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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - PlayStation 4
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Purchase options and add-ons
About this item
- All 3 DLC Pack Contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King
- Additional NPCs Added For Enhanced Story Experience To Assist Guiding Players Through Level
- Parameter Setting Adjustments for Improved Balance
- Augmented Item Descriptions
- Increase in Maximum Online Players
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Product information
ASIN | B00Q03M3HY |
---|---|
Release date | April 7, 2015 |
Customer Reviews |
4.7 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #3,141 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #92 in PlayStation 4 Games |
Product Dimensions | 0.6 x 5.3 x 6.7 inches; 2.4 ounces |
Type of item | Video Game |
Rated | Teen |
Item model number | 12027 |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Item Weight | 2.4 ounces |
Manufacturer | Bandai Namco Entertainment America |
Date First Available | November 25, 2014 |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Prepare to Die again in the complete Dark Souls 2 experience with Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin. Hallmark challenge & reward await you with augmentations, additions and enhancements fueled by the passion and talent of famed Japanese studio From Software.
From the manufacturer
Dark Souls II
Scholar of the First Sin
Prepare to Die again in the complete Dark Souls II experience with Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin. Hallmark challenge & reward await you with augmentations, additions and enhancements fueled by the passion and talent of famed Japanese studio FromSoftware.
- Includes all 3 DLC pack contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King.
- Additional NPCs added for enhanced story experience and to assist guiding players through levels.
- Upgrades to graphics, sound, and performance.
- Higher graphics, textures and lighting effects.
- Increase in maximum online players.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, appearance and value of the video game. For example, they mention it's the best way to enjoy the game, the graphics look great and the world is beautiful. That said, some say the game is well worth the asking price. Opinions are mixed on durability, difficulty level and playability.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the quality of the game great, addicting, and rewarding. They also say it's the best way to enjoy the game, and absolutely worth playing by fans of the Souls series. Customers also mention that the game has great boss battles and areas, and some of the best environments in gaming. They say it’s the perfect game to play with young kids.
"...++Very difficult, but fair game. This is the most challenging of the three games in the series thus far.++The DLC is amazing!..." Read more
"...This game is absolutely worth playing by anyone who is a fan of the Souls series and by anyone who wants a challenge and is sick of the new age..." Read more
"......" Read more
"...And just like the first Dark Souls, I enjoyed the story; especially from the Crown DLCS.Now with that said, I will say this......" Read more
Customers like the appearance of the video game. They say the graphics look great, the weapons look awesome, and the world is beautiful. They also say the game is the ultimate edition with enhanced graphics and a beautiful addition to the Souls series. Customers also mention that the level designs are very ingenious and the game has faster loading times.
"...I wanted a game that is challenging but fair, a beautiful world that you can explore freely (more or less), and a story line that makes one yearn..." Read more
"...If you want Dark Souls II all bundled up, with improved graphics and a renewed multiplayer community, you can’t go wrong...." Read more
"...Another complaint is that the boss designs are a bit lazy...." Read more
"...Visuals are interesting to talk about, everything looks nice, heck Majula is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the whole series BUT you..." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the game. They mention it's well worth the asking price, an amazing deal for the amount of content, and a good purchase. The game has tons of replay value, and is a great deal with all three DLC included. Customers also say the reward is indescribable.
"...The reward is indescribable. Never before have I thrown my hands in the air, shouted "YES," or jumped out of my seat and danced...." Read more
"...Worth the price and worth the purchase.. I'd tell anyone to give this game a chance and see if you will like it yourself" Read more
"...If you like bloodbourne or dark souls 3, this is a MUST. Great deal with all dlc included...." Read more
"...So, if you want a great, long, and has tons of replay value, this is the game. And online pvp and coop with 3 others is frikin awesome!!..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the difficulty level of the game. Some find it challenging in its own right, while others say it's more unfair than challenging. They also mention that the bosses are difficult and that some areas are a little easier.
"...Gameplay is where the series really shines. Combat is challenging and forces you to learn through trial and error...." Read more
"...teaming easier on DS 3 then 2. So to sum up the game is challenging in its own right, has many classic RPG elements and loads of content...." Read more
"...While Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin is very challenging, it is also fair. If an enemy looks like it can kill you in one or two hits, it can...." Read more
"...are much larger, enemies are harder to defeat and a lot of them are pretty interesting which are great, bosses still boring as hell though...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the playability. Some find the game challenging and fun, while others say it's not for the easily frustrated. The adventure is grand and fantastic, but it'll challenge your patience.
