It feels sad to have this game grow away from me so much, but after playing Bloodborne and Elden Ring back to back, this really just has nothing unique to offer me. If I wanted this style of combat done better, I'd play BB (or even Sekiro), and if I wanted this style of combat with better bosses, I'd play ER. The base game bosses aren't nearly as good as I remember; though there are some exceptions like the final boss and Nameless King. The DLCs do help pack a bit more punch, but I find that it still doesn't save the game from having monotonous combat, overly linear map design, and an all but washed out and overly bright color palette. Plus, the constant fanservice really just wore on my nerves, though there were some moments I did like, specifically Smouldering Lake.

However, at the end of the day, it's still a Souls game, so it's still absolutely worth playing. It's just my personal least favorite and one I don't see myself coming back to nearly as much as its brethren. Credit where its due: easily the best ending of the entire lineage. The final boss itself, the leadup, and the thematic weight and darkness (heh) really make it something special.