Why Dark Souls 2 Ng+ was the best

Dark Souls 2 easily had the best New Game Plus of all the FromSoft games... mostly because it was the only to offer something beyond the standard difficulty scaling. But let's take a look at all the cool stuff it tried that never returned for some reason.
0:00 - Begin Journey 1
1:39 - RED PHANTOMS 👹
5:18- SEEK SOULS 🌌
9:14- SHOP UPDATES 🛒
11:13- NEW ITEMS 🛍️
12:18- NEW ENCOUNTERS 💀
16:17- NIL SWORD 🗡️
18:55- NEW ENEMIES 🧙‍♀️
21:36 SPIDER 🕷️
25:28- thanks🙇
Credits-
GiantEnemySpiderBossTheme: • The Giant Enemy Spider...
ThomasNeverSeen: • thomas had never seen ...
HappySoulsSourceInCaseYou'veNeverSeenItSomehow: • HAPPY SOULS
MrBONES!: • Gmod Wonderworld
StarwarsMidi: • Duel Of The Fates MIDI...
RingLastNight : • Ventertainment - Nerd ...
Big thanks to my Patreons for the painting guardian set 🖼️
/ limitbreakers

[@LimitBreakers]

📌CORRECTIONS! 📚 1- There's 1 Priestess, the other 2 are Ng+ 2- Ng+ increases item discovery... ʷᵃᵗ

[@AtreyusNinja]

item discovery+ in ng+ is for ds2 only?

[@dragoona43]

whats the name of the song you used for the skelly squad at 13:50 in the video?

[@lcb6130]

@@dragoona43 its "cowbell cult - smoke" but if you look up "berserk skeleton meme song" youll find it too

[@the_guiding_qui]

@LimitBreakers also The Curved Nil Greatsword menu AR actually lies, for PVE it scales up to 200. The menu is closer to its PVP value, where it does actually scale up to 100. DS2 menu is pretty untrustworthy for effects.

[@bingbingwahoo]

the loveliest thing is that Dark Souls 2 is the only Dark Souls game where Item Discovery isn't even shown in the stat menu, so how would we even know 🤤

[@grfrjiglstan]

The DS2 dev team wanted to have a running theme where area bosses would stalk you outside of their arenas throughout the game, before dev time got too crunchy. Only Pursuer and Freja do it ingame, but I've got a running theory that Old Iron King's ability to dive into lava and reemerge elsewhere is also a leftover fragment from this idea.

[@TheInfiniteAmo]

That would have actually been sick and solved the issue of the bosses just being random baddies you fight at a dead end. I hope some day modders are able to put this game back together into what it was envisioned as during concept stages, or someone makes a spiritual successor that follows on all of DaS2's missed opportunity.

[@scrungobeepis5443]

Dukes Dear Freyja will also pop out from the cliff in NG+, and any damage done carry’s over to the boss proper so that’s gotta count for at least half a point

[@AtreyusNinja]

@@TheInfiniteAmo wdym is alrdy a better bossfight than all those in the second half of ds1 lol ( and the dragon god in demon's souls ) what is the name of that s boss? Ceaseless Discharge? my f god LOL

[@nathandesilva4781]

​@@scrungobeepis5443Damage done only carries over if you don't die before you reach her, iirc. Likewise, sitting at a bonfire resets her health as well.

[@scrungobeepis5443]

@@nathandesilva4781 It doesn’t reset, actually - Dying both before her and _to_ her will just bring her back to the saved Damage done

[@Phantasmus]

This video just confirms the world is ready for a sequel to Happy Souls.

[@dinobro4273]

We could have a trilogy of Happy Souls (DLC and NG+) but I guess a classic like it is only once in a lifetime.

[@namelessiam7792]

Omfg happy souls, one of my favorite videos of all time, if not my favorite all together

[@zenkozenko4989]

DUN DA DUN DA DUN DUN DA DUN DA NUN DUN! BWOOOOOAAAAAMMM

[@zzodysseuszz]

@@zenkozenko4989 lmao I heard it playing in my head

[@Bacharel93]

Happy Souls was the reason for me to play DS2

[@Spook_is_Back]

Dark Souls 2 has set a standard for NG+ that, in my opinion, should have continued in every fromsoft game after its release. I am consistently disappointed each time NG+ is not given the attention it deserves. The replayability of DS2 is something B-Team put a lot of time and thought into.

[@AtreyusNinja]

Ds2 replayability is God tier. The best ng+ fo shur (pvp helps a lot too)

[@cutuljo1606]

And now Armored Core VI did it better, each NG+ run adds to the story and gives you new story paths, bosses, weapons and mech pieces.

[@historicflame972]

@@cutuljo1606 Man even the dudes at Fromsoft know how good it was MICHAEL ZAKI FIX YOUR GAMES!11!!!£!£!!£" 432

[@-pressxtostart-]

Nioh is way better, new enemies, remixed enemies, enemies get new attacks every NG+, new loot, new loot rarity, new game mechanics

[@Opalthira]

Coming back here after playing lords of the fallen and they also dropped the ball on NG+

[@truepickle4956]

Love the Happy Souls referance, that is a LEGENDARY animation. DS2 really was a great game

[@KingLich451]

that animation is the only good thing about ds2

[@zzodysseuszz]

@@KingLich451 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHzKiKBribOYeKM

[@GIJane-nr2xm]

@@KingLich451 haha you obviously don't understand it...

[@graylyhen9490]

​@@KingLich451sneed

[@stolenname94]

​@@KingLich451the animation would go right over the heads of those that aint played the game. You can't really like the animation without liking the game because its riddled with references only players would understand.

[@SondreGrneng]

the phantom with the pickaxe and porcine shield is probably the most obscure hint ever.