"...This is a bit broken.--ADDICTIVE! I realize I also have this under "pro", and the truth is it is a double-edged sword!..." Read more
"...for the Souls series reviews out well because it’s meaty and offers a new experience, but I just don’t like it. It feels out of place when I play it...." Read more
"...Such as The Ruin Sentinels being an extremely frustrating fight for new players as well as Smelter Demon, but they are pretty cool fights...." Read more
"...hours 1-10 and spending about 30 more in the game I can say the adventure is grand and fantastic...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the durability of the game. Some mention it's very well made, has improved graphics, and great quality, while others say that they're not happy about the weapon durability, saying that it has not held up well with age.
"...The voice acting is, once again, very solid though there isn’t exactly a lot of dialogue...." Read more
"...this game bad is an unnecessary insult as the game is still very well made...." Read more
"...The hitbox of this game is broken. I cannot even hit my enemy just stand in front of me properly...." Read more
"...PS4 version has improved graphics and great qiund quality. Must have for any hard core gamer." Read more
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SINGLE-PLAYER EXPERIENCE
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Let me say that Dark Souls II has an amazing player-versus-player options. There are lots of "covenants" you can join to invade other players, or help other players. The reason I prefer to play offline is because I enjoy being immersed in the world all to my own. I do not want to deal with real players (although again, I have nothing against those that love it). I like the story (Dark Souls has a deep story, even if it is told via minimalism) and find fighting other players a bit dull to be honest. This of course also means that in a "tough" fight you can not summon others to help you. Also, when you are traversing places such as the Black Gulch all by yourself, it really is beautifully unnerving!
NOTE: This is review is mostly spoiler free! I do talk a little bit about some of the differences between Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin and it's predecessor below. If you played the game for a few hours, chances are these will not be spoilers at all.
CHALLENGING
===========
If there is one thing Dark Souls [NB: when I just say Dark Souls I really mean all three games in the series] is known for, it's the challenge. This challenge, is what makes the game. Sure, the game is aurally and visually beautiful, but a major reason for this is the difficulty. For example, as you try to progress through the game, you come across a number of monsters that quickly attack and make short work of you. Eventually, you figure out how to deal with them, only to be sniped by an archer. Then, you try again and once you get past the archer you find there are even more enemies and they make short work of you! By your sixth try (or more) you finally defeat them, and then you realize just how beautiful are the ancient ruins around you! While Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin is very challenging, it is also fair. If an enemy looks like it can kill you in one or two hits, it can. Also, there really are no "simple" enemies. If you let your guard down and become shall we say a bit "overconfident", you may very well find yourself defeated by "weak" foes despite the fact that they are not nearly as difficult as more heavily armored enemies. The original release of Dark Souls II was unfortunately not what it should have been. In this updated version, there are different enemies placements, entirely new enemies, more invaders to fight (non-players), and of course the downloadable content opens up huge new areas (more on that below)! In short, THIS is the version I hoped to play when Dark Souls II was first released!
Downloadable Content
================
The new areas of the game are not only "large" areas to explore, they are arguably the most visually stunning areas of the game! They really are beautiful. Also, they are extremely well designed and are not just "go to area A, defeat boss, go to area B" -there are secrets to find. As an example, in one of the new areas there are pillars that move up and down. So it really is three-dimensional exploring rather than just a linear progression for each area. I loved the Artorias of the Abyss expansion for the original Dark Souls. However, hands-down the downloadable content in Dark Souls II is far better. Although fighting Artorias was one of the most rewarding fights in ALL the Souls games, just in terms of exploration and enjoyment the three new areas in Dark Souls II are far larger in scope and the exploration is a joy. Also, they are all very diverse, and quite easy to access. And of course, the areas present new challenges to the player!
Scholar of the First Sin Upgrades
========================
The main draw here is of course the downloadable content as described above. However, there have been so many tweaks from the original release, that this feels like a new game! First off, the PS4 version has had a graphics upgrade. The original PS3 release did NOT look as good as the original Dark Souls! In general, sequels look better even if they are not overall better games, but in this case the original Dark Souls II release looked washed-out. Fortunately, that has been corrected with the PS4 version. Secondly, there are more enemies, enemies in different locations, MORE summons (which are extremely helpful especially when fighting certain bosses that otherwise feel cheap), and more non-player invasions (red phantoms)! In terms of summons, if you really want to beat every single boss solo, you can do that. However, I feel that the added summons (and invasions) are very well done and make what are arguably frustrating boss fights far better (although still not easy). There are of course new weapons to find, new armor, more dialogue from non-playing characters (NPCs), and it really feels like this is finally the complete version!
PRO
========
++Beautiful game both aurally and visually. The atmosphere is so vivid, at times it may just be tangible!
