Should I Beat DS2 Before Doing the DLC?
The Dark Souls 2 DLC, comprising Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King, offers a wealth of new content, including challenging fights, new areas to explore, and a deeper understanding of the game’s lore. But before diving into the DLC, a pertinent question arises: should you beat the main game first, or can you handle the DLCs in tandem? In this article, we’ll delve into the ins and outs of finishing DS2 before tackling the DLCs, exploring the benefits and drawbacks of both approaches.
Benefits of Finishing the Main Game First
Finishing Dark Souls 2 before undertaking the DLCs offers several advantages:
- Strengthened Character: Completing the main game first allows you to invest time and resources in levelling up your character, choosing the right stats and skills, and developing your build. This will significantly impact your ability to navigate the DLCs’ new challenges.
- Insight into the Lore: Beating the main game first provides a deeper understanding of the world, characters, and story, enabling you to better appreciate the lore and narrative elements incorporated into the DLCs.
- Increased Familiarity with Gameplay Mechanics: Familiarity with gameplay mechanics, such as navigation, combat, and interaction with NPCs, will greatly enhance your experience in the DLCs.
- Fewer Spoilers: Avoiding the DLCs until after completing the main game minimizes the chance of encountering spoilers, keeping the experience fresh and surprise-filled.
Drawbacks of Finishing the Main Game First
While beating the main game first offers significant benefits, there are drawbacks to consider:
- Waiting Time: Finishing the main game first necessitates a wait, giving you time to digest the experience and mentally prepare for the DLCs.
- Loss of Momentum: Breaking the gaming experience in two can disrupt the rhythm and momentum you’ve established while playing through the main game.
Benefits of Starting the DLCs Concurrently
On the other hand, starting the DLCs concurrently with the main game offers:
- Reduced Waiting Time: Immediate access to the DLCs minimizes waiting time and keeps the experience fresh, as you’ll be engaged in new content while continuing to play through the main game.
- Sustained Momentum: Continuing the game through both the main story and DLCs maintains the excitement and momentum, preventing downtime between play sessions.
- Increased Variety: By mixing up the content and challenges, the game will stay fresh and engaging.
Drawbacks of Starting the DLCs Concurrently
However, there are drawbacks to consider:
- Difficulty: Starting the DLCs too early, without a strong character build or understanding of the main game’s mechanics, may result in frustratingly hard encounters and an overall unsatisfying experience.
- Lack of Depth: Without fully completing the main game, you might not fully appreciate the richness of the DLCs, which may be designed for a more advanced player with a deeper understanding of the world and characters.
When to Start the DLCs
Based on these considerations, we recommend waiting until you’ve completed a significant portion of the main game, such as:
- Beat the Farrow Arms and Reach Ash Lake: At this point, you’ll have experienced a substantial portion of the game’s narrative, story beats, and gameplay mechanics.
- Have Reached a Strong Level of Play: Ensure your character build is well-established, you have a solid understanding of combat and navigation, and your stats are optimized.
- Familiarized Yourself with the World’s Lore: By this stage, you’ll have uncovered much of the world’s secrets, making the story and characters more engaging when diving into the DLCs.
Conclusion
Finishing Dark Souls 2 before tackling the DLCs offers benefits such as character strength, lore insight, and familiarity with gameplay mechanics. However, starting the DLCs concurrently can be an exciting and engaging approach, providing sustained momentum, variety, and reduced waiting time. Ultimately, whether to beat the main game first or start the DLCs concurrently depends on individual playstyle, patience, and preferences.
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Remember, the Dark Souls universe is all about exploring new lands, battling fearsome foes, and uncovering secrets. Approach the experience as you see fit – just be prepared for an epic adventure!