Dark Souls 2 for consoles is a month away. What do we know about the PC version?

[lamedude]

Either this game is runs badly on AMD and uses tessellation or the GPU marketers pulled one over Namco. The min requirements are GeForce 9600GT or Radeon HD 5870 and the recommended requirements are GeForce GTX 465 or higher or Radeon HD 6870 or higher.

 

[EDUSAN]

Edit: seems like they added a feature where an invader has only a given amount of time to get the job done, so just avoid the hacker and you'll win.

Best news ever. Is this confirmed?
In ds1 when i turned into human in the bonfire to defeat the Anon Londo bosses summoining Solaire, I ALWAYS got invaded in my way there and hated it!

 

[Sunburn74]

I read about that in a review.

Anyway, anyone have this game yet? Thoughts?

 

[norseamd]

so how do you beat the drake in dark souls?

already have his tail

was something about jumping out of the stairwell at him but my controller does not work that great. have a wired controller now that is much better. what should i do?

 

[hardhat]

Either cheese by shooting him from the tower where the black knight was or use the two small walls on either side to avoid getting toasted, then use arrows to draw his attention. Once he lands on the bridge run slightly behind his feet and attack with a weapon (preferably halberd) a few times, until he takes off again, then repeat. Getting the pattern down is hard.

 

[norseamd]

thankyou

 

[Artorias]

So apparently the console versions got its graphics gimped just before the release of the retail version.

There are many legitimate screenshot comparisons between the November Beta, Jan-Feb reveals and to what it is now showing a drastic change in the dynamic lighting effects.

Kind of a shady thing to do. I can only hope the reason is they had to take them out because of the console limitations, but these guys aren't new to console developments.

Hopefully the PC version looks super pristine with the original lighting reinstated and have high res textures.

 

[mindcycle]

Dark Souls 2 producer discusses PC version and possibility of world events

We apologize for the delay, but we did spend time working on the PC version, making sure that we do attend to higher resolutions, higher framerates, and also keyboard mapping most controls," Miyazoe told GamerHub TV.

Miyazoe also adds that Dark Souls 2's server-based system for online play leaves open the possibility for world events. However, the development has not planned those out at this time, first wanting players to enjoy the online system as it is currently constituted.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.shacknews.com/article/83502/dark-souls-2-producer-discusses-pc-version-and-possibility-of

I got my PS3 version in today, gonna try it out tonight. Can't wait!

 

[motsm]

This video shows off the graphical changes in a nutshell. Lighting is totally gutted, geometry is simpler, spectral and bump mapping simplified or removed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykbT03r_9Zo

They were showing off the better graphics as late as January this year on a PS3, and the downgrade in graphics is rather massive. This is certainly a much bigger issue than Watch Dogs, which seems to be making all the headlines. The neogaf thread is rather huge, if you're looking for all the details.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=781625

Personally, even if the PC version has all the graphics in place, I'm apprehensive to buy it now. Dark Souls is one of the only games I really loved in years, but I can't support this.

 

[Artorias]

To play a bit of devils advocate, the performance for the PS3 version isn't exactly a 30fps experience all the time. FROM could have attempted to fit in the details but decided it wasn't going to be a good experience for the players, though I myself doubt that's the case because they had months to test and are experienced.

In any case they have no excuse in not giving the PC the best they have to offer, I will pay full price if they deliver on giving the PC the necessary features otherwise I wil wait for the summer sale.

In the end though the graphics don't make the series for me, I dislike these marketing practices but the gameplay is why I have stuck with DS franchise.

 

[motsm]

To play a bit of devils advocate, the performance for the PS3 version isn't exactly a 30fps experience all the time. FROM could have attempted to fit in the details but decided it wasn't going to be a good experience for the players, though I myself doubt that's the case because they had months to test and are experienced.

I'd be more accepting of that if they released the downgraded footage before the game was out. Instead, they were showing off the "old" graphics in January, and let that footage represent the game until users got their hands on it. So they have now missed the opportunity to be honest about it.

In the end though the graphics don't make the series for me, I dislike these marketing practices but the gameplay is why I have stuck with DS franchise.

I completely agree here, which is why if they were upfront with the changes, I wouldn't have minded.