++Very difficult, but fair game. This is the most challenging of the three games in the series thus far.
++The DLC is amazing! It is all on disc, nothing to download! You will love it.
++Load Times: there are load times? You will hardly notice.
++Expect to spend lots of time on this game! This will be a long, beautiful, and challenging game!
++ADDICTIVE: this game should have a warning label.
CON
========
--NO manual! I know many games are doing it, but it would be nice to have a printed manual. Still, this is just a minor detraction.
--MUSIC: Dark Souls II "Majula" theme is gorgeous! However, compared to the original Dark Souls, or even Demon's Souls, most of the music is forgettable. Now while the game sounds great with all the sound effects and it has good music including a few wonderful pieces, overall it's not in the same league as the first two games.
--So Many Humanoids: The original Dark Souls has very different enemies with unique looks and attacks. Dark Souls II certainly has some amazing boss fights and some freaky enemies. However, in large part you will be fighting human-like undeads, human-like (but larger) sentinels, human-like but huge bosses, etc. More diversity would have been nice. However, this does not "ruin" the game by any stretch of the imagination.
--Torches: I love the sense of being alone in a dark, dreary, dangerous place with only a sword in one hand and a torch in the other! Unfortunately, most of the game is much "brighter" than I would like, and in fact, many places already have lit torches for whatever reason. This is just a minor point, but I feel much more could have been done with torches.
--Farming Issues: Overall I'm not a big fan of having to "farm" enemies for items. However, I found myself wanting to upgrade my equipment but I had no titanate chunks. On the other hand I had SIX titanate slabs! Titanate slabs are supposed to be super-ubber rare (they are used to upgrade gear from +9 to +10), and yet I had SIX of them and NO titanate chunks. This is a bit broken.
--ADDICTIVE! I realize I also have this under "pro", and the truth is it is a double-edged sword! It is SO addictive, you may let things slide that you should not!
BOTTOM LINES: A perfect game? Certainly not. As good as the first Dark Souls? Again, I have to say no. However, THIS upgraded "Scholar of the First Edition" is *close* to the greatness of the first Dark Souls game and it is a VAST improvement over the original Dark Souls II release. Also, this can now be found for $30 or less! At this price, I can easily recommend it to everyone. Here's wishing everyone happy gaming and let us hope that Dark Souls 3 will be a masterpiece!
My Score for the original release of Dark Souls II: 80/100
Final Score for Scholar of the First Sin: 90/100 (as you can tell, the upgraded version is VASTLY better)
First off, for people who haven’t played the Souls games before here is a basic breakdown of what to expect. You are unnamed, unheralded pseudo-hero who finds themself thrust into a kingdom beset by the undead, more or less. The plot is pretty thin, though the world is fleshed out by item descriptions and snippets of dialogue with NPC’s. By the end of the game there isn’t really much of a guiding force and you go forward because that’s the instinctual thing to do. I refer to is as a directionless stumble toward a vague end goal, but really it pans out better than it sounds. You find or purchase armor, weapons and spells (there are four types of spells: spells, miracles, pyromancies and hexes) which all have various offensive, defensive and support uses that you can upgrade to customize your character. You gather souls from defeated enemies that are used as currency and to level up your character. Specific to Dark Souls II the world is a large sprawling map with diverse areas and a central hub town of Majula where friendly NPC’s reside and you can seek refuge. As you explore areas you light bonfires to allow for quick travel. Gameplay is where the series really shines. Combat is challenging and forces you to learn through trial and error. You do end up dying a decent amount while learning (though not as much as they advertise once you know the game) and when you do all your unspent souls remain as a bloodstain where you died. You must retrieve them or lose them forever if you die again before retrieving them. There is an online component where you can see messages from other players, see how they died, help or be helped through a coop system and invade/be invaded through the games PVP system. This doesn’t do justice to a series as large and as involved as the Souls series, but it’s the nickel tour.
I’ve played a lot of the Souls series from the early days of Demon’s Souls to the recent Bloodborne. Enough that it’s one of the two series my wife can identify just by seeing it (the other being MLB the Show which is pretty easy to identify if you know baseball). The usual trappings are still there. Nothing about the actual architecture of the game has changed. What has changed is a lot of the superficial elements. Superficial may be too negative of a word here. Enemy placements are different, items appear in different locations. Enemies normally encountered later in the game pop up earlier. It’s a little bit surreal at first. I didn’t realize how much I had engrained the game into my memory. I would approach an area and be waylayed by an enemy in an area that used to be clear, or go into an area ready to maneuver around an enemy I expected and find nothing. Some weapons and equipment will pop up in different areas. I was able to find my Faraam armor exactly where I did in the original Dark Souls 2, but it took a really long time to figure out where my beloved Heide Lance was hiding.
