Dark Souls 2 Graphics Infuriate Gamers

Dark Souls II was released last Friday on PlayStation and XBOX to eager fans across the globe. With the much-awaited sequel to the extremely popular Dark Souls, players are finding themselves extremely disappointed with some of the new features. The largest disappointment by far has been the reported degradation in graphics and lighting quality seen in the game from the impressive high-def of the preview videos. There is striking footage sweeping the internet comparing shots from the sneak-peek gameplay next to an actual runthrough of the game, and the differences are blatant.

To be clear, this uproar is not over the obvious differences between the console versions and the PC version. Dark Souls II is a last-generation game, so the graphics in the PC version will naturally be better. The frustration has been with preview console videos compared to how the game actually looks and plays on a PS3 or 360. Many reviewers and avid Dark Souls players, like Techno Buffalo, feel that the lack of dynamic lighting makes the game look cheap and not as involved. Textures of environments and characters have also been reported as being sub-par.

However, some Dark Souls enthusiasts feel that the complaints are too intense for what the actual differences are. As Forbes points out, the intense lighting and shadows of the preview videos, while beautiful, made it hard to maneuver, and while having more light in the game is better for the serious player. Intense light changes can also interfere with the frame rate, which will slow the game down.

YouTube channels like Rhylar Gaming showcase live game-play so you can see whether the PC or console version is better for you. So before investing in Dark Souls II, make sure to do your homework and preview game footage.