Here's one connection which everyone misses. In Dark Souls 2, Eleum Loyce is freezing over the old chaos. The flame of chaos is being snuffed out by ice magic. In Dark Souls 3, Ice Magic has spread and others have access to it. Demons, as well, have begun to fade. It implies that the flame of chaos is no longer burning, and that Eleum Loyce successfully snuffed the old chaos, leaving demons to slowly wither and die without their replenishing flame.

That confusion of dropping from the first bonfire straight to Midir is hilarious

Another connection from DS2 is Zulie, she went on to have a great KZfaq channel about behind the scenes features in the whole series.

Actually you do see Solaire, kinda, in DS2! The "Sunlight Parma" depicts Solaire holding his glorious blade up towards the sky with the sun shining behind it.

It was a missed opportunity for Aldia to come back in the ringed city and meet with our character since he was the only one who knows about the god's secrets which includes the ringed city.

Tsorig might've been one of the countless player character. Specifically, the meta representative of an average STR build enjoyer.

Aldia is truly underrated. He essentially ensured and expedited the end of age of fire and the tyranny of gods over men.

My only regret was that Creighton had no dialogues in Ds3, I would have love something like: "I met a fool like you ages ago, he was strong yet so incredibly naive"

The DLC added a slightly happier ending to Lucatiel. In the base game, the last time you saw her was just before the encounter with her brother Aslatiel, who she says she never bested in a duel. So it is thought she met her end by his hand. However if you have the DLC, once you have completed her quest line, she appears one more time as a summon in Eleum Loyce, so she survived her encounter with him.

Pursuer's Greatshield description is changed due to lore. The Pursuer's were cursed as of DS2 and cursed others. The Description is just future-tense since all Pursuer's were brought down by the curse.

I liked the theory I once heard that the Drang Knights were hired as sellswords by Sullyvan and the Deacons because they had "Giant Killer" on their resume. Hence the field of dead or half dead giants leading up to them.

Gosh, it's so pleasant to see callbacks to Dark Souls II, especially so many I didn't realise myself. Some of these, like the Firekeeper sisters, and Aldia being Lothric's teacher, are definitely my new headcanons. Edit: Also, I'd just like to point out that Tarkus was not killed by Tsorig, he was killed by a combination of the Iron Golem and gravity.

Would have been cool if when you picked up the curse ward greatshield you get invaded by the pursuer one last time outside the cathedral

... Today I learned that Karla is Zullie and Alva's daughter. So Alva literally transforms into a red phantom and invades us for only ONE reason. To protect his loved ones. He invades to keep us from Karla, as he isn't willing to risk us killing his daughter. And he invades to protect Zullie's corpse from being pillaged like a common husk. This man's final actions in death is to protect the people he loves... holy shit I feel terrible for killing him.

I made a Pursuer character in DS3 solely because of my shield, and the fact that the Pursuer is one of my favorite enemies from DS2

In fact, giants have always had faces. The dark holes instead of faces appeared only after Vendrick, instigated by Nashandra, went to their lands and stole something very valuable from them. Actually, for this reason, the giants invaded the kingdom of humans. Perhaps, over time, the giants were able to restore the order of things, and one of these mighty warriors remained to command the conquered lands.

another interesting detail about those two ds2 invaders in gank city is that both uses dual wielding weapons, referenciating ds2 power stance ability

The holes in the faces of giants has something to do with nashandra stealing the kinship from giants. Explains why future/past giants have faces.Time is convoluted here in lordran.

Lucatiel's Mask description took me by surprise. I neither could finish her questline in DS2 nor get the mask in DS3. But knowing that she begs for the Bearer of the Curse to remember her name and the description stating that she "...implored a comrade..." is extremely comforting. I mean, I love the fact that our previous characters do take a role and have influency upon the current world, besides the fact that an awesome NPC had her story greatly finished

Dark souls 2 was my introduction to the series. I'll never forget it

Glad to see so many DS2 references, just sad that Baldia didn't return more prominently

the invader in ds3 named Creighton isn't just a guy with the same name it literally is him.

4:37 Man's really accidentally found a potential speedrun glitch

I heard a story about a guy who, in DS3, was giving stuff to the bird and got that Luca's helm. He was so emotionally moved by seeing it, that he wore it for the rest of his playthrough

so *THAT’S* how you get the drakeblood set

In the ringed city, the giants summon three types of spirits. The ruin sentinels, Ledo, and yet a mysterious pointed hat witch. One that looks suspiciously like Zullie, and uses a form of dark edge.

