Prepare to die again: In 2011, gamers witnessed a gaming experience like no other. In Dark Souls, a methodical approach to insurmountable adversity took players back to a time reminiscent of old games, where difficulty was a desirable feature, contrasting with modern titles and their trend towards easy guidance. Dark Souls is considered one of the most challenging games of its generation, and the satisfaction of overcoming its tough trials offers a sense of real achievement.

A new level of difficulty: With the announcement of the sequel, Dark Souls fans expressed their greatest fear: that the sequel’s difficulty would be reduced to attract a new audience. Nevertheless, the development team at From Software ensured the grueling difficulty remains. Veterans and new players will face new challenges added to the experience – the enemy AI has been fully improved, boss fights are unpredictable, and new traps are crafted for many frustrating returns after death.

Souls of Many, Online: Dark Souls II continues the series' approach to a pseudo-online experience, but unlike its predecessors, it features new dedicated servers. For serious PvP Dark Souls players, this is perhaps the biggest change: delayed attacks are no longer a problem. Also, the "Humanity" mechanic has now been changed to "encourage" online gameplay – there are penalties for constantly playing offline but easier ways to access online features, such as messaging, finding cooperation, and covenant capabilities.

Impending beautiful view, upcoming despair: Graphically, Dark Souls II reaches new heights compared to its predecessors, Demon Souls and Dark Souls. Apart from the new advanced lighting technology, every detail and texture is rendered excellently, creating a highly immersive experience. Enemies and bosses look even more menacing, offering great visual elements for explorers.