Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

From Software The Dark Souls II Megathread™

Heresiarch

Prophet
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
1,451
that shadows+lighting+mantle+mirror knight rape:bounce::bounce::bounce::yeah:

Yeah, those finer details are fucking awesome.

The player in the video looks like a total n00b though, I bet I can sail through that Mirror Knight on my first try bwahahahaha
 

aris

Arcane
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
11,613
it would be piss easy if he was not invincible during summonig phase
Not necessarily, furthermore it provided an interesting choice, do you prevent the summoning and not damage him, or do you get greedy and get hits on him, hoping you will survive after the summoning?
 

Jaedar

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
10,153
Project: Eternity Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 Pathfinder: Kingmaker
I am quite mad that this game is so delayed for PC. By the time I get to play it everything will be figured out :/
 

Jick Magger

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
5,667
Location
New Zealand
PC RPG Website of the Year, 2015 Serpent in the Staglands Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 Bubbles In Memoria
All I've read is that Amazon's pushed the pre-order release date back to around the 25-27th of March. Not great, but I'm willing to wait for a better optimized PC release than Dark Souls was if that's what it takes.
 

LivingOne

Savant
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
485
Preview
Anyone who’s played Dark Souls knows the hard swallow that occurs on being briefed that someone with an intimidating PSN ID like Psycho_Punisher666 has invaded your world. You see that person’s glowing-red phantom sprinting across the map with Zweihander at the ready, hunting you like prey and closing on your position fast. No survival-horror game has matched the terror of the seconds leading up to that fateful clash.

More on Dark Souls 2
Forget, for a second, about Dark Souls 2’s enhanced, almost photo-realistic graphics, fluid mo-cap character animations and tantalising new story. The game-changer in the upcoming sequel is how it pushes the series’ “loose connection” online play to the fore. Prepare to be invaded.


The Mirror Knight is on of Dark Souls 2′s new boss and summons other players to fight you.

“Our main intent is not to foster a greater frequency of multiplayer, but more to give players the opportunity to interact even within the ‘loose’ parameters allowed,” From Software’s Yui Tanimura, Dark Souls 2 co-director (along with Tomohiro Shibuya), tells OPM. The franchise has always made innovative use of online features – and then evolved them for future titles. In Demon’s Souls, players could choose to leave messages with hints for the road ahead. In Dark Souls, players who used Humanity to take on a living form could be invaded via PvP or summon some additional help, and in Dark Souls 2 a new server-based network will bear the load as even players in a Hollow (undead) state are vulnerable to invasion from other human adventurers.

In Dark Souls 2 even players in a
Hollow (undead) state are vulnerable to
invasion from other human adventurers

Scared? Don’t be. Namco Bandai producer Takeshi Miyazoe explains that the game will be balanced in other ways to ensure that newcomers are not constantly griefed by professional invaders. “Before, the matchmaking was based upon player level,” he tells OPM. “That will remain, but we also want to focus on how much time you’ve played the game. Also, there will be penalties for players who invade, but still lose. There are risks. And there will be ‘policemen’ against invaders and a ransom system where if you constantly invade or kill NPCs there will be motivation for summoned players to go after you.”

This is where the game’s next online enhancement comes in. An overhauled Covenant system means that players in need of protection can find their protectors. Way Of Blue members who are invaded will automatically summon members of the Blue Sentinels, while the Heirs To The Sun will act as benevolent heroes who get summoned by priority to players in PvP and PvE situations. The Brotherhood Of Blood, meanwhile, get to role-play as the bad guys, with an increased capability for invasion, while the Bell Keeper apostles will automatically invade players who enter a certain area of the game. There will be seven or eight Covenants in all, and another of these will be the policeman class that Miyazoe mentioned earlier, who will reap bounties on the heads of “wanted” serial invaders.


Dark Souls 2′s bonfires act as checkpoints and open up new areas to explore once you’ve reached them.

Summoning itself has been enhanced, too. Dark Souls’ soapstones are back, but now carry a time limit. Large White Soapstones have a generous timer, but smaller ones give a shorter window of around 15 or 20 minutes, which gets narrower with every kill – offering clearer rewards for players who choose to go into battle for others. Some boss fights will also make creative use of online for a more immersive world – such as the Mirror Knight. This hulking armoured swine summons real-life players with his reflective shield to attack the player. Of course, if all of that sounds nightmarishly difficult or just too complicated, there is also an Offline mode on offer as well.

