Our own review for Crown of the Old Iron King should be published shortly, but in the meantime, I finally put together this unfortunately belated round up of the press’ impressions of the latest Dark Souls II’s DLC for our readers to peruse.
Eurogamer, 8/10.
A brisk and challenging chapter, Crown of the Old Iron King’s strength is in its unique setting and the difference in tone and ambiance this brings. Compared to its predecessor, it’s somewhat brief, but it’s arguably more memorable in terms of both its foes and vistas. There is, however, a certain melancholy to its conclusion: once Brume Tower is conquered, only one offshoot to the kingdom of Drangleic remains, the final link in a glorious chain.
Joystiq, scoreless.
Like I said, I stalled out on Dark Souls 2, so I’ve yet to reach the Dragon Shrine. Here’s the important bit, though: Crown of the Old Iron King makes me want to finish the main campaign. The blandness of Iron Passage may be disheartening, but the majestic, impossible architecture of Brume Tower has driven me back into Dark Souls 2 with unexpected fervor, just so I can see what other amazing sights I’ve missed.
PC Gamer, 80/100.
None of this changes the game dramatically: Crown of the Old Iron King still plays like Dark Souls 2, even if the focus is more on the area I’m exploring than the boss I’m trying to dodge. I like that these DLC packs reward faithful Dark Souls 2 players, not just with new challenges but with improved items and equipment. I wish the boss fights, and even the normal enemies, were a little tougher Old Iron King feels far easier than Sunken King, which arrived alongside big balance changes to the combat but just because pro players won’t die repeatedly at fog gates doesn’t mean they shouldn’t play this. Treat it as a stroll down memory lane.
Den of Geek, 4/5.
While the Crown of the Old Iron King feels a bit shorter overall than last month’s counterpart, Crown of the Sunken King, it’s still able to make up for these shortcomings through excellent level design and intriguing new enemies and gameplay mechanics. If only there was a more thrilling conclusion lying in wait at the end of the harrowing tower.
IncGamers, 9/10.
Crown of the Sunken King showed that the Dark Souls 2 team were willing and able to address level design criticisms, and Old Iron King furthers this commitment to more expressive structures in its ashen and vertically themed environment. It also provides two tense and challenging boss fights, alongside (mostly) interesting enemy placement. There are infrequent missteps along the way, but in the main Crown of the Old Iron King shows FromSoft are capable of nudging the bar higher in the difficulty arms race without resorting to underhand tricks.
Destructoid, 7.5/10.
Crown of the Iron King didn’t blow me away, but it’s a very nice zone that feels like a natural extension of Dark Souls II, and it’s meaty enough to feel like a real DLC and not just a bonus area. Now that there are two DLCs down and one to go, it’s hard to really recommend the Season Pass unless the third zone really knocks it out of the park. Stay tuned in September for our coverage of The Crown of the Ivory King.
Metro, 6/10.
We’ve got a creeping feeling that when all three downloads are released we’re going to wish that if only they were combined into one large expansion, using the best parts of each, they would’ve worked much better. As it is though this is just another competent but inessential addition that neither adds nor takes away from the main game. We perhaps enjoyed it slightly more than the last one, but not nearly enough to think the opportunity hadn’t been wasted for a second time.
The Independent, 3/5.
Now two chapters in to the DLC series however, there is really no excuse for the boss inclusions thus far. Whether it’s the dual-wielding Fume Knight who quietly succumbs to the tried, tested strategy of ‘˜dodge-hit-dodge’ ad nauseam or the vengeful return of a particularly frustrating beastie from the bowels of the Iron Keep in a spangly new colour scheme, here’s hoping that the final crown is guarded by more imaginative final adversaries to close out the Dark Souls II saga.
GameSpot, 8/10.
I’ve grown to be that person who can stand in an old building and envision the ghosts of those who have roamed its halls. It’s an achievement when a digital environment can trigger similar meditations, something that the Souls games have pulled off time and time again. From Software is keenly aware of this, as evidenced by a memorable, and more importantly, playable flashback sequence of Dark Souls II. What is noteworthy about Crown of the Old Iron King is how it conveys a deep sense history without the help of a flashback. Its slumbering defenses await your arrival, just as they have for countless heroes before and for those who’ll follow in your footsteps. It’s these guardians who act as the connective tissue between past and present, formidable as always.
