Grayson’s reviews

This game would be mid if it respected your time. Because it doesn't, it's great. The aging mechanic forces actual improvement instead of letting you brute-force through. Every Arena clear felt earned in a way most games don't deliver. Took me 19 hours to hit Master difficulty and I loved every frustrated second of it.

The best game ever made. Not "one of." THE best. The speed, the aggression, the cosmic horror that slowly unfolds as you realize what you're actually dealing with — nothing has matched it. The DLC is better than most full games. I have played this 8 times across 8 different builds. I will play it again. If you haven't started because the PS5 version still doesn't exist: emulate it. You owe it to yourself.

FromSoft stripped out all the build variety and made the most mechanically demanding entry in the series. The parry system is the best combat I've ever used when it fully clicks. Owl (Father) is a fight I will never forget. The final duel sequence had me shaking. Not for everyone — there is no easy mode, no builds, no grinding past difficulty — but the reward is proportional to the suffering.