Part remix, part remaster, both platforms also boost its visuals and frame-rate to a level we haven't seen before on console. Be warned, though: While I appreciated this new challenge, it seems like Scholar of the First Sin might be a tough entry point for newcomers to the Souls series.Due out on April 7th, Dark Souls 2 makes its PlayStation 4 and Xbox One debut with Scholar of the First Sin - a new edition that tweaks enemy positions, adds a new thread to its story, and ties together all updates and DLC chapters released so far. For example, the single knight that guarded a platform in Heide’s Tower of Flame has now been replaced by a fire-breathing dragon.Įnemy placement has also been reshuffled, so even though I’ve spent upwards of 100 hours in the world of Dark Souls II, this experience felt fresh and unfamiliar. Powerful new enemies are now strutting around in early environments, making this the least-forgiving version of Dark Souls 2 yet. Many of Dark Souls II’s dungeons are bathed in darkness, forcing you to keep a torch on you at all times, and the illumination created by these crackling fires looks fantastic.ĭon’t let that distract you, though, because Scholar of the First Sin takes what was already a difficult game and makes it even tougher. Seeing Majula, Dark Souls II's mysterious and somber hub, at dusk for the first time is even more spectacular thanks to sharper textures, more detailed character models, and gorgeous lighting effects that fill the world of Drangleic. It’s even a little bit nicer looking than the original PC version. It’s taken everything that worked so well in the original version: the intriguing world, fantastic combat, and rewarding challenge, and noticeably improved them with a handful of much-appreciated adjustments and additions.Ĭoming from the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the most notable enhancement comes from the 1080p, 60-frames-per-second visual upgrade. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin does more than wrap up the original game and its DLC for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.