[@Lofirainbows]

Omg I just understood this!?

[@LordSeptimus]

Is it perhaps.. The dark souls of hints?

[@frogradar]

explain?

[@Lofirainbows]

@frogradar Take the pig to the mushroom/truffle tree

[@Jadinass]

@@frogradar If you kite a Pig to a specific place in the spider area it will dig up a Pickaxe. This is the only way to get this item and it is the most random obscure method of getting an item in any fromsoft game. This phantom is arguably a hint as it's a peasant, an enemy in the area where the pickaxe is, he has the pickaxe as a weapon and he wears the porcine shield which indicates how to get the item (bring a Pig).

[@Squiggums799]

Don't forget that if you manage to kill Freja on the NG+ cliff encounter before she retreats, your save will become permanently corrupted. For some reason, she's a load-bearing spider.

[@Warcrafter4]

For those of you who don't know cliff Freja is hard coded to retreat at 50% hp and can't be damage below 50% hp as shown repeatedly in the video. So you have to use cheats in order to cause the savefile corruption.

[@Ghorda9]

@@Warcrafter4 or just do enough damage in one shot before she gets that low.

[@user-li2rd7uy8e]

​@@Ghorda9you can't

[@kazmark_gl8652]

​@@Ghorda9The only way to inflict that ammout of damage in a single attack is with cheats.

[@darkside267g]

That only happens only if you kill with petrification, which is only achievable with a cheat table. If you kill by any other means, nothing abnormal happens. If you watched (or remembered certain details) Zullie's video, you'd know this, meaning no offence of course.

[@rangopistacho6928]

the fact that they added so much content that It actually makes the game almost feel like your playing it again for the first tame just with better starting gear and stats is incredible, I wish there was this in every souls game and that they all did it diffrently, new game play us fun but at the same time I kinda wish that there was extra content

[@3volk715]

They did do that with Armored Core 6 and I love it, ng+1 and +2 both add lots of new content and even changes the story line or certain missions. I'm on ng+2 and I got to an area where I knew there was a boss fight with a huge flying battle ship in a city, but when the fight started I flew towards it and landed a blow and then a cut scene started and a mech I had never seen before came out of nowhere and destroyed it and he was now the boss fight! That stuff has really kept me going, I'm sad that I'm close to the end of my 3rd playthrough/ 3rd ending of the game because from what I can tell that is probably the actual end of the content.

[@MGrey-qb5xz]

Open world go burrr, seriously they messed up so badly chasing trends with elden ring especially that stupid game of thrones promotional crap. Should have just made a proper dark souls 2 spiritual successor

[@JC-kl3uc]

@@MGrey-qb5xz "they messed up so badly " not according to sales. As we all know that's all that matters.

[@historicflame972]

@@MGrey-qb5xz It was though, it was the ds2 the team originally wanted to make

[@MGrey-qb5xz]

@@historicflame972 is that a fact

[@teldoroteldoro4476]

I think Bloodborne was the one game that could have benefitted most from these NG+ changes, since the base game was pretty short. Imagine if some of the Chalice Dungeon bosses were just wandering around Yharnam in NG+

[@PierreLucSex]

Also bonfire ascetics. Also best souls ignored by Miyazakey

[@acethedisgrace4479]

Facts. Hope someone makes a mod like that if the game ever comes to PC.

[@Lank1ster]

​@@acethedisgrace4479 its never coming, maybe ps6 remaster, sony probably doesnt care anymore, even if its one of its most sold games

[@ldeeevs1747]

Elden Ring is probably the second candidate, just due to its sheer size.

[@Consumstra]

I don't think you mentioned it but item discovery increases by +150 until bonfire intensity 8 as well to a max of +375

[@redmoon383]

*I'm sorry what?!* years of academy farming wasted

[@abrahamrangel2326]

Finally! I knew i wasnt crazy! I always found easier to farm items on ng+2 so thats why!

[@ShreddedPizza]

holy shit almost 5 years of DS2 after SotFS came out and I NEVER noticed this, that's really cool actually, thanks for sharing

[@specialnewb9821]

I think in Demon's Souls too. DS2 feels a lot like a sequel to DeS mechanically, sometimes.

[@DedAlexFive]

Why is Item Discovery a hidden stat in the game; we will never know

[@SwaxMain4u]

I miss bonfire ascetics. It was cool to bump up the difficulty and be rewarded for it

[@xlgapelsin6173]

Hehe giant lord farm go brrre

[@anonecki]

Every time I beat the Old Iron King DLC I end up resurrecting Fume Knight like 8 times with ascetics

[@nemtudom5074]

I dont. It was a stupid mechanic. You want the rewards? Go to new game plus.

[@thecreator625]

@@nemtudom5074 I do have to agree with that. It disincentivized actually going to NG+, which sucks especially since it was otherwise the only game to actually give real incentive to going into NG+.

[@nikolajoliver]

who cares

[@guunarlarsensmith7148]

DS2 was the only souls game I did multiple ng+ runs on, so much content to enjoy

[@PomPomMeowMeow]

Same except for bloodborne. Every other one has zero new per cycle which was really disappointing.

[@LordDeBahs]

going to ng + in ds1 was servicable due to stupid slabs rarity and extra rings and chalenge . also whole process was rather fast . elden ring is worst in this regard . it needs something like ascentics badly

[@TheAwkwardGuy]

@@LordDeBahs Elden Ring NG could be easily improved with more Torrent wind-jump-thingies. It's so boring going from Point A to B over and over again at such a slow pace (You're skipping all the pointless dungeons so the world feels very empty). They could also just improve all the loot from dungeons or have some stronger bosses in earlier dungeons or something. It's just so damn boring going through NG+ in ER if you're just trying to wrap up all the achievements.

