I generally have as many as 4 "walls" that I can go check out if I get stuck somewhere, and then see if any of them will finally give. This morning I realized that the covenant I joined ramps the difficultyof the game! and they don't tell you that... I also realized that I had essentially skipped a very large portion of the early game and basically had completed some portion in the middle. also missed a few key bonfires and bosses along the way. It is very, VERY easy to just miss crucial things.
That's the part I like less about this game. Entire chunks of the game are hidden behind bullshit walls and obscure cliff faces. There is also some kind of discrepency in atmosphere that I don't like as much. Ultimately it is a much easier game so far but finding out where to go and what to do.... I mean I get it, we're supposed to communicate with each other to get things done, but it's fucking ridiculous sometimes. I couldn't get the network on for a few hours today, so who knows what little orange text I DIDN'T see...