions of Dark Souls II, making this a must-have upgrade if you skipped out on the PC port.
So outside of the durability issue, there?s little reason to not double-dip on this version of Dark Souls II. If you?re coming from the PC version of the game, Scholar of the First Sin is a bit less enticing. But if you?ve only experienced the Xbox 360 or PS3 version, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly comes off as a definitive version worth checking out. The changes in enemy placement can be a bit jarring at first, but I think you?ll agree that these changes keep the overall game feeling fresh, regardless of how many hours you devoted to the original game. And if you?re coming off of Bloodborne, and wanting more From Software goodness, than Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly fits the bill.
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