[@ZieIuX]

They are unique red phantoms encounters in 2nd DLC at ng+7: -Ash soldier duo (near 1-st bonfire) -Possessed Armor (next to iron scepter tower fog wall) -Possessed Armor (before bridge to the maldron tower) -Minotaur boi (tower key pickup) -Minotaur boi (before fume knight)

[@persona3897]

Thx

[@demilung]

Oh good, that area definitely was lacking in enemies

[@uuop9940]

you are one of the only youtubers who do this game justice, the videos you do on this game really show just how unique and interesting this game truly is. also where is miracle build old man

[@loboalcurry]

I mean I really apreciate how weird and unique this game is, but if it plays like shit I just cant really defend it

[@TheAmazingDrDinosaur]

@@loboalcurry it didnt play like shit tho. people just hated the fact you can't i-frame roll every attack and spam fast attacks

[@shield-snail]

@@TheAmazingDrDinosaur But you can I-frame roll every attack, just max adaptability and attunement 🤓. game was a lot slower though which I understand why people would hate it for that, I didn't mind it personally

[@wednesday8174]

​@@TheAmazingDrDinosaurit really did. Hit boxes were busted and you could be hit by a swing you already cleared, enemy AI was absolutely terrible, the wild ass difficulty curve that randomly spiked and dropped (sometimes within the same area), enemies disappear if you grind them too much so good luck getting items you might want, and ADP made the game an actual joke. DS2 is a mess of a Dark Souls game. It's not a terrible game on its own merit but it's very much a bad Soul's game

[@TheAmazingDrDinosaur]

@@shield-snail yeah i personally loved the slower pace. But then you have bloodborne, sekiro, ds3 and elden ring which are all crazy fast. So of course the slowest game is hated the most

[@miorioff]

Bonfire Ascetic was awesome. It allowed me to make pvp builds while staying on NG0

[@AtreyusNinja]

i mean, the only game that let u spawn a bossfight if u want to fight it again, best item ever made fr fr

[@ITBEurgava]

"I can't believe it comes in vanilla!"

[@hunterotte9555]

I wished 2 got the development time it needed. These guys were cooking up some cool and interesting stuff and I want to see what the fully baked product would have been like.

[@gellister]

This game and Alpha Protocol are the ones that come to mind where I wish they would get remakes just to help the actual vision get seen through.

[@YourLocalRaider]

They did, until FromSoft decided to remove like 90% of it so console players can play it. Thank you.

[@shakibahmed6044]

​@@YourLocalRaiderthat makes no sense

[@YourLocalRaider]

@@shakibahmed6044 Game was overloaded that only high-end PCs (of it's time) were able to play it. So, Team-B had to start from scratch again with a shorter development time, using what was left because of FromSoft.

[@graylyhen9490]

​@@YourLocalRaiderusual madeup lies by people who still larp in console wars

[@pizzatide8328]

Fun fact: Freja appears outside her arena in the day one release of Dark Souls 2 as well! Additionally her arena slows player movement like a swamp and torches have no effect on spiders in that version.

[@meci6625]

wait for real? i don't know how i missed it, i played the original day one version in 2016 because i didn't have wifi at home at the moment

[@demilung]

Oh sounds *fun*

[@ariloulei814]

I swear I remembered fighting her before NG+ because I didn't do tons of NG+. Thanks for confirming why that is.

[@Urusovite]

New NG+ encounters was definitely something DKS2 did far better than all other titles.

[@UnkleSurvivor]

so brave of you 🥹

[@Dude357]

I was so Disappointed when I played DS3 NG+ and it was the same crap!

[@mattiedarkmoon817]

​@@Dude357b- but new rings!!!!

[@Dude357]

@@mattiedarkmoon817 Yes I know they had rings+ you can earn but I'm talking about the experience. There was No new enemies or new boss behaviors added.

[@BioTheHuman]

​​@@Dude357h yeah, because random enemies who are not a challenge unless ganking is "fun". Devs should spend their ideas and time on NG, not on NG+ which will be played by only a bunch of players.

[@nikitos3558]

DS2 is a game where I still discover things even after many years. Like this one Heide knight in the Gutter.

[@greenhowie]

Yeah there's probably a deep lore reason for him being stuck there. Still really annoying when all you're expecting are hollows.

[@DARK-dw2gm]

he just wanted to be in a quiet and pitch black peace to be alone with his thoughts just like all the other heide bros

[@penatio]

Bro just flushed too hard.

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

I HATE THAT FUCKER! Keep trying to farm the Heide Greatlance from him for my Felicia the Fucking Strong cosplay build, but he always keeps dropping a piece of armour instead, which overrides the "guaranteed" weapon drop!

[@demilung]

​@@greenhowieI don't think there is. Like with grave wardens at Earthen Peak, I think they're just there

[@RichterBelmont2235]

Some background music I know of for those who are interested 3:41 Wood Carving Partita (Library theme) - Castlevania Symphony of the Night 6:16 Main Theme - Resident Evil Outbreak File 1 (also known as 'So Many Options') 9:15 Merchant Theme 'Serenity' - Resident Evil 4 12:20 Battle Theme - Final Fantasy X

[@ricekrissy]

Because I’m a nerd, here are some more tracks I knew myself: 1:49 Sootopolis city - Pokémon R/S/E 6:35 Checker Dance - Deltarune (Chapter 1) 7:55 Provincial Town - Final Fantasy 7 11:21 Shop - Undertale 13:36 The Circus - Deltarune (Chapter 1) 14:35 Nyeh Heh Heh! (Intro) + Bonetrousle - Undertale 16:31 Ice Cavern - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 19:09 Break The Targets? (I’m not exactly sure if this is the correct track, but it sounds a lot like a rendition of the Smash 64 track) - Super Smash Bros. 19:59 Dogcheck - Deltarune 21:45 Spider Dance - Undertale

[@Lucy2Juicy]

6:37 ?

