I enjoyed Dark Souls as my first souls-like, on my first run I didn't level up my character much at all, mostly opting for optimizing my movement and taking my time with enemies, getting to beat Gwyn around level 38, with a very awkward build of halberd and dexterity, with light rolling for combat that my friends kept being confused about. I don't find the movement to be too slow, and generally feel like it's very balanced in the way that you're allowed to dodge and move around enemies when you properly learn how they work. (Some enemies still have very BS movesets that nullify your rolls and can't be parried, but those are generally telegraphed well). I do have a lot of problems with some mechanics, but overall the game seems to hold up pretty well despite the issues, with most of these issues seemingly being resolved in later entries of the franchise. Bossfights are generally well designed (Capra demon's "cheese" that you mentioned in the video is the intended way to fight as this is a late game enemy that is supposed to be unfair to fight.) The game is designed to not be a favorable matchup regardless of how much you invest into your character (A level 200 character can still die to a random hollow that just stunlocked you because it caught you off guard or you mistimed a parry or roll.) Some aspects of the game were rushed, some were not properly implemented (Why is there a limit on which direction you can roll when locked on?), some ended up being less favorable to the player than expected, but I think that despite all the issues, the game still holds up very well to modern standards. (I do find the "get good" arguments annoying but for a game like this one, they have more truth to them than usual.)

Great review! I’m so glad you brought up playing how you like rather than what the community tells you is “correct.” Now I wouldn’t go as far as using glitches or exploits, but if there’s an item in the game, I can use it. I know many people say going all strength with a great sword and no armor is the “only fun way to play the game” but that’s stupid. I’d much rather stick to be a “dex scrub” because I find fast attacks more fun. Having to commit to every swing with a great sword is too much risk for my liking. As for many of your complaints, most get fixed in later games. DS3 specifically. Boss run backs, stupid arenas, bad areas, they all go away. They are just a relic of the past. (Except poison swamps, there is a poison swamp in EVERY game) The slow movement is definitely a design choice, but I will say later games speed things up a little bit, but they still feel the same. Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2 are all slow but then everything after is faster, Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, and Elden Ring. I’m surprised you didn’t mention Lost Izalith and The Bed of Chaos at all. They are widely considered the worst area and worst boss in the game respectively (if not the entire series). That area of the game was botched due to rushed development. Ruining an otherwise great idea. As for the Tomb of the Giants, I’m not sure if you’re aware or not but there are a few ways to light up the area, the easiest being using the skull lantern item. It lights the area around you and also shows blue orbs that line the walls. Makes traversing that place much easier.

Skill diff

8:22 Fun fact miyazaki plays his games and uses like you said, everything to his advantage.

Elden Ring pretty much gets rid of boss runbacks so you have that to look forward to if you ever try that game. DS3 is worth checking out as well since it has the best bosses in the series, especially in it's DLCs.

Its interesting seying how some of the criticisms here has been changed on new games of fromsoftware

For me, part of my love of Dark Souls was that it felt like something that I wasn't included in. It had its own thing going on, and I was not a part of that. But, with time, if your bring yourself to it, it rewarded me for learning, and adapting. I don't think it's some perfect game, but I don't know if I understand the overall point of your video. I think you speak well, and make interesting points, but the title of the video mixed with unclear sections of critique and praise and etc, it's a little tough to follow. Keep it up, keep refining.

I have A LOT hours on DS3, Elden ring and Sekiro. But I keep struggling commiting to Dark souls 1, I might need to commit more time to it. It just doesn't seem that good of a game. Compared to the others Souls games the problem with this is not a matter of getting good. Its more getting lost and I don't know where the fuck to go, I'm about to just fucking play with youtube right next to me the whole time

I wonder if the game would have been so successful without the runbacks, capra demon, catacombs and other unfair things. We would have missed many funny and epic moments.

No. Most vapid Souls video. An inconceivably low bar to slink under.

Great video. Don't let these other guys tell you that you played the game "wrong" games are supposed to be fun, if playing this way was fun to you, then keep playing that way.

You have to be mentally impaired to call souls-likes hard. Its just tedious.

lol git gud casul