Where the previous game let you level up at any bonfire, here you'll need to return to Majula and talk to the mysterious green-cloaked lady who hangs out near the Majula bonfire. A whole new set of areas awaits.Īs in any good RPG, leveling is a key part of Dark Souls 2. Surely you noticed the giant pit in the center of Majula? At some point later in the game - when you have a lot more health and a lot more souls to spend - you'll want to purchase that ring, equip it, and begin the long, terrifying process of dropping down that hole. The feline also has a few things for sale, most notably a ring that decreases damage taken by falling. This creature allows you to manage your status with covenants - groups that affect online play. Across from him is a house containing a talking cat.

His list of armor and weapons for sale will grow as you progress through the game, so be sure to check in from time to time. In the group of three houses, the house on the left as you approach has the game's first merchant. There are a few characters you should take note of immediately.

Many of the characters you find as you explore will make their way back here, and you'll return constantly to purchase items, upgrade your equipment and level up. This zone is essentially your hub city in Dark Souls 2. Center of the worldĪfter you leave the tutorial area, you'll enter Majula. Running in wildly swinging an axe will get you killed swiftly and painfully, even by low-level, early-game enemies. You need to watch an enemy's attack patterns, make your own moves only when there's an opening, and then back off and rest. More so than almost any other game I've ever played, combat in Dark Souls is about patience. Do too many actions at once without taking time for your stamina to refill, and you can be caught by an enemy, unable to roll away or block an incoming attack. There are two stats you need to keep track of at all times: your health and your stamina, both represented by bars in the upper left corner of the screen.Įvery action you do - blocking a hit, swinging your weapon, dodging out of the way - drains some of your stamina meter. If you've never played a Souls game before, you're going to quickly realize that combat in Dark Souls 2 feels quite a bit different than most third-person action games. In addition to learning some lessons about how everything works, you'll be able to pick up a few basic items, weapons, and bits of armor to start your journey stronger. However, even if you're a hardcore fan, I suggest going through the tutorial and thoroughly exploring the zone it takes place in your first time through the game. This means if you've played the game before or feel like you have a grasp on the skills necessary, you can run right through and begin the game proper. It's worth noting that unlike in previous Souls games, the tutorial is completely optional and does not feature a boss at the end. Once you've picked a class, you'll enter Dark Souls 2's tutorial area. This class has all-around balanced stats and starts the game with a shield, making it a great choice for surviving early on. If you'd prefer to go down this path right from the start, I recommend the warrior. On the other hand, a lot of fans will tell you (rightfully so) that the real joy in Dark Souls is in melee combat. You begin with a powerful spell, and you can take out a lot of enemies just by keeping at a distance. Every time you level up, you'll choose which stat to pump points into, so even if you start as a magic user you can build yourself into a beefy, sword-wielding knight eventually.Īs far as starting classes, sorcerer is a great choice for beginning players who are a little bit cautious about wading into combat.

Class choices work differently in Souls games compared to most role-playing games. Choose your class carefully but also don't get too worried. Character creationĪfter a short introductory sequence at the start of Dark Souls 2, you'll create the hero you'll be spending the next 50-100 hours with.

Here are a few (largely spoiler-free) hints to help you on your way. Whether you're fresh to Dark Souls or a returning fan who mastered the first game, there's a lot to figure out in Dark Souls 2. But it's still a Souls game it's still got a lot of quirks to learn, strategies to master and secrets to uncover. In my review of Dark Souls 2, I argue that this third iteration of From Software's Souls series is the most approachable yet.

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