Dark Souls II: E3 2013 Round Up

[TrueCoolGuy]

Everything news worthy about Dark Souls II that happened at E3.

New Trailer:

DARK SOULS 2 - I AM UNDONE - YouTube

Next Gen, pls.


E3 Demo Gameplay:

Dark Souls 2 E3 Gameplay - All 4 Classes - YouTube

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Some screenshots, more here and here.

New gameplay mechanic details:

• Weapon slots increased to 3. (You can now carry upto 3 Weapons/Shields/etc. per hand)
• Can warp between bonfires from the beginning of the game. Possible bonfire extinguishing ability.
• 4 player co-op/competitive multiplayer makes a return.
• Online interactions are more apparent. The E3 demo contained a Mirror Knight boss that spawns AI enemies to the fight, in the full version those enemies can be real players.
• No selectable character classes in character creation, you're given a blank character template where spendable points and a class is generated depending on points spent on stats.
• Combat is largely the same, with a few balance tweaks and an added dual wield system.
• A new power stance has been implemented. Exclusive to the Dual Wielder class in the E3 demo, might be different in the full game. The power stance allows heavier attacks while dual wielding which runs out after a few swings. This is different from 2-handing a weapon. The Dual Wielder class also doesn't have a parry move.
• The Kick animation has been replaced with a shoulder shove, practically does the same thing.
• New backstab animations. They've also been improved some what so that enemies might be able to escape it if an error is made. The backstab also no longer provides any invincible frames. You are fully vulnerable during backstabs. (This is such a huge fix for PvP)
• Enemy AI has been greatly improved. They now react more swiftly and aggressively to different tactics. You'll be fighting multiple enemies at a time lots of times.
• Large emphasis on area atmosphere and mood. It'll be darker and eerier than ever before.

One last thing about the E3 coverage of Dark Souls II that might have just spoiled he chronology of DkS 2. In the Sorcerer class demo that they showed, the sorcerer used a fire based spell using his catalyst. This might mean that DkS 2 takes place a thousand years before the creation of Pyromancy, back when the fire arts were practiced with catalysts. It could also just mean that the fire arts are being practiced again after the events of Dark Souls 1 but that's kind of possible since the last master of the fire arts was killed in DkS 1!

The lore of this game is too big for it's own good. The chronology got spoiled by a single spell lol.

Also, this spell.

Spoiler: show

Want!

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

I love the game to bits. But they need to work on the fugly HUD (and options menu) and the AI of enemies in the game.

Can't wait for this and Witcher 3.

BTW nice OP!

 

[Radical]

Good good. Everything seems to be on track. The new 'dual wield' option seems very interesting.

Also, fuck the spells, melee ftw.

 

[TrueCoolGuy]

^Melee spells!

I love the game to bits. But they need to work on the fugly HUD (and options menu) and the AI of enemies in the game.

Can't wait for this and Witcher 3.

BTW nice OP!

What's wrong with the HUD? They've gone back to the old Demon's Souls template for the HUD which is a way better design. Plus it also minimizes itself when you're not fighting.

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

It looks horrible. Its way too huge. It could become a simple and clean HUD. But they have to put those brown thick borders showing every D-Pad key's function.

 

[TrueCoolGuy]

That's kind of important since keeping track of what you have on is pretty important in this game. But like I said, it minimizes when not in use.

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Also: there better not be any engrish in the tutorial this time

 

[saad07]

Whatever, I loved dark souls 1 and I'm sure this will be another awesome game on which I can spend upto 100+ hours.
I'm kind of disappointed that the backstab no longer has invincible frames. But hey, dual wielding should be awesome

 

[TrueCoolGuy]

Dark Souls 2 - E3 Gameplay Analysis - YouTube​

A quick analysis of the gameplay clips from E3. I'm waiting for some actual demo gameplay to be uploaded, so far the only clips available are these 4 clips which were shown in interviews. I'm sure some of the journalists caught some off screen footage of the entire demo.

Also, some good news for the console version, a journalist claimed that the demo was running at a stable 30 FPS on a PlayStation 3 even with the dynamic lighting and rain effect in the Mirror Knight boss fight. The new engine seems to be hard at work to get the most out of the consoles.