Dark Souls II

VideogamerTom Bardwell

10/10

No summary available

PC GamerCory Banks

91/100

I am not going to die before I get my corpse. I can make it, despite the hordes of hollows lying in the shadows, just waiting to hoist themselves up to my eye level to snack on my face. I used my last estus flask after a fleshy dog-thing lunged at me from the shadows, mistaking my bone staff for its chew toy. But that’s okay: I can still get to the edge where I fell, while trying to cross a chasm

CBRChristian Bognar

9/10

Dark Souls is more than just a game. It's a genre-defining creation that has shaped the landscape for modern gaming as many developers try to replicate its foundation. From its punishing yet rewarding combat to its immaculate interconnecting levels, Dark Souls remains the prime example of why Soulslikes games are so special to its fanbase. While dodging can feel limiting when locked onto an enemy, and the second half of the game isn't as great as the first, the overall product results in a jo...

GameSpewEd Thorn

9/10

Dark Souls III is riveting, emotional, stunning and menacing. It immerses you in a fully realised world packed with secrets and backed by a sublime soundtrack. It’s jaw-dropping throughout and it’s an honour to have experienced. In so many ways it succeeds, but its increased accessibility strips it of the spark that existed in the game that underpins it. Its framework is supported so strongly by Dark Souls I that at times I sensed the game desperately wished to recapture the sacred “something” of its predecessor. Having to stand on the shoulders of such a giant is a tough task that Dark Souls ...

GameSpotJustin Clark

9/10

Born in sin, come on in.

Gaming NexusJeff Kintner

9/10

Dark Souls II lives up to the series' reputation for being unrelentingly difficult- but it's worth digging in your heels and spending a lot of time with it. The PC port is just as good, if not better than it's console counterpart, but you're going to want to use a gamepad. Using a keyboard is possible, and there's even a few mods out there to make it more functional and ergonomic, but it's still clunky and unintuitive compared to using a controller.

CGMagazineAlexander Leach

9/10

I was expecting far less from Dark Souls II's PC version – though I never actually got to play the first Dark Souls on PC, I'd heard plenty negative about it.

Dark Souls 2 offers glimpses of hope and illumination, but they always feel just out of reach. Scratching just below the surface to take on the challenges Dark Souls 2 has for you is where this game’s appeal lies. The game will not be for everyone, but for those willing to tackle this game, it is a rewarding experience.

MMORPGWilliam Murphy

8.8/10

Dark Souls 3 is the not-so-long awaited sequel to 2014’s Dark Souls 2, the series of Action RPGs from From Software which has earned their fanbase through punishing difficulty. When I sat down a little more than a week ago with the PC port of Dark Souls 3, I expected a familiar yet different sort of experience. And Dark Souls 3 is familiar, indeed. In fact, hot on the heels of Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3 feels a little too familiar.

Worth PlayingChris "Atom" DeAngelus

8/10

Dark Souls II continues a legacy of goading its passionate fan base with unrelenting challenge and suffering that are considered a hallmark of the series; while presenting new devilishly devised obstacles for players to overcome.

MonsterVineDiego Escala

From the moment the game starts it’s clear that this game was made side-by-side with Bloodborne. There are elements at play here that are so clearly pulled from that game but it comes off as someone watching a chef cook a dish, and attempting to replicate it without understanding why the chef mixed those ingredients together in the first place. Dark Souls is a slow game. You could always play it somewhat aggressively but it was mainly meant to be played in a more cautious and defensive manner which is why Bloodborne was such a breath of fresh air with its shift to a more intense, fast-paced st...

Press StartDiego Arlek

Unscored

I played the first Dark Souls and defeated Ornstein and Smough up to new game+ with a controller, so maybe it’s because of my muscle memory the fact that I found myself so uncomfortable while playing with a keyboard and mouse. Maybe, if you’re a new player who hasn’t played any of the Souls games yet, a keyboard and mouse might work for you, but for me, there really is no chance. If you have a controller, Dark Souls II works splendidly, it actually feels subtly more responsive than the first Dark Souls, which is absolutely fantastic.