<s>
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Lost	I-Application
Crowns	I-Application
is	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
three	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
for	O
the	O
2014	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
developed	O
by	O
FromSoftware	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Bandai	O
Namco	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
were	O
met	O
with	O
positive	O
reception	O
and	O
drew	O
praise	O
for	O
returning	O
to	O
the	O
complex	O
interlocking	O
and	O
looping	O
level	O
design	O
of	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
released	O
,	O
Bandai	O
Namco	O
producer	O
Takeshi	O
Miyazoe	O
said	O
that	O
there	O
was	O
potential	O
for	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
depending	O
on	O
fan	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Yui	O
Tanimura	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
directors	O
,	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
began	O
directly	O
after	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
was	O
completed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
design	O
meetings	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
decision	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
trilogy	O
as	O
varied	O
as	O
possible	O
,	O
and	O
this	O
was	O
facilitated	O
by	O
the	O
freedom	O
of	O
not	O
being	O
bound	O
by	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
's	O
overarching	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Director	O
Yui	O
Tanimura	O
also	O
decided	O
to	O
emphasize	O
discovery	O
in	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
and	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
experience	O
players	O
developed	O
from	O
going	O
through	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
4	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
Crowns	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
available	O
for	O
individual	O
purchase	O
or	O
as	O
a	O
complete	O
season	O
pass	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
three	O
installments	O
of	O
the	O
trilogy	O
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
thanks	O
to	O
a	O
deliberate	O
effort	O
to	O
employ	O
level	O
designs	O
unlike	O
anything	O
found	O
in	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
some	O
critics	O
considered	O
the	O
new	O
content	O
an	O
improvement	O
on	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
of	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
involved	O
an	O
abyssal	O
entity	O
known	O
as	O
Manus	O
shattering	O
into	O
numerous	O
fragments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
plot	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
Crowns	I-Application
focuses	O
on	O
three	O
more	O
such	O
autonomous	O
fragments	O
who	O
set	O
off	O
to	O
various	O
kingdoms	O
in	O
search	O
of	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
part	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
Crowns	I-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
trilogy	O
,	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
July	O
22	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
and	O
was	O
regarded	O
as	O
an	O
improvement	O
over	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
's	O
level	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
large	O
,	O
green-hued	O
cavern	O
with	O
vast	O
stepped	O
pyramids	O
that	O
bear	O
resemblance	O
to	O
Aztec	B-Application
temples	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Matt	O
Kamen	O
of	O
The	O
Guardian	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
features	O
"	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
disturbing	O
yet	O
beautiful	O
locations	O
seen	O
on	O
a	O
current	O
generation	O
console	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
saw	O
an	O
increase	O
of	O
environmental	O
puzzles	O
when	O
compared	O
to	O
its	O
host	O
game	O
and	O
previous	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
;	O
large	O
architectural	O
segments	O
slide	O
and	O
rotate	O
and	O
rise	O
,	O
switches	O
that	O
reward	O
observant	O
players	O
are	O
hidden	O
around	O
the	O
level	O
,	O
and	O
traps	O
abound	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
shifting	O
elements	O
can	O
sometimes	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
eliminate	O
enemies	O
,	O
protect	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
or	O
access	O
hidden	O
items	O
,	O
lending	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
a	O
slow	O
,	O
more	O
experimental	O
and	O
contemplative	O
pace	O
that	O
the	O
designers	O
wanted	O
to	O
impart	O
a	O
sense	O
of	O
true	O
exploration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
physical	O
level	O
design	O
of	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
departed	O
from	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
's	O
relatively	O
linear	O
style	O
,	O
returning	O
to	O
a	O
more	O
considered	O
,	O
interconnected	O