 

[Artorias]

I don't know how much it would have cost FROM but they shouldn't have heavily invested in developing it for the old consoles. I guess they made the game at the wrong time where the consoles were still a few years away, right now it seems much cheaper to develop a PC title which can then be ported to PS4/Xbone using similar architecture.

 

[Dumac]

This video shows off the graphical changes in a nutshell. Lighting is totally gutted, geometry is simpler, spectral and bump mapping simplified or removed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykbT03r_9Zo

They were showing off the better graphics as late as January this year on a PS3, and the downgrade in graphics is rather massive. This is certainly a much bigger issue than Watch Dogs, which seems to be making all the headlines. The neogaf thread is rather huge, if you're looking for all the details.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=781625

Personally, even if the PC version has all the graphics in place, I'm apprehensive to buy it now. Dark Souls is one of the only games I really loved in years, but I can't support this.

I honestly don't see much of a difference. The graphics shown in early trailers is almost always better than the final product, and the difference here is hardly so large that I am baffled. Perhaps the footage is from the PC version, and we can expect a prettier experience than consoles users apart from 1080p and 60fps?

I don't think this is even close to the watchdogs graphical drop.

Dark Souls 2 on PS3 certainly looks better than Demons Souls and arguably better than Dark souls, so I don't really get why you are upset. If you honestly expected that good of lighting on a PS3, were kidding yourself.

 

[motsm]

Dark Souls 2 on PS3 certainly looks better than Demons Souls and arguably better than Dark souls, so I don't really get why you are upset. If you honestly expected that good of lighting on a PS3, were kidding yourself.

Yep, this is great; blame the consumer for believing that when FROM software showed the game in January on a PS3 that we would actually get a game that resembled it two months later. I don't even own a console, and I'm no longer going to be rushing to buy Dark Souls II on PC because of this bait and switch marketing.

This doesn't even compare to Watch Dogs BTW, Ubi showed the downgrade before the game came out, so people can decide what they want to do, FROM never did. On top of that, Watch Dogs differences are fairly minor, where as these two versions of Dark Souls don't even look like the same generation of release.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I honestly don't see much of a difference. The graphics shown in early trailers is almost always better than the final product, and the difference here is hardly so large that I am baffled. Perhaps the footage is from the PC version, and we can expect a prettier experience than consoles users apart from 1080p and 60fps?

I don't think this is even close to the watchdogs graphical drop.

Dark Souls 2 on PS3 certainly looks better than Demons Souls and arguably better than Dark souls, so I don't really get why you are upset. If you honestly expected that good of lighting on a PS3, were kidding yourself.

I watched the vids and the difference is drastic. Now...I would suppose you could argue that companies seem to always show off more than what they actually put out these days, but that doesn't make it right by any stretch.

 

[Dumac]

Yep, this is great; blame the consumer for believing that when FROM software showed the game in January on a PS3 that we would actually get a game that resembled it two months later. I don't even own a console, and I'm no longer going to be rushing to buy Dark Souls II on PC because of this bait and switch marketing.

This doesn't even compare to Watch Dogs BTW, Ubi showed the downgrade before the game came out, so people can decide what they want to do, FROM never did. On top of that, Watch Dogs differences are fairly minor, where as these two versions of Dark Souls don't even look like the same generation of release.

Sure, shoot yourself in a foot and don't get a game because some other people may have been fooled.

Also I guess you missed the plethora of gameplay videos in the last month that were the same build as what was launched. I guess you also missed the huge network beta tests 5 months ago that was nearly identical graphically to the released game.

It is a crappy tactic, but nearly every video game company does it. 343 did it with Halo 4. Rockstar with GTA5. And you say the watchdogs differences are 'fairly minor'? I think you need to look again http://cdn2-www.craveonline.com/assets/uploads/2014/03/iboqqHgyy5tOsD.gif. That is a much starker contrast in graphica fidelity.

 

[motsm]

Sure, shoot yourself in a foot and don't get a game because some other people may have been fooled.

Another person blindly apologizing on FROM's behalf for completely dishonest marketing. I'm done replying to you.

 

[sze5003]

I want this game for pc because I was never able to play the first one, it just wasn't right and at the time I didn't know about the mods.

Looks like watchdogs is not the only downgraded game. I believe Ubisoft did that with far cry too.

