Unlock the Perfected Dark Souls 2 Experience: “Majula Revival”
Reimagining the Dark Souls 2 Experience
Dark Souls 2, the oft-maligned but fiercely loved sequel, has finally gotten the love it deserved. Modder AoiYozora has released "Bearer of the Curse Edition," a faithful DS2 conversion that brings quality-of-life mechanical changes to the game, making it more enjoyable for both new and longtime fans.
A Love Letter to Dark Souls 2
The mod, dubbed a "final love letter" to FromSoft’s black sheep sequel, is a testament to the dedication of its devoted community. By "faithfully" converting the game, AoiYozora aimed to breathe new life into the 2014 title. The goal wasn’t to add new content or revolutionize the gameplay; instead, it’s about refining the mechanical aspects to align with the design conventions of later FromSoft games, enhancing convenience, and smoothing out some of the rough edges that once obscured the game’s charms.
A Sweeping Wave of Quality-of-Life Changes
One notable example is the uncoupling of dodge roll iframe duration from the Adaptability stat, addressing a long-standing gripe that forced players to sacrifice earned levels for basic functionality. Now, Adaptability is optional, allowing players to focus on other aspects. The Bearer of the Curse Edition also enables chugging the Estus flask while moving, mirroring the freedom found in Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring, as well as introducing a dedicated jump button, allowing for more agility.
Sprinting, Stamina Drain, and More
The mod reduces stamina drain when sprinting, making travel more feasible, while keeping combat largely untouched. Additionally, AoiYozora has added ambient clutter, visual and lighting tweaks, and adjusted NPC, enemy, and bonfire locations to improve the atmosphere. Shortcuts have been added, providing more routes to revisit earlier areas.
Boss Encounters Get a Boost
With a lower delay between actions, boss encounters now unfold at a more rapid pace, challenging even the most skilled players. However, improved parrying and riposte mechanics against certain bosses will give you an edge. As a sweetener, some boss weapons will sport more diverse movesets and additional weapon arts.
More Than Meets the Eye
The Bearer of the Curse Edition is the culmination of AoiYozora’s passion and commitment to refining the Dark Souls 2 experience. With numerous other changes not mentioned here, it’s clear that this mod is a thoughtful, well-crafted effort to make the game more accessible to those who might have previously written it off. For fans and newcomers alike, this is a love letter worth reading.
Get the Mod
Head to the Nexus Mods page for the full list of features and to download the Bearer of the Curse Edition.
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