340°

Dark Souls II' Was 'Unplayable And Broken' On Consoles Before Graphics Downgrade

The previews we saw of Dark Souls II showed a much prettier game with a lighting system that seemed to plunge the world of Drangleic into deep darkness, traversable only with the help of a trusty torch. The retail console version of the game still looks good, but not nearly to the same degree.

Ezz20134110d ago (Edited 4110d ago )

i got my copy few days ago and didn't play any thing other than 5 or 10 minutes of it
well start it today
but i wonder why this got those high scores when it look like doing nothing new we haven't seen in Dark souls
and on top of that got downgraded in Graphics and also got tons of problewms with framerate and bugs ?!

developers deserve to get called out on this

DanielGearSolid4110d ago

You only played 10 minutes
Yet you kbow all of this?
Play the game first buddy...

Ezz20134110d ago (Edited 4110d ago )

it seems that you didn't get my comment right
i will play it but
there is tons of topics about the downgrade and even the developers did comment on it and never deny it
there is articles about the framerate and bugs

so i asked if it had all that how it got high scores

DanielGearSolid4109d ago

I got it...

I'm saying there also ppl who didn't have any technical issues while playing

So im saying you should play it first

DragonKnight4109d ago

I haven't once experienced any framerate drops. I don't care about the lighting, once you get to The Gutter it doesn't matter how bright you think the world is compared to the demo.

You haven't played the game, so unless you've absorbed as much info as you can about the game (i.e. streams of people playing it, trailers, etc...) then you don't know what you're talking about. The Souls series has never been about graphics, so people whining about a non-issue like lighting changes should stop playing the game immediately, return their copy of the game, and leave the real fans to playing this amazing game.

Palitera4109d ago

Man up and stand up for what you've said. Or apologize, but don't deny your words.

"but i wonder why this got those high scores when it look like doing nothing new we haven't seen in Dark souls" after playing 10 minutes...

Absolutely an expert.

nix4109d ago

i've played it and the frame rate drops almost everywhere. there's also a delay in sound. if i take a step on the wooden plank, i get the sound after few seconds which gives off impression that someone else is walking around near me. if i rotate the camera fast enough the screen blurs.

if i press Start button it comes out after a second. i was playing Dark Souls and i jumped to DS2 and i can tell you it's a tad slow. everywhere. they've already thrown 2 updates and i can't figure out what updates they've done.

i like the game and all but damn it slows down.

Ezz20134109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

damnit guys, i'm not a hater
i love Souls games they are among my best games this gen
but asking a question is no hate
and i even admit that i haven't played the game yet
i have no idea how you guys would think i'm a hater

@Palitera
i'm still stand behind my question and if you think this is just a hate from me to games i love to no end
then so be it

Captain Qwark 94109d ago

@nix

that sucks dude, ive been playing around 16hrs and i have yet to have it even stutter once

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4109d ago
WildArmed4109d ago

It plays fine. In fact, it has less dips than the previous two iterations.

This probably their most stable game yet. And still very fun.
Tons of new enemies and new types of combat styles.

About 40 hours in, need to get back into it soon.

But put it on hold for MGS:GZ.. and soon infamous:SS

OmegaShen4109d ago

Totally lie, Demon Souls ran better then Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2. Stable yes, the other games were to. Beside Dark Souls framerate problems that are on Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 2 beta from what played had no framerate problems.

But two does have them, as well as AI's getting stuck in walls and dying or attacks going through walls.

frostypants4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

@OmegaShen, you've clearly forgotten a lot about Demon's Souls. That game dropped to single-digit fps quite often. It was one of the biggest complaints about it.

WildArmed4108d ago

@OmegaShen

Clearly someone hasn't tried magic / faith builds in Demon Souls. That frame drop.

Heck, whenever I used Firestorm I'd get crazy frame drops.

Dark Souls 2 is much more stable than the previous two when it comes to frame rate.

