sincerest apologies to the revisionists but this feels like shit to play, with floaty and awkward kinaesthetics, inconsistent roll dodging, bad enemy placement, amateurish level design and a world that makes no sense (don't tell me that's the point). this has some atmosphere, i'll give it that, but totally lacks the thematic cohesion of fromsoft's other games - especially the first dark souls - and leaves you directionless for much of it. i understand that this had a fraught development cycle, which i obviously sympathize with, but i can't pretend it resulted in anything other than a mess. impressive how much entertainment you can squeeze out of even a mediocre souls title though