[@ImpulsiveZombie]

Any leads on what the song is for 13:50 ? It's a heavily bass boosted, slowed version of *something* that I can't quite put my finger on.

[@ricekrissy]

@@ImpulsiveZombie It’s SMOKE by Cowbell Cult. I found it by looking up ‘Bass boosted skeleton’.

[@Wanderer1313]

0:39 We Are Thieves! From Final Fantasy IX

[@BlueShellshock]

Ah, DS2, I really did like how it mixed up NG+ to give a new challenge. You think you know an area and bam, pincer manoever by two phantoms, adds in the fight that weren't there before, and red versions of big mobs. Add to the Forlorn invaders which could spawn *anywhere*, and your NG+ playthrough could feel much different from your NG. I wish they'd done similar measures in Elden Ring.

[@bryanthomas1382]

Makes the walk to the skeleton lords a whole lot more stressful.

[@Dude357]

You have to realize that Elden Ring was meant to appeal to everyone. It's a Souls game for NonSouls players. If they added such a feature they would all complain about it. I know people who suck at DS1 and DS2 that can only hang in ER.

[@Dragostorm21]

​@@Dude357my dude, the only souls game with these ng+ things is ds2. I don't think that it's a elden ring issue, if anything it's a ds3 issue

[@weatherman1504]

@@Dude357 Nah, they also took out the expanded ng+ in DS3 too. I feel this is a general "ignoring good ideas from DS2" issue.

[@zzodysseuszz]

@@Dragostorm21well he’s right. Ds3 and elden ring ended up so shallow because ds2 tried to be creative and the stuck up pathetic community lost their shit. “Huh!?!? I have to time my rolls!?”

[@adampongor9984]

In the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC there are some red variants of enemies that only appear on NG+7 and I haven't seen anything about this anywhere. For example there's a red iron warrior next to the 2 normal ones just before Foom Knight

[@bingbingwahoo]

the extra phantoms make replaying that DLC especially dreadful lol, as if it wasn't already painful enough to go through them on higher NG+ runs.

[@esellwan]

First time hearing about this! Wild.

[@k0rriban]

*Fume

[@Gnulcho]

@@k0rriban Fun*

[@whyisblue923taken]

Foom

[@MikeHesk742]

I much preferred DS2's approach to fanservice than DS3. Lots of sets and weapons from DS1 could still be found in the game but the majority of it was hidden from plain view through the NG cycle etc, which let DS2 have its own look and feel on the surface but all the DS1 stuff still obtainable (and lore). Whereas DS3 was just memberberries from start to finish

[@AtreyusNinja]

True, also DS3 linearity suck so much.

[@shagarumedic]

@@AtreyusNinjatbf the individual areas are pretty damn good

[@protokyuubi4269]

They only made 3 such aggressive fanservice because the "look and feel" of DS2 fell flat on its face. They didn't have confidence in making something new, so they leaned hard on nostalgia to avoid making the mistake of DS2 again.

[@Killopotamus]

I agree and love how respectful the tie-in to the Lord Souls is while letting the game be itself

[@PierreLucSex]

​@@protokyuubi4269 I played DS2 after DS1 and DS3 and I think you are absolutely wrong. Fashion souls at its peak, still in denial are you.

[@coatgoat5462]

The Happy Souls bit just hit me with so much nostalgia. I've been replaying DS2 SotFS lately so this was *chef's kiss* and now I am even more determined to dig up NG+ shenanigans. Thanks so much!

[@renegaderaven3777]

Honestly, DS2 had some pretty neat stuff. They put a lot of love into ng+ for this one that the other titles in the series just don’t have.

[@MsUndertaker99]

Other titles have more love put into base ng and that's why they are better

[@orionweiss5418]

They spitballed a lot of ideas and some were great, but some of them made the game nearly unplayable

[@anonecki]

​@@orionweiss5418Like the infinitely respawning wraiths in the Undead Crypt

[@orionweiss5418]

@@anonecki Eh, I was more thinking critical game variables changing(adp), a gank centric philosophy which was nothing but toxic, weapons breaking constantly, or the start of the deliberate bs enemy attack delay that sadly got carried to Elden Ring, but there are many more options

[@zawarudo8991]

@@anoneckiskill issue. Just Destroy the statues.

[@KingCasual1986]

Can you do a video on how DS2 is the only Souls game that is allowed to be colorful but still feel dark? I can’t be the only one who appreciates this. I love DS2’s color palette!

[@JinTekyta]

Much as I love Dark Souls 2, Dark 1 is also pretty colorful. Not as much as 2. But yeah, 3 is pretty ugly and washed out. Dark 2 is absolutely the most vibrant and colorful of them, and feels no less dark.

[@darkphoenix2]

That's not really the style of his channel. He covers objective stuff, data and numbers. That would be a subjective video just about aesthetics.

[@TheDoc_K]

@@darkphoenix2 true.

[@vsGoliath96]

​@@JinTekytaI feel like Dark Souls III's grey and washed out color was probably a purposeful design choice in order to reinforce the themes of ash and the coming end of the world. Unfortunately, it has the side effect of making everything kind of... drab.

[@whyisblue923taken]

​@@darkphoenix2Aesthetics counts as useless data.

[@ThatRipOff]

The fact that fan-made content and in-jokes like Happy Souls still have such an overwhelming presence in the community even today is so endearing. I imagine the original creators of these videos and memes must feel so giddy every time they see little references to them. Very cute.

