Dark Souls II

Either way, this is still an incredibly fun, intense, and satisfying experience. If you wanted more Dark Souls, this sequel certainly delivers.

When the prospect of the adventure eventually ending causes you nothing but grief, there's only one score to give.

Even in offline mode, the game's a stunning example of world-building, adventure-finding and boss slaying.

Dark Souls II is an extraordinary game. If it stops short of fulfilling something precious within the soul, it certainly has the heart, mind and fingers covered.

Dark Souls II provides the best of both worlds: an admirable sequel for series veterans, and a perfect jumping-on point for gamers who've shied away from From Software's RPG brand until now. And if you're afraid of the series' tough-as-nails reputation, From has made sinking into Souls addiction a much more effortless process. You just have to let Dark Souls II break you first.

Players new to the Souls franchise will quickly learn that Dark Souls II plays quite differently than most mainstream titles today; it is an incredible experience anchored in exploration, immersion, discovery, defeat – and ultimately triumph.

It’s a “sit forward” game that demands you be mentally present and adaptable. But for those who like to earn their victories -- really earn them -- this is a game in which winning means something more than “I went through the motions and witnessed the end”. If you do seek misery then on release, when the community is scrambling to uncover the mysteries of Drangleic lore, will be the most exciting time to play.

Dark Souls II is demonstrative of what all video game sequels should aspire toward. It takes the successful formula of the original, expands it with tons of new content, trims away clunky and confusing gameplay elements, and delivers an experience that is an improvement on all fronts. If this is the kind of trend we can expect from From Software, I truly can’t wait for Dark Souls III.

Dark Souls II is a phenomenal experience, knitting together lore-driven adventure, thoughtful decisions, deliberate, weighty combat, and that golden feeling of true exploration matched only by leveling of heart palpitations upon defeating a fiendish boss or invader.

Dark Souls II is a yet another great adventure created by From Software. It's a superbly designed, extremely atmospheric game with tons of secrets. My awe is understandable - the developers have found their style and are able to expand and improve it in a smart way, without sacrificing some really brave ideas. I have no doubts - Dark Souls II is to become one of my most played games of 2014.

Dark Souls II keeps marking its very own label that players love. If you're a fan of the series, you’ve got a new journey to play and replay until the world falls back into darkness.

A grand sequel and one that adds to the impressive nature of the first game immensely.

Like its predecessor, Dark Souls 2 challenges players and pushes them until they scream in anguish, after having died for God knows how many times. Exciting boss fights, resilient enemies may test your patience more than once, although at the end of the day, so many treasures await in a delightful and mysterious new world.

Quotation forthcoming.

Its over dependence on group battles, less interesting boss designs and a slightly more forgettable world let it down, but none of this is so severe that it stops it from becoming another superb entry into one of the best series of games of all time.

Only for the bold, Dark Souls II delivers a fearsome challenge, while dispensing with the complexity that bogged down its predecessor. A true triumph of game design.

What Dark Souls does, more than any other game, is make challenges that once felt utterly impossible, possible - when the only thing that has changed is you and your understanding of the situation. It may take ten passes at a foe before you even begin to feel out its defences and formulate a strategy, but when that glorious killing blow finally comes, you'll know you've earned it. And that's an incredible feeling.

A ruthless challenge, excellent gameplay and wonderful design are just some of the things that make Dark Souls 2 a truly superb game and an early contender for game of the year. Don’t be put off by the difficulty.

It’s one of the most — if not the most — hardcore action games to ever come from a major publisher. Players will die — a lot — as they come to realize that this is a punishing is a test of resilience. Those who can brave the challenge, however, will be richly rewarded with one of the most gratifying experiences in gaming and a true sense of accomplishment...A stunning accomplishment.

A fantastic sequel that lives up to its namesake, Dark Souls 2 is an action RPG that's challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

Rest assured if you liked Dark and Demon's you will like Dark Souls II. I was skeptical at first given the proposed changes, but ultimately I had an enjoyable time as I was aimlessly exploring its world and dying over and over to its bosses.

Death is so very beautiful in this game, for it comes at the hands of amazing beasts and warmongers: hulking armored knights, shimmering otherworldly invaders, and tendrils that rise out of black pools of poison.

Not all of the tweaks and additions worked out for the best, but with such great enemies and levels to fight and explore, Dark Souls II made 60 hours of pain and agony so much fun they flew by in a heartbeat.

If you liked the first Dark Souls, you won’t be disappointed by this sequel: its high challenge level, exploration pleasure and unique storytelling made of many story snippets we have to find and retrieve make it a worthwhile buy.

Living up to its name it is an unrelenting punishing experience. Yet just as difficult as it can be, it is equally rewarding.

Indeed, Dark Souls II is pretty much exactly the sort of game it wants to be.

The awesome difficulty is still one of the major selling points for Dark Souls 2, and the adventure both bigger and better this time around. If you liked the previous games - you'll love this. And if you didn't - you won't like this either.

From Software’s latest creation is a completely unique experience with no real analogue, even if it only occasionally surpasses its predecessor. For players new to the series, it’s a much better entry point than the first game, but Dark Souls grognards who proudly bear their scars will find it a touch too familiar and/or streamlined.