Is Dark Souls 2 a Hard Game? Unpacking the Difficulty of a Polarizing Souls Title
Yes, Dark Souls 2 is a hard game, often considered the most challenging in the core Dark Souls trilogy. This isn’t a simple black-and-white assessment though, as its difficulty manifests in unique ways compared to its brethren, Dark Souls and Dark Souls 3. While some might point to enemy placement and design in the original Dark Souls or the faster-paced aggression of Dark Souls 3 as hallmarks of their respective challenges, Dark Souls 2 crafts its difficulty through a confluence of factors that often test patience and adaptability.
The Unique Challenges of Drangleic
Unlike the relatively interconnected world of Dark Souls or the more linear progression of Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2 presents a world that feels more disjointed. This, combined with the game’s mechanics, contributes to its difficulty:
Aggressive and Unforgiving Enemies
- Enemy Tracking: Enemies in Dark Souls 2 possess remarkably aggressive tracking, often following the player’s movements far more persistently than in other entries. This can lead to frustrating situations where foes seem to “home in” on the player, even when attempting to dodge.
- Hitboxes: Many players complain about the unforgiving hitboxes in Dark Souls 2. Enemy attacks often seem to connect even when visually it appears the player has dodged. This is particularly true with the large, lumbering bosses.
- Enemy Ganks: Perhaps the most notorious aspect of Dark Souls 2’s difficulty is the frequent ganging up of enemies. Multiple foes often surround the player, making strategic positioning crucial.
Slower and Punishing Combat
- Estus Heal Speed: The healing speed using Estus flasks is significantly slower compared to other Souls games. This forces players to carefully consider when and where to heal, adding a layer of tactical decision-making during combat.
- Adaptability Stat: The Adaptability stat plays a crucial role in Dark Souls 2 and directly impacts the player’s agility and I-frames during rolls. A low adaptability stat can make combat feel clunky, while higher investment improves dodging effectiveness. Neglecting this stat severely heightens the game’s difficulty.
- Stamina Management: While present in all Souls games, stamina management feels more critical in Dark Souls 2. The punishment for running out of stamina can be severe, leaving players vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Challenging Boss Encounters
- Boss Design: Many bosses in Dark Souls 2 are characterized by large health pools and relentless attack patterns. They require players to learn specific patterns and exploit weaknesses rather than relying on pure aggression.
- DLC Bosses: The DLC bosses, particularly Fume Knight, Sir Alonne, and Elana the Squalid Queen, are often cited as some of the hardest in the entire Souls franchise. Their attacks are punishing, and they often feature multiple phases, making them formidable obstacles.
The Length and Scope of the Game
- Game Length: Dark Souls 2 is arguably the longest game in the trilogy, taking, on average, around 43.5 hours to complete the main objectives. If you are striving for 100% completion the time spent can easily go beyond 100 hours. The sheer length of the game can feel daunting, especially when considering the challenging gameplay.
Is it “Good” Difficulty?
The difficulty of Dark Souls 2 is often a point of debate within the Souls community. While some appreciate the added challenge and forced strategic decision-making, others find the difficulty artificial and less rewarding than other titles in the series. It’s often described as unfair or clunky, and it seems to have an impact on some people’s enjoyment of the game.
Ultimately, whether Dark Souls 2‘s difficulty is perceived positively or negatively boils down to personal preference. However, there’s no denying that it presents a significant hurdle for players, one that requires patience, adaptability, and a willingness to overcome its unique design challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Souls 2’s Difficulty
1. Is Dark Souls 2 harder than Dark Souls 1?
Generally, yes. While Dark Souls 1 has its own challenges, Dark Souls 2 is considered harder due to its aggressive enemy tracking, more frequent ganks, slower healing, and the impact of the Adaptability stat. However, some players find the interconnected world of Dark Souls 1 more difficult to navigate, and its unforgiving traps can be brutal for new players.