[@ExtremeMan10]

The lore behind NG+ was that with every cycle, you got deeper into said cycle and started to thread through fabric of reality. Thats why you also meet seldom "lost" enemies in form of red phantoms. Dark souls 2 best souls.

[@AtreyusNinja]

Best Souls 2

[@PierreLucSex]

Best souls period

[@takubear88]

The only souls game to offer and do anything of significance for playing through it more than once.

[@RLQFK]

its a shame the one game to do it has mid pve compared to the others

[@heyguysinternet]

lol imagine referring to the entirety of a game as “pve”

[@15wuhao]

DS3 had something until the ringed city destroyed it

[@Spookatz.]

​@@15wuhaopoopy take

[@SrTNick1]

I think for the other games it's so you can fight the fun bosses again without making separate saves right before them. Which is another problem DS2 fixed, with Bonfire Ascetics.

[@wabbit2099]

I love Limit Breakers’ combination of careful research and great meme placement. Truly one of the KZbinrs of our time.

[@BaldorfBreakdowns]

The meme placement is truly unmatched, even ones I don't get are still funny because of the relevance, context and timing.

[@godschi]

"i got a ring in there last night" made me double take, it was too good

[@frankgrimes7388]

Memes are for 10 year old kids who haven’t learned basic social skills.

[@BaldorfBreakdowns]

@@frankgrimes7388 How and why are you in a Limit Breakers comment section?

[@graylyhen9490]

MORBIUS

[@3therspark63]

The more time passers and the more people appreciate just how good DS2 is. Truly a masterpiece

[@lGhostWolfel]

For a game that went through development hell it truly is an amazing game, alot of people don't really give it a proper chance or don't pay close enough attention to some stuff such as attack animations and call it garbage, for example pursuer clipping all those people's feet, if you frame by frame it or have a trained eye like me you can see clear as day it hit them but everyone is like "OMG THIS GAME IS GARBAGE WHAT IS THE HITBOX, SKILL ISSUE FR OMG YOU'RE DUMB FOR PLAYING THIS AND DEFENDING IT" or this big one lmfao "ADP IS DUMB YOU NEED LIKE 35 TO HAVE GUD DODGE ROLLS" it's called stfu and learn the timings, just cause ds2 isn't a rolling simulator doesn't mean it's bad you in fact can dodge pretty well every attack in the game with the base 5 I-frames from bandit and guess what? level their adp 5 times and you get 8 wow no need to do 32 levels for an extra 4 I-frames when you can just get good

[@spideyfan1024]

@@lGhostWolfel 'trained eye like me" LMFAOO you sound angry lol

[@lGhostWolfel]

@@spideyfan1024 Apparently saying you have experience with a game makes you angry? That's the first I've heard this, you must be just maturing

[@spideyfan1024]

@@lGhostWolfel You know you're right. It doesn't make you angry. It makes you sound like a pretentious douchebag. Also, I'm definitely older than you. :)

[@sandalphon9088]

​@@lGhostWolfelpeople legit defend pursuers hitbox to defend the game lmao

[@senorgogagog]

Dark Souls II has by far the most steadfast fans. It's a pity that this game is either derided or dismissed as Dark Souls' black sheep. It's not a good souls game; it's an incredible one!

[@Relugus]

Dark Souls 1 goes downhill after Anor Londo, Dark Souls 3 feels like a greatest hits rather than a true sequel, whereas Dark Souls 2, despite its many flaws, is more consistent than 1 (without reaching 1's peaks), and more distinct than 3

[@luizhenriquebraunermoraes3175]

Best Souls 2

[@ulaznar]

@@Relugus I also prefer the approach taken by DS2 as a sequel. It has its own story and barely some references to the past game in a distant past, in my opinion the worst part was recycling Ornstein. If they ever make a sequel to Bloodborne, I want the DS2 approach, not DS3 approach (Remember Siegmayer? Remember Asylum Demon?, etc)

[@protokyuubi4269]

@@ulaznar DS2 is more of a side story. Literally nothing that happens in it is relevant to the main story arc, you can skip it entirely and lose nothing from the narrative. While 3 is far too referential, 2 is like a fan-made spin-off.

[@ulaznar]

@@protokyuubi4269 The "main story arc" only exists because DS3 decided to be a direct sequel instead of being a "side story" as DS2. If Bloodborne had a sequel, I would prefer a new story instead of recycling the characters from the first game.

[@aifos5171]

I'm 100% sure that the healer Amana priestess is in the base game, it's been a while but I'm pretty sure she's just before the third bonfire of the area, in the Scholar version at least

[@whyisblue923taken]

I remember one healing everyone while I was getting ganked. I think it's in the regular version of the game with no NG+.

[@raiiban]

I only ever play base NG in Dark Souls and recall the unarmed priestess being there, I remember following her around a bit when I realized she was harmless when alone.

[@LazloRTR]

in scholar there's 2, one just before the third bonfire (on the small indent left of fog gate) and one just after (surrounded by both archdrake and priestess and couple of lizardmen for good measure)

[@nathanjora7627]

I can confirm that there are at least 2 of them in NG0 in SOTFS, the first is located in the last gank before the cave with the bonfire and the bugs, and the second is located in the arena right after the bugs

[@kaltsssit]

In SoTFS there's two in ng. Base game she only appears in ng+

[@blake.1312]

The editing on your videos has been absolutely top-notch as of late. Keep up the great work!

[@Apostle728]

Gotta agree, this video was a banger. One of his best to this date! Hope he doesnt set this bar for every of his videos lmao. Dude is going to burn out

[@anonecki]

The male pyromancer in Lost Sinner's fight looks a lot like Laurentius, I wonder if that was intentional

[@Thisisaweirdthing2makeusdo]

Looks like moist critical

[@edwardbartkowiak8621]

I played hundreds of hours in every DS and elden ring and ds2 was still the most special. Rock on.

[@Tigerbro6]

I still miss the replayability that provided

[@jimijenkins2548]

Why do you miss it? Go play it.

[@UnkleSurvivor]

no seriously, grab some friends and do a NG++ campaign, it's still so much fun

[@BullySMaguire]

I missed the part where that's my problem.

[@DWFTW]

I still think the way NG+ was done had some inspiration from the Gravelord system in Dark Souls 1 (where in NG+ the red phanom enemies would appear when gravelorded), but man did I really enjoy the fact they properly changed it up. For all Dark Souls 2s issues, it has my most play time for a few reasons and NG+s actually being interesting (and worthwhile) is among them.

[@Shiratto]

Which got that idea from the Tendency system of Demon’s Souls adding new encounters and items exclusive to dark or light world.

[@Viper-py4pg]

the multifaceted/super layered and thoughtful editing in your videos is truly something to be admired/immensely proud of :3

[@wise_crack]

DS2 also had the best pvp. I spent probably hundreds of hours making various builds on my ps3.

[@AtreyusNinja]

So True

[@Arx_724]

If you jump attack the pacifist amana priestess with certain weapon (like a shield iirc) she'll get knocked down and stay knocked down. It looks pretty funny.

[@zawarudo8991]

Missed "I have fallen" opportunity :

[@kaghiti]

Happened to me and she just stayed in the water like she was drowned

[@WelcomeBub]

same with the blue apostles in crypt, works with drumstick

[@aifos5171]

The skeleton is actually wearing Vendrick's crown for some reason, but he's the coolest nontheless

[@BullySMaguire]

I missed the part where that's my problem.

[@Lofirainbows]

A couple of the skeletons seemingly have "insolent" equipment/armour; "relics of a party of once-proud clerics, they once attempted to subdue the undead-crypt...for this reason their deaths stand postponed; sentries to protect it from greater extrusions/attacks", they're seemingly graverobbers; hence the royal artifacts (I've long-since thought that Vendrick's resting place, was once the Royal Crypt; hence its location in the underground part of the Drangliec Castle area), the Undead Crypt reflects Vendrick's/the story of his kingdom thematically well. They're in Majulas mansion basement also, the same one holding the smashed Lord-vessel. Interesting... Majula is an abandoned encampment/settlement/town on the road towards Drangliecs Castle abode. Hence the abandoned armourer/Black Smith Shop, I've always suspected the mansion is Aldias, he likely occupied it long before he secluded himself in his manor/keep...

[@a2izo]

Vendrick? More like picklerick

[@Lofirainbows]

@@a2izo Deepest lore

[@adradox]

Deepest lore: those skeletons are you from previous playthroughs!

[@_Bungus]

I appreciate the calmer presentation and humor style in these videos. The varied and occasionally subtle references are delivered in a much more tasteful manner than I usually see as well. Anyway, this video, along with the previous one, has given me more appreciation for DS2, even though I always have the least fun playing it.

[@noisew4ll]

elden ring was cute, but we really need a true Dark Souls 2 II now

[@Jonk_Jonk]

I’m fairly certain NG+ let’s you buy the dragonrider armor from Magerold. And there’s a mimic in the iron keep right before the belfry bonfire

[@MamaTrixxieAsmr]

I believe it's ng+2 but yeah, he does

[@MadjGB]

Wasn't there also some stuff about a set that only drops in +5 or something I think it was from the spear guys outside the looking glass knight boss door Though that might've been the base game, it has been quite a some time

[@Empty_Bucket]

​@@MadjGBI think what you're referring to is the minotaur helmet.

[@MiseryLovesCompany263]

YES I am all here for dark souls 2 praise 😩 I seriously think the game and lore are super underrated. The discovery that the age of fire or darkness is a cycle by showcasing it in a completely new setting is honestly such good storytelling.

[@shira_yone]

Everytime I hear someone praise DS2, lore would be up in the list for most people so I don't think it's underrated. Sekiro is by far the most underrated lore-wise in comparison, not many people hold it in high regard on that aspect.

[@thegazellion9920]

The quality of this video editing is really special. As a long time fan of Happy Souls this really made my day with all the references.

[@KindredEmotions]

I never understood why DS2's NG+ model was never used again.

[@darkbladenexas]

At the time people weren't happy with the idea that the games difficulty often stemmed from adding more enemies rather than the bosses being genuinely tough on their own. like the bell gargoyles going from 2, to 8. Minions being spawned in boss rooms. So they likely scrapped actually altering later playthroughs to be safe. I did like that if you beat the game either without dying or without using a bonfire, it awarded you a ring. one made your left weapon invisible, the other the right one.

[@frankgrimes7388]

Because developers are getting lazier by the second.

[@daeamiralis1210]

I love your DS2 content, its refreshing to see it still show up this late into your youtube game. Helicopterman lives rent free in my head.

[@zawarudo8991]

Speen 2 ween 🥹

[@Golden-ek2ku]

I would kill for a full ds2 remake one day, this game had such an incredible vision that wasn't realized.

[@D.H.1082]

Watch, in 30 years a dev team is gonna get the rights to do a remake and it's gonna be the best video game ever.

[@Dude357]

Agreed! Dark Souls 2 Needs a Remake!! They need to make sure to remove Soul Memory mechanic, add 2nd phases for important bosses and add character name visibility.

