Namco Bandai Will Make An Announcement About Dark Souls 2's 'Downgrade-ation' Next Week

DSOGaming writes: "There is no doubt - at this point - that the retail version of Dark Souls 2 looks awful and lacks the lighting system that was advertised when the game was original advertised. In fact, we've been saying how horrible the game was looking on our galleries, but that's irrelevant at this point. Thankfully, Namco Bandai will make an announcement about this whole thing really soon."

[-Foxtrot]

Downgrades have become the current trend recently. I hope it dosen't become a thing

Maybe since people are paying more attention now developers in the future will be more cautious when talking highly of their game

These guys better not talk about limitations with last gen consoles though....because they've had their chance to bring DS2 to new consoles.

[Blacklash93]

It's not recent, and it's been a thing for the entire past generation and even a bit prior. Early presentations, based off development kits, always look better than the finished retail product. Every Uncharted game has done it, for instance.

The difference is that a a few highly-anticipated games in the past year or two have made their development downgrades very noticable. Watch_Dogs' footage barely even looks good anymore. This isn't like Uncharted or Far Cry 3, where the games were still visually impressive.

[-Alpha]

I think the bigger issue here is that this game 's downgrade was so phenomenally huge, that the end result is a game that is nothing like what was advertised. It's a massive bait and switch.

The NeoGAF thread is eye opening. Not only is lighting completely gone, but they gutted a whole lot of the complexities in texturing and environment. The game genuinely looks PS2-level empty in some dungeons.

And what really pisses me off is that they spent a whole lot of time talking about how torches/light plays a gameplay role-- you choose to be offensive with your weapons, or risk waving a torch through dark areas. That whole mechanic isnt as important, meaning a core gameplay element is seriously altered or removed.

There is no reason why any of this should carry over to the PC version, but if it does, it will show that they really advertised a completely different game than we got.

[silenius]

Also, it is possible that they downgraded it so that they can release the dark souls 2 prepare to die edition (or whatever they are going to name it),
on PS4/XBOX1, and say.. "You see all this new stuff that we added? Now buy it again please! It has better textures/lighting/60fps/1080p/ added difficulty etc."

[dcj0524]

Watch_Dogs wasn't dowgtaded though. People were comparing PS4 footage to PC footage which is incredibly foolish.

[kevnb]

They like to show the pc version, it's no mystery.

[esemce]

Yes the version that they showed off was probably just the PC version. Of course it will look better than an 8 year old games console ffs.

[kingduqc]

The thing is they can't show max out PC gameplay and tell us it's running on a console cause the difference is HUGE.

Consumer won't mind if you tell them the truth, but lieing about that is just shady and disappoint people.

I mean, I've seen some comparison from what they show to the actual retail and it is HUGE, they completely removed dynamic light witch helped immensely for the atmosphere and butchered textures beyond recognition.

[DragonKnight]

The problem is all about hype. Every conference that shows off these games shows them on custom built gaming PCs with scenes that have been carefully programmed to look absolutely amazing so that people buy into the hype.

And then the overwhelming majority of graphics whores on the internet continue with the expectation build up because they are far more interested in the shallowness of a game's appearance than they are about its depth.

This means that bullshots sell the game, then people get pissed off because they didn't manage their expectations properly and start B.S. campaigns against games being "downgraded" because they are STILL more interested in how a game LOOKS than the depth it should have.

Devs and Pubs need to stop with the custom built gaming PCs and the bullshots. If they have to show a game running on a PC, then they should either tailor it to the specs of the consoles it will launch on, or state as plain as day that what people are seeing is NOT necessarily representative of the final product.

Graphics whores need to STFU, period.

The Souls series has never been a graphically intensive series of games. It has always been about the deep and rewarding, yet punishing gameplay and the incredibly subtle yet equally as deep story. To expect something new because you're entitled whiny brats is childish.

[-Alpha]

It's not the people's fault. It's not our fault that we are demoed a game that is much more promising than what they end up giving us.

The "it's about the gameplay" excuse doesn't apply here. We were shown a game that was entirely different than what we ended up getting. If FROM at least let people know beforehand about the changes, it wouldn't hurt so much, but people literally bought the game expecting what was demoed. What they got was something much more washed out, and gutted.

Gameplay too is hurt, considering light/darkness was a demoed element of the gameplay. This is more than just about being a "graphics whore".

You don't advertise, demo, and press release a game one way, and then completely take that away without saying a word. That's straight up b.s.

