Dark Souls 2 is like trying a different seafood for the first time as a child. Sure, you love shrimp, maybe even some lobster, but now you're presented with a dish of softshell crab. You hesitate, it looks so raw in a way. After much hesitation and pushing from your folks you take a tiny bite, and reel at just how unfiltered the "sea" is in here. There's no shortcuts around it besides completely drenching the thing in butter and salt until it becomes a vehicle for it. But of course, it's only natural for a child to develop comfort foods and breaking habits is terrifying at any age, but it is eternally childish to then proclaim it's the least seafood of the dishes you ate simply because it challenges your expectations. I won't lie and pretend softshell crab isn't particularly raw or gamey when served by itself, but it's also not a particularly offensive flavor if you already enjoy seafood anyways.

So why do FromSoft Souls vets have such a hate boner for the only goddamn entry to have the balls to change something as fundamental as healing, despite begging for them to shake things up a little? Quit whining and eat your food, it's only as cold and unfresh as you let it be.

Bearer of the curse, how little self-awareness ye retained after offing the Lord of Cinder, despite speaking of its messages y' retained none. Go then, kill another 4-5 or what have ye, y've probably already forgotten the man who begged you to just remember his name...

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Very belated update: There is now an exe-level Deadzone fix for PC, huzzah. https://www.nexusmods.com/darksouls2/mods/1200