[@Dragostorm21]

​@@Dude357probably also remove adp, and maybe even realize some of the weird ideias they had

[@zzodysseuszz]

Still the objectively best in the series. I think ds1 should get a proper remake, not a bluepoint remake that’s just a graphical overhaul. Ds1 was a fucking mess

[@Dude357]

@@Dragostorm21 Yeah we can do without Adp but Yui and Tomohiro had the balls to try new creative things. Sure a few ideas missed the mark But overall the game is Great because of their ideas. Not to mention Miyazaki rolled over some of their ideas in to DS3 and ER.

[@TheOneBearded]

The editing between this and the last video is absolutely fantastic. Love in every stitch.

[@Ma-Giik]

i love when you cover DS2 stuff, brings back memories especially with all the little references to Ds2 specific stuff from around the time it came out god i love ds2

[@StonyBlazestation]

You and Ymfah are by far the most entertaining Souls content creators. Great video!

[@jphataraki6764]

Content creator? You mean youtuber?

[@suedonnym]

I LITERALLY just beat ds2 ng+ for the first time as part of my platinum grind and then this video drops. awesome stuff oldman

[@suedonnym]

@@goggles789 I've had dark souls 2 since around 2020 on various platforms, had beat every boss a year or so later and now I'm finally deciding to true 100% the game

[@xviithestar2356]

The video didn't explain it but the chancelor wellager shop update lets you buy covenant items so you don't have to score 500 points in the pvp covenants!

[@darkjackl999]

@@suedonnym for sunbros just get summoned for bosses (i found dukes dear freja great for getting summoned) TRUST ME it is *NOT* worth grinding falconers for the sunlight medal drop, even with near max item find, also use the ng++ chancellor so you dont need to do the pvp covenants for the last couple spells These are the best advice i can give you as someone who also 100% it

[@suedonnym]

@@darkjackl999 already did falconers, only achievement left for me to do is master of hexes lol. and yeah the chancellor is great considering how dead blue arena is

[@codydotpng]

This is why I love Grime so much, they made so many boss and enemy changes for their "NG+", and it makes me long for more from FromSoft's NG+'s in their games

[@TheDungeonDive]

DS2 is amazing. It's the only one to actually have a NG+ worth a damn.

[@ForeverHeavyMetal00]

the only bad thing about this video is when it ends :( love this content and i love dark souls 2

[@OpticPlay_]

This channel should have 5x the subscribes with how much love and care goes into these videos. Thank you for continuing to make amazing content!

[@EhurtAfy]

Absolutely appreciate the editing in these videos, one of the few channels I get truly excited for. Legendary. Makes me appreciate these games a lot more too

[@IOUAK9]

I will never understand the hate this game gets. Terrific video, truly one of the best dark souls videos I've ever seen.

[@AtreyusNinja]

Ppl r mad cuz bad no Cap.

[@manjackson2772]

It's cause it looks like shit, sounds like shit, feels like shit, has terrible level design and half the hitboxes don't work at all. Hope you are now enlightened

[@YourLocalRaider]

​@@AtreyusNinja Every problem they complain about is either skill issue or lack of knowledge, it's consistent too unlike their arguments when defending their game of choice but hating it when DS2 does it.

[@yuri_8368]

because the only game they like is dark souls, they don´t want something different

[@robertharris6092]

​@@yuri_8368 im notba ds2 hater i enjoyed it but why would you make a game called dark souls 2. And not make it like dark souls 1? That defeats the point of it being called dark spuls 2 and not a unique IP.

[@calebsorrell6235]

No wait! In SOFTS, that harmless priestess shows up in NG too! I’ve seen her dancing around

[@NisseDood]

Yes shes one of the last enemies before the cave with the middle bonfire.

[@elvickRULES]

Yeah I was surprised when I played Scholar. Vanilla didn’t have her there and I though she would be firing magic at me too

[@BigMeatIncorporated]

Hands down the most consistantly amazing and continually somehow improving editing in the souls youtube community.

[@TheMixedMan]

This video was amazing. So well done. From the SOULFELD sketch Down to the hip-hop accompanying the skeletons. Thank you for this🙏

[@Terracronz]

People only hate on DS2 for the weird roll physics and the content creators back then constantly bashing on soul memory based PvP

[@kaschey6145]

I love this aspect of the game so much! It's been unironically breathtaking to find all the new items and enemies when playing on NG+ for the very first time. Incredible editing as always :D

[@woodysagan424]

Your videos are of great value to me! Alot of humor, Alot of wit, I'm excited evertime i see a video pop up

[@kamchatmonk]

There's a game called Steelrising. It's a soulslike set during alternative history French revolution, where you're playing an automaton dancer/bodyguard of queen Marie-Antoinette, fighting against an automaton army of Clockwork King Ludovic. In Steelrising NG+, there's new types of enemies with new tricks (not just reskins, they have new weapons and moves, too), new weapons and new modules (kinda like rings in DS). Best NG+ I've seen in a soulslike.

[@tantarudragos]

With DS2 it really feels like they were going for something on the scale of Elden Ring, but with way too limited resources.

[@DowneastRockstar]

Best From game ever. I love what they carried forward like dual wielding but miss the NG+ stuff

[@AtreyusNinja]

Tbf elden ring dont have power stance, it has Dual wielding, meanwhile in ds2 weapons to the left are rlly good even w/o power stance, and then thx to the power stance we even have more movesets 💗 (as well weapon arts and even parry with weapons)

[@DowneastRockstar]

@@AtreyusNinja i knew that would come up, and yeah Ds2 did it way better than ER. I just wish I could hop on and get the same amount of invasions, duels, and co op I do on ER.

[@donbasuradenuevo]

4:27 Miyazaki was not involved in Dark Souls 2, bro...

