Dark Souls 2 JP website translation

Dark Souls II
--------------------------

Kindle thy Despair.

2014.3.13

# About

## Let Hope be reborn under the Name "Despair"

Dark Souls II is a dark fantasy rpg centered around tense dungeon exploration and difficult, satisfying challenges.

In addition to the normal appeals of growth and discovery that rpgs provide, Dark Souls II aims to give the player a sense of accomplishment. The seriousness of dangers in the game fosters greater verisimilitude and more immersion in the world of this action adventure.

Another hallmark of the series ? its simple system for sharing your world with other players online ? returns better than ever in Dark Souls II with the introduction of dedicated game servers, resulting in a smoother multiplayer experience. Without any need for words, you can bring another player into your adventure experience.

Master the formidable challenges of this dark fantasy world, and the rewards will be great.

# Products

Title: 	DARK SOULS II
Platforms: 	playstation 3, xbox 360, pc
Genre: 	action rpg
Player Count: 	single player (2-4 online)
Release Date: 	thursday, 13 march 2014 for all platforms but pc
Price:	7800 yen (tax included)
Rating: 	For players ages 17+

# Prologue

'Perhaps you've seen it. Maybe in a dream...'

The past, the future, even the light...

When the shadow carves its seal in man, they say it steals everything from him. In the end, it takes even memories of what he has lost.

It leaves him a beast, hungry for spirits, called "Hollow" by the living.

Far, far in the north, beyond walls, lies the lost kingdom of Drangleic.

There they say lies the power to restore the minds of the lost: the Souls.

One touched by the shadow will find himself at the rusted, ruined gates of that land...

As were a gnat drawn helplessly into the flames...

# Keywords

## "This Land will devour Thee without Mercy."

The acclaimed worldbuilding of Dark Souls returns. Through item descriptions and NPC conversations, players will slowly unravel Drangleic's many mysteries. Dark Souls's peculiar brand of fragmentary storytelling will again set the player's imagination ablaze.

###Dark Sign

A seal that appears on the undead. Bearers of the sign will ultimately lose everything and become hollow.

### Hollows
Undead who have lost their sense of self, who now hunt relentlessly for souls. They are human no more.

### Souls
The source of all life. According to legend, they can restore the sanity of the cursed. All undead, even when hollow, instinctively seek them.

### Drangleic
Once a prosperous land, now fallen into dismal ruin. Here is the setting of the game.

### Human Figurine
A soft, warm, shadow-colored idol of a man. With it you can turn from a hollow to human aspect. Its appearance seems to vary depending on the perceiver.

### Estus Flasks
Green glass bottles made sometime in the murky past. Filled at bonfires, drinking one will restore strength.

They seem related to the fires that burn in the land of the undead, but the truth of this matter is no longer known.

### White Sign Soapstone
Using this stone, you can be summoned in incorporeal form to help the master of another world.

In this land where the flow of time stagnates and falters, the stone is a useful tool for helping other travelers.

### Cracked Red Eye Orb
Using this orb, those tempted into ruin by the shadow can invade other worlds.

### Soul Vessel
A vessel where one can entrust souls by draining them from the body. If one wishes to redo everying, he should try emptying his souls into the vessel.

### Pharos Stone
Activates devices left behind by the wanderer Pharos. According to legend, Pharos traveled across many lands, leaving aid behind for those in need.

# Character

## "We are Undying... or rather We cannot die."

In Dark Souls II, characters will sometimes aid, and sometimes oppose the player. In this cursed land, what are they directing you towards? Heed their advice with the utmost caution.

## Characters drifting through this rotting world

### Mysterious Hags and their Maid Millibeth

Three crones whisper out to the player when he sets foot in Dragleic. Under the care of Millibeth, who are they? What do they have to say...?

### The Green-Clad Pilgrim

A mysterious girl in green robes. She serves as a guide to player in Drangleic.

### The Peddler Merentira

One of scant few survivors of the peoples of Drangleic. Unfortunately he now seems half mad.

Having lost his home, he wanders with everything he owns on his back.

### Blacksmith Renegatt

A cursed undead smith. Though his body has fully died, memory of his daughter and his craft remains. He can fix and reinforce your weapons and armor.

### Armor Dealer Mafmuran

A merchant hailing for western kingdom of Bourgen. After many years dealing abroad, he's somehow ended up in Drangleic. The meager buisiness here is depressing him.

### Lucatiel of Mira

A warrior of Mira. Despite humble birth, he came close to knighthood through great feats of arms on the battlefield. Then the mark of curse took him. He has come to Drangleic seeking a cure.

