Full disclosure I played this with the DS2LightingEngine mod which MASSIVELY improves visuals. It makes the lighting superior to even Dark Souls III and adds wonderful contrast and color to nearly every area of the game.
Against all odds, I ended up loving this more than Dark Souls. It's got such funky ideas, which fascinated and enamored me. Loved the torch being a must for some areas. Loved the stress I got from managing a balance between my stock of effigies and my curse status. And maybe most of all, I loved this game's irreverence for its predecessor. There's barely anything familiar here beyond fundamental design. The world is sprawling, introducing an awesome sense of scale. The tone is extremely grim, with everyone resigning themselves to the coming age of dark. It's a messy game, but what a beautiful mess it is. I can really see how this game was a major influence on the design of Elden Ring, for the better.
Against all odds, I ended up loving this more than Dark Souls. It's got such funky ideas, which fascinated and enamored me. Loved the torch being a must for some areas. Loved the stress I got from managing a balance between my stock of effigies and my curse status. And maybe most of all, I loved this game's irreverence for its predecessor. There's barely anything familiar here beyond fundamental design. The world is sprawling, introducing an awesome sense of scale. The tone is extremely grim, with everyone resigning themselves to the coming age of dark. It's a messy game, but what a beautiful mess it is. I can really see how this game was a major influence on the design of Elden Ring, for the better.