And I hated it.
Okay, that's a lie, I didn't hate it. If I did, I wouldn't have beaten the game and all the optional areas. But it did disappoint me. I first played DS1 a little after it first came out but stopped a little after the Gaping Dragon fight. I didn't say "I QUIT" or anything, I just stopped wanting to play until eventually I was playing other games and didn't feel like going back. I ignored the Souls series after that until all the hype around DS3 made me feel like trying it again. I absolutely loved the game and am in the middle of journey 4. I decided to go back and beat DS1 since I never did before and man was it aggravating. DS1 has a lot of things DS3 doesn't, and for most of them I am really glad they're gone. DS1 just felt so much slower and awkward to control comparatively and full of a lot more challenges that were annoying more than interesting. Even when I did a UGS run of DS3 I never felt as hampered as I did at times with my DS1 DEX build.
So much more clumsy platforming and fighting on narrow walkways! Getting up off the ground takes an eternity! I ended up save scumming outside the entrance to a few bosses because the long walks to them felt like such a waste of my time.
Ultimately, I think playing through DS3 first then going back was what spoiled the experience for me. I remember when I was first playing the game I was having a jolly old time with my shield + claymore, but playing through DS1 now just made me miss my Ubadachi and Onikiri.
So now that the rant's over, I'm curious as to what other people's opinions are: what's your favorite Souls game? How does DS1 compare to DS2 compare to DS3? Has anyone else gone back and been soured on the old games? Anyone else play the later games, go back, and prefer the older ones? I refuse to believe I'm the only one with this opinion.
P.S. Bloodborne seems like a game I'd enjoy a lot as well but I don't have a PS4 and I don't feel like buying one.