[DragonKnight]

It is the people's fault because they allow their expectations to run away with them. They don't think about the kind of game, they don't care about anything but the graphics. The same mentality is applied in the framerate arguments for games that don't require 60FPS because response times aren't a factor in playing well in the game. Rather than actually think, people would rather b*tch.

Yes, the "it's about gameplay" argument DOES apply here. The Souls series has NEVER been about graphics. Ever. I challenge ANYONE to show me an example of when any of the games were graphically intensive enough to keep up with the AAA blockbuster titles. People are upset because they aren't getting the graphics they want when graphics have nothing to do with why this series is great. The lighting isn't going to save you from being ambushed. The particles aren't going to stop you from falling to your death underneath a false floor.

"Gameplay too is hurt, considering light/darkness was a demoed element of the gameplay. This is more than just about being a "graphics whore"."

Have you even played the game? Make it to No Man's Hollow or The Gutter and tell me lighting is an issue for you.

This is just a lot of graphics whore babies who play visuals instead of games.

Once again, this series has never been about the graphics. Ever. It's always been about the gameplay. You want graphics, go play Crytek's games on PC because they think graphics are 60% of the game, which explains why the other 40% of what makes up their games sucks.

[jessupj]

Normally, Dragon, you're always on the money, but I think your love of DS2 is influencing your judgement.

I love DS as much as the next hardcore gamer that has been starved for a decent challenging game that rewards skill and patience, but I'm not going to sit here and defend bullshots.

I'm having an absolute ball with DS2. The downgrade in lighting hasn't affected my enjoyment one bit. In fact, I probably wouldn't even know about the downgrades if the internet didn't tell me.

But when people are shown a trailer of A, when they buy A they expect A, they don't expect A-B.

If someone shows me a picture of a delicious meat pie and says I'm going to cook this for and this is what it will look like when it's done I expect the pie to look like the picture I was shown earlier because I trust that the person was telling me the accurate truth.

It's note like someone verbally said, I'm baking you a meat pie, and I have this urealistic idea in my head that it's going to be huge, chunky and crispy, but turns out to be average.

We'e been shown what the game was suppose to look like. A visual representation. The developer says the game is going to look like this so people believe them.

Just because people believed the developer and gets disappointed when what was promised isn't delivered, doesn't make them graphic whores.

[frostypants]

I still think Demon's Souls was the prettiest of the three games, and had the best atmosphere and enemies (Tower of Latria, anyone?). Oh well. I still love this game.

[KingKelloggTheWH]

Demons did have the best graphics and art, and was just better overall.

I love Dark S and all but it could be better.

[Oh_Yeah]

CHRIST!!!! Stop calling them downgrades people. They showcase gameplay at e3 with the highest end pcs available to get people to go ohhhhh ahhh, makes sense to show your product looking the best possible resulting in possibly more sales....you keep forgetting this is a pc game also, why in the hell would they show it off on gamings biggest stage running on a console? Some of you people don't think. The console version was always going to look like the console version, you cannot and I repeat cannot expect it to look like the 1500$+ pc version you see at e3.

[Z_-_D_-_3]

I want a PS4 version of Dark Souls 2 sooooo bad right now. In fact, it would have been perfect given how many games are currently available for it. If they got Warframe running in 2 weeks, what's the hold-up? Oh yeah, full priced $60 "definitive," edition to be released this October.

F-U.

[RyanShutup]

Yep, without a doubt... I was trying to hold out and made it till about 8pm on release day. Needless to say... but I'll be double dipping for sure. :/

[Bio_Mod]

I've managed to hold out so far, hope they announce soon though it would steel my resolve.

[jessupj]

Yeah, it's double dipping for sure and normally I'm a stubborn man of morals that can easily deprive myself of an entire console's worth of exclusives if I feel that company shouldn't be supported, but I'll be the first to admit I will be buying the PS4 version on release day if it ever comes.

http://nzblokes.co.nz/wp-co...

[Grave]

I really hope that at least the PC version looks like what they've shown for the past year. Graphics are not that bad, but there is a noticeable difference between what we were shown and what we got.

[Hugodastrevas]

I'm just hoping for a fps-stability update. The pc will have better graphics for sure.

[Grave]

I hear ya on that one. I get a bit of stuttering now and then and when in coop the frames really seem to take a hit at times.

[elhebbo16]

I'm certain the textures are going to be higher-res I only hope they didnt cheap out on the lighting like with the console ports and hopefully with steam workshop supports modders can just make the game look better.