[@stinkfinga4918]

He was a supervisor, bro...

[@Audon4150]

I repeat myself every single video you make but I HAVE to say it again(!) : The Happy Souls references are always so much fun

[@Bones_]

Amazing video as always! Hoping these continue to get more and more attention because I don't think people who haven't watched your videos before realize how insanely high the quality is.

[@Sathrik]

The amount of work that went into this video is astounding. I am always impressed with the amount of high quality content you push out but this video in particular is completely amazing. The inside jokes, sound effects, music, everything meshed so well together! Great job and thank you for the laughs!

[@wilcher1679]

I love your videos man. Especially the ones about ds2. You show all the unique stuff this gem of a game has

[@benlavis3006]

Your videos are so bloody good. It's so great to see someone who genuinely enjoyed ds2, I have a lot of fond memories of it. Great job on the vid, look forward to the next one 👍

[@rsBadro]

This Freya encounter is similar to Midir encounter for me, anyone noticed this too?

[@juanferandrade2117]

Miyazaki saw a great a idea and decided to take it for the next game, ds2's dev team was really good even if people love to say it was the worst souls.

[@festivefish1103]

@@juanferandrade2117 Worst souls, still a decent game

[@TheRitva26]

DS3 noob spotted

[@frankgrimes7388]

@@festivefish1103You’re a gimp. Great game. Best Souls game.

[@Inuzumi]

I never noticed this. That's amazing.

[@NisseDood]

If miyazaki made DS2 shrine of Amana would have been a poinson swamp. He hates the game because all it got is one small pool at start of Earthen peak.

[@AtreyusNinja]

Miyazaki hate so much ds2 that elden ring is ds2 🙄

[@stinkfinga4918]

Actually he was quoted as saying he was forced off ds2 against his wishes, and forced onto ds3 against his wishes. I think he wants to do other things lol

[@sokpupetthebarbarian]

It's stunningly pathetic just how angry soulborne fans get when this game comes up. They'll act like being the worst souls game (it probably isn't) is some unforgivable crime, and here you are still making awesome content in it's honor. Old Man you are the fucking GOAT of soulsborne youtubers. Bar none.

[@AtreyusNinja]

So True

[@BonVoyage861]

I prefer Ds2 to all the other Souls series. And I get them.rxtta mad because I prefer Nioh 1 and Nioh 2 to the other Souls games also.

[@CoolSaver]

Man, i LOVE your videos! Your editing, sense of humour, jokes, memes, characters, sounds - everything, like, in perfect resonance with me. Every second of it is pure joy, and your new uploads got me excited every time. I can't thank you enough, Old Man (and his grandson, of course).

[@evo3227]

Thank you for making the video I've been wanting to make!!😊

[@bobthemutant2000]

The memes, music, and references to old videos always land perfectly.

[@KanaevM]

Yes. I was disappointed first in DS3 and then in ER that there are no changes in NG+. And doing no deaths-no bonfire run was fun.

[@Aephyn.]

I don't even know how it's possible to produce such quality videos, especially while they're still really informative. Fantastic work, grandpa

[@antonlavrentiev5249]

Great nostalgic video. Last time I watched one of your videos many years ago, it was a beefy sorcerer build. Couple days ago rediscovered your channel.

[@darkphoenix2]

So many things to appreciate in this game. And damn, that unique Shadow's mask looks so cool! We need that in Elden Ring!

[@andresr255]

The editing of this videos is sick!

[@trevorratchford3768]

such a quality video and showing love to my favorite game in the series. thanks LB ❤

[@Steele_62]

The nil curve sword fact is so cool I never knew it scaled like that and probably would’ve never known

[@UtubeH8tr]

I love how onlywaifu got people to play ds2 again cause he mentioned how kickass pvp was. After seeing the uptick in online activity made my heart fly.

[@Domin0Head]

These are fun. Ds2 is my favorite one, but I’m learning more as time goes on.

[@donkeybizle]

Editing on this whole video made me laugh so hard. Great stuff and spot on!

[@greatman3388]

The editing and memes in this were top notch, you had me laughing the whole way through.

[@totaldramagamer5521]

Btw, since I rarely play DS2 into NG+ (but I play DS2 the most compared to the other games), I'm 99% confident that the weaponless healer priestess thing in the water way area before the Semon of Dong also spawns in the default ng. I've encountered her several times across several characters, she only appears once, but I can't remember it being consistent so maybe I am misremembering. I don't thing she's specifically a NG+ enemy is all I'm saying.

[@LiquidSpider]

I can definitely confirm she spawns in ng, at least in scholar of the first sin

[@lil_sxrrxw]

scholar yes, vanilla no

[@asdergold1]

​@@lil_sxrrxw Vanilla yes, but it's before the tunnel. She's guarded by 3 of those fucks.

[@din6675]

DS2 is also the only DS game that has a different level curve, meaning you can get more levels with fewer souls than the other two games, and it has by far the best method for farming millions of souls legitimately. So many builds and weapons you can play with in DS2's NG+.

[@persona3897]

Bruh i hit like level 730 in ds2 back on ps3 All stats were maxed except that thingy with slots for cleric (i was warrior)

[@johnb3194]

This is so good. Love the edits, had me smiling the whole vid.

[@braydenfury9272]

This video goes unnecessarily hard, great video about one of my all-time favorite games !

[@The_Cooler_Will]

DS2 is the best for the simple fact that it has Falconers...

[@kimlee6643]

DS2 asserting its dominance, as per usual.

[@MrCho-2000]

Damn, the amount of work put into this is amazing. Salute to you my man!

[@trevorfatkins9930]

The editing and soundtrack for this video was amazing like I absolutely loved it