You are the cursed one. Players of Dark Souls II are doomed to suffer a fate of their own making, damned to die and return to play that same moment again and again in this fiendishly difficult but addictive game.

The bleak and grimy action/RPG franchise returns with a story involving an undead “hollow” as antihero; an ancient kingdom long after its demise; and a protracted, vague odyssey for answers. Amid the mud and darkness, there are glimpses of beauty in the spectacular ruins and harsh landscapes.

You can touch marks on the ground to see animated ghosts of other online players and read notes they leave behind. This is a genius idea for numerous reasons; you get a great sense of community (ahem) spirit and of the fact that others are taking this journey; it creates a creepy atmosphere and helps craft the franchise’s unique identity; and they give valuable tips which are essential for such a challenging game.

The difficulty deserves a paragraph of its own. Its forbear was notoriously hard, and Dark Souls II doesn’t compromise either. This is an outrageously, almost sadistically tough game. Save points are scattered and (for a modern game) sparse; and the odds in combat are almost always comically weighed against you. You will die many, many times, but each assailant has a behavioural pattern, which is their weakness. Through trial and error, you can prevail if you’re patient, skilled and precise. And toppling a worthy foe is immensely gratifying.

Dark Souls II is certainly not for all tastes, but it's a vast, ambitious, audacious, and very playable hardcore game. It's easy to see why the franchise has such passionate fans. darksoulsii.com