Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 70
  3. Negative: 8 out of 70

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Makaveli
    Jul 28, 2014
    6
    I finished the DLC on release day in about 3-4 hours on NG++++ and after collecting every item ( farming that priestess head piece) I'd say about 6-7 hours.
    The DLC has very nice level design and is the nicest design level in the whole game. This is how a level in Dark Souls should be designed..
    The bosses were fun to fight even though 2/3 of them were lazily designed.. There are a few    I finished the DLC on release day in about 3-4 hours on NG++++ and after collecting every item ( farming that priestess head piece) I'd say about 6-7 hours.
    The DLC has very nice level design and is the nicest design level in the whole game. This is how a level in Dark Souls should be designed..
    The bosses were fun to fight even though 2/3 of them were lazily designed..
    There are a few new consumable items, there is a new spell,miracle and a hex, there are no new pyromancies..
    There is also a cool looking sword but is pretty much useless as a main weapon. There is also a new mace that posions you everytime you swing, new crossbow and repeating crossbow...
    The armor is decent, I actually use one of these armors (except the head piece) because it offers high defense for medium weight and has decrease fall damage.. Pretty good set..
    There are also two weapons you can craft from boss souls that are okay but I'm pretty sure the majority of people would not use them as their main weapon..

    I was pretty let down with the lore of this DLC, not really explaining much and I had high hopes for finding out some things about The Rotten or Pharros but nothing like that was in the DLC..
    There are no new NPCs that you can talk to, which was also a let down.. You can talk to Vendrick in the the crypt but he doesn't say too much, and I believe he is only there for the people who will buy all 3 DLCs..
    You can now buy an item that was in the DLC from Melentia, she will restock this item and only carry 3 of them on her at a time, until you warp out of the area and then warp back, she will sell more of them at a higher price...
    The enemies in the DLC were cool in my opinion but they have very high poise but are easy to backstab or parry.

    I gave the original game a perfect score when it came out, but after playing it again and again I realized that it was not a perfect score and didn't live up to the first game.
    The DLC is better designed than the rest of the game but it's too short and probably should of been sold with all 3 DLCs in 1 pack.
    There is no reason to buy this DLC immediately you my as well wait until all of them come out.
    I really hope when all of them come out that it is on par with AotA but that will be very hard to do..    … Expand
  2. JohnConnor333
    Jul 24, 2014
    8
    I'm almost finished with DLC - and I feel I got my money's worth. Level mechanics are great...you'll have some "AHA!" moments where you think you're lost, find a switch, and discovered a shortcut. I'm impressed with the difficulty - i thought my level 340 toon would blow through this, but I feel like the challenge is just right. In short I died. A lot.

    I wish they combined all 3    I'm almost finished with DLC - and I feel I got my money's worth. Level mechanics are great...you'll have some "AHA!" moments where you think you're lost, find a switch, and discovered a shortcut. I'm impressed with the difficulty - i thought my level 340 toon would blow through this, but I feel like the challenge is just right. In short I died. A lot.

    I wish they combined all 3 DLC's instead of releasing them monthly. Even though I got my 10 bucks worth - I will be moving on to other games soon and I doubt I'll be playing Dark Souls 2 by end of September. (even though I spent almost 500 hours on dark souls 2).    … Expand
  3. Saikron
    Jul 24, 2014
    7
    Personally, I would have preferred FROM to combine the 3 DLC installments into a $20-$30 package and release that. As it is, the DLC feels a little too short with only 3 bosses a short run from each other, but at least there is a couple of cool new items.

    I think the best thing about it is the new level mechanics. There are puzzles that have to be solved with hidden switches throughout the DLC.
  4. Darkneon
    Oct 4, 2014
    1
    This is very very very very Hard!Gets boring after a while.PS3 and X360 graphics are very bad :( You dont buy Dark Souls 2.Please .İt is not good game:(
  5. MaxPayneIsGod
    Oct 30, 2019
    8
    Extremely punishing although enjoyable DLC with very challenging bosses.
    Aesthetically it is a very different setting with a very hazardous environment.
    Enemies are varied and interesting.
    Again, the final 2 bosses are very very difficult
  6. Dingytheman
    Dec 10, 2019
    7
    Probably the most solid area design in DaS2. A bit ganky but not enough to become a major annoyance.
    Bosses are weak though, the trio is just lazy trash, Elana has a poor moveset and then becomes a gank fight, Sihn is good but it's no Kalameet, I beat him first try and staying close to his legs he barely hit me, I did it at a relatively low SL too.
  7. nurfedx
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    One of the best Games known to mankind.
    From Software is a safe heaven for the Gaming community.
    Especially in times where big Developers dissapiont us with theyr fraudulent intent.
    Praise the sun!
  8. MasterMoonfire
    Aug 29, 2020
    8
    Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King Is the first of the three expansion packs, though this DLC is also pretty bland and can be a chore, it's a little better than the base game itself.
    The player goes to Shulva, Sanctum City, a city buried underground, where they are to recover an ancient crown with new areas to explore, new enemies to fight, items and equipment, and invading and    Dark Souls II: Crown of the Sunken King Is the first of the three expansion packs, though this DLC is also pretty bland and can be a chore, it's a little better than the base game itself.
    The player goes to Shulva, Sanctum City, a city buried underground, where they are to recover an ancient crown with new areas to explore, new enemies to fight, items and equipment, and invading and helpful NPCs to summon    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best PS3 Game of 2014
40
#40 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2014
69
#69 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. games(TM)
    Sep 16, 2014
    80
    The increased level of challenge will be welcomed by those already "done" with the main game. [Issue#152, p.116]
  2. LaPS4
    Sep 1, 2014
    91
    Crown of the Sunken King adds a decent gameplay expansion, a good challenge and an awesome final battle at the edge of the abyss, in the borders of the possible.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    Aug 24, 2014
    85
    A promising sign of things to come. [Oct 2014, p.74]
See all critic reviews »