[Grave]

Agree. It was amazing what the community did with Dark Souls using DSFixes and nexusmods.com

[frostypants]

The console version isn't a port. PS3 has always been the lead platform. But yes, they'd be foolish not to take advantage of recent PC hardware.

[-MD-]

@Frosty - PC was lead platform for Dark Souls 2. From has confirmed this.

[Hellsvacancy]

If the PC version is downgraded aswel that would REALLY annoy some, if it's not it will annoy me

I understand why PC gaming is better etc...... great, but the Soul series started on consoles, one console infact, it took a petition to get Dark Souls onto the PC, so if the PC version looks as good as the early videos, I (a console gamer/soul veteran) will be pretty p!ssed off

I'm not trying to upset anyone, I would LOVE to be able to play Dark Souls looking as good as it did before the release version

Why show us (console gamers) a game that's going to look nothing like what you've showed, it's like seeing a trailer for Avatar 2, but then when you go see it in the cinema it looks like a pixelated mess, nothing like it did in the trailer, would you be happy?

All can be redeem if they announce a PS4/XB1 version

[-MD-]

Comes with the territory, you're playing on 8 year old hardware. PC had the best version of Dark Souls, it'll have the best version of Dark Souls 2.

That said, it's really shady that they claimed everything shown was PS3 footage and pulled a bait 'n switch on console bros. I imagine the features that were stripped were due to performance issues because even without them the game's frames apparently drop frequently.

[Tdmd]

This excuse is so lame that it's not even funny. This 8 years old hardware was really fine and capable when I was playing TLoU, GTAV, Kingdoms of Amalur, Skyrim, inFamous 2. Now DkS2 comes along and all of sudden, the ps3 is incapable of perform nice graphics because it is a 8 years old hardware. Oh, come on...

[DragonKnight]

"PC had the best version of Dark Souls, it'll have the best version of Dark Souls 2."

LMFAO! No it didn't, not even close. It took the community to make Dark Souls on PC playable. What FromSoft gave you was the worst version of the game possible. PS3 had the best version of Dark Souls as it launched.

[sorane]

Huh that's not even close to the truth Dragon.

"It took the community to make Dark Souls on PC playable."

I remember playing it with better aa and framerates before the community even got ahold of it. It was very playable the problem was that it was too much like the ps3 version. It took the community to get it up to PC game standards.

[DragonKnight]

@sorane: Are you kidding me? Did you not pay attention to all the complaints about how bad a port job FromSoft did for the PC version of Dark Souls?

Someone had to make a mod for the game on the very first day just to make the game decent because it was that bad a port.

[sorane]

@dragon

You don't seem to realize that a bad port to PC equates to a direct port of the console version. PC gamers expect more than that. It doesn't mean it was worse than the console version it means it's the SAME. The community just added the usual PC features on top of that. You obviously never played it on PC.

[-MD-]

@ Dragonknight - Nope, you're wrong. They directly ported the console version to PC and Durante managed to unlock the frame rate, improve the textures and eliminate screen tearing within an hour of release.

The port PC players got was the same as the console version, after DSfix it was the best version of Dark Souls available. You can't dispute this, it's a fact. It looks and runs better on PC, it's the definitive version.

@Dmd - Sorry but you're being naive, every game you listed dips below 30 fps fairly frequently, TLOU and Infamous 2 are exclusive and were developed on a single console which is much different than developing for 3 platforms at the same time.

As you can see with Dark Souls 2, it already runs like poop without all these extra lighting and particle features with the frames dipping it's the low/mid 20's. Adding particle effects to an 8 year old console with not even a half a gig of ram isn't going to happen. It never was. These consoles should have been retired years ago and people still think there is more power to be squeezed out of them, there isn't.

[Tdmd]

@-MD-
I am being naive, am I not? Ok, right. And here you are, thinking that Dark Souls 2 is locked at 30fps. It couldn't possible be a better looking game because it is multiplat. Sorry, but that is just silly. Even in it's best build, before the downgrade, DkS2 still wasn't anywhere near the better looking ps3 games that came before it - third party included. To say it couldn't be done because of hardware limitation is to say you haven't seen anything else looking as good as DkS2's preview build on ps3, which again, is just crazy talk.
Dark Souls 2 was a low budget game, made by a small team (with big expectations) trying out a new engine that didn't performed quite as it should had. They needed more time and they were afraid to risk a delay and see interest diminish - as it happened with watch dogs. That is plausible. That is something I can accept. But to say it HAD to be downgraded because the hardware is too old to run good looking games when there is already a HUGE list of amazing looking games on it? Yup... I'm the one being naive.

