Dark Souls II

The unique old-school action rpg experience captivated imaginations of gamers worldwide with incredible challenge and intense emotional reward

 

 

Dare yourself to engage against intense gameplay in a vast world powered by an all new engine that leaps graphics, sound & fx forward like never before

 

 

Immerse yourself into mind-bending environments filled with new twisted monsters and deadly bosses that could only come from the imagination of from software

 

 

 

 

A wide range of threats will prey on human senses & phobias - auditory hallucinations, vertigo, acrophobia, etc.

More intricate customization options provide weapons and armor tailoring to player style

 

 

Updated multiplayer system enables improved online interaction to bring forward cooperative & competitive play.

 

 

Dark Souls II features fluid motion-capture animations, upgraded combat system, a vastly expanded suite of characters, deeper customization options, new weapons, armor abilities, and balanced player progression system.

Namco Bandai and From Software have launched a Dark Souls 2 contest where players must submit their best in-game shield designs to win.

Interested parties can take part by visiting the Dark Souls 2 Facebook page and download the Shield Design Contest app.They can create up to three shield design templates and vote for previously-submitted emblems.

Players can submit their designs now, with the deadline for submissions being May 13. Community voting will begin from May 14 to May 20. On May 20, the winning entries will be judged in the final round by From Software. The winners will be announced at the San Diego Comic-Con.

The six winners selected by the developer will get a copy of the game signed by the development team, their shield design put in the game, and a creator's credit. The three winners selected by community votes will get a signed copy of the game

For more information, check out GameSpot's coverage on the title.

The biggest surprise at the VGAs was not Alison Haislip calling Gabe Newell "Gary," but the announcement ofDark Souls 2 with the epic CG trailer above. Dark Souls is one of the most challenging and rewarding games to be released in ages, so the news of a sequel was well-received at the VGAs. And it was especially surprising—there was nary a whisper about the announcement ahead of time, and the Souls series has so far seen two iterations without a direct sequel. Namco Bandai even confirmed that Dark Souls 2 will release this gen on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. While we'd love to play a Souls sequel on next-gen consoles, we'd rather play this one within the next year or so than have to wait any longer than that. There's been no official word on a release date, though.

Prepare to die again in the first gameplay footage of From Software's sequel.

According to From Software’s Dark Souls II director, Yui Tanimura, challenge is one of the things that made the original game so satisfying.

But as word of a push toward more ‘accessibility’ in the new game spread across the internet, fans began to worry. News that creator Hidetaka Miyazaki was not directing the sequel only made matters worse.

Would the sequel be dumbed down? Would it be made easier? Would it go for the “Skyrim audience?”

“I would like to clarify here that we do not have any plan to make the game easier,” Tanimura tells me. “As Dark Souls focused on giving a sense of satisfaction to players, Dark Souls II is also pursuing to provide this sense. We cherish Dark Souls fans’ voices and would like to improve this game based on their voices to let them enjoy a highly challenging game.”

Along these lines, the developer has no plans to include options within the game to make it easier for more casual players.

“We do not plan on having an Easy Mode,” says Tanimura, “since we are creating this game with a thought that challenge and difficulty are core elements of the game.”

No Easy Mode should certainly come as a relief to many Souls fans.

When the idea was floated last year—accidentally, or as the result of a poor translation—there was a huge backlash online. The notion of an easier mode for some players in a game so tightly built around a multi-player experience that was supposed to be, at its core, very challenging rubbed many people the wrong way, and with good reason.

But Tanimura says that the “sense of satisfaction achieved through challenges is a great feeling for players.”

The very success of the game depended on that challenge, Tanimura notes. “Dark Souls succeeded because more players than we expected welcomed this thought and there were not many games offering this same sense of accomplishment at the time. What we have to do for Dark Souls II is to stick to this consistent stance.”

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. is excited to confirm a special Closed-Beta-Test for DARK SOULS™ II; scheduled to begin on October 5, 2013 for players in North America and Europe for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system via the PlayStation®Network. Anxious fans will want to pay close attention to the DARK SOULS™ Facebook page beginning September 5th for continual DARK SOULS II news and updates regarding the registration process and details pertaining to the DARK SOULS II Closed-Beta.

The depth of the DARK SOULS II Closed-Beta experience will truly test players’ skill, intestinal fortitude, and their sheer will to survive. The DARK SOULS II Closed-Beta will delve into one of the most treacherous areas of the DARK SOULS II world; players will not only get an opportunity to explore an entirely new area of the game, but also experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical challenges, and the unrelenting difficultly that only the developers at FromSoftware can deliver.

Dark Souls II will be launching in Europe and Australasia in March 2014 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PCs.

Register today to experience the depth of DARK SOULS II beta and provide your valuable feedback on the network to the FROMSOFTWARE teams. Go to PlayStation®Network Website or on the PlayStation®Network to register and receive a ticket to access the BETA.

The first Beta round for North America and Europe/Australasia will begin on 12th October and the second round will begin on 27th October. Check DARK SOULS™ Facebook page and PlayStation®Network Website today and get all the details about the DARK SOULS II beta. For the first time join the dark journey with this beta and experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical hazards, and the unrelenting challenge that only FROMSOFTWARE can deliver.

Dark Souls II will be launching in Europe and Australasia in March 2014 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PCs.

Both soul stirring special editions make DARK SOULS II worth dying for on March 14, 2014 NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. announced today the details surrounding its DARK SOULS™ II Collector’s Edition and Black Armour Pre-Order Edition. Offered in limited quantities and while supplies last, both the Collector’s Edition and Black Armour Edition of DARK SOULS II contain items that are sure to please fans of DARK SOULS; a game that has been lauded by critics and fans to deliver one of the most challenging experiences in videogame history. DARK SOULS II is scheduled to launch in Europe and Australasia on March 14, 2014 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft. DARK SOULS II for PCs will launch in Europe and Australasia shortly after in 2014.

 

 

Avid videogame collectors and aficionados will want to immediately reserve their copy of the DARK SOULS II Collector’s Edition. The DARK SOULS II Collector’s Edition will feature a premium quality Warrior Knight figurine measuring in at 12 inches / 30 cm in height and weighing in at nearly 16 ounces / 450 grams. Fans will also be able to thumb through an exclusive hardbound art-book filled with never-before-seen images created by the talented artists at game developer FromSoftware. True adventure fans are sure to enjoy the sizable full-colour fabric map of the DARK SOULS II game world that can only be had within the Collector’s Edition. Topping off this extensive package is the metal game case from the DARK SOULS II Black Armour Edition which will contain both the game disc and the official game soundtrack composed by famed Japanese composer Motoi Sakuraba.

 

 

Rewards also await DARK SOULS II fans that simply pre-order the game as they will automatically receive the DARK SOULS II Black Armour Edition when the game launches; while supplies last. The Black Armour Edition features a metal case that contains both the game disc and the official game soundtrack that is sure to stir emotions and set players’ mood for battle.

DARK SOULS II will offer hardcore fans and newcomers alike a challenging yet rewarding experience with a whole new sense of achievement,” said Olivier COMTE, Senior Vice-President at NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. “Working closely with FROM SOFTWARE, we’re excited to be bringing these Collector’s Edition and special Black Armour Edition, with appealing added content for everyone that will allow them to fully dive into the world of DARK SOULS II.

Dark Souls II will be launching in Europe and Australasia on March 14, 2014 on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft with the PC edition to follow shortly in 2014

Dark Souls II

2014-03-11

Platforms:
pc playstation xbox
Developer
From Software
Publisher
Bandai Namco Games
Genre
Tags
pc playstation xbox featured fantasy rpg games adventure dark souls ii

The unique old-school action rpg experience captivated imaginations of gamers worldwide with incredible challenge and intense emotional reward

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