### Blue Knight Grindock

A religious seeker, this knight's stout faith guides strict principles that he enforces on himself and expects of others. Despite admirable devotion to his sacred mission, he may perhaps be accused of narrow-mindedness.

# Single Player

##"Bearer of the Curse Seek your Misery."

In Dark Souls II, players ? taking the role of a cursed undead ? alight on a ruined land. To break the curse, they must endure many hardships and confront their own fate.

## Journey to a land of chaos

Dark Souls II features a huge and continuous gameworld. The player can walk from anywhere to anywhere.

Using open world design, Dark Souls II lets the player navigate freely through the complicated three-dimensional regions in a flexible manner. The game can be beaten in many ways, whether players follow the preordained order of objectives or strike their own path.

##Thrilling and strategic combat

While exploring you'll encounter monsters and engage in vicious combat. Learn their movements and look for an opening. Lose focus and you'll die in an instant.

We've changed all the monsters, improved melee and magical combat, and added a new dual-wielding system for more realistic and intense combat.

## Human and Hollow forms

When players die in the game, they turn from human to hollow form. All collected souls remain on the spot of death, and players return to the last bonfire they rested at.

If players die again in hollow form, their hollowing level increases and their maximum HP gradually decreases. Use the human figurine to unhollow.

Souls lost upon death will stay in a pool of blood where you fell. You can return there to reclaim them.

But if you die before retrieving them, the pool of blood will disappear.

## Brief rest at bonfires

Given the real-time gameworld and its dangers, players need some place of respite. These are bonfires. At bonfires, health and magical casting ability are restored, and the player can prepare for the journey ahead.

### Bonfire Uses

 * Restore HP and Ability uses
 * Change spells
 * Warp between bonfires
 * Recovery point after death
 * Respawns enemies

# Multiplayer

##"Over There... Art Thou in Need of Succour?

To enrich Dark Souls II's single player experience, one can engage in the series' unique online component. Doing away with any unnecessary communication and technical details, the game automatically connects interested players.

##Supplement single player with an asynchronous online experience

### Phantoms

If other players are playing around the same time, you'll see momentary ghostly forms. How they act may give you hints about the dangers ahead.

### Blood Splatters

When a player dies their last moments are recorded online. If you touch a pool of blood, you'll see that memory and might guess what killed them.

### Messages

Players can leave messages as hints. Others players read and rate them, restoring your health.

## Satisfying duels and player cooperation

## Summoning

Using the White Sign Soapstone, you can set a summon sign, letting other players invite you to join their world in incorporeal form.

Conversely, if you see a summon sign on the floor, you can invite an online player to assist you.

Up to three players can cooperate at a time.

## Invading

Using the Cracked Red Eye Orb, you can invade another player's world as a wraith and fight them in PVP combat.

# Roleplay

## "Pilgrims, Servants of the Gods... They shall aid Thee."

In Dark Souls II, players can experience the game with a set playstyle. For multiplayer, they accept contracts that force them to interact and roleplay according to predetermined rules.

## Contracts that assign roles in multiplayer

Dark Souls II contracts aim to increase the immersion of online PVP and co-op. By fulfilling their assigned game roles, players make simple matchmaking battles conform to the setting and story of the game.

Contracts exist for a wide variety of playstyles, including secret ones that players may find hidden in the game.

You can find and accept contracts by talking to certain NPCs.

### The Azure Faithful

A sacred pact with the Azure gods. When attackers invade the world of the Azure Faithful, servants of the gods (the Azure Guardians) will fly to their aid.

### The Azure Guardians

A sacred pledge of service to the Azure gods. When attackers invade the world of an Azure Faithful, Azure Guardians are automatically summoned to aid them. This contract also allows the guardian pass judgement on sinners, invading their worlds.

Reliable allies to the Azure Faithful

Invading the world of the wicked

### The Blood Brethren

A contract for the bloodthirsty. Those bound by this contract invade the worlds of other players and kill them. Making one an enemy of the Azure Guardians, this contract is best for PVP-focused players.

Battle between two wraiths

Invading the world
of another player

### The Warriors of Sunlight

Returning from the previous game, a convenant for sun worshippers. In this dark world, their golden countenance shines even brighter.

Yes, that pose is back

A trustworthy, grossly incadescant spirit

### The Bell Keepers

Protectors of an ancient pair of bells. When an intruder dares invade a certain location, Keepers will be automatically summoned to protect the bells.

A Bell Keeper blocks an intruder's way

Many more contracts exist in the game. Be sure to keep an eye out for them.