Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin

On February 5th 2015 a large, free update will be available for all users, on all systems.  It addresses many things people have complained about as well as adding a new NPC and better item descriptions.  However, I and many others are still hoping for some balance changes, but if not, I'm still happy enough as things are, or will have to be after the patch.   Probably...

Go here for details of what's included in the patch.  It's really too long to quote.
Scholar of the First Sin Free Update

In April of this year FROM Software will be releasing a Next Gen version of the game on PC, XBoxOne and PS4.  It will have enhanced lighting, new enemy placements, 6 way Co-op, better online matchmaking and the updates included in the free patch.  However, this is probably not final.
Announcement

And the announcement video, although it doesn't show much and most of what it does show is current DLC content.  I'm not to sure about having the dragon at Heide's Tower if it's early game though, and I wonder if it even fits having it there, but we'll see I guess.

I play on PC and I'm not sure if I will get the new DX11 version.  It will depend on how much higher the system specs go and what the FREE patch offers me that the new game won't.  As far as lighting goes there are mods that make the game look fantastic.   I have zero interest in PvP so that's a negative, and if it's mainly enhanced lighting and a few enemy changes I don't know if it's going to be worth it.   I already have the Season Pass and all DLC's.  

There's a couple of months between the patch and updated game release so let's hope we get more info by then to make it easier to decide.

There is a lot of controversy about this next Gen release, particularly the PC version.   To use the DX11 game we have to buy it again for the same system.  Anyway, there's a lot of talk about the way they are doing this, but only FROM knows the answers and they definitely don't talk to their fans.

Here's an interesting forum thread with many differing opinions on the enhanced game and patch.
Next Gen Release


.....awaiting more info....  Praise the Sun...

The trailer looks good, but yeah if the specs will be higher then the original one, then that can and will cause some problems for some people. Also if the Free patch offers enough interesting things for you, then at least you do not have to spend money on the DX11 version.

Fessels wrote:The trailer looks good, but yeah if the specs will be higher then the original one, then that can and will cause some problems for some people. Also if the Free patch offers enough interesting things for you, then at least you do not have to spend money on the DX11 version.

I looked to see if there were updated sys specs but couldn't find any.  The "new" complete game is still a couple of months away so it's a bit early yet I guess.

But, I did find some discussion that says it may not be that different as DX11 handles graphics and lighting etc better than DX9 so it could possibly even lessen the current load on the CPU and GPU.   DX11 is much better optimized than DX9 in every way so even on the same system improvements can be seen without noticeable changes to performance.

I have games that run on DX11 just fine...Bioshock Infinite, Dues Ex: Human Revolution, Far Cry 3 and several others and those are a few years old now.   DX10 was very buggy, which is why very few games use it.   Two Worlds 2 does and that can be problematic at times, but the game has an exe for DX9 as well so it's easy to swap.     DX11 is very good and mostly the standard these days.

That is good to know about DX11, almost makes me hope that the older games I have get adapted for it. But that is absolutely not going to happen, so I will immediately begin to forget that wish.

Scholar of the First Sin Forlorn Hope Trailer.   This is for the Next Gen version coming in April.   The free patch lands late tonight or early tomorrow morning so we'll  get a small taste of what's to come.    

I'm one of those who hate being invaded so I can't say I'm looking forward to being invaded even more, which is quite often, but co-op should be good.  Since the DX9 version and the DX11 version servers are incompatible, or so we're told, it remains to be seen how big the split between PC players will affect the longevity of online play.   We wait and see I suppose.

Just watched VaatiVidya's video showing some of the PS4 version of SOTFS with some of the new enemy placements in the early game, and the graphical enhancements.  He couldn't show too much obviously as the release isn't until April, but on the enemy side of things, it's definitely hotting up.  Areas that should be totally dark are now very dark and those torches we gather all over the place will actually have a use besides in the Gutter, and even then you can get through there without one if you are careful.  I use them anyway because I like to light it all up...lol

Apparently there will actually be Heide Knights at Heide's Tower which will be a really cool addition.  

I'm not sure I like the idea of being swarmed by even more enemies at once than we already have, especially in corridors and tight spaces, but it will certainly force players to be more strategic.   Even in the current game, rushing into an area without checking carefully beforehand is a sure way to get yourself killed.  I do hope we don't get more adds in boss fights because that already sucks.  The Royal Rat Authority being the worst one with it's toxic rats.  I suppose when you get used to it, it's not too bad, but it's another of those situational "making it harder" concepts that doesn't really work very well and leads to cheap deaths.

I haven't decided yet if I will get the game and that's only because I don't know if my PC will handle the upgraded graphics, so I'm waiting to see system requirements. DX11 is much more optimized than DX9 so maybe it won't be a problem after all. I have other more intensive games that run fine on DX11 so, here's hoping.


I'm writing this next part because of all the juvenile comments this and most every Dark Souls 2 video gets.  I imagine other games get this as well and it's just sad. I would also like to mention that I am not a fanatical fangirl/woman and I do see the faults and things that could be better, but I don't make it my life's work to complain about it.   I guess I come from a generation that wasn't so entitled, and not spitting the dummy when something is not exactly what I expected.

I don't play a wide selection of games so I don't really know what their communities are like, but I can guess with human nature being what it is.   The Dark Souls community can be very toxic and what amazes me most is people who frequent forums saying they'll never play this game again,...whine, moan, complain...and yet they stick around so they can inject their negativity into other poster's threads.   Of all the people who say they won't be buying the upgraded version of Dark Souls 2, take a guess at how many of those will actually buy it so they can complain a bit more.

I much prefer Dark Souls 2 over Dark Souls 1 which is not as perfect as people like to make out.  For one thing, Dark Souls 2 has better and more fluid combat mechanics and you don't need to rely on fishing for backstabs to win. Let's not forget Dark Souls 1 has some cheap bosses and cut and paste Lost Izalith enemies. That area was just terrible all round.  And let's not mention the Anor Londo archers.

Both games have their faults but people need to take a step back and realize that Dark Souls 2 is it's own game and stop comparing it to it's predecessor.  Another thing that annoys me is referring to the developers as The B Team.   I'm sure that if they weren't hurried to release by Bandai Namco things might have been a little different.   Ignorance is bliss, I guess.  

One of the biggest complaints about this Next Gen release is that we have to pay for it and that FROM are somehow conning the players because they want to release extra content in what amounts to an Ultimate Edition or whatever other developers call the same thing.  They could have just abandoned the game and said that's all you get.   And it's not like other game companies don't do it, is it?  

Oh boy.  What a conundrum.  

I'm of two minds as to whether I'm going to buy the upgraded version.   For one thing I think of how it seems FromSoft have decided that difficulty is created by having swarms of enemies...not to mention a dragon (wyvern) at Heide's Tower.  Despite that both bosses are dragon related, the dragon just looks so out of place, IMO.

Since very little info has been forthcoming about how extensive the changes will be, it's difficult to judge.  I imagine level design won't be any different and now with the Agape ring and increased online capability, ganking will be even more prevalent than it is currently.  

I think it's going to depend on price for me.  I already have the base game and all the DLC's.  I read today on the Steam forum page that the price will be $19.99 in my case, however I couldn't find out if that's Australian or US $$$.  I refuse to pay an inflated price due to currency conversion.

I may just watch some Youtubers and see what's changed and if it's worthwhile, even though obviously that involves spoilers.  If it's just more enemies to swarm me without any creative additions AND more advantages to scumbag invaders, I may just give it a pass.    

I have 808 hours on the current game version and it would be sad to leave it at that but I'm also concerned that the PC community will be split.  Wait and see I suppose.