Often lauded as a radical departure from a near perfect masterpiece, Dark Souls' sequel is far closer to the original than people give credit for. Looping areas are replaced with linear progression paths offering far more interactivity with a more neatly designed set of levels where exploration is far less daunting, risky but infinitely more satisfying. Everything else is tidied up with mechanics streamlined in ways that retain player choice without overbearing options. A great selection of hidden bosses and optional areas make DS2 a joy to replay even years on and unlike 1 and 3 feels like a complete package without DLC.