Darkest Dungeon VS Darkest Dungeon 2 : Which is Better?! 

I like dd2, it's more replayable (it kinda has to be as a rogue like) and that's something I value in games. Dd1 is kind of a masterpiece to me, obviously still has some issues but it's the closest you're going to get to perfect imo, and expecting a sequel to top it is just insane. Red hook switched up the formula completely and I really appreciate it because while new content under the DD1 gameplan would be amazing to me it would definitely get stale after a while. I found myself eventually getting bored with the base game and needing mods to go back to it, the same thing a lot of people have with Skyrim. The complete change in gameplay left me with the fresh feeling of childlike exploration and terror as I delve into the unknown. DD1 is actually quite easy when you know everything about the game, so having a fresh experience that I know really nothing about but still with the atmosphere, characters, combat of darkest dungeon was something I really loved. I also though the atmosphere for this one was actually better thanks to the amazing art. Travelling by a horse drawn carriage through muck and filth, disease ridden catacombs, I was so immersed that I legit couldn't take my eye off the screen there was always something interesting to look at and I'm the type of gamer who usually has RU-vid or a TV show open on another device to watch while I play but I didn't with this game I was just enthralled. The only change I don't really like is the new relationship system, I liked the old one a lot more where there were different types of breakdowns and resolutes that add a level of complexity to each one. I also don't really like that you can lose your resolute buffs so fast, it can really feel like you just get shafted by the game giving you something good and then immediately taking it away from you before you can use it effectively, that's not a good feeling. Overall it's a 9/10 for me. It's as good as DD1, just different and that's a good thing because it provides a new and fresh experience while keeping faithful to the darkest dungeon formula. If the breakdowns/resolutes were more impactful/interesting I could see it being a 10/10 for me which I only have 2 of.

What I enjoy about DD2 is the fact that it different from the original. Red Hook did a phenomenal job with the first game, but to recreate a sequel in the same vein as that wouldn't bring anything new that the modders of DD1 hadn't brought to the game already. And with DD2 we get the same flavour, now it just a new style, and a far more rogue-like experience. To me, Red Hook just offered two fantastic different experiences with a feel that is completely unique to that studio.

So far I’ve been enjoying DD2 more than the original, but one thing I really love is how it doesn’t try to act as a sort of replacement for the original game

I liked the management of DD1 overall despite a lot of it being kind of tedious busy work. But I really liked how you can multiple characters of the same class since you can specialize one character for one role and another for a different role. Like how you can have a ranged Highwayman and a melee highwayman. You can also have multiple characters of the same class. I like that XCom style squad management.

I tried to keep an open mind about the changes to the second game, but I just don’t like them. My biggest issue is the lack of team comp variety. Having to stick with the same 4 heroes every run sucks, especially since im used to switching out and playing with a new team every mission. Not to mention, I can’t do any wacky team comps with multiple of the same character, like double highwayman in the front.

The radiant flame lowers the income of candles, which slows your progression. I consider it a good addition since at the start your unlocked heroes don't have all the skills or paths unlocked, so the radiant flame makes things more fair. Once the heroes have everything unlocked I never felt the need of using the radiant flame and I started playing without one. Once you are confident you start using infernal flames, for fun, if you like to suffer, which you probably do if you are playing DD2.

All the technical aspects and gameplay design aside (Which I still pefer the original to the sequel), the fact that I can play DD1 on my ipad while outside, come back and continue on pc is something DD2 can’t compete against. I like 2, though if 1 is a 10/10, 2 is a 8.5/10. Game will continue getting updated so in 2 years I expect the 2nd iteration to at least be a 9 by then. Also probably because I am experienced from the original, 2nd game feels stupidly easy without infernal flames. I completed all 5 acts in 40 or so hours, no radiant. Didn’t even know what heroes are good, what abilities do shrines unlock etc. I just watched a guide for act 3 boss.

You: Which is Better?! Me: Both. Both is good

in my opinion, they are the same game, done in different genres of play. one with ease of access of roguelikes, and one with complexities in preparation and managing squads.

I have beaten all bosses in both games and I have no feeling to go back to dd2 and beat them again but I would for dd1, which makes me feel bad since in dd2 its focused on beating the same 9 bosses over and over again. In dd1 you could chose to just ignore all of the bosses and go for the final one, in dd2 you have to fight at least 1 of the 4 bosses you see endlessly and some of the trinkets are pretty bad so I have to go and fight another of the 4, so I end up seeing 2 of the 4 and at that point I feel like every time I play its the same. One more thing not a really good point but when i feel like opening dd1 and playing i get to chose hey I just wanna play in the ruins cuz I feel like it and well you cant in dd2. Overall id say that dd2 looks great and the animations are really nice but I also liked the art in dd1 and I feel like the game play suits me more.

