>>723837987
>more linear than DS3
Nah, DS3 has like 3 optional side areas in the whole game if you don't include DLC. And the bit of DS2 after the Shrine of Winter is not even close to half the game. If we DO include DLC then DS3 gets significantly better with the amount of side-content, but so does DS2 and DS2's DLC gives you entire new endings so I'm even sure if they count as side content

>Many of these things were in the other games as well
AFTER Dark Souls 2 introduced them to the series, and especially in DS3 they were made gay and lame. Compare DS3's Avlynn to the one in DS2, or the fact that you can't use weapon buffs on weapon catalysts in DS3 to bump them into being top-tier catalysts. Also that's not even true for a bunch of weapons, for example DS3 has no catalyst shields, kung-fu gloves, sword whips etc.

And if the "but other games did it too" complaints is valid as a way to discount all the new weapons etc. DS2 added, then half the terrible parts you talked about also have to be discounted. At very least the multiple bosses, reused bosses, mobility being tied to a stat (I assume you mean carry weight, since i-frames being tied to agility isn't really mobility related), bad graphics in some locations, and lag compensation all have to be discounted leaving just soul memory and weapon degradation as the only "valid" complaints, both of which have ways to compensate for them (agape ring and repair powder/repair spell)