The big addition to Dark Souls II, also in line with other HD remakes, is the DLC. I’ll be upfront in saying this. I didn’t like the DLC when it came out on the PS3. I didn’t like the DLC for the original Dark Souls. DLC for the Souls series reviews out well because it’s meaty and offers a new experience, but I just don’t like it. It feels out of place when I play it. It never seems to flow quite right with the rest of the game. It still doesn’t. It feels too much like a puzzle where a lot of the challenge is simply figuring out where you are and how to get where you want to go. I play the game to fight my way to the goal, not wander around trying to figure out where I am and how I even got there. The most extreme example of the DLC being a maze more than anything is a large area in the Crown of the Ivory King where constant blasts of snow blind you except for a few feet ahead and you are attacked by what appeared to be infinitely spawning magical reindeer that attack you. Few landmarks mean just skirting the edge of the map slowly trying to find the boss area. To me the best part of the DLC is the Grand Cathedral in the Crown of the Ivory King because it's such a good way to farm lots of souls very quickly helping others as a white phantom. But, I didn’t buy Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin for the DLC. I had already played. I knew I didn’t care for it. I bought the game for the main game. If you liked the DLC before, you’ll like it now. If you didn’t like it before, you’ll feel slightly better about it. I will say this, having the DLC from the get go is more enjoyable than getting to it on New Game ++++. I still don’t love it, but I don’t feel like “what’s the point?” If you’ve never played the DLC before, well, you can’t knock free content. I realize it’s not “free” since you’re buying the game, but it’s extra content in a game that’s already huge. There are also a few other minor additions to the coop and PVP system. You can now have three summoned phantoms to aid you instead of the limit of two previously. There are also more NPC phantoms that can be summoned to aid you, which is nice if you have a spotty internet connection or there's no one to help you. I've gone into boss battles with 3 NPC companions before, and they can be better than human players. There are also more NPC invasions. Nothing Earth shaking, but they're nice additions that will improve the game for people playing offline for the most part and when there aren't really any human players around to help. They also make the world feel more alive. The series, by its nature, is pretty desolate, so having the additional NPC characters is welcome.
The game follows the normal Souls series trend of the graphics are decent. They’re much improved from the PS3 version, but they don’t quite look PS4 good. I would say the graphics of Dark Souls II on the PS4 would be on par with what a good looking game would have been on the PS3. One thing I did notice that I appreciated was less stuttering. When too much was going on with the PS3 version I would notice stuttering. Roll through a large number of barrels and suddenly the framerate plummeted. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it was noticeable. I haven’t noticed it at all so far on the PS4. The voice acting is, once again, very solid though there isn’t exactly a lot of dialogue. Sound effects still sound good and have a nice weight to them.
The bottom line really comes down to this. Dark Souls II Scholar of the First Sin is an HD remake that follows in the mold of other HD remakes. But it’s an HD remake of one of the greatest games I’ve ever played. There are some small additions to go along with the DLC, but it’s like going back to your hometown after you’ve been gone for a long time. It will change, but the base is still the same. If you want Dark Souls II all bundled up, with improved graphics and a renewed multiplayer community, you can’t go wrong. You know what to expect, it’s an HD remake. It’s safe. If you are content continuing to play on the PS3 your money is spent better elsewhere. If you didn’t like Dark Souls II or don’t really care for the Souls series in general you’re definitely better off not buying the game. If you’re new to the series, I highly recommend buying the game since you’re missing out on an awesome action RPG experience. If you’re a veteran or an avoider, you’re going to get what you would expect. It doesn’t come down to an easier decision than that.
Top reviews from other countries
Comparing the original launch vs remastered for current gen consoles (PlayStation 4/Xbox One), playing on a solid 1920x1080p with smooth 60fps on my 60” tv looked beautiful and very smooth gameplay (Previous version 720p with 30fps or lower depending on location). Online is still awkward for those who enjoy jolly cooperation but setting your online for everyone/globally will increase your jolly cooperation chances.
For someone like myself who did play the original launch version and now returning with my PS4, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin has tweaked and relocated enemy locations that will be COMPLETELY different from the original version but for those who seek a challenge, enjoy all the Dark souls series and want value, this does include all DLC with upgrade features that will make any Dark Souls fan prepare to die over and over again.
Praise the Sun!!
Not for casual gamers.
If you just started gaming dont buy it.
You wont be able to play it.
E' difficile ma giusto.
L'unica pecca e' il netcode per il pvp, che ogni tanto soffre della connessione peer to peer tra i giocatori e produce qualche lag di troppo...