Combat feels very aggressive but not for the right reasons. The slower, methodical approach of the predecessors is gone. Now my tactics revolves around circling, backstabbing and rolling for the heavier dudes.
?? You mean slower methodical aproach where you had time to do circles around enemy which didn't really fought with you ?
In therms of combat i noticed this:
- you and mobs are more stagger prone which lead to combos
- not common enemies usually don't die with 10 swings.
- shield doesn't cover as much space as before
- mobs move way faster and attack way faster ( im mean non peasant ones )
- mobs do A LOT of damage and usually follow up their attacks with next attacks
- mobs telegraph way less their attacks (especially since they are faster)
- some mobs are super agressive and if you take aproach of waiting it out you are fucked (mutated guy, that frosty thing etc)
- mobs have varied attack patters and seems to not actually do same attacks again and again.
- mobs have few wind up attacks that bait you into wrong timing of your block/parry
- mobs are diverse and you rarely actually fight same dudes over and over again.
- mobs have different attacks that will guard brake you without stamina depletion.
- mobs have anti backstabber attacks and you can't actually circle some mobs at all
- you can actually be stealthy in this game so like in case of first red knights you can completely skip them
All seem like huge improvement to me over previous DS combat model.
Due to above changes simply put shields aren't as effective now as they were in previous games. Now roll is king seems to me + proper use of your fighting style.
Frankly speaking above style reminds me DS2 DLC where enemies had huge stagger attacks that punished care bears and their shield builds and punished wrong timings doing a lot of damage.
edit:
Also backstep actually is usable now. It is actually good tactic now and covers much space and since enemies are prone to stun you can start this way combo.