Summons754109d ago

Well one the downgrade doesn't matter. Two they improved a lot, added a lot, reblanaced a lot. Its not the same game ad Dark Souls and it took a lot of what people missed from Demon Souls and brought it back. Sure the core gameplay is the same but that's because its the same series, this isn't Bio ware who make who new games for sequels, these are intelligent devs who knows what works and what needs to be improved. When you dive deep in the game you can see huge changes

4109d ago Replies(2)
frostypants4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

Two things:
-The only problem with the downgrade is that they were (and are) still running media that is featuring the pre-downgrade graphics. They need to apologize for that.
-Who is actually having frame rate issues? It's pretty much locked at 30fps for me (PS3). It dips to maybe 20fps or so on occasion. We've all got the same hardware here (aside from PS3 vs. 360), so I've got no idea what the hell people are talking about on that front...unless it's people who are lying and never played the prior games. It doesn't get even close to as bad as Dark Souls and Demon's Souls. It's the smoothest game in the series by a landslide.

PurpHerbison4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

I am sick and tired of people saying they played this on console with ZERO technical issues. Souls games ALWAYS have tons of issues. This iteration is not exempt. It's okay to say that you are having fun, thus you don't notice the issues as much as the next guy. But do not, and I repeat, do not come in here and BS.

Sly-Lupin4109d ago

Whereas I am sick and tires of people who assume everyone has the exact same experience with a game.

Just because you are experiencing lots of bugs does not mean everyone else is, too; just because you have not experienced any bugs does not mean that the game is bug free.

Its really all down to luck.

DFogz4109d ago

The game got high scores because it was reviewed for what it was, and how it played. Not for how pretty it looked.

Back-to-Back4109d ago

Dark Souls 2 takes everything great about the first and builds on it. Seriously 34 bosses in this game.

My first playthrough with occassional assistance online lasted me 38 hours.

Keep in my I plan on going through the game atleast 2-3 more times as well as sink 100's of hours in pvp.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4108d ago
kurruptor4109d ago

Apparently graphics don't matter anymore when it comes to reviews. Like Titanfall's 2008 graphics with screen tearing and framerate drops. Yet most reviews ignored that.

DeadRabbits4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

Sessler the Goldfish Mind with his superhuman 2 second memory seemed to forget this too when reviewing Titanfall!

benzo524109d ago

All games will be like this until developers have enough time to learn and practice with the new consoles.

RAAMzilla4109d ago

Souls 2 isn't on the new consoles.

youndamie4109d ago

Lol yea, he just saw "Downgrade" and assumed it was next gen.

seanpitt234109d ago

New consoles! they have been out 7 years buddy lol

Sly-Lupin4109d ago

Actually, this is year 9. Last gen began in 2005....

seanpitt234109d ago

Well I only bought the ps3 last gen and that came out in 2007 in the uk so that's why I said 7 years but if you count the 360 then your right :)

aLiEnViSiToR4109d ago

dafuq that was either a stealth trollin' or a total fail xD

Half-Mafia4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

I'm praying for the PC version to look like the trailers.

PLEEEEASE :(

specialguest4109d ago

I'm currently building a pc rig with a gtx 770 and I'm praying with you man. If no improvements in lighting and texture, hopefully the frame rate is not locked at 30fps

starchild4109d ago

It won't be. They've already admitted that was a mistake and that DS2 runs at 60fps or above.

ATi_Elite4109d ago

They seem to have made this game first for the PC so prepared to be dazzled.

If not then I'm sure a FAT patch will dazzle you after release.

PurpHerbison4109d ago

I expect the PC version to drop and look how it is supposed to look. But yeah, the dazzling won't come til after the modders start juicing it up.

Plagasx4109d ago

Hmmm, so it shouldn't be downgraded at all then on the PC version then right??

RAAMzilla4109d ago

“This is what it comes down to: a playable framerate. The early builds that the screenshots came from were playable but only just so. The game was not in a state where it could be sold at that point. I strongly suspect that they were focusing heavily on delivering a top-notch experience on PC and underestimated the challenges the new systems would pose on PS3 / Xbox360. "
The way that paragraph is worded would seem to suggest that We can expect something at least similar on PC, which excites Me greatly.

