‘Dark Soul 2: Crown Of The Sunken King’ DLC Gets Strong Marks From Critics

Dark Souls 2 recently received some DLC in the form of Crown of the Sunken King. Here’s the question: Is this addition to the insanely addictive RPG worthy of your hard-earned money? Critics seem to think so.

This writer discovered the Dark Souls series pretty late in the game. When Xbox Live offered the first installment earlier this year as part of its Games with Gold campaign, I was quick to throw some money at Dark Souls 2. Although my character is still working his way through the main storyline — so many quests, so little time — it’s good to know that there’s some strong DLC in the hero’s not-too-distant future.

Here’s what Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King is all about:

“Embark on a journey to reclaim a crown that Drangleic’s King Vendrick once owned. This perilous quest will lead you through an entirely different world within the Dark Souls II universe, where stepped pyramids span a vast underground cavern. It is said that one of the ancient crowns lay buried deep within these dark caverns; but surely such a valued item cannot sit unguarded. Explore in search of a crown that holds the strength of lords from times long past.”

Polygon writer Dave Tach seemed to enjoy the time he spent combing through the recent Dark Souls 2 DLC. Although some players might encounter a very difficult journey, apparently it’s well worth the price of a download.

Tach explained in his review:

“Even when it’s frustrating, ‘Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Sunken King’ balances out its rough patches with a sense of unbridled satisfaction. It’s a perfect example of the interplay between tension and relief that the ‘Souls’ series has become famous for. [The DLC] may be an optional expansion, but it transcends its own status. It ranks among the best Souls levels I’ve ever played — and damn near beaten.”

IGN’s Marty Sliva was also impressed with the Dark Souls 2 DLC, which is reportedly the first of three planned expansions. However, the writer remarked that gamers who are short on patience need not apply. Apparently Crown’s difficulty can work the nerves of even the hardest of Dark Souls fans.

Sliva wrote:

“Though I wasn’t wild about some of the level design, the emphasis on puzzle solving added a welcome new layer to the already-deep Souls gameplay. Within its four hours, I played through a handful of encounters that were as tense, challenging, and rewarding as anything in the entire Souls series, and that’s saying something.”

Are you planning to check out the Dark Souls 2 DLC?

[Image via From Software / Namco Bandai Games]