Good review man keep up the good work

Great video! I love the changes to the sequel and I don't feel as fatigued trying to play through it as much. Subscribing RIGHT NOW

I can see this channel having 1mil subscriber a couple years laters. Good luck

i have not played either of these games and was looking to purchase one of them, thanks for the vid (:

I'm currently having a blast playing DD2, and this review honestly just makes me want to try DD1 too lol. I'll miss how the character animations look and animations tho, Chosen Und... I mean, Crusader looks gorgeous while smiting monsters

Haven't played DD2 yet, but im about 80% finished of the first game. (Iv got Countess, All level 3 bosses and the Heart to go) Personally I think il probably like DD2 more then DD1 (1 is still a good game) just for the simple fact 2 is more like a rogue like to a RPG. The thing that annoys me with 1 is how grindy it can be and that I have to fit trinkets and change party layouts before every dungeon run I do. It can be quite time consuming. Also the stat system has to be one of the hardest to get of all the RPGs iv played in my life. DD2 token system eliminated all that and simplified it. You pick a party at the beginning of your run and that's your team. Unlike in DD 1 where you can have over 30 different heroes and have to change these out for each run.

Radiant Flame does have a downside, at least from lv 1 to 3, which is a 15 or 25% (idr) candle penalty. Lv4 doesnt have a this tho, but you know, you have to fail 3 runs in a row, and you can still just dont equip it.

though there are no dungeons, i feel like the atmosphere is still insanely well done, it's just that instead of having the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a place that gets darker and darker as you move in you have an endless road to traverse, only to do it again once you reach the next checkpoint

Yup, that basically sums it up, dd2 more casual and dd1 is more complex and has more depth, but i do wish some thing from dd2 were in the first game, i think i would be very cool to see relationships in the first game

1:41 the arrow pointing at the stun resistance actually killed me 🤣🤣😂

The thing about hopelessness in dd2 is that you're carrying the torch, and its fire is hope itself. How are your suppose to be hopeless while carrying that hope

I never really considered DD1 a roguelike. Sure, there's permadeath, but that's as far as the "roguelike" aspect goes for that game. In true roguelikes, the game is separated into runs, the progression is squished to a single run with only slight increases and unlocks between runs and crucially it doesn't matter whether you win or lose - one's run progress is still reset. In DD1 your progress carries over expeditions and more than that - there's a levelling system, which means the permadeath system just makes it so one has to run backup characters and if they lose a character in later stages, they have to grind a new character on previous stages to get them to an acceptable power level compared to the deceased. Personally, I could never get into DD1, as it just felt tedious. DD2 makes it so the loss of a party member is stil incredibly impactful for that run, but I don't have the urge to uninstall the game thinking about what that means for my next in-game activities for the next few hours when it happens.

TBH, i liked micro management, min maxing and trying different combinations including spamming Antiquarian for dodge team and money, or making Leper ultimate 1000 dps machine, or healing + spamming Blight abominations in the middle while back and front just support them. Or the WALL etc. While min-maxing in the village preparations, PREPARATIONS were super important, and I loved that the further the game the harder it was (except when you spam-farmed enough and you really know the game). I liked hidden mechanics and discovering all of that, I liked when my party was wiped out because I did not know about schambler, or I got wrong rolls. Seems like most of the things I loved in DD1 are missing in DD2 and that makes me kind of sad, ngl. I KIND OF wanted more of the same, just bigger,better,more class, scarier monsters, better graphic, different regions. I know MODS, but they are not balanced and mostly make the game easier etc. Well, ill try DD2 again, but its... just different game man.

For anyone who does want to play more of dd1, black reliquary is a dev- approved mod thats essentially a new game, with a different setting, new areas and enemies, and retuned combat to last longer. Also musketeer is a completely unique charecter from arb.

they are both very good, but comparing them is kind of hard because of how different they are

I loved DD1, but the final dungeon was a wall could not get past with even the best party amd prep and didn't want to grind out a whole other team.

DD2 has more enjoyable gameplay due to less random BS but has a godawful early game where you pretty much have nothing and have to slowly build up your roster and loot pool also it might just be a specific confession, because in the 3rd one "Obsession" the radiant flame has a downside of reducing the amount of candles of hope (meta progression currency) you get by 15% edit: you just have an old version of the game (without binding blade DLC cuz i see no duelist) and with the old relationship act out screen

Both? Both.

