I was only able to get through the first zone yesterday because I played the beta earlier this year that showed the entire first area. I think they absolutely listened to feedback and tuned some enemies up and down.
The dodging took a little bit to get used to, but once you have a feel for it, it’s great. I honestly felt the same way about bloodborne dodging the first time I played it - it was just a little different, and I needed new muscle memory. Also FYI, I looked up the weight thresholds, and 60% is when you start moving slower.
I got it yesterday too, and I think it’s fantastic. This is one of the few soulslikes that feels right.
You can tell it’s a love letter to the FromSoft games, made by people who understand what makes them fun: big intimidating bosses, different playstyles to experiment with, largely linear levels with secrets and paths that loop back on top of each other.
The difficulty feels well tuned and challenging. Some bosses have given me a little trouble, so I get to chase that high of “mastering” the fight by the time I beat them. I’m really enjoying it.