As the last major release without a next-gen version plan, Dark Souls II stands in the position as the standard bearer for the last hurrah of the Xbox 360 and PS3. Let's just take a second to reflect on the trends and aspirations that have been emphasised within the gaming industry over the last...

Firstly, I know you've probably bought this and played it, or at least played most of it. I said in the Crown of the Sunken King review, the score here means little in terms of your buying decision. S

Eleum Loyce is beautiful; New incentives to explore; A fine end to the series

Difficulty is even more extreme; Some enemies seem almost unfair; No more Dark Souls 2

It's time to head back to Souls.

+ New foes challenge with lots of death; + Combat and levels are built around deliberate exploits; + Rich lore

- New pyromancies are largely useless in the tower environment

The first piece of Dark Souls II DLC delivered a lot of what we love about the series. It featured complex environments, unpredictable enemies, and vicious boss fights. Compared to Crown of the Old Iron King, however, part one just feels like a warm up.

The worlds of the Souls games have consistently excelled in conveying a sense of history. There's the impression that their castles and other fortifications have changed ownership by various invaders many times over.

Feels like a natural extension of the main game; Rich in implied history; Environments are inspired by reality but still seem otherworldly; Abundant in challenging and enjoyable combat

Like the last DLC; more uninspiring bosses

Feels very much like dark souls 1. Best thing in this dlc is Sir Alonne. You can't miss this epic boss fight with probably one of the best soundtracks for a boss battle.

Boasting some of the best combat in the series, Crown of the Old Iron King is an intriguing and immersive odyssey. Though less visually impressive than Crown of the Sunken King, this second DLC installment rewards strategic planning more fully than any other episode in the series.

Great combat; Plenty of surprises; Wonderful challenge

Awful scenery; Frustrating boss

With Dark Souls II return the best darker series, with all is charming atmosphere and is madness gameplay. Pick it up, it is the last AAA title for this (now) old consoles generation.

Crown of the Sunken King is the first downloadable content pack for Dark Souls II , and it is also the first part in a downloadable trilogy titled The Lost Crowns . Each add-on opens up a new area for players to explore, with the first being a subterranean maze of ziggurats known as Shulva, Sanctum...

Buy Dark Souls II Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King is the first of the three scheduled DLCs for Dark Souls II . You'll be able to access it as soon as you purchase it and have reached the Primal Bonfire in the Black Gluch.