![]() ![]() ![]() We're first introduced to rabbles of ghoulish-looking Gardeners: a clumsy tribe of forest-dwellers prone to tripping over themselves in their attempts to catch your trespass. Progressing to the Royal Woods puts you in the company of some unusual enemies, and each one poses a unique kind of risk. It's quickly apparent that these are of a different cultural making to the more medieval stonework seen elsewhere in the game, and soon a local resident explains that you've been sent to Lordran's far-flung past. Opening with the Oolacile Sanctuary makes for a real visual punch, with rows of mossy idols slanting towards an unlit bonfire - a peaceful spot defended by stone walls and torches fashioned from gnarled branches. The new single-player journey immediately has you trundling through some exotic areas where quality of design presides over quantity. Your interactions with this new cast of characters will determine which items you collect, and even open you up to new bosses. The series' NPCs are usually on the eccentric side, but The Marvellous Chester stands out as a particularly crooked favourite. Once a giant, shadowy hand snatches you through it, it's clear that the series' signature minimalist attitude to storytelling is still in full effect and that there are still plenty of mysteries to uncover. The Artorias of the Abyss quest can also only be accessed once the Anor Londo area is cleared - a smart way to ensure you have the warp ability before you jump into the portal, in case you ever want to return. In true series spirit, there are no breadcrumbs or signposts to guide you along, and without a walkthrough, plenty of exploring is needed before you can truly get going. The obscure lead-in to this new content is remarkable in itself. As developer From Software's first add-on for the series, it also ranks as a curious example of how a new adventure can be woven into an already tightly-knit world without making it feel too out of place. It's a pitchfork that digs deeper into the two most fertile areas of the core Dark Souls experience: the beautiful, decaying environments that chronicle the extent of Lordran's curse, and the game's potent competitive multiplayer. Artorias of the Abyss - the downloadable Dark Souls expansion that's also included in the new Prepare to Die edition of the game - is a two-pronged proposition. ![]()
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