layout	O
with	O
areas	O
that	O
loop	O
back	O
and	O
feature	O
many	O
shortcuts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
is	O
also	O
an	O
emphasis	O
on	O
vertical	O
design	O
in	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
(	O
something	O
that	O
would	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
greater	O
effect	O
in	O
the	O
following	O
chapter	O
,	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Old	O
Iron	O
King	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
some	O
critics	O
found	O
refreshing	O
and	O
others	O
found	O
frustrating	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
forced	O
reconsideration	O
is	O
a	O
common	O
element	O
in	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
's	O
enemies	O
and	O
traps	O
,	O
emphasizing	O
methodical	O
action	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
's	O
story	O
,	O
dragon	O
worshipers	O
constructed	O
the	O
temples	O
around	O
Sinh	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
different	O
sect	O
of	O
cultists	O
invaded	O
and	O
inadvertently	O
woke	O
the	O
dragon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Simon	O
Parkin	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
praised	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
's	O
level	O
design	O
and	O
visuals	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
a	O
"	O
strong	O
start	O
for	O
this	O
series	O
of	O
add-on	O
chapters	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
Miguel	O
Concepcion	O
compared	O
the	O
complexly	O
interwoven	O
layout	O
of	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
to	O
the	O
design	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
(	O
2011	O
)	O
,	O
writing	O
,	O
"	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
's	O
standout	O
exploratory	O
design	O
and	O
abundance	O
of	O
engaging	O
enemy	O
encounters	O
make	O
it	O
a	O
terrific	O
adventure	O
,	O
though	O
a	O
hair	O
short	O
of	O
being	O
essential.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Brett	O
Phipps	O
of	O
VideoGamer	O
appreciated	O
how	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
"	O
free	O
of	O
nods	O
to	O
the	O
past	O
"	O
and	O
noted	O
the	O
quality	O
and	O
difficulty	O
of	O
combat	O
encounters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
wrote	O
,	O
"	O
It	O
may	O
be	O
tough	O
,	O
but	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
delivers	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
best	O
,	O
most	O
intricate	O
level	O
design	O
so	O
far.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Matt	O
Kamen	O
of	O
The	O
Guardian	O
called	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
"	O
a	O
welcome	O
update	O
to	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
then	O
,	O
although	O
with	O
two	O
chapters	O
yet	O
to	O
arrive	O
,	O
perhaps	O
a	O
bit	O
light	O
on	O
overall	O
content.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
,	O
Cory	O
Banks	O
considered	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
a	O
tremendous	O
value	O
and	O
favorably	O
noted	O
its	O
consistent	O
challenge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Polygon	O
Dave	O
Tach	O
called	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
an	O
"	O
indispensable	O
expansion	O
"	O
that	O
represents	O
"	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
at	O
its	O
best	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
part	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
Crowns	I-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
trilogy	O
,	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Old	O
Iron	O
King	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
August	O
26	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
begins	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
on	O
a	O
nearby	O
mountain	O
and	O
is	O
faced	O
with	O
a	O
giant	O
chain	O
bridge	O
that	O
leads	O
to	O
the	O
upper	O
level	O
of	O
the	O
isolated	O
tower	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
previous	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Old	O
Iron	O
King	O
emphasizes	O
attention	O
to	O
environmental	O
details	O
and	O
cautious	O
gameplay	O
,	O
but	O
this	O
time	O
to	O
best	O
combat	O
encounters	O
rather	O
than	O
solve	O
puzzles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
poison-emitting	O
enemies	O
in	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Sunken	O
King	O
,	O
this	O
DLC	B-Protocol
offers	O
adversaries	O
with	O
mechanics	O
that	O
force	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
slow	O
their	O
attack	O
and	O
adapt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
objects	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
destroyed	O
with	O
items	O
found	O
throughout	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
again	O
emphasizing	O
the	O
importance	O
of	O
exploration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
did	O
note	O
that	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
relatively	O
