Not sure why I like this one the most of the series. Not a PvP'er so the major strength of this game (according to the fanbase) is lost on me, I think the DLC is overhyped at best and actively annoying at worst, and nothing in this game particularly stands out as being exceptional. In fact, there's about 5 areas in the game I would say are some of the dumbest stuff I've ever played. I guess I enjoy this so much since it is the most 'gamey' of the Souls series; it's not overtly ambitious like DS1 and doesn't feel like an awkward fan apology like DS3. DS2 is primarily concerned with customization and expression, and the variety of ways you can mess around and break the game with dumb and creative builds makes it weirdly inline with something like the SaGa series or FFT than anything similar to how the Souls series typically approaches RPG mechanics. When you look at the game as essentially a giant sandbox to experiment in, and are willing to use a walkthrough to find the materials to make good experiments, the stupid parts become a lot more bearable.