And I agree that the gameplay of watch dogs shown on the Jimmy Fallon show was running on a pc and looked amazing even though he used a ps4 controller.

Compare that to the story trailer of watch dogs released now and you can see a difference. But they never said what system the trailer was from. I'm sure it will look good on consoles since previews said it looked stunning on them.

Dark souls 2 releases April 11? Do I need to know things from the previous?

 

[Rhezuss]

I'm still debating which version i'll buy. I have DS1 on PC and play with a 360 controller and the fix. It plays great and like many others here, one of the best experience i've had in a RPG in the past few years. Great immersive game.

Now DS2...PC or PS3...don't know. When I move to my new place i'll be able to plug my PC to my TV...so playing on the couch will be possible

 

[smackababy]

I'd wait for the PC version. I have the PS3 and it has some slowdowns. It isn't bad, but @ 720 with slowdowns, is annoying.

Otherwise, it is fantastic so far.

edit: Also, the loading times are incredibly long.

 

[Rhezuss]

I'd wait for the PC version. I have the PS3 and it has some slowdowns. It isn't bad, but @ 720 with slowdowns, is annoying.

Otherwise, it is fantastic so far.

edit: Also, the loading times are incredibly long.

Ouch, i'm on 720p too but probably will get a new TV this summer.
Thanks for the heads up...i'll try not to impulse buy it and wait for the PC

 

[sze5003]

How big is the mod for the first pc version. Thinking about trying to play the game again after I gave up. I guess I will need to get the second one for pc. Gonna hook up my ps4 controller and use xpadder

 

[Jodell88]

How big is the mod for the first pc version. Thinking about trying to play the game again after I gave up. I guess I will need to get the second one for pc. Gonna hook up my ps4 controller and use xpadder

A couple hundred kilobytes I think. It's really small.

 

[Dumac]

Another person blindly apologizing on FROM's behalf for completely dishonest marketing. I'm done replying to you.

Enjoy not playing a great game

Dark souls 2 releases April 11? Do I need to know things from the previous?

It realses on PC on April 25th. No, you don't need to know things from Dark Souls 1 (at least, not so far in my playthrough on PS3), but there are small references to the first game.

I'm still debating which version i'll buy. I have DS1 on PC and play with a 360 controller and the fix. It plays great and like many others here, one of the best experience i've had in a RPG in the past few years. Great immersive game.

Now DS2...PC or PS3...don't know. When I move to my new place i'll be able to plug my PC to my TV...so playing on the couch will be possible

PC is probably your best bet. The PS3 version is 720p, has some slowdown, has no AA, etc. The game will likely look and play much, much better on PC.

That said, i wouldn't preorder DaS2 on PC. I'd wait to make sure that the PC version isn't as bad as the first one, or to make sure that somebody has fixed all the problems

 

[darkswordsman17]

Sure, shoot yourself in a foot and don't get a game because some other people may have been fooled.

Also I guess you missed the plethora of gameplay videos in the last month that were the same build as what was launched. I guess you also missed the huge network beta tests 5 months ago that was nearly identical graphically to the released game.

It is a crappy tactic, but nearly every video game company does it. 343 did it with Halo 4. Rockstar with GTA5. And you say the watchdogs differences are 'fairly minor'? I think you need to look again http://cdn2-www.craveonline.com/assets/uploads/2014/03/iboqqHgyy5tOsD.gif. That is a much starker contrast in graphica fidelity.

Based on that link I feel like the Dark Souls one is much more noticeable mostly because there's a lot of easy to spot signs of what they did (very simplified geometry/objects, fog, their lighting model looks almost like a PS2 era lighting where they just blanket everything in a single color, them trying to hide the differences in that initial part of the video with the darkened background and plant texture all over which looks like Halo 1 level of texturing job), although the differences are comparable (I notice similar issues, lighting, detail on the bridge, and the texture of the bridge road). Also, sorry but your whole argument that one game you think is even worse (I don't know how you can't see that they're actually quite comparable) somehow makes this ok is just...so silly I can't even fathom why you would make it. Both are things that people should be complaining about. I guess we'll see if the PC version enables all of that, but I'm very doubtful it will.

Ugh, I'm really getting tired of modern AAA games and all the BS that's going with them. Seems like every single one is being plagued by issues like this.