Leading video game publisher and developer BANDAI NAMCO Games America Inc. and FromSoftware today announced the impending arrival of three new DLC chapters to the critically acclaimed Dark Souls™ II for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PC via Steam. These three new DLC chapters known as The Lost Crowns trilogy will take Dark Souls II fans through entirely original areas to face a slew of unknown enemies, overcome diabolic challenges, and take-on fearsome bosses. Crown of the Sunken King, the first chapter in this DLC trilogy, will be available in the Americas on July, 22, 2014 followed by the DLC launches of Crown of the Old Iron King on August 26, 2014 and Crown of the Ivory King on September 24, 2014. A Season Pass program will also be offered for the entire The Lost Crowns trilogy via Steam for PC players in the Americas.
Crown of the Sunken King, the first chapter in the trilogy, sends players on a journey to reclaim the crowns that Drangleic’s King Vendrick once owned. Crown of the Sunken King features an entirely different world within the Dark Souls II universe, where stepped pyramids span a vast underground cavern. It is said that one of the ancient crowns lay buried deep within these dark caverns; but surely such a valued item cannot sit unguarded. Players that seek adversity and glory will be rewarded with a crown that holds the strength of lords from times long past.
Warskull wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 20:11:Alamar wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 12:15:Warskull wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 08:44:
The best description I have seen equates doing pure melee in DS2 to playing without a shield in DS1.
Maybe it's me, or the changes in the game... I would have to play some more DS1 to find out, but I very rarely bring out the shield in DS2... I'm almost always using a power stance (dual wield) build (as opposed to a 2h build, which generally relies on larger, slower, weapons that I don't enjoy).
I also go pure melee almost everywhere... I've never used a herb (which replenishes castings of spells), and even with a ton of attunement/slots, there just isn't many spell uses available, so I 'save them', then end up not using them.
Even my sorcerer is dual wield Blue Flame (a sword that can be used to cast spells).
-Alamar
No you are right, the shield feels much less mandatory in Dark Souls 2. The fact that shields are weaker also helps. Most medium shields are 90% damage reduction. You have to get a tower shield if you want the 100% damage reduction.
Not having a range option on the other hand is downright painful at times. Hence why I compared doing DS2 as melee only to doing DS1 without a shield. DS1 was brutal without a shield.
Alamar wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 12:15:Warskull wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 08:44:
The best description I have seen equates doing pure melee in DS2 to playing without a shield in DS1.
Maybe it's me, or the changes in the game... I would have to play some more DS1 to find out, but I very rarely bring out the shield in DS2... I'm almost always using a power stance (dual wield) build (as opposed to a 2h build, which generally relies on larger, slower, weapons that I don't enjoy).
I also go pure melee almost everywhere... I've never used a herb (which replenishes castings of spells), and even with a ton of attunement/slots, there just isn't many spell uses available, so I 'save them', then end up not using them.
Even my sorcerer is dual wield Blue Flame (a sword that can be used to cast spells).
-Alamar
Alamar wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 12:15:Warskull wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 08:44:
The best description I have seen equates doing pure melee in DS2 to playing without a shield in DS1.
Maybe it's me, or the changes in the game... I would have to play some more DS1 to find out, but I very rarely bring out the shield in DS2... I'm almost always using a power stance (dual wield) build (as opposed to a 2h build, which generally relies on larger, slower, weapons that I don't enjoy).
I also go pure melee almost everywhere... I've never used a herb (which replenishes castings of spells), and even with a ton of attunement/slots, there just isn't many spell uses available, so I 'save them', then end up not using them.
Even my sorcerer is dual wield Blue Flame (a sword that can be used to cast spells).
-Alamar
Warskull wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 08:44:
The best description I have seen equates doing pure melee in DS2 to playing without a shield in DS1.
mag wrote on Jun 5, 2014, 01:05:Cutter wrote on Jun 4, 2014, 21:16:
So for those who got this, have you finished it yet? Was it good? Was there any sun praising?
I finished it, really liked it, really doubt I'll get as much play out of it as DS1. Glitches and bad port issues aside, I think DS1 is the better game.
Still, DS2 was worth the purchase and play. I'm at 80 hrs, and I'll probably get a fair number more. I'll probably buy the DLC, too. I just don't think it's going to be 400+ hrs like DS1 was.
Cutter wrote on Jun 4, 2014, 21:16:
So for those who got this, have you finished it yet? Was it good? Was there any sun praising?
Alamar wrote on Jun 4, 2014, 21:43:Why dont just use a Soul Vessel and save time?
I vary rarely pick up DLC... But this'll likely be my first season pass purchase...
Steam says 183h so far, and I'm still finding new(ish) ways to enjoy it ; )
I'm kind of addicted to leveling, and trying out new builds (from the start), so I've barely put any time into NG+.
-Alamar