Dark Souls 2
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Joystiq Weekly: Titanfall review, BAFTA Awards, NPD data and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. Titanfall is one of those games that's fun even if you're not playing it. Watching a group of friends suffer the fallout from a crumbling strategy plan is easy to laugh about, especially as the final pilot from their crew gets run over by a Titan. It seems that, despite a few hiccups on Xbox Live's side of things, fans have also been able to enjoy a relatively smooth launch. An online-oriented experience that doesn't stumble its way into functionality? We know, it's crazy. We've got a review of both the game and the online experience, but if giant robots aren't really your thing, we've got our take on Dark Souls 2, Towerfall: Ascension and Yoshi's New Island, too. This week also brought us fresh NPD data, a Costume Quest 2 reveal and more, all of which is neatly compiled for you after the break in the Joystiq Weekly. [Image: Respawn]
'Stiq Tips: A Dark Souls II guide
The Dark Souls franchise can be a very unwelcoming host. Although all of the tools are there for success, not everyone has the patience to truck through all of the horrors that await, or cope with bundles of lost experience points. But fear not -- you can make it with some help. [Warning: this guide contains light, non-story related spoilers regarding some of the early events in the game.] In addition to the spoiler warning, I really have to start with this caveat: I strongly encourage you to play as much as possible without the use of any reference materials, as part of the allure of these games is to discover and conquer everything on your own. That said, I'd rather bring people into the game than push them away by leaving them to their own frustration, so here are some strategies to help take some of the edge off your frustration.
Dark Souls 2 review: Death becomes you
While others punish mistakes with a wagged finger, the Souls games punch you in the ribs, rob you of your clothes and scamper cackling into the darkness. Making progress only to have it snatched from you, dying over and over, and a world teeming with despair and hopelessness – these are the things that define From Software's action-RPGs. While they combine into a fine form of sadomasochism, it's far from a simple one. There's more to Demon's and Dark Souls than tough enemies and a bleak landscape, and it's these subtle but sturdy foundations that make overcoming the games so satisfying. Dark Souls 2 underlines this, but not for all the right reasons. It tries harder than any Souls game before it to be inviting to new players while still appealing to veterans, and the end result is an adventure that's demanding, thrilling, and all-consuming, but always a shade short of special. The disappointment in Dark Souls 2 is relative, though, and there's enough here to satisfy players returning to die, if not truly satiate them.
Dark Souls 2 mortality counter tallies 4.3 million deaths
More than fantasy tropes, gloomy yet attractive graphics or an overarching sense of despair, the hallmark of Dark Souls 2 is repeated, oft-frustrating character death, so it just makes sense to have a website keeping track of all of this suffering. Officially dubbed the "Dark Souls 2 Player's Site," the webpage is less a celebration of player triumphs and more a monument to their endless willingness to throw themselves against the same foes that killed them moments before. As of now, two days after Dark Souls 2 made its retail debut, the Xbox 360 side of the site claims 1,311,973 total deaths, while the PlayStation 3 side reports 2,991,976. While these numbers are probably not entirely accurate - it seems unlikely that 1,657 Xbox 360 players have finished the game while a mere three PlayStation 3 owners have done the same - the site's functionality should improve as the game's post-launch hiccups subside. In the meantime, try to figure out what the rest of the site means. Those scales are self-explanatory, but the red and white candles remain a waxy enigma. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Dark Souls 2 launch trailer: Tull and death do a part
The use of Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath" in this Dark Souls 2 launch trailer is either calculated cleverness, or a case of someone in mishearing it as "Locomotive Death." By Death Throe Tull? Sounds perfect, use that one.
Here's the hardware required to run Dark Souls 2 on PC
Yesterday, Bandai Namco revealed that the PC incarnation of Dark Souls 2 will arrive on April 25. Today, the publisher offers a rundown of just how powerful your gaming PC will need to be to properly render the morose action game. The bare minimum requirements for Dark Souls 2 include 2GB of RAM, 8GB of free hard drive space, an AMD Phenom II X2 555 dual-core processor at 3.2Ghz or Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo E8500 at 3.17Ghz and either an NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT graphics card or an ATI Radeon HD 5870. Dark Souls 2 supports a range of Windows operating systems dating back to Windows XP, and obviously, a functional Internet connection is required for online play. Any sort of sound card will do, as long as it supports DirectX 9.0c or a later version of the de rigueur API. Those hoping for the "recommended" Dark Souls 2 experience will need 4GB of RAM, 8GB of hard drive space and the same sound card technology mentioned above. For processors, Bandai Namco suggests either an Intel Core i3 2100 at 3.10GHz or an AMD A8 3870K at 3.0GHz. As always, players will benefit by using the most powerful graphics card they can afford, but the game's official specs recommends nothing less than an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 or ATI Radeon HD 6870. Full details on the PC incarnation of Dark Souls 2 can be found on Club Namco, along with information on pre-ordering the game and a handful of images depicting what the adventure should look like if your computer is up to snuff. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Dark Souls 2 brings suffering to PC on April 25
Dark Souls 2 players – of the PC persuasion – can find pleasure in the pain on April 25. Bandai Namco announced this morning the PC and Steam version of the unapologetically difficult RPG sequel will arrive around six weeks after the PS3 and Xbox 360 console launch on March 11. We'll have a review next week if we can get the reviewer to stop crying for five minutes. Geez! The announcement was made on the game's Facebook page, where it's said developer "From Software have been working to perfectly adapt the game for a mouse and keyboard combo."
