In Dark Souls 3 this would've been a nice boss. But Dark Souls 2 combat is depressing (thank you ADP and AGL) and the hitboxes COMPLETELY are broken. I'd say this was an okay fight, but my character insists on drinking the estus like someone enjoying a top quality wine, eh...
Contrary to all the hand-wringing on this page…I downed him on the first attempt, easily, with powerstanced dark sacred chime hammers +5. Chunked about 15% of his health per hit; he didn’t even have a chance to enter phase 2 until he had about 25% of his health left. The penultimate hit on him I actually staggered him. He landed maybe 4 hits on me, easily healed w estus after rolling behind him.
This is what a boss should be. Hard as a mother****er but fair (hitboxes are a little questionable tho). Design-wise very cool too, and they gave him some interesting lore. Lost track of how many times he killed me, but finally beating him felt amazing.
Fun fight, skill and timing required. Big improvement on many core bosses that were quite predictable and slow. From clearly listened to player feedback from the core game, all the DLC bosses have a more DS3/Bloodborne/Elden Ring vibe.
not every ER boss is amazing, but it has some that are all-time greats. certainly some iconic fights that will be remembered for years, calling every boss in that game garbage is intellectually lazy. fume knight is one of the few DS2 bosses that consistently knocks me on my ***, honestly a fun challenge. DS3 and Bloodborne certainly have their share of mediocre bosses, for all their highs they are not without lows.
I didn't really enjoy the Sunken DLC much at all but I found the Old Iron Tower area to be pretty fun, aside from one ambush encounter. Fume Knight is also an excellent boss, probably one of my favorites in DS1 and DS2.
Remember when this boss was infamous for his high damage delay sttacks that wait until they think you will roll? Now every boss in elden ring does it 3 times over. Ahh, simpler times.