Zombieheadbutt

@ChadMasterFlash said:

It's one of the games where you really shouldn't worry about loot. Most of the stuff I've found is usually on par with the things I already have. It's like Borderlands where if you find a really good weapon, like a possessed weapon, you're going to end up using that weapon for a while. Also Argul is a pain in the ass it took me probably 5 tries to kill him. Dodge to the sides and not backwards. There really are no brick walls as long as you're the right level.

In regards to Argul, what annoyed me was fighting to the bottom of the dungeon with no indication that I was out of my depth. I had to fast travel out of the dungeon and later over-wrote the checkpoint so that I'd have to fight my way back through the dungeon when I came back. The dungeons in the game are designed in such a way as to make going back through them annoying.

Firstly, I S ranked the original Darksiders. I absolutely loved it for it's modern spin on the Zelda formula, the God of War combat system, etc. That being said, I'm not enjoying Darksiders II nearly as much.

I'm not sure but I think it's due to the loot system. I detest it to the core of my being. I hated in in WoW and every game since then to try incorporating the idea. It seems to me that it has severely impacted the formula the original game used. In the original Darksiders you knew that every chest you found was going to be important. It would have an abyssial shard, etc. It's been awhile since I've played the original game but I remember being thrilled with every chest I found. In Darksiders II, I couldn't care less about most of the chest unless it the ones that have the maps or keys. Yay! Another green piece of loot dropped *troll face*

The reason I mention my OCD is because now I feel like I need to spend hours running around trying to create and find the perfect gear instead of just enjoying the game. I also don't recall running into bosses I couldn't beat. I ran into Gorewood and was annihilated and had to come back later. The OCD part of me says, "If you can't beat him now then you're doing something wrong!" Argh! I made it all the way to the bottom of "The Deposed King's Lair" last night just to be curb stomped by the end boss. Nothing up until then could even scratch me. The loot factor in this game as taken away my ability to just enjoy exploring because now I have to tweak my character to a hardcore degree in order not to run into a brick wall somewhere.

I'm pretty sure I'm just being nit-picky. Logically I know the game is technically and mechanically better than the original but some of its new systems drive me nuts.

Finally beat Sif and this time I didn't have any frame or input lag. I have no idea what is creating the difference.

Fought my way back down to Quelaag's Lair and killed her. I, of course, hit the freaking merchant! Gah! Right after that a soapstone writing appeared with a warning. Fought my way ALL the way to the bottom of Demon's Ruins just to find out I can't pass through that golden light. And let me tell you just how annoying it is to try to get by five capra demons while trying to get back up from the ruins. And those worms are the worst!

Finally went to Sen's Fortress and I'm batting a perfect game. I get surprised a few times but I pull through and then I get to what I believe is the VERY tip and take maybe a centimeter to much of a step and get hit by the guillotine and fall ALL they way back to the bottom and lost at least 30k souls. WHY would that not put a bonfire anywhere along that huge tower?! WHY!?

@TaliciaDragonsong: Thanks, I feel really stupid now. :) I should delete this thread if I can.

I think some people are having difficulties because of character builds. As I mentioned, some of us are having some very odd framerate and input lag in that fight. This game is very divisive.

After my tryst with Sif I went farming for Large Titanite Shards in Depths and got what I thought would be the upgrade patter of 9 shards. I currently have a +5 Battle Axe and since I'm focusing on STR I was going to go to +10 or 15 to take advantage of the scaling until I could do Lighting later on. For some reason I can't get the Battle Axe to upgrade beyond +6 and I still have 8 shards in my inventory. I'm using Andrei at the Undead Parish and he already has the Divine and Large Ember.

Anyone know why I can't upgrade any further?

@gerrid: I've already unlocked the Astora's Lock (that the right name?) that leads to Sif from the Undead Parish and its quick as long as you know the soul farming trick. My issue was that I couldn't summon other players because if your Human in that forrest your going to get raped or spend a lot of time raping others.

Those tips are very close to what I've been doing. I use a +5 Eagle shield and have enough END to let me block the 360 attack but usually I'm dancing just on the outside of it and do a dashing attack as soon as its about to end. Doesn't always land the hit but I'm full STA and deal a good bit of dmg when it does hit before she jumps back.

@Xeiphyer: Unfortunately, I didn't know that the boss souls could be used to craft items before I used the Moonlight Butterfly soul for just that, souls. :I No awesome magic shield for me. I have thought about giving Iron Flesh a shot just to see how it works.

@Aishan: I've long since given up on trying to piece together a coherent story arch (though the lore does fascinate me). I've only rang one bell. I've killed the Taurus Demon, Bell Gargoyle, Gaping Dragon, and the Moonlight Butterfly. I didn't go into Quelaag's Lair and kill her. I was ready to be done with that damnable swamp and didn't think I was leaving it when I went up that waterwheel (horrible place, that). I probably need to work my way back down and take her out. I also still haven't offed that horrible Hydra. I think the size scares me into wanting to leave it alone.

@ichthy: I've let myself fall into the "If if bleeds I can kill it" mentality at the moment. I deal bout 56 dmg to Sif right now with the Drake Sword. Anyone think thats too early? I'm actually farming Large Titanite Shards in Depths right now to get a weapon up to +10.

@Xerxes8933A: Its seems like I might just be low SL enough right now that the input lag is will kill me since I have to put in a perfect performance as a melee user. But I'm glad some people are finally agreeing that there is some input lag and framerate issues at this fight. Wonder why some get it and others don't? Thats the whole point of playing console games, right? No one has said they've seen something as bad as I've seen it yet. 4-5 second lag on casting miracles.

@SuperfluousMoniker: I don't think I'm too early but rather that I've been relying on the Drake Sword to much. I'm actually in the Depths right now farming Large Titanite Shards to upgrade an axe to +10. I'm SL 40 right now and I haven't been doing any farming but rather just sprinting through the game with my bad ass early game sword and not until I go to the Depths did I start to feel like it was coming up lacking. I've put in 33 hours so far so I hope I'm not to far ahead. I haven't beaten the Hydra yet so I'm thinking of re-prioritizing my kill order. I know I can kill Sif but I think I'm having some odd hardware / controller issues since no one else seems to be having the same issue as I am.