First of all, the game is very good, there's no question about that, but if you knew me you'd know that I'm not an open-world fan, and most of my complaints stem from that fact.
I think Fromsoftware has done a good job of adapting the souls formula to fit the open world format, but I don't believe it's in this format that the essence of this formula shines through and shows its best form.
For me, nothing incredible is added to the souls formula when you change the structure of the game to something more open, despite the greater freedom to explore, something positive for many, that's not what I'm looking for in games like this, for me it's about navigating intricate and meticulously crafted levels. Add this to other minor complaints such as the repetition of bosses, dozens of very similar dungeons, Fromsoftware's refusal to add field-of-view settings, lack of wide-screen support, and a list of other details and you have the reason why this game is not my favorite experience among FromSoftware's other titles.
That said, this game deserves its prestige and the game of the year award. FromSoftware has managed to pull it off once again, the world is visually stunning, many boss battles are memorable, the story and mythology are great, the variety of equipment allows for more builds than ever before, and the soundtrack is, as always, impeccable.