Info about DARK SOULS™ II Crown of the Ivory King:

Official game description:
"DARK SOULS™ II Crown of the Ivory King" is the third of 3 large-scale DLC additions to DARK SOULS™ II, and includes all-new stages, maps, boss characters, weapons & armor! In this third DLC, players will find themselves in a world shining bright with the glow of treacherous ice. Can you find and recover the lost crown?

Release date: Sep 29, 2014

Categories: Soulslike Combat, Action RPG, Exploration, Cooperative Multiplayer, Boss Fights, Character Progression, Equipment Customization, Dark Fantasy

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Positive; summary: The user feedback on the DLCs is generally positive, with many users recommending the Season Pass for the best value. While there are some mixed feelings about the content, with a few users finding it frustrating, the overall sentiment is that the DLCs are worth the investment and provide an enjoyable experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $30.00 - $50.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that users find significant value in the game, with mentions of extensive gameplay hours and positive experiences. The phrases 'value for money' and 'worth the money' suggest that users feel they are getting a good return on their investment. Additionally, the high praise for the game's content and experiences supports the idea that the community considers the game to be fairly priced within a higher range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 20.0h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides some insights into the playtime metrics for the DLC. The first quote mentions 'many hours' spent on the DLC, which suggests a significant investment of time, likely indicating a high total playtime for game completion. The second quote translates to 'You can play around 6 hours until you explore everything,' which gives a clear indication of the time needed for story completion. The third quote, when translated, states that the DLC might be the longest in the Dark Souls trilogy, with at least four hours of normal gameplay, supporting the story completion time. The fourth quote mentions 'over 350 hours of gameplay,' which is likely cumulative across all DLCs and the base game, so it is not directly used for specific metrics but indicates high engagement.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially presents challenges and frustrations, particularly in co-op segments and level design, but becomes more enjoyable as players progress and engage in epic boss fights and co-op battles.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Engaging in co-op battles and reaching the final boss fight.
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Frustrating co-op segments with visibility and mobility issues; Tedious level design; Challenging and repetitive boss fights
  - Unlock drivers: Progressing through the linear level design; Engaging in co-op play
  - Conditions: Playing in co-op mode; Overcoming initial challenges and progressing further in the game
- Player Archetypes:
  - Co-op Challenger (sale)
    - Motivation: Cooperative gameplay and shared experiences.
    - Playstyle: Seeks out and engages in cooperative play, often tackling challenging areas and bosses with others.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Co-op enthusiast; Soulsborne fan
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Dark Souls 2; Dark Souls 3
  - Content Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Exploring new content and experiencing unique level design.
    - Playstyle: Explores new areas, enemies, and equipment, appreciating the nuances in level design and challenge.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Soulsborne veteran; Content seeker
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Dark Souls 2; Dark Souls 3
  - Value Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Maximizing value and enjoyment from the game.
    - Playstyle: Provides recommendations and advice to others, focusing on the best ways to experience the game.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Soulsborne fan; Advisor
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Dark Souls 2


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Challenging and epic boss fights (weight 0.72): Bosses in the game are noted for being very difficult, powerful, and providing a significant challenge. The final boss fights are particularly highlighted as epic and among the best in the game.
- Visually stunning environments (weight 0.62): The game's environments are described as very beautiful and visually stunning. Players appreciate the beautiful scenery and locations throughout the game.
- Unique and creative level design (weight 0.53): The game features highly praised level design that is unique, creative, and well-received by players. The maps and enemy designs are particularly noted for their excellence.
- New NPCs and lore (weight 0.43): The game includes new NPCs with unique AI designs and adds significant lore and story elements, enhancing the overall narrative.
- Solid and excellent DLC (weight 0.41): The DLC is described as solid and excellent, providing a worthwhile experience that is considered one of the best among the DLCs.
- Introduction of new enemies and weapons (weight 0.23): The game introduces new enemies and important new weapons, making the gameplay more interesting and engaging.
- Dark and immersive atmosphere (weight 0.17): The game features a great dark atmosphere that is immersive and adds to the overall experience.
- Dark Souls-like experience (weight 0.17): The game brings back the feeling of Dark Souls, blending elements from Dark Souls 1 and Dark Souls 3.
- Extended gameplay duration (weight 0.16): The game offers a longer playtime, providing extended gameplay duration for players.
- Hidden secrets and loot (weight 0.16): The game includes many secrets and hidden loot, encouraging exploration and discovery.
- Snowy environments (weight 0.14): The game features areas covered in snow, adding a unique visual and thematic element to the gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Frigid Outskirts criticism (weight 0.97): The Frigid Outskirts area is widely criticized for its poor design, lack of visibility, and frustrating gameplay mechanics. Players find it to be one of the worst areas in the game.
- Enemy design issues (weight 0.81): Enemies are criticized for being monotonous, forgettable, and overly difficult. Some enemies are also noted for their frustrating mechanics and overpowered abilities.
- Bosses are overpowered (weight 0.71): Many players find the bosses in the game to be overly powerful and difficult to defeat. This includes specific mentions of bosses like Lud and Zallen, who are noted for their challenging fights.
- DLC design flaws (weight 0.51): The DLC is criticized for its lazy and unfinished design. Players feel that the content is not worth the time or effort, and it is considered the worst DLC in the Souls franchise.
- Visibility problems in areas (weight 0.5): Certain areas in the game suffer from severe visibility issues, making it difficult for players to navigate and enjoy the gameplay. This is particularly noted in snowy and cloudy areas.
- Invisible and powerful enemies (weight 0.46): Enemies in certain areas are criticized for being invisible and overly powerful, making the gameplay frustrating and difficult.
- Repetitive and tedious gameplay (weight 0.43): Players find certain parts of the game to be repetitive and tedious, including drawn-out level design, constant gank squads, and excessive ambushes.
- Recycled and reskinned content (weight 0.4): The game is criticized for recycling and reskinning content, including bosses and enemies, which makes the gameplay feel unoriginal and repetitive.
- Disappointing rewards and progression (weight 0.38): The rewards and progression in the game are criticized for being disappointing and not worth the effort. This includes the lack of iconic enemies and the grindy process to obtain certain items.
- Frustrating co-op segments (weight 0.34): Co-op segments in the game are criticized for being frustrating due to visibility issues, mobility-reducing blizzards, and difficult enemy encounters.

