Skip to main content

Dark Souls 2 releases today on PC, and these screenshots show what to expect

Today marks the long awaited release of From Software’s punishing and engaging action RPG, Dark Souls 2 on PC. If you are curious about how the game may look outside of its original PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 homes, we have a set of screenshots and a new trailer to show you what you can expect from the port.

Dark Souls 2 originally released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 11, back when the publisher’s name was still Namco Bandai. Since then, the game has gone on to receive acclaim (check out our review for details on that), and the publisher has changed its name to Bandai Namco.

If you do decide to check out the PC version, be prepared to die. A lot. We have a few tips that might make things a little easier though.

 
Ryan Fleming
Former Gaming/Movies Editor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Soul Hackers 2 could have been the perfect Game Pass RPG
Soul Hackers 2 cast

Atlus created quite a bit of fanfare earlier this year when it announced that the Persona series would arrive on Xbox in October. But that isn’t the only JRPG the publisher had in store for Xbox owners this year. Soul Hackers 2 was a big get for Microsoft, bringing the Shin Megami Tensei style of gameplay to its systems with a fresh release. It launched at the end of August without nearly as much excitement as Persona — Persona 5’s Xbox release date announcement seemed to overshadow Soul Hackers 2’s entire existence.

According to Famitsu, Soul Hackers 2 sold an estimated 51,861 physical copies in Japan during its launch week across both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. While this doesn’t include digital download numbers, this is still well below Shin Megami Tensei V’s launch week numbers of 143,247 physical copies sold in Japan.

Read more
How to increase Soul Bonds in Soul Hackers 2
Arrow asking who Ringo is.

While all games under the Shin Megami Tensei branding are excellent JRPGs with great style, music, and gameplay, one aspect that the Persona sub-series brought into the mainstream was the social component. These games, more than any other, incentivized players to spend time getting to know and bond with not only their party members but a wide range of characters in the cast. While a system similar to this does appear in Soul Hackers 2, it is quite different from what those who are coming from a Persona game will expect.

Read more
How to recruit demons in Soul Hackers 2
Ringo speaking to Jack Frost in Soul Hackers 2.

Shin Megami Tensei games, whether it be the main series or any of the numerous spin-offs, all center around battling and collecting demons. Sometimes compared to the Pokemon franchise, SMT's demons do have a lot in common with that series in terms of how they function. You summon one to fight for you in battle, they all have elemental strengths and weaknesses, and while they can't evolve, they can be fused into more powerful demons. The major departure from Pokemon, and even differences within the SMT franchise itself, is how you go about collecting demons.

Read more