Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Reviews

We have rounded up the reviews of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin we have managed to find so far. The verdicts are generally very positive, though unfavorable comparisons to the recently released Bloodborne, also an action-RPG in the same mold from From Software, abound.

Game Informer, 9/10.

Scholar of the First Sin is best suited for two types of player: Complete Souls newcomers that insist on playing with the latest hardware, and returning warriors who soaked up every bit of new game-plus content loaded into the original. While I don’t think the encounters are quite up to the level of the original, it’s hard to argue with more of one of 2014’s best games.

Attack of the Fanboy, 4.5/5.

Not quite content with improving the graphics and lumping in the downloadable content and calling it a day, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin feels like From Software’s definitive vision for the game. The only thing that feels bad about this re-release is that it’s only been a year since the game first hit store shelves. Why we can’t get this type of experience on the first go is a little disheartening.

Metro, 8/10.

In terms of visuals Dark Souls II was always a mild disappointment, both in terms of the slightly inferior art design and the low tech visuals that you’d never normally mistake for a late generation game. This new version improves the frame rate and resolution but it does nothing obvious for the complexity or level of detail. Most importantly the lighting is barely improved at all, and still nothing like as good as the early demos pretended.

That leaves this a sadly disappointing remaster and actually makes Bloodborne look all the better by comparison, despite its own visuals having been criticised at launch for being too ‘˜last gen’ in performance and appearance. So, terrible timing, but even if this is the weakest of the Souls games you should still prepare yourself for one of the best action role-players of recent years.

GamesRadar, 4.5/5.

We admit it’s a tired term, but the word ‘˜definitive’ really does apply to this version of Dark Souls 2. Is this the best place for newcomers to get involved? Yes. Many of the graphical foibles that we forgave in the original version have now been ironed out. Is it worth veterans unsheathing their greatswords once more? Yes. The returning lighting system and artfully re-placed enemy encounters ensure you can tap into that sense of discovery, foreboding and mastery that was once so prevalent and has since become rote.

We kept thinking of Fallout and Skyrim when we we’re playing Scholar. You know how sometimes when you’ve played those games for a while you feel like starting over from scratch? You can drop all of your inventory off at a house, or even load a new game and just walk in another direction to see what’s there. In Dark Souls it’s your own experience that gives your character most of its power, rather than arbitrary numbers attached to gear found on the way. You can’t lose all of that knowledge; you’re stuck with it. By releasing this version, FromSoft has allowed players a chance to truly rediscover one of the most involving game worlds in existence. And that is quite something to behold.

IGN, 9/10.

Over a year after its initial release, Dark Souls II still manages to impress. The visual enhancements make Scholar of the First Sin feel right at home on a new-gen system, while the additional enemies and reshuffled placement deliver a powerful dose of that special kind of torture that Souls fans clamour for. With the included DLC, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is an even better version of one of our favorite games of 2014, but maybe a bit tougher to get into. Trust me though: it’s worth it.

GameRevolution, 4.0/5.

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin targets two audiences: newcomers and veterans. In both cases it succeeds. Folks who have yet to play Dark Souls II will get the best version of the game with all of the available content, while veterans who love Dark Souls II will get to experience a series of small alterations that do enough to set Scholar of the First Sin apart from the original. The changes don’t elevate Dark Souls II to some new lofty status, and players who found the game disappointing in 2014 will likely feel the same way. But it’s refreshing to see a remaster that tries to both recapture the magic of the original and progress it further to appeal to a broader player base.

Mirror Online, 5/5.

The only thing working against Scholar of the First Sin? Its release date – coming just weeks after its excellent, all-new spiritual successor Bloodborne hit shops, you’ll likely want to pick up that brand new experience first.

But if for some reason you missed Dark Souls 2 first time around, or need a great reason to go back, this superlative edition is a nightmare worth having.

Official Xbox Magazine, 4.5/5.

If you’ve never played a Souls game before, and are keen to get involved, then this is the place to start. If there were complaints to make about the first edition then most of them have been ironed out this time around. If you’ve already bested Vendrick a million times, however, there’s still plenty of reasons to poke your binos in Scholar’s direction. Now, where did we put that zweihander?

Gaming-Age, A-.

So outside of the durability issue, there’s little reason to not double-dip on this version of Dark Souls II. If you’re coming from the PC version of the game, Scholar of the First Sin is a bit less enticing. But if you’ve only experienced the Xbox 360 or PS3 version, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly comes off as a definitive version worth checking out. The changes in enemy placement can be a bit jarring at first, but I think you’ll agree that these changes keep the overall game feeling fresh, regardless of how many hours you devoted to the original game. And if you’re coming off of Bloodborne, and wanting more From Software goodness, than Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly fits the bill.