“Even when playing offline, we’ve implemented AI elements and enemy elements that will function as if the player is playing in the online space,” says Tanimura. “You won’t be able to see blood messages and bloodstains, though,” adds Miyazoe. “You won’t be invaded, but you also won’t be able to summon – and there are difficult bosses out there. But the bosses and the venue structure will be the same offline, and the challenge and sense of achievement and satisfaction when you overcome something will be there. We’ve also implemented some elements that will make you feel as if you’re online, like you might be invaded by an AI enemy.”


The recent network beta gathered 30,000 fans in the Huntsman’s Copse woodland area as a means to test server load and the functionality of invasions and summons. Effectively it spoiled some elements of the game, something Miyazoe says “was a tough one”. It was a necessary evil, though, he says in order to check technical aspects: “We had to test things like summoning and invasions”. Other elements where there “to keep players excited” he explains. “There were a couple of mid-level bosses in there that we were forced to spoil, and the venue too, of course. But there are a lot more elements that we’re still hiding from you guys!”

“There are going to be castles, dungeons
and caves as well, but as soon as we start to step into castles or caves there will be a lot
of puzzles and gimmicks that we want the players to figure out for themselves”

Takeshi Miyazoe, producer
Spoilers aside the beta offered a glimpse into the aesthetics of the new game. A puzzle-based design philosophy adds a new dimension of exploration, with paths branching off to hard-to-reach bonfires or non-essential items that may tempt die-hards aiming to 100% the game. “The forest is just a single part of the whole world,” explains Miyazoe. “There are going to be castles, dungeons and caves as well, but as soon as we start to step into castles or caves there will be a lot of puzzles and gimmicks that we want the players to figure out for themselves when the game is released”.

“Our brand new engine allows us to illustrate more photo-realistic visuals and make more effective use of the contrast between light and dark,” says Tanimura. “We have put emphasis on moving shadows and movement of light, which are not only visual enhancements but will also have a lot to do with the strategies and tactics the player might decide to take.”


One example of this is in a pitch-black cave or room, of which there seem to be many. Will you brave the darkness and tiptoe a treacherous path over an abyss? Light a flaming torch off a nearby brazier to illuminate the path at the expense of equipping a shield? Or maybe search the walls for a stone face in whose mouth lies an item-activated light switch? Most likely you will try all three, until multiple deaths reveal a solution.


In Dark Souls 2 Blue Sentinels will protect players who join the Way Of Blue covenant

Motion capture, too, has been implemented not only to make the game look prettier, but also as a way of giving players more subtle feedback as they fight their way through the hordes of darkness. “We hope that the natural movements will help players make reflex decisions as if they were actually the ones fighting in the world,” says Tanimura. Environmental effects and sounds will signal clues, for those players perceptive enough to notice. For instance, the grass could simply be swaying in the breeze, or it could be a sign that something is approaching – “Something big, perhaps,” Miyazoe teases.

The visuals are incredible in places, squeezing triple-A graphics out of a less-than-triple-A budget. In the opening movie, which Miyazoe shows us, a soft-spoken old hag fixes the camera with a gaze so deep you could get lost in her milky-white cataracts, while stone ruins are reach-out-and-touch realistic – and all this on PS3.

Storytelling and descriptions, meanwhile, will be opaque as ever. While the UI has been upgraded for legibility’s sake and NPCs will help flesh out the information, you’ll have to fill in the blanks with your imagination – or better yet, be clasped to the bosom of the Dark Souls online community.

“The start of the game is crucial for new players to get involved in the game, so at least we will try to relay the key elements, such as the sense of achievement and the loose connections, earlier on so that they can taste what Dark Souls is about from the beginning,” says Miyazoe. “But as the publisher, it’s very interesting for us to see the community setting up forums and whatever online, so we don’t intend to provide too much more in-game context.”


Dark Souls 2 Heirs To The Sun covenant members can be summoned by players in PvP and PvE situations

And that of course is the charm of Dark Souls. The network beta, trade-show demos and info revealed online have provided plenty of feedback from fans on what could make the game better: optional avoidance of invasions, brighter environments, clearer explanations of how to light a torch, heavier character movement. And From Software is tuning just the unbalanced parts, while ignoring the rest.

