The clue is in the title, see? But generally speaking when a game tries to be dark and mature it tends end up clumsily trying to achieve it with swearing, arbitrary references to rape and dead parents. Dark Souls achieves it with atmosphere and imagery. Whilst never resorting to anything lurid or obscene. The world is unwelcoming; virtually everything you encounter is actively hostile towards you. Characters that are not actually hostile are few and far between. The ones you do encounter virtually always go mad and turn on you, sooner or later. You end up lost and alone in a world that seems angry at you for no good reason. Many of the creatures you encounter are somewhat unpleasant, but a few are downright unsettling. Without ever being grotesque some of the shambling horrors that come lurching out of the darkness manage to really make those of a nervous disposition shudder. Some of the worst of them are actually the more benign and helpful, if manipulative. So how has the atmosphere and tone of the game lead up to Dark Souls II. From the trailers and gameplay released so far, if anything it looks darker, more unforgiving and just as solitary as ever.