Prepare to buy: Dark Souls 2 Collector's Edition detailed in new trailer
Bandai Namco takes the wraps off its Dark Souls 2 Collector's Edition in the new trailer above, giving players a closer look at the $120 package's featured bonus material prior to its release next month. The Collector's Edition includes the Black Armor Edition of Dark Souls 2, which bundles the game disc with a soundtrack CD featuring music from composer Motoi Sakuraba. The package also includes an art book, a cloth map, and a 12-inch PVC warrior knight figurine, which seems large and solid enough to bludgeon someone with. Note: product is not recommended for bludgeoning purposes. The Dark Souls 2 Collector's Edition is currently sold out at Amazon, but is still available in limited quantities at NewEgg and other retailers accepting pre-orders. Dark Souls 2 launches for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 11. A release date for the PC version has not been announced. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Watch Dark Souls 2 as a radical refugee from the 80s cartoon lineup
Between the faux VHS tracking, fetishistic synthesizer use and art style that's equal parts lazy anime and Trapper Keeper doodles, this amateur reimagining of Dark Souls 2 as a cartoon from the Reagan era would fit seamlessly between Saturday morning episodes of MASK and Jem And The Holograms. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Rise from your demise in this Dark Souls 2 trailer
The indomitable human spirit is the subject of this latest Dark Souls 2 trailer, which shows the punishing series isn't defined by how often you die, but what you learn from your demise each time.
Dark Souls 2 pre-orders now include early access to useful weapons
As if guaranteed defeat and crushing frustration weren't enough to tempt players into pre-ordering Dark Souls 2, Namco Bandai has sweetened the pot by offering early weapon access to those who pre-order the game's Black Armor or Collector's Edition incarnations. Far from a game-breaking boon, this bonus offers players a choice between five weapons and their complementary shields that would otherwise not be available until a few hours into Dark Souls 2. None of the armaments on offer appear to provide any spectacular bonuses, but they are a drastic improvement over the arguably functional weapons players would otherwise start their quest carrying. You'll find a full list of these readily available killing implements past the break. As mentioned above, earning these weapons early will require players to pre-order either the Black Armor or Collector's Edition versions of Dark Souls 2. We covered the contents of the $120 Collector's Edition in September, but the Black Armor Edition includes a special metal case and a soundtrack disc alongside the game for $60. Neither the Black Armor Edition nor the Collector's Edition have yet been announced for the PC iteration of Dark Souls 2, though that's to be expected given that the game's release date is still in question. [Image: Namco Bandai]
It's an encouraging start, but the real Dark Souls 2 lies ahead
Speaking as a seasoned loser of Souls, playing the first two hours of Dark Souls 2 doesn't provide the culture shock of the previous two games. Demon's Souls bellows its cruelty by killing you mercilessly within minutes of starting, while Dark Souls literally sends you round in a circle like some kind of sick joke, but there isn't something in the opening of From's latest action-RPG that screams out "I am what Dark Souls 2 is!" Not that this is a bad thing. If there is something that defines the opening beyond its genetics, it's a new attention to accessibility. Yet that DNA of slow, torturous exploration remains encouragingly unscathed.
