Elden Ring is as easy or as hard as you want it to be. If you want the hardcore experience don't over level like crazy and don't go pick up the best gear/skills/spells a Youtube video tells you to get to be OP early. I've beaten all the Soulsborne games+Sekiro and I had a lot of difficulty getting through Elden Ring because I chose a very under tuned pure melee strength build. And for the record, every Soulsborne game has had a very OP af build/weapon that could carry you through the game. Even Sekiro has ways to completely trivialize fights. Did you know you can get a lot of bosses in Sekiro to not even do anything if you just throw fireworks at them between every few hits? And let's not forget you can completely trivialize the father of them all, Demon's Souls, by going with a Royal build. Even the infamous Nameless King can be completely trivialized with a crossbow. Want to stunlock 100% of bosses in Bloodborne? Run to the DLC and get the Whirligig and hold L2. Want an I win button in DS2? Pick up a rapier. Want one in DS3? Sellsword Twinblades. Did you know you can just stand and tank every hit in Four Kings with 0 effort with a full Havel set in DS1? And the bulk of DS1 can be trivialized with certain spells or big 2H weapons. Let's not act like these games are only for hardcore gamers.

As for DSU, like...did you step foot in DSU? I was in there all night and the check point didn't make it any easier. This is my third ultimate and it's definitely going to take a bit to clear this. Definitely going to take longer than Orphan of Kos, Sister Friede, Sword Saint Isshin, Fume Knight, etc.