Art, fundamental design, character roster, ease of modding. All reasons I will stick with DD1

This game is Oregon Trail on Crack

There is actually a downside to the Radiant Flame now, it is -15% candles. So more of a decision really

dd2 should have been called another thing but kept in the same universe

Aside the excelent ending ( ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ), a nice opinion and review of both games, with valid points. The Radiant Flame is basically the 'easy mode' for those who want an easier time, and with candles you can unlock the Hard Mode Flame too, if somehow this nightmare of rng isn't difficult enough. Looks like i'll have one more content creator to follow~

Honestly, hate DD2, feels like a lot of DD was stripped and changed just because. Hate the art style compared to 1, and the game just doesn't feel like 1. And before anyone replies stupidly that I only wanted more of DD1, yes, that is the entire point of a sequel. More of what the first one did, while fixing the stuff that didnt work. And a lot of DD2 just does not work. Edit: if they instead of calling the game Darkest Dungeon, but instead say Darkest Trip, I wouldn't be as critical as I am. Would probably hate it a lot less.

I havent played DD2 yet has I want to finish DD1 first but the problems it's incredibly hard for me to keep a decent team going without abandoning all morales and sending a sacrifice group to get gold, artifacts and other nit nacks you need.

I prefer the first game, the thing I enjoyed was managing my roster.

Best outro line of all time

Yes

Idk why it’s not showing but for me the torch reduces my candles of hope by 15%

The thing is, the Dungeon in Darkest Dungeon 2 is not the actual Dungeon but it's meant to be a metaphor of a person's mind. The game basically explains this to you in such an obvious way. This is why we have hero shrines, confessions, the importance of Hope, basically anything that describes the internal struggles and regrets of the Antagonist, as well as the characters that we play.

dd1

I loved the first darkest dungeon, even if I never beat it. It actually needed the disclaimer at the front of the game that came with it. But 2 doesn't hold a candle to it, honestly. The torch feels like it was a forced add-in and the lack of management doesn't make it feel like I'm actually gaining anything from it. The runs are pure RNG without any ability to mitigate based on preparation beyond slightly increasing the units stats or resistances before the next run. The lack of crusader frustrates me, but very likely he's gone the way of the Abomination, or much less likely the Antiquarian. But what isn't forgivable is the change to bounty hunter. What's the point in unlocking someone if I still have to pay to use them...every time. Favorite character, just gone. I will give them credit where credit's due. The game very much holds on to the eldritch horror themes, and does .....eh adequately, at inducing the stress that comes with a seemingly hopeless scenario. The character design, both thematically and mechanically, is fantastic. None of the characters feel useless, even if they are a bit niche, and the alternate paths for them allows you to use them in their niche better, or just the way you normally use them but excelling at it. You're spot on Jat.

Wow!

I respect red hook trying to do something fresh for the sequel, but man, I question why they went in this new direction when it feels worse in most ways compared to dd1’s concept. If there’s one thing the games have in common though, it’s that both of them are controversial in terms of fan reception

DD1 all the way! That said, it’s an almost near impossibility to make a sequel to perfection! DD2 is good on its own …feels more like a spoon-fed theme park without the freedom of DD1.

I need Cru-chad-man. Beside, fronter in dd2 are very weird.

character roster and well the modding community will just flat out stay better so dd1 to me

I think it’s fair to say Darkest Dungeon 2 is a better game while Darkest Dungeon 1 is a better experience. The combat mechanics have improved exponentially, along with the variety of team builds thanks to the new paths, skill design, and introduction of trinkets that change builds. Items like the curing cuppa or reverberating redoubt that shift the character using them in drastic ways. That said… the sequel doesn’t have the atmosphere and eldritch horror that was the true heart of Darkest Dungeon. It’s that ever-growing dread to face what lies ahead

I havent played dd2, but the battle ui just looks so simple, like a mobile game comparing to dd1. Idk, i dont like it. Its like diablo4 compared to the likes of poe

Easy: neither. I hate both equally and refuse to stop playing them.

the grind is dreadful in dd1, doesnt respect your time at all, my only complaint

Its a good Roguelike but not a good Sequel to DD1

First one by far. 2000 hours on the first one. 300 on the second. Believe me. Dont buy the second if you still dont have it.

Furry

I am late to DD1 and absolutely love it. This, however, looks horrible to me.

This video could have been 5 seconds long. DD1 is best. Everybody knows that. The end.

the moment I see 3d, and it looks this lazy, I'm out.

Can anyone tell me when is DD2 on ps5. Hanging out bad