Even earlier than the ascent of Elden Ring, Darkish Souls 2 was all too typically ignored—and unjustly maligned, in accordance with the courageous, clever, and really cool souls who’re defending Darkish Souls 2 to this present day. A kind of devoted few, modder AoiYozora, simply launched what they name “a ultimate love letter” to FromSoft’s black sheep sequel: Bearer of the Curse Version, a “trustworthy DS2 conversion” mod that refreshes Darkish Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin with a set of mechanical overhauls.
Bearer of the Curse Version’s objective is not including new content material or solely redesigning the way it performs. As an alternative, the mod’s principal focus is on offering quality-of-life mechanical modifications to deliver Darkish Souls 2 extra according to design conventions from later FromSoft video games, add comfort, and sand down among the friction that may’ve obscured its enchantment.
For example, Bearer of the Curse Version uncouples dodge roll iframe length from the Adaptability stat, addressing an oft-reviled mechanic that made it obligatory for many gamers to drop a handful of their hard-won ranges into the stat simply to get their rolling as much as fundamental performance. Now Adaptability is solely non-obligatory, until you are notably enthusiastic about having the ability to swig your Estus flask quicker.
Talking of the Estus flask, Bearer of the Curse Version allows you to chug your therapeutic juice whereas shifting as a substitute of planting your character’s ft whereas they quaff, offering the identical manoeuvrability whereas recovering that Darkish Souls 3 and Elden Ring permit. Additionally like Elden Ring, the mod provides a devoted leap button that does not require sprinting, which ought to assist if you’re attempting to get to a treasure chest on the opposite facet of a difficult chasm.
Stamina drain has been barely retooled: Attacking and rolling will use the identical quantity of stamina, however sprinting will drain a lot much less. It is a change that leaves fight principally untouched, however cuts down on journey time.
AoiYozora has added further muddle to fill out empty areas, and has made visible and lighting tweaks all through the sport in an try to enhance the environment. NPC, enemy, and bonfire places have been adjusted, too, and extra shortcuts have been added to offer extra routes for circling again to earlier areas.
There is a decrease delay between actions in Bearer of the Curse, and never only for the participant: AoiYozora’s ramped up the issue in boss encounters by rising the tempo at which they will throw out their assaults, too. Nice. Nonetheless, the mod additionally allows you to parry and riposte numerous bosses, which can assist even the chances. Not for me; I am incompetent. However for somebody, certainly. You will apparently be rewarded for the hassle although, because the mod description says “A variety of boss weapons can have extra numerous movesets in addition to further weapon arts.” Neat.
Bearer of the Curse Version makes much more modifications than I may cowl right here, however its Nexus Mods web page has the complete record of options. All in all, it looks like a considerate, thought of effort to make the magic of Darkish Souls 2 accessible for gamers who would possibly’ve bounced off it earlier than.