Dark Souls lack of accessibility is one thing, but the game went out of its way to be 'hard core'. There is almost zero explanation for even fundamental aspects of the game, and makes itself much more tedious than it needs to be. Why are none of the stats explained? Why are only the most basic mechanics explained and the gamer is forced to scratch their head because there is absolutely zero explanation for everything else?

Dying is frustrating enough, but it is absolutely infuriating to have to take 5 minutes to get back to where it will take 15 seconds to die. That is not being a good 'hard core ' game, that is the developer being self-indulgent and poor game design.

'Oh but it adds to the sense of accomplishment because it forces you to think and figure out how to beat the enemy.'

Except after spending 45 minutes just running to the boss and not even fighting, I'm too pissed off to feel any sense of accomplishment. And in my past I feel proud of things I have done because they were difficult, but if given the choice, I would not do them again because I didn't have fun.

The value you put on your in-game life is one thing, but there is a point where a videogame just stops being fun. And much of the time Dark Souls is great fun, but there is also an unforgivable amount of unnecessary frustration.