Finished this literally a few moments ago. I scoured every optional area and defeated every optional boss (minus some in the Chalice Dungeons). Some quick thoughts:
+ The most believable world that From Software has created. It may seem to lack the variety of locations seen in Dark Souls at first, but the overall aesthetic just has a much more consistent theme and the areas blend together in a more natural way.
+ The more aggressive and fast-paced gameplay style is very satisfying, leading to some intense encounters.
+ Everything, from the art, design philosophies, storytelling, sound, and gameplay, all work in tandem to create an immersive atmosphere that is absolutely second to none.
- My only major gripe, the boss fights. The all look fantastic, and this may entirely depend on how you play, but I found nearly every boss after V
A
to be entirely too easy. I was defeating most on my first or second try at this point, and I would not consider myself an expect Dark Souls player (only completed it once). Again, I took my time trying to see everything I possibly could on my first playthrough, so maybe that had an effect.
- You should have been able to level up, reset enemies, and travel between lamps without having to visit the hub area. Not a big issue, but the needless extra two-step process in the game simply exacerbates the loading issues.
Overall, I absolutely loved it. It has its issues, but you can't help but admire all the intricacies that went into the design of the world and the underlying lore that's reflected in the art.