PSN Tuesday: Outlast on PS4, pre-order Dark Souls 2, South Park
Outlast is out on PS4 in today's PSN update, alongside PS3 games Dustforce, Castlestorm Complete Edition, Adam's Venture Chronicles, Truck Racer and Furmins + Stardrone Extreme Bundle. Outlast, you'll remember (unless you blocked the memory to save your psyche), is the horror game from Red Barrels that places players inside a corrupt insane asylum with the broader task of discovering why everyone there is so grossly homicidal. It's $20 on PSN, but free for Plus members. A bevy of PS3 pre-orders are live now as well: Dark Souls 2, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Tales of Symphonia Chronicles and Call of Duty: Ghosts' first DLC pack, Onslaught. That last one is pre-order-able for PS4 as well. Vita gets Dustforce, King Oddball and Surge Deluxe today. See the full lineup on the PlayStation Blog. [Image: Red Barrels]
Amazon lists Dark Souls 2 for PC release date as May 31
Amazon has listed Dark Souls 2 PC Steam keys for pre-order, with a tentative release date of May 31, 2014. Only a digital, standard version of the game is currently listed, with the Collector's Edition and Black Armor Edition nary to be seen. We already knew the console version of Bandai Namco's upcoming RPG would be coming to crush our dreams - and bones - on March 11, but were merely told we'd have to wait "shortly thereafter" for a PC version. Before you get too excited, be aware that there are some eyebrow-raising qualities about this listing: for one, the date is at the very end of the month, which is often retail-speak for "does not actually come out this day, but probably sometime around it." Second, May 31, 2014 is a Saturday - not exactly the most popular day of the week for a game to release, even if it is a game that will likely suck up most of your weekend time. Those grains of salt firmly taken into your hand, feel free to do with this information what you will. [Thanks, Justin!] [Image: Amazon]
Dark Souls 2 could have DLC after all, depending on fan feedback
It seems that, like the game's undead protagonist, the idea of Dark Souls 2 DLC cannot die. Or at least, if it does, it will simply rise anew. Dark Souls 2 Producer Takeshi Miyazoe stated back in December that he and his team did not expect there to be DLC for Dark Souls 2, but that position seems to have been reconsidered according to a recent interview with Official Xbox Magazine. "Right now we are concentrating on completing what we've got, but I think there are next steps on how we can expand on Dark Souls 2," Miyazoe said. Whether or not such steps would be taken, Miyazoe noted, would depend on fan feedback. "I'm not really ready to say look forward to more information, but I think the potential is definitely there." Image: Namco Bandai
Dark Souls 2 invaded by Shaun of the Dead actor
Actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz, known for his dubbed vocal performance as Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode 1 and the ever-grumpy Pete in Shaun of the Dead, will voice a new character in Dark Souls 2, publisher Namco Bandai announced this week. As part of the announcement, Serafinowicz revealed that he's a hardcore game player and a big fan of the original Dark Souls, calling it "the most engrossing game I've ever played," and "the best game of all time." Serafinowicz is a veteran voice actor within the industry, previously playing roles in games like Star Wars: Battlefront II and Lego City Undercover. In Dark Souls 2 Serafinowicz will voice Mild-mannered Pate, a mysterious treasure hunter who "may teach players a few tricks of his own in order to survive during their quest." Little else has been revealed regarding Pate's role in the story, but if we may suggest a minor change to the Dark Souls formula, Pate could serve as an ever-present companion character -- à la Navi, or Omochao -- chiding players for their missteps and offering helpful hints like "Hey! Blighttown is dangerous!"
Dark Souls 2 screens prepare you for your doom-over
You may've somehow escaped doom at the hands of Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, but From Software's latest is nearly out to get you too. If you're itching to be found, the good news is Dark Souls 2 hits Xbox 360 and PS3 on March 11, and then PC shortly thereafter.
Joy is a distant illusion in latest Dark Souls 2 trailer
There's a sort of dark, oppressive beauty to the imagery found in Namco Bandai's latest Dark Souls 2 trailer that reminds me of Dungeons & Dragons – if that pen and paper stalwart were reimagined by Steven Morrissey on a particularly bad day.
Dark Souls 2 DLC 'not really being considered'
Producer Takeshi Miyazoe has no plans to release downloadable additions for Dark Souls 2, instead opting to deliver to players a game that needs no extra content. "For Dark Souls 2, we don't even expect any additional downloadable content because we want to deliver a full game, the full experience, to fans who purchase the package from day one," Miyazoe told Edge. "We did do additional content for Dark Souls, but generally downloadable content for Dark Souls 2 is not really being considered. Buy the package and you'll get the full experience, and you'll have as much fun as anybody else." Continuing to buck modern gaming trends, Miyazoe also took a moment to deny the possibility of a free to play Dark Souls entry. "Spending a couple dollars on certain items does not help the experience. So no free-to-play yet!" Dark Souls 2 makes its PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC debut on March 11, 2014.
New Dark Souls 2 screens are looking kind of blue
From Software hints at the many new and exciting ways in which players can expect to die in its latest batch of screenshots for Dark Souls 2, due for release next year for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. These new shots also give a glimpse at the game's Blue Phantom mechanic, which allows you to enlist the help of online players during combat. A YouTube user helpfully demonstrates how useful/terrifying Blue Phantoms can be during gameplay with this murderous little vignette, inexplicably accompanied by vocals from Randy Newman.