[elhebbo16]

just because it started on console means nothing, PC is the lead platform for DS2. thats why the 360/PS3 version were shitty ports.

[DragonKnight]

PC isn't the lead platform for DS2. Just because a game is developed on PCs doesn't mean that the game was designed with PCs in mind first and consoles second. The Souls series has always been a console series first and Dark Souls 2 is no different.

[sorane]

Wrong once again Dragon.

"Q: The demo presented during the event ran on PC. This means there is also a PC version developed in-house?

A: The version shown before the interview actually ran on PC. If the first Dark Souls was adapted from consoles to PC, this time, it's the opposite. The PC version serves as a base"

Straight from the developers mouth.

[-MD-]

@DragonKnight - Sorry bud but you're wrong here too, PC was in fact the lead platform for Dark Souls 2.

[Irishguy95]

Really? Personal betrayal? It would really annoy some people if exclusives go multiplat, it's quite a pathetic sight, like when FFXIII went multiplat. The only possible reason to be possibly annoyed about that is if a system is holding harware back. PC certainly ain't holding the consoles back.

I do and I don't care about the downgrade, on one hand they should have ****ing said so. The reasons for downgrading specifically where due to complaints about the darkness. Too much of the game was like the tomb of the giants in Dark Souls 1 apparently, and the FPS drops were too much. But it looks like total anus now, they seemingly removed the lighting engine.... They should have said so earlier if they didnt' want this kinda backlash. Anyhow, this is supposed to be the best souls game yet...

[SteamPowered]

Sooo, just this week this game gets perfect scores, or near to it, and its actually been downgraded graphically? How does that work?

[vallencer]

Easy, the reviewers playing it played the game not the graphics. The game is really really good. It's much better then the first one.

[SteamPowered]

Well to warrant a perfect score, to me, that would leave nothing lacking. And now it sounds like it plays great, but looks like crap. Games like that usually score 7-8/10. So reviewers rushed the review a bit?

[DragonKnight]

I doesn't look like crap. Graphics whores are blowing this out of proportion just like they've been doing with Watch Dogs. The game apparently doesn't look like what was shown in trailers pre-launch, but it most certainly doesn't look like crap. This is a case of babies wanting their cake and eating it too.

[vallencer]

That's fair, graphics should be included. They may have rushed it or the people who reviewed it just don't care about graphics as much I guess? I don't know it still looks good just not like the build they initially put forth. Most websites gave it a 9 or 8 so it's about the level it should be I suppose.

[k3x]

I don't understand why you're getting so many downvotes. It's like gamers actually WANT to be scammed by gaming companies.

The gaming press should be asking the question: why does the game look worse than in the early gameplay videos and trailers? As usual, though, the professional gaming journalists are all unprofessional, silent and worthless. It's a travesty and it's one of the reasons I haven't read a game review in over a decade.

[SteamPowered]

I think its funny that everyone is disagreeing with a question, and not a statement or opinion.
Humans, am i right?

[frostypants]

Because it's still fun as hell and the best action RPG series of all time.

[vallencer]

I couldn't care less about the downgrade. The game is so good and crazy hard that I'm just enjoying beating it! Hell I think it still looks great regardless of the downgrade. Besides you're insane if you think every game is going to look exactly like the early footage they show us. Everything is subject to change. As long as it plays well I'm game.

[-MD-]

You must not have actually looked into the difference because the game was supposed to feature completely blacked out areas where you'd need a torch to even see a few feet ahead.

This was a gameplay mechanic that they were touting right up until release.

http://i.minus.com/i3i2R2WW...

It's like a totally different game.

[vallencer]

I paid attention to it here and there but to be honest I don't pay that much attention to graphics. I just like playing games. I can understand why people are aggravated but my opinion is that I don't care haha. It is kind of a bummer the game isn't darker in more areas, I get that. But I am still having a blast playing it. As I hope everyone who gets it does too, regardless of the downgrade.

Edit: Also it really seems like the darker picture in that gif is very much a pc version. If that's the case they should have just said that from the get go.

[frostypants]

I've seen comparisons that indicate that all they changed from the beta was the contrast and gamma, and the graphics are otherwise the same. If so, they could patch it. If you actually light the torches, it looks just like the beta screenshots. They just kind of nerfed the darkness so it's kind of pointless, which I agree is a problem. But some people are comparing the final game to the target demo in the reveal over a year ago, which is kind of ridiculous.

