Finished DS1 yesterday. Great game, but also kind of a weird experience after Elden Ring. On the one hand, the level design is absolutely amazing. I also think the difficulty in the normal content is way higher - more ambushes, awkward arenas and such. The mobs themselves might often be easier than in ER, but in practice actually playing the game, DS1 felt much, much harder for me. This is in part due to encounter design, but also very much due to how many mobs you have to deal with between bonfires - and how the level-design demands more skill to figure out (meaning you stay longer in areas).
On the other, the bosses were way easier, especially towards the end of the game. I one-shot both DLC bosses (didn't find the dragon, playing blind, though I did have to google how to start the DLC, fuck me that was convoluted) and especially Artorias was completely pathetic, which is sad since his moveset seemed really good. In general I was sad that the bosses were so easy, because their movesets and the flow of combat felt much better than Elden Ring bosses, who I felt often had these weird, unnatural delays on their attacks just to bait out rolling and dodging. In contrast, DS1 bosses felt more natural, and when I got hit I felt like it was 110% my own fault. It's just that the damage they dealt and their general slowness meant they couldn't keep up with my characters stats (and I wasn't overleveled).
The biggest highlight was Ornstein and Smough, though. I died many times in that fight and it's probably my favourite boss fight of both games. The movesets of the two dudes compliment each so soooo well, and even though the fight is hectic and difficult, it never feels cheap or completely unmanagable.
Next up might be DS2, but I'm actually pondering using this newfound action game romance I have going on to delve into some other Souls-like genres. I've never played Metroidvanias, and Hollow Knight looks mighty interesting.
