The game is no less difficult than before, but it does a better job of easing players in by providing more information about some of the more complex gameplay systems.Īs you emerge into the stunning cliffside settlement of Majula, for example, you'll come across a number of fellow travellers, each able to provide additional background about Covenants, hint messaging, and the world of Drangleic itself.

The fact that Dark Souls 2 is able to achieve this despite being more accessible to newcomers is quite the feat. The fast travel system makes sense in the context of the game world, although it's not clear from the beginning that this is a good thing. It can take over your bodily functions and leave you a trembling, sweaty mess. It's a game that doesn't necessarily fall into the horror genre, but has the same effect as a good Stephen King novel, or a genuinely terrifying movie. I'm dead and it was all my fault.Īs I rush back to the scene of my doom, vowing that this time will be different, I realise just how much I love Dark Souls 2. With only a slither of its health remaining I go in for the kill, foolishly abandoning my successful two-hit strategy for a do-or-die combo that will finally finish him off.

Having learnt his attack patterns through repeated failures, I finally start to make a dent in his health bar, knocking three quarters off while successfully dodging some of those giant sword swings that proved so fatal before.Īs I further chip away at his diminishing health bar, my palms actually start to sweat, my hands shake and I can feel my heart pounding hard against my chest. In an environment where the crumbling remnants of giant stone warriors decorate the landscape, I encounter one of Dark Souls 2's imposing and seemingly impenetrable bosses. Platforms available on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Release Date: March 14 (Europe), March 11 (North America), April 25 (PC)

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