Controversially, I even like the way it reduces your HP slightly when you die. It really gives that feeling of desperation that you’re “going hollow” and have to either embrace it or keep restoring your humanity, which fits the theme of the game.

It’s also contrary to one of the most important lessons from the first game: that death doesn’t matter. Experimenting is okay. There’s nothing to lose. Achieving that calm in ds1 was memorable.

DS2 fucks that up by rather harshly penalizing you for every death.