I'm not understanding the "love" for this series. Graphics and play control are sub-par. This game could be done on a cell-phone graphics chip, no problem. That's not a bad thing so much, i was just expecting something a bit more detailed. Ok, so you can get a few texture mods here or there (PC version being reviewed here). Nothing that really fixes the games' core problem. Play control and level design.
Let's be honest, people. It's painful to play this game. Seems as though your character is stuck in the center of the screen (screen rotates around character) which gives minimal immersion. Games like Batman: Arkham Asylum/Arkham City, Darksiders 1 & 2, Prototype 2 did it right in terms of 3rd person perspective game play.
Hack/slash/dodge your way through the game, hoping you don't fall off a cliff or didn't press the block button in time, is not gaming. That's poor design. Questing and general progression are next to a lost cause; player really has no idea what to do or where to go from the start. Die'ing over and over and over again, is not fun in gaming. The way Dark Souls presents this as a key aspect of it's design and functionality, leads one to think if it could all be an excuse for poor programming and or lack of game design talent.
I like the story and atmosphere. The music is great as was the intro screen CGI work. Sounds, to include ambient and general sound effects, are a mix of rehashed sounds from DS1. I'm giving this game a review of a 6 because it could have been A LOT better in terms of play control and graphics. The UI/inventory system is pretty much the same as DS1. Basically, from what i've played, Dark Souls 2 is Dark Souls 1.5. Here's hoping DS3 will have a completely reworked graphics (or entirely new) engine and combat system.