Kyoshi

It is a weird one. I guess the pacing has been my biggest issue so far. A lot of areas so far feel tiny in the scope of how the gameplay works and the amount of bosses makes some areas feel so forgettable, whereas in Dark Souls each new area is a new exploration opportunity. I guess Sekiro just doesn't have that as much and perhaps it isn't supposed to. The boss design is weird to me as well. As I said before, Snake Eyes, the first one, I don't know why that character is so strong. It just seems so strange having that character be stronger than uber badasses in armor you know? The lack of options over is another issue for me. Again, maybe I am expecting too much, but if there was just a bit more variety things would be better.

The DS2 and 3 thing, that is a tough question. There's a lot I like about both of those games, but I have my issues as well, like DS2 just feeling off compared to DS1 or DS3's world being so drab. Sekiro's world feels like it has life to it, even if that isn't fleshed out enough and its combat flows well unlike DS2. So it is in a very weird middle ground between those two games for me. It has aspects that put it above those games, yet the Dark Souls games still do find ways to be better in other aspects, like in variety or the pacing overall.

Wanted to answer this last. Sorcery. I do have a sorcery character file, it was me just trying it out. Perhaps I am too used to my other play style, but I wasn't as into the sorcery build as I wanted to be. Then again I am more of a two hand a melee weapon kinda guy. To me that is one of the massive strengths of Dark Souls that Sekiro just doesn't have and that is variety, player choice. There are so many ways to customize your play style and play the game how you want to. You simply don't get that in Sekiro. Not that Sekiro has no variety in its gameplay, there's definitely different ways to approach combat and encounters, but compared to Dark Souls it is almost nonexistent.

I get what you mean. As I said, it's a lot more focused of game, with an established main character that speaks and has his own personality and motives. There's also no multiplayer. I see it as more of a game similar to say, the Witcher 3. That's a similar sort of structured game, it has a similar sort of skill system, you can customize more but there's no real class variety, and I think those sorts of games fit more with the "blank slate" character than an established one like Wolf. I think it may be you simply prefer Action games with more customization and options for class creation and skills? And Fromsoft is known more for those than a focused, single player game with a much larger story focus.

For DS2 and 3 I definitely think it's better. DS2 felt clunky and had less of a "fair" challenge, and awful stats like ADP. 3 felt like it wanted to be DS1, 2 and BB at the same time, and was mechanically solid but lacked the charm and creativity of DS1.

See, I preferred melee myself, as well. But trying out more builds made me appreciate the variety and nuance, and it's a thing with DS1 that's also great. Get bored with the game? Try a new character build. It's like playing a new game. Also, if you haven't, if you want to seriously make the game easy mode, go full tank with the greatshield of artorias, upgraded Giant's armor, 40 STR, and great club +15. Smash some faces in, it's a lotta fun.

Oh, another thing, although I'm enjoying Sekiro, I definitely can't say I'll be replaying it anytime soon after I finish it. The lack of customization definitely makes that harder :p

For short games it's a no brainer, but for a 30+ plus hour game like this, nope.

That is most likely case of my preference, but that isn't to say there aren't aspects of Sekiro that I do love. When I am into it, I am really into it. It does a good job sucking you into its setting and the character you are. But overall, yeah, I prefer having tons of options. Not only do I personally find it more fun, it does wonders for replayability. Each time I have beaten DS1, I start a new file with a new character and I try out a different weapon and class style. I love that, I love that feeling because it is like a new feeling of discovery every time. Plus it just makes it so addicting.