A Dark Souls 2 Story Retrospective

Dark Souls 2 is a brilliant game, that takes what dark souls 1 created and molds that into its own story. The Story of Dark Souls 2 is different, but it's great.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:17 Prologue
7:28 4 Great Ones
17:49 King Vendrick
32:10 DLC
43:30 Endings
47:45 Outro
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Music Courtesy of Dark Souls 2 OST

0;00 Firekeepers
3;22 Majula
9;14 Old Iron King
12;49 Lost Sinner
14;04 Dukes Dear Freja
15;22 The Rotten
18;13 Queen of Drangleic
27;25 Longing
32;10 Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon
35;15 Sir Alonne
38;59 Burnt Ivory King
43;55 Nashandra
46;13 Firekeepers
Outro Majula
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Hope You Enjoyed!
#DarkSouls2 #Gingy #DarkSouls2Story

[endermage]

The one boss I think you completely missed in this analysis — Cerah the Old Explorer, Ancient Soldier Varg, and Afflicted Graverobber; colloquially known as the Gank Squad — actually have a significant bit of visual storytelling.

They're a trio of NPC enemies deep in a random cave, and you can prove that they've hollowed by the fact they take large damage from Holy Water Urns. They probably went in here, got lost, and subsequently hollowed as they saw there was no way out.

Except it goes one step further! Look at their weapons. The havel man wields a Dragon Tooth, and the archer uses a *Dragonslayer's* Greatbow. What does this say to me?
This trio is a squad of *dragon hunters* -- or, at least, they were aspiring to be. And guess what? There's a dragon that happens to live in Shulva!
The Gank Squad were dragon hunters who came down to Shulva to hunt Sinh, and then got lost and subsequently hollowed.

[theslanderousgent]

Nashandra is actually hinted to be something dark before you meet her in the Castle. Her portrait afflicts you with curse and it’s so ominous and immediately gave away the bad juju on my first play through

[greypolar]

My favorite part was how anticlimactic meeting Vendrick was. You spend so long looking for him, psyche yourself up to go into his chamber...and he doesn't even notice you. Just shuffles around, hollow. It's hard to explain but there's something about that that was so cool to me.

[fishninja]

I never understood hate towards DS2 story. Its refreshing to see someone finally giving it praise it deserve.

[HollowProductions_]

More than Dark Souls 1 I feel like Dark Souls 2 needs a remake given how much production was changed/rushed/cut

[Oxy]

Once you obtain all the crowns and return to Vendrick they gain the ability to prevent death/hallowing. You still die but never lose human form and also become immune to curse. This leads me to believe the crowns act as a "cure" for the curse of undeath, but only for the wielder. Leaving even more possibilities for the "open ended" nature of the game. If you choose not to take the throne your character can continue to live free from the curse and either continue to watch the world decay, or attempt to find a greater cure or solution to the curse.

[SouzadeSavio]

The breakdown of expectation on our first time finding Vendrick is really well done. Something that i came to think about and love is the mechanic of finding "Souls of Giants" to be able to defeat Vendrick as a way of telling a story through gameplay. The more Giant Souls you have, the more you lower his defenses.
It always hit me as a way of showing that even having become a mindless hollow, the shame and regret of causing the war on giants under Nashandra's influence is still engraved in him.

[nuclearwinter]

DS2 has my favorites lines of dialogue, from the 2nd Ending with Aldia talking about our destiny, to the beautifully delivered "Seek strength, the rest will follow" from Vendrick.

I believe is a much more personal story, DS1 and 3 sell these great kingdoms and Souls, while DS2 puts you in total despair and not only wants, but guides you towards finding a better path to life, surpassing all the misery of the land to find something worth while at the end.

DS1 has an incredible atmosphere, and a first experience that is second to none.

DS3 has incredible combat and DLCs.

But DS2 has core, Vendrick and Aldia seem to talk to you, not your character, has a message that surpasses the fictional and real borders of Drangleic.
For me, one of the most beautiful games I ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

[MrPeachie]

Gingy - you’re truly one of the best voices for video game story analysis on YouTube, your channel is amazing!

[alexkuhn]

Alsanna really reminds you that Manus was once a normal person and not a monster like how he is when you fight him. Glad she got to meet the Ivory King who treated her so well. The Ivory King was a true leader who cares for his people, hence why he took her in despite knowing her true nature, that is also why he was so determined to stop the old chaos.

[jdwolf]

This is still the dark souls game I think about the most, I love the art style the story I really really like too it's so unique and it adds so many interesting things to dark souls lore, I also think the game has the best area variety in terms of how different and unique areas are, also majula in my opinion will always be the best souls game hub

[grrr]

The Ivory King is one of my favorite Souls fights. The first time I beat it it was with max human summons which I think is 3 other players so it was a huge fight which was a very unique experience.

[moonlight]

King Vendric's reveal is to me one of the best pieces of visual storytelling in the souls series.

[caramelkalin]

Dark Souls 2 was my first ever souls game and still my favorite one to this day, it's pretty rare nowadays to see anyone actually complementing it so have a like

[BrendanCS]

To me DSII was not about the cycle like DSI but about the 'cycles', plural. About the way that kingdoms come and go replacing one another, powerful beings inherit the lord souls and they too come and go, and the feeling of nihilism as a result, how the events of this age matter little as another will come along and die just the same. But once you confront that nihilism and meaninglessness, what you choose to do, give up responsibility and hit the reset button, or pave a new path with no idea what will come of it good or bad.

This game also helped me through a seriously rough time. The Majula theme song still hits me hard. The song seems to wander and forget its train of thought just as the world in DSII does. There seem to actually be many people with a similar experience with this game, it helping them through a hard time and all.

[Etticos.]

Of the original Dark Souls games, this was easily my favorite to play solo. I love how gloomy and ethereal everything feels. Even some of the location transitions (Earthen Peak to Iron Keep) didn’t feel awkward to me, but rather surreal. It felt like my character had gaps in his memory due to the curse and hollowing. That may be just how I interpreted it, but I am glad I did as it added to the vibe of the game to me.

[steveaugust]

I've always loved dark souls 2. It's nice to be able to sit down and just listen to someone explain the lore from a walk-through perspective. Good job!

[jadonw]

You have steadily become one of my favourites narrators and analysts of video game on Youtube very fast. You seriously do such a good job, hats off man

[abcdef-csjj]

Yes, let's give DS2 the love and attention that it deserves. For me personally the best of the series, I know not many agree but I just have the fondest memories playing this gem.

[blitzgirl]

I love Dark Souls 2's story and characters. It has far more intrigue than the other games.

Also, this and Elden Ring have some of my favorite voice acting/variety of characters.