The Challenge: Though there's plenty of debate about who the truly hardest boss is in Dark Souls II, the popular vote just might go to the Smelter Demon, whose flame sword has been the stuff of nightmares for millions of players over the past year. Why It's So Difficult: No matter how much people harp on about Dark Souls II being a rare difficult game that doesn't ever feel cheap, that provides little comfort when the Smelter has cleaved you to death for the 30th time in a row, and you're losing not just the will to keep playing, but to keep up an existence where a video game can turn you into a gibbering, emotionally disturbed wreck. Blocking his attacks is a fool's errand, and there's even the possibility you'll get stuck in one of the walls by way of a glitch. It's certainly not impossible, but you really need to put the leg-work in, the hours of failing, before you make it through this ridiculously tough boss fight.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