[LAWSON72]

How about just enjoy a great game rather than whine about the graphics? I swear people on this site call themselves gamers, you ask me that is a load of crap because all I see are entitled whiners.

[porkChop]

People are entitled whiners because they were promised one product and received another? Games aren't free. When you pay for a product it should both look and work like it was advertised to. If it doesn't then consumers have every right to demand answers.

All I see when I read you comment is a pathetic coward without the guts to stand up for himself or for what's right. Have fun supporting deceptive and false advertising, I'm sure the publishers just love people like you.

[StrawberryDiesel420]

Um sorry but with a game like this you definitely get your money's worth. Hundreds of potential gameplay hours with a game like this. Graphics look great, people cry way too often over minute details

[LAWSON72]

I will have fun by playing the hideous mess that is Dark Souls 2, lol. I hope devs learn to never show early footage again because apparently no one here can handle it when a game turns out a little different.

Devs are not psychic? They probably intended for the visuals they shown but could have run into a hiccup along the way, throughout almost a year more of development (I know shocking, aint it. I thought the world was made of rainbows and sunshine where everything went the way it was planned out).

Then again it is always good to think negatively and think up conspiracies, so it is quite easy for people to think it was a marketing ploy to sucker people in with a sub HD graphical masterpiece. That makes perfect sense, I could see now I have a great idea, "hey guys let market are last gen game as a graphically impressive game when next gen is all over E3 with HD games". That sounds like a master plan, the people over at From and Namco must be marketing pros if that was their intentions.

[LAWSON72]

How about just enjoy a great game rather than whine about the graphics? I swear people on this site call themselves gamers, you ask me that is a load of crap. Instead of playing the game you all whine about the graphics. The games selling point was never visuals, it was just about everything else like a little thing called gameplay and a new DS world to explore

[k3x]

You've been defending the game, saying its visuals haven't changed and that it actually looks better than in the early trailers. It's now been confirmed that it does look worse, that its visuals have been downgraded and we're waiting for an official statement regarding all this from Namco Bandai. Whether the game is or isn't about visual is completely beside the point. Considering that you've been officially proven wrong, don't you think now's a good time to simmer down and try and save a little face maybe?

[LAWSON72]

I have never said its looks better than earlier visuals of DS2. I said it looks better than its predecessors. you have yet to prove me wrong about the latest launch trailer being misconceiving. A game changes over almost a year and they every dev always notes that.

[k3x]

http://n4g.com/comments/red...

Like I wrote in the comment linked above, you must be blind to not notice that the trailer is composed of gameplay footage featuring both, the old lighting system and the downgraded one, which in turn means that, contrary to what you've said before, it is misleading. There's nothing for me to prove; the trailer is the proof.

Again, you're defending a company that uses deceptive advertising to fool people into thinking that their game looks better than it does. Their early trailers (still officially available) are misleading and their most recent trailer is just as misleading, as they do not represent what the game actually looks like. Do you get paid to do this? If not, what is wrong with you?

[LAWSON72]

I did not see your earlier post (N4G really needs to add something like @)and that is fair go ahead and say it is false advertising, however dont put words in my mouth I never said the game looked better than the earlier footage.

"you're defending a company that uses deceptive advertising to fool people into thinking that their game looks better than it does"

Damn right I am, and why? The game is f****** stunning from gameplay to game design. It is one of the best games I have ever played just like DkS and DeS.

The only complaint I have is first a run playthrough titanite is so limited I cannot improve my weapons which is a problem IMO I like being able to farm for good items I need to take on the next boss. It feels like maxing out current level on FF13, but it feels even worse because it is a open world game. It feels like I only have the choice to pick one armor set and weapon set then stick with it until I find large titanite shards, which I did not do so I felt screwed because I like to try different sets and weapons.

The visuals as I said before do not matter and it feels like a new Souls game and that is all the Souls fan wanted (from what devs say that is who they made it for). If there is any dev worth defending it is From Software.

The game leading upto launch was not called any sort of graphical powerhouse or hyped for the visuals like say Crysis 3 or BF4, rather the marketing was about the struggle faced in the game and awesome story/lore that awaits. That is what matters, not some year old gameplay footage that you misinterpret as the final product.