USGamer, 4/5.
If you’re on board for another round of Dark Souls DLC, you know what you’re in for: A few interesting twists here and there, and a revival of certain elements from the last game, but nothing revolutionary. If you simply want more Dark Souls 2, Old Iron King delivers just that, and with all the thoughtfulness you’d expect from its developers.
Digital Chumps, 8.0/10.
Iron King stands as a solid, if not slightly routine piece of Dark Souls content. It doesn’t invoke the sense of wonder issued by Sunken King’s playful environments, and the A-to-B of traversal isn’t difficult or complex, but its contributions to enemy encounters and boss runs deserve appreciation. Iron King’s combat is as much of a puzzle as any piece of its environment, and it’s neat to see Dark Souls II briefly sidestep tradition in favor of a vicious experiment. That’s the nature of DLC, right? What’s the point if not to create a cool one-off to field test ideas that didn’t fit into the proper game?
GameTrailer, 8.8/10.
Outside of the repetitious boss, there’s very little to complain about with Crown of the Old Iron King. As you descend deeper in Brume Tower, there’s much to uncover and you’re often given multiple paths to explore. Regardless of how you progress, that familiar sense of dread will plague every step. Crown of the Old Iron King only gets more insidious as it goes on and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hardcore Gamer, 3.5/5.
From Software is able to create an eerie tower to climb down, but at the same time, doesn’t really deliver on anything that we haven’t seen before. The formula has changed slightly, giving players a little more freedom in what they want to do, but at the same time, pacing in how bosses are introduced could have been structured better and more varied. Thankfully, the new setting and enemy types will have everyone strategically planning out their approach, and immersed in this horrific situation. Dark Souls II: Crown of the Old Iron King is a solid expansion to an already captivating game, but there are some questionable choices that have been made.
GameZone, 8.0/10.
If you played Sunken King, expect a similar experience. There are fewer puzzles, and the bosses are equally frustrating, but there are fewer BS bosses. The level design is suburb, and the new enemies really sold it. The open level design makes for fun exploration with some new great items. Two of the boss armors are wicked in design, and certain weapons will open your eyes to new builds. If you want more Dark Souls II content, you have to grab this. If you enjoyed Sunken King, you’ll like this.
IGN, 8.0/10.
Boasting some of the best combat in the series, Crown of the Old Iron King is an intriguing and immersive odyssey. Though less visually impressive than Crown of the Sunken King, this second DLC installment rewards strategic planning more fully than any other episode in the series. Creative traps and engaging battles make this a wonderful addition to Dark Souls 2.
CGMagazine, 7/10.
Overall, I had fun with the DLC, and found it to be an enjoyable edition to the game but it could have been better, with a bit more boss variety. The issue with these DLC is that they need to provide unique experiences, differing from the core game. Sunken King did that with one of the best bosses in Dark Souls 2 and with clever mechanics, but suffered from some concept overlap. Old Iron King has great designs both for characters and for levels, but the bosses could use more variety.
If you bought the season pass, you didn’t waste your money yet. The Old Iron King’s domain is a solid addition overall, but the journey is more important than the destination. The Ivory King’s wintery domain will tell us if those who put down money for all three in advance will be rewarded for their trust.
GameRevolution, 4.0/5.
From Software isn’t changing the landscape of downloadable content with these additions to the core game, but both Crown of the Sunken King and Crown of the Old Iron King feel like logical additions to the rich and expansive world of Dark Souls II. Old Iron King’s focus on fire is a welcome change, and despite some uninspired moments, it has the atmosphere and challenge we’ve come to expect from the series. Souls fans will likely find something to enjoy here.
Digital Trends, 3.5/5.
If you’re looking for a challenge plus a handful of new weapons, armors, rings, hexes, sorceries, and a spear that also casts spells then Iron King is highly recommended. Just know that it contains some of the most difficult fights of the entire series, and when you’re talking about Dark Souls, that’s saying something.
