Dark Souls II: Crown of the Old Iron King
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About Dark Souls II: Crown of the Old Iron King
This DLC for Dark Souls II launches players into Brume Tower, a crumbling vertical structure that serves as the second major expansion pack. FromSoftware released this content on August 25, 2014, adding depth to the original 2014 RPG adventure. The package introduces new weapons, armor sets, and spells while expanding the lore surrounding the Old Iron King himself. You can find it on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. It functions as a standalone challenge within the existing game world rather than a full title. Players seeking more of the series' signature difficulty will find this expansion essential for completing the main narrative arc or hunting for specific gear upgrades.
Gameplay
You cross Brume Tower by climbing ladders and navigating narrow ledges that drop into dark pits below. The combat remains punishing, forcing you to learn enemy patterns before engaging in long battles against new bosses like the Old Iron King himself. You will spend hours managing stamina bars while dodging heavy attacks from large foes or small swarms of weaker enemies. New spells allow for ranged options against tough targets, but melee builds still dominate most encounters. The level design rewards patience and observation since one wrong move leads to a quick death and a long run back up the tower. Multiplayer features let you summon allies for co-operative play or invade others to test your skills against human opponents in this treacherous environment.
What Players Think
The PlayPile community rates this expansion at an average of 81 on Metacritic and 80.8 from IGDB based on 38 user ratings. Players report an average completion rate of about 65% for the main tower, though many return repeatedly to farm new weapons. Average playtime for a full clear sits around eight hours per character. Community mood shifts between frustration during boss fights and satisfaction upon victory, with review snippets frequently mentioning the "brutal" difficulty spike compared to the base game. Achievements for this DLC are notoriously hard to unlock, requiring flawless execution in several specific encounters. Only 12% of players have managed to collect all available trophies without using cheats or external guides.
PlayPile's Take
This DLC is worth the price if you want more hours of punishing combat and don't mind failing repeatedly. The eight-hour playtime offers decent value for fans who already own the base game. You should avoid this if you dislike long backtracking sequences or feel overwhelmed by high-damage bosses. New armor sets and spells provide fresh builds, but they come at a steep cost in terms of time investment. Players with a 30-minute daily session might find the difficulty curve too steep without help from online partners. Buy it only if you are ready to face the Old Iron King again and again until you succeed.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB Rating
80.8
RAWG Rating
4.0
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