10 Video Game Sequels That Pointlessly Took Away Things Fans Loved
9. Tactical Combat Scenarios - Dark Souls II
Dark Souls is so known for its difficulty that its become shorthand for difficulty itself. In the past few years, for example, various players have labelled Cuphead, Crash Bandicoot and Spyro The Dragon as ‘the Dark Souls of platforming’. While that may be going a little far with Crash and Spyro especially, it just reinforces that if you pick up Dark Souls, you should expect difficulty.
Dark Souls II was no different in that regard, so at least it got the main thing right. However, the tactical approach needed to conquer the first game was dropped for war of attrition-style battle systems and level layouts, making it difficult in a completely different and less rewarding way.
The difficulty in the first game was more to do with trial and error, or very careful improvisation, alongside the unforgiving nature with which mistakes were punished. You needed skill and an eye for tactical thought to figure out exactly how you were going to topple the big bads, let alone make it out the tutorial.
The second game felt more like you were constantly in horde mode, fighting off endless swarms of slashable enemies. It was still difficult, but not in the way fans had come to expect.