Gameplay feedback:
- Survival and exploration mechanics (weight 0.35): Survival mechanics in harsh environments like snowstorms and the need for exploration to progress are notable. Players must explore areas multiple times, facing changing challenges and finding items that allow further exploration.
- Co-op and dungeon segments (weight 0.31): Players enjoy the co-op dungeon segments, which include unique environmental challenges like blizzards and specific enemies such as reindeer. These segments also involve cooperative gameplay with other players represented as statues.
- Boss fights and enemy variety (weight 0.31): Boss fights and the variety of enemies are key features. Players find these encounters challenging and engaging, especially when facing new types of enemies and bosses.
- DLC content and story (weight 0.28): The DLC offers a different story, new enemies, and items, providing additional content and extending the gameplay experience. It starts in the Shrine of Winter and is seen as an extension of existing areas.
- Recruiting knights for final battle (weight 0.23): Recruiting and freeing knights for the final battle is a crucial gameplay element. Players need to gather a group to defeat the final boss, adding a strategic layer to the game.
- Combat and parrying mechanics (weight 0.18): The combat mechanics, particularly parrying, are highlighted as significant aspects of the gameplay. Players appreciate the depth and skill involved in mastering these mechanics.
- New equipment and items (weight 0.17): The introduction of new types of weapons, armor, and magical items is well-received. These items encourage players to revisit previously explored areas to discover more.
- Puzzle and key mechanics (weight 0.16): Players encounter puzzles such as invisible obstacles and the need to find keys to unlock doors, adding a layer of problem-solving to the gameplay.
- Level design and lore (weight 0.16): The level design and lore are appreciated aspects of the game. Players enjoy the detailed environments and the rich narrative that accompanies them.
- Online and phantom gameplay (weight 0.16): Online play and phantom gameplay mechanics are noted features. Players can interact with others online, adding a cooperative and competitive dimension to the game.
- Fast-paced fighting and adaptation (weight 0.16): The game includes segments of fast-paced fighting, requiring players to adapt new techniques to progress through the map. This adds variety and intensity to the combat experience.
- NPC interactions and plot (weight 0.15): Interactions with NPCs and the overall plot or narrative of the game are highlighted. These elements contribute to the immersive experience of the game.
- Enemy difficulty and anticipation (weight 0.1): Enemies are challenging if players are not prepared, but once players learn the maps, they can anticipate and strategize against these enemies effectively.
- Forced exploration for progression (weight 0.1): The game often forces players to explore thoroughly to fight the final boss, ensuring that players engage deeply with the game world and its challenges.

Performance notes:
No performancepoints

Recommendations:
- DLCs highly recommended (weight 0.81): Many players recommend purchasing and playing the DLCs as they are fun, well-made, and enhance the overall gaming experience.
- DLCs improve base game (weight 0.31): The DLCs are noted to address some shortcomings of the base game and provide better-designed and more challenging content.
- Positive player experiences (weight 0.1): Players express positive sentiments and enjoyment from playing the DLCs, indicating a satisfying experience.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players are frustrated with the 'Eleum Loyce' and 'Frigid Outskirts' areas due to their challenging design, poorly designed sections, and difficult boss fights. The DLC's content, including repetitive tasks and enemy strength, also contributes to this frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Disappointment stems from the DLC's lack of innovation, recycled content, and tedious mechanics, particularly in the Frigid Outskirts area. Players also cite boring gameplay and neglected mob design as key issues.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Enjoyment comes from the DLC's atmosphere, level structure, and varied enemy designs. Players appreciate the challenging bosses, rewards, and the overall exploration experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction is derived from the overall quality and improvements in the DLC, including beautiful settings, interesting lore, and pleasant level design. Helping others as a phantom also adds to this feeling.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited by the DLC's overall quality, challenging difficulty, and adventurous spirit. The final boss fight and unique elements like the sounds of horses contribute to this excitement.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation is felt for the unique mechanics, memorable boss fights, and beautiful weather effects in the DLC. Players also enjoy the atmosphere and level design.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): Nostalgia is evoked by revisiting the DLC and reliving fun memories, as well as the feeling of the first part of the game. Defeating the White Tiger also contributes to this emotion.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Joy comes from the atmosphere and design of the Eleum Loyce location, as well as the challenge and content of the DLC. Obtaining specific items like the Sacrificial Shield also brings happiness.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players love the DLC for its memorable boss fights, such as the Burnt Ivory King, and find it worth buying due to its overall quality.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is felt for the difficulty and design of the king's pet boss, as well as the aesthetics and environmental design of the Ivory King.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arises from the reviewer's frustration with the game design, feeling that it is a waste of time.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from the DLC feeling like a completely different game, offering a unique experience.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Pride is felt due to the challenging journey and accomplishments within the DLC.}