Team Ninja was one of the first developers to make progress in not only replicating what made the Souls games special, but also putting its own spin on the combat. We're recommending the sequel over the first game, as while the story is somewhat linked in places, it isn't required to play through. However, no matter which one you decide to start with, the fast pace and stance-based combat allow for on-the-fly strategic thinking, giving it a bit of an edge over the competition.