For those who either didn't enjoy the first game that much or are yet to try out a Souls game, it will be tough to get used to this and may prove more of a challenge. As I was prepared for the way in which the game worked, I felt like the challenge wasn't as great as when I first stepped into...

Dark Souls II has been one of the most publicized and critically acclaimed games of 2014, cited for great gameplay, stunning visuals and replay value. However, I struggled to understand what all the hype was about.

Avoid the icy grip of death. A lot of early Dark Souls II discussions centered on comparisons to the previous two entries in the series (including Demon's Souls ), but FromSoftware managed to regain some control of the post-release narrative with its DLC trilogy.

We were running out of things to do on DSII and it was getting tired. Just what was needed to spice things up!

" Crown of the Sunken King " is the first piece of Dark Souls II DLC, and as such it has a lot to prove in showcasing what developer From Software are aiming to deliver with their trilogy of expansions.

"Legend has it that in the deepest reaches of the Black Gulch, behind a door locked from the inside, is a magnificent city built for a great sleeping dragon." This was part of the description that I was given for a peculiar dragon talon that would open a door to Shulva, the first area of the Crown...

New and challenging areas; Great boss fights; Now featuring puzzles

Added difficulty sometimes feels cheap; The new puzzling element is pretty simple

Dark Souls 2 is the excellent sequel to Fromsofts RPG franchise Dark Souls. Priding itself with its tough-but-fair difficulty, amazing character customisation depth, and thriving multiplayer community, Dark Souls 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year 2014. It is the perfect game for RPG fans.

This game is hard. It does not hold your hand, no directions whatsoever. You will have to put hours of work in to enjoy this. Not recommended if you are a casual player, highly recommended if you enjoy a brutally challenging experience.

I can honestly say I spent 100+ hours on this sequel to Dark Souls, it felt longer than the original and offers great replayability in the 'game +' mode, which also introduces new characters not seen in the first playthough.

Given Dark Souls II dropped both the original's light/dark dichotomy and its interconnected world structure, it allowed itself to be far more varied in locations, and now ranges from Gothic castles sinking into the lava, to underground pirates' dens, to thick, overgrown forts.