“We’ll create what we think we need to create and it will be up to the fans to dissect it how they want,” insists Miyazoe. And that’s what it’s all about. Although hardcore Souls fans may be convinced they know what they want from Dark Souls 2, From Software still knows better.
 

Murk

Arcane
Joined
Jan 17, 2008
Messages
13,459
The attack animations look like they have a lot of weight, and seem like they will be more easily predictable in parry/dodge timing. I really like that. Graphics are obviously improved but what I'm stoked about is that the art style still looks great.

Give me the gaaaammmeeee
 
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
2,836
Codex 2012 Codex 2013 Codex 2014 PC RPG Website of the Year, 2015 Codex 2016 - The Age of Grimoire Make the Codex Great Again! Grab the Codex by the pussy Insert Title Here RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming! Enjoy the Revolution! Another revolution around the sun that is. Serpent in the Staglands Dead State Divinity: Original Sin Project: Eternity Torment: Tides of Numenera Wasteland 2 Codex USB, 2014 Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 BattleTech Bubbles In Memoria A Beautifully Desolate Campaign Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Pathfinder: Kingmaker Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag. My team has the sexiest and deadliest waifus you can recruit. Pathfinder: Wrath I'm very into cock and ball torture I helped put crap in Monomyth
What's this talk about delay? I got this message from Amazon recently:
Soulless amazon mailbot said:
Hello,

Please be advised that we have a revised delivery date for the items you ordered on December 24 2013 (Order #CENSORED.)

"Dark Souls II - Collector's Edition (PC DVD)"
Estimated arrival date: March 15 2014 - March 15 2014

Don't see any delay with that.
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
2,234
What's this talk about delay? I got this message from Amazon recently:
Soulless amazon mailbot said:
Hello,

Please be advised that we have a revised delivery date for the items you ordered on December 24 2013 (Order #CENSORED.)

"Dark Souls II - Collector's Edition (PC DVD)"
Estimated arrival date: March 15 2014 - March 15 2014

Don't see any delay with that.
i have some bad news mate
3Ok6gJB.gif

:rage::rage::rage::rage::rage:
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
2,234
or release a port to the consoles first and lead platform later

at least thats what they said sneaky filthy japs:M
 
Self-Ejected

AngryEddy

Self-Ejected
Joined
May 5, 2012
Messages
3,596
Location
Fuzzy Pleasure Palace
I wonder if there is a reason why they aren't releasing the game on PC along with the other ports. Fucking scumbags are probably trying to get their customers to double dip like they did with Dark Souls 1.

 

aris

Arcane
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
11,613
Good to hear that they are making steps to not making dark souls PVP a pain in the ass. Matching against time played is a huge plus, and makes it a little bit more fair.
 

Cowboy Moment

Arcane
Joined
Feb 8, 2011
Messages
4,407
Meh, I have a PS3, but I don't look forward to playing the game with shit image quality and framerate. And with annoyingly long loading times.
 

praetor

Arcane
Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Messages
3,069
Location
Vhoorl

DragoFireheart

all caps, rainbow colors, SOMETHING.
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
23,731
Confirmed via above that you can turn off multiplayer via in-game mechanics.
 

Visperas

Augur
Joined
Nov 5, 2013
Messages
514
I forgoy about the PC delay... Damn, I was readying myself for march but who knows now. :rpgcodex:
 

Borelli

Arcane
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Messages
1,305
I think my first character will be that templar class. Halberd + dat cape = win. Warrior is getting annoying what with the stealing all the show in previews.
 

Borelli

Arcane
Joined
Dec 5, 2012
Messages
1,305
It would be cool if you start capeless and the first boss is a furry beast. THEN you get the cape. :hercules
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
2,234
just watched live chat/show on giantbomb about dark souls
not much new and it seems guy from reddit was right

-you start without any estus flask
-you can wear 4 rings
-3 weapon slots
-explorer class has hat and fucking parrot
-better menus
-you can kill any npc you meet( including 3 old hags you meet at the beginning)
-tutorial area is dark dungeon and you come out to seaside small village
- npc called "pate" is voiced by peter serafinowicz
- there is lady that lets you level up so no level up at bonfires so far she gives you estus flask and you start with only one flask
-a couple new screenshots and couple minutes of new footage



glimpses of new footage




:yeah:

7 more weeks
:rage:








:fuuyeah:

amazon.de

Dieser Artikel wird am 31. Mai 2014 erscheinen.:dead:
 
Last edited:

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom