When Dark Souls 2 originally released in 2014, it was easy to see why some fans of its predecessor were unhappy with the many changes the game implemented to the core Dark Souls formula. Between the brighter visuals, a more traditional high-fantasy setting, overall easier difficulty, and the notorious changes to character mobility brought about by the Adaptability stat, Dark Souls 2 took some big risks that, for many, simply didn’t pay off. But many of the game’s more glaring issues would either be addressed or outright fixed with the definitive edition of the title that released a year later, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, and it remains the definitive edition of one of FromSoftware’s more misunderstood and overlooked titles.
For all the praise that Dark Souls 2 received from critics at the time of its release, player perception towards the game definitively cooled in the years following thanks to the arrival of both Bloodborne and Dark Souls 3 — two games that saw the return of series creator and FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki to the director’s chair and were seen as a “return to form.” However, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin would serve as an important stepping stone in the current trajectory of FromSoftware, giving the studio the confidence to experiment and ultimately providing some of the foundational blueprint for the developer’s later success with Elden Ring.
Related
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin’s Best Trick Should Be Mined for Future FromSoftware Releases
Dark Souls 2’s iconic re-release pulls off something that could serve future re-releases of other FromSoftware titles well.
Scholar of the First Sin Only Improves Upon Dark Souls 2’s Exciting Additions to the Series
Before reflecting on the enduring legacy and importance of Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin in the FromSoftware catalog, it’s important to recognize the title as a major improvement over the core Dark Souls 2 experience. Aside from the improvements to visuals and lighting that make Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin the best-looking version of the game, it also includes every piece of DLC released for Dark Souls 2, organically integrating it into the experience. Considering how quintessential some of the DLC boss fights are (especially Sir Alonne), Scholar of the First Sin is the complete Dark Souls 2 package.
But Scholar of the First Sin‘s enhancements over the original extend beyond content and performance to include some noteworthy gameplay adjustments that help it stand the test of time as one of the best “definitive edition” releases of any FromSoftware game. Adjustments to Dark Souls 2‘s balance, item economy, enemy placements, and more position Scholar of the First Sin as a “Dark Souls 2.1” that addresses most (if not all) of the major criticisms that players had with the original at the time of its release. It remains the best way to experience Dark Souls 2, and its resurgence in popularity speaks volumes regarding its more consistent quality over the original Dark Souls.
That FromSoftware president and Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki views Dark Souls 2 and the Scholar of the First Sin edition as a major turning point in the studio’s library speaks volumes regarding the title’s importance. During an interview to discuss the influences that went into Elden Ring‘s development, Miyazaki noted that “There’s really no way of telling how or if the series would have continued the way it did without Dark Souls 2,” going so far as to say that, without Dark Souls 2, “…we wouldn’t have had a lot of the connections and a lot of the ideas that went forward and carried the rest of the series.”
Truthfully, one can draw a clear throughline between the enhanced build craft and flexibility of Dark Souls 2 and the more open-ended approach of Elden Ring, and that Dark Souls 2‘s character progression and difficulty balance were improved in Scholar of the First Sin makes the title a pivotal entry that helped contribute to FromSoftware’s most successful game to date. Even in the wake of beloved masterpieces like Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin stands out as a load-bearing pillar for the future greatness FromSoftware would achieve with its Soulsborne games.
- Released
-
April 2, 2015
- ESRB
-
T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
Source link