When Dark Souls 2 was only announced for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, a lot of gamers were upset that the sequel isn’t being released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, especially when you considered that the game ended up coming out several months after the current-generation consoles have launched.
Thankfully, Bandai Namco Games and From Software will be releasing the videogame on the PS4 and Xbox One in a little over a year after the launch of the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. So is Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin worth buying on current-gen platforms? Let’s take a look at several factors.
Quality of Dark Souls 2
Dark Souls 2 was one of the highest rated games of 2014 with a Metacritc score of 91. For those who haven’t been paying attention to the Souls series, you basically wander around mysterious lands, defeating enemies and dodging obstacles along the way. The games are built in a way that you are expected to die over and over again until you finally get through a particular sequence, which gives you an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that is rarely matched in other titles.
For Dark Souls 2, several changes were made compared to previous installments. One of which is that you can now fast travel from anywhere without first having to progress deep into your journey, saving you from backtracking. Combat has also been made deeper due to the smarter and more aggressive enemies that follow you for long distances along with the addition of using a torch. Last but not least, the multiplayer is now timed.
Despite the high reviews, some hardcore fans did not like the sequel as much as the original Dark Souls or even Demon’s Souls. With that said, Dark Souls 2 is still better than a majority of PS4 and Xbox One games released so far.
Improvements in the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Releases
Of course, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin also comes with some improvements on the two current-generation consoles. In terms of graphics, the sequel is going to look better even though nothing specific has been announced so far. You can probably bet that the RPG should run at a higher resolution, frame rate and with less screen tearing when compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
From Software also decided to increased the maximum online players from four to six, which should result in some epic multiplayer battles. This feature is only possible on the PS4, Xbox One and PC with DirectX11 support.
Other Extras
You will also be getting a lot of extras aside from the main game. All three of the excellent DLC campaign expansions (Crown Of The Sunken King, Crown Of The Old Iron King and Crown Of The Ivory King) are included in the package.
From Software is also launching patch version 1.10 at around the same time, adding more non-playable characters, expanded plot points, new in-game events, better balance and improved matchmaking functionality. The title update is free to download for all versions of Dark Souls 2.
Final Verdict
So is Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin worth purchasing on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? It really depends on whether or not you already play Dark Souls 2.
If you managed to beat the RPG on the Xbox 360 and PS3, you may still want to upgrade to the current-gen console release, especially if you haven’t played the Crown Of The Sunken King, Crown Of The Old Iron King and Crown Of The Ivory King DLC expansions. On the other hand, if you already beat the game and its downloadable campaigns using a high-powered PC, it is highly unlikely that you will get a better experience on the PS4 and Xbox One.
If you skipped out on the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 releases completely and prefer playing games on consoles, then Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is a absolute must buy on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Otherwise, you will be missing out on one of the best games released in recent years. You can preorder the Dark Souls 2 remaster with this page on Amazon.