You want marketed as graphical powerhouse look at launch trailer of Crysis 3, https://www.youtube.com/wat...
That is actual footage if of course you play it on PC that is at least $800. I think they left that out, in the ad. That is something a stupid console gamer (that actually thought that 1080p was possible on there console) would be quite upset about. Same goes for BF4. At least the DS2 launch trailer was actual sub HD gameplay of the console version and did not look impressive at all to give you the idea that the game had some serious visual fidelity, when they could have done like every other 3rd party and show 1080p PC footage.

[k3x]

You seem unable to comprehend that games are not either perfect or utterly terrible; there's room to highlight all their aspects and rate them accordingly, so save me your puerile fanboi musings. Get this through your head: The gameplay, the storytelling and whatever else you might come up with are completely irrelevant in the context of what's being discussed here. So is your opinion, especially considering the fact that you're so willing to justify Namco's deceptive marketing tactics and ignore who knows how many of the game's flaws just because you like it.

You, sir, are a disgrace to the gaming community. It's thanks to people like you we get screwed over again and again by bigger companies.

[Rockefellow]

DSO Gaming should make a statement explaining why they can't be bothered to edit their articles. Either someone's too lazy to proofread their work, or not intelligent enough to realize that there are errors every other sentence. No one in their right mind could have looked over even the little snippet above and thought it was good enough to publish, let alone the entire article. It's almost sad.

I'm tired of these talentless bloggers with no respect for those poor souls who happen to read their website leeching off of N4G for hits because no one would visit their site otherwise. DSO might not fit that bill entirely, but they sure do share characteristics of these types of sites.

[DoctorJones]

I'm playing it on the ps3 and it looks great, I don't particularly care if the graphics have been downgraded. Devs don't dial the settings back for no reason, it was done for performance, it's happened to a lot of games in the past, and not just in the last few years.

I think people should use their brains a bit really, these are consoles that are more than a little long in the tooth, they aren't infinitely powerful, devs have to make decisions on what they can or can't keep to ensure the gamer enjoys playing the game at a reasonable framerate.

And if people don't like the visuals on the 360 or ps3 version, well, there's always the pc version. Which I'll be getting as well myself.

[XiSasukeUchiha]

Wow why downgrading should kept the way it is?

oops i forget it's current generation!

[TristanPR77]

Honestly I don't know about the downgrade oh Dark Souls. All I know is that I'm having an amazing time playing the game. I'm haven't finish it yet and already want to start over with another class. I hope DS3 comes to PS4.

[RyanShutup]

There's rumors of a Demon's Souls 2 in the works for PS4. This may be why the lead for the original Demon's/Dark Souls 1 wasn't actively working on DS2.

[Tdmd]

They already dismissed this rumor as fake.

"Can 100 percent confirm there will NOT be a Demon's Souls 2," Atlus PR manager says.

http://www.gamespot.com/art...

[ajax17]

I'm having a lot of fun with Dark Souls II. I really don't care about the downgrade.

[ziggurcat]

Dark Souls II looks awful? That's news to me...

[Silent_Radiance]

They brought the backlash on themselves when they released videos, showcased lighting, and then downgraded it. It's not much of a problem though, the gameplay is what matters in Dark Souls II. They've never been great on graphics, but Dark Souls II looks better than Dark Souls I so it's not so bad.

[PurpHerbison]

I'm not even remotely mad about the downgrading. I'm mad at the fact that it STILL runs like crap.

[Silent_Radiance]

Yeah, I'm not surprised because Dark Souls I had a slew of frame rate problems.

[PurpHerbison]

You'd think it would be a main priority to get the game running smooth....

[StrawberryDiesel420]

I have no problem with the game from a visual aspect as it looks just as good as Darks Souls did. The extra cloth animations were a nice touch and in my opinion, the game looks exactly like it needs to. It has great dark medieval fantasy art design and the monster designs are awesome as well. The gameplay is top notch, the music is amazing as is the voice acting. I'm stunned actually by how well made the game is considering the creative director change. People complain about games way too much, just play it and enjoy what the developers have created. If you don't like it, don't play it.

[Mr Marvel]

Could have been a simple solution... PS4.

[kingduqc]

pc...

[TheDarpaChief]

I'm glad that this happened. All of the half assed op weapon using souls "fans" can stay away now. Go back to ryse and beyond two souls.

[PurpHerbison]

How about an announcement regarding the removal of "Soul Memory"? That is an absolutely TERRIBLE feature.

[BullCrap]

Unlimited soul farming, legit
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Unlimited Titanite shards large/small
http://darksouls2.wiki.fext...