the first entry in this series gameplay wise was about level exploration and using space in creative ways to make interesting and engaging encounters out of relatively simple enemies
yet the most creative soulslikes can ever get is "lets add a parry"
To me almost every new soulslike falls flat, because it feels like the devs are focusing on the wrong things and that is extremely elaborate, ultra difficulty boss fights. Sure DS1 was sorta difficult, but to me it was more about the exploration. That's where it absolutely shone