Now, the little joypad-smashing title that could is back, with a hotly anticipated sequel, and a brand new man in the director’s chair - but will this tactical slash-em-up still be able to cater to fans while also attracting a less hard-nosed audience?

For a more in-depth appraisal of Dark Souls 2, check out these choice reviews:

NOTE: The following reviews were conducted using pre-release copies of Dark Souls 2, i.e. without the benefit of the game’s full multiplayer suite. Scores listed below pertain to the game’s single-player campaign only.

Videogamer (Andi Hamilton):

Score: 10/10

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IGN (Marty Sliva):

Score: 9/10

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EGM (Eric L. Patterson):

Score: 8.5/10

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Game Informer (Daniel Tack):

Score: 9.75/10

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Destructoid (Chris Carter):

Score: 9/10

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Eurogamer (Tom Bramwell):

Score: 9/10

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Edge (Edge Staff):

Score: 9/10

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CVG (Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman):

Score: 10/10

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Polygon (Philip Kollar):

Score: 9/10

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Gamesradar (Ryan Taljonick):

Score: 4.5/5

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Do you agree with the critical consensus? Can Dark Souls 2 elevate the franchise from cult status to global phenomenon? How will the title’s success affect attitudes towards in-game difficulty? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check in with all of the latest Bandai Namco news, right here on Game Rant.


Dark Souls 2 is now available for PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms. A European release is scheduled for March 14. The game hits PC on April 25, 2014.

Follow Sam on Twitter @GamingGoo.