Ducky4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

Makes me wonder if they have a next (or current?)-gen version planned too.

If they've spent all that effort into making an atmospheric game, it would be a shame if only one fraction of gamers got to experience all of it.

That's assuming the PC version itself isn't downgraded. If it is, then that's...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Show all comments (64)
130°

Why Dark Souls 2 Deserves a Second Chance in 2025

As difficult and frustrating as it is, people should consider reliving the Dark Souls 2 experience, especially because of what's coming to the game.

Read Full Story >>
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PrimeVinister40d ago

Many of those who hate Dark Souls II hate it because it's not Dark Souls. The same people love Dark Souls III because it isn't Dark Souls II.

And so many of the issues at the centre of common complaints about DS2 are present in DS3 and sometimes even DS1. The hatred and bile spewed over this perfectly decent game is ludicrous.

CrimsonWing6940d ago

I don’t think it’s a terrible game, but like a movie sequel by a different director, for me, it does NOT capture any of the “magic” felt from the Miyazaki entries. Boss battles don’t feel epic, environments don’t have the same sense of awe, the enemy variety isn’t particularly interesting, the art direction just feels bland, about the only thing I can give it praise for is some of the music.

Now, again, this is only how I feel about it, so I’m not trying to invalidate his you feel about the game, but it is the worst entry in the series due to those factors and it’s the least re-visited entry, for me.

Is it decent as a game on its own? Sure. But in comparison to the Miyazaki entries, it does not stack up and I believe that’s where many were disappointed with it.

PrimeVinister40d ago

Completely fair. I cannot disagree either, mate.

MrWood40d ago (Edited 40d ago )

You can also play it in VR flawlessly on PC & controller with the LukeRoss mod so… another reason to jump back in with extra immersion.

jznrpg40d ago

It’s not a bad game it’s just not as good as the others

Shadow Man39d ago

The controls felt very clunky to me, I tried playing it after beating Darksouls 3 and it didn’t feel fluid, obviously the hit detection is less superior for been an older game.

Show all comments (13)
100°

Dark Souls 2 Broke the Mold with Smelter Demon’s Over-the-Top Design

The Smelter Demon is a bombastic boss design that bolsters Dark Souls 2's roster with an experience that updates an older fight's form to function.

Read Full Story >>
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CrimsonWing69249d ago

Man, I dunno about that. In fact, most boss fights in Dark Souls 2 were forgettable.

__y2jb249d ago

Dark souls 2 is really underrated.

HyperMoused248d ago

My First DS's no idea why it gets so much hate

Redgrave248d ago

Or as I liked to call it, Horny Butthole Face

110°

Hidetaka Miyazaki claims Dark Souls 2 “carried” the series forward

Dark Souls 2 remains a divisive entry in the landmark RPG franchise, but Hidetaka Miyazaki believes it led to the success of Elden Ring.

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anast480d ago

The game isn't good though.

Rols480d ago

DS2 was fine. While there was a bit of recycling assets or ideas for bosses, it was a bigger more open Dark Souls. The Fume knight boss is one of the hardest bosses in the series until Sekiro and Elden Ring were released.

CrimsonWing69480d ago

The problem with Dark Souls 2 was the same problem when a different director takes over for a sequel to an outstanding movie. It typically (there are exceptions) doesn’t have the feel and vision of the previous movie.

I wouldn’t say Dark Souls 2 is terrible. Had Dark Souls 1 never been a thing and we got this, I think it would have been praised more. The problem is it didn’t have the Miyazaki touch to it and felt pretty derivative. The soundtrack is a banger though.

Aussiesummer480d ago

And it will happen in the future when he doesn’t touch them as he is planning on.

MrBaskerville480d ago

I like DS 2, might even be my favorite of the 3. But it's a hard sell, there's so many obscure things you need to do to make it an enjoyable experience. So always find it hard to recommend, but it is worth the trouble.