2. Is Dark Souls 2 harder than Dark Souls 3?
Again, yes. Dark Souls 3 features faster-paced combat and more aggressive enemy AI. However, Dark Souls 2 presents difficulty through mechanics, and its challenging and often unforgiving environments, making it arguably the harder of the two. Many believe that Dark Souls 3 is only harder due to the sheer aggression of its enemies, while Dark Souls 2 is difficult due to its poor mechanics, poor enemy placement, and other features.
3. Which Dark Souls game is the easiest?
Generally, Dark Souls 3 is often cited as the easiest in the trilogy due to its more forgiving mechanics, faster combat, and more linear progression. The overall consensus is that it is far easier to engage with, learn, and overcome.
4. How long does it take to beat Dark Souls 2?
On average, it takes around 43.5 hours to beat Dark Souls 2 when focusing on the main objectives. For completionists, it can take over 100 hours. Scholar of the First Sin version tends to be slightly shorter, taking around 36 hours for the main objectives.
5. What makes the DLC bosses in Dark Souls 2 so hard?
The DLC bosses in Dark Souls 2 are known for their complex attack patterns, large health pools, and often relentless aggression. The Fume Knight and Sir Alonne are frequently cited as some of the most difficult bosses in the entire Souls series. Their move sets can be very difficult to learn and react to, and their large damage output can quickly overwhelm a player.
6. Does the Adaptability stat really make a difference in Dark Souls 2?
Absolutely. The Adaptability stat significantly affects the player’s agility and invincibility frames during dodges. A low Adaptability stat makes combat feel clunky and unresponsive. By increasing Adaptability, you can effectively become more proficient at dodging enemy attacks, making a considerable difference in the game’s difficulty.
7. Is Dark Souls 2’s PvP better than the other games?
Many players believe Dark Souls 2 has the best PvP in the series due to its refined mechanics and lack of exploits and glitches found in the original Dark Souls. The dedicated PvP community often uses this as a reason to favor the second game.
8. Is Dark Souls 2 more of a grind than other Souls games?
Yes. Dark Souls 2 can feel more grindy due to the need to farm souls to level up and acquire necessary items, and because of its overall length. Some players argue that it is simply longer than the others for no good reason, and that the game world itself is less memorable.
9. What are some tips for making Dark Souls 2 easier?
Focus on leveling Adaptability early on, learn enemy patterns carefully, don’t rush into fights, and use shields effectively. Also, exploring thoroughly can often lead to useful items that will greatly aid your survival. And don’t be afraid to use co-op to help overcome particularly difficult challenges.
10. Is Dark Souls 2 a bad game because it’s hard?
No. The difficulty of Dark Souls 2 is subjective. While some might dislike the game for its unique challenges, others appreciate the strategic gameplay it demands. The game’s difficulty is a core element of its design, and whether it is “good” or “bad” is entirely down to personal taste.
11. Is Dark Souls 2 harder than Elden Ring?
Generally, Elden Ring is considered harder due to its more aggressive bosses and open-world structure that leads to players encountering dangerous enemies they are often under-leveled for. However, some players still find Dark Souls 2’s core mechanics and enemy placements more frustrating, leading to a debate that depends heavily on individual play styles and the unique strengths and weaknesses of each game.
12. What are some good Soulslike games that are easier than Dark Souls 2?
Some easier Soulslike games include Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Remnant: From The Ashes. These titles often offer a more forgiving experience while still providing the core mechanics of the Souls genre.
13. Does Dark Souls 2 have any difficulty settings?
No, like all Souls games, Dark Souls 2 does not have difficulty settings. The game is designed to be challenging from the start, requiring players to adapt and learn the game’s mechanics to succeed. However, there is a Bonfire Ascetic mechanic that can be used to make an area harder if you choose to.
14. Is the lack of interconnectivity in Dark Souls 2 a major factor in its difficulty?
Yes, for many players. The less interconnected world, when compared to Dark Souls 1, leads to a less memorable and more disjointed feel, which often makes navigating and returning to areas more challenging.
15. How can I make Dark Souls 2 harder?
If you find the base game too easy, you can impose self-rules such as no spawn farming, limiting the use of Wikis, or attempting a no-death run. Some players even attempt to complete the game at Soul Level 1. These kinds of challenges can elevate the difficulty of any Souls title.