The pursuer was meant to hunt down all those afflicted by the undead curse, hence why in two his shield offers curse resistance, because to men in fear a curse is a curse no matter how you look at it. And also why the resistance goes away by ds3, because with time it's futility becomes more than apparent in its fight against the undead curse.

Though Dark Souls 1 and 3 are great games, Dark Souls 2’s darker story felt more engaging and foreboding. It showed me that there was more going on than just a perilous journey across the land to link a failing fire. There were many interesting characters that felt like they had a lot of background. You are no chosen undead, you are no ashen one, you are a curse-bearer. The curse of the undead, another hollow, who appears to be locked in some form of purgatory so-called Majula (at least that’s what I like to think)

The Way of the Blue covenant, if I'm not mistaken, originated in Dark Souls 2 and is more than likely the first covenant you join in Dark Souls 3 after you talk to the old lady in Lothric Castle. On the topic of; I'm sad that the Heide Knights or at least their armor don't appear in Dark Souls 3. Not only are their armor set really cool, the Way or the Blue / Blue Sentinels was their covenant.

You definitely can find solairs weapon shield and armor in DS3 you just have to trade the crow for them

Something cool about the Drang knights, look at their weapons. Dual-wielded weapons with a unique move set where each weapons works in tandem instead of being swung individually. In DS2 there was a mechanic called power-stance that allowed you a unique move set when dual wielding similar weapons if you have high enough skill.

god, i adore DS2. i know a lot of people aren’t too fond of it, but something about that game is just mesmerizing. the lore, the locations, just...the _vibe_ what a fucking fascinating game. the whole thing just feels like a twisted, half-forgotten dream

I'm wondering about only one thing: where the hell was Bearer of the Curse? Our man beat the curse and became immortal, his soul powered by the strengh of mighty warriors, ancient dragons, disgusting mutants and fierce monsters. Couldn't he appear atleast once to help the Ashen One? Or is he too busy filling Shanalotte's Black Gulch with his larger and powerful souls?

I was surprised to find there's a logical sequence of events/escalation from game to game: DS1: What happens when the fire starts to fade? (the fated undead comes along and relinks it) DS2: What happens when the fire starts to fade *and* the undead fated to relink it refuses? (world starts to go to shit, traveller from outside claims enough souls to take the fated lord's place) DS3: What happens when the fire starts to fade *and* the undead fated to relink it refuses *and* nobody else comes along able to take their place? (world goes fully to shit, lords resurrected who refuse to link it again, failed unworthy champions resurrected as final option to force the lords into obedience). Each game is the next step in a cycle, following the logic "what if the player character in the previous game didnt show up and link the flame". A hypothetical Dark Souls 4 following the same pattern would be "what if all the above, but then nobody returned the Lords to their thrones), but the final DLC probably does mean the franchise is over.

Honestly, Dark Souls 2 is still my favorite in the soul series.

The Onislayer Greatbow, which is the Alonne Greatbow, can be found by dropping off the bridge to Yhorm early onto a pillar nearby.

I think Gundyrs ring also appears in DS2, it was called ring of the embedded if I'm not wrong

"Yhorm is the descendant of an ancient conqueror" Probably the reference to the Giant Lord is intentional, but it could also be Wolnir. He was an ancient conqueror, and probably a giant.

11:07 You can find Iron Knight Tarkus' armor in Anor Londo in the first game at at the left of the painting before the Painted world. Tarkus died long before DS3

Actually, if I remember correctly, solairs set is in the game, you just have to trade with the crows for it. Not sure which items exactly, but I think the siegbrau was on of them.

Karla is actually a reference to Yuria the Witch from Demon's Souls

8:00 you can also get Lucatiel’s sword from the cursed rotten Greatwood boss soul

I feel it's also worth bringing my thoughts about the drang knights. It's mentioned in their weapons that these knights favored dual weilding, which matches their weapons, and could very well be a nod to the powerstancing mechanic in ds2. I know that there are other dual wielding weapons in the game, but I feel it's too large a detail to be ignored.

"Tarkas didn't fall to his death on accident" is not the take I expected and it punched me in the gut

“Pretty unique ability which’s nothing. It does nothing” 😂

The Drang Mercenaries are giant tamers hired by Sulyvahn. You find the Drang set and hammer strewn about in pieces near a giant in the Cathedral of the Deep, implying the mercenary was ripped to pieces by the giant, and the other two mercenaries are nearby a lot of docile giants in Irithyll.

I literally have never seen a video that covered so much about this world that surprised me. GJ man. Also, I 100% believe the Karla backstory, and that makes me happy.

I remember Lucatiel's story was the one I was most invested in with Dark Souls. When I got her sword in DS3, I mained it throughout the entire game not just cuz it was a cool call-back to her, but also cuz that sword had a really decent moveset with I think a really good thrusting roll attack, and a decent combination of slash and thrusting attacks.

DS2 has aged so well, i think Elden Ring will perfect what it tried to do with its world and it's openness.

The drang knights obviously also reference power stances from ds2, since they used duel wielded maces and spears, not as typical as the duel wielded blades you normally see.

Good job, man, it was a very enjoyable video! I never knew there were so many connections between DS2 and DS3

10:11 There's a talisman resembling his armor called Sunlight Talisman, which also refences him as the Knight of Sunlight.

Thanks to make these links between DS2 and 3. Too many people says to forgot DS2. -> Someone told that Carim history changed throught time, from a sinister land, inclined to darkness(DS1) to the land of the godess of tears Caitha (DS2) with maiden protected by knights (DS3). It's interesting to see this evolutions through the games.

A lot of people may not like ds2 but it was my first souls game and probably still the one I go back to the most.

I don't know if anyone has already said that, but there is an image of solare in ds2. Namely, the shield you get for one of the ranks in the sunbro covenant. It literally has a picture of him drawn on it

I've been waiting for a video like this! Thank you!

For Yhorm having a face, when the Giant lord didn't, i can think of it as something like a rite of passage the Giants had. There are many groups of people that intentionally scar themselves as a way to be accepted, considered adult etc. There is at least one giant with a face in DS2. Maybe it was not mandatory to go through it. Also, Yhorm probably did not grow up with his people, so that's another possible reason not to follow that custom.

Ds2 really needs a remake and also why isn't there a Ivory king weapon in ds3?

You can get solaire set in ds3, by trading some stuff to the birds in the hub area. It's called Armor of the Sun and it's description references solaire.

Some of the most stunningly beautiful images I've ever seen! Brilliant photography. 👍

Wow, really good video. I have a strange love for DS2

omg thank you for making this video! I loved this every second of it.

The way Miyazaki wrote Faraam the worshipped Wargod from DS2 being Gwyn's Firstborn into DS3 was nothing short of absolutely brilliant.

Laddersmith Gilligan is a saint and was one of the saddest anime deaths of all time

The drang knights being from dranglaic blew my mind

One connection I always see with Dark souls 2 and Dark souls 3 is the fact that same as in dark souls 2 From software brought back the concept of Thrones for the lords of Cinder, in the end of Dark souls 2 you never link the fire because the Throne of want wasn't the kiln of the first flame, even the emerald herald says: "What lies ahead, only you can see " , like there's something more you have to do now that you are a true monarch. In Dark Souls 3 we see what happens when we do that, we go to the kiln to fight the Soul of Cinder. In Dark Souls 1 you access the Kiln using the souls of the other Lords to access the Kiln but in Dark souls 3 suddenly we have these thrones for the Lords of Cinder this is something that only happened in Dark Souls 2 and from the Drang items you can read that Drangleic was known for linking the fire, this means that Drangleic would be responsible to revive the tradition to link the fire that was forgotten during Dark Souls 2 era. Even the story with Vendrick repeats in Dark Souls 3 where the King destined to become a Lord of Cinder refuses to take that place. But this time we kill him and brought him back to the throne so he can finally become the final Lord.

Woah so glad to see this video. I thought there were barely any DS2 references but these are a lot more than I thought. Awesome!

another thing to note with the shield of want, is that in DS2, all weapons you can do with the Soul of Nashandra are all "of want". Bow of Want, Scythe of Want and Chime of Want.

As much as I'd love it to be Aldia who doubted the linking and mentored Lothric into not doing so, its definitely referring the Pontiff Sulyvahn, who WAS the mentor who influenced Lothric into not linking the first flame

Actually we already know how tarkus died. So Tarkus killed the iron golem in his world, but decided not to go to anor londo, instead he put his summon sign down to help others. Eventually after we summon him he decides it’s finally time, and he goes. But he falls off of the rafters and dies, that’s why you find his armor set next to the painted world in ds1

Something that people might not have noticed is that DS3 is a sequel to DS2

Wow really well done video man just perfect I learned so much definitely earned a sub can’t wait for more

Yes, Indeed... He is called...Gilligan...

huh. I thought Pontiff was the mentor to lothric. idk the statue near the first winged knight you fight with the halberd. which looks like lothric but iwth one of Pontiffs swords. and the fact that he would take over anor londo and imprison one of them (yorskha or however its spelled) and give the other one (gwyndolin) as food to a lord. takin over the gods home would directly go against the linking since the path of linking the flame was put on by gwyn no?. eh its up to anyones own interpretation

Great video, also really fun. That talking crow but got me in tears.

Beside the typical DS1 fan intro, I loved this video because DS2 is my first and my favorite.. and I didn’t know almost everything in this video, so everything was a surprise and I’m happy that I watched it.

Please make “connections between ds1 and ds2”

Don't forget that Karla's ashes describes her as the spurned child of the abyss. What was Alva's title in ds3 again? :3 Also her ashes talks about the heretic that was consumed by the abyss and is reborn from the dark time and again, linking her directly to zullie whose corpse is found in the Ringed City and Beatrice who was consumed by the encroaching abyss in New Londo

Love, the video you deserve a million subs my g. Quality and informative content. 👌

5:12 "parry this you fucking casual"

So glad to see so many references to DS2

wow after knowing that alva aftrer death still try to protect his family i have more respect to his phantom now, first i think he just a phantom trying to annoy you before going to the dungeon now i know he purpose.

What a Great, Phenomenal and Magnific video Bro! Applause for this job!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

your intro made me think there was some massive glitch in my player so I'll subscribe lol.

For all the crap that Dark Souls II gets, it's my favorite in terms of atmosphere and story. Everything has a mysterious and alluring, almost peaceful aura to it, a strange land with a mystery to uncover; majula is a sad, dilapidated town bathed in sunlight which gradually becomes more lively as the undead make it their safehaven. The forest of fallen giants is a kingdom who's days of glory fell long ago in a great battle and has now given home to overgrown plantlife, with soldiers of the past maintaining their posts as they would have during the war. The shrine of amana, a mysterious hidden sanctuary with the echoing singing of the milfanito, who eternally sing to keep the undead comforted, and those who stand guard at the entrance to the final resting place of king vendrick, the once great monarch of Drangleic who has been reduced to a mindless, wandering hollow. And then there's your character. You're not a chosen one. You're not necessarily destined to become the savior of the undead, or to link the flame. You're just a wanderer. Someone who can't even remember why they wander in such a strange land. Someone just looking for answers who gets caught up in a land that has already died. Whether to become the next monarch or not is up to you. It's really sad how gutted the end-product was (I'm sure everyone has heard that line a million times), but it's interesting to think what the game could have been. The game is so rich in lore, and I think it could have been a great departure from the main series had development gone as intended.

Ringed City's Spear of the Church boss fight is also a nod towards Looking Glass Knight from DS2. Player summoning works pretty similar and both of those have very distinct corridors leading to the arenas with rows of statues on the sides.

Month well spent I'd say!!! Amazing video!

Interesting stuff! Love your work dude :)

The giant Lord's "Hole Face" is actually his mouth and the top part of his head is ripped off and obsucred by the crown. Zullie the witch did a video on the giants how the appeared with their supposed original heads.

The ruin sentiels in TRC are small bcs they're the original knights that the ruin sentinels in DS2 (animated guardian golems) are based on

Finally! I've been looking for a reference video about this forever.

nice and detailed content and a lot of new things to think about, thanks!

There are two mistakes in this video. First, Vendrick's Shield/Shield of Want actually have an ability, which is increase the amount of souls acquired when equipped in an active slot. Second, though it's a very slight detail, Tarkus isn't called Iron Knight Tarkus, nor Black Iron Tarkus for that matter, but rather simply Iron Tarkus.

ds2 was the best game (fashion wise)

One thing I love that Miyazaki does, is if there’s a misconception or if a theory is wrong he usually adds something to help players point to his original thought. Nameless King being Faraam is pretty close and shut case but some doubted it since gwyns children usually have gwyn in their name. Well the ringed city comes around and Fillianore is a child of gwyn. Which proves gwyns children don’t have to have gwyn in their name. Another theory that some deny is about the NK fight but about his dragon, the King of Storms being Ornstein transformed into a dragon. The theory sounds bizarre until you put pieces together. Like how the first phase has parts of OaS boss theme in it, or like how his armor is found not on a body but casted aside, a thing done with people who turn into dragons. Miyazaki is a smart man with the way he gives you enough to figure shit out on your own but still make you question things

4:40 nah bro accidentally dropping through the literal abyss and into Midirs fight is insane

Since gwyn is very self-centered and all of his children's names begins with gwyn I doubt nameless king's name is actually faraam

10:23 What about the Sun Sword and Sunlight Parma? It’s clearly him on the shield.

Great video and great insights!

me accidentally coming in the secret final boss: 4:40