Since I am playing it for an Backlog Blitz and intend to finish it so more detailed thoughts will be written later. I could link them to you if you are interested.Can you dive into that a bit more? It was one of the games i was looking forward to after its EGS time.
But where I am currently after a bit more than 8 hours: Boring to non-existant leveldesign, uninspired enemy placement, an interesting visual style they do nothing with so far, combat system is okay-ish but misses the thrill of the original. Also a bit pretentious in calling quests and sidequests "journeys" and "side journeys".
What broke me yesterday was the dungeon called "Seat of the Matriarch" which is the second dungeon in the game and the first big one. That one is just tedious. No bonfire equivalent until the very end of it, no looping level design with unlocking shortcuts. Just some long hallways that you can stray to another hallway here and there to find some items. Mostly upgrade materials or bags that give you money. Just tedious.
There is stuff that I like. For example the home base which evolves as you play more. Or the blank face design of the models in this because because it leads to people only having a blonde mustache and a pipe as facial features. But otherwise it feels like a game that is a bit up its own ass with the presentation and only seeing that the souls combat is good without knowing what makes it so.