It seems as we are in agreement then, based on my thoughts from my own "game completed" post, earlier on this same thread?
Have you moved on to NG+ yet? Don't forget to
Back on the topic of NG+
Some people have been saying that NG is just the tutorial and that the real game begins with NG+ this time. That's probably a bit of an exaggeration. It doesn't fill the holes that you've identified from the first game, but it does give it some more oomph that is hard for me to explain at the moment. It's definitely exciting in a way that the original's NG+ wasn't once you get beyond the FOFG. I'd like to hear your thoughts once you have progressed through it a bit.
I agree with you about NPC's. I do think the Emerald Maiden is much better than what we got from the Fire Link Shrine fire keeper, but none of the NPC questlines for Lucatiel, Benhart, Pate, Creighton, or Navlaan ever really delivered, compared to what we got with Sigemeyer, Solaire, Patches, Laurtrec, Logan, and the Cleric guy. Navlaan was an unexpected late game boon, but I feel like he still came up short in the end.
Have you moved on to NG+ yet? Don't forget to
take on Vendrick, Ancient Dragon and the Dark Lurker first since they will only get harder in NG+. Dark Lurker especially was a pain. Because you have to spend an effigy each time just to fight it. Meanwhile the Ancient Dragon will just cheese you with all his One Hit KO's until you finally figure out how to cheese him even harder.
Back on the topic of NG+
The appearance of all the extra red phantoms and other new enemies is really something else. Heide's tower of Flame (especially the path to Old DragonSlayer) was much more challenging. And now and I am trying to get past the Flexile Sentry now and I really love what they did with that Boss fight and the extra challenge on the path to him that NG+ brings. Finally, there are invasions happening a plenty, even when I'm hollow I'm getting invaded every now and then by reds. Lots of people are summoning me and they're getting invaded by reds and blues. Its pretty exciting, and I'm not usually one for PVP in these games. But I certainly like it better when I'm a white phantom as opposed to the Host
Some people have been saying that NG is just the tutorial and that the real game begins with NG+ this time. That's probably a bit of an exaggeration. It doesn't fill the holes that you've identified from the first game, but it does give it some more oomph that is hard for me to explain at the moment. It's definitely exciting in a way that the original's NG+ wasn't once you get beyond the FOFG. I'd like to hear your thoughts once you have progressed through it a bit.