While FromSoftware’s Dark Souls game was revolutionary in every sense, its sequel Dark Souls 2 just couldn’t strike the right chord. The first game was acclaimed as one of the greatest video games ever made by many.
When it comes to its 2014 sequel, it did win quite a few awards, including Game of the Year. However, true loyalists of the franchise were left underwhelmed with the sequel. Although the issue wasn’t largely addressed, the creator Hidetaka Miyazaki may have revealed the reason and no one noticed.
Here’s why Dark Souls 2 lacks Miyazaki’s touch
In a 2017 interview with Future Press for their official collector’s guide about Bloodborne, Miyazaki mentioned he was not actively involved in the making of Dark Souls 2. Miyazaki was generally asked if he was interested only in creating something new. To this he replied,
“That’s a difficult question and I can’t really say for certain. Working on an all-new game is definitely appealing, but on the other hand—and I felt this way while working on Artorias of the Abyss Edition—but there is a unique kind of fun when you’re working on a sequel. You can make lots of straightforward additions to what you’ve already built, and there are a lot of things you can take for granted, allowing you to really expand on the scope of the game.”
While answering the same question, he happened to mention that he was “removed from the development of Dark Souls 2.” He added,
“Partially because development on Artorias of the Abyss Edition and Dark Souls II was going on simultaneously, I was kind of removed from the development of Dark Souls II and then I began work on Bloodborne. As it turns out, I’m having a ton of fun working on it, too.”
Needless to say, he was questioned on why he removed himself from the development of the sequel. Dark Souls was Miyazaki’s brainchild and its massive success resulted in a sequel. It was pretty obvious that the sequel would be a huge title too that could potentially decide the fate of the company. Knowing these things and still putting someone else in charge of the project seemed like a crazy business decision.
Miyazaki explained,
“I understand what you’re saying. I’m not in a position to say what kind of decision the company made at the time, but my thought on that matter was that the Dark Souls II project could be a huge chance for even someone other than myself. I had already received plenty of chances, and if someone else in the company could take that same chance and make good on it, then From Software could grow as an organization.”
He further claimed that as a developer, he wanted to witness what kind of possibilities were in store when he unshackled himself from the base concept of Dark Souls.
What went wrong with Dark Souls 2?
After Miyazaki‘s apparent removal from the sequel, the development of Dark Souls 2 ultimately fell on the two directors, who had different visions. Due to the disagreements, one of them exited the project after a huge portion of the game had already been made.
Naturally, the game stood in bad shape. The only director left, Yui Tanimura, did not have adequate time on his hands to redo everything. Thus, a “pretty unpolished” product was put up on the shelves in the form of Dark Souls 2.
While issues such as a bizarre story, the lackluster cast of characters, dull looks, and repetitive bosses were prevalent in the sequel, the biggest problem existed in its level design. Fans received a larger and streamlined open world in exchange for the expected intricately connected world of the original.
Lastly, loyalists did sense the absence of Miyazaki’s touch of signature elements in Dark Souls 2. The creator’s comments of “removal” from the project further explain why.