brief	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
called	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
"	O
a	O
confident	O
step	O
up	O
from	O
the	O
already	O
impressive	O
first	O
part	O
and	O
a	O
tantalising	O
taste	O
of	O
what	O
's	O
still	O
to	O
come.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Polygon	O
's	O
Dave	O
Tach	O
still	O
appreciated	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
but	O
he	O
found	O
its	O
difficulty	O
frustrating	O
at	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Conversely	O
,	O
Cory	O
Banks	O
of	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
found	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
to	O
be	O
"	O
easier	O
than	O
we	O
'd	O
hoped	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
praised	O
the	O
rewarding	O
exploration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
conclusion	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
Crowns	I-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
trilogy	O
and	O
of	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
at	O
large	O
,	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Ivory	O
King	O
,	O
was	O
scheduled	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
24	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
delayed	O
until	O
September	O
30	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
a	O
day	O
early	O
on	O
PC	O
and	O
a	O
day	O
later	O
on	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
and	O
was	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
fitting	O
sendoff	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Besides	O
one	O
small	O
optional	O
area	O
in	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
,	O
this	O
DLC	B-Protocol
is	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
first	O
major	O
winter	O
area	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
DLC	B-Protocol
's	O
overall	O
level	O
design	O
is	O
more	O
linear	O
than	O
that	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
two	O
,	O
but	O
that	O
is	O
offset	O
by	O
the	O
profusion	O
of	O
thawable	O
and	O
hidden	O
secrets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
the	O
two	O
previous	O
DLCs	B-Protocol
,	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Ivory	O
King	O
continues	O
the	O
trend	O
of	O
thoughtful	O
level	O
design	O
coupled	O
with	O
environmental	O
puzzles	O
and	O
creative	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Immediately	O
to	O
the	O
left	O
is	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
's	O
first	O
of	O
three	O
bosses	O
,	O
a	O
white	O
tiger	O
that	O
begins	O
invisible	O
and	O
is	O
later	O
revealed	O
by	O
acquiring	O
an	O
item	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Another	O
instance	O
of	O
this	O
unusual	O
design	O
can	O
be	O
seen	O
in	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Ivory	O
King	O
's	O
titular	O
final	O
boss	O
who	O
can	O
be	O
challenged	O
very	O
early	O
in	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Simon	O
Parkin	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
appreciated	O
the	O
unusual	O
final	O
boss	O
design	O
of	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
and	O
how	O
it	O
gave	O
the	O
chapter	O
a	O
"	O
unique	O
pace	O
"	O
that	O
"	O
upsets	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
II	I-Application
's	O
now	O
familiar	O
structure	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
Miguel	O
Concepcion	O
lauded	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
and	O
said	O
,	O
"	O
Crown	O
of	O
the	O
Ivory	O
King	O
is	O
a	O
melancholic	O
victory	O
lap	O
in	O
the	O
only	O
way	O
a	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
game	O
can	O
present	O
a	O
finale.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Official	O
Xbox	B-Device
Magazine	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
final	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
trilogy	O
takes	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
systems	O
and	O
mechanics	O
in	O
an	O
admirably	O
creative	O
way	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Gamer	O
's	O
Ben	O
Griffin	O
concluded	O
that	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
was	O
high	O
quality	O
and	O
solid	O
,	O
but	O
low	O
on	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bob	O
Mackey	O
of	O
USgamer	O
wrote	O
,	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
've	O
been	O
playing	O
through	O
Dark	B-Application
Souls	I-Application
2	I-Application
DLC	B-Protocol
up	O
to	O
this	O
point	O
,	O
Ivory	O
King	O
offers	O
plenty	O
of	O
reasons	O
to	O
see	O
the	O
last	O
of	O
what	O
FromSoftware	O
has	O
to	O
offer	O
,	O
"	O
and	O
favorably	O
called	O
the	O
setting	O
"	O
atypical	O
for	O
a	O
Souls	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
critics	O
especially	O
praised	O
the	O
DLC	B-Protocol
's	O
final	O
boss	O
and	O
the	O
way	O
it	O
inspires	O
a	O
style	O
of	O
play	O
previously	O
unusual	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
