First off, if you have played DS1, you know what you're in for. It's not going to be an easy ride. It will test your resolve and your patience, it will demand that you learn from your mistakes and find an angle, it will punish you for being lazy, it will teach you a thing or two about tenacity. But perhaps most of all, it will create an unforgettable, rewarding experience that will stay with you for the rest of your days. This sequel is everything you could hope for and more. It retains the original's mean spirit but somehow becomes more accessible and less tedious. Enemies respawn a set number of times, the bonfires are closer together so you don't have to walk 5 miles to get back to that boss that has murdered you 50 times over. The combat is refined and more polished and this time around, you are encouraged rather than discouraged to be versatile in combat. While in DS1 you had to pick your class and stick to it, and being a mage was pretty much an invitation to suffer horribly through the game, this time around being a mage is a viable option. Cast times are faster, spells do more damage and have more variants and more enemies are weak to them. However, it's always good to have a trusty halberd or greataxe in hand too, as well as a greatbow and shortbow and your trusty pyromancy flame. Being versatile means you can handle anything. The only class that I have found underwhelming is the faith build, or perhaps I just don't know how to use it? While I did love the realm of Lordran, Drangleic is more vast and has a more Gothic feel to it, where Lordran had a more medieval, enclosed vibe going for it. I am somewhat on the fence about the bosses. I did appreciate that they were more numerous, I think there are twice as many in DS2 than its predecessor, but they weren't as unforgettable as the bosses in DS1 were, nor as challenging. Besides the optional bosses, which border on unfair, most bosses could be breezed through in two or three tries where in the last game each one was worth at least a dozen death sentences, and thus immortalized them in your mind. The areas you visit range from downright ugly and unpleasant (the Gutter, the Crypt and Harvest Valley) to eerily beautiful (Huntsman's Copse, Shaded Woods, Iron Keep and Lost Bastille) to simply breathtaking (Dragon Aerie, Castle Drangleic, Heide's Tower of Flame and Shrine of Amana). Character customization has improved, with more attire to be found and worn to great effect, most carrying special properties that help immensely. The story is still ambiguous, as has become custom, but that is part of what makes it so unique. Dark Souls' lore and story is a topic that could be discussed and debated for hours upon hours, and this time isn't any different. If you're a fan, you're in for a treat. If you're not, after this you certainly will be.
