Yeah calling it a chore is actually pretty spot on to how i feel about the game. Just not having fun with it.
Previous Souls games were also a challenge of course, but in a good way where i always enjoyed the effort and it felt satisfying no matter if i succeeded or failed and i always wanted to keep trying. This game provides more frustration and disappointment than enjoyment and i usually just want to turn it off when i die.
I actually did fire it up for a bit this morning to mess around. Instantly got annoyed when i was reminded of how NPC hunters like to spam gunshot fire at you in duels which takes off 1/4 of my health per shot. Then try getting close and they parry me. Pigs are flying i finally see the bullshit in a Souls game.
End of days! I never ever in a million years thought that would come from you!