Dark Souls 2 is easily the black sheep of FromSoftware's Soulslike catalog. Even when compared to the other difficult Soulsborne games made by FromSoftware, it is arguably one of the most polarizing titles ever created by the developer. Despite that, it is still a quality title that provides many exhilarating, maddening, and enjoyable experiences one would expect from a Dark Souls game. But, whether players enjoyed it or not, perhaps it is time to relive what it has to offer.
If there is any reason to play Dark Souls 2 in 2025 it's because of what modder Yui intends to incorporate into the game: a much better co-op experience. By doing so, the multiplayer of the second entry in the Dark Souls series will no longer be held back by limitations.
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How the Improvement of Dark Souls 2’s Multiplayer Can Convince People To Play It Again
With Dark Souls 2 eventually getting a seamless co-op mod, the improvements to the multiplayer experience will likely attract many to return for another playthrough, potentially even those who have yet to do so. As for why it could potentially convince people, it's because of a few things that it can do:
- Its removal of the multiplayer timer means people can enjoy playing together for as long as they want without having to worry about being booted out, giving more opportunities for memorable and fun moments
- With it providing an option to modify the game's difficulty, it will allow a co-op group to take on the most powerful bosses of Dark Souls 2 in the easiest or hardest manner possible, ensuring completely new combat experiences
- The addition of PvP invasion means players aren't safe from intruders even when playing co-op, leading to a layer of unpredictability that will keep everyone on their toes and make multiplayer more engaging
While there's no official date as to when the mod will be made available to the public, its existence alone is a good sign for Dark Souls 2. If it's released with everything that it's expected to provide, then the kingdom of Drangleic may find itself full of adventurers yet again.
Why Improving the Multiplayer Aspect Is Good for Dark Souls 2
If, for whatever reason, one chooses to start over the Dark Souls trilogy in 2025 or give it a try for the first time, Yui's mod may be a godsend if players have always hoped Dark Souls 2 would have these features in the base game. Indeed, the changes Yui's mod can make to its multiplayer can help it be perceived in a new light, as the improvements it makes and the involvement of more players can help outweigh or even ignore the game's glaring problems, such as absurd enemy placements in restricted run-backs.
Although it's understandable why some are hesitant to give Dark Souls 2 another chance, not doing so would mean missing out on what the upcoming mod intends to do. Dark Souls 2 is not often considered highly among the best FromSoftware games, and yet this future mod could ultimately end up being a deciding factor in making people want to play the game again. In the meantime, future FromSoftware titles will massively emphasize multiplayer for anyone itching for a fleshed-out co-op experience.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- March 11, 2014
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Engine
- havok
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Dark Souls
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG