That is always the misconception with poor souls games. It is what happens when other games use souls like and attempts to copy the formula but fall flat because they miss the mark on what actually makes the souls games fun. It's the learning your opponent, trying different builds. You can go in with max poise and bully around Artorias or you can fight him for hours just using fireballs to get his movement pattern down. The possible careful planning of how to go through an area, seeing what the vast lonely world has in store for your character, and what horror you may be fighting next. It is amazing, but not in the least as hard core as many people think it is usually many who have never touched the game. Either that or I am not giving myself enough credit, but dark souls is just so gosh darn fun. Sure I take time learning the patterns but do not feel like beating any of from soft games is some crazy skill level no one could ever achieve.
In short I completely agree with you unless somehow we are all gods and do not know it comparing the two (which seriously it always happens on these forums because people see dark souls as some crazy hardcore game for masochists) is always just silly to me. You could make dark souls games more challenging depending on the build you choose. I guess for more people playing anything on other than super easy beginner mode and not having the option to increase or decrease difficulty at face value in dark souls games is what is tripping people up. So they just assume because there is no starter difficulty option it is insanely hard. That and the stigma it has for being tough. Anything is when you first boot it up. You have to learn a new game. It could feel overwhelming in any game learning new systems and mechanics, but when you figure it out it is satisfying....well for some people at least.
