DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin

It's a pretty bad game on a mechanical level, but there's a lot of fun to be had if you can look past that. The unintentionally comedic moments are definitely a highlight of the experience, and while having simultaneously the worst and easiest boss roster of the franchise, it has some really cool moments, too. Although it feels really bad at the start, I'd say it's still worth playing.

Wow....Just wow... When I decided to go and 100% the Dark Souls games I didn't expect this one to give me so much grief. DS1, Elden Ring, even a bit of DS3 did not even compare to difficulty to this game. My personal issues with DS2: 1. There are WAYYY too many enemies in between areas. I feel like I am fighting an army every time I go to a new area or to the next bonfire. I understand this can be counteracted by "clearing" the enemies, but I feel like at least 20hrs of my playtime was purely clearing enemies to allow me to get to the boss fight without having to waste any flasks. 2. I struggled to really find a weapon that I enjoyed using. I did use an achievement guide to help me get 100%, but at the same time I did try to explore to find secrets and hidden items. It took me practically beating my first playthrough to find a weapon that I decently liked. 3. Hitboxes, dodging, and overall damage dealt. I can lock onto an enemy and proceed to swing at thin air, the boss can hit the ground next to me and still deal damage to me, I can actively be in an animation and STILL take full damage. There is no I-frames and even upgrading ADP, I still feel like nothing changed. I don't say this to discourage, but more for a warning to new players. This game is a commitment. Is it rewarding saying I 100% it? Yes. Did I put it on my profile? Yes. Will I ever WANT to play this game again? Absolutely not. I don't even think I want to see this game. Pretty sure I developed some form of PTSD during my time of playing this. My cortisol levels are beyond the healthy limit